The Return of Spartacus by Alan Scribner

Author:Alan Scribner [Scribner, Alan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-01-19T21:00:00+00:00

XV

INFORMATION FROM LICINIA AND LIVINILLA AND A MESSAGE FROM SENATOR SALINATOR

Vulso showed up at Severus’ chambers the next day. He looked relaxed, even glowing, and with a big greeting of salve for everyone. Everyone present, Severus, Flaccus, Proculus and Straton noticed it.

“You look terrific,” commented the judge. “I wonder what it’s due to?” he asked with a knowing smile.

“Licinia, of course. What a juicy berry, a real bacciballum. She’s terrific.”

“I’m glad.”

“And by the way, she says there is a Spartacus at the Ludus. She’s even slept with him.”

Everyone stared at Vulso. “Who is it? Everyone asked at once.”

“She says two gladiators she’s slept with claim to be Spartacus. And the other girls in her decuria told her that a few gladiators they slept with also claim to be Spartacus. They think it turns the girls on.”

“Does it?” grinned Flaccus.

“I asked Licinia that question. But she wouldn’t tell me. She just gave me one of her lascivious smiles and said, ‘not as much as a legionary.’”

“Quite a tactician, it seems,” said Straton.

“She’s everything,” replied Vulso. “And I now own her. But notice, the idea that there is a Spartacus at the school seems to be accepted by everyone there.”

“Who are the two gladiators who told the girls they are Spartacus?” asked the judge.

“Licinia didn’t say.”

“Find out, Vulso. I want to know.”

At about the same time as Vulso was regaling his cohorts about his wonderful new slave, Artemisia approached Livinilla’s lettuce stand in the small neighborhood market off the Clivus Suburanus. When Livinilla had finished a sale, Artemisia came up to her and said straight off, “Livinilla, I want to tell you why I lied to you.”

“Oh, so you admit it. I didn’t expect that although I knew your story had to be phony. Tyrannus never turns down money and always does jobs he paid for if it doesn’t cost him anything. Transferring a gladiator from one Ludus to another is not a problem for him.

“But now I’m intrigued. Why did you make up that story? And why are you admitting it to me?”

“Have lunch with me, I’ll pay, and I’ll tell you the whole story.”

“The 8th hour at the taverna across the street?”

“See you then. And by the way, my name is not Elektra, but Artemisia, and my family likes your lettuce, so I’ll take two heads now.”

Livinilla chose two choice heads of lettuce, wrapped them in papyrus and handed them to Artemisia.

At the 8th hour, over a lunch of stuffed eggs, Lucanian sausages and wine, Artemisia told Livinilla who she was, the wife of the judge investigating the murders at the Ludus. We thought it would be less stressful to talk to you one-on-one rather than haul you into court for questioning, so we made up that story by way of introduction. Just to see how you would react.”

“I got out of there, that’s how I reacted, once I realized the story couldn’t be true. So I suspected someone was out to get my money by some kind of fraud or blackmail.

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