Read Online Roma Mater by Poul Anderson - Free Book Online Page A

officially. People were delighted to see new faces, and laid themselves out to be hospitable.’
    ‘The girls especially, I hope?’
    Gratillonius laughed. ‘Well – Anyhow, we came back to Isca Silurum and settled into winter quarters. It’s our home, you know; has been for hundreds of years. The older men generally have wives and children in town, and the younger men are apt to acquire their own after the usual pleasures of courtship. On furlough, you can reach Aquae Sulis in a day, baths, foodshops, joyhouses, theatres,games, social life, even learned men for those who care to listen. It’s no Londinium, but still, in season you’d think half the world was jostling through its streets.’ He drank. ‘No, a man could do worse than join the army. Not that we don’t keep the troops in line. They gripe. But they’d be appalled if we let their … strength fall away from them.’
    The captain gave him a narrow stare and said low, ‘From time to time the legions raise up an Emperor. That must be a heady feeling.’
    Gratillonius veered from the subject. The communities where he had sometimes overnighted, on his march through Britannia, were abuzz with rumours about Maximus, like beehives which were being toppled. He didn’t want to give any hint of confirmation, most particularly not to this man who would often be crossing the Channel. If the governors of Gallia got sufficient advance warning to mobilize, the fighting could become disastrous.
    ‘I trust we’ll make port before dark,’ he said. ‘I wouldn’t care to spend the night hove to.’
    ‘The wind’s not from too bad a quarter, though stiffer than I like. You talk as if you’ve been a mariner yourself.’
    ‘Oh, more of a supercargo, on my father’s ship when I was a boy. We called two or three times at Gesoriacum. But that was years ago.’
    ‘And a kid would scarcely see much. Can you stay over? The circus is small, but gets a canvas roof in bad weather, so it may be open tomorrow. Pretty good spectacles, not like those wretched bear-baitings which are the best we see in Dubris. In Gesoriacum they know how to stage an animal fight, and once I saw actual gladiators.’
    Gratillonius grimaced. ‘No, thanks. Torture and killing, for the amusement of a lot of rabble who’d loose their bowels if they saw teeth or a sword coming at
them –
Idon’t even permit my men to draw blood when they must touch up the horses.’
    ‘I hope you’re not so soft-hearted in combat,’ said the captain, miffed.
    ‘No insult intended. Anyhow, I can’t stay. We’ve got to be off in the morning.’
    ‘Really pressing business, eh? Well,’ said the captain as his irritation passed, ‘I know a whorehouse in town that keeps late hours.’
    Gratillonius smiled. ‘Again, no, thanks. It’s the hostel and an early bed for me.’ He grew serious. ‘Also, frankly – and, again, no offence – I’m trying to stay clean. Aside from prayers, it’s the only chance this trip gives me to honour the God.’
    ‘Why, you could’ve stopped off at any church or shrine along the way.’
    Gratillonius sighed. The Mithraeum in Londinium was closed – closed for ever. Does Gesoriacum have one any more?’
    The captain sat straight, or as straight as the heeling ship would allow. His eyes bulged. ‘What? You’re joking!’
    ‘Certainly not. I serve Mithras. Doubtless you serve Christ. What matter, as long as we both serve Rome?’
    The captain made a V of two fingers and jabbed them in Gratillonius’s direction. ‘Out!’ he shrilled. ‘Go! It’s unlucky enough having a pagan aboard, without sitting here and drinking with him. If you weren’t an officer on a mission, I swear I’d have you thrown overboard. Don’t think I won’t report you when I get back. Now go! Out of my sight!’
    The centurion did not argue, but rose and went forth on to the deck, into the wind.
    2
    Dusk was falling as the ship glided between jetties and docked at the naval wharf. The soldiers