Insurgent of Rome

by Ken Farmer

  Now, if any gang of night-thieves came to request a share of purses - or the owner of the slave appeared with men to give his displeasure, the youngster would not be underfoot for the sudden work that would need be done. To the tall black, he said, "Take watch outside, to give warn of any approaching. Snuff the torch. On this black night, it will be seen around the entire circle of the harbor."

  He turned to the stranger in the hutment. "Who might you be?"

  The man said, in a surprising goodness of tongue, "Cambyses. Of Sidon." That city was on the eastern edge of the Great Sea, south along the coast from Antioch, only a pair of thousand stadia or so. Without pause, he continued. "You are in search of your man, in the merchantry of Clavius, next to that of Hamon, the lumber factor."

  This was encouraging. Here was almost the first man who even admitted knowing of the agent of the house. "Aye," replied Julius. "And I will be generous with coin for any who can give such information."

  "Nay!" came the retort. "I do not wish gold for my telling."

  "And what other could I give to such as you? I have doubt that your master will allow you the possession of a gynaíka from the brothels."

  With no hesitation, the slave said, "A berth back to my home-city."

  "For a slave, you are overbold." This was from Melglos. "You address Kapetánios Clavius. I would remember that in your speaking."

  Julius had little interest in honorifics while in a crumbling hutment and much desiring the information he sought. "Your destination would be Sidon, as you said."

  "Aye... Kapetánios. I am the son of Cambyses, the Senior. My ship was taken by peiratés while in voyage to Tarsus, in support of our grain merchantry."

  A familiar story. Again, Julius gave the frequent thought that the vermin that were infesting the trade routes of honest voyagers would have to be eliminated eventually. If not by Rome, then the domains of the east. If they were allowed to continue and increase in number, the lands around the Great Sea would eventually find themselves isolated and destitute as commerce collapsed.

  "Give me your tale. Its value will determine the reward given."

  "What assurance have I that you will honor your words?"

  Melglos stepped forward, hand on hilt. "Your wage will be Greek iron in your belly. A slave does not chaffer terms as if he were in purchase of fruit in the Agorá."

  Julius took the angry man by the arm, pulling him back to stance. "Nay. A man whose freedom has been taken has little reason to trust another." Now he spread his hands to the slave. "I am Julius of Capua, of the noble family of Clavius, which is known across the Sea for honest measure and trade. If you are not in cozen of my need, then I give promise to your demand should your words have value."

  There was a pause as the slave came to the same realization as the Roman - he had little choice in the trusting, and in fact, what bond could be given by a man in a dark hut at the mid of night? "Aye... My master is Dionysophanes, owner of the merchantry of trade, and senior of the harbor guild." Julius was not surprised at the name given. "I am first Adjunct to the senior Logistis of the house, working in the scroll-room with the scriveners and copyists..."

  There was a hiss from outside, and suddenly Ngozi called quietly. "Torch on the road. The city watch is in approach."

  "Aye. Move behind the hut and give me when they have passed beyond hearing."

  The conversation lagged for the moment, with Julius giving thought of what little had been said. Some of the words were unfamiliar, but he gave assume that this man was apparently a helper to the accountant of the merchantry of Dionysophanes. It gave some credence to the tale of his being the son of a merchant with enough prosperity to be sent afar to gain something - trade or custom, no doubt - for the need of business. Such a man would be educated in numbering and scrivening, a valuable slave for a merchant-trader.

  "They have turned in their path. They move back toward the city." This was from the Ngozi. Such made sense for the night-watch to turn and retrace their sentry-go. At this far end of the harbor, there was little for any guards to protect, other than the myriad of putrid smelling fishing boats and rotting wharves.

  Now to the slave, he said, "Continue. You apparently have knowledge of the vanishment of my agent. Where might he be?"

  From the darkness, came the tale again. "Nay, Kapetánios. I can not give you his place, but I know the reason for his disappearance. Dionysophanes is a fiend, caring little for any lesser men on which he trods in his grasp. With the auspices of the King, he has been on a journey to assume the entirety of the trading merchantry in Antioch. And not only this city, but that of Harmed and Gashimish and such in this land."

  "The King you speak of is Phillip, of course."

  "Aye," came the confirming reply. "Although with the death of that regent, the plans of Dionysophanes have been given haste, to take advantage of the emptiness until another ruler is placed. There is word of a tax, administered by the man himself, on entry of any ships not favored by his merchantry." A pause, then, "Most smaller traders have either sold their trading entities, and at a minute part of the worth, or have been taken into the fold of the larger, retaining their name but not self-direction."

  "And Phineus, our agent?" The tale was as Julius had been suspecting - not the details, but the unnatural disappearance of two well-paid factors without trace.

