him how to build bridges, and he promised to send us somewhere. – To the mountains or somewhere else. You understand? If you don’t have time to get to the concubines, then that’s it, it’s over. The Emperor will not forgive Tang, and you will die. And we won’t be here anymore.
– You won’t? – she echoed, feverishly thinking about his words. Was she losing control over events? This white slave was slipping away from her influence, and there was nothing she could do about it. But he was still on her side. – Today the day is over. Tomorrow can’t be changed. Try to impress the Emperor’s wife, – she said quietly.
– Listen, I can only give commands, while standing under a canopy!
– I heard that you can do more… – a plea was heard in her voice.
– Rubbish. You and I have agreed. If I pull it off, you will help me get to the sea!
– I remember that. But it will be a miracle if we survive at all.
– I’ll ask the gods about this. You better think about how to get across to the concubines’ ears that there is something strange here. Think of it! You know them better than me. Make up a story of something horrible. Tell them we have two heads and three legs each.
– It’s been told, don’t worry. The only thing their maids are talking about is pale slaves. Just don’t tell anyone. Never, – Chow warned him.
They discussed the details of the meeting for some time. Chow wanted to know every detail – what each of the participants in the morning skirmish between Lacius and Yu Lai said and where they stood. When the stretcher set off on its way back, the huge moon had already risen above the walls of the inner palace, and the servants did not have to light the torches.
Lacius looked at the barefoot porters and put his hands on the iron ball. It was time to return to the canopy. He noticed that there were no smells in this city either. Even at night. The heat killed everything around, and only in the early morning or late evening, when the coolness descended on the hot ground, did the smell of wet dust and dampness briefly appear in the air.
CHAPTER V. VISIT OF THE EMPEROR’S WIFE
When the sun had already passed halfway across the sky, the lingering sounds of trumpets and the ringing of kettledrums at the palace gates announced the appearance of the Empress. Servants in multi – coloured robes with large umbrellas stood all the way from the gate to the barn. They created a shadow where the stretcher of the Emperor’s wife would pass. But even umbrellas could not save some – the servants fell, they were lifted and carried to the side, pouring water.
When several stretchers approached the shed, five people in identical gray robes and with identical white tower – caps on their heads came out. Lacius looked at them and it seemed to him that behind every movement, glance, gait, gesture, and inclination he saw the characters of these people, their thoughts and desires, as if he had known them for many years. And not only them, but everyone, who stood around. In general, he divided them into dark gray and light gray, as if he was now dividing them all into two parts thanks to intuition. Lined up in front of the canopy, the new guests froze.
– Paul, I think I’m going blind, – Lacius muttered. – They all became light and dark.
– No, this is a sign of the gods, – Domician’s voice was heard from behind. – You become sighted, even more sighted than everyone else. I also see only black and white spots, as if these are not people at all.
– But it seems to me that I know them all. There, standing there in worn out white sandals. Feet inward, stooped, head to one side. Cowardly, pathetic, afraid of everything, looks like a rotten fish.
– Oh! You are becoming wise, – the old friend remarked thoughtfully. – You learnt to distinguish people by their faces and clothes. Tsar Theodosius, by the way…
– Wait with your Theodosius, – Lacius interrupted him. – Another one has appeared. I see him.
– What colour is it? – Paul asked with liveliness.
– He seems purple to me, although his clothes are light…
– Yes, he’s all purple, like a ripe fig, – muttered Paul. – There is a red light coming from inside him. Watch out for him! He is very dangerous. I feel his strength.
– Yes, it puts pressure on me too, – Lacius muttered, narrowing his eyes.
A man in a light sand – coloured robe slowly moved away from the large stretcher and stopped at the first painting. A tiny shiny blue turret on his head froze and began to slowly move towards the Romans. The young chief of security walked nearby and talked about the battle. This time, Fu Xing spoke more calmly and confidently. When they came closer, everything happened again, and the embroidered long – legged crane on the robe of an important official froze, enjoying the song.
– What a freak, – he suddenly said and pointed the chopsticks clutched in his hand into Lacius’s chest. – We’ll have to take him to guard the distant tower of voluptuous mood, – his round yellow face bore no traces of paint, and there was no visible beard or mustache on him, like other servants and assistants. – By the way, – he continued, – be sure to send these two singers to us later. What magical voices! I hope they can sing like that after tshiesiong10, as now.
– Yes, wise Shi Xian, you are right, as always, – the head of the security agreed with him. When they went further, Lacius turned to Paul and asked what he meant.
– They call it yange11, – the blind man answered in a fallen voice. – In our opinion, this is execando virilia12. Deprivation of reproductive organs. It seems that we are finished. This is the senior eunuch.
– Is the one with wisdom the chief eunuch? What nonsense!
– Don’t shout. My heart felt that this would not end well. The gods told me that the road ahead would be in the darkness of suffering… We would be castrated.
– What? Again? – Lacius remembered the city of Ecbatana in Parthia, the palace with coloured walls, disgusting fat eunuchs, and the horror he experienced when he was almost turned into one of them.
– Oh, omnipotent gods, Phoebus the patron, have mercy on me. I don’t have much left now… – Paul Domician whispered, having lost his composure, being on the verge of hysteria.
– Paul, Paul, calm down! – Zeno shook him by the shoulders. – What’s wrong with you?
– A? – he suddenly heard. – Zeno, son, and you, too! Why such injustice? After all, you haven’t seen anything in this life yet!
Lacius muttered through his teeth:
– Shut up! All is not lost yet. They also threatened to cut everything off for me. If it comes to that, I will kill you first. Do you hear? – these words brought the blind singer to his senses, but did not add joy.
– No, don’t kill me… Maybe it will work out… – he muttered and fell silent.
– Get yourself together, you’ll have to sing better than Phoebe now. – Zeno, give him some water, let him clear his throat. Paul, – Lacius took his old friend by the hand, – do you feel me?
– Yes, – he whispered. – You’re hot and… You’re all red. You are dangerous, too. There is fire in you.
– That’s good. Better think about it. And calm down. Wow!.. Look what’s happening! – Lacius even raised his helmet in surprise to better see the approaching procession. The servants formed a path from the stretcher to the shed, where the head eunuch and the head of the guard, Fu Xing, stood. Next