Read Online Buried Too Deep by Jane Finnis - Free Book Online Page B

seen him…It’s just a pity there wasn’t time for him to tell me who he thought it was.”
    “I doubt if it’s anything that sinister. My guess is he’s fallen out with one of his neighbours, and they’ve been making trouble along with the raiders, so he’s confusing the two. You know how these disputes go, they start small and get more and more bitter with every passing month.”
    “Maybe. It’s something else we can ask his family about when we meet them. What are they like?”
    “I hardly know them really. There’s a pretty wife, an old lame father, a couple of children. I’ll do what I can for them. And at least he managed to pass on one useful fact. The raiders are from Gaul—in other words not local criminals. And their captain’s known as Voltacos.”
    I piled the breakfast things back onto their tray. “Voltacos could just be a nickname, though, because he’s a long-haired Gaul.”
    He got to his feet. “There’s only one way to find out, and that’s to catch the bastard. Let’s make a start, Relia. How soon can you be ready?”
    As we walked through into the bar-room, the door to the forecourt opened and a soldier strode through. He was a cavalryman in full military gear including a sword, but he carried no satchel of despatches. He glanced round the room and when he spotted Lucius, he saluted and came over to us.
    “Ollius!” My brother exclaimed. “What in the gods’ name are you doing here?”
    “Sorry to disturb your day’s leave, sir. There’s been a development, and the decurion thought you ought to know about it straight away.”
    Lucius looked round, noticed that the first customers of the day were starting to drift in, and turned to me. “Can we use your study please, Aurelia?”
    “Of course.” I led the way.
    “This had better be good, Ollius. I don’t get much leave, and I don’t appreciate having it interrupted. Make your report.”
    “There’s been a shipwreck, sir, on the Headland. An important one, the decurion thinks.”
    “A shipwreck? You mean a boat that pirates have attacked?”
    “No, sir, this was driven ashore in that bad storm we had late yesterday. It fetched up on the north side of the Headland—you know what a bad spot that is for wrecks.”
    I shivered. It was notorious, even to me, living well away from the coast.
    “How did you hear about the wreck?”
    “Two fishermen came along to the camp just after you’d gone, and they told us. They say they get a reward for reporting Roman wrecks.”
    Lucius nodded. “They do, as long as they stop the other natives from plundering the cargoes. But what makes Tertius think I need to know about this boat? What’s the cargo?”
    “Only one item, a big wooden chest, all nailed up and with Government seals on it. And it must be valuable, because there’s a warship escorting the boat, a Liburian of the Fleet. It’s standing by just out to sea.”
    “Standing by?” Lucius looked at him sharply. “Are you sure it’s not just sailing past?”
    “Oh no, sir. Some of the sailors rowed ashore when they saw us, with a message from their captain. Apparently they’ve been following the ship, keeping an eye on it they said, and now they’re under orders to stay and protect the cargo till someone in authority comes.”
    “Neptune’s balls!” Lucius sprang to his feet excitedly. “What’s this boat called, Ollius?”
    “The Sea Horse , sir.”
    “Gods, it’s our lucky day then.”
    “Sir?”
    “Never mind. You were right to come and report this. The cargo that boat’s carrying is extremely important, and I’ll take charge of it as soon as I can.” He stopped suddenly. “It’s still intact, presumably?”
    The soldier nodded. “As far as we can see. The boat’s stuck on the rocks with some of its planks smashed in, so it’s pretty well under water most of the time. We’ll only be able to bring the chest ashore when the tide’s low.”
    “You haven’t moved it yet? Why not?”
    “We didn’t