by Ted Mayes
His voice came back over the noise in the bunkroom, “Sure, get the room number. Tell them it will be 15-20 minutes.”
“Sure, Mom. Jon says we'll be there in 15-20 minutes. What room are you in?”
“Room 327.”
“Great. We'll see you soon!” She finished getting her boots on, stowed her dirty clothes, grabbed her cap and went out to the small common room to sling her jacket around her shoulders. She glanced in the mirror to make sure everything was in order, only to notice that some changes had been made to her jacket. Her last name was displayed above her upper left pocket, two thin red stripes circled her jacket sleeves near the wrist, and one red chevron was positioned on each upper arm. The others who drifted in, ready to go, sported similar changes to their jackets. The only exceptions were Ari and Jon, who both had one red chevron and, above that, one silver chevron.
“What's this?” she asked Jon, waving at the new markings.
“Wait a sec, until we get everyone here.” That made sense, she thought, as she watched him check with everyone else to see that they'd made their calls. Most had, but some had parents living on the other side of the world, and they'd made arrangements to talk later. He also reminded everyone that they probably wanted to take their pay with them, just in case.
When all of them were ready to go, Jon got everyone's attention. “Beth asked about the new markings on our jackets. They're considered a mark that we've been officially recognized as real soldiers. The red chevron is for the rank of private. The silver one that Ari and I have is for our temporary rank as optio, or corporal. Three chevrons is a decurio, four a principales, five for a centurio – similar to sergeant, lieutenant and captain. Rockers, stripes over the chevrons, indicate higher ranks, which we'll hope we don't see any time soon. One rocker is a tribune, two a legate, three a quaestor, four a praetor, and five a consul – similar to colonel, brigadier general, general, governor, and one step below God.”
“The rings near the wrist indicate that we've been granted Latin rights – it's a social rank that I imagine someone else will explain sooner or later. No rings is a slave, one a foreigner, two is a Latin, three a citizen, four a senator – but there are none of them because there haven't been any elections yet – and five is for imperial counselor. The name on your jacket is for those of you who aren't too bright and need to check who you are.” There were a few snickers and rude comments at those words. “Now, before we leave, does anyone have parents who are physically present in Ostia right now, besides Beth and I.” Seeing that no one did, he went on, “We're going to get in formation, walk down stairs and gently jog over to the hospital for Beth to see her parents. Then I'll show you the university, we'll meet my parents, and then we'll decide what we want to do next. Fall out in formation.”
* * * * *
It wasn't very long until Beth could burst into her sister's hospital room and throw her arms around her sister and her parents. The excitement and the happiness of seeing the family brought tears to her eyes. The conversation went much like she expected – her Dad was concerned about her safety, her Mom was saddened by her short hair and how thin she'd gotten and her sister alternately thrilled at how much better she was feeling and horrified at what Beth had 'done to herself' to get Becky her medical treatment. The conversation soon drifted over to how 3-month old Sophie was doing and what was new in the life of 3-year old Brent. Beth was happy just to sit on the bed next to her Mom.
When a pause came in her conversation, she realized that the men in her family were talking to Jon. “There were a number of times when we checked to see how Beth was doing,” her Dad said, “and we saw you hauling her up stairs or helping her in some way. So, I wanted to thank you for taking care of my girl.”
Jon simply shrugged. “It wasn't just me, Mr. Jordan – we all help each other. That's what codjits do.”
“Codjits?”
Beth was briefly amused at Jon's expression, because for a second or two Jon looked like he was embarrassed. “It's an army slang term, sir. Our platoon, or decuria, has two squads, or mani. Because the army refers to them as right and left 'hands', the soldiers are codigiti – fingers on the same hand, close to each other and working together. That word got shortened to 'codjits.'”
“Is that the reason for what looks like it's becoming a daily habit – that 'group hug' at the end of the day?”
“Well, one of us was close to tears one evening …”
“My daughter, I assume?”
“I think it was one of the girls, but it really doesn't matter. We've all been close to tears at one time or another. Anyway, the girls started hugging, and it just grew. It's become part celebration that we survived another day and part reassurance that the other codjits are there to help.”
Beth was distracted then by the chance to hold little Sophie. While she was marveling over her niece, Becky began apologizing once again for 'forcing' Beth into a decision. “You didn't force me into anything,” Beth interrupted. “It was my decision to make, and I was happy to do it so that you could get treatment. I'm not going to pretend that every moment is carefree bliss, but I'd make the same decision again in a heartbeat. There are even times that it feels like I'm really accomplishing something, so stop your apologizing!”
Jon interrupted then. He apologized for 'cutting the visit short', but he pointed out that some of their codjits hadn't had the opportunity to even talk with their families, let alone meet with them. Beth handed the baby back and gave hugs to everyone, promising to call again as soon as they could.
They were walking down the hallway toward the elevators when Beth remarked, “I'm sort of surprised that Dad didn't go ballistic over his 'little girl' living with so many guys.”
