Alexander watched Khumnhotep ride off into the distance with his approval of Redsenet's request. The woman had done very good work at keeping as many of his soldiers alive as possible and was excellent at healing wounds before they became mortal through infection. He would grant her whatever she wished if it would save more of his men now and in the future.
Then the King turned his attention once more to the white flags. He ordered a similar flag to be tied and waved on the end of a hoplite's phalanx spear. The gates to the mainland city of Tyre slowly opened and a delegation of five men walked onto the plains. The gate closed behind them as a precaution. It was easy to see that the men were unarmed.
Within hearing distance, the man in the lead halted and called out, "We are from the Landside City of Tyre and wish to speak with King Alexander. Will he hear us?"
Alexander replied, "I am King Alexander of Macedonia. Speak."
All five men slowly bowed from the waist and straightened out again. "We are a delegation from the citizens of the city. The elders have fled to the island. Persian soldiers and militia who would not yield have either fled the city or have been, ummm, removed from the defenses. King Alexander, we offer to you the Landside City of Tyre if you will cease your attacks, guarantee the safety of the remaining citizens and allow us the means to feed our children."
"Why have you defied your elders?"
"It is they who defied us, King Alexander. We cried out for the city to be freed from the Persians. Our elders threatened to turn loose the Persians in our midst if we didn't do as we were told and defy Alexander. The elders promised to feed us should you lay siege to the city. They also promised soldiers from the island would come to defend us. But mostly they promised to kill any citizen and his family who defied their's or the Persians' will. For the sake of our children we obeyed."
"Now you wish to accept Alexander. Why?" asked the blond headed king.
"The siege weakened the resolve of the elders. The island citizens sent no soldiers or food. The elders began to fear the citizens, and correctly so; for it was the citizens who removed the Persians from the walls and made the elders and their followers flee for their lives to the island. We are no longer Tyreans. We are followers of Alexander."
"So say you now. How shall I be convinced?"
"At sunrise tomorrow, we shall open the gates of the city to you and as many soldiers as you choose to bring. No Tyrean will harm a soldier of Alexander. You may do what you will with the Persians we have captured or are still at large. Then, at your command, the men of the city will aid Macedonians in building a causeway to bridge the channel. As you can see, there are no walls protecting the island city. What brestworks they build will offer little protection from the Macedonian phalanx. We ask only one boon from our new King."
"What is that?"
"King Alexander, our children starve and are ill with fever and infection. Help us."
The name of Redsenet flashed into his mind momentarily. "I shall do these things as long as you do the things you promised. Not one of my soldiers is to be harmed by a citizen of your city. One soldier dies and your city shall die. Not one of you will be spared. Not you, your women or your children. Is that understood?"
"Yes, King Alexander. We shall do as you request."
The parlay ended and the delegation returned to their city to tell the citizens what they and Alexander had said. Early the next morning, Alexander arrayed 20,000 of his soldiers in tight assault formation. As the sun rose behind them they saw the gates of the city slowly open and stay open. The citizens began walking out of the city and forming into two groups on two sides of a clear wide path leading into the city. They had no weapons.
Alexander ordered his men forward, but the phalanxs marched with spears elevated, swords sheathed and bows down. The columns of Macedonians narrowed as they reached the packs of people. Alexander rode amidst his phalanxs on his distinctive white horse surrounded by his elite guard. When they saw him, a roar ascended from the crowd. Great cheering drowned out the clump, clump, clump of the marching soldiers' feet. Alexander instinctively knew the city was his and there would be no resistance just as the delegation promised. He in turn would keep his word and the people would be cared for and fed.
Through the city streets he could see the island city and its protective channel. For them, thought Alexander, there would be no mercy. Not on anyone's account, no matter the plea. The island city in Alexander's mind was already a city of the dead. He only needed the causeway built to seal its doom.
[This message has been edited by Civis Romanus (edited 08-28-2000).]