History Keepers: Circus Maximus

by Dibben, Damian

  Jake was filled with panic as she lost her footing, tripped and fell into the water. Without hesitation, Cetus’s trident came down on her. She tried to dodge it, but it grazed her shoulder. Blood dripped into the foaming pool.

  ‘We have to stop it!’ Jake exclaimed, stepping forward.

  ‘No, Jake!’ Nathan held him back. ‘She’s ten times more able than he. It is entertainment, that is all. This is ancient Rome, remember – nothing like the place you come from.’

  Topaz and the monster had retreated, panting, gazes fixed on one another. Agata’s eyes sparkled and Leopardo licked his lips in anticipation. The crowd started chanting for the battle to resume. This time Topaz lunged first, and the duel became even more desperate. Suddenly she swiped her sword at her opponent’s leg. There was a screech as the blade sliced through the metal of his boots and came to a stop. As she yanked it free, she lost her footing and tumbled into the pool again. Taking advantage of this, the monster hurled his trident at her. Topaz ducked, and it thwacked into the thigh of a passing slave. The audience fell about laughing, but Topaz was distracted. Cetus advanced on her and lifted his sword for the kill. Everyone froze in anticipation.

  Suddenly Jake shoved Nathan aside and ran out, unsheathing his dagger. He hurled himself into the pool and stabbed Cetus’s thigh. Neither Topaz nor the crowd could identify this new masked participant at first; the guests assumed that he was the brave Perseus come to save her, and cheered with delight. Cetus gave a deep, rasping groan and tried to swing a punch at Jake, but then dropped to his knees, blood pumping from his wound.

  Jake picked himself up and went over to Topaz. ‘It’s me,’ he panted. ‘The chain’ – he took hold of it – ‘how do I undo it?’

  ‘Are you mad?’ Topaz shook her head in fury. ‘You must leave now! You risk everything.’

  He paid no attention. ‘How do I undo it?’ he yelled again, yanking the metal links.

  In the crowd, Charlie and Nathan stood frozen in horror, the latter holding Lucius back in case he was also tempted to join the fray.

  ‘Charlie, what now?’ Nathan whispered urgently.

  ‘I don’t know,’ Charlie replied in despair, nodding towards Leopardo and Agata on the other side of the stage. ‘Like everyone else, they think this is part of the show.’

  He was right: they were both smirking, as yet unaware of what was really going on.

  ‘Jake!’ Topaz cried as Cetus suddenly lurched to his feet again. He swung Jake round, grabbed him by the neck and started to lift him off the ground. As his immense hands tightened their grip, Jake’s mask fell off and his face – now a startling red – was revealed.

  As Leopardo watched, his eyes began to widen in uncertainty. Then his smile gradually faded. He knew this boy: it was that inept agent from the opera house in Stockholm. Quickly he scanned the faces in the crowd and found another he recognized: Nathan Wylder. Leopardo’s lips quivered and he clenched his white teeth.

  Then everything happened at once.

  The audience cheered as Jake was lifted higher and higher, his legs thrashing in midair. Topaz picked up a large rock and smashed it over the monster’s head. His eyes bulged, then rolled up in his head. He let go of Jake, lost consciousness and fell back into the pool.

  ‘Periculum! Danger!’ Leopardo yelled at the top of his voice. ‘Look to the emperor,’ he ordered as he pushed through the mob and jumped down into the arena, unsheathing his sword as he did so.

  Suddenly there was pandemonium. The screaming guests charged for the exits. Agata Zeldt slowly rose to her feet, her face incandescent with fury.

  As Leopardo bore down on Jake, Nathan jumped into the ring, landing on Cetus’s chest (the unfortunate soldier was just coming round when he was knocked out again) and intercepting Leopardo’s blade.

  ‘All the vermin are here, then!’ The fair-haired youth swung round to face him. ‘I knew that snake couldn’t be trusted.’

  Then swords were crashing, twisting, slicing; faces were set, fierce with concentration. In the midst of all the mayhem, Jake couldn’t help appreciating what a sensational swordsman Nathan was. At times he was a peacock, but when he truly needed to fight, he was awe-inspiring – as swift and balletic as he was savage and strong. That said, Leopardo was more than a match for him, and on this occasion he was the luckier of the two. Nathan misjudged a cut by just an inch; it was enough for his opponent to knock him off balance, strike his hand and disarm him.