Jon looked at her with a puzzled look on his face. Waiting for the elevator to arrive, he answered “Apparently you're too tired to have made the connection about what your 'clerk' means for your life. Think about what your Dad said he'd seen you do, and what the centurion said at your house.” She tried to do that, but apparently wasn't coming up the answer that Jon was expecting.
“We have no private life,” he continued. “Your parents can see whatever you're doing whenever they want. I would imagine our officers can do the same thing. Assuming you even liked someone, can you imagine having a, let's say 'romantic', encounter with someone, knowing that your parents were watching? Can you imagine that with the decurion, centurion, or the chaplain watching?” He shivered dramatically. “That's just so weird, I don't even want to think about it.”
She thought for a moment, remembering. “I hope that one of the viewing 'exceptions' is when you're dressing.”
“Yes, or using the bathroom. But a couple of years ago, I did hear of a couple of recruits who thought of 'being romantic' in the bathroom – they say it didn't work out well at all.”
As they got off the elevator, Beth found herself thinking about the 'privacy' issue. She didn't think she liked the idea very much, but, on the other hand, she didn't have any free time to be 'private' in, so in that sense it didn't matter. Maybe later on, if there was time, one could worry then about 'dating' or whatever, but right now, survival was much more important.
They collected the rest of the platoon, most of whom were taking a quick nap, and went back out onto the street. Jon stood them at the center of the 'crossroads', looking north toward the gate and the army building they'd left not that long ago, the army building on the right, the fleet building on the left. “Behind you is the Via Emporia, almost everything is some kind of business. To your right is the Via Publica, almost all government buildings, and there's one sight over there that we'll see in a bit. Right now we're going to the left, the Via Schola, where the university is – and where I've got to meet a couple of people.”
Walking as a group, in no particular order – and how wonderful that was – Jon pointed out some of the University's buildings. He had just had them looking at the large theater when Beth caught sight of a lady, walking quickly towards Jon. She
assumed it was his mother, so she touched Jon's arm and nodded in the older lady's direction. Jon turned just in time to be caught up in a hug. “It's so good to see you, Jon! Are you okay?”
Jon made an embarrassed sound. “Good grief, Mom, it's only been a week – of course, I'm alright!”
“Oh, go ahead and laugh at me. You know I worry about you.” Beth decided that she liked Jon's Mom, even though she was surprisingly young looking and attractive. At least she was a typical Mom, always ready to embarrass her child. The woman went on, “Your father will be here soon – he had a little paperwork to do this morning and was just going to close up the office, and then he was going to take me for a late lunch.”
An older man came up to them. He looked remarkably like Jon, and was soon exchanging hugs with Jon as well. Beth decided that she liked him, although she couldn't say why. She could certainly sense a 'presence', a force of character that seemed to almost be a part of the older man. His Dad insisted on being introduced to each member of the platoon, shaking their hands and looking closely at their faces, as if he wanted to remember each one of them. When he got around to shaking Beth's hand, he looked a little more closely at her and said, “I'm especially glad to meet you, Miss Jordan. The chaplain called us after the 'deed was done', and according to him, it's very unusual to see you here, and a codjit to our son.” He smiled and turned to his wife, “We'd better let them get on with their liberty, dear.”
As they walked away, Jon turned to his friends, saying, “You guys are good for something after all. I was afraid I'd be here for a couple hours, but you managed to scare my parents off. Thanks!” A number of rude comments were Jon's only answer. As they headed back down the street, he told everyone, “My suggestion for the rest of the afternoon is this: one more stop, just down the road, then see the mall and get some food, and then head back to the barracks for a nap.”
They all happily discussed the idea as they walked, and finally decided to follow Jon's suggestion. The consensus was that Jon was the appropriate tour guide since he knew Ostia, but Beth had a suspicion that the mention of sleep was what most attracted their attention.
As they stopped in front of one tall building, Jon pointed back the way they had come. “You remember being in the hospital, there on the corner. Next to it is the Imperial Chapel, and then we have here the fiscus, the treasury. Inside, because you have to see the 'money pit.'” They went up the short flight of broad steps and in through open doors. There were desks scattered around three sides of a fence-enclosed open area. As they drew closer to the fence, they could see the open area was open to the floor below. It was what was on that floor that caused a sharp intake of breath on the part of almost everyone.
In three different sections on the floor below were huge heaps of coins, copper at one end, silver in the middle, and gold at the other end. As everyone was staring at the sight, Jon said quietly, “This is the emperor's wealth.”
“Wow,” someone said. “Nothing like putting it right out in plain sight, is there? How many problems do they have with theft here?”
“What I was told was that it was impossible to remove money from the pit unless you had permission. A story is told that one guy tried swallowing a coin, and couldn't leave until it passed – and they didn't give him any food until he 'gave' the coin back.”
“How could any of that be possible?” Maria said.
“I have no idea,” Jon replied. “but those are the stories I've been told. Regardless, it's quite a sight to see.”
As the others were quietly talking about the sight, Beth looked up at Jon and murmured to him, “Do you think it's possible for those stories to be true?”
