A Captain of Thebes by Mark G McLaughlin

Author:Mark G McLaughlin [McLaughlin, Mark G]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-11-07T16:00:00+00:00

Later that day, the Thessalonian scouts made their report to the king. The Persian fleet was drawing its fresh water from the Meander River, the chief of scouts explained, a river Alexander had crossed on a bridge of seven boats his engineers had constructed. The river flowed down to the sea, near where the Persian fleet was beached, its waters fed by streams from Mount Mycale. Hundreds of men were involved in bringing water from there to the fleet in a never-ending, continuously moving effort, he added as he drew a circle with his finger on Alexander's map table to better explain the process.

“And they have guards? Men on watch?” asked Alexander.

“A few score, no more,” the chief of scouts added, “and they are not proper infantry, just marines from the fleet. Men who know how to fight from the deck of a ship,” he smiled broadly, “but have little experience of fighting on land, and even less of facing cavalry.”

That was exactly what Alexander suspected, and was thrilled to have confirmed.

“Philotas,” he said to the cavalry officer who had dispatched the scout and accompanied him back to the king's tent, “I heard you have been grumbling about being left out of the fight. Something about being little more than green grocers and game hunters? Well, here's some game for you to hunt. Take all of the light cavalry, all except enough pickets to keep watch at our back, and scatter those water carriers at the Meander. Hephaestion will follow up with the Companions – including the Royal Squadron – just in case you meet any formed resistance...”

“I won't need the heavy cavalry, my King,” replied Philotas. “My lads will do. They'll run down those water bearers and marines and cut them down before they can reach the safety of their ships!”

“Yes, of course,” acknowledged Alexander, “but they have set up a barricade inland, around the beach. Hephaestion and the heavies will make certain they do not even think twice about coming out to chase your light horse away. Nothing like a mass of big men on big horses, bronze helmets shining, to keep them behind their palisade. And no need to storm it. Thirst will do the rest.”

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