Read Online The Tears of Nero (The Halo Group Book 1) by Jason Brannon - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jason Brannon
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buff,” Sadie said. “It’s a hobby.”
“So it’s just coincidence that you happen to have a wealth of knowledge about Nero when we’re being held captive by a man who calls himself Nero?” Franklin said.
“Did it ever occur to you that my knowledge of ancient Rome might be one of the reasons I was selected to be here?” Sadie asked. “We still don’t know why any of us were chosen. Maybe we each have some special expertise that makes us useful. Remember the gauntlet theory? We‘re all competing to become the rider of the pale horse. Maybe my knowledge of ancient Rome will give me the advantage over the rest of you losers.”
Henry smiled. There was something about his expression that temporarily disarmed Sadie.
“What is it?” she said. “You look like the cat who ate the canary.”
“You may be a wealth of knowledge, Ms. Gale, but there is something to be said for age and experience. The student still has much to learn, it seems.”
“Meaning what?”
“There’s something wrong about your version of events,” Henry said with a gleam in his eye. “I’m surprised that you didn’t know this, but there’s no way Nero could have played the fiddle while Rome burned.”
“Why not?” she asked. “That’s what I’ve always heard.”
“Not all of history supports this notion. You see, the fiddle hadn’t been invented at the time. In fact, it wouldn’t be invented for another thousand years. Nero might have played a lyre, another type of stringed instrument, but definitely not a fiddle. The historian, Suetonius, actually records that Nero sang the “Sack of Ilium” in stage costume while the city burned. Tacitus said that Nero wasn’t even in Rome at the time but in Antium. Also FYI, Nero was responsible for torturing and beheading the apostle Paul and killing the apostle Peter by inverted crucifixion.”
“Maybe I was selected to be the resident moron on this island,” Franklin said. “I feel like I’m surrounded by a bunch of college professors. I‘ll take The Idiot‘s Guide to Roman History for $100, Alex.”
Henry laughed. “I retired as a science and calculus teacher, but I also taught history at one point in my career. In that respect, I consider myself a sort of Renaissance man.”
Franklin grunted, unconvinced. “Whatever. I’ll think I’ll bow out of Final Jeopardy.”
“Let‘s think about this,” Edward said. “If the Nero from history couldn’t have played a fiddle while Rome burned, our captor isn’t aware of that fact. Either that or he doesn’t care. Does anybody else know anything about Nero?”
Sadie spoke up. “Isn’t it possible that we’re dealing with a guy whose name is Nero?”
“It’s possible,” Edward agreed. “But improbable. Remember the dinner party. This guy fed a Christian to a bunch of hungry lions. I don‘t think that‘s a coincidence. There‘s something else…but it‘s probably nothing.”
“You obviously have some thoughts of your own,” Henry urged. “What’s on your mind?”
Edward sighed. “This is going to sound crazy but some religious scholars believe that the number 666 in Revelation is actually a code for Nero. At the time Revelation was written, Christians were being heavily persecuted. John used a type of code called gematria in which numbers are used to represent certain letters to call Nero out without writing down the emperor’s name. The numerical values of Nero’s name in Hebrew are 666.”
“Which means what?” Franklin asked.
“Well, one theory holds that Nero is actually the Antichrist.”
“I think you’re grasping at straws,” Franklin said.
“I told you it was a crazy idea,” Edward said. “I just think we shouldn't discount any theories at this point. Not until we know what we're up against.”
“I agree,” Henry said. “While it’s impossible that we’re dealing with the Nero from
“So it’s just coincidence that you happen to have a wealth of knowledge about Nero when we’re being held captive by a man who calls himself Nero?” Franklin said.
“Did it ever occur to you that my knowledge of ancient Rome might be one of the reasons I was selected to be here?” Sadie asked. “We still don’t know why any of us were chosen. Maybe we each have some special expertise that makes us useful. Remember the gauntlet theory? We‘re all competing to become the rider of the pale horse. Maybe my knowledge of ancient Rome will give me the advantage over the rest of you losers.”
Henry smiled. There was something about his expression that temporarily disarmed Sadie.
“What is it?” she said. “You look like the cat who ate the canary.”
“You may be a wealth of knowledge, Ms. Gale, but there is something to be said for age and experience. The student still has much to learn, it seems.”
“Meaning what?”
“There’s something wrong about your version of events,” Henry said with a gleam in his eye. “I’m surprised that you didn’t know this, but there’s no way Nero could have played the fiddle while Rome burned.”
“Why not?” she asked. “That’s what I’ve always heard.”
“Not all of history supports this notion. You see, the fiddle hadn’t been invented at the time. In fact, it wouldn’t be invented for another thousand years. Nero might have played a lyre, another type of stringed instrument, but definitely not a fiddle. The historian, Suetonius, actually records that Nero sang the “Sack of Ilium” in stage costume while the city burned. Tacitus said that Nero wasn’t even in Rome at the time but in Antium. Also FYI, Nero was responsible for torturing and beheading the apostle Paul and killing the apostle Peter by inverted crucifixion.”
“Maybe I was selected to be the resident moron on this island,” Franklin said. “I feel like I’m surrounded by a bunch of college professors. I‘ll take The Idiot‘s Guide to Roman History for $100, Alex.”
Henry laughed. “I retired as a science and calculus teacher, but I also taught history at one point in my career. In that respect, I consider myself a sort of Renaissance man.”
Franklin grunted, unconvinced. “Whatever. I’ll think I’ll bow out of Final Jeopardy.”
“Let‘s think about this,” Edward said. “If the Nero from history couldn’t have played a fiddle while Rome burned, our captor isn’t aware of that fact. Either that or he doesn’t care. Does anybody else know anything about Nero?”
Sadie spoke up. “Isn’t it possible that we’re dealing with a guy whose name is Nero?”
“It’s possible,” Edward agreed. “But improbable. Remember the dinner party. This guy fed a Christian to a bunch of hungry lions. I don‘t think that‘s a coincidence. There‘s something else…but it‘s probably nothing.”
“You obviously have some thoughts of your own,” Henry urged. “What’s on your mind?”
Edward sighed. “This is going to sound crazy but some religious scholars believe that the number 666 in Revelation is actually a code for Nero. At the time Revelation was written, Christians were being heavily persecuted. John used a type of code called gematria in which numbers are used to represent certain letters to call Nero out without writing down the emperor’s name. The numerical values of Nero’s name in Hebrew are 666.”
“Which means what?” Franklin asked.
“Well, one theory holds that Nero is actually the Antichrist.”
“I think you’re grasping at straws,” Franklin said.
“I told you it was a crazy idea,” Edward said. “I just think we shouldn't discount any theories at this point. Not until we know what we're up against.”
“I agree,” Henry said. “While it’s impossible that we’re dealing with the Nero from
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