'My hulking friend, there is no need for me to tell you of all that has happened to me over these last fifteen years. That would take more time than we have left to us on this journey. Suffice to say that I have been sold and resold, given my freedom and made a slave again and again-yet always the path that fate has selected for me has led to these barbarian lands.
'I have had many masters. For the most part they were kind enough, and several have chosen to follow the Way. I have spent the last five years teaching the sons and daughters of the governor of Rhodes, for I have a small gift for numbers and music. However, my philosophy is not what the governor of Rhodes found congenial. His eldest son was beginning to take interest in my words. To preclude his son's acceptance of the Way, the governor, a kindly man, has made a present of me to a friend of his. I have heard of his friend; he is a wise and noble man of learning. It is to his house I go.'
'Well, dammit,' grumbled Casca, 'who is he?'
'Seneca is the honored man's name-Seneca.' Casca was silent for a moment. When Lucius had updated him on history and politics the name of Seneca had often been mentioned. Seneca, he recalled Lucius as saying, was one of Rome's leading minds. He had been the teacher and adviser of Nero when the young emperor first assumed power. Of late, however, Nero had been going his own way and listening to none but those who pleased him. Well, it was none of Casca's concern. He would never meet Nero.
Now the Pelorus promontory was coming in sight and the sea roughening. The captain called on the slaves to take oar and assist in the last of the passage through the Straits of Messina.
'We will have only one more night at sea, my young friend. Our time at sea is short, and we should make the most of it in learning. I call you young, for so you appear, but… I have been to many lands and many places. I have met the great and the small. Most of the pitiable group that we call man fit into niches of one kind or another. Even I fit into one. But you are an enigma to me. I don't quite know how to place you. Can you help in answering this? Forgive me if I am asking too much, but, as I told you, I am cursed by overweening curiosity.'
Smiling, Casca leaned close to the yellow man. 'There is an answer, Shiu, but I don't think now is the time for the telling. Perhaps after we land we will have the chance to talk together once more.'
Shiu gently accepted Casca's reticience to talk of himself. 'Good enough, long nose. If you choose not to speak, you have your reasons. Let it suffice that I believe you are basically a good man-within your own rules, that is. You are not cruel without purpose, neither do you use your great strength against those who are weaker. Also, your wish to come to my aid when the ignorant ones forced themselves on me shows a certain moral structure. But I believe you are one who is hounded by his own existence, that you have yet to gain control over your destiny-or even to know what it shall be. But, enough. We will leave things as they are. I accept you without restraints.'
Shiu rose to his full height. Clasping his hands together, and holding them inside the long sleeves of his robe, he bowed.
Crespas, coming on deck, noticed the yellow man bowing to Casca but thought nothing of it. As with Casca and Shiu, the morning was tranquil for him. His memories of the voyage so far were pleasant. He had been content to wager his palate against the money of the galley captain by naming the different wines of the empire set before him. So far he had won three and lost one, but in this kind of contest he couldn't really lose. The wagers were small and the wines for the most part quite good, especially the Falernian, of Rome. Not Rome exactly, but it was grown in the hills between Rome and Neapolis to the south. Also, there were vintages that were almost as pleasing. The Mamerian of Sicily and the Greek Chian and Lesbian were worth the tasting just for the differences.
Ah! The thought of good wine and good food filled Crespas with a happy glow, and he anticipated tonight's supper. As the galley neared its destination, small boats would approach, Crespas knew from past experience; the sailors would be crying out what they had to sell… sea urchins… and turbot fresh from the waters… and oysters. Crespas' mouth fairly watered at the thought of fresh raw oysters in a fish sauce, washed down with the Tarter Mamertine.
Good! The pleasures of civilized company again… and food fit to eat, not the goat smothered in garlic that those miserable goatherds had so constantly tried to palm off on him these past years. This homecoming was long overdue.
Still, the last three years had not been without profit. The mines on Siphnos had not been completely worked out by the Greeks. Besides the copper ore, there were occasional pockets of silver. Even gold had cropped up now and then. The bulk of this went into his own purse, after, of course, a reward to the overseer who brought the finds to him. One had to still wagging tongues.
But… tomorrow… Rome… and my villa… home again!..
Crespas sighed, luxuriating in anticipation.
He had entirely forgotten Casca and the little yellow man.
But two men on the galley had not forgotten Casca and Shiu.
The two thugs had seen Shiu bow to Casca. The breed cursed quietly. The younger one asked, 'Tonight?'
'Tonight. When the sea gets rough.”
“But what if they don't show on deck?”
“They will.' By Mithra, damned if he would be cheated out of his revenge. Even the gods would not be that unfair. There had been no chance to even the score so far. The two had continued to give Casca and Shiu dark looks and cursed at them beneath their breath when they were in the vicinity of the yellow man, but only once had they given it the old try. A few days earlier the two of them had approached Casca and started to chew his ass out for taking up with the yellow man, but at the sight of Casca swelling up in anger-his neck and face turning dark with rage, his great arms flexing- they had beat a hasty retreat. The incident had served to cement their hatred for Casca, and they now included him in their curses and plottings. 'Tonight,' the breed repeated.
Strong winds billowed the sails out and drove the galley on north, north to the port of Ostia. The waters grew appreciably rougher as the evening approached and the Tyrrhenian Sea turned dark. When full night came on, the island of Aeoli was far astern to port, and the seas were even rougher. But the wind was steady, pushing them to the north at a good clip, and the captain chose to ride the wind after giving orders for everything loose to be battened down. All fires were out. No oil lamps were to be lit tonight. The risk of fire was too great, and the captain was a careful man. As for Casca and Shiu, the prohibition of lamplight made little difference. They weren't used to having lamps at night anyway. Oil was a luxury saved for the rich and well-to-do, not for lowly slaves.
Casca and Shiu took their meals and ate apart from the other slaves as was now their custom. The two thugs gave them dark looks, but Casca ignored them, and Shiu seemed not to see. Tomorrow would be the end of the voyage. Neither would probably ever see the two thugs after the landing. They ate and prepared for the night.
The wind freshened and the sea roughened. The galley pitched and yawed. Those in the slave sections tried to sleep. Some succeeded, but the tossing only served to make Casca restless. He arose from his pallet, wrapped his cloak around him, and started for the upper deck and fresh air. As he climbed the ladder leading to the surface, a figure below made himself known.
'Shiu!'
'Go on, big nose, I am right behind.'
The two walked carefully along the deck to the starboard side of the galley. Italy lay somewhere in the dark. The wind hummed through the lines, pressed the billowed sails, and the galley drove on through the night.
Shiu faced the stern, letting the sea breeze blow cold in his face and spray settle into his thin beard and moustache. 'Aiiiee, big nose. This is much better than lying below in that dungeon. Here at least we can breathe free air-even if we are not free.'
Casca grunted as he was wont to do when he couldn't think of anything to say, enjoying the brisk wind. The only sailors on deck were those needed for the care of the ship. They were mostly Cyprians or Egyptians, experienced men who could be counted on in an emergency. The wind was strong, but there was no real danger, though the roughness of the sea was enough to make landlubbers uncomfortable.
There was, however, another danger much more real.
As Casca and Shiu enjoyed the open expanse of the dark sea, two figures made their way to the deck. These kept stealthily to the shadows, moving slowly and cautiously. The two bullies were determined to even the score tonight, for the rough sea would be an ideal time. If two landsmen went over the side into the churning waters, surely there could be no suspicion of foul play.
The younger man moved forward, his breath seeming to rasp in his ears, anticipation building in him, his pulse quickening. It was his first such kill. The older man was more settled and at ease. A basic streak of cruelty
