Last Act in Palmyra Read Online Free PDF Page A

man doesn’t mean you have to look at the bastard!’
    Helena was smiling again, though the expression in her eyes was less charitable. I reckoned it might be time to halt the ribaldry. ‘So we’re stuck with the “young love” theory?’
    â€˜Don’t get excited, Falco,’ Thalia told me with her usual frankness. ‘Sophrona was a treasure and I’d risk a lot to get her back. But I can’t afford the fare to send you scavenging in the Orient. Still, next time you have business in the desert, remember me!’
    â€˜Stranger things have happened.’ I spoke with care. Helena was watching me thoughtfully. ‘The East is a lively arena at present. People are talking about the place all the time. Since Jerusalem was captured, the whole area is opening up for expansion.’
    â€˜So that’s it!’ Helena muttered. ‘I knew you were up to something again.’
    Thalia looked surprised. ‘You’re really going to Syria?’
    â€˜Somewhere close, possibly. Proposals have been whispered in my direction.’ For a moment it had seemed easier to break the news to Helena with a witness who was strong enough to prevent me from being beaten up. Like most of my good ideas, I was rapidly losing faith in this one.
    Unaware of the undercurrents, Thalia asked, ‘Would I have to pay you if you did some scouting for me?’
    â€˜For a friend I can be commissioned to be paid on results.’
    â€˜What about your fare?’
    â€˜Ah well! Someone else may be persuaded to come up with the fare –’
    â€˜I thought so!’ Helena exclaimed, breaking in angrily. ‘This will be someone called Vespasian?’
    â€˜You know I was intending to tell you –’
    â€˜You promised, Marcus. You promised to refuse the work next time.’ She stood up and stalked out across the arena to pat the elephant. The set of her back implied it was safer not to follow her.
    I watched her go, a tall, dark-haired girl with a straight carriage. Watching Helena was as pleasant as hearing Falernian glug into a winecup, especially when it was my own cup.
    Mine she might be, but I still had serious second thoughts about upsetting her.
    Thalia was eyeing me shrewdly. ‘You’re in love!’ People always said this with a mixture of wonder and disgust.
    â€˜You have a keen grasp of the situation!’ I grinned.
    â€˜What’s the problem between you?’
    â€˜There’s no problem between us. Just other people who think there ought to be.’
    â€˜What other people?’
    â€˜Most of Rome.’
    Thalia raised her eyes. ‘Sounds as if going somewhere else could make life easier!’
    â€˜Who wants an easy life?’ She knew I was lying about that.
    To my relief, once her temper cooled Helen strolled back, leading the elephant, who was now devoted to her. I assumed he realised he would have to shift me before it could do him any good. He nuzzled her ear in a way I liked to do myself, while she bent her head away resignedly, just as if avoiding annoying attentions from me.
    â€˜Helena doesn’t want you to leave her,’ observed Thalia.
    â€˜Who said anything about leaving her? Helena Justina is my partner. We share danger and disaster, joy and triumph –’
    â€˜Oh very nice!’ Thalia commenced, with a sceptical rasp.
    Helena had listened to my speech in a way that at least allowed me to make another: ‘At the moment I wouldn’t mind putting myself a long way from Rome,’ I said. ‘Especially if the Treasury pays for it. The only issue is whether Helena wants to go.’
    She accepted my gaze quietly. She too was searching for ways we could live together without interference or pressure from others. Travel was one method we had found that sometimes worked. ‘So long as I do have a say in the decision, I’ll go where you go, Marcus Didius.’
    â€˜That’s right,