  Leopardo was just preparing to finish him off when Topaz finally eased apart the weak link in the heavy chain, releasing it and hurling it into his face. There was a crack as the iron struck his teeth. Jake actually saw a chunk of white enamel fly out of his mouth and land in someone’s pudding. The blow was decisive: Leopardo looked incredulous, insulted; then collapsed onto his knees and fell head first into the water.

  Only now, almost paralysed with white-hot fury, did Agata act, uttering a murderous cry that made people’s blood run cold. ‘Stop them!’ she cried, thrusting her way through the crowd towards the edge of the arena.

  Without thinking, Jake rushed across to intercept her, jumping over the balustrade. ‘You are a monster!’ he yelled as he came face to face with her. He had no weapon, but picked up a goblet of wine from the nearest table and flung its contents into her face. There was a look of astonishment, before she lunged for Jake’s neck. Now he took hold of the whole table and swung it towards her. It made contact with her jaw, and her head jolted back; plates and glasses smashed onto the ground. Jake swung again, and this time Agata lost her footing and fell onto a pile of broken crockery and half-eaten food.

  Jake was about to attack her with his bare hands when Nathan yanked him back, dragging him away. ‘Enough!’ he ordered. There were guards everywhere, fighting their way through the frenzied crowd to come to Agata’s aid. Charlie, Topaz and Lucius joined Nathan and Jake, and they forced their way back to the other side of the arena and through the archway leading into the villa.

  ‘This way,’ said Topaz, leading them along a labyrinth of slaves’ corridors and back stairways until they reached the huge vaulted kitchen. Here, amidst clouds of steam and clanking metal, lackeys were busy cleaning up after the banquet. They were too tired to challenge the intruders. Charlie resisted the alluring, mouth-watering sights and smells as Topaz guided them through.

  The back door was open, and just outside stood a cart, from which a hairy man in a leather apron was unloading carcasses of meat. As he disappeared inside with half a cow across his shoulder, Nathan wasted no time in leaping up onto the vehicle.

  ‘All aboard,’ he shouted as he took hold of the reins.

  The others scrambled up, Charlie reeling as he came face to face with the dead eyes of a wild boar. ‘Enchanté,’ he said drily as Lucius helped Topaz up and jumped on.

  By the time the butcher re-emerged from the kitchen, his cart was gone.

  Nathan flicked the reins, urging the horses round to the front of the villa and nearly colliding with another platoon of guards who were pouring out of the main entrance. One long-limbed soldier managed to pull himself up onto the back of the cart, sword drawn.

  ‘Excuse me.’ Charlie politely edged Topaz out of the way and launched the wild boar at their assailant. With a resounding crack, snout met face and the man was thrown off. ‘There are times,’ Charlie commented, dusting his hands, ‘when cruelty to animals is acceptable.’

  As they flew up the road, the soldiers jumped into their own wagon and set off in pursuit.

  Nathan steered the rickety butcher’s cart down the hill towards the Roman Forum, the ancient wheels shaking and rattling with the strain. Their pursuers rapidly picked up speed. Within moments, the guards were firing darts from their crossbows.

  Nathan whipped the horses on, faster and faster. Too late he noticed a hole in the road ahead – there was a screech of metal and the cart took off for a moment. It landed with such a jolt that Lucius overbalanced. He reached out for Topaz, but it was too late – he
was already flying off the back of the cart. Topaz gasped in horror as he rolled straight into the path of the wagon.

  In unison the watching History Keepers covered their eyes as Lucius was trampled by the horses’ hooves. One animal tripped over the human obstacle, and came crashing down, pulling the others with it. There was a melee of dust, of neighing, of twisting necks and thrashing limbs, until finally the wagon came to a halt.

  ‘We have to stop!’ Jake shouted, peering round. He could just make out Lucius’s body amidst the carnage.

  ‘You don’t get to say anything!’ Nathan shouted at him. ‘Never again, do you understand?’ Jake had never seen his friend so angry – he was livid with rage.

