'You both think I'm a Jew spy, don't you?' he asked casually, taking a small bite of cheese as they digested this.

Erastus looked uncomfortable, Drusus merely curious.

'Well...?'

I'm not.' said Ian, as if that would be enough. 'Any chance of a little wine to go with this? It's somewhat dry.'

Two hours later, after a drinking session of which Ian hadn't seen the like since Friday nights in the West End with his friends from teaching college, everyone's position was much clearer. Drusus, he freely admitted, naturally distrusted everyone, it wasn't anything personal. In his position it always helped to keep an open mind about the allegiances of those who claimed to be one thing. 'Because they are frequently something else,' he noted as he stood from the table and excused himself, staggering off in search of the lavatory.

I'll tell you something,' Ian noted, raising his goblet to his lips. Erastus watched him closely 'Where I come from, wine as good as this would cost a pretty penny.'

'And where, exactly, do you come from, freeman?' asked Erastus.

'Britannia. Londinium. I've told you all the complete truth,'

Ian said, tapping the side of his nose. 'Of course, my method of arrival was a sky chariot from the stars and I come from the far future where we have television sets and aeroplanes and computers that fit into a room half this size.' He laughed, aware that the wine had dangerously loosened his tongue. I offer you a toast of reconciliation,' he said, half-standing and then slumping into his seat again, drunk. 'To the nights of Byzantium, and the rise and fall of the Roman empire. G.o.d bless her and all who will sink sink in her.' in her.'

For a moment there was a complete silence. And then Erastus burst into spontaneous laughter. 'You are either a simpleton or a clown,' he said, draining his wine and standing to leave. 'Whichsoever applies, you are of no concern to me.

But I thank you, Briton, for the entertainment which was appreciated.'

Ian watched him leave and finished off his own wine. 'Nice fellah,' he said as he stood, knocking over the table as he did so. 'Leave that,' he said, apologetically, to the empty room.

'I'll wipe it up in the morning.'

After a siesta to sleep off the effects of this most potent of wines, Ian awoke with a sore head and determined to walk off his hangover by exploring as much of the house as he could.

Soon, he found himself inside an enormous library in the west wing. Picking a scroll at random from the numerous neatly stacked shelves, he looked at the opening line which seemed to concern a great sea battle. Ian didn't feel in the mood for war stories that hadn't been written by Alistair MacLean and slipped it back into its place.

Ah,' noted a soft voice behind him. 'Marcus Agrippa's account of the great battle of Actium. A most excellent and wise choice.'

Ian turned. 'History's not really my field,' he said, noting the presence of a studious-looking man with a kindly face.

'I'm a scientist, I deal in the present rather than the past.'

'But without the past, there can be no present. Or future,'

noted the librarian.

'Good point,' muttered Ian, reflecting on how Barbara would have loved it here.

'Of course, it is perfectly possible that one day all of my books will be nothing more than dust in the wind,' continued the librarian sadly. 'But the knowledge of what is contained within them will live on in the minds of scholarly men. All things must pa.s.s into the pure light of knowledge.'

Ian found this a curiously narrow view for a man of such obvious intellect. 'Entropy,' he said at last. 'That is what will destroy your books. It's an inevitable process.'

'I do not follow.'

Ian picked up another scroll and drew his fingernail along the edge of the paper, flaking off a fine dust onto his thumb.

'See. Entropy. It's a thermodynamic constant that changes in a reversible process by an amount equal to the heat absorbed or emitted, divided by the thermodynamic temperature. It is measured in joules per kelvin. It also means a lack of pattern or organisation.'

The librarian shrugged. 'Which means...?'

'That everything gets old, decays and dies'

'Except knowledge,' noted the old man. 'You are our recently arrived guest from far and distant sh.o.r.es, yes?'

Ian couldn't believe how infamous he was becoming in this place. 'Don't you people have anything else else to talk about?' he asked. to talk about?' he asked.

'Not in Byzantium,' the librarian replied with a rueful smile.

'I am Fabulous, the keeper of the master's library. Erastus believes that you are a wandering fool.'

'I have been called one often enough,' Ian noted sullenly.

'I take a less parochial view than our n.o.ble cadet trainer,'

said Fabulous. 'My pa.s.sion is for stories. I have a feeling that you have many a fascinating tale to tell.'

An ally, perhaps, in this house of secrets and sin and danger.

'I have travelled far and wide through many distant lands,'

Ian said, truthfully.

'What did you do there?'

I survived.'

This brought a broad smile to the librarian's face. 'Then, my friend, you will find Byzantium a challenge. But I have a feeling that you will rise to the tests that are to come.'

Chapter Fourteen.

He Not Busy Being Born Is Busy Dying

If any man have ears to hear; let him hear.

Mark 4:23

It did not take Ian long to find another ally within the ma.s.sive household. Fabulous introduced the school teacher to Gemellus later that day when the advisor came to the library to do some research for the praefectus. praefectus.

Ian could tell, instantly, that here was another man whom he could trust.

Gemellus smiled genially and asked Ian a few cursory questions about Britannia, seemingly to satisfy himself, as others had before him, that Ian was not a spy of some kind.

One can never be too careful in these times, my friend,'

Gemellus said, almost apologetically, as Ian successfully pa.s.sed the authenticity test by rattling off a few half-remembered facts about the invasions of Julius and Claudius, and a couple of timeless stories about London. He didn't mention sky chariots and was thankful that Fabulous didn't either.

