Note: Chapters 4 and 5, featuring plot perspective from Doctor Robinson and Three-Rivers, have been omitted from the online serial.

It was a pleasant morning, as the heat of day had not yet descended upon The Community of Lady Thought.

To think that such a community of wrong-headed argumentative misfits, mongers and privileged sons carries the name that would imply an honorable mind. What a despicable breed. Why the snobs at the Akademy will not even return our mathematical inquires! How can they claim to be true seekers?

For such men a thing once claimed is true. This is why the petty among us so often govern.

Relax and conduct the circuit.

According to the Athenian calendar it was the 1st day, of the waxing dekad, of Moon Hekatombion, only three days into their new year. It was his first day back in Athens in seven, since he had just returned from a conference at Delphi, where he presented the latest and final additions to the Chronology of Pythian Victors to the Priests of the Prize-seeking Sanctuary of Apollo, where the Oracle, it was contended, spoke the words of the Shining God to Man.

It is at least a palatable superstition, admitting the interpretation of men as part and parcel of divine contact.

Delphi was known as the ‘Navel of Hellas’ among traditionalists. It had been a pleasant stay and doubly good because it was an opportunity for Aristotle to join in common cause with the most respected members of the religious community. Although his search for Cause, Purpose and Ends were sometimes seen as being at odds with religious tradition it was the learned priesthoods that had preserved much of the records of Man’s beginning. He felt that he owed them a debt, and was honored to work on their behalf. The priesthood of Delphi was not some parochial cult mired in politics, but a body of true seekers, if a bit mystical for his taste.

The locals would be sacrificing to Athena, and if he had cared to extend every degree of courtesy to his host community, he would suspend his work for the day and sacrifice to Our Lady of Thought. But what better way to honor the patron deity of Thought than to exercise the mind in her honor?

So My Lady Thought, I dedicate this day’s work to you goddess.

There, it is done, and our search for the Ends of Things may proceed unhindered by ritual.

Aristotle was beginning his morning walk with his ablest students beneath the shade of the xystos even as the prize-seekers ran, jumped and cast out on the finely powdered surface of the circuit. They passed some prize-seekers oiling up, but no one yet scraped. No one, not even the cock or the most diligent boxer, rose earlier then Aristotle, for the prize he sought was infinitely more alluring than the adulation of hens or even sacred fame earned by the fist.

Shall I see even a glimmer of the Ultimate Truth or have I just begun a long process that shall ultimately uncover it?

Or will Ultimate Truth never be found?

Those who accompanied him were among his best, and they would be charting the day’s inquires in this their first circuit of the Wolf-house [Lykeum], the sacred gymnasium dedicated to the shepherd aspect of Apollo, who was—most ironically, and Aristotle liked irony with his traditional theology—sacrificed to by the shepherds in his wolf aspect. Hence it was the greatest irony that Aristotle directed—because it was too big a thing for anyone to ‘do’—the investigation into the causes and motion of life, in hopes of beating a path to the door of the First Cause Uncaused.

For the ‘core divinity’ envisioned by Aristotle, or as his teacher Plato preferred ‘The Prime Mover Unmoved’; was the central truth for which such gross ideals as Apollo in his many guises were but a mask for the unlearned to gaze upon. Aristotle saw nothing wrong with piety and reverence for the traditional gods. But the search for the First Cause Uncaused must precede he believed, as a duty undertaken on behalf of all mankind.

Nikomakhus, Aristotle’s son to the companion Herphyllas, who had finally quit her trade with her beauty unspoiled, thanks to a gift from Aristotle made possible by the generosity of Alexander, was off in the wake of the conqueror salvaging books from the ashes of the youthful king’s victories.

His most intimate students, each trailed by a scribe and a messenger, accompanied him on his shaded circuit around the dusty sun-baked one used by the oiled prize-seekers and those dimwits who emulated them to no purpose other than vanity.

Kraton, his best Athenian student, began the day’s business. “Dispatches, findings and curiosities were shipped into Tie-up yesterday by way of Alexandria-in-Egypt and Sidon. These include papyrus copies of sacred carvings from Thebes-in-Egypt, a complete set of teeth from one of the great horses of this land, and a medicinal request from Alexander at Babylon. It appears that Alexander is ill, and has been directing his own medication rather than leaving it to his physician. He will require more hellebore.”

Such impetuosity among the young leads too often to waste!

Yes, but he is your autocrat.

“See to the shipment Kraton, though limit the quantity. We can rightfully claim to be in short supply of purgatives after the rhetoric we have so recently been subject to by the likes of Demosthenes and Hypereides.”

Faint, laughter, of the subdued kind indulged in by men of contemplation, murmured along the shaded xystos as they continued on. In the distance Kraton, having dropped out of the circuit, could be heard giving hushed instructions to his scribe and messenger.

Skylax the lame empiricist then updated the improvements to the zoological garden. “The new hatchery has been completed, ventilated against the heat, and provided with a cooling pool as you instructed.”

“This is to the good. Have there been any other developments while I have been absent?”

Skylax added, “For three days now, a terrifying barbarian, who claims to have travelled the world with Alexander, has awaited you in the garden, where he feeds the animal he has brought for the collection, yet refuses to let any examine it until you have come to meet with him and see the creature for yourself. It is a carnivore of some sort, kept in a shaded cage, and born by this man’s two brothers-in-filth. The rest of their unit, apparently skulk armed-to-the-teeth beyond the walls waiting for news of your approval. It appears that Alexander gave them leave to return to their barbarian hinterland so long as they accomplish the delivery of this beast to you, and you alone.”

Had you ever thought that the world would be scoured for your inquiries?

“This is welcome and fascinating news Skylax. I thank you. Please depart to this person and inform him that I will be by the zoological garden later this morning.”

Skylax groaned with relief, “Thank Truth that I shall finally be rid of this rabid beast! I shall see you before noon Aristotle, or I shall throw myself into the cooling pool and drown of my own volition.”

A rabid beast of some sort—a wolf of India perhaps?

His eldest student then hobbled off with his servants, never as apt as the rest to take pleasure in the circuit of discussion due to his infirmity.

Aristotle then turned with a knowing eye to the one man whose aptitude, judgment and temperance he trusted above all others, even his own. “Theophrastus, what is of the most pressing need since my absence?”

“We of course want to continue with the Register of Constitutions. Demos here is poised to take on the Olynthian Arrangement today. As you know Nemeas is still negotiating with the Akademy hierarchy for assistance with the Baktrian portion of the Geographika, in the manner of converting celestial measurements and surveying data into stades.”

Theophrastus then paused and nodded to both of the men indicated and they rushed off to resume their pursuits, which had only abated with his return so that he might be informed of their progress. His heir apparent then leaned closely with his big round head and curly locks—his beard shaved in the manner of the young—and continued in a close tone, “Teacher, Isokrates has sent his caller with two guests from Sikily. They await you in the Museum. Should I accompany you or do you wish me to prepare the students for your afternoon walk?”

That xenophobe Isokrates extends the olive branch to this old Stagirite?

Be careful the proffered end has not been employed for hygienic purposes before taking hold.

“If it is important you should come. Come, you are no longer a student.”

They proceeded to the pillared entrance of the museum, though business did not end. “Aristotle, what shall the day’s lecture be on?”

“I will speak of The Good. What else is there?”

Theophrastus nodded to his scribe and messenger and the two were off to make the announcement and post the record. Aristotle continued along the walk hands behind his back, considering the bony legs beneath him as they bore him to his purpose, for how many more years he could not know.

I am lucky in my choice of a successor, luckier than was Plato.