“I see. I didn’t think you felt that strongly about friendship. How about as a wedding present?” he asked.
“Roberto, my Sweet!” she exclaimed. “You are so gracious when it comes to taking a hint.”
The jade dealer didn’t fight Roberto too hard for doubling his profits by merely doing what he did all the time: get an expensive piece of jade into the United States with all the fees paid but without the package being opened by the customs service. The package was addressed to Stella.
By the time they landed in Milan, all the arrangements had been made for their wedding. Stella had flown in from the States and was also at the airport with all the relatives.
Stella drew Roberto aside. She whispered into his ear. “Roberto, it is imperative I see you and Diura alone as quickly as you can arrange it. We may need to make a fast flight to New York.” Roberto stared at her, wrinkling his brow. She shook her head and nodded they would speak later.
At the reception everyone except Diura knew what her special wedding present from Roberto was to be. When Roberto got up to make the presentation, he clinked the glass with a spoon, then remembered it was the signal to kiss the bride, which he did.
“My dear wonderful people sharing this magnificent moment with us,” he started. “I can feel the communion between all the powers of heaven and the love of Roberto and Diura. A magnificent accomplishment has been achieved which could not have been done without the devotion and dedication of a number of people. The man who kept this project alive and gratefully passed the torch on to me was my father, Americo Donadio. To the able supporter contributing every inch of the way and who almost lost her life in the pursuit of this goal, my beautiful, spectacular bride, Diura! We regret the last page of the drama, but we could not have done this without Professor and priest Andreyovich Nicholovski who thought that his name would be good for a saint, and, as far as I’m concerned, it would be, too. There is a lama who thought he was a religious man first, but thank God he was a scholar in the end. What we did was one-tenth of one-percent of the work. Please do understand me when I say all the rest of the credit for the success of this research belongs to our Stella!” He waited for the extended applause to die down. “When Stella came here, she brought with her my special gift to my bride, Diura. I want to give it to her now, and explain I would take no offense at all if on this, her wedding night, she took time to read The Marius Diary rather than participate in some other ludicrous ritual.” He held up his hand. “I would hope she would extend me the same courtesy!” There was applause, cheers, and laughter. “Incidentally,” he leaned over to whisper to Diura, “should we invite all these nice people to the christening?”
“How do you know,” she asked.
“When you were dangling off the cliff?” he smiled at her, “You said, ‘Roberto, don’t let...us...fall!’”
“Well, Smartie! I know something you don’t know!” He stuck his chin out at her. She smiled broadly, “We’re going to have twins, a boy and a girl!” He stuck his chin out again. “I had a sonogram, and ultrasound, and other tests done in New York!”
With a wide-mouthed smile, Roberto handed Diura a box.
She took off the cover. “Roberto! This is The Marius Diary! But how?” she said wide-eyed. “I thought the diary was lost forever! You wouldn’t let me talk about it!”
“While I was studying the scrolls, I photographed all three with my digital camera. I couldn’t let you talk about it, Mia Cara, or even tell you about my work because I was deathly afraid the Lama would discover what I did, and deprive me of all the work, and really kill forever the diary. So, I didn’t dare tell you, and I apologize for letting you think it was gone again forever. I’m sure if you were in my position, you would have done the same thing. I had no alternative.”
Roberto explained that he exported more than just the jade statue and the scrap of scroll they’d found to Stella in New York. He’d also sent the photographs from his camera. From preliminary tests, the paper was carbon dated to early A.D. and matched duplicates of historical documents found in Rome on the exact same parchment.
“How absolutely brilliant!” Diura exclaimed. “So the original diary was lost, but...not lost!”
“Exactly!” Roberto went on. It saved him from trying to do the impossible task of translating the scrolls in the few short moments he was allowed to view them at the lamasery. Stella merely had to load the disks into the computer to transcribe The Marius Diary.
“Speaking of Stella,” he said to Diura, “she said she has something of great urgency and important to speak to the both of us. I’ll go get her.”