  Nathan shook the reins harder and urged the horses on down the hill. Topaz sat there, shaking with a whole range of emotions – shock, confusion, exhaustion . . . and loathing for Jake. She saw Lucius’s body being dragged out of the wreckage, before the cart rounded a corner and she lost sight of him.

  Jake was overcome with shame. The sense of his own disgrace was so unbearable that he felt physically sick. Once again – and more catastrophically than ever – he had ruined everything.

  17 LUCIUS DOWN

  ‘SH-SH-SHOULD WE GO back for him?’ Jake stammered in the gloom. They had just got back to the bureau and Charlie was lighting candles, with Mr Drake sitting stiffly on his shoulder.

  Nathan turned on Jake. ‘I told you to keep out of this!’ he said. Half an hour had passed since they escaped Agata’s villa, but he was still furious. ‘Do you understand?’

  Jake nodded obediently.

  ‘Your weapon, please,’ Nathan demanded, sounding like a cross teacher. Jake undid his belt, fumbling clumsily with the buckle before finally releasing it. Nathan snatched the belt and scabbard from him and placed it on the table. Receiving the special sword from Nathan himself on the pier at Point Zero had been one of Jake’s proudest moments. Since then everything had turned sour. ‘Now sit down over there and keep quiet!’ the American ordered coldly, pointing to Jake’s bunk.

  He turned, headed across the room and sat down. At any moment, he knew, tears would start welling up, so he sank back into the shadows against the wall and used what little will power he had left to keep them at bay. Crying now would be the ultimate disgrace and he was determined not to let it happen.

  The others did not even look at him. They went about their business: Nathan examining papers; Topaz attending to the cuts on her face in the mirror; Charlie lighting more candles. The air was thick with tension. Only Mr Drake briefly peeked over his master’s shoulder to examine the malefactor in the corner. Jake looked up at him, hoping that he still had one friend, but the parrot fluffed up his feathers and turned away.

  The taut silence was eventually broken by Nathan. ‘The capture of Lucius Titus is regrettable,’ he said matter-of-factly, ‘but there will be no rescue mission. It is too dangerous and the chances are’ – he bit his lip – ‘the chances are he has not made it.’

  Jake felt his stomach flip over. He looked at Topaz in the mirror. She froze, her eyes flickering, but said nothing.

  ‘Does everyone agree?’ Nathan asked quietly.

  It was a while before Topaz, without turning round, nodded back at him. Charlie, who had waited to hear her opinion, solemnly followed suit. Nathan bowed his head respectfully. ‘As I said, it’s regrettable. He was a good soldier.’

  Jake had to clench his fists and take deep breaths to stop himself from leaping up and shouting that of course they should try and save Lucius; that he was sure to be alive! But he knew it was no good. The damage had been done and he was to blame for everything.

  Nathan continued in a businesslike way, ‘Regarding Agata Zeldt’s end of dominions – what we know, or seem to know, is as follows. Something is going to happen during the games at the Circus Maximus tomorrow. Though the details are sketchy, it is likely to be an assassination attempt. We believe that the target is the fake Tiberius. It is possible that rebel slaves will then be blamed for his murder. Unrest will follow, and Agata will use the confusion and bloodshed as an opportunity to take control. Her master plan, her ultimate aim – and we have no idea how she is to accomplish it – is to assume command of the Roman army. Need I tell anyone what that could lead to?’ Nathan didn’t wait for an answer. ‘The greatest military forces the world has ever known in the hands of one of history’s most demented malefactors.’

  ‘And what exactly is she planning to do with the army?’ Charlie asked, uncertain of everything.

  ‘I don’t know.’ Nathan shrugged. ‘Re-draw the boundaries of the world in her own diabolical image? The end of dominions, remember?’

  Charlie was still shaking his head. ‘It still doesn’t add up,’ he said. ‘As a plan, it’s completely flawed.’ He pushed his glasses up his nose as he started to explain. ‘The emperor is without doubt the supreme head of state – in fact, never has one man, in all history, held so much power. And, yes, his assassination, in full public view, by supposed rebel factions, would be catastrophic. But even then Agata couldn’t take command of the army without the full support of the Senate. And this is not forgetting that the real Tiberius will still exist.’

