The Fatal Fire (4 page)
“All from one sausage pan,” Mary groaned.
“What was that?” her master snapped.
“Nothing, master. Nothing,” she said and turned to follow the cart. She muttered a prayer to her god. “He saw me, didn't he? The man with the eye patch⦠Just before he disappeared, he saw me. He knows I saw him. He'll try to find me and kill me, won't he? You will look after me, won't you?”
Mary's god didn't answer.
Rome lay in ruins. It smelled of smoke and soot. Mary led the donkey that carried master Tullus back into the city.
The old man couldn't stop chuckling. “Oh, Mary, today could be the day that sees more excitement than a hundred chariot races.”
“Yes, master Tullus,” she said, and shook her foot to get rid of a stone that had stuck in her sandal.
“Don't you want to know
why
it will be exciting?” he cackled.
“Yes, master,” she said wearily.
“Because today could be the last day of the emperor Nero. He could be thrown out of Rome⦠or even killed! And it will serve him right. He is a cruel man⦠of course I can't
say
that he is cruel or he'd have me executed in some horrible new way.”
“But you
did
say it, master,” Mary pointed out.
“Ah, but only to you⦠and you don't matter.”
“No, master.” Mary led the way through the city gates and passed a group of weeping people who were searching the warm ruins for anything they could rescue.
“The tales they tell about Nero! He had his own mother murdered, you know? Then he had his wife murdered so he could marry the lovely Poppea. And what did he do to Poppea?”
“I don't know, master.”
“He kicked her to death! Then he ordered his teacher, Seneca, to kill himself. Poor old fellow had to do it, too. But this time Nero's gone too far. Do you know what he's done?”
“No, master.”
“He started the fire that burned down Rome.”
Mary stumbled and almost fell under the hooves of the donkey. “No, he didn't!” she cried.
“Don't argue with me, girl, or I'll have you whipped till the skin is peeled off your back!” spat master Tullus. “Now, help me down. We are at the senate.”
“The what?”
“The senate â the place where the great men of Rome meet. The emperor will be here to answer some tough questions!”
Mary stopped the donkey in front of a shining building of marble columns and soaring roofs. The fire had not touched it. She helped master Tullus fold his toga neatly and watched him enter the building along with other fine gentlemen.
Men and women were gathering outside the senate looking angry. They were muttering among themselves. When one man cried out, “It's all Nero's fault!” a troop of soldiers moved in to arrest him.
The man was led away screaming. The rest of the mob fell silent.
The scowling rabble scared Mary. She had to wait for her master, but not here, she thought. Then she did something that would save her life⦠She followed her master into the senate.
The large marble hall was packed with men and servants and no one noticed Mary as she slipped into a corner.
The voices inside were as loud and angry as the ones outside. She heard the words “Nero” and “fire” and “palace” spoken a lot in vicious voices.
Suddenly there was a trumpet blast and the men fell silent. Someone cried, “My Lords, we have the honour of greeting Nero, emperor of Rome!”
Everyone turned towards a platform at the end of the hall. Mary was too small to see through the thick wall of togas, but she could hear.
“Gentlemen! Greetings from your emperor,” came a whining voice.
That must be Nero, she thought.
“I have heard the foolish stories,” he sighed. “They are nonsense.”
“Emperor,” someone shouted, and Mary knew it was the voice of master Tullus. “The people are saying you had your servants start the fire.”
“I swear by almighty Jupiter that is not true,” the emperor laughed.
“You came here a year ago and asked us to knock down many streets to build a new palace,” master Tullus went on.
