The Silk Tree Read Online Free PDF Page B

so.
    ‘Better’n that, Greek!’
    ‘Oh?’
    ‘Grotius. He begs to be released of his arrears.’
    ‘
And
…?’
    ‘I said we’d agree to it.’
    Lost for words, Nicander blinked in confusion.
    Marius continued enthusiastically, ‘In view o’ what he had to say.’
    ‘Which was, might I ask?’
    ‘Ha! What you didn’t know is that the fat toad is in with the Blues faction in a big way.’
    ‘And what’s that got to do with us?’
    The brutal Roman circus of gladiators and Christian sacrifice had long since been overtaken in Byzantine popular entertainment by other offerings; now it was wild animal baiting and, above all, chariot racing between the Blues and Greens factions.
    Marius retorted triumphantly, ‘In two days there’s a fix, and Grotius is on the inside!’
    ‘So?’
    ‘He says it’s certain, as only he’s in the know and he trusts we’ll look kindly on his position while we collect our winnings.’
    ‘Do I hear you – you’re saying we should risk our precious capital – on a bet?’
    ‘Right enough. I can tell you on the quiet, he’s staking his wife and two daughters to slavery on it.’
    ‘No reason for us to be demented as well! Now look, Marius, betting is the business of fools. Can’t you see he’s throwing out an excuse so you leave him alone?’
    ‘This is our chance to make a hill o’ cash! Greens have had a good run with Priscus, their crack driver, they’re calling odds of sevens at least on a Blues win. We put—’
    ‘No!’
    ‘I say we go for it!’ Marius growled. ‘Anything which sees us on top o’ this world instead of—’
    ‘You fool!’ Nicander said. ‘We’ve not one shred of proof that there’s such a fix being planned. You’d throw our money at a bunch of losers and—’
    ‘Look, he’ll take us to see Nepos, the Blues driver. Introduce us. You can ask him yourself!’
     
    Grotius met them outside the Blues faction clubhouse. ‘So pleased you could come, gentlemen,’ he said with an oily charm. ‘It might be better to sportthese favours?’ He handed a blue cloth spray to each of them to pin on their tunics. His own had an ostentatious silver clasp, Nicander noted, already regretting his agreement to humour Marius.
    ‘My party,’ Grotius told the heavyweight pair at the door and they proceeded into the noisy interior.
    Seeing the marble panelling, ornate classical statues and the occasional flash of a senatorial toga, Nicander suspected that Grotius was a man living to the limits of his means.
    He also knew the factions were more than simple supporters. Enormous sums were granted to them by the Prefect to manage the public shows. In Rome there had been four factions but now the Blues and Greens had it all between them. They played to the masses and ran an operation that included top charioteers and circus spectaculars.
    They could effortlessly whip up the mob with professional cheerleaders and gangs and were therefore a formidable political force, even having the power to address the emperor directly in their own interest.
    Nicander trod carefully around the carousing groups as they followed the corpulent merchant. Female cries that left no doubt as to the activity within came from behind closed doors. A stream of slaves bearing exotic sweetmeats and jugs of wine jostled past. Occasionally, well-dressed patrons nodded familiarly at Grotius then looked curiously at his guests.
    At the end of the long passage Grotius knocked firmly at a door.
    ‘Who the fuck’s that?’ came a deep voice from inside. ‘I’m tired. Go away.’
    ‘Ah, Nepos, old friend. It’s Grotius and I’ve a pair of your greatest fans who beg to meet you.’
    ‘Oh? Well send ’em in if you have to, then.’
    Rush dips guttered as they entered and a rich stink of horses lay on the air. The charioteer reclined on a leather bench. Two women were at work on his oiled back.
    ‘This is Nepos, gentlemen, the supreme chariot driver of the age!’
    He rolled over to face them.