hadnât been cleaned recentlyânot to mention that he would have to burn his footwear when he returned to Johnâs house. Public services were vanishing even faster than the public. He wasnât surprised the long, communal marble bench boasted only a single customer, seated at the far end. The man, slumped forward, ignored him.
Anatolius fixed his gaze on the tavern and its peeling plaster exterior. Flies droned. Time passed. More flies appeared, adding their complaints to the others clustering around the malodorous facility. He began to think if Zeus turned an ear toward the earth, all that god would hear from the capital would be a buzzing akin to that of a gigantic insect.
The man at the far end of the bench still hadnât moved a muscle. Anatolius now realized he was dead. The morbid notion came to him that urchins had found a corpse in the street and sat it there as a macabre jest.
He almost missed Felixâs companion emerging from the tavern. All he could make out was the manâs retreating back.
He briefly considered following from sheer curiosity, but it was the captain of excubitors to whom he needed to talk. Thankful to be able to leave his temporary shelter, he went into the murky tavern, and sat down next to Felix who looked up, startled, from his wine cup.
âSomething smellsâ¦â Felixâs gaze moved to Anatoliusâ feet.
âI plan on burning my boots, Felix, but something else will still offend my nostrils. What have you been doing about helping John? Why have you been avoiding me?â
âYou must have followed me here. Is that what a friend does?â Felix sounded hurt. His words were slurred. Anatolius realized his companion was intoxicated.
The portly owner of the establishment waddled toward them. Anatolius put him to flight with a baleful glare that conveyed the clear message: âObserve my elaborate robes. I am from the palace and that means trouble if you interfere!â
âAre you in some sort of difficulty, Felix?â
The captain stared over Anatoliusâ shoulder for a short time as if considering the question, then slammed his cup down, splashing wine on the scantily clad women dancing lewdly in the fresco beside them.
âThatâs it, Anatolius!â he roared. âI know what youâre going to complain about. Youâre going to complain that Iâve taken up gambling again even though itâs my business, not yours! Not to mention just a small wager now and then doesnât hurt anyoneâ¦â
âI was going to say youâre intoxicatedââ
âNow there youâre totally wrong! Totally! Totally, totally wrongâ¦â
Anatolius decided Felix could not possibly have got so inebriated in the short time heâd been inside the tavern. He must have begun drinking not long after he rolled out of bed.
âWho was that man who just left? Someone youâve been placing bets with, Iâll wager!â
A huge grin parted Felixâs unkempt beard. âYouâll wager? You criticize me for betting, but youâll wager?â He started to laugh.
âProprietor!â he yelled. âListen to this jest! The gentleman here questions my wagering yet he bets himself! Did you ever hear anything more comical?â
âYes, I have,â replied the man from the other end of the tavern. âMostly concerning the empress!â
Anatolius waited for the captainâs mirth to subside. âFelix, you canât become involved in wagering again. You know you swore you were finished with that years ago.â
Felix grunted. âShows what you know. The man I was speaking to isnât a gambler. Heâs a horse trainer. How could I wager with the races cancelled thanks to this pestilence? But I am keeping informed. I am an informed man. Very, very informed.â
He took another gulp of what remained of his wine. âI know the Greens lost their best horses last
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