  "In the night, the men of Dionysophanes descended on the merchantry. The servants and slaves are now sold in the markets of Tarsus. That I know, seeing the bills of exchange from the slave-traders. But, as to your man... I saw nothing to give hint of his fate, but I would give wager that his bones are resting on the bottom of the sea." Before Julius could give reply, the man said with some emphasis. "The Kapetánios of his gang that gives force to the wishes of the merchantry is one Ardeshir, a Persian from a despicable pit of vipers in some far city, and the lead sea-Captain for his ship. He mirrors his master, but unlike Dionysophanes, making his evil acts for gain, the Kapetánios takes pleasure from infliction of pain. He is the leader of the reavers that took my ship, and that takes any man who gains the displeasure of the merchant to some far land to be sold."

  "How did you know of our search of our agent?"

  "I was in the office of the Conciliator, Eukles, when you appeared. I had brought some tablets for his need, sent by the senior Logistis of Dionysophanes. I overheard the converse." Now the man looked through the broken doorway, then said, "Your pardon, Kapetánios. But if you do not accept my offer, then I must be back in the compound of the scribery and well before the light of day."

  "Nay. You have given satisfaction enough." Julius turned and called through the door. "What of the road, Ngozi?"

  "The nearest watch is by the scarfing yard. Nothing else in closeness."

  Julius could see the torches of the walking guards, far in the distance. "Strike a torch, we return to the ship." To the slave, he said, "When we approach any watch on the road, take yourself to hiding until they pass. I wish none to remember three men with a slave in company in the night."

  Now, with some haste they strode up the road, entering the harbor proper and twice passing the patrolling guards. Both times, the slave, Cambyses, hid until the danger of discovery was past. Finally, at the ship, Julius gave command to the slave to settle in the sailcloth locker until morning, and to not show himself on deck when the sun rose.

  Chapter 7

  Before the sun had shown itself, the crew was on deck and given knowledge of the new passenger below, and the need for secrecy for his being. The full tale was given, then the news that they would stand out on the morrow, probably, once the Captain had ascertained certain findings in the city. But for now...

  To Flavius, the Carpenter of the ship, he said, "Get your tongs and remove the iron from the neck of the man below." Knowing that the hammered iron ring would take more than one pair of hands to straighten, he said, "Judoc. Assist him. All others will begin to make ready for the voyage to Rhodes." In that island city, he would decide whether
to place a scroll of the discovered happenings for carriage on the next ship or mayhap make the voyage entire to Capua.

  For now, as the light began to wax, he returned to his tiny cabin to add to his missive of happenings, giving his brother the facts that he had found as to the demise of their agent in Antioch. In a while, Patroclus appeared in the hatchway, giving a light knock to give his presence. Julius waved him to enter, pointing to his raised sleeping mat, the only other place of sitting in the tiny cabin. As the older man settled onto the mat, Julius said, "It was my thought to point the ship to Rhodes, to put my scroll on any family vessel moving west."

  With raised eyebrows in question, the Sage replied, "But you have doubts, else we would be lifting the anchor stones even now."

  Julius gave a wry expression. "We have been together for too many years when you can read my thoughts as on a scroll in the librarium. But, aye, this city is the gateway to the trade coming from the east and the northern amber-lands. We cannot just give it up as a street urchin hides from the bullies in the street." He thought for a moment, then added, "Still, I would have no issue with us touching in my land again. It has been the year and more since I saw my family." He frowned, then said, "This situation will take much thought. Even with the skill of our crew, they could make no issue against a powerful house, with likely dozens of street-toughs under arms."

  "Or hundreds." Patroclus obviously agreed with his thoughts. "But, mayhap, by our return, the situation may be totally different, with even both merchant house and city in ruins under the heels of King Tigranes."

  "Mayhap. But, I will visit the Conciliator, Eukles, this morn, to find if he has located a suitable office for our agency."

  Now the Sage was hesitant, and with an expression of... amiss. "What is the use of employing another, to be slain as we stand out of the harbor?"

  Julius smiled. "Aye, no use at all. But, I did not say that I would accept the lease, only that I would inquire of one. There is little doubt that he is under the direct bidding of this Dionysophanes, to inhibit any other trading houses in the city."

  There was a pause, then the Sage said, "We do not have the men to give forceful action to right our loss, and any agent that we hire would himself be bones in the harbor and quickly... I do not understand what you hope to accomplish. Do you have the thought that the Conciliator was the slayer of Phineus?"

  "Eukles? Nay." The Roman shook his head. "You may have noticed the pugio in his belt at our first meeting. It would scarcely carve the meat for the evening meal. Such a trinket would not be carried even by a brawler of the streets. Nay. He is just a lamb trying to avoid the wolves that have appeared at the demise of order in these lands. I cannot just report to my brother that our use of Antioch is lost, without giving reason or details." Now he smiled. "Since the taburnae visits of our crew have not borne fruit, then we must look elsewhere. As a boy, I learned that a goodly shake of the tree will gain more apples than merely waiting for them to drop."

