This was what prompted me to ask, “How muchof the crew is slave, and how many free?”
Demeter not only did not hesitate, he didnot seem surprised by the question, and he was quick to assure usthat, like Squillus, his crew was all made up of freedmen, with theexception of the men on the lowest bank of oars. It was not untillater that Septimus broke the news.
“You know that Demeter is a pirate,don’t you?”
We were walking back to the villa, and Icame to a sudden stop, gaping at him.
“No,” I assured him, “I had no idea,but how do you know that he is?”
“Think about it,” he answered, but heresumed walking as he went on, “almost his entire crew arefreedmen.”
“So was Squillus’ crew,” I pointedout, which required Alex and I to explain, but Septimus was notswayed.
“And this Squillus either sails alongthe Gallic coast or crosses the channel,” he snorted. “This Demetersays he’s made, what, five voyages a year across Our Sea for thelast several years? There’s no cargo in the world that would payfor that many crewmen.” Before either of us responded, he pointedout, “And, he’s from Rhodes. They’re practically raised aspirates.”
This was something I could not argue, norcould Alex. Instead, all I said was, “Well, I hope they’re goodpirates. I want to get to Alexandria.”
Before we arrived at the villa, wemade a mutual pact not to mention our suspicions about Demeter andthe Persephone, agreeing thatall the others needed to know was that we had foundpassage.
Chapter Ten
We left two days later, with thefamily gathered outside the villa. By this time, Scribonia had cometo visit, bringing her infant son, and Atia and Manius had spentthe night, as had Miriam, her Servius once again being away onbusiness. I sensed there was more to that story than met the eye,but I did not dream of prying. Birgit was there, of course,although slightly distressing was the absence of Gaius Gallienus;when I asked her, Birgit angrily announced that she was certainthat he had managed to sneak out and spend time with hisDuumvir’s daughter. Iwas disappointed, yet at the same time, I could not blame him;after all, I was taking Bronwen on a dangerous voyage with me, so Isuppose this colored my view of the matter. Alex was angrier thanBirgit, but he did not allow it to mar the farewell as the four ofus walked out through the gates of the villa. A carpentum had been arranged, and we got into theback, sitting on the benches with our baggage on the floor betweenus. Since we were the only passengers, we made good progress,although the streets were already busy as men, and some women,hurried to their jobs throughout the city. Because Septimus wasgoing with us, I had decided to ask only Marcellus and Hemina tocome, but Hemina had declined, and there was not enough time for usto find a replacement, Celer and Trio having vanished, according toMarcellus. We had met at a taverna, fortunately not Bacchus’ Delight, whichwas now owned by someone else, Septimus having disposed of it evenbefore my ransom, and this was where Hemina had turned medown.
“I’ve got a wife and family, Pullus,”he said apologetically, although there was no need for it. “I hadto lie to her about going to fucking Britannia, which was badenough, but if I told her I was going to Egypt, she’d cut my ballsoff.”
I had to laugh at this, both becauseof what he said and because I was certain I knew why. Even inGermania, which is probably as far away from Egypt and the East asone can be, it is an article of faith among men, of all ranks underthe standard, that the brothels of the East contain mysteries anddelights that would torment a man’s dreams. After reading thePrefect’s account, I knew that this was, while not completelyuntrue, highly exaggerated; I also understood trying to convinceHemina, and most importantly, his wife of this was a waste of time.When the carpentum arrived atthe dock, as he had promised, Marcellus was standing there with thepack of an Optio of the Legions, although he did not lookparticularly happy.
“I thought I’d be fine,” he told meafter we got out of the wagon and unloaded our baggage, “but thenwhen I walked up here and saw that ship, I started getting seasickagain. And,” he added bleakly, “crossing the channel to Britanniais nothing compared to what we’re going to be facing.” He must haveseen my sudden change as I digested this and what it might mean,because he assured me, “Don’t worry, I’m still getting on thatfucking ship. But,” he said glumly as we began walking to the plankto board, “I’m not going to be happy about it.”
Standing next to Demeter was hissecond in command, a swarthy man even darker than Demeter, aboutten years younger, and unlike his master, his beard was welltrimmed, and judging by the shine, oiled. It was the manner inwhich he leered at Bronwen that caused me to pause just long enoughso that he could look up at me, while I stared down at him, sendinga silent message that, judging by the manner in which he steppedaway from me, he received and understood. One thing thatrecommended the Persephone,other than the willingness of its master to risk a voyage atthis time of year, was that it had two cabins beneath the upperdeck at the stern instead of one. While it would have accommodatedfour regular-sized people, because of me, it was left to Alex andSeptimus to argue about who would get the third spot, but theyquickly agreed to alternate. Marcellus found a space where he wasnot subjected to the stench of the rowing compartment, aided by thefact that Demeter had somehow been able to find about half thecargo Persephone could carry,thereby creating extra room.
Despite his best attempts, in the form ofaudible sighs as he stared at the empty space, and a mutteredcomment, none of us were moved in the slightest.
“He’s making more money just with usas passengers than he’d make with a full
