While leaning back in a hard chair, I take a deep sip of wine. I place it on the wooden table and gently stroke my beard as I think.
I'm one of the only people here. Nevertheless, I hear a brief conversation. A familiar man places a few coins on the table and walks on. "I say, old boy," I am addressed, "you seem to be in a bit of a pickle here."
Aristides sits down on the chair opposite me and places his wine on the table. Aristides is starting to grey, for he is six years my elder, and even I am fast approaching old age. "Pardon me?"
"Don't tell me you forgot, old boy," he taunts me, "your bid to increase our navy. Your plan to profit from an old enemy."
"Come now, Aristides, we both know that's a lie," I say.
I splays out his arms, bends them up at the elbow and opens his hands – the gesture of a surrender. The smartarse is trying to play innocent, or dumb. While the latter may be true, the former most certainly isn't. Suddenly, his facial expression changes into a smirk. That seems to be his favoured expression. "Oh, and in case you haven't heard, there is going to be an ostracism today. The people will vote between removing me or you. I hope the common man has a chance against the just."
Of course I know about the ostracism today. I was the one who arranged it. Pity Aristides is too self-absorbed to find out anything. I'm sure he thinks one of his friends called for the ostracism to help him in his quest for political gain.
This could be the biggest gamble of my political career. If I succeed, I will be virtually unopposed; if, on the other hand, I lose, it will be the end of my political career. And you know what that means? Nobody will push for a bigger fleet. Nobody will push for more preparation and defences against the Persian menace. Basically, Athens would be doomed. I shouldn't worry, I can handle this. I'm the man of the people, Aristides is the rich snob, only favoured by aristocrats. There are more peasants than there are aristocrats. Aristides chose the wrong side.
Every so often, Athenian citizens vote to settle disputes between two politicians. On shards of pottery, they inscribe the name of one of the politicians. They do not vote which one they believe to be correct, rather, they vote on whom to exile. They kick out one and give the opposition almost free reign. Today, the people are voting.
Aristides and I stand together. Aristides looks nervous. He shakes my hand sincerely, "Good luck, old boy."
"You too, my friend," I wish him well. Although I need him out, this is not an easy task, neither practically nor emotionally. Although my bitter rival, he is still a friend. We stand together and talk for a while in a casual conversation.
Suddenly, a man walks up to us and pats Aristides on the shoulder. "Excuse me, sir," he says, "I can't read or write. Can you write Aristides on my shard?"
He hands the shard to Aristides and a stylus. Aristides is upset. "Had Aristides wronged you in any way?"
The man shook his head, "No. I don't even know him. I'm just tired of him being called 'the just' all the time."
Aristides took the shard and inscribed 'ΑΡΙΣΤΕΙΔΗΣ' on the shard. He gave it and the stylus back to the man. The man thanked him and patted him on the shoulder once more.
"Well, that was unexpected," I say.
"What was unexpected?"
"You actually wrote your name on it and not mine. You know you could have written mine and he wouldn't have known?" I ask him.
He sighs, "I guess it just never occurred to me. Besides, that'd be wrong."
Maybe he is indeed virtuous and honest. Still, I have to remove him from my path. Finally, we count up and the votes and it is clear that Aristides must go. As I said, he had chosen the wrong side and now he was to pay for it. Maybe, when this is all over, we can bring him back. Maybe.
Time for my victory speech. I announce before a cheering crowd that I have won and Aristides shall be exiled and allowed to live in peace. Finally, I make the announcement, "With the new silver deposits we have uncovered, I believe we should fund the construction of two hundred new triremes to enable us to finish off our long war with Aegina. They cannot threaten our shipping or any of our interests. We shall finally prevail!"
At those words, the crowd cheers again. Even the aristocrats seem to have thrown their full support behind me. I just hope we get them built by the time the Persians come.