'I feel a little out of my depth in Byzantine society,' Ian admitted, acknowledging that he could trust his new friends with such a statement. 'Even within these four walls, I'm ignorant of so much. And I haven't even met my gracious host yet.'

There was something to be said, clearly, for showing but not telling.

Gemellus sympathised. 'It is as well to know the whys and wherefores of every man, and woman, and slave hereabouts,' he offered. 'Starting with the praefectus.' praefectus.'

'This is undoubtedly true,' Fabulous added. 'For on such knowledge can a man's need for alliances depend.'

Ian understood. 'So,' he said, 'tell me about the boss.'

'Thalius Maximus,' began Gemellus. 'P raefectus raefectus of Byzantium, executive to his most awesome and imperial majesty, this-that-and-the-other, the Emperor Lucius Nero Caesar.' He paused. 'You have heard of of Byzantium, executive to his most awesome and imperial majesty, this-that-and-the-other, the Emperor Lucius Nero Caesar.' He paused. 'You have heard of him, him, I take it?' I take it?'

Ian gave Gemellus a keenly sarcastic stare. I'm an outsider, not a numbskull,' he said.

'Your point is well made,' noted Gemellus.

'The master is a politician,' continued Fabulous. a good one.'

'Though often a bored bored one,' added Gemellus. 'And I speak as a friend of the man, as well as his counsellor. He is hugely mistrusted by the military, which some may regard as a sign of his considerable worth.' Gemellus paused and asked the librarian if he thought this was a fair summation of Thalius. one,' added Gemellus. 'And I speak as a friend of the man, as well as his counsellor. He is hugely mistrusted by the military, which some may regard as a sign of his considerable worth.' Gemellus paused and asked the librarian if he thought this was a fair summation of Thalius.

I should say so,' Fabulous agreed. 'Of course, you did leave out the damsel in this tale of woe.'

Ian's eyebrows raised. 'Ah, the distaff side?' he asked. 'I should have guessed there'd be a Judy in there somewhere.

Do tell.'

'Antonia Vinicius,' Gemellus almost spat the name out.

'Thalius's former wife, now married to a usually absent and ambitious senator called Germanicus. Be very careful of her.'

As he said it, he cast a nervous glance behind to a.s.sure himself that this observation had not been overheard.

Fabulous instantly poured oil on troubled waters. 'A woman for whom the purpose of life is the pleasure which can be gained from that portion of her body beneath her navel and above her knees,' he said, bitterly.

Chesterton got the message. 'I know the type,' he said.

Oh, but I do not think you do, young Briton,' Gemellus countered, still clearly angry to be talking about a woman such as this. 'You have had the dubious pleasure of meeting the praefectus's praefectus's new wife, the vivacious lady Jocelyn, yes?' new wife, the vivacious lady Jocelyn, yes?'

Ian shuddered and nodded his head.

and, you will also, no doubt, have encountered the deliciously flirtatious Felicia who can produce a momentary awakening even in these tired and bent old bones.'

Fabulous winked broadly at Ian in agreement.

I have been made aware of her, yes,' Ian admitted.

The whole of the barracks and half of the city besides are aware of Felicia and Jocelyn,' Gemellus said. 'Now, put the twix of them together and you would still be a dozen Roman miles and more besides behind the minx Antonia and her wild and frivolous ways. She is hugely promiscuous and enjoys, so it is said, the company of soldiers. And even slaves.'

There was a shock in Gemellus's voice as it dropped to a whisper for the final accusation.

Okay, so the former lady of the house goes like the netty door when the plague's in town?' Ian asked. 'I can dash a mean hundred yards if there's a reason for it. What about that general I met last night? The one who's been to Britain? He seemed relatively sane.'

'Gaius Calaphilus,' Fabulous said, 'A much underrated fellow. Now there there is a man worth having on your side.' is a man worth having on your side.'

Gemellus seemed unsure of whether he should be saying what he was about to. After a moment's hesitation he pressed on. 'It is no secret that Thalius and the general do not agree upon most issues. And their mutual dislike is sometimes justified...'

'But...?' asked Ian.

'They are the only two truly honest men in Byzantium, present company excepted. In a city of thieves and wh.o.r.es and ruffians, they are both too proud to be the friends that they should be. Fabulous knows the general better than I.'

Fabulous accepted this as a compliment. 'He is a dedicated career soldier,' he noted. 'He served under Claudius during the conquest of Britain, as you know. He is a man of common blood who fought his way up through the ranks. I have talked with him often and I know that he holds some enlightened views. And some dangerous ones. He loathes the excesses of the imperial family. Like all good leaders of men he is popular with his legions but is a ripe target for his ambitious junior officers.'

Chesterton got the general picture that the two men were painting. 'You think he has enemies?' he asked.

I know know he has enemies,' replied Fabulous. 'Marcus Lanilla for one. A devious and sly individual. Marcus forms, with his wife Agrinelia, a deadly duo in the internal politics of the Roman establishment in Byzantium.' he has enemies,' replied Fabulous. 'Marcus Lanilla for one. A devious and sly individual. Marcus forms, with his wife Agrinelia, a deadly duo in the internal politics of the Roman establishment in Byzantium.'

a man of moderately n.o.ble birth, married into his wife's powerful family Marcus has his eyes on Calaphilus's job,'

added Gemellus. 'His best friend and closest ally is Fabius Actium, another tribune. Fabius is not nearly as clever as Lanilla, but equally as ambitious and much less subtle in his methods.'