by Albert Noyer
He replied in a subdued voice, "Augusta, we had time to visit only the major shrines. The Empress had moved north to Tiberias, to escape the heat."
"Of course." Pulcheria turned to Arcadia. "When the presbyter heard of my desire to have you visit Terra Sancta, he was interested in returning with you."
Arcadia murmured, "Getorius, won't that be nice?"
Won't that be nice, he mimicked his wife in his mind. She has made her decision to go.
"Arcadia, we left Ravenna in early September. I had planned on being in Constantinople perhaps two or three weeks."
"You found out about the Asklepion."
"I recall that you urged me to come here."
"For valid medical research and, besides, that riot forced us to come."
A frowning Pulcheria interposed, "This quarreling is improper, don't you agree Presbyter?" Before Tranquillus could answer, she stood and went to the table. "Sophia, you may serve Us from the grill the staff brought in. A simple meal. Boar meat and other foods left from this morning."
Tranquillus said nothing during the meal. At one point Getorius nudged his wife's arm; she understood it a confirmation that Pulcheria knew that the presbyter was an informer for Galla Placidia.
Arcadia asked, "Presbyter, if you go to the Holy Land again, who will preside at services in your Holy Cross Basilica at Ravenna?"
"My deacons can conduct all liturgies except the Eucharist," he answered without looking up at her. "Bishop Chrysologos will see to it."
"Holy Cross is one of Galla Placidia's votive offerings," Getorius noted. "Aren't you in a sense indebted to the Empress Mother for your position there?"
Pulcheria coughed and diverted his reply. "Arcadia, have you read more of Egeria's story?"
"Yes, it's September in her account."
"When cooler weather tempers summer heat, so you will go at the most favorable season." She turned to Getorius. "Surgeon, how is Ravenna in winter?"
Conscious of Pulcheria's use of the present tense, "will go," he replied, "Very cold when boreal winds come down from the Alps."
"Surgeoan, We imagine that many miraculous healing herbs about which you know nothing grow in Terra Sancta."
He nodded vague agreement. She's reverted to the formal pronoun, and is trying to induce me into doing what she wants. He heard her speaking to Arcadia.
"We understand that your sojourn in the East has been less than pleasant?"
"Riots. Awful murders. This latest treason involving you." Arcadia's voice trailed off.
"You will find Terra Sancta a haven of peace and inspiration." Pulcheria slipped the gold medallion bearing her portrait over her head and placed it around Tranquillus's neck. "Presbyter, perhaps this will remind you to report to Us on what you find. Our wish is that that you accompany the surgeon and his wife as spiritual guide. Tomorrow is the feast day of Theophilos, an Eastern Holy person. I place you under his protection."
Getorius wondered why the protection of both an Augusta and a saint was necessary in a land of peace and inspiration. Then he heard Pulcheria say that Nysus would have a carriage ready at dawn to take them to Elaea. The renamed Theophilos would sail with the morning tide.
From habit Arcadia squeezed her husband's injured hand. He winced as she murmured, "At last we're leaving the horrors of Anatolia for the quiet vacation we wanted."
Getorius recalled that Herakles thought that Pulcheria had a plan behind her invitation. If so, it would most certainly serve her interests. Mimicking the guide, he began, "I will be honest."
"About what?"
"Nothing, really, I suppose." For the present Getorius decided to let Arcadia enjoy what might prove to be as much of an illusion in the Holy Land, as had been her first glimpse of Constantinople's "golden" walls.
THE AUTHOR
ALBERT NOYER was born in Switzerland but raised in Detroit, Michigan. After Army service, he pursued his interest in art at Wayne State University, then worked as a commercial artist before entering a Detroit Public Schools career teaching art at the technical/vocational high school level, and part time art history instructor at St. Mary's College, Orchard Lake, MI. In 1986, after retiring in New Mexico with his wife, Jennifer, he exhibited watercolor paintings and woodcut prints in numerous regional exhibits. His work was featured in the March 1994 New Mexico Magazine, and the December 2006 Mature Life in New Mexico supplement of the Sunday Journal.
In 2012 Amazon Encore republished his 5th century historical mystery novels: The Saint's Day Deaths, The Secundus Papyrus and The Cybelene Conspiracy. Soon to be published in Kindle format is Death at Pergamum, set in ancient Turkey. Yet unpublished are Unholy Sepulcher in which husband/wife protagonists, Getorius and Arcadia, travel the Holy Land of A.D. 440-41, and The Kashat Deception, based on research in Coptic Egypt.
Being readied for publication is Alberix the Celt, a retelling of Julius Caesar's conquest of Gaul, from the viewpoint of an Helvetian youth, who survives the war and eventually becomes a Gallo-Roman magistrate.
The Ghosts of Glorieta / A Fr. Jake Mystery (2011) begins in Michigan and moves to a fictional village in New Mexico's Rio Communities. A sequel, ONE for the MONEY, TWO for the SLUICE, was released in 2013, both by Plain View Press, Austin, TX. Noyer is a member of SouthWest Writers, Sisters in Crime, Croak & Dagger. New Mexico Watercolor Society and New Mexico Veteran's Art. www.albertnoyer.com
