by Marcus Lupinius Paulus on Mon Mar 09, 2009 4:14 am
First, there was the fire. At first only licking at the walls and roofs of the village huts, but soon turning into infernos as the beast fed hungrily. Paulus felt the hot gusts which would keep him back from getting any closer. He heard screams, close, but echoing. Bodies of simple peasant farmers and hunters lay on the ground, some with middle aged women weeping over them, crying curses in a tongue unknown to him. But the grief and rage was instantly translatable.
Then he saw running out of the smoke two young girls. One had auburn hair, the other blonde. They were unaware of Paulus as they fled past him, running away from the flames toward the protection of the trees. But they did not make it. Two Roman soldiers intercepted them, each grabbing one of the girls., separating them. "Svanhild!", shrieked the blond girl. The auburn haired girl screamed something that Paulus could not make out. {A name perhaps?} She struggled to free herself, like a wild animal. She even bit the arm of the solider who carried her. But it was in vain. They were caught, and behind them the Fire laughed and belched heat and stench of burning flesh, heat and smell so intense the soldiers drew back.
Paulus saw another figure, an older woman, running screaming after the soldier with the auburn haired girl. But another soldier blocked the way and struck the woman down to the ground. The girl cried pitifully, and was gone.
Paulus didn't want to see anymore, and so he turned away. Now he was no longer in Germania. But even so, when he looked he saw it again. The laughing, devouring Fire. But this time, he moved towards it, slowly at first, and then running. It was night now, but it may as well have been daylight in the street, so great was the Fire. Like before, he saw people running. But this time, one of them saw him too. Paulus had nearly reached the flames when he felt pushed back by the strong arm of a solider. "No Paulus!" the soldier yelled at him, "You can't do anything. Get back!"
"I've got to get Arsinoe!" Paulus yelled back.
"She's dead, Paulus!"
"No, she isn't! Just let me go!"
The solider blocked his way, holding him back. "Paulus, believe me my friend, there is nothing you can do. Now get back.":
Paulus pushed the soldier aside with a strength he never had before. But the soldier grabbed Paulus arm and turned him to face him. "Damn it Paulus", he said, as he let loose with his right fist into Paulus' face. Paulus fell to the ground, spitting blood from his mouth, completely dazed. Two other solider came up from who knows where and grabbed Paulus' arms.
The soldier who struck him knelt to the ground and took Paulus by the shoulders. "I'm sorry my friend", he said gently, "but you cannot do anything for her. I saw her at the window. Believe me, my poor friend, she's dead." Paulus closed his eyes, and began choking back sobs. The soldier rose and gave orders to his two companions. "Get him back to the insula. His landlady Martina will know what to do with him."
The chattering of the patrons of the caupona brought Paulus back to the present.
He stared deep into his cup, still staring at the swirling liquid. He raised his eyes again and looked at Medusa. They had some things in common. Both suffered loss. Both were in Rome without wishing to be. And both had met the Fire. Paulus felt a longing to somehow do a kindness for Svanhild, to protect her somehow. And he chuckled at the thought. Svanhild, or Medusa, was certainly more than capable of protecting herself now. In fact, if trouble started, she would probably end up defending Paulus, who would have been of little account in a fight! Nor was it a lovers urge. Paulus heart burned in the block fire in Alexandria that killed Arsinoe. He had no thought or wish for a lovers companionship.
But Arsinoe was gone, and Svanhild was here. Wouldn't there be some way he could benefit her as he failed to do with Arsinoe?
"I wonder", Paulus spoke, "if our meeting today is somehow fortuitious. Purposeful. Maybe the gods are saving us for something." He felt silly as soon as the words left his mouth. Fool Paulus, he thought to himself. What good can you do? The ludus is the only life Svanhild knows. If you somehow contrived to free her {which you could not afford anyway} what on earth would she be free to do? How many opportunites are there out there for ex-female gladiators? And if you helped her escape from her prison, what would you be saving her for? A life on the run? Avoiding the slave catchers? Sure you could house her in your Insula. She would have a new prison to replace her old one! Be sensible.
Paulus quickly mulled these thoughts over in his mind. He had no idea what purpise their meeting might have. Or were there to be others involved as well? He decided on one thing however. If Medusa ever needed a refuge, then come hades or furies or soliders, he would give her a safe place at his insula.
Something his is chest warmed, and told him that Arsinoe would approve.
Medusa was drinking when she pointed discretely at some other who were sitting at another table. "Look over to them guys, the boy seems to be the first time in a tavern, too. He seems to be out of place. What do you think?"
Paulus turned, and was surprised to recognize two of them. One was the lad he shared his loaf with. The other was the older man who had the wine spilt on his tunic in the ampitheater! Paulus did not recognize the other two, if they had had been there or not. "Now what was it you just thought to ourself", he whispered under his breath. "Were there others to be involved as well?" His fortuitious meeting with Medusa was first, and now by coincidence, another chance encounter with two people he had met. Well, nearly met anyway. Were the gods up to something?
Paulus summoned the servant girl. When she arrived he said to her, "Don't look now, be discrete. But at that other table, with the man with the wine stain on his tunic...you know the one?"
"Yes sir"
"Well, I want you to do something for me."
"And what would that be sir?"
Paulus suppressed a chuckle. "Take some food over to them, and say to him, 'Have a snack to go with your wine!', and then then rub the food onto his tunic with the wine stain!"
Medusa nearly spit her water out, and the servant girl gasped! "I can't do a thing like that!"
"Sure you can!" Paulus encouraged.
"They'll kill me. My boss will kill me! He'll kill me and fire me, in that order! I can't!"
Paulus took her hand. "Look, don't worry. Just do as I ask. If he or they get angry, point to me and tell them it was I that put you up to it and wish to treat them to a drink. I promise, I will take full responsibility, smooth things over with your boss, and even buy that fellow a new tunic if necessary!"
The poor servant girl wimpered and hesitated. Paulus produced a coin and put it in her hand. "Are we agreed?" he asked.
The girl looked at him, then looked at the coin. She nodded, and went to the counter to get a plate of food.
Paulus actually felt nervous, exhileratingly nervous. Leaning over the table to Medusa, she whispered, "Let's have some fun!"