By the light of oil lamps and torches, Nicholas and the estate workers crowded into the family tomb and laid his mother and father to rest. Jason sent for the head overseer of the Christiani assembly in Patara—the Christiani called their leaders overseers—and he spoke briefly of the hope that one day they would rise from the dead like Christus himself. As he spoke, Nicholas eyed the sarcophagus toward the back of the tomb. It appeared undisturbed.
Nicholas slept very little that night. He thought of days with his mother and father that would never be again. He thought of managing the fishing fleet and the estate, and the weight of responsibility that now rested on him. Above all, he thought of the gold left in his father’s hand and who would have wanted to kill his parents. Only his parents knew of the secret treasury in the tomb. Did it still remain?
Early in the morning, he returned to the tomb and checked the sarcophagus. The gold lay as it was before. He returned to the house and announced to Jason that he would be going into the city.
“What do you need?” asked Jason.
“I am going to speak with the magistrates.”
Jason said, “If you must go, then let me speak for you, since you are still young.”
Nicholas shook his head. “You are a freedman. I am sorry, but they will respect you no more than me.”
Jason said, “Then at least allow me to stand with you. I have a letter to deliver, and I would speak with the crews of the fishing ships.”
“Yes. Thank you,” said Nicholas. He knew he needed to break the news to the fishermen, but wasn’t sure if he was ready to.
The magistrate’s hall stood along the forum. Many times, Nicholas had played on its stone steps, but this was the first time he climbed the steps seeking justice. As he waited his turn, he watched the group of magistrates hearing cases. All wore robes with richly ornamented fringes, and the thick, military-style belts favored by the emperor. Standing by were their bodyguards, the lictors, each bearing his fasces. The magistrates sat silently on a row of benches, ignoring everyone but themselves and the case at hand. The chief magistrate sat on a marble throne with a purple curtain behind him. A gold broach the size of a fist fastened his tunic at the shoulder. It all struck Nicholas as having the same color and pageantry of a religious ceremony.
At last the chief magistrate turned his attention to Nicholas and Jason. He avoided meeting eyes with Jason, whose common clothes gave him away as a freedman. He gave Nicholas only a sideways glance. He asked, “What is your business?”
Nicholas slept very little that night. He thought of days with his mother and father that would never be again. He thought of managing the fishing fleet and the estate, and the weight of responsibility that now rested on him. Above all, he thought of the gold left in his father’s hand and who would have wanted to kill his parents. Only his parents knew of the secret treasury in the tomb. Did it still remain?
Early in the morning, he returned to the tomb and checked the sarcophagus. The gold lay as it was before. He returned to the house and announced to Jason that he would be going into the city.
“What do you need?” asked Jason.
“I am going to speak with the magistrates.”
Jason said, “If you must go, then let me speak for you, since you are still young.”
Nicholas shook his head. “You are a freedman. I am sorry, but they will respect you no more than me.”
Jason said, “Then at least allow me to stand with you. I have a letter to deliver, and I would speak with the crews of the fishing ships.”
“Yes. Thank you,” said Nicholas. He knew he needed to break the news to the fishermen, but wasn’t sure if he was ready to.
The magistrate’s hall stood along the forum. Many times, Nicholas had played on its stone steps, but this was the first time he climbed the steps seeking justice. As he waited his turn, he watched the group of magistrates hearing cases. All wore robes with richly ornamented fringes, and the thick, military-style belts favored by the emperor. Standing by were their bodyguards, the lictors, each bearing his fasces. The magistrates sat silently on a row of benches, ignoring everyone but themselves and the case at hand. The chief magistrate sat on a marble throne with a purple curtain behind him. A gold broach the size of a fist fastened his tunic at the shoulder. It all struck Nicholas as having the same color and pageantry of a religious ceremony.
At last the chief magistrate turned his attention to Nicholas and Jason. He avoided meeting eyes with Jason, whose common clothes gave him away as a freedman. He gave Nicholas only a sideways glance. He asked, “What is your business?”
Click here to go to beginning of the book
No comments:
Post a Comment