Chapter 10

Mencius remained sober-faced and was tardy with his rejoinder.

‘Maybe not all of it, Voldi; not the fantastic details. But the fact remains that blind old Samson wrecked Philistia so completely that she took orders from other nations for six hundred years!’ Mencius appeared to have ended his speech. They rode on in silence for some time.

‘That was indeed a strange story,’ mused Voldi, at length.

‘No—not so strange, but a bit terrifying. Sometimes, Voldi, I wonder if the Roman Empire may not finish her play in much the same manner. We Romans may be nearing the end of the Fourth Act.’ Mencius was talking to himself now, and Voldi had to listen sharply. ‘We have gone about, almost everywhere, capturing and roping and blinding other nations’ giants and making them grind our corn. Some day—unless History is not to be trusted—they will pull our house down. I hope it doesn’t happen in my lifetime.’

‘Meaning that your enslaved provincials are growing restless?’

‘Slaves are always restless, Voldi. At present ours are helpless. But—there will come a day and a strong man! Then we will play the final act! To predict how long that might take or where the strong man is to come from is a job for a better prophet than I.’

The noon sunshine bounced off the tarnished cupola of a distant tower. Mencius pointed down the descending highway toward the city.

‘Well, there she is, my friend, the famous old stronghold of Philistia!’

‘Waiting for a strong man to appear—and put her in order again,’ said Voldi, after the manner of reciting a lesson.

‘Not consciously waiting,’ amended Mencius. ‘Gaza is too stupid to be aware that she is waiting for anything. Only when the strong man shows up will she know that she has been waiting…And, meantime, while she waits for Destiny to clean her up, we will not drink her stinking water or her wretched wine; nor will we touch her polluted food. We will ride straight on through to the docks. The fleet will be there. We will find plenty to eat and drink on shipboard.’

‘And it will be clean food and sound wine, I suppose, seeing it is provided by the Romans,’ remarked Voldi, with a slow wink that made his friend grin.

‘Yes,’ declared Mencius proudly. ‘It will be clean and sound! You see—we Romans are still playing our Fourth Act—and doing a good job of it!’

Suddenly, to Voldi’s amazement, Mencius shed his quiet complacency and assumed a new role. The tail-end of the long caravan was immediately ahead.