"MOMMA! MOMMA! IT'S CIVI, MOMMA! HE'S HURT!" Apollonia was running down the corridor bellowing at the top of her lungs.
Apolita stepped into the corridor to intercept the young girl.
"Apollonia! Cease your shrieking this instant!" ordered Apolita. Apollonia quieted somewhat, but only just enough to take the edge off the shrillness in her young voice. "But Momma, Civi's hurt! A monster bit him!"
"Enough of your games now, child, and your make believe! Monster indeed!" retorted Apolita.
"I'm not playing make believe Momma. A thing bit Civi and he won't talk to me. He won't even move," said Apollonia, tears streaming down her face.
"Child, you had better not be trying to fool me," said the now more concerned mother of the two children. They play these games, but never have I seen her so distraught, thought Apolita. So she followed after Apollonia at a hurried, steady pace.
In the workshop areas of Civis' villa, not far from the stables, Civis undertook his typical stroll following dinner. The smith was hammering a new tool for the fields, the leather worker was making a new pair of sandals. In the distance he could see Radko at work with the animals. He was carrying a bucket, most likely to get water from one of the wells or the fountain to give to the horses or other beasts in the stable.
Neither Radko nor any of the others were slaves. Civis kept no slaves. His workers were given food, housing, clothing and a small allowance of dinarii. In return, he never had to worry about runaways, or the cost of buying new slaves. His workers stayed with him because they wanted to and chose to. They worked hard and productively. His villa always prospered. A beneficial, economical arrangement, he thought. What he really thought he could not say in public nor to Caesar. Civis abhored slavery. His thoughts returned to Radko...
I will need a man keen and skilled with animals for this journey. There will be pack animals, horses and exotic beasts... Maybe camels. Civis wrinkled his nose at the very thought of these humpbacked, spitting, stinking, uncooperative beasts. Yes, camels... Good reason indeed to have someone along who can handle them as it was the last thing Civis would want to do. Now there's an idea... One of his own animal keepers, maybe an assistant, or maybe Radko himself, if he wanted to go. Civis decided to ask... He would not order one of his workers into a situation such as this.
The Roman took three purposeful steps towards the stable only to hear the voice of his wife, edged in panic, call to him across the grounds. Civis spun on his heals and began to run towards the main structure almost immediately upon hearing her call. She's frightened! What could be wrong!
Civis arrived at the portico to find Apolita standing there, tears streaming down her face. "What is wrong, Apolita?!" he cried out between gasps for breath after the long run.
"Our son, Civis! He's hurt! He won't answer me! Civis, I think he's dying!" They both ran into the villa and Apolita led Civis to his young son's room. The boy lay on the bed, face pale, eyes closed, breathing labored. He lay with his right arm stretched out palm up. Civis could clearly see a widening purple discoloration surrounding each of two distinct puncture wounds. Dried blood stained the boy's arm. Apollonia stood at the foot of the bed sobbing.
"What did this?," said Civis to Apolita his teeth clenched in anger. Apolita handed Civis the green object given to him in yellow paper by Caesar. "Apollonia says Civi had this near him when she found him. See its teeth? There is blood on its teeth and snout."
"This was given to me by Caesar! Why would he give me such a thing? Why would he want to harm my family?!" Anger intensified in the soldier. Unconsciously, he placed his hand where his short sword would have been buckled and its hilt waiting. He found neither and so tightened his fist on itself until it turned red, shaking with the strain of its clenching, his anger growing rapidly. Then he heard a different voice coming from the corridor behind him. It was not Apolita's. It was a man's voice.
Apollonia turned her head as a new figure entered the room. He was tall, very tall. His green eyes quickly surveyed the scene, his senses drew in the emotional turmoil within. "It is not Caesar's doing... It is another's doing," said the tall man with the green eyes.
The daughter of Civis smiled in recognition despite her tears, immediately running to the tall man, arms opened wide.
"Uncle Jay... It's Civi, Uncle Jay... He's hurt. Can you help him... please....? She hugged him not waiting for an answer.
"We shall see, Apollonia. We shall see..." Gaius Accipiter looked at Civis and Apolita. They said nothing in greeting, their hopeful eyes speaking for each of them. They both stepped aside as the tall man withdrew the young girl's arms from around his waist and walked to the boy's bed to do what he could.
As he walked to the bed he saw the green object in Civis's left hand. His frown of concern deepened measurably. Neither thing was good... Neither the unconscious boy... Nor the green object in Civis's hand. If poison is involved, matters would become even worse.
First things first, he thought. First the boy, then the golem.
[This message has been edited by Civis Romanus (edited 02-12-2001).]