Killing Pythagoras (Mediterranean Prize Winner 2015) (56 page)

CHAPTER 122

July 29
th
, 510 B.C.

Milo’s country house was a large, simple building. The walls were of adobe, and the roof of wood. One story high, it had an inner courtyard surrounded by rooms. The largest room, designed to hold the assemblies of the brotherhood, occupied the length of one side of the courtyard. Access to this room was through the courtyard, and it had one window on the external wall. At that moment, both the door and the window were open to let the air flow and offer some relief to the room’s forty occupants who were enduring the heat of the day.

Fifty people had been invited, but ten had sent their regrets, claiming to have difficulties with transportation or security due to the war between Croton and Sybaris.

They’re reasonable excuses
, thought Pythagoras,
but I regret their absence
. He especially missed his son, Thelauges, leader of the community in Catania. He hadn’t seen him in several months, and had been sure he’d make it in spite of the difficulties, as most of the invitees had done.

A large, rectangular table had been set in the middle of the room, containing bowls of olives, cheese, and fruit, as well as barley cakes. The attendees sat around the table and helped themselves
.
Unlike the usual custom at Greek gatherings, wine was not offered.

Pythagoras was the first to speak. He summarized the dramatic events of the recent months, and told them about his idea to appoint a succession committee. Afterwards, he asked the representatives of each community to comment on the brotherhood’s situation in their regions.

The presentations by the representatives from Himera and Metapontum took up the rest of the morning. When they finished, just after midday, Arquipus of Taranto prepared to speak. He was forty years old, robust and vigorous, and had been named grand master only a few months earlier.

“Greetings, brothers. In the name of Antagoras, leader of the Taranto community, I apologize for his not being able to attend. His health prevented him from traveling with us.”

Murmurs of understanding were heard. Antagoras was eighty and hadn’t left Taranto for quite a while due to a bone disease.

Arquipus explained that both he and Lysis, seated next to him, were attending as Antagoras’ representatives. Lysis wasn’t yet a grand master, and was only thirty-five years old, but Pythagoras knew that Antagoras considered him his most outstanding disciple.

Antagoras has organized his own succession committee
, thought Pythagoras approvingly. Antagoras had the same quandary as he did—he didn’t have a single successor who embodied all the right qualities—but he had remedied that problem by naming a group of disciples. He looked to his right. Milo, Evander, and Hippocreon were listening attentively to Arquipo’s words. Those three were part of the succession committee that would lead the entire Pythagorean brotherhood. Only Theano was missing, having stayed behind as head of the Crotonian community for the two days of the summit.

Pythagoras bowed his head, leaning his forehead on his hand, momentarily dissociating himself from his surroundings. He was very worried for Akenon, about whom they had heard nothing for three days. However, what was tormenting his soul dreadfully was Ariadne’s absence. His little one had disappeared two days ago without a trace. Milo had sent out numerous patrols in search of her, but so far they had come up with nothing.

Pythagoras felt his eyes well up and hid his face with his hand. He was beginning to fear the worst.

The masked man rode through the forest toward his next destination. He felt satisfied, mulling over the events of the Council session that had just ended.

It was so easy to manipulate them and incite them to attack the Three Hundred like wild animals.

After the soldiers had taken the Pythagorean councilors away, he had addressed the rest of the Council from the dais, alone, so they’d get used to seeing him separate from Cylon. He knew that soon they would all treat him with the same reverence they had shown Pythagoras in his best times.

Not the same
, he corrected himself with passionate euphoria.
They’ll venerate me as a god
.

He smiled, baring his teeth under the mask. The sensation of power he was experiencing was so intense he felt immortal.

He looked to his right. Cylon’s radiant expression revealed that he, too, was fulfilling his life’s dream. The masked man reflected for a moment on his political ally.
I don’t think he’ll give me any trouble
. Cylon followed orders without objecting, and seemed to be satisfied with destroying the Pythagoreans, which was what the masked man had made possible for him.

The masked man looked forward abruptly. Something was approaching through the forest. A moment later, one of the soldiers they had sent out to reconnoiter the area appeared.

“I got as far as Milo’s house,” said the soldier. “It’s just five minutes from here. They have a patrol unit in the forest with ten élite soldiers, another five at the door of the house, and possibly a few more inside.”

The masked man nodded silently.
Pythagoras, you pathetic old man, twenty hoplites are all that separate me from you and your “grand masters.”
He turned to Cylon and saw that the politician was looking at him expectantly.
Perfect, he’s waiting for me to direct operations
.

The masked man turned his horse around to face the soldiers following them. He had to make an effort to contain his euphoria when he looked at them.

Three hundred well-armed hoplites awaited his orders.

CHAPTER 123

July 29
th
, 510 B.C.

Ariadne was tied so tightly to the chair, the blood was unable to circulate through her wrists or ankles, and she could no longer feel them. In contrast, relentless, intense pain scourged her back and arms. Fortunately, she was able to use her father’s teachings to escape her physical suffering. Thanks to her training, she had elevated her mind to a level beyond the reach of her body’s torment.

But she couldn’t free herself from the emotional pain.

Akenon’s death had plunged her into harrowing anguish. She imagined that she, too, would die shortly, but thinking that Akenon had died hurt her much more. In spite of the pain, though, she hadn’t given up, and intended to fight to the end. It probably wouldn’t change anything, but the life beating in her womb gave her the energy to want to try.

