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LBO
stood neatly at the end of the garden. But the topiarist was unlucky. The villa's owner had wanted to see his own name in box trees. The missing vowel had just been beaten down to a stump by a furious man who now seized the topiarist by his hair. As Gaius and I arrived, he was about to cut off the screaming Lbo's head with his clipping shears.
XIV
Nobody had seen us. We could still scram out of the way.
Excuse me!" Gaius shot forwards, a righteous clerk at full pelt with his chin up stubbornly. He was interfering dangerously and I should have abandoned him. The shears may never have been sharp enough to decapitate the gardener, but they had drawn blood. The furious man was gripping the blades together one-handed, digging them into the neck of the topiarist as if he was tackling a stout branch. He was strong and handy. Pompous and plump, Gaius Baebius shook his finger like a feeble schoolteacher. Now I suggest that you stop right there." Judging by the furious man's expression, we were next for having our fronds lopped. Gaius carried on calmly, I'm all for chastising errant slaves, but there are limits." The man with the shears hurled the gardener to the ground, where he lay gurgling as he clutched his throat. Killing your slave is legal though unless you catch him screwing your wife, it is generally frowned on. The attacker stamped on the topiarist and marched towards us. He was not Roman. His clothing was rich and colourful, beneath a patina of careless grime; lank hair tumbled down to his shoulders; gold glinted at his throat. Most knuckles on the hand that gripped the long bladed shears were armoured with gemstone rings. He had dark skin, weathered in some open-air occupation; from his ma
Marcus."
Get some rest, Gaius."
But won't we try to escape?"
No." I had sca
All right. So we'll jump them the next time anyone comes in?" I was thinking of that, but would not forewarn Gaius in case he messed it up. There's nothing we can do; try to save your energy." We lay in the gathering darkness, trying to work out from a vague, unsettling smell what had been kept in this store before us. Gaius Baebius groaned as our hopeless position finally struck him. Then conscience made my sister's ridiculous husband confess something. He had kept to himself one very important fact about this villa and the man who owned it.
I was told something curious about Damagoras. Is now the time to mention it?"
Gaius, the time for information was way back. Before we climbed over his gate, I'd say. What do you know about this man?"
I was told he is a retired pirate," said Gaius Baebius. He had the sense to make it a simple statement, then not to goad me any more.
XV
Torches a
What are you?" asked the big man bluntly as he stared down at us. He had a thick accent which I could not place, but spoke Latin as if he was used to it. He could be a trader, a successful one.
My name is Didius Falco. I am a private informer." There was no point hiding why we were here. I am looking for someone." I noticed that Gaius did not try to mention his own occupation. As customs officers go, he was good at his job and even bright. Piracy and collecting tax don't mix. Well, not unless you think the Treasury is a bunch" of pirates.
And your colleague?" The man with the debatable pedigree missed nothing.
He is called Gaius Baebius." Gaius had gone rigid. My brother-in law." That was accepted, but I felt Gaius stay tense. We waited for reverse introductions, but none came. The man jerked his head for us to get up and follow him. I ignored it. He turned back and said rudely, Stay there and rot, if you prefer." I stood up, wincing at my aches. Whom are we addressing?"