Edge of Destiny

by Darlene Mindrup

  “But a Roman? How do we know it’s not a trick? How do we know we can trust him?” Caleb was clearly unconvinced.

  Trophimus spoke quietly. “Antipus is a Roman, too. What matter if he be Roman or not? In Christ, aren’t we all the same? This is what my father taught me.” He glared at Caleb, but there were tears in his eyes. “Unless my father died for nothing.”

  The room grew quiet, and each member felt convicted by the young man’s words. Clearing his throat, Antipus rose to his feet. “I have made arrangements for Caleb and Trophimus to remain here. You will be safe, and we can easily locate you in case we have to expedite things. Thomas, we know where to locate you, but we must know of your whereabouts at all times. If you are called upon to leave in a hurry, we don’t want to have to leave someone behind.” His warning was clear.

  After the meal, everyone separated to their assigned rooms. Murmured conversations could be heard as they ascended the stairs, the fear evident in their quiet voices.

  As Chara was about to go upstairs, Decimus placed a restraining hand on her arm. “I need to talk to you a moment. In the peristyle.”

  Surprised, she followed him out into the garden. He had taken great pains to avoid being alone with her lately, and she wondered at his motives now. Still, she followed him to the bench and seated herself, staring up at his pensive face.

  Decimus cleared his throat. It was important to him that he make her understand his position and where she stood in all of this chaos. “Chara, you know that I don’t wish for you to remain a slave.” He stopped when her head dropped forward, blond hair hiding her face from view. What was she thinking? In the short time he had come to know her, he realized that this woman was completely devoid of conceit. She was lacking in confidence in herself or anything about herself. He knew that if he said the wrong thing, she would retreat inside herself where he would have trouble reaching her.

  “I hope you will understand when I tell you that I cannot give you your freedom just yet.”

  Her eyes flew to his face, but she remained silent.

  “When I. . .” He paused, finding it hard to utter the words. “When I sell myself to Galla, everything that I own becomes his by right of possession.” He watched her face closely. “That includes you.”

  Wrinkling her forehead, she spoke for the first time. “I don’t understand. What are you trying to say?”

  “Galla decided it would be easier all around if I retained possession of you instead of giving you your freedom before he purchased it back. He thinks that this would be the best way in case anything happens to him.”

  Chara smiled. “If he thinks it best, then I have no qualms. I trust Galla completely.”

  Decimus frowned. She was so frustratingly innocent. Although he liked the Roman, he still wasn’t sure he trusted him completely.

  “He will own you.”

  “As you own me now?”

  Decimus brushed his hand through his hair in exasperation. How could he make her see? “That’s different.”

  “How so?” She looked at him skeptically, and he had to refrain from gritting his teeth.

  “He. . . I. . . There’s a difference.”

  “I don’t see how.” Rising to her feet, she laid a hand against his arm. “I understand your feelings, but I trust Galla. He’s done nothing to prove otherwise.”

  Decimus sighed. “I don’t want to see you hurt or anything to happen to you. I have considered you my own responsibility for some time now. It will be hard for me to relinquish that chore to someone else.”

  He could feel her withdraw from him even though she made no movement. Her eyes grew distant. Now what had he said? Every time he talked to the girl, he felt he was treading on eggshells.

  “Have no fear,” she told him angrily. “Whether owned by you or someone else, I will obey.” Turning, she hastened across the garden.

  “Chara!”

  She froze at the command in his voice. He walked up behind her. His hands moved as though to reach for her shoulders, but he didn’t touch her.

  She refused to look at him. “May I go now? I have things to attend to.”

  Sighing, Decimus dropped his hands to his sides. “Yes, you may go.” He watched her walk away, her head bent low. Raising his eyes heavenward, he threw up a petition on her behalf and then one for himself and then, while he was at it, for them all.

  ❧

  Three days later, Chara and Candace were crossing the hallway when a furious pounding shook the door. They exchanged fearful glances before Candace slowly went to the door and opened it just a crack. She fell backward as Galla pushed his way in.