During the two days she had been confined she had thought much about her father. It made her desperate not to be able to let him know the enemy’s surprising identity. There were moments when she yielded to the temptation to daydream, and imagined herself with her father and Akenon, their enemy chained at their feet. But dreaming didn’t change the facts, so she chased those images from her mind and forced herself to face her tragic circumstances.

Startled by a noise outside, next to the door, she lifted her head suddenly and looked in that direction. In the light visible beneath the door, she could see the shadow of someone standing on the other side. She clenched her jaw and her breath quickened. Without warning, the door swung open violently, knocking against the wall. A bright light made her close her eyes. She could see nothing, but heard a grunt that made her hair stand on end. She sensed a presence coming closer and could smell its pungent sweat.

Though she feared what she would see, Ariadne opened her eyes.

The terror surpassed the nightmares of her adolescence.

CHAPTER 124

July 29
th
, 510 B.C.

Androcles, an infantry officer in the Crotonian army, walked at a leisurely pace toward Milo’s villa. He had just emerged from the forest and was crossing the open ground in front of the house. His demeanor didn’t appear to be hostile—it looked as if he were out for a stroll.

But there were fifty soldiers behind him.

Sauro, the chief guard stationed by Milo at the door of his country house, unsheathed his sword and gestured to his men to line up beside him.

Androcles was pleased to see that Sauro had called the soldiers inside the villa out as well. Besides, he hadn’t raised the alarm. Most probably, the Pythagorean masters were unaware of anything untoward.

He stopped a few yards from Sauro, who gave him a surly look. It was an open secret that Androcles was on Cylon’s payroll and had been one of the main players responsible for the sacking of Sybaris.

“By order of the Council, I come to place Pythagoras under arrest,” said Androcles calmly.

Sauro’s eyebrows rose. He hadn’t expected that. Quickly regaining his composure, he curtly answered Androcles.

“We’re here to stop anyone from entering this house, by order of Milo, commander-in-chief of the army and, as such, your highest authority.”

Androcles watched Sauro with contempt. He despised soldiers like him, always so upright and keen to do their duty.

“Milo isn’t above the Council,” he replied.

Sauro scrutinized Androcles’ face. It didn’t look like that corrupt officer would be swayed by reason.

“I’ll go get Milo,” he said grudgingly. “We’ll see who you decide to obey.”

“Don’t worry about me,” replied Androcles, scoffing.

Sauro hesitated a moment longer, then turned around, thinking on his feet.
Ten of us against fifty. We can’t overpower them by force
. Maybe the best thing would be for Pythagoras and the masters to escape through a window while they tried to hold back the soldiers that had just arrived.

As Sauro walked away, his soldiers remained in front of Androcles with their swords unsheathed. They saw the corrupt officer turn his back on them, but they didn’t notice him take out his knife and grasp it by the tip.

Suddenly, Androcles turned and threw the weapon. Its blade lodged in Sauro’s back up to the hilt.

That was the signal for his fifty men to attack.

CHAPTER 125

July 29
th
, 510 B.C.

Burning with lust, Boreas stared at Ariadne.

The young woman’s jaw trembled as she looked at him, her eyes wide. Her fear excited Boreas, but he was even more aroused by the internal strength he perceived in her. Even though she was terrified, she hadn’t fallen apart the way many of his victims did.

But she’ll eventually beg me to kill her
.

He approached her slowly, savoring every moment. Ariadne’s features were as beautiful as those of a goddess. Her mouth was slightly open, emphasizing the fullness of her trembling lips. The skin on her neck was as smooth and taut as her naked breast. She pressed her back against the chair in an instinctive attempt to get away from him, without realizing that doing so accentuated her voluptuous breasts.

Boreas’ unhurried approach was as frightening as his phenomenal size. It displayed a cold, intense sadism that caused a new wave of terror to race through Ariadne’s body. She noticed she was getting gooseflesh and her nipples were hardening. The giant stretched out a hand and stroked the contour of her breast with the rough skin of one finger. Then he pinched the hard nipple with surprising delicacy. Another shiver ran through her. The giant enjoyed forcing his victims little by little, as well as brutally ripping them apart.

Ariadne sensed he would show her both of these sides.

Boreas’ enormous head came close to her ear, and Ariadne pulled away as far as she could. The giant took her head in one hand, put his lips to her ear, and whispered with his warm, moist breath. His thick lips slowly brushed Ariadne’s ear, but because he had no tongue all she heard was an incomprehensible gurgle.

That wet babble resonating in her ear brought on the first tears.

Boreas began to undress her. Since she was tied to the chair, he had to rip her tunic. The giant did this carefully, holding the fabric in both hands so as not to hurt her, as if he believed she might appreciate his thoughtfulness.

When he finished, Boreas took a few steps back and grunted with satisfaction. His victim was completely naked. Her bound hands and ankles kept her arms behind her body and her legs spread, as if offering herself to him. Looking at her, he felt such intense arousal he feared he’d lose his self-control.

I must hold back or I’ll kill her too quickly
.

Ariadne was sobbing with rage and fear. She had closed her eyes, but opened them again when she realized she hadn’t heard Boreas in a while.

The giant was still in front of her, devouring her with his eyes. He removed his loincloth and stood before her completely naked.

His erection was as overwhelming as the rest of his body.