The Hadrian Enigma - A Forbidden History (6 page)

“
That might be your chore to find out,” Macedo confided.

The sobbing from within ceased. Moments passed in frozen silence as those in the marquee eyed its entrance. Eventually Geta, Hadrian’s personal assistant, emerged from within.

“
Gentlemen,” Geta uttered softly in his barbarian-intonated Latin, “Caesar awaits your company. This moment now might be opportune. Caesar is, is, is …
composed
.”

Geta is not Hadrian’s secretary nor major-domo, let alone a servant or slave. He fulfills a more important but undefined role. He turned and strode back to the chamber entrance. The four patiently followed.

Beyond a veiled vestibule lay a larger inner chamber where only a single multi-lamp candelabra cast illumination across a dim space. Incense burned in a brazier emitting its lazily wafting coils into the dark cavern. Remote in the gloom, Hadrian was seated upon a chair, doubled over, holding his sides with crossed arms and swaying rhythmically. He was dressed in a crumpled under-tunic furled in a purple cloak trimmed with gilded eaglets.

His hair was disheveled, his feet bare. He was quietly snuffling into the cloak’s folds. He had put aside his sobbing for a while. Even in the somber light the five intruders could see he was pale, with red rings beneath his eyes.

Across the chamber within range of the faint glow lay a large open divan. It was enveloped from above by a sheath of gossamer mosquito netting. Water was being finely sprayed onto the nets by a beefy Nubian slave who was simultaneously wafting a voluminous ostrich feather fan at the filmy drape. The fan’s faint breeze on the dank net aimed to cool the air around the bed beneath. In the dry, warm Egyptian climate this is sometimes an effective way to cool a sleeping person.

Lying face upwards on the divan was a well-proportioned young man. He was utterly naked as though lazily indulging himself in the hot room of a public bath house. It was Antinous.

He was immobile, yellowingly pallid, crinkle-skinned from water exposure, and quite visibly dead. Even at his distance from the screened bed, Suetonius detected how river parasites may already have devoured the eyeballs beneath the young man’s lids and nibbled at the edges of his extremities. His pallor was unusually waxen and drawn.

A depression in the divan indicated where Hadrian had been lying beside his friend, probably weeping. To one side on the tiled floor lay an ornate set of ceremonial armors and weapons. The white enamel inlays of the workmanship reminded Suetonius how their owner had been the Bithynian lad. It was his formal horse parade uniform as a Companion of the Hunt, Caesar’s hunting team. Antinous was a championship horseman.

Geta and the four stood before their ruler in silent respect. Hadrian took some time to concede the group’s presence. Geta took the initiative.

“
May I speak, Caesar? Senator Septicius Clarus, Suetonius Tranquillus, Secretary Vestinus, and Tribune Macedo, are present as instructed,” he offered in a low voice.

“
I see that, Dacian!” the emperor hissed back.

Geta bowed courteously and moved back a step from the group, undismayed by the reproach.

Hadrian grudgingly looked to the five. He paused to recall his motive for their attendance. He spoke hesitantly. They each wondered at what might transpire.

“
Gentlemen, you see before you my hurt. Antinous is no more.”

He waved tiredly toward the bed where the Nubian continued to fan the sprayed netting. The five hung their heads in respectful solemnity.

“
I don’t know what has happened,” the emperor continued. “All that is evident is he drowned in the river sometime last night or this morning. Perhaps it is a misadventure? Perhaps a youngster’s high-spirited lark? Perhaps something more? No one seems to be able to tell me.
No one
!”

He glanced accusingly at Geta, who stood with head low.

Hadrian rose slowly from his seat, grasping his purple cloak tightly around him. The warm night air flowing through the marquee’s overhead vent into the open sky required little additional clothing, yet he distractedly held the cloak close about him. A sea of stars blanketed the black heaven above. Caesar trod slowly in the direction of the divan. The five paced quietly behind.

“
It is my instruction to you, gentlemen, to investigate this matter,” he muttered as they approached the bed with its immobile figure. As he turned towards the group his voice firmed and rose in greater authority.

“
It is my instruction you will explore every avenue of enquiry. It is my demand you will interrogate every person who has been associated with my companion in recent days.

You will check and correlate his movements, his actions, and his conversations with others. You will deduce the precise details of what has happened in the life of my friend, who are his friends, who are his enemies, or if any have reason to engage in foul play.”

His voice had returned to its natural command as the Great Caesar of the civilized world.

“
You will assemble whatever evidence is necessary to establish the time of death and the manner of his death. But the purpose of your enquiry is to inform me of the
reason
why Antinous of Bithynia has died.

Has there been an ulterior motive for his end? Was his death noble? Was his death base? Did he die a hero’s death? Or has his life been usurped by dark forces? Was it by his own hand, or by another’s? And you will report back to me with this information in the form of your testimonials, documents, or reasons within two days. Two days only. This is my command.”

As Hadrian communicated his commission Suetonius drew closer to the nets suspended over the figure on the bed. He looked closely at the details of the young man’s once-fine body and sculpted features. Antinous had certainly been handsome and even in death it was evident. At least until now. But in the balmy night’s air, regardless of the watered nets and the most imperious of an emperor’s commands, natural corruption would proceed swiftly.

Soon bloating would be evident. His features would distend, split, erupt, corrupt, and disintegrate before his companion’s eyes. Even an emperor cannot command otherwise.

While he listened to Hadrian’s instruction Suetonius noted and memorized certain interesting features of the figure. The particularly severe shaggy cut of the youth’s hair, the meager outline of a beard with sideburns showing he was no longer a strapping
meirakion
youth, the many scratches around his midriff, a slashed incision evident in his left wrist, and rose-colored blemishes of various sizes at several places across his throat.

