“What did Alexander do?”
“He got in among the ranks, reminded individuals of what he’d personally done for them, accused others of treason. His lifelong friend Coenus was the only one brave enough to stand forward and speak. He reminded Alexander of personal sacrifices. Every man there that day had bled for their King. Coenus named those that had fallen, Black Cleitus, Parmenion, his father Philip. Alexander continued to rant and rave but his army had had enough. Finally Alexander returned to his tent where he sulked for three days. He hoped they would give in, but on the fourth day Alexander realising they weren’t going to budge an inch re-emerged from his tent, performed a sacrifice and announced that the odds weren’t favourable. The army cheered. They would return home.”
Each of them sat in the car for a minute silent.
“On the return journey Alexander made a grave mistake. He led them into the Makran desert, the most inhospitable place on earth. Without water in plentiful thousands of them died of thirst. There is a famous story to come out of it though. A helmetful of water was found and presented to the young King. He took it and looked down at it, his parched throat agony, as were the others. He raised it to his lips and then stopped looking out over his thirsty men. Then he tipped the helmet and emptied the water into the sand. “I’ll drink when you drink!” he said to the amassed ranks. Of course they cheered such bravado by their King.”
“There were other such stories weren’t there?” Natalie asked “I remember something about a horse.”
“Bucephalus,” George added.
“Bucephalus was Alexander’s favourite horse. He even named a city ’Bucephala’ in India after the animal when he was killed in the battle with Porus.”
“That’s sad.”
“Yes Alexander was inconsolable. He and Bucephalus had been together for over twenty years.”
“I remember now. Something about Alexander being the only one able to ride him. How did the story go?”
“Alexander was just a boy of ten when he attended a sale of horses with his father and mother. Philip had just become engaged as it were to Atalus’ niece. They were all there. Alexander’s mother sat away from them with the nobles. Philip as usual was drinking when a beautiful black stallion was brought into the show ring. Philip instantly bid a high price for the beast which nobody offered to raise. Philip was applauded as he left his seat and went down to greet his purchase, the show ring being open air, the sun shining strong and hot. But as Philip approached the horse became panicky and reared up several times while lashing out with its hind legs. Philip tried a few more times then swore and gave up. “This animal is too wild to be tamed. He will kill anyone who attempts to ride him. Sell him for meat” he ordered.
Alexander suddenly jumped in.
“Buy him for me father!”
“That animal can’t be tamed,” Philip shouted back.
“I’ll buy him.”
“With what?”
“If I cannot ride him I’ll give you ten times his worth.”
Philip laughed “You don’t have the money boy.”
“I’ll not need it,” Alexander replied.
Philip not wanting to see his son hurt was about to order the horse’s slaughter again when Parmenio stepped in.
“Let the boy try Philip. Surely he’s too good an animal to waste.”
Others took up the shout now. Philip turned a complete circle looking at his friends.
“Very well,” he said, leaving the show ring to a great applause. Alexander now stepped into the ring as the crowd fell silent. Slowly with no deliberate movements he approached the horse which was still skittering its feet.
“Shh! Shh!” Alexander called soothing to the animals ears. He reached for the horse’s rein and held it gently. The stallion now calm, he was able to reach up and pat his neck. Alexander while watching had noticed that the horse was afraid of its own silhouette.
“You don’t like your own shadow do you,” he said turning the horse into the sun, so the shadows were now behind. Alexander continued to soothe the horse. Then to the shock of everyone present, he deftly swung himself up onto the horse’s back and as the crowd cheered he trotted the horse from the arena and galloped across the fields and out of sight. The crowd waited anxiously and roared with delight when he re-appeared and galloped back into the show ring and brought the animal to a halt. Alexander jumped down and pressed his face against the horse’s neck.
“I shall call you Bucephalus,” he said stroking the beast’s nose.
Philip came limping into the ring now. He grabbed Alexander and lifted him onto his shoulders.
“Aha! My boy,” he roared with delight “Find yourself another kingdom! This one isn’t big enough for you.”
Natalie clapped.
“That is a beautiful story.”
“Yes and not far from the truth. Unlike some of the other propaganda we’ve heard like the one about the Gordian knot.”
“The Gordian knot,” Hutchinson said “I don’t think I’ve heard this one.”
“I know it,” said George.
Dennis smiled.
“Perhaps you would like to tell everyone about it,” Hutchinson said to George, only too happy to include others into the tale.
“No. Mr Dennis tells the story better than I.”
“You tell it,” Natalie said, reaching out and touching the journalist on the arm. Dennis made no reaction but Hutchinson saw an intimacy there between them, certainly from his beautiful archaeologist. Hutchinson also saw a reaction from George.
“Ah! Was that jealously,” he asked himself. George Roussos had always had a natural, instinctive, protectiveness over her.
“Very well if you insist,” Dennis said. Suddenly he was holding her hand and Hutchinson had to hide an embarrassed smile.
’Now there could be no doubt’
’Natalie desires him,” he was thinking, ’But what about him? I can’t tell….But wait….What was that look about? Does he fancy her back….I can’t tell but what man wouldn’t. She is beautiful. She is out of my league and George’s and anyone on the team for that matter. But what about him….Ah well no matter they’re both single. I just hope it doesn’t distract her from her job or I may have to intervene’
“Gordium,” Dennis began “Was an ancient city in Northern Turkey. There was an old farm cart here that centuries ago it was said that Gordius the father of Midas arrived in….”
“King Midas who everything he touched turned to gold?” Hutchinson asked, caught up now like a child at bedtime story telling.
“The very same. Anyway the cart was fixed to the yoke by a large knot known as a Turk’s head. It was said that whoever could undo this knot would be the ruler of all Asia. Alexander must have heard of this story before he came here but what now? His men urged him to try but at first he just studied it, checking from all angles. Surely he had to have a go or be accused of avoiding the issue, the opportunity…..But what if he failed?”
Dennis paused like great storytellers do, to keep their audience guessing. Finally Natalie asked.
“What did he do?”
“Well….” Dennis continued the story “Surrounded by his men and followers and even Arrian the famous biographer said “And I quote, I speak on this without confidence” Alexander stood for a minute studying the knot of cornel bark. Then….Some say….he pulled out the pin and thus undid the knot that way….Others though….Say he drew his sword and raising it two handed above his head and yelling “It doesn’t matter how it’s done!” brought the sword slashing down and cut the knot exposing the ends within.”
Once again they lulled into a silence. Then Hutchinson said.