Stella’s first words to them were, “Time is of the essence. Critically so. I find it very difficult to give you this news at such a happy time. Diura, when you went in for the pregnancy sonogram and ultrasound and other tests, I was given the tapes and all the results. It is not good. One of the twins...”
“You mean...” Diura started, putting her hand to her mouth.
“Are they positive?” Roberto asked.
“Can I speak with you alone, Roberto?” Stella asked.
“No!” Diura exclaimed. “It is me. It’s our children. You can tell me directly. Are they positive?”
“Cara mia, I’m sorry. They have a time limit for very serious surgery, if at all.” Stella’s eyes welled up. “They said you should put your affairs in order, or at least, prepare to lose one or both of the twins.”
“The babies?” Diura spat.
Roberto took Diura in his arms. “We will stop it! We will do everything to keep our family! We must double check! There is always hope! Diura, my precious, you will be fine! You will just be fine! You must be...!”
“Yes,” Stella said, “I have all the test results, the tapes, the reports...”
“We don’t need test results,” Diura said. “We need the fourth nail. If the nail is truly a holy relic, then it could cure me if I could touch it, or be near it! Find it for us, Roberto! I want nothing for myself. Just for our babies! I want to read the birth announcement in the New York Times that I presented you with twins. There could be nothing more wonderful in the world!”
“Of course!” Stella exclaimed. “How beautiful!”
“Yes! Marius! Marius! I must read the diary! Where did you hide the fourth nail?” Roberto asked. “Stella, in reading the diary, he did not disclose where he put the fourth nail?”
Stella opened her eyes wide. “Well, yes and no. He hid the nail in Beatrice’s house, in the ground. We know that. But, where was Beatrice’s house? It was destroyed. Bastoni said he did that.”
“So?” Diura asked, anxiety filling her voice, “we don’t know where he hid the nail?”
“No! How could we know that!” Roberto said, “We do not know exactly where he buried the fourth nail. We may have to unravel a mystery bigger than The Marius Diary. It will take some digging through ancient archives. First, we would have to reconstruct Rome as it was when Marius was there. We would have to come up with some idea of where the house was that Bastoni destroyed. Perhaps in the archives it would tell us. Through recordings of the city of Rome we would have to make a plat that tells us where is hidden the fourth nail.”
Diura collapsed into a chair. “It was a miracle we found The Marius Diary. It will take more than a miracle to learn where the fourth nail is hidden. I think we should get to New York as quickly as possible and find the best doctors available. I will not finish the sentence. Let us go, Roberto.” She stood up. “We should leave tonight.” She turned to Roberto, clutching him to her.
Roberto patted her back softly, rapidly. “Courage, Diura. Marius of Rome would not abandon us so easily.”
XXXI
Beatrice, now with her name changed to Donia, returned a few weeks later to Rome with Antonius to start life anew. She hired servants. It was a style to which she quickly adapted, especially since she was able to go out in public. Her heart would sing as she gathered remarks about her beguiling face but more so as she caught the
men staring at and ogling her. Marius would stop by to take Antonius with him for several days.
Weeks after her return, she was with Antonius ambling past the open stalls of the marketplace when she thought she heard someone call out, “Beatrice!” She caught her breath and pretended she did not hear.
“Beatrice!”
She continued to walk.
Suddenly, she found herself staring at Madam Chiaro.
“Beatrice? But it can’t be you!” the madam said.
“Who?” Beatrice asked. “I am Donia, Beatrice’s cousin. Were you a friend of Beatrice?”
“This cannot be! You are mirror images!”
“You must know Beatrice passed away.”
“So sorry. I find it hard to believe...: She looked askance at Beatrice, and held up one hand to cover the half of her face that had been burned. She shook her head, unable to accept what she had been told. She turned to Antonius. “Your mother certainly is looking beautiful these days, isn’t she Antonius?”
The boy, caught off-guard, opened his eyes wide. He slowly nodded his head up and down.
