‘We’re meant to believe that he died of natural causes; we found him-’
‘Natural causes?’
‘Yes. We found him sitting on the pavement just outside with his head between his legs as if he was being sick. Nobody can remember seeing him left there, although a drunken rabble did pass by just before, so it must have been them with arms round Duilius’ shoulders as if he was insensible with drink.’
Magnus examined the body again with a grudging respect. ‘What do you make of it?’
‘It’s a declaration of war; this is about who has authority in the South Quirinal. We may have managed to manoeuvre the Urban Prefect into an inspection of every measure in the city, forcing Brutus to quit his scam or face being exposed and humiliated; but in return he has shown us that he can get his revenge without attracting suspicion and accusations of murder. I would guess that Duilius won’t be the only sudden natural death around here.’
Magnus sat down, still looking in fascination at the unmarked corpse. ‘I think you may be right, brother; Brutus threatened our senator with a natural death very soon. I promised a guard round his house; have half a dozen stationed up there. If there is going to be another natural death, then it ain’t going to be us or Senator Pollo; and what better way to get rid of a magistrate with no questions asked. How was it done?’
‘Ah! It took me a while, but I think I’ve worked it out.’
Terentius walked through the tavern door as the sun slid into the west; Magnus rose from his table and indicated that he and Servius should follow him through to the back room.
‘Well?’ Magnus asked as they sat.
Terentius placed a wax writing-tablet on the table. ‘Each tablet weighs two and a half libra; with twelve uncia to a pound, that’s a total of thirty. Each one of those little balls weighs an obolus, which is forty-eight from each uncia, so from a tablet that’s one thousand, four hundred …’
‘… and forty from each tablet.’ Magnus whistled softly. ‘How much do you think you could charge your clients for one?’
‘For that luxury and including the boy, ten denarii easily.’ Terentius pointed to the writing-tablet. ‘It’s all in there, Magnus.’
Servius picked it up and read it quickly. ‘How much can you get a tablet for, Magnus?’
Magnus shook his head, unable to believe his luck. ‘I’ve just got one for free plus the half I have already, that’s-’
Servius flicked some beads on his abacus. ‘Twenty-one thousand, six hundred denarii or eight hundred and sixty-four aurii.’
‘But it’ll take some time to realise that money; at least a year, probably more,’ Terentius pointed out.
‘With no initial outlay to cover, that doesn’t matter, my friend,’ Magnus said, leaning back in his chair and beaming. ‘You take as long as you like and we’ll go fifty-fifty, five denarii each per sale.’
‘That’s generous, Magnus.’
‘I’d say it’s fair. You provide the boys and the premises and I’ll provide the resin; you can settle up once a month with Servius. In the meantime I would be very grateful if you could ensure that Aedile Brutus samples the new pleasure next time he frequents your establishment; in fact, encourage him to have two of those balls and then send me a message at whatever time of day or night it is.’
Terentius looked quizzical. ‘Certainly, Magnus.’ He stood to leave.
‘I’ll send a couple of my lads back with you to pick up the rest of those tablets.’
‘Of course, Magnus; will I see you later?’
Magnus was aware of Servius’ eyebrows raising a fraction and shook his head, waving a hand in dismissal. As the door closed behind Terentius, he turned to his counsellor. ‘Well, I had to sample the goods before I could decide whether to invest in them or not.’
‘Very wise. And what do you think?’
‘I think that it’s wasted on doctors; it’s much more than just a medicine.’
‘Will we really make that sort of money?’
‘Oh, yes, my friend; once those who can afford it try it, they’ll find it hard not to go back for more.’
‘And you?’
‘Now I know how good it is I daren’t have it again; not if I want to get things done, if you take my meaning?’ Magnus got to his feet, stretched and yawned. ‘Have all the lads assembled here two hours before dawn; wake me then.’
*
‘Magnus, wake up.’
Magnus roused himself and opened an eye to see Servius standing over him, holding a lamp. ‘Are all the lads downstairs?’
‘No, there’re still a couple of hours to go yet.’
‘Why wake me then?’
Servius indicated with his head to the door.
Magnus sat up in bed and squinted, trying to focus. ‘Rufinus! What are you doing here?’
‘Yesterday, after the festival, I went to tell my intermediary to stop making inquiries about selling the resin.’
‘Good. And?’
‘I couldn’t find him.’
‘Shit!’
‘It’s worse than that; he was found about an hour ago. It was all round the cohort very quickly because of the state he was in.’
‘Go on.’
‘He’d been tortured before they cut his throat. It was made to look as if they wanted to get the keys for the stores off him because some stuff was missing, but not enough in my opinion to warrant murder. Besides, I know Aetius-’
‘Aetius? Of course, who better to act as an intermediary; he can buy or sell anything.’
‘Could. But he wouldn’t have risked his life for a set of keys.’
‘But he would have risked it to keep his reputation for discretion.’
‘I’d asked him to approach a couple of doctors to see whether they would be interested.’
‘And one was the Urban Cohorts’?’
‘Exactly.’
‘Who went straight to the Urban Prefect, who immediately had a little chat with Aetius and, because he was killed having been tortured, we can assume that he gave them what they wanted.’
‘Yes, Magnus; they know my name.’ Rufinus handed his half-tablet of resin to Magnus. ‘This is no good to me; I need cash. I’m disappearing until all this dies down.’
‘Very wise, my friend.’ Magnus took the half-tablet, calculating its intrinsic worth, and knew that he could be very generous in buying Rufinus’ silence. ‘Servius, give the centurion twenty-five aurii.’
Rufinus’ eyes widened at the equivalent of two and a half years’ pay for an average legionary. ‘That’s good of you, Magnus.’
‘I’ll always help a friend. There’ll be another twenty-five for you if you haven’t mentioned my name by the time the fuss dies down. Now get going.’
‘Thank you, Magnus.’
Servius paused in the doorway as he followed Rufinus out. ‘There was a message from Antonia’s steward, Pallas. He’ll be at the river steps below the Temple of Asclepius half an hour before dawn.’
‘Are all your men in position, master?’ Pallas enquired as Magnus walked down the steps from the Temple of Asclepius to the Tiber; the groans of scores of sick slaves, left to die in the precinct of the god of medicine by masters refusing to pay for their treatment, blended with the gurgling of the river.
‘They are, Pallas.’ Magnus looked at the full-bearded Greek, aware that he was a slave, but in awe of the fact that with one question he had taken complete control of the operation; but he was used to it. In the course of his numerous contacts, in various capacities, with the Lady Antonia’s steward, he had developed a respect for Pallas’ judgement and discretion; Magnus knew him to be more than a mere slave. ‘I’ve got ten covering each bridge and a further ten round the temple; all with orders to keep out of sight. Plus I’ve ten of my best lads with me to guard the tablets and then transport the cash. Menes won’t be able to leave without handing over the money.’
‘Unless he tries to go by boat, which is why I took the precaution of bringing mine.’ Pallas stepped out of the six-oared river craft that had ferried him to the island. ‘We will return by river once the transaction has taken place. Get into position; I’ll be waiting here.’
Magnus nodded and picked his way back up the steps through the huddles of dead and dying slaves.