  ‘I don’t know about the real Tiberius,’ Nathan replied. ‘Maybe he’s dead already. But regarding the senate, we can only assume that she has their support. Remember, she’s richer than anyone in the empire . . .’

  ‘Sure, and of course money talks, without a doubt, especially in this city,’ Charlie reflected, ‘but there’s six hundred of them, Nathan, and the Romans are also famous for their sense of honour.’

  ‘Then we must assume that somehow she has taken those facts into account as well,’ Nathan said firmly. ‘There seem be no limits to what she can do. Besides, what else do we have to go on? Our mission is clear: tomorrow morning we head for the Circus Maximus and stop this assassination from taking place.’

  Although Charlie was still far from convinced, he had no option but to nod in agreement.

  The mood didn’t improve much after that. Jake remained sitting on his bed. Charlie rustled up a cheese board (he was ravenous, having eaten hardly anything at Agata’s banquet), then the three of them sat around the table, examining a map of the Circus Maximus and discussing their plan of action. Jake watched them from the shadows, hearing only snippets of conversation: ‘The emperor’s enclosure is this structure here . . . The games always start with a procession . . .’ None of them turned round or spoke to him. They didn’t even offer him anything to eat. He wondered if they would ever talk to him again.

  Eventually Nathan rolled up the map. He stood up and gave Topaz a big hug and Jake heard him whisper, ‘I’m always here for you. Always.’ He turned to Charlie and gave him a warm pat on the back. ‘There is one silver lining to all this, old friend,’ he said. ‘As our cover has been blown, we’ll need to go incognito. I trust you packed your special equipment?’

  ‘Beards and moustaches?’ the other replied eagerly, producing a small case from his belt. ‘I never travel without them!’

  Nathan headed, yawning, towards his bed. Charlie went to sit on his bunk, gave Mr Drake a goodnight peanut and a little peck on his head, then lay down.

  Jake watched Topaz as she extinguished all the candles but one on the table. Finally she put the last of the food on a plate and brought it over to Jake.

  ‘Here,’ she said, handing it to him. There were a couple of slices of cheese and some bread and pickles.

  ‘Thank you,’ he said quietly, putting it down on the bed. ‘T-Topaz,’ he stammered, ‘I don’t even know where to begin with saying sorry. And I understand I may never be forgiven . . .’ He looked up at her, blinking his big brown eyes. Her expression was cold and unsmiling, but he soldiered on. ‘But, you know, I think Lucius may have a chance. He is so brave and clever and I’m sure that—’

  ‘Tu comprends comme sa vie a été dûr?’ Topaz interrupted him, the words almost sticking in her throat. ‘Do you know how hard his
life has been? Do you know what pain he has suffered?’

  Jake remembered that Lucius had told him something of his life, the night they spent together on the bridge. ‘He said he hadn’t seen his parents since he was ten.’

  ‘And do you know why?’

  Jake shook his head.

  ‘Because when he was ten, pirates boarded his parents’ ship and took them away. His family was not rich – his father had a small boat-repair yard – but they were happy. Lucius was loved,’ she said pointedly. ‘One day they were sailing to Dalmatia: they’d saved enough money to build a little house there, by the sea. But just three leagues away from the coast the pirates attacked. Lucius was brave even then and put up a fight’ – a smile briefly flickered on Topaz’s face – ‘mais c’était inutile – it was pointless. He was a child. He was bound, chained and separated from his father, his mother and his little brother. He never heard of them again.’

  ‘Brother?’ Jake said softly. ‘He didn’t tell me he had a brother.’

  ‘They took Lucius to the nearest port and sold him in the market for two pieces of gold. He spent five years – la reste de son enfance – underground in a silver mine, haunted by the screams of his brother as he was carried away that day.’

  Jake’s insides froze with pity. He looked at Topaz and saw that her eyes were glistening. He stood up and took her hand. She did not react, but nor did she pull it away. She carried on with her story. ‘Then, when I was imprisoned by my own mother, he helped me whenever he could, without a care for his own safety.’ Tears streamed down her face now. ‘He was a beautiful person,’ she sobbed quietly. ‘Un gars magnifique.’ Charlie peered over at the sorry scene, but said nothing.