Madam Chiaro copied him. “Did a physician take away her hurt and make her pretty?”
Antonius started to shake his head, but Beatrice tugged his arm to pull him away.
“He is confused,” Beatrice said. “I am a twin to his mother.”
Desperate to find out, the madam held the boy by his other arm. “Who made you better when you were sick?” She took a wild guess, “Marius?”
The boy nodded.
Madam Chiaro glared at Beatrice. She pushed her up against a stall. “I was a mother to you when no one else would have you! Didn’t I take care of you all those years! You must tell me how you did this. I will keep it a secret, I swear. I must know!”
“I am Donia!”
“Stop! I know enough now to spread this all over Rome. Tell me the truth! You were with me long enough so I know how you speak and walk and breathe and smell! Now tell me!”
“You must not...”
“No! I won’t tell anyone!”
“I woke one morning and I looked like this!”
“Someone had to do something to make it happen!”
Cowing, Beatrice blurted out, “Marius has relics!”
“Relics? Relics!” the madam shouted.
Antonius trying to defend his mother added, “He touched me with a cloth and made me better!”
“A cloth!” Madam Chiaro gargled the words loudly.
“He had a nail used to crucify a prisoner!” Beatrice said nervously.
“You’re speaking miracalu! Only emperor’s make miracles!” the old lady said. “No matter, I must look up Marius!” the madam announced, “I can use a miracle!”
Beatrice sent for Marius. She was in tears as she told him the story. “Don’t be angry with me, Marius!”
“Angry? I have not done enough yet to compensate you for what I have done to you. To quell any rumors of miracles, I will ask you to leave Antonius with me, and for you to find a refuge elsewhere. I will give you enough gold to start a new life. I will see Antonius spends time with you. You will have no peace in Rome.”
Beatrice nodded. Everything so far had worked out for the best for her. She would start again a new life elsewhere. Anything would be better than looking like half a gargoyle pulled from a fire.
Within a week Marius was summoned to his stepmother’s room.
“Save me, Marius! Save me!” she declared, “Make me well! I don’t want to die!”
“Of course you don’t. Neither do I, but I have little authority over when either one of us pays that call,” he said.
“Of course you do! You do miracles, Marius! You and your nail! It’s all over Rome! People come to the door looking for you, and gather in droves out front. All are with maladies or in pain and want relief and believe you and your nail can offer them relief! How do you think I learned of it?” Norma said.
“A rumor!” Marius answered. “Do you pay attention to every rumor that comes through your kitchen?”
“I know you hate me and that’s why you refuse to help me! But I took care of your father while he was alive! I tended to his every need!” Norma said. “I was a good wife and a good mother as much as I was able to you and Cora! Marius! Do this one thing for me, and I’ll trouble you no more! Use the nail and make me well! I am still young! Do not let me go before my time! Let me see the sunrise for a bit more, I plead with you! Touch me with your nail and make me well!”
“I cannot help you, Norma. I could not interfere with anyone’s fate at this moment if I wanted to,” he said. “You must accept that. That’s final.”
Cora came running into the room. “Marius! Marius! You must leave here! Quickly!”
“What?” he asked.
“The servants came to tell me the gardener is a spy for Milo and he reported that you had returned. Milo is coming for you with the Praetorian Guard!” she said.
Marius found Milo and Virgil waiting for him in the reception room.
“You’re going to the prisoner’s dock, Marius!” Milo said as guards filed into the room and surrounded them.
Cora broke through the file and screamed at Milo, “You have no right!”
Milo drew himself up. “As a Roman senator and a citizen of Rome it is my duty to keep criminals from roaming free, and Marius is a criminal!”
Marius asked Milo, “Are you here to steal the credit for my false arrest as you steal other things that don’t belong to you?”
“He is not a criminal!” Cora declared.
Milo pointed accusingly at Marius. “He was condemned that he was never to return here unless he was a free, Roman citizen. He is not wearing the gold bracelet of a free man.”
