When we entered the lecture hall, a large number of students were already gathered. I had no idea that everyone had assembled here at such a late hour. The Master was seated on his usual couch positioned at the center of the hall; it appeared he had only just arrived himself.
“What is all this commotion?”
“Thebes has fallen.”
“To whom? Sparta?”
“No.”
“Persia, then?”
“No. To Macedonia.”
The Master let out a deep sigh.
“It must be Antipater. Antipater has perpetrated such an act, exceeding his authority as Regent?”
“No, no. The King of Macedonia has returned from Illyria.”
The King was indeed alive, after all.
“And then?”
“They say he appeared at the Theban border three days ago, surrounded the city, and brought Thebes to its knees in just a single night. That was supposedly yesterday.”
“Who told you such a thing?”
“All of Athens is abuzz with the rumor. That the King of Macedonia has annihilated Thebes.”
“Can the rumors of the Athenians ever be trusted!”
“No, it is certain. I heard it directly from Theban commanders who had fled.”
“Alexander… That boy, to perpetrate an act that is nothing less than bringing disgrace upon his Master.” The King had been a pupil of the Master during his days as crown prince.
Artonis wheeled a wagon loaded with dinner for the Master and the students into the hall. We proceeded to lay it out upon the table: the usual salad, rye bread, lentil and onion soup, and wine. Even while eating, everyone continued to debate passionately. Information was also gradually coming to light.
The Thebans, like the Master, had thought the King of Macedonia was already dead. The Athenian Assembly, too, had its fair share of anti-Macedonian factions. Athens had been right on the verge of raising a flag of revolt against Macedonia in response to Thebes.
“Along with the defeated Theban generals, the ringleaders here in Athens have also already fled to Persia. And in pursuit of them, Macedonian soldiers will soon be arriving in Athens too.”
“Which means…”
“Athens will also be surrounded by the Macedonian army. Just like Thebes.”
“Then we must flee quickly!”
“Flee? But where? We, students of the Lyceum, too?” Athens is the polis neighboring Thebes to the south. Cavalry would likely reach us in two or three hours.
“It’s impossible for Athens to wage war now; it will have to open its gates.”
“I heard the anti-Macedonian Assembly members have already fled to Sparta.”
While the King was away on foreign campaign, the anti-Macedonian forces that had been expelled by Macedonia returned to Thebes in an attempt to overthrow the political situation and incited the citizens. The citizens interpreted the words of the agitators in whatever way was convenient for themselves and believed them: “The absolute monarch Alexander is already dead. We are liberated.”
However, the King of Macedonia had returned. Fearing a purge, the anti-Macedonian factions refused to compromise. It was said that because of this, the Macedonian army had broken through the city walls, poured into the Agora, and massacred the citizens.
Even as the night deepened, many of the students did not leave the lecture hall. It was entirely possible that Athens would get dragged into the aftermath of Thebes and that fighting would begin in the city. It seemed safer to remain here at the Lyceum on the outskirts of Athens and wait for new information to be brought from within the city, rather than returning home. For my part, I was residing and studying at the Lyceum originally; I had nowhere else to return to.
Suddenly, a contingent of armed soldiers burst into the Lyceum. At last, the hands of the search had reached even here. They were not Athenian soldiers. They were instantly familiar to me. Their military attire, featuring flamboyant, crimson feather plumes that stood erect like combs or brushes, was that of Macedonian soldiers.
“Is Eumenes here? Eumenes of Cardia!” one of the soldiers shouted.
Everyone looked at me. I replied, “I am here.”
“The King summons you. You must come with us.”
Everyone looked at me with eyes full of pity. They all thought the King was taking me away, viewing me as one of the anti-Macedonian faction.
“I am not anti-Macedonian.” Those words almost escaped my lips, but I thought better of it. It was useless to tell a soldier, and my conscience was clear. Surely the King, too, must believe in my innocence. “What business does the King have with me?”
“I do not know the details. Merely that I am to bring you.”
“Was there no message for me from the King?”
To the Master’s question, the soldier answered curtly. “None.”
Still, the Master persisted. “What has become of Thebes?”
The soldier glared at the Master. “And why should you ask that, you?”
“I have many friends in Thebes, and many Macedonian friends as well. What do you intend to do with them?”
The soldiers also seemed to know who the Master was. They stated with solemnity. “The King guarantees the safety of all friendly citizens.”
“And the others?”
“Hostile citizens were killed. Those who are alive will likely be sold into slavery. Thebes has been annihilated.” They had only just finished slaughtering those citizens with their swords.
Thebes was annihilated. That traditional Greek polis. The soldier gave me a nod. It appeared I must go now.
“Master. I almost forgot. Would you please read this?” I handed the Master the thesis I had been holding in my hand all this time, making a final bow.
The Master accepted the paper in silence and looked down at the title page.
“Eumenes.”
“Yes.”
“I, too, was once summoned by the King of Macedonia. And now, it is your turn.” I did not understand what the Master was trying to say, and no words came.
“You might just end up tracing my fate. Will you walk the path of kings? Or will you fall to the path of hegemony? Or will you remain on the path of scholarship? This should be interesting.” The Master’s eyes twinkled like a mischievous child. It was an expression he had never shown me before.
Leaving the lecture hall with the soldiers, I found Artonis there. Are you crying for someone like me, Artonis? As we pass, I catch the sweet scent of her hair.
I must hold her. Compelled by a kind of sense of duty, I embraced her. She offered no resistance. Her waist was slenderer than I had thought. Her cheeks were small and soft. Thinking back, it was the first time I had held her in these arms. Both of us were silent.
Urged by the soldiers, I leave the Lyceum and pass through the Diochares Gate of the Athenian city walls. Athens had already opened its gates to Macedonia. Numerous Macedonian soldiers are posted along the roadside and inside the city. The citizens appear to be holding their breath anxiously inside their respective homes.
I am taken to the Agora, the heart of the city, and here, along with many other Athenians, I am made to board a transport wagon. They are likely political prisoners. Some among them have hand-shackles or leg-fetters. The anti-Macedonian Athenians were supposed to have already fled, but perhaps they were too late in escaping? Or were they found hiding? Or betrayed by kin? At any rate, I am not being subjected to such harsh treatment as they are. However, I am closely watched. Should I wait for an opening and jump down from this covered wagon and flee? No, let’s not. Even if I flee, I have nowhere to go, and I would surely be captured by the pursuers in an instant.
The cart exits Athens’ grand front entrance, the Dipylon, and follows the Eleusis highway west; it seems to be taking the road to Thebes. Meaning I will be jostled inside this cart for about half a day. There is no point in making a fuss. I lay down on a plank placed on the wagon to serve as a bed and tried to sleep as it rocked. Yet, I cannot sleep at all. Behind my eyelids, the form of the dancing nymphs no longer floats into view.
Through the King’s favor, I was permitted to continue my studies. That is why I was in Athens. The King permitted the Master to move to Athens at the same time as his accession, and I had come to Athens following the Master. There are still things I must learn at the Lyceum. Only two years have passed of the study period the King himself permitted me. Perhaps the King has some special business with me, will meet me, and will immediately let me return. Even if the King needs me, shouldn’t it be in time after I have sufficiently finished my studies? Surely, I will soon return to the Master’s side again. And I should be able to hold Artonis’s soft hand once more.