RomanQuest Read Online Free PDF Page B

our earliest. You’ll notice the Temple of Vesta is circular. That’s tradition, that is, because the very first Temple of Vesta was just a clay-and-wattle hut and you can imagine how long ago that was.”
    â€œYes,” you say, “but what I really -”
    There’s no stopping him. “That building over there, the forge of Vulcan, the Volcanal as we call it, had very early beginnings too. And the Regia - that’s the Regia there, no there: you’re still looking at the Volcanal - used to be where Numa Pompilius lived. You know who Numa Pompilius was, don’t you?”
    â€œNo, I don’t, but what I really want to know is -”
    He’s not listening. “He was the second of the seven kings who ruled Rome before the formation of the republic in 509 b.c.,” he tells you. “His house became the administrative building for the pontifex maximus. You know who the pontifex maximus is, don’t you?”
    â€œNo, I don’t, but what I really want to -”
    â€œHe’s the high priest. Rotten job. You spend your whole life looking at entrails to predict what’s going to happen next week. Over there, that’s the Temple of Castor and Pollux who were brought up by a she-wolf and founded Rome in the first place.”
    â€œNo they didn’t!” you cut in, shocked. “That was Romulus and Remus!” If this young clown can’t tell the difference between Castor and Pollux and Romulus and Remus, you’d be hard put to know how many mistakes he’s made in the other information.
    He grins at you. “Just checking to make sure you’re still awake. Romulus and Remus did indeed found Rome. Castor and Pollux were the twin sons of Zeus which is the stupid Greek name for Jupiter. They look after shipwrecked sailors and bring you favourable winds if you sacrifice enough to them. Now over here -”
    He stops talking abruptly as you grab him by the throat. “Read my lips,” you growl. “What I really want to know is where I can find the Emperor Caligula.”
    His eyes bulge and not entirely because you are currently choking him to death. “Nobody goes near the Emperor if they can help it. He’s too unpredictable. If you want to find Caligula, you have to be as nutty as he is!”
    â€œMaybe so, maybe not,” you tell him. “Do you know where to find him?”
    â€œHe’d have to be at the Imperial Palace,” Titus tells you. “Unless he’s gone to the Circus for the races. You haven’t got a tourist map by any chance?”
    You nod. “Yes, I have.”
    â€œThe Imperial Palace is marked as XV and the Circus as XXXIV. Now do you think you might let me breathe for a bit?”
    You release his throat. “Thanks,” you mutter as you reach for your map.
    â€œDon’t mention it,” he gasps, massaging his throat. “If you’re going to the Circus, you won’t get in without one of these.” With which he hands you a ticket to show there’s no hard feelings.
    â€œThanks,” you say again, with a lot more feeling this time. You pop the ticket into your pocket.
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    The map shows that both the Imperial Palace and the Circus aren’t too far from here. As Titus says, you’ll find the former at 15 and the latter at 34 . Take your pick.
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    Please select an option from the previous page.

39
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    â€œYes,” you say with some trepidation.
    â€œSum,” the Mercury phone translates for you.
    â€œExcuse me,” says the young man and whips a blindfold over your eyes. “Not too uncomfortable? Good. Now, you just come with me and don’t worry about the ritual responses -- I’ll prompt you.”
    He takes you by the arm, leads you forward then stops. You hear him knock three times on a door.
    â€œWho seeks to enter this sacred place?” asks a portentous voice from inside.
    â€œOne who seeks light and