  “Where’s Decimus?”

  Chara felt her heart drop. Galla spotted her and came quickly to her side. “Get your things. I have to get you out of here.”

  “What’s happened?”

  “They arrested Antipus today. Where’s Agrippina?”

  Fear clutched Chara’s insides. “She went to the marketplace.”

  He gritted his teeth with frustration. Raking his fingers through his dark hair, he fixed his eyes intensely on Chara. “Get the others. We have to move you now.”

  “But what of Agrippina?”

  He shook her slightly. “Get the others!”

  Conditioned to obey, Chara fled upstairs. Galla followed her with his eyes before turning to Candace, still clutching the door. “Tell the other servants. Antipus has been arrested.”

  Eyes wide with fear, Candace turned to obey. She turned back, tears in her eyes. “What will happen to him?”

  Galla pressed his lips together. “I don’t know, but it doesn’t look good. Nero’s generals have never particularly liked Antipus. Antipus is too pure a man in Nero’s debauched empire. He shows Nero up for the depraved lunatic that he is.”

  Candace hastened away to tell the others. Galla knew that Antipus had given each of the servants money just in case such an event would happen. Pray God they would find places of refuge.

  Decimus came quickly down the stairs to meet him. “Chara said that Antipus has been arrested?”

  Galla nodded. “I have to move you to a different location. Thomas will be safe for the time being, but soldiers will be here, probably within the hour.”

  “We’re ready. Caleb and Trophimus are getting their things, and then we will be ready to leave. Where will you take us?”

  “A man who lives close to the docks is a Christian sympathizer. He will hide you in one of his warehouses until I can make different arrangements.” Galla glanced around him. “It won’t be as comfortable as this, but it should be safe. Right now the soldiers are searching only private residences. It hasn’t occurred to them to look in the storehouses and such.”

  “Thank God for that!” Decimus turned as Chara hurried down the steps. She had a large bundle clutched in her hands.

  “Is this all you have?” Galla wanted to know.

  Decimus nodded. “I thought it best if we take only what we can use. We can purchase other things as we have need of them.”

  Trophimus came down the stairs followed by Caleb, each carrying a bundle. A faint raise of Caleb’s eyebrows asked the question they all wanted to ask.

  “There’s a wagon at the back gate,” he told them. “You will be taken to your new hiding place.” Galla stared intently at each one. “Remember, each one of your lives is dependent on your cooperation with each other.”

  Galla let the warning sink in before ushering them out to the courtyard and through the gate. A wagon was waiting there, almost filled with baskets of grain. Galla opened one basket that was empty and motioned for Chara to get in. Decimus lifted her to the wagon and helped her inside.

  Each person in turn got into one of the baskets, all except Decimus.

  “You will be the driver.” Galla gave Decimus instructions on where to find the storehouses and told him to ask for a man named Aureus. “He’ll take it from there. God go with you.”

  Decimus climbed into the wagon. Lifting the reins, he turned t
o Galla, and they stared at each other a long time.

  “God keep you safe,” Decimus told him.

  “And you,” Galla answered softly.

  When Decimus reached the warehouses, he had no trouble locating Aureus. The docks were a bubbling hive of activity. Merchants hastened to and fro, checking on the progress of their imports and exports. People were everywhere, yet no one seemed to take particular notice of the wagon and its driver.

  Aureus met Decimus at the door to one of the warehouses, opening wide the portal and motioning Decimus inside. Pulling the door closed after him, he met Decimus at the back of the wagon. Together they opened each basket and helped its occupant to alight.

  Aureus’s eyes opened wide at the sight of Chara, her blond hair swinging around her shoulders as she climbed down from the wagon.

  “A woman?” he questioned.

  Decimus didn’t answer him. “Where do we go from here?”

  Dragging his gaze from Chara, the old man motioned toward the back of the storehouse. “This way. It isn’t much, but you should be safe here. At least until Galla makes arrangements otherwise.”

