* * *
The situation degenerated. The Jews threw the images from their temples, and nominally to recover costs for more images, mobs began looting Jewish warehouses and ransacking Jewish houses. Four hundred Jewish houses were burnt to the ground.
"And I'll bet the looters are keeping the loot," Timothy taunted.
"I know," Gaius sighed.
"And nobody's doing anything about it," Timothy said. "Your empire's too big and too corrupt."
"Governors deal with the size, and the Princeps trusts them to uphold the law."
"Yes, but what happens when a governor is the source of the problem?" Timothy interrupted.
"Then someone has to inform the Princeps," Gaius said, then added in a bleak tone, "and it looks as if that someone's going to have to be me."
"Hold it! This could be dangerous. Do you know what you're doing?"
"I have a very good idea," Gaius said. "My problem is, if I don't get in first and this turns ugly, Flaccus may blame me. Anyway, what's the downside? Flaccus won't recommend me to Caesar?" Gaius stopped, thought, then added in a droll tone, "In that case, I might as well keep up the family tradition."
"Which is?" Timothy asked in surprise.
"My branch of the Claudian gens has this habit of taking up so-called just causes," Gaius said sadly, then he added, "We usually end up in deep shit!"
* * *
Gaius strode purposefully into the Jewish area. Yes, he might be on the wrong side of a dangerous issue, but there was a principle at stake. Added to that, there was the issue of what Little Boots would conclude. Little Boots claimed to have principles, and if so, perhaps his only way out of this mess was to show he did, too. And if Little Boots was a random tyrant, then he was always in trouble. As he approached the temple, he saw his older man with the strange hat, who Gaius now recognized to be a priest, conversing with an equally older man.
"You're brave coming back here," the priest said. The other man simply looked at Gaius without expression, yet his eyes bore into him.
"You're right. The Governor is behind this."
"And you came here to tell me that?" the priest asked curiously.
"Of course not. I came here to tell you that I deplore this looting of Jewish property."
"So do we," came the dry reply.
"Yes," Gaius continued, "but maybe I can do something to help."
"And what would that be?"
"My family owns a number of warehouses," Gaius said. "As from noon, those near the waterfront will be identified by our Claudian emblem. Any Jew who wishes to store belongings in them will be welcome to do so, and I invite you to find Jews to act as record keepers, to ensure that everything is properly accounted for."
The older Jew gave him a most penetrating stare, then asked, "Why are you doing this?"
"I'm certain theft is not the Princeps' policy. I shall try to get Flaccus overruled."
"Good luck to you," the priest smiled a challenge of disbelief.
"I can't guarantee to succeed," Gaius nodded, "but I doubt Flaccus will loot a Claudian warehouse, because that would be a direct challenge to the Princeps' gens. Accordingly, my offer remains."
The priest stared at Gaius for a moment, then he shrugged. "If you're lying," he said, "this is merely a ruse to get the valuables into one place."
Gaius shook his head sadly. "I hadn't thought of that," he admitted. "Look, I guess it's a matter of trust. If anyone wishes to trust me, the offer remains open."
The priest gave Gaius a very penetrating stare, then seemed to come to a decision. "I'll pass the offer on," he said with a nod. He then turned and began to walk away, but the other Jew did not.
"You're frequently at the Great Library," the other Jew said.
"I am," Gaius said, then, on deciding that there was interest rather than a challenge, he added, "If I need an answer to a question, that is the best place I know to get started."
"It is, indeed." The old man paused, as if trying to decide something.
"You don't think a Roman should go there, or for that matter, be here?" Gaius gave a slightly challenging smile.
"On the contrary, all men are brothers, and as Diogenes put it, I am a citizen of the world, and so are you."
"Hah! A philosopher!" Gaius smiled.
"I have been called that," the man smiled. "My name is Philo, and I too seek answers, although maybe of a different nature."
"Gaius Claudius Scaevola, but if you intend to be friendly, just Gaius. Of course, I can imagine that you might not wish to be seen as too friendly with a Roman."
"Why would I not wish to be seen with a fellow human, and also, one who has helped those who are weaker?"
"I would have thought that with these riots, Romans might not be popular with the Jews, and your friends might shun you."
"They cannot hurt me," Philo smiled. "Virtue is sufficient for happiness, and if they think ill of me, it is simply through their ignorance of what is good."
"Yes, but some hold Romans to blame for these riots, and to be fair, I believe Flaccus is the cause."
"But you are not. Besides this offer of help, I gather you recently saved a slave from a beating, and beat the owner?"
"And the Romans here seem to shun me for that," Gaius shrugged, then added quickly, "Not that I am worried in the slightest about that."
"Then at least you share some of my philosophy," Philo smiled. "Perhaps you would like to talk about philosophy some time?"
"Next time you see me at the library," Gaius smiled.
* * *
A small procession of Jews turned up to one of Gaius' warehouses. The carefully wrapped parcels and boxes were handed to one of four Jews who identified the owners by placing strange writing on the items, which were then stored. Proceedings had been going on for less than an hour when the sounds of a mob were heard.
When the first of the mob came around the corner, Gaius gave the signal. About thirty volunteers from the local legion, encouraged to volunteer by a couple of denarii each, stepped forward, locked shields, and drew their gladii. Gaius stepped forwards.
"This property," he said flatly, "belongs to the Claudians, and these soldiers will protect it. Attack the soldiers and you mutiny against Rome." He paused, then continued, "Last time something like this happened, Gaius Caesar upheld my recommendation to crucify all participants." He stared impassively at the crowd. "Go home," he ordered, "or sooner or later you will be crucified."
The mob stared at Gaius. A young man with no position! Except that he came from an important family. Kill him, and you had better be right. If he were right, the power of Rome would be felt, and they knew it. Through Tiberius, the Claudians ran Rome. With Gaius Caesar, who knew, but he was, more or less, the same family. Nobody knew what Gaius Caesar stood for, but if Flaccus was obeying Caesar's orders, what was this young man doing? And if Flaccus was not obeying Caesar's orders, mass crucifixions could well be ordered.
"Ask yourself," Gaius said evenly, as if reading their minds, "if Caesar wanted to persecute Jews, he would not ask you to do it. He would send in his legions."
A murmur grew within the crowd. That point was correct. Even though everyone knew Flaccus was behind these anti-Jewish riots, if Caesar had ordered them, the legions would be doing more than nothing, and these soldiers would not be where they were. Gradually the crowd lost their enthusiasm, and after a few moments of indecision, some began to peel away from the rear. Before long the crowd had dissipated.
* * *
"If you don't mind my saying so," Timothy said later, "what you did will piss off Flaccus, and secondly, when Gaius Caesar hears you've been invoking his name. ."