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XXXIX
We had to go out to the old salt workings. Salt was the staple that brought about the founding of Rome. A large marsh lies out on the Via Salaria, the Salt Road just before Ostia as you travel in from Rome. Virtus said the wrecked vehicle was there. The chariot had been spotted by passing drivers that morning, off road and upended. Helena and I set off down the Decumanus on foot, intending to hire donkeys if we saw a stable. Luck was with us; an open cart rattled past, bearing a group of vigiles fresh from their patrol house. They were going out to the scene of the crime, and they let us hop on board with them. It would be a short journey. We could have walked, but it would have taken time and effort.
What do you know about it, lads?"
Debris was noticed at dawn. Salt workers were alerted and went over to see if there was anything to salvage. When they saw the situation with the dead horses, they got scared and sent a ru
What's Petronius want the gear for?"
Lugging back the chariot."
Get away! It's not his style," I joked glumly. This is a rich boy's passion-wagon. Lucius Petronius is a stately ox-cart man." The vigiles gri
Stay here."
No, I'm coming."
Your choice, then." The vigiles who had brought us immediately did what they were trained to do. they moved back the gawpers. The salt workers were gnarled little men with particular features and little to say. Their ancestors had stared at Aeneas in the same way these were staring at us now; their ancestors" ancestors knew old Father Tiber when he was an adolescent lad. Others in the audience were contract drivers who had noticed the crowd and left their carts up on the road. The men stood about with their thumbs in their belts, giving out opinions. Carters always know what's what, and they are usually wrong. I walked up to Petronius. We clasped hands briefly. Helena had gone straight to the chariot, but it was empty. We had to hunt for the body." Petro muttered, but ever alert, she heard him.
Come and see." He walked with us across the marsh, away from the cluster of people. When we had gone beyond earshot and our feet were soaking wet, we saw something lying up ahead. Helena ran forward, but stopped in shocked surprise. It is not the girl!" A sudden rush of tears caught her. I stood at her side, bemused. There was some relief not to be looking at Rhodope, but at the body of a man instead. Petronius watched us both.
This is Theopompus."
Thought so." Petro and I were now back on old terms. Helena had crouched to look at his face. It was not pretty. Theopompus was lying on his side, curled slightly. He must have been dead here half the night; what remained of his clothing was sodden. He had been beaten and then robbed of his finery. Troubling discolorations covered what we could see of him, though at least there was little blood. It looked as if he had been finished off with strangulation.
Not easy to see what the girl saw in him!" Petro commented. Theopompus must have been twice Rhodope's age. He was short limbed and sturdy, deeply ta
I don't imagine the girl did this." Petronius was in the dry, brutal mood that often afflicted him when faced with a vicious death. Well, not unless she was built like a barracks, and she had just found out he was a love rat…"