  They followed him through the semidarkness, their eyes slowly adjusting to the dimness. Although Aureus looked elderly, his spry movements gave the impression of a much younger man. His head was bald on top with a curl of white ringing the edges. When he smiled, his teeth were yellow, and a few were missing.

  “You’ll have to make arrangements between you on what to do with the young lady. There will be little privacy here.”

  Chara colored hotly, remembering her conversation with Agrippina.

  “We will manage something,” Decimus told the man, not unaware of Chara’s embarrassment.

  Nodding his head, Aureus turned to leave. “There are provisions over there.” He motioned to a corner where several baskets and chests were stacked. “Help yourselves. I’ll try to stop by daily to see if you need anything.”

  “How long?” Caleb didn’t appreciate the tomblike darkness and stuffy atmosphere, though he knew he could survive anything as long as it wasn’t for an extended period of time.

  Aureus continued on his way, shrugging his shoulders. “Don’t know. You’ll have to wait for Galla.”

  They heard the door slide closed behind Aureus as he exited. Decimus turned to the others. “Well, let’s see what we have here.”

  They opened baskets and chests and found, among other things, bed linens and pillows. Decimus looked around him, trying to figure some way to afford Chara some privacy. Taking one of the blankets, he arranged it between some stacked crates of goods, improvising a small room.

  He grinned at her. “Your quarters, my lady.”

  Smiling, Chara thanked him and put her bundle down in the rough shelter. It wasn’t much, but his thoughtfulness pleased her.

  Trophimus dropped his own bundle in the corner. Crossing his legs at the ankles, he lowered himself to the ground. He leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes.

  Decimus watched Caleb do the same. He wondered how long they would all have to stay here, but more than that, he wondered what was happening to Antipus and Agrippina.

  He looked behind the blanket barrier he had constructed for Chara and found her on her knees, her lips moving rapidly in silence. Going over, he dropped down beside her and took her hand in his. She glanced up in surprise.

  “I thought I would join you, if you don’t mind.”

  Giving him a half smile, she bowed her head again.

  ❧

  Galla listened to the conversations going on around him, all the while trying to see into the senate chambers. He could hear the loud discussions but couldn’t see any of the speakers. Frustrated, he pushed his way forward.

  “Senator Secubus, we all know that you and Senator Antipus are close friends. Perhaps you share this odious religion of his?”

  There was a threat hanging in the words.

  “I have always been loyal to Rome! How dare you, Fendicus, try to trap me in this same vile net you have managed to spread out to others.” Secubus’s angry voice reached clearly into the hall. “Perhaps you have something yourself to hide.”

  Instead of being angry, Fendicus’s voice was low and compelling. “You can’t transfer suspicion to me, my friend. I am not the one helping Christians to flee Rome.”

  “And you think Antipus is?”

  “We have proof,” another voice intoned.

  There was silence for a full minute. “What proof have you, Trinian? The word of a beaten slave?”

  “No, Secubus. The word of a perfectly healthy, but loyal, servant of Rome. A servant in Antipus’s own home.”

  Galla gasped softly. Someone in Antipus’s house was a traitor and had informed the government of Antipus’s activities. Galla leaned weakly against the wall, closing his eyes. What had he done? He should never have invited Antipus to be a part of his clandestine activities.

  His eyes flew open. Did they then know of his own part in these proceedings? If not, they surely would soon. Who was the informer? Galla felt a murderous rage well up inside him. A good man might possibly die because of someone else’s perfidy.

  Turning, he quickly forced his way through the press of people and headed for the street. He hadn’t much time. He had to act quickly.

  ❧

  It was dark when the door slid open again. The stillness on the docks compared to that of the activity this morning was disquieting. The refugees remained absolutely immobile until they recognized a whispered voice.

  “Decimus?”

  “Here.” Decimus made his way to Galla’s side. “What news?”

  Galla shook his head solemnly. “It’s not good, I’m afraid. There was a spy in Antipus’s house.”

