When they arrived in Myra, Young Nicholas found it bustling with activity. Its port lay on an island as a city in its own right, with large ships bearing grain from Alexandria jostling beside ships loading up with grain for the journey to Italy and parts west. The two Nicholases set out on foot for the mainland and made their way along the road past a towering pair of marble figures that stood watch over the water. The male wore the ornate breastplate of an emperor. He had his arm around the female, who wore a long, flowing dress. They had youthful faces, but the stone bore the streaks and stains of three centuries. The inscription on the base read, “Germanicus and Agrippina.”
As the older and younger Nicholas looked up at the pair, they both let out a chuckle. Old Nicholas said, “You remember?”
“Yes,” said young Nicholas. “What was I? Six?”
“Yes.”
“Did I climb all the way up Germanicus?”
“Almost,” said old Nicholas. “You were on his shoulders when we heard the soldier yelling at you.” He chuckled again and added, “You should have seen the look on your father’s face.”
Young Nicholas asked, “Was he angry?”
Old Nicholas replied, “More terrified. He told me he wasn’t so much concerned that you would fall, but that you would break off the head and he would have to pay for it.”
Young Nicholas smiled. “You won’t have to worry about that now.”
They crossed over onto the mainland, following the coastal road. Young Nicholas gazed on the slopes outside the main city and saw the familiar patchwork of small tilled fields dotted with tents and huts. He asked, “Drifters?”
“Yes. From every corner of the empire. It seems everyone is fleeing in every direction, each seeking relief from the trouble whence he came.”
As the older and younger Nicholas looked up at the pair, they both let out a chuckle. Old Nicholas said, “You remember?”
“Yes,” said young Nicholas. “What was I? Six?”
“Yes.”
“Did I climb all the way up Germanicus?”
“Almost,” said old Nicholas. “You were on his shoulders when we heard the soldier yelling at you.” He chuckled again and added, “You should have seen the look on your father’s face.”
Young Nicholas asked, “Was he angry?”
Old Nicholas replied, “More terrified. He told me he wasn’t so much concerned that you would fall, but that you would break off the head and he would have to pay for it.”
Young Nicholas smiled. “You won’t have to worry about that now.”
They crossed over onto the mainland, following the coastal road. Young Nicholas gazed on the slopes outside the main city and saw the familiar patchwork of small tilled fields dotted with tents and huts. He asked, “Drifters?”
“Yes. From every corner of the empire. It seems everyone is fleeing in every direction, each seeking relief from the trouble whence he came.”
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