Alexander (Vol. 2) Read Online Free PDF

and took her by the hand as he said, ‘Let’s go to bed.’

 
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    P TOLEMY RETURNED FROM his reconnaissance patrol along the perimeter wall of the camp and headed towards the main guardhouse in order to ensure that the night watches were properly organized.
    He saw there was still a light burning in Alexander’s tent and walked towards it. Peritas dozed away in his kennel and did not even bother looking up. He walked past the guards and stuck his head in the tent as he asked, ‘Any chance of a cup of wine for a thirsty old soldier?’
    ‘I knew it was you as soon as your nose appeared,’ Alexander joked. ‘Come on, help yourself. I’ve already sent Leptine off to bed.’
    Ptolemy poured himself a cup of wine from a jug and took a few sips. ‘What are you reading?’ he asked as he looked over the King’s shoulder.
    ‘Xenophon, The March of the Ten Thousand.’
    Ah, Xenophon. He’s the one who manages to turn a retreat into something more glorious than the Trojan War.’
    Alexander scribbled a note on a sheet, put his dagger on the scroll to keep his place, and lifted his head. ‘It’s actually an extraordinarily interesting book. Listen to this:
    As soon as it came to be late in the afternoon, it was time for the enemy to withdraw. For in no instance did the barbarians encamp at a distance of less than sixty stadia from the Greek camp, out of fear that the Greeks might attack them during the night. For a Persian army at night is a sorry thing. Their horses are tethered, and usually hobbled also to prevent their running away if they get loose from the tether, and hence in case of any alarm a Persian has to put a bridle and other tack on his horse, and then has also to put on his own breastplate and mount his horse – and all these things are difficult at night and in the midst of confusion.’ 2
     
    Ptolemy nodded, ‘And do you think their army is really like that?’
    ‘Why not? Every army has its own customs and is very much used to them.’
    ‘So what have you been thinking about?’
    ‘Our scouts tell me the Persians have left Zeleia and are moving westwards. This means they’re coming towards us to block our way.’
    ‘Everything would seem to suggest that.’
    ‘Indeed. Listen to me now . . . if you were their commander, where exactly would you choose to block us off ?’
    Ptolemy moved towards the board on which a map of Anatolia had been spread open. He took a lamp and passed it backwards and forwards from the coast towards the interior. Then he stopped. ‘There’s this river . . . what’s it called?’
    ‘It’s called the Granicus,’ replied Alexander. ‘They will probably lie in wait for us there.’
    ‘And you are planning to cross the river in the dark and attack them on the opposite bank before dawn. Am I right?’
    Alexander continued poring over Xenophon, ‘I told you, this is a very interesting work. You ought to get yourself a copy.’
    Ptolemy shook his head.
    ‘Anything wrong?’
    ‘Oh no, the plan is excellent. It’s just that . . .’
    ‘What?’
    ‘Well . . . I don’t know. After your dance around Achilles’s tumulus and taking his weapons from the temple of Athena of Troy, I rather thought there might be a battle in the open field, in full daylight, ranks against ranks. What we might call a Homeric battle.’
    ‘Oh, it will be Homeric,’ replied Alexander. ‘Why do you think I’m having Callisthenes follow us around? But for now I have no intention of risking the life of even a single man, unless I have to. And you will have to adopt the same line.’
    ‘Don’t worry.’
    Ptolemy sat down to watch his King continue taking notes from the scroll there in front of him.
    ‘Memnon will be a hard nut to crack,’ he started again after a short while.
    ‘I know. Parmenion has told me all about him.’
    ‘And the Persian cavalry?’
    ‘Our spears are longer, the shafts stronger.’
    ‘Let’s hope that will be enough.’
    ‘The surprise factor and our will