  A soft gasp caused both men to spin quickly around. Chara stood silhouetted in the moonlight from outside. Decimus took her arm and quickly moved her aside.

  “And what of my lady?” she queried softly.

  Galla shook his head. “I don’t know.”

  “What do we do now?” Decimus wanted to know. “We can’t stay here. Surely they must know about you.”

  “I’m not sure if they do, but you’re right. There’s always that chance.” He lifted the papers he held in his hands. “I’ve brought the papers to make the purchase of the three of you as slaves.” He looked at Chara. “Has he explained about you?”

  Chara nodded. “If anything happens to you, I will still be his responsibility.

  Galla’s eyebrows raised slightly at her surly tone of voice, and he glanced at Decimus, who merely shrugged his shoulders. Who knew what went on in the minds of women?

  Galla followed them to the back of the shelter and nodded to Trophimus and Caleb. “I’ve sent word to Thomas. He should be here soon. Right now, let’s get on with business and I will explain my plans.”

  When the arrangements were finalized, Galla took the papers and carefully rolled them up. Placing them inside his breastplate, he then motioned for them all to get seated. Before he could explain, the door to the outside opened again. Galla doused the lamp, and everyone became still.

  Soft footsteps came hesitantly toward them, stopping periodically. “Is anyone here?”

  Decimus sighed with relief. “Thomas.”

  Thomas joined the group, clutching a bundle. Galla proceeded to explain the events of the afternoon to him, and Thomas nodded sadly. “I know. I heard from one of the servants that Agrippina has been taken into custody, also.”

  “Do you know where they are being held?”

  Thomas hesitated so long Decimus thought he wasn’t going to answer. He nodded slowly. “They are in the dungeons below the arena.”

  “Dear God!” Chara buried her face in her hands.

  “What can we do?” Decimus wanted to know.

  “There’s nothing we can do.” Galla’s quiet voice brought Caleb to his feet.

  “We have to do something! We can’t just let them die!”

  “Will it help Antipus if we al
l die? Would that make him happy?” Galla was angry, not only with Caleb but also with himself. He felt impotent, unable to do anything. As a trained soldier of Rome, he found this unacceptable and frustrating.

  “Is there nothing we can do?”

  Galla stared grimly at Chara’s tear-streaked face. “Pray.”

  “What will you do now?” Decimus wanted to know.

  Galla turned away. “I have to return to the garrison. I will make arrangements to sail two days from now.”

  “What if they arrest you, also? What if they know that you’ve been helping Antipus?” Decimus had no idea what would become of them if the soldier were taken, also. He felt his frustration begin to mount.

  “Aureus will try to find a way to get you on board a ship going somewhere. You still have the money Antipus gave us?”

  Decimus swallowed a knot in his throat. “Yes.”

  Galla nodded, then quickly turned and left.

  “Two days.” Trophimus sighed. “Better get some sleep while we can. Who knows what the morrow will bring.”

  “God knows, Trophimus,” Chara told him. “If He cares enough to know the number of hairs on your head, then He is concerned with your whole life.”

  Trophimus smiled weakly. “I know that in my heart, but sometimes my head gets in my way.”

  “You’re not alone,” Thomas told him, sitting next to him. “I, too, struggle with doubts when a good man like Antipus suffers and an evil one like Nero doesn’t.”

  “You forget,” Chara told them, “Antipus’s suffering will only last a short time, but Nero’s an eternity unless he repents of his wickedness.”

  Decimus helped Chara to her feet and led her to the cubbyhole they had made earlier. He looked long into her face, his eyes tracing the paths her tears had left on her cheeks. She looked so little, so helpless. Without giving it any thought, he pulled her gently into his arms and held her close. He could feel her sobs begin again.

  “We’ll be all right,” he told her softly.

  Her voice came back to him, muffled by his tunic. “But what of them?”

  He knew to whom she was referring. “I don’t know. We’ll have to wait and see.”

  He held her close a moment longer, then gently pushed her away. “Try to get some sleep.”