Read Online Arena by John Jakes - Free Book Online Page B

back up his swaggering air. Further, he has imagination. Or don’t you think so, Seneca?”
    “Certainly the games are popular,” the philosopher agreed, but not happily. “And growing larger and more ostentatious month by month.” The games appear to be the only means the Emperor can find to divert the minds of his subjects from his debaucheries. “However,” Seneca said, “while I don’t agree with your ambition, I agree that you must be rewarded. If my help in securing a loan for a sound business venture is what you wish, you shall have that help at the appropriate time.”
    So overwhelmed was I by the luck of my thrust, my wild gamble that had suddenly opened the future again, I barely heard the Prefect tell me, “Come to think of it, Cassius, if your scheme is more than sheer talk, I might be interested myself. As a silent partner, of course. Lately I’ve been so occupied at the Palatine, I’ve devoted hardly any attention to business. My affairs haven’t precisely prospered. I might have another valuable contact for you, in the person of a decurion in the city of Iol Caesaria, in Africa. I met him at a dinner while he was visiting in Rome last summer, and we became fast friends. Ah, but that’s the future, isn’t it?”
    The future, yes, but it quickened my imagination. A decurion — the provincial noble charged with governing an Imperial province overseas — could be of invaluable help in securing unique animals for any school with which he was connected. Seneca broke in on these grandiose visions.
    “In the present, however, we’re faced with the necessity of secretly returning you to the Bestiarii School. It’s almost the second hour already.”
    I told them that usually, Fabius did not disturb or call us out for practice until the middle of that second hour, preferring his pupils to be well rested when they faced the animals. Serenus and Seneca conferred briefly. They decided the latter was the appropriate person to smuggle me back into the school, though Seneca obviously had no taste for the task. Serenus’ appearance when wounded would excite too much attention.
    Serenus said thoughtfully, “It may sound odd coming from me, but perhaps I can tell Fabius the Emperor appointed me to look into the hiring of some bestiarii for a future show. Let’s try it, anyway. I’ll see about a litter.”
    He strode into the atrium. I reached for a last piece of the sweet siligineus, to fix in my memory its exact taste. That taste mattered more to me now than the flavor of a whore’s mouth. When I had finished eating, Serenus clasped my hand.
    “Consider our promise of help firm, not fanciful, Cassius. The rewards for a man in Rome these days, even a man who begins low on the rungs, are great. Provided he doesn’t trouble his soul overmuch about how he makes his wealth.”
    “That won’t concern me, I assure you, sir.”
    “The arena is dangerous. More so every day. But I have the feeling that if any can make it, you will be one.”
    “If desire alone is the standard, then I will.”
    From the atrium Seneca called that the litter was ready. Serenus said,“Vale!” I returned the Page 25

    word, believing that the grizzled Prefect meant his wish for good luck seriously.
    Outside the slave entrance at the rear of the house, I crawled into an uncomfortable position at the rear of the large closed litter. Only then did Seneca summon forth his bearers, tall Cappadocians, and his way-clearers, youths with white wands. We set off through the streets.
    From the increasing babble, it was clear that the usual host of parasitic clients seeking favors from Seneca trailed along behind.
    There was a tense moment when the guard at the school gate peered inside, but he jumped back deferentially at sight of the patrician profile of the litter’s occupant. The litter bumped to the ground near a shadowy arcade. Seneca clambered out and hurried off to locate Fabius. I slipped out the other side and gained my quarters