He replied just as softly, “How many of the other 'unusual' things that have happened during the past week could possibly happen? Consider your clerk, your sister's treatment, your sudden knowledge of Latin, hand-to-hand, and a bunch of other things – are they 'possible'?”
“So you think something creepy and dangerous is going on?” she asked, after thinking for a bit.
“Something creepy, but not necessarily dangerous, at least to us – and that makes it even a little bit creepier.” The conversation around them seemed to gradually die down, and all of them seemed to be staring at the pit and thinking deep thoughts.
After a while, Ari was the first to shake himself and begin moving. “Okay, where to next?”
“Outside and across the street,” Jon said “you will see some doors marked with an 'E'. There are two sizes of elevator, indicated by the size of the 'E'. We're going to take the larger size, because a platoon has plenty of room to go together.” Jon pressed the button by the side of the door.
As the door opened and they began entering, Kevin asked, “If we're going up, what is there to see on the top of the building?”
Jon grinned at him. “We're not going up.” Then he pressed a button, the doors closed, and the elevator gave them the impression of moving quickly downwards.
When the door opened, they all scrambled out and looked around in amazement. As far as Beth could tell, they were in a giant shopping mall. Jon led them down the street to a crossroads similar to the one on the surface. “We're on the first level underground – there are, right now, five underground levels, although only the top two levels are anywhere close to being filled. If you look to the north, you'll see the undergate, and, to the right of the gate, the basement entrance to our building.”
“If you look back the way we came, the levels below the Via Publica are intended to be government related – embassies from various countries, things like that. If you look in the opposite direction, the levels under the Via Schola are supposed to be directed toward education – bookstores and things like that. Finally, in the levels below the Via Emporia, you'll find shopping. I'm not even going to try and describe it. You're going to have to see it and, later, explore on your own.”
They walked the length of the Via Emporia, marveling at the different shops and stores that were there. Beth noticed a couple of clothes boutiques that she would be interested in looking closer at, but since they had to stay together, and the boys weren’t interested in stopping, a closer inspection had to wait. They went the whole length of the street and came back. By that time, interest was waning a little, and Jon suggested that they stop at a cluster of fast food places and get something to eat before returning to the barracks for a nap.
By the enthusiastic response, it was clear that most of the codjits were ready for what they considered 'comfort food.' They took the food out into the 'street' and sat around a group of tables there, talking about all they had seen. Conversation eventually switched over to wondering what was going to come next in their lives. That led to a general agreement that the best way they could prepare for the coming week was to head back to the barracks and try to catch up on sleep.
* * * * *
The next morning it was heavenly to be able to sleep in, all the way to 0630. Beth was just barely awake when she heard Jon get up quietly. “What's up?” she whispered.
Just as quietly he answered, “I'm going to early breakfast, and then church. Want to come, too?”
She thought briefly about sleeping longer, but then she remembered that her parents would undoubtedly be checking on her, so she might as well get up. “Sure. At least it will be nice to take my time in the bathroom.” She did that very thing, taking her time in a hot bath, and she decided she hadn't realized before what a luxurious thing that was. She didn't start hurrying until Molly gave her a message that Jon was done and was waiting for her. Even though she got ready far quicker than she ever had at home, it was wonderful that no one was screaming at her to hurry up.
The two of them took an elevator down to the dining hall and piled their trays high with as much food as they could carry. They ate steadily and when they were finally sipping at their coffee, Beth glanced up at the clock on the wall. “Service is at 0800, right?” At Jon's nod, she went on, “I've still got some questions about what the centurion
said last night. Can I toss them your way?”
“Sure, as long as you realize that I may not have any answers.”
She made a face at him. “You've got more answers than I do, Mr. Optio.”
“Okay, okay, go ahead and ask.”
She took another sip of coffee. “I still don't get how we all learned Latin, but I don't imagine anyone's going to tell me how, anyway. I don't think, though, that I heard anyone say why someone decided on Latin. Why use a dead language?”
“I did have a conversation about that with a person who was supposed to know. One reason is supposedly because it is a dead language. If the decision had been made to use English, French, or any other language used today, there would have been any number of people complaining that there was some connection, some bias or prejudice toward the nation who's language was being used. Latin is also one of the last great international languages. Then, too, I'm told that it was considered easier to keep secrets in a dead language.”
“Secrets?” she said.
“Remember the 'unusual' things I mentioned at the money pit? Not to mention the money pit itself. It seems to me that there have been some secrets that have been kept very well. Supposedly, using Latin somehow helps keep things secret. Then there's the last reason for using Latin. I was told that the emperor liked it.”
She looked at him in amazement. “Liked it?!”
Jon nodded and then motioned to the clock. “Come on, we need to head off to service. And yes, because the emperor liked it.”
“Does that sound just a little strange to you?”
He laughed. “It probably sounds a lot stranger to you, because I've been around talk of the emperor all my life. However, I've picked up enough of an American attitude to agree that it sounds a little strange.”