Three Hands In The Fountain

Discovering Flaccida here did not solve the mystery of what had happened to Aelianus' betrothed, but it left some hope that young Claudia's fate that night might have been less dreadful.

`What now?' asked Frontinus. He had told me briefly how Aelianus had found him, dressed for action and with a fierce horse ready saddled at his house. He had sent Aelianus to sort out the warrant with the judge Marponius,, while he himself, ever practical, hurtled after me on the Tiburtina road. `The Urban Cohorts and my own staff should be here very soon. A conveyance can be found for the woman once she has had a chance to recover somewhat – but I'd like to get this bastard on his way to the judge in double quick time.'

It suited me. I wanted to go home.

As for Thurius, I had already thought up a way to take him back. A way that was secure for us, unpleasant for him, and highly appropriate. I took very great care not to kill him:

I wrapped him in the most disgusting old cloths I could find head and all. I tied him up just enough to make him suffer, but not enough to cut off his circulation and finish him. Then I locked him in the box of his master's cisium. Frontinus and I drove it back to Rome. We took two days to do it and throughout the journey we left Thurius incarcerated in the box.

SIXTY FOUR

Home.

Helena Justina had not heard me come in. When the baby started crying and the dog started whining, she tried to rouse herself, lifting her head from her arms where she sat dismally at – the table. I could tell her condition was desperate. She had been reading my poetry.

`Don't move,' I said. `I've got Julia and Nux has got me.' The dog had attached herself to my leg, gripping my knee with both paws even while I crossed the room. It was presumably affectionate, though a burglar might have checked in his stride.

`Giving you the hero's welcome!'

I winced, as Julia really put her heart into it. Nux began to bound up and down in crazy circles all around me. `This never happened to Odysseus.'

Then I was holding the pair of them, one arm round each, while they both cried all over my disgustingly filthy tunic. I should have washed first, but I had an urgent need to hold these two very tightly. `I ought to get clean – but I wanted to come home first.' Now I was here, it would be hard to get out again. I was too tired in any case.

Helena murmured something incoherent and clung to me for a considerable period given just how badly I stank; then she leaned back a little, courteously disguising her relief at putting a space between herself and the stubbly dark-eyed wreck she was in love with.

For a long time she simply gazed at me. I could endure that.

`Some women think heroes are wonderful,' 'Helena mused. `Rather a trial around the house, if you ask me. I find the worst thing is how often they go missing. You can never tell when you need to ask for their laundry back, or whether this would be the day to start buying their favourite fruit again.'

I smiled inanely at her, while peace crept over me like insidious wine. Nux, who had galloped from the room, now scrabbled back, tail end first, towing her much-chewed basket as a welcome home gift.

In fairness to Helena, I had to tell her what had happened, in a brief form at least. Helena Justina spared me the effort of finding the words and worked it out for herself. `You caught the killer. You had to fight; him -' She was fingering a bruise on my cheekbone. A nerve flinched under her touch, but despite the pain I leaned against her hand. `You're exhausted. Had he taken another woman?'

`Yes.'

`It wasn't Claudia.'

`I know. So has Claudia turned up?'

`No, but someone, is here who knows what happened to her.

'Your brother?'

'No, Aulus went home in disgust. Gaius!'

Some moments after she called him, my rascallion nephew shuffled in looking strangely shy. For once he was cleaner, than me. In fact he looked as if Helena must have kept him here, feeding him up and encouraging unfamiliar habits of hygiene, for most of the time I had been away.

She spoke, to him quietly. 'Tell Uncle Marcus everything you said to me and my brother Aelianus about that night at the Circus Maximus.'

Gaius appeared to think he was in for a clouting. Helena had taken the baby, so I lolled limply, letting him see that nothing on earth would drag me from my stool. Nux was sprawled all over my feet, for one thing. `Helena's brother-'

`Aelianus?'

`No, the other one.'

`Justinus? He's abroad.'

`He is now,' cried Helena, with unusual force.

Gaius braced himself and rushed through his tale

`Justinus drove up in a little cart when I was there helping you. I saw a girl run out from the Circus. He seemed to be expecting her. They had a chat, then he gave her a big kiss, lifted her into the cart, and whizzed off.'

`Was the girl -,

`Claudia Rufina,' confirmed Helena. 'The bad boy! Quintus has eloped with his brother's wealthy bride. And you know what, Marcus -'

I could guess: `Your noble family all blame me?'

I was too tired even to laugh.