Salamis by Harry Turtledove

Author:Harry Turtledove [Turtledove, Harry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781647100087
Publisher: Caezik Sf & Fantasy
Published: 2020-11-11T00:00:00+00:00

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When they did get back to the chamber in Ptolemaios’ palace, Menedemos watched in amusement as his cousin made a small production out of barring the door. Then Sostratos rummaged in his large leather sack till he found a smaller one that clinked nicely as he lifted it out.

He reached inside and rummaged through the drakhmai before lifting out something that wasn’t silver. “This,” he said softly but proudly, “this is what I got for the amber I brought here.”

“By the dog!” Menedemos exclaimed. He held out both hands close together, palms up. “Let me have a better look at that.” With visible reluctance, Sostratos gave him the necklace. He felt the weight of the gold and admired the workmanship. “You got value for value and then some, I’d say,” Menedemos agreed. “Do you have any idea how old this is?”

“Old,” Sostratos said. “That’s as much as I can tell you. Five hundred years? A thousand? Five thousand? I couldn’t begin to guess. If I had to bet, I’d say it goes back to the days before the Trojan War.”

“That’s ri—” Menedemos broke off. It might not be ridiculous after all. The Trojan War, people thought, had been fought about nine hundred years before. Everyone knew Egypt was an ancient land. They’d had goldsmiths and jewelers long before brilliant Akhilleus slew Hektor of the shining helm on the windy plains of Troy. Menedemos found a business question instead: “Will you break it up and sell the pieces or keep it together?”

“I’d like to leave it intact,” his cousin answered. “It’s stayed this way for all these centuries. I’d feel I was robbing the world of something precious and wonderful if I took it apart.”

Menedemos suspected the firm might make more profit from selling off the bracelet piecemeal, but he didn’t quarrel with Sostratos. For one thing, they still had to get the piece, and themselves, out of Egypt and back to Rhodes. For another, he understood what Sostratos was talking about. Selling the gold and ivory from the image of Athena in the Parthenon might net more than the statue would as a whole, but it would also be a dreadful desecration. Breaking up the necklace would make a smaller sin, but one of the same kind.

As gently as he could, he gave the necklace back to Sostratos. His cousin hid it under the silver he’d got for Damonax’s oil. The coins had their own value, of course, but that whole sack probably didn’t match the necklace.

“When will the fleet sail? Do you know?” Sostratos asked.

“Not to the day, but it won’t be long,” Menedemos said. “The Ptolemaios has been making ready since before you left for Memphis.” He paused as a different thought struck him. “I wonder if my father’s wife has had the baby yet.”

“We’ll find out when we get back.” Sostratos had only a dim interest in Baukis’ baby.

“I guess we will,” Menedemos agreed tonelessly. He couldn’t let on that his own interest was much greater than his cousin’s.

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