Suetonius had never noticed blemishes of any sort on Antinous previously. His skin possessed the clarity of youthful health. He wondered if, in this desert climate, the first blooms of decay were already underway.

Hadrian paused at the bedside to part an opening in the dank netting. He now resumed a Caesar’s authority.

“
Hear me then, and act accordingly! Item One: This commission will be formalized under Imperial seal immediately by my secretary. That’s for you to attend to, Vestinus.

Item Two: Septicius Clarus, you have served me at an earlier time as my Prefect of the Praetorian Guard, my right hand second-in-command. Your record of service had been exemplary, despite serious accusations by the empress Vibia Sabina resulting in your dismissal. It is my will that you assume responsibility as magistrate for this commission to endow it with legal authority.

Three: You will have unrestricted monetary and resources made available to you. That’s for you, Vestinus and Macedo, to effect immediately.

Four: Suetonius Tranquillus, in acknowledging your learned experience at the Bar of Rome, I appoint you to the duty of
Special Inspecto
r of this commission. Also, as my former Chief Secretary, it is my will you retain records of this enquiry and report your results to me within two days.

Five: Clarus and Suetonius, a fee of one hundred thousand
sesterces
will be paid to each of you to perform this commission. This fee will only be paid if you deliver as contracted within the two day limit, at one hour before sunrise precisely.

If you fail to meet this deadline I will re-open the charge against you of the offence of
laesa-majestas
against the empress, a treason and capital offence. Your lives may be forfeit. The investigation starts immediately. That means
now
gentlemen!”

Hadrian dropped his cloak to the floor and parted the nets to look closely at his deceased companion on the bed. The group sensed he was forcefully suppressing a hidden torment deep within.

“
However, there are two people you cannot interview. They are myself, your Caesar, and Caesar’s wife, Vibia Sabina
Augusta
.

You are permitted to interrogate any member of the Court, Guard, or Sabina’s retinue as you see fit, but neither I nor the empress. Sabina is above your station and commission. Besides, you already have that history with her which is impolitic, as you both know. To date we have been lenient about that matter, but be warned.”

All five of the group bowed in acknowledgement, possibly with discomfort. Suetonius and Clarus both knew what Hadrian was referring to, so both stomachs churned.

A gleam appeared at one eye. A tear was forming. He grew haggard.

“
Clarus and Suetonius, you will want to know why I depend on you after all these years. It is because I trust you, and I trust your forensic skills. Especially, Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, I trust your capacity for explorative detail, just as you have done in your
Lives of the Caesars
. You appear to seek no favors from anyone, while both of you nowadays are independent from the factions of influence of Court. This may be an essential factor in enquiring into the death of my companion. I rely on you and that independence.”

Suetonius coughed modestly at this unexpected flattery and its generosity, with its unofficial title of “
Special Inspector
”. A hundred thousand sesterces would also be a timely contribution to his ramshackle finances, he thought, despite the two-day timeframe and its threat of a fatal indictment. Nevertheless he gathered his wits sufficiently to submit a request of his own.

“
My Lord Caesar,” Suetonius braved, “may we have access to the body for a physician to inspect to determine the nature or time of death?”

Hadrian’s face fell.

“
No, not at all!” he declared.

This is a man who knows death very intimately. Yet the notion of an autopsy of his beloved repelled him.

“
It is enough we burn the dead, isn’t it? In this case I will invite Egyptians to embalm Antinous in their special way so his body and name survive forever. He will live as a pharaoh does, or as King Alexander of Macedon survives in his sarcophagus at Alexandria. The priest Pachrates of Memphis awaits me outside accompanied by the leading master in the land of this art. Antinous will remain incorrupt for all eternity. I command it!”

The emperor was adamant and dismissive, so one prefers not to exceed the limits of protocol in furthering such enquiries, Suetonius contemplated. Pity though. What a wasted opportunity. But Hadrian was understandably emotional, which is an unexpected novelty in a supreme ruler.

Suetonius also wondered if Caesar had some other motive perhaps. Was there something he did not wish to share about the lad’s demise?

Another notion entered the
Special Inspector
’s mind. He took the liberty to interject before the group of five was dismissed beyond recall.

“
My Lord, if I may? Do you recommend an avenue of approach, or propose key witnesses who should be the subject of interview?”

Suetonius sensed Geta the Dacian freeze at his enquiry.

Hadrian turned slowly toward his former secretary as his brow darkened. It was an expression Suetonius had not seen in the emperor’s eyes for almost a decade, and one he would rather not perceive too often aimed in his direction. Had he over-stepped the mark?

“
Special Inspector Suetonius, I said you will not interview Caesar himself,” Hadrian spat in a whisper. “Nevertheless I rely on your good services as my investigator and feel obliged to offer what little guidance I can to your commission.

Geta here, my worthy factotum, is an intimate of this Household and party to its inner workings. Perhaps Geta will possess perceptions of which I am not familiar? Likewise my Chief Secretary, Julius Vestinus here, or my Chamberlain Alcibiades outside, will have an understanding of those who may be persons-of-interest to you? Others come to mind too.

My friend Arrian of Bithynia could possess details of value? He knew my companion well. You are fortunate that almost anyone who has been involved with my Antinous travels in this Imperial Progress along the Nile. But for myself I would like to know more about Antinous’s own personal household.

His young fellow-Bithynian Lysias, for example? Or the woman, Thais of Cyrene? I am sure Julia Balbilla too, the travelling companion of my wife, will have an opinion worth hearing. Explore broadly,
Special Inspector
. But return in no more than two days at one hour before sunrise, or forfeit your
sesterces
. Then Turbo’s agents will seek you out. There is no where in the Empire to hide from my chief-of-security Turbo.”

Suetonius sensed it was Macedo’s turn to stiffen.