The Lydian Baker

'Simple.' Smaragdus smiled. 'Because about twenty years later something happened which ruined everything.'

Twenty years. I frowned. Shit, history wasn't my strong point, especially Greek history. Twenty years from a hundred would just about bring us up to…

I'd got it now. 'The Sullan siege.'

He nodded. 'The Sullan siege. Twenty years after Polybus and Phrixus had hidden the gold Mithridates of Pontus declared war on Rome, Greece supported him, and your man Sulla was sent out. The Piraeus was besieged. As a result, Polybus and Phrixus were cut off from the treasure. They'd told their sons where the cave was, but their sons were too young yet to be trusted. The siege brought plague, and Phrixus, his son and Polybus's son died. Polybus was executed later in the reprisals.'

Again, it fitted: the guy had all the answers, that I had to admit. The Sullan siege and its aftermath had practically killed the Piraeus. Like I said, a hundred years later it still hadn't recovered.

'Unlucky. And no one had thought to leave a map, right?'

'No. Or if so it was lost when Sulla's army burned the town. The two eldest grandsons — our grandfathers — knew of the cave's existence, but they didn't know where it was. They searched the coast around Thieves' Cove for years without success. The two families have been looking for the treasure ever since.'

The jigsaw in my head came together. 'And then you found it.'

'We found it. Or part of it, anyway. Two months ago we discovered a cave that had been closed off by a rock fall. We cleared the entrance and' — he spread his hands — 'there was the Baker.'

'Only the Baker? What about the rest of the treasure?'

'Most of it was gone, where I don't know, nor did my grandfather or Argaius's. Perhaps Polybus and Phrixus had moved it elsewhere for safety without passing the information on; perhaps that part of the family history was lost. Oh, there are a few bits and pieces, but the Baker's the plum.' He looked me in the eye. 'And it's genuine. No tricks, believe me.'

Okay. I was convinced, I admitted it. 'I believe you,' I said. 'So. End of story. You've got a customer, pal. A potential customer, anyway. You want to show me this cave of yours now?'

Smaragdus got to his feet. 'Yes. Of course. Why not? The boat's ready and waiting.'

9

The boat…

Boats and me have never got on, especially small ones, and in a bad light you could've mistaken Smaragdus's for a corn-skip. I cast my best nautical eye over it and decided that the odds on Poseidon scuttling us before we got half way were too high for comfort. And that even if he didn't, I'd be wishing he would. It was time for some negotiation.

'We're headed for Thieves' Cove, right?' I said.

'Not quite.' Smaragdus frowned. 'To one of the bays close by.'

'Whatever. Then I'll tell you what, pal. You carry on over in this sow- sickener here, and me and Lysias will take the carriage round the main harbour and meet you there, okay?'

'No deal, Corvinus.' The frown deepened. 'That would take twice as long, you'd have to walk from the town gate and even then without my help you'd never find the place. The wind's perfect, too.'

Bugger. Yeah, well, the guy was right, certainly about the distance involved, and as far as winds were concerned I was prepared to take his word on trust. Mind you, of the four elements wind wasn't exactly the one that was worrying me. Also, we were close enough to the boat now for me to get a good hard look at what I'd be letting myself in for, and the sight wasn't exactly cheering: beached or not, you could've washed your smalls in the spillage, if it had been cleaner. I didn't think all these little pinholes in the planking had been put there for decoration, either.

'Okay, pal. You're the boss.' I swallowed and sent up a quick prayer to Neptune. 'You…ah…you're sure this gutbucket's safe?'

He gave me a look like I'd just cast aspersions on his grandmother.

'The Alcyone? Of course she is. I've had her for years.'

That I'd believe. I didn't know much about changes in boat design, but if he'd told me Polybus and Phrixus had towed this particular specimen behind them all the way from Marseilles I wouldn't have blinked. In fact, scratch that: the thing looked like it could've dated back to Deucalion's flood.

'Yeah,' I said. 'Yeah, I can see you have. That's just my problem.'

Taking a boat trip on the Gulf voluntarily was one thing; coming back the same way was something else. I might be stupid, but I wasn't crazy. While Smaragdus bailed the Alcyone out and got her afloat I went round to where I'd left the carriage and told Lysias to meet me at the Aphrodisian Gate. When I got back Smaragdus was already aboard.

'Hurry up,' he said. 'There's nothing to be nervous about.'

'Sure there isn't.' I waded out and pulled myself over the side. The boat bucked like a frightened horse. I wished I had a cup of wine to keep Poseidon sweet, but it looked like I'd just have to hope that the old guy was in a good mood and had a soft spot for Romans. 'Only I just had breakfast and I'd like to keep it that way, you know?'

'You're not a sailor, then?' He was grinning.

'Full marks for observation.' I got myself settled. 'You win the nuts.'

'Relax. I told you, you're perfectly safe. I do this all the time.'

He swung the yard round and took the steering oar. The wind caught the sail and we heeled over on our beam. Greece shifted…

'Shit!' I sat down quickly and grabbed for the side. 'Uh…maybe I should warn you now. I swim like a brick.'

'There's a coincidence. That makes two of us.'

Now he told me. Oh, great; perfect, in fact. That was all I needed. We could hold hands on the way down.

I shut up and started to pray in earnest.

The 'Alcyone' took off like a swallow: well, at least he'd been right about the wind. I'd thought we'd hug the coast, but he set the oar straight and we went barrelling out into open water. It was choppy as hell, and I couldn't see the bottom. Maybe that was just as well.

'Nice weather for a sail, isn't it?'

The bastard was needling me intentionally, but at that precise moment I had other things on my mind. Like what was happening just south of my ribcage.

'Yeah,' I said. 'Beautiful.' Jupiter! This was… I gulped. 'Hey, Smaragdus, you think maybe we could…'

Too late. I'd hardly got the last word out before my stomach gave up the unequal struggle and I lost my breakfast to the fish.

I wasn't feeling all that hot an hour later when we finally reached the far side of the Gulf, either. Happy the farmer who knows not the sea. Still, I had to hand it to Smaragdus, the guy knew what he was doing; he brought us into the cove sweet as a nut and pulled the Alcyone up on to the beach while I lay in the pointed end and sweated.

'We're there,' he said. 'Now we walk.'

'Fine, fine.' I tried standing up, but my legs felt like they'd been filleted and there was a taste in my mouth like something had died there. If that was sailing then I'd take a five-star hangover any time. 'Just give me a minute, okay?'

Smaragdus laughed. Sadistic bastard. I climbed out, eventually. Sand and pebbles underfoot had never felt so good. I took a deep breath and opened my gummy eyes.

'So where's this cave?' I said.

'That way.' He pointed inland. 'Not far, about a quarter of a mile.'

A quarter of a mile. Great. The ground was heaving. If I'd ever wondered why Poseidon is both the sea and the earthquake god I had my answer. 'You say you do this often, pal?'

'Often enough, in fine weather. You Romans never have made good sailors.'