'And some of the Hellenes who have to live under their rule are almost civilized, too, if you know what I mean. Greek with an Oscan accent is ugly whether it comes out of a Samnite's mouth or out of a Hellene's.' 'It sounds better than Greek with a Latin accent,' Makrobios said. 'What's Latin?' Menedemos and Sostratos asked the question at the same time. 'The language the Romans speak,' the fish-faced Makrobios answered. He held up his hand with the fingers spread. 'We say pente. When the Samnites mean five, they say pumpe - not much different, eh? So you can understand a Samnite when he talks Greek.' 'That Herennius Egnatius didn't speak badly,' Menedemos agreed. 'But when the Romans mean five, they say quinque' Makrobios pronounced the barbarians' word with obvious distaste. 'I ask you, how can anyone who makes noises like that learn good Greek?' 'Some of those Campanian cities are doing pretty well for themselves, though, even if they've got Samnites ruling them,' Menedemos said. 'I was thinking of taking the Aphrodite up that way after I've done all the business here I can.' Makrobios shrugged. 'Whatever you like, of course. Perhaps I'll see you again afterwards. On the other hand, perhaps I won't, too.' His clear implication was that perhaps nobody would see Menedemos again afterwards. With some irritation, Menedemos asked, 'Do you think I'd be wiser to go to Syracuse? I don't, by the gods.' 'Well, neither do I,' the Tarentine admitted. 'Unless Agathokles does something extraordinary, I don't see how he can keep Carthage from taking his city. And he's been ruling Syracuse for seven years now, so I don't know what he can do that he hasn't already done.' 'You see my problem, then,' Menedemos said. 'I'm not going to turn around and go straight back to Hellas when I leave Taras, so what else can I do?' 'Believe me, I'm glad it's not my worry.' Makrobios leaned forward. 'Tell me, what price are you asking for peafowl eggs?' 'Thirty drakhmai,' Menedemos answered at once; he and Sostratos had been over that ground, and had sold a couple of eggs at that price. 'From their size, I'd also say you'd do better to have a duck or a goose brood them than a hen.' 'And suppose I spend thirty drakhmai and the egg doesn't hatch? What then?' Makrobios demanded. It was Menedemos' turn to shrug. 'I'm afraid that's the chance you take. I'm not a god, to look inside an egg and tell whether it's good or bad.' 'We'll soon have chicks for sale - for a good deal more,' Sostratos added. 'You can save some money if you want to gamble a little.'
Вы читаете Over the Wine Dark Sea