“I earned my freedom. I have a right to be here,” Marius said.
“Why don’t you use one of your miracles to put the gold band back on your wrist?” Milo said accompanied with the soldiers’ laughter.
Milo and Virgil, swords drawn, advanced on Marius.
“You’ve been a thorn in my side for too long, Marius,” Milo said. “You know I’m an accomplished swordsman! I’m delighted you are resisting arrest.”
“Our captain is on his way in,” a guard said as the officer stormed in through the portals.
“Senatore Milo, which is the criminal?” the officer asked indicating Marius and Virgil.
“That one!” Milo pointed to Marius.
The officer stopped in front of Marius. “I know this man!”
“Captain Morgana!” Marius exclaimed.
“Marius!” the Captain exclaimed. “How extraordinary.”
“He’s a criminal!” Milo screamed. “He has no gold bracelet!”
“He is no criminal,” Captain Morgana said turning to Milo, “put your swords away. I gave him the gold bracelet of a free Roman myself, and well he earned it! If that’s all you have against this man, we can all continue to go about our business.” He stared at Milo. “Well? Is it?” the soldier asked. Milo remained mute. “This is no longer our concern. Guards! File out!”
As the guards left the room, Milo and Virgil kept their swords out, their faces black with anger.
“Not in a lifetime would I have expected to find you in Rome,” Marius said to the Captain.
“Out of Rome for more than ten years my entire battalion returned home,” Captain Morgana said. “In fact, there is someone outside I’m sure you’d like to see although you didn’t have him as a friend. I will send him in! I see you made your way home safely, no small feat.”
“Captain Morgana, I want to thank you for keeping your word in Jerusalem. You are an honorable man to whom I’m indebted. I don’t know if I ever would have seen my family and my home again. If there is ever anything I may do in kind for you.”
“I’m delighted things worked out,” the officer said.
“Captain, I would consider it an honor if you would come back tomorrow for a welcoming luncheon, your family, too, of course, if they are here
,” Marius said.
“We have barely arrived so we need time to adjust. But, thank you Marius.”
“Many things I didn’t understand, too. Just to close out old times?” Marius held his breath as the captain relinquished his position, and accepted the invitation and would bring his wife and daughter, Teresa, with him.
Marius exhaled almost audibly, and, at the captain’s words, felt as if he was levitating.
As soon as the captain left, Cora shouted to Marius as Milo advanced and Virgil circled to his rear.
“I will not let your insult pass, Marius!” Milo sneered.
Marius picked up a small bench and edged toward the side of the room. Within a short distance of the wall, Marius threw the bench at Milo, deliberately missing. He knew Virgil was moving closer behind him. Marius stepped quickly toward Milo who reacted to the feint and lunged forward. Marius spun around to step back, avoided Virgil’s sword, and grabbed him by both arms, turned and shoved him backwards towards his father.
Milo’s outstretched sword went through Virgil and came out just below his breastbone.
Milo was aghast as Virgil fell to the floor, dead.
Marius picked up Virgil’s sword. “Milo, no man should see his son lost. I’m sorry for Virgil. I do not have enough reason to face you in combat. I ask you, for my mother’s sake, that you put up your sword and tend to your son.”
“I will have you drawn and quartered!” Milo, anger contorting his face, charged, slashing and parrying. Marius fended him off. Milo again attacked in a fury. At one point, Marius slipped on Virgil’s blood and fell to the floor. Milo charged in and thrust his sword through the edge of Marius’s ribcage. Milo pressed in for the kill. Instinctively, Marius rolled away and leaped to his feet.
Fighting to keep the advantage, Milo swung and struck out at his bleeding opponent.
Marius stood his ground blocking every thrust and swing of Milo’s sword. In a swift maneuver, Marius circled Milo’s sword with his, and easily swept the weapon out of Milo’s hand. “Just leave it there, Milo. You have nothing to prove.”
Milo narrowed his eyes, smiled, and shook his head.
The Fourth Nail: An Historical Novel Page 18