Over the Wine Dark Sea

himself, his ocellated tail fully spread as he displayed himself to a peahen that took no notice whatever of him. Maybe that's why he's screaming, Sostratos thought -  in some ways, the peacock wasn't so different from a man.   'Oh,' Herennius Egnatius said softly, and then something in his own language -  Oscan, Sostratos supposed it was. The sounds weren't so very different from those of Greek, though of course Sostratos couldn't understand the words. After a moment, the Samnite recovered and returned to Greek: 'Now I do understand. What is your price?'   'Before we speak of such things, let me introduce you to my cousin, Menedemos son of Philodemos,' Sostratos said. 'Menedemos, here I have Herennius Egnatius, who is interested in peafowl.'   Menedemos instantly went from grouchy to charming, clasping the Italian's hand and saying, 'Very pleased to make your acquaintance, sir. May I get you a cup of wine? It's just a local vintage, I'm afraid, though if you should want our Ariousian I could get you a sample.'   Herennius Egnatius shook his head; as it did to Himilkon the Phoenician and to many other barbarians, that meant no to him. 'The local wine will do well enough for me. I am looking for a way to make myself stand out. Many traders bring fine wine to Italy; some even bring it up to Samnium. But I have never seen such a bird as that.' His eyes kept going back to the gleaming polychrome splendor of the peacock's plumage.   'We have only the one peacock.' Menedemos stuck his thumb in the air to emphasize the point. 'We have four peahens, and we have -  how many eggs now, Sostratos?'   'Twenty-nine,' Sostratos answered: he was the fellow who kept track of things. 'The first of them should start hatching in less than half a month.'   'Thanks.' Menedemos dipped his head and went on, 'Twenty-nine eggs, then. Unless you make us an extraordinary offer for the peacock, we would rather sell you a peahen or some eggs, to let you start your own flock in . . .?'   'I live in Caudium.' The Samnite shook his head again, and pointed at the peacock. 'This is the bird I want. I will also buy a peahen, so that I may breed peafowl for myself.'   He didn't lack for arrogance. Gently, Sostratos said, 'As my cousin told you, you would have to make an extraordinary offer, because we probably would not be able to get so much for the other peahens and the eggs without the peacock to show what the buyer is really getting.'   'I understand,' Herennius Egnatius said. 'I also understood your cousin. For the pair of birds, I will pay five minai of silver in the money of Taras.'   'Five minai.' Sostratos did his best to sound thoughtful rather than delighted. That was a good deal more than Menedemos and he had paid for all six peafowl. Of course, the Samnite didn't know what they'd paid.   No sooner had that thought crossed his mind than Menedemos said, 'I'm sorry, sir, but we do have to make a profit. Ten minai for the pair would, but five?' He tossed his head. If he had any trouble concealing his delight, he didn't show it.   'I am sure you would make a profit on ten minai,' Herennius Egnatius said. The haggling began. It followed familiar lines -  except that the Samnite didn't realize how high his opening offer was. Sostratos and Menedemos made sure he didn't figure