  "Aye," came the dry response. "Just make goodly look that you do not shake an asp from the branches."

  "For yourself, give a roll of papyrus and pen to the slav... the man below. Bade him write every single thought that he has of knowledge of both our problem and the merchantry of Dionysophanes. Observe what he scribes - it may be that you will joggle his memories for more information."

  Again on deck, he asked Densus if the provisions on board were sufficient to see them into the port of Rhodes. The distance was about four thousand stadia and would take only a few days, with goodly winds, but... A wise captain always made plans for the perversity of the wind gods - it was not unknown for a ship to lay becalmed for half the month. And he knew the answer even before the reply. "We could haul the distance, but it would be on dry rashers and stale barmbrack." The Petrel - all ships - waited until the day of sailing to purchase greenstuff, fruit, bread and the like, to give it greater life during the voyage. As the plans to leave port had been indefinite until now, the food lockers were fairly empty.

  He gazed across the expanse of the busy shoreline and nearby wharves, filled with chaffering merchants and laborers, dock-whores and idlers of all types, then said to the cook, "Make your purchases now." Turning to the Thracian, he said, "Accompany Densus in his vending. Kaeso, have the sail ready for raising and the poles unroped for immediate use." To all, he gave orders, "I want no man to enter the city alone, nor far from the ship. We may stand out at any hour."

  The First Mate looked at his captain under narrowed brows. "Are you expecting some... hindrance in our departing?"

  "Mayhap. I am going to shake some trees," he replied, to the puzzlement of the mate and the amusement of the Sage. After some converse with the man from Gaul, Judoc, for a few moments, he said, "Ngozi, you are with me."

  The four walked across the boarding plank together, two moving toward the food-kiosks and the other pair down the wide port road. As they passed the myriad of offices, kiosks and merchantries, the Roman seemingly gave inspect to each, giving particular attention to the few that were apparently without lease or ownership at the moment. His companion kept his gaze to the street and the many individuals moving here and there. Ngozi gave little interest of buildings, but had the need to know of his surroundings - a trait developed in a land, far to the south, where inattention of a man in his movements might end both need and being forever.

  Eventually, they came to the offices of Eukles, the Conciliator, fortunately finding the leasing factor present. "Ah. My good advocate of the family of Clavius. Welcome, Kapetánios." The man was effusive in welcome, almost giving appearance of sincerity. "You have come to ascertain progress for a new agency office, no doubt. And I can give much hope on that, although as yet I have been unable to completely arrange for an edifice suitable for your needs."

  "My gratitude, good Eukles. It gives goodly feeling to have one in good service at such a distance from my home. But..." He turned to point in the direction from which they had walked. "There is an empty building at the corner of the port road and the one leading to the lumber yards. The caretaker gives that such is for letting and I give wonder that you have not given suggest of such." The statement had only the truth of emptiness, but certainly not of speaking to any man, caretaker or no. Julius had only noticed the structure in passing, selecting it only for the reason of its vacancy. Another would have done as well for his purpose.

  Now the Conciliator bowed with a look of regret. "Aye, Kapetánios, the building is indeed without use since the death of Ennomus, the port vending factor. Alas, his family is in struggle with each other of ownership and there is none to give legal sanction for lease - as yet. But, I have hopes that such conflict will be settled in the following days, then be assured that your need is at the first of our list."

  Julius nodded in understanding, obviously giving some thought to the matter, then he said, "Mayhap I can give some haste to their decision. I doubt that the city magistrates would give goodly thought on a prime office being held empty on the spat of inheritors, to the exclusion of more trade and taxing opportunities for Antioch. I have acquaintance with the Arbiter of Vending for the city. Mayhap he can give assist in convincing that family to hasten their bicker."

  Now, Eukles spread his hands in regret. "Nay, good Kapetánios. I have doubt that such office can give override to such. The legal judgement is in the hands of the Adjudicator Primus, and he is no doubt in turmoil at the unfortunate passing of the King." Now he smiled, again with spread hands. "But, I will send my chief scribe to the offices of Judgement and ask for all haste in the settlement of this matter, that you might gain possession for your needs."

  "My gratitude, good Conciliator. I give thought that both our efforts might give good haste to the matter. I will consult with the Arbiter even as you give your attempts." He bowed, then finished with, "I will not assume any more of your valuable day. Again, my thankfulness for your efforts" Before the man could find another reason for lack of action, Julius turned and walked from the building,
apparently satisfied with the results of the visit.