Murder's Immortal Mask (Ancient Roman Mysteries) by Paul Doherty

Author:Paul Doherty [Doherty, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780755350179
Publisher: Headline
Published: 2012-10-29T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Unsparing as the thunderbolt, he continued his career of slaughter.

Torquatus just laughed and continued with his shaving. He began to interrogate Murranus about Attius’ murder, but his customer could only repeat what had already been said. Claudia decided to leave the booth and sit on a stool outside. She stared around. The square was quiet; a light breeze sent the dried leaves whirling across. She gazed up at the blue sky. The weather was changing, gods be thanked! Slowly autumn and all its full glory would be here. The mornings and evenings would grow cooler, and that dreadful stifling heat would disappear. She watched the usual sights: a boy pushing a wheelbarrow full of freshly severed meat, a tramping hawker sitting in the shade, two children playing round the fountain, a beggar hopping behind a merchant, scrawny arms extended, weeping for alms. Petronius the Pimp strolled by with two of his girls; he glimpsed Claudia and raised a hand in greeting.

Claudia was about to move back inside the booth when something caught her attention. She was always interested in the various characters and scenes of the quarter, and that huckster with the tray tied around his neck was definitely new; she hadn’t seen him before. She rose to her feet and walked round the booth. There were more strangers: people just idling, servants sheltering in the portico, a man playing with a dog, teasing it with a stick, a youth carrying a water jar, a pedlar laying out his movable store, individuals Claudia couldn’t recognise. She felt a slight prick of unease. Why here? Why now?

Her name was called and she went back into the booth. Murranus, now standing up, was thanking Torquatus, dropping coins into his hands. He and Claudia strolled back across the square towards the She-Asses. Murranus paused and stared down at her.

‘What’s wrong, Claudia? One minute you are chirping like a sparrow on a branch; now you have fallen silent, watchful. You’re not regretting the wager with Torquatus?’

‘Look around, Murranus,’ she whispered. ‘Look around and tell me what you see.’

He did so. ‘Hawkers, walkers, people taking the shade against the sun. Come on, Claudia, I want to go back and watch Celades do that sauce. There’s nothing as tasty as crisp pork.’

‘Look around, Murranus,’ she repeated.

He sighed, scratched his freshly cropped hair and did what she asked. He was about to turn back, then looked again.

‘Yes.’ He stared up at the sky, then winked at her. ‘A lot of people here I don’t recognise. You can usually tell the time of day by the drunks stumbling down for a free drink, or Petronius the Pimp looking for custom. Agentes in rebus?’ he added. ‘Helena’s agents? You’re bringing those two scrutores down here tonight, aren’t you?’

Claudia nodded.

‘That could explain the strangers. They are spies being paid by the imperial treasury to keep an eye on the tavern, that’s all. Come on, let’s go.’

Once back at the She-Asses, Claudia excused herself and went up to her own chamber, locking the door from the inside.

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