Alexander: Child of a Dream by Valerio Massimo Manfredi

Author:Valerio Massimo Manfredi [Manfredi, Valerio Massimo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Historical, General
ISBN: 9780743434362
Google: 763HoAEACAAJ
Amazon: 0743434366
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Published: 2001-09-30T16:00:00+00:00

cut into his flesh, and then asked for the needle and thread. Alexander held the needle in the flame of the lamp before starting to sew, while Callisthenes held the edges of the wound together.

‘Tell me about Demosthenes,’ the Prince asked in the meantime.

‘He … he is a patriot,’ replied Demades through clenched teeth, ‘but we see things differently.’

‘In what sense exactly? Put your finger here,’ he added, indicating the point, and Callisthenes, his assistant surgeon, obediently put his finger on the thread that now had to be knotted.

‘In the sense …’ the patient started to explain before holding his breath, ‘… in the sense that I was against going to war alongside the Thebans and I said so publicly.’ He let out a deep sigh of relief as Alexander finished tying the knot.

‘It’s true,’ whispered Callisthenes. ‘I have copies of his speeches.’

‘I’ve finished,’ said the Prince. ‘We can bandage it now.’ Then, turning to Callisthenes, ‘Have a real physician see him tomorrow. If the wound should swell up and become infected it’ll have to be drained and it’s best if a real surgeon takes care of that.’

‘How can I thank you?’ asked Demades, lifting himself up on the camp bed.

‘You may thank my teacher, Aristotle, for it was he who taught me these things. But as far as I understand you Athenians did not go out of your way to keep him with you.’

‘Aristotle left because of an internal problem in the Academy … it was nothing to do with the city itself.’

‘Listen. Can the assembled army pass a motion here and now granting you a political position?’

‘Yes … in theory. There are probably more people eligible to vote here than there are in Athens at the moment.’

‘Speak with them then and make sure you are the representative charged with negotiating peace terms with the King.’

‘Are you serious?’ Demades asked in amazement as he got dressed.

‘You may take clean clothes from my chest. As far as the rest is concerned, I’ll speak with my father. Callisthenes will find you somewhere to sleep.’

‘Thank you … I …’ Demades only just had time to stutter these words because Alexander had already left.

He went to his father’s tent and found Philip sitting with Parmenion, Cleitus the Black and some battalion commanders, eating his supper.

‘Hungry?’ the King asked him. ‘There’s some partridge.’

‘There are thousands of them,’ Parmenion explained, ‘they take to the air off Lake Kopais in the morning and then spend the day rooting for food along the riverbanks.’

Alexander took a stool and sat down.

The King had calmed down and seemed to be in a good mood.

‘Well then, what do you make of my lad, Parmenion?’ he said, clapping his hand on his son’s shoulder.

‘Magnificent, Philip he

led that charge better than any experienced member of the Companions could have handled it.’

‘But General, your son, Philotas, also fought with great courage,’ said Alexander.

‘What have you done with that Athenian prisoner?’ asked the King.

‘Do you realize who he is? He’s Demades.’

Philip jumped to his feet.

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