Ruth Downie - Caveat Emptor: A Novel of the Roman Empire
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BY THE SAME AUTHOR
Persona Non Grata
Terra Incognita
Medicus
CAVEAT
EMPTOR
A Novel of the Roman Empire
RUTH DOWNIE
Copyright 2011 by Ruth Downie
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information address Bloomsbury USA, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Published by Bloomsbury USA, New York
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Downie, Ruth, 1955
Caveat emptor : a novel of the Roman Empire / Ruth Downie. 1st U.S. ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-59691-608-1 (hardback)
1. PhysiciansRomeFiction. 2. RomansGreat BritainFiction. 3. Treasure trovesFiction. 4. Great BritainHistoryRoman period, 55 B.C.-449 A.D.Fiction. I. Title.
PR6104.O94C38 2011
823.92dc22
2010034525
First published by Bloomsbury USA in 2011
This e-book edition published in 2011
First published in Great Britain in 2011 by Penguin UK under the name Ruso and the River of Darkness.
E-book ISBN: 978-1-60819-592-3
www.bloomsburyusa.com
To Chris and Stevie
Contents
nec aliud adversus validissimas gentes pro nobis utilius quam quod
in commune non consulunt. rarus duabus tribusve civitatibus ad
propulsandum commune periculum conventus: ita singuli
pugnant, universi vincuntur.
Nothing has been more useful to us against powerful tribes than the fact that
they do not act together. Only seldom do two or three states unite to repel a
common danger. So, fighting separately, all are conquered.
Tacitus, Agricola, on the Britons.
A NOVEL
IN WHICH our hero, Gaius Petreius Ruso, will be
Employed by
The procurator, appointed by the emperor to run the finances of Britannia
Firmus, the assistant procurator
Caratius, a chief magistrate of Verulamium
Gallonius, the other chief magistrate of Verulamium
Metellus, the governors head of security
Perplexed by
Julius Asper, the tax collector for Verulamium
Julius Bericus, brother and assistant of Asper
Camma, mother of Aspers baby
Paula, a young lady whose name he cannot remember
Lied to by
Innkeeper, a resident of Londinium who does not deserve a name
The Innkeepers wife, who does but is not given one
A number of others not so easily identified
Set straight by
Tilla, his wife
The doctor, Verulamiums local medic
Guarded by
Dias, captain of Verulamiums guard
Gavo, one of Diass men
Informed by
Publius, manager of the mansio (official inn) in Verulamium
Satto, Verulamiums money changer
Tetricus, a boatman on the River Tamesis
Lund, a farmer
Grata, housekeeper to Asper and Bericus
Nico, the quaestor (finance officer) of Verulamium
Rogatus, overseer of the official stables in Verulamium
Assisted by
Albanus, his former clerk, now a teacher
Valens, his friend and former colleague
Valenss apprentices, the tall one
the short one
Attacked by
A mysterious man wearing a hood
Surprised by
Caratiuss mother
Serena, Valenss wife
Disapproved of by
Pyramus, Firmuss personal slave
The clerks in the finance office
Barked at by
Cerberus, a dog with three legs (not to be confused with the Cerberus who has several heads, and who appears in other books but not this one)
A landladys terrier
Overlooked by
The emperor Hadrian
T HIS CLOSE, EVEN Firmus could see that she was the sort of woman his mother had warned him about. Six feet tall, red hair in a mass of rats tails, and a pregnant belly that bulged at him like an accusation. The only thing that separated them was a folding desk, and even that wobbled when he placed both hands on it. He sensed a movement behind him. Pyramuss breath was warm on his ear.
Shall I call the guards, master?
Firmus opened his mouth to say yes, then realized what a fool he would look if she proved to be harmless. He gestured the slave back to his place. Perhaps, beyond the boundaries of Londinium, this was what all the Britons looked like. He squinted at the sweat-stained folds of her tunic and hoped the guards had at least checked her for weapons.
Are you the procurator? she repeated.
Of course not, he wanted to say. Do you really think Rome would send a shortsighted seventeen year old to look after all the money in Britannia? Instead, he straightened his back, pushed aside the wax tablet on which he had been compiling a list of Things To Ask Uncle, and said, Im his assistant.
I must talk to him.
Firmus swallowed. The procurators not available.
She took another step forward so that her belly protruded over the desk. He forced himself not to flinch. She smelled hot and stale.
I have traveled twenty miles to ask for his help, she announced. Where is he?
Outside, the relentless clink of chisel on stone rang around the courtyard. Someone was whistling. The world was carrying on as normal, but the woman was between him and the door that led to it. Pyramus, crippled with rheumatism, would be no help at all. Should he have called the guards? How fast could a woman in that condition move?
The procurator wont be here all day, he said. This was not strictly true, since his uncle was only two rooms away, but the thought of interrupting him while he was with the doctor was even more terrifying than facing the woman.
She said, All day?
All day, he said, wondering how he was supposed to manage if the Britons were all like this, and why no one except his mother had warned him.
If you put your request in writing, he tried, Ill pass it on to the
Writing is a waste of time. I must talk to him.
But he isnt here, Firmus insisted, ignoring a roar of pain from the direction of the procurators private rooms.
I will go to find him.
Hes ill. It sounded better than admitting the great man had fallen off his horse. You can talk to me.
He could see her eyes narrow as if she were assessing him. She glanced around the chilly little room, taking in the one cupboard and the triangular blur on the back of the door that was his cloak, hung on a rusty nail. You are very young to be Assistant Procurator.
It was what they all said. Usually he explained about his eyesight and the army and how grateful he was to his uncle for finding him a post where he could get some overseas experience, but after a taste of that experience, Firmus was not feeling grateful at all. His uncle gave the impression of being perpetually annoyed with him and the staff seemed to think he was a joke. That one with the front teeth missing had practically laughed out loud when Firmus had explained that, as part of the emperors tightening up on the Imperial transport service, he had personally been put in charge of the Survey of British Milestones. They were probably listening in the corridor now, and sniggering.
Firmus decided he might as well tell the truth. Im only here because the procurator is my uncle.
To his surprise, this seemed to reassure her. So, you really are his assistant?
Yes.
And you will help me?
I dont know, he said. Who are you?
Her breasts lifted in a distracting fashion as she took a deep breath to launch into her speech. I am Camma of the Iceni, she announced, I am wife of
Firmus had no idea who she was the wife of, because although he tried to pay attention, all he could see was the swell of the magnificent breasts, and all he heard was one word.
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