Requiem for a Slave Read Online Free PDF Page A

imprudent as it seemed: I had a proper contract, and all decurions financed elaborate public works – it was expected of them (not surprisingly perhaps, since one of their chief duties was overseeing tax), and support for them among the populace was often commensurate with how much they spent. The new pavement for the basilica was a flamboyant one, and I had relied on earning quite a lot for it.
    The litter-slaves had brought the litter up, and Quintus paused in the act of getting into it. ‘I will speak to the aediles . Under the circumstances I think they will agree that the omens are too dreadful to proceed with this.’
    ‘And if I have the workshop ritually cleansed? And prove that no one working here had any part in this?’
    He shrugged. ‘By that time I fear that there would be insufficient time to get the pavement done. It would be difficult to do it now, in any case. A message arrived at the curia today, nominating a candidate for the vacant ordo seat – you will remember there was a councillor who died, and we are due to vote in a replacement in a day or so – and saying that Marcus hopes to be here very soon himself.’
    ‘Really?’ I attempted to look unconcerned, but secretly I was a little stung by this. I had told my patron of the vacant seat myself, in the monthly bulletin about the town which I had sent to him (at his express request but at my own expense), though I’d never had an answer or acknowledgement. He was naturally concerned about the ordo seat, and any candidate he gave his blessing to was sure to be elected, so I could understand that he had written to the curia, but, I thought, he could have let me know as well.
    Quintus was anxious to show how well informed he was. ‘I understand he has found a ship in Gaul and is already on his way, so there is hardly time to have a pavement laid. I shall have to content myself with giving a grand banquet at my home to welcome him, as that fool Pedronius has already announced that he will do.’ He saw my face and gave his sneering laugh. ‘You hadn’t heard that news? I had supposed you such a favourite that he’d have written to you first!’
    I shook my head. ‘If there was a message at my home today – as there might well have been – it had not arrived before my son and I set off for town,’ I said. There was some truth in this. My roundhouse was not far from my patron’s country house – indeed, he had given me the land to build it on – but in his absence the villa was closed up and only a few staff remained to keep it clean and aired.
    I was thinking fast by now. Perhaps it was as well that the contract would be void. If Marcus was already on a ship from Gaul, then he would be here in less than half a moon. That made it near impossible to lay the floor in time – this was no stock sample pattern that I held prepared – and failure would have cost me a considerable fine. Besides, Pedronius would want his plaque completed by then too, and there was well-known rivalry between the two officials. Perhaps Quintus was doing me a favour after all.
    But he had already climbed aboard the carrying-chair and pulled the litter curtains round him as a screen. So there was little that I could do except watch it move away, the bearers loping at a rapid pace while Quintus shouted ‘Faster!’ from the interior. My only consolation was to see Hyperius, already hot and breathless, trotting after them.

Three
    I was still staring after them when I heard a noise behind me, and I turned round just in time to see the candle-maker from the tallow factory next door. He had opened his street-gate a crack to watch the litter leave and was about to slam it shut again, but I was too quick for him. He was a surly fellow, but he might have seen something which would throw light on events, though if he had information I would have to pay for it. I shouted out to him, ‘Candle-maker, have you seen my slave at all? Or anybody calling at my shop this