The History Keepers Circus Maximus (37 page)

Removing his corpse was not practical; but after they had crept down the stairs and evaded the remaining guards, they went straight to an undertaker’s – a
libitinarius
– that Charlie had noticed in a row of shops at the foot of the Palatine. Here they spoke to a cheerless, gaunt man (Jake wondered why funeral directors invariably looked half-dead themselves), and left money and instructions for a full ceremony. They knew that at some stage they would have to meet Caspar’s family; they wanted to reassure them that he had been buried with dignity.

The next stop was the
taberna
where Jake had left Lucius. As they made their way through the traffic, Topaz nervously quickened her pace. When she saw him sitting by the bar, she rushed forward, took his bloody face in her hands and kissed him. Jake stopped and looked at them both. He found that he was no longer jealous but proud, for in his own way he had brought them back together again.

Nathan and Charlie went off to collect Mr Drake from his hiding place (the parrot was so delighted that he hadn’t been left behind after all, he completely forgot to be angry with his master), and then on to the Forum Boarium, hoping to find someone to take them back to Ostia, where the
Conqueror
was docked.

Their timing couldn’t have been better: Gaius, the blind perfumier, had sold all his stock, and was inundated with orders from affluent housewives. In short, he needed to return to his home town urgently to make more. Charlie and Nathan were only too happy to help him out. They boarded the cart with the old man (it was much more spacious without the jars), went to pick up the others at the
taberna
, and the whole troupe, Austerio included, set off on the journey back to Ostia.

As they trundled up the Caelian, Jake looked back at the metropolis below, at the sun setting over the Circus Maximus. The stadium was empty of spectators, but an army of workmen was already clearing away the rubble of the
spina
, ready to reassemble it. ‘It’s not the first time it has been rebuilt,’ Charlie said, ‘nor will it be the last. They’ll make it better, stronger, even more majestic than before.’

As they rounded the summit, Gaius started singing. Austerio joined in, and Lucius too. Although they didn’t know the words, the others also started humming the tune; even Nathan – who usually hated sing-alongs – was unable to resist. Jake took one last look at Rome, now a mass of twinkling lights in the dusk below, before it vanished from sight.

He lay back, looked up at the ultramarine sky and thought back to the events of the day: the escape from Agata’s aviary, the chariot race around the Circus Maximus, the bombs, the wild beasts, the hot-air balloon (he shuddered at the thought that he might have died five times over) and, finally, the sensational news that Philip had been seen alive.

Alive.

Yes, I’ve seen him
, Caspar had sneered. Wonderful news – even though his later sentence seemed to banish that hope again:
But I expect he’s dead by now
– and, worst of all:
He thought you’d forgotten all about him
. Never. Philip would
never
be forgotten.

Jake looked up as the first stars blinked in the heavens and decided that, for tonight at any rate, Philip
was
alive – that the apparition he had seen in the arena was somehow a guarantee that he existed somewhere in the world, at some time in history. With that, a strange peace came over Jake and he fell into a deep sleep.

He was awoken in the middle of the night by Topaz and Lucius talking in hushed whispers.

‘I don’t understand,’ Lucius was saying. ‘Why do you have to leave?’

Topaz searched for the right words. ‘Lucius, I . . . I come from a different part of the world, far, far away from here. And I have to go back . . . It is my duty,’ she added solemnly.

‘Duty?’ Jake could hear Lucius’s voice crack with emotion. ‘Is there someone else you love?’

‘I suppose . . . there are many things. It is almost impossible to explain – it’s a question of honour.’

There was a long silence before Lucius said, ‘I wanted to build a house by the sea for you.’

Jake opened his eyes slightly and saw that Topaz was stroking his face, a tear rolling down her cheek.

‘We’ll make sure you’re safe,’ she said. ‘That you have somewhere to go.’

They said no more. She held onto Lucius’s arm tightly as the cart trundled along through the night.

It was when they were arriving in Ostia the following morning that Jake suddenly had a brainwave about Lucius. (The idea that the Roman had lost everything – not only his job, but Topaz too – was dreadful. In fact, the subject had been on everyone’s minds.) Jake remembered the story that Nathan had told him on their way to Rome – about Gaius’s unfortunate history.

He turned to his friend. ‘You said that before Gaius lost his sight, he used to be a carpenter, didn’t you?’

‘What of it?’ the American replied.

‘Well, maybe the old man knows someone who can help Lucius find a job. He also comes from a family of carpenters. His father used to repair boats.’

Nathan pondered for a moment, then smiled
broadly. ‘Jake Djones, you really are a genius. I’ll broach the subject.’

When Nathan really wanted to be civil, there was no one more charming or helpful. He took Gaius and Lucius to one side and the plan was embraced with enthusiasm. Soon the pair were shaking hands while Gaius’s dog barked and jumped around for joy. It turned out that Gaius knew lots of people who could employ Lucius; moreover, he still had his old workshop and would be delighted if his new friend could make use of it. He added with a twinkle that his town was full of beautiful young ladies.

On hearing this Topaz grimaced a little and looked down at her feet. And Lucius, always the gentleman, came and put his arm round her.

It was not easy to say goodbye. While Charlie went to buy some provisions for the journey and Nathan and Jake returned to ready the
Conqueror
for the voyage to Messina (via Herculaneum, to drop off Austerio), Topaz and Lucius wandered along the quay. They bought some fruit and sat on a low wall, watching the ships come and go. Lucius got down on one knee in a last vain attempt to persuade Topaz to stay with him. In the end,
however, they both returned to the ship looking miserable.

Lucius gave everyone a hug – holding onto Jake for a full minute before whispering in his ear, ‘I hope you find your brother, Yake.’

‘I hope you find yours,’ Jake replied earnestly.

‘Look after yourself. I will never forget you. Not as long as I live.’

Lucius and Topaz shared a final sad embrace, then the four History Keepers – and Austerio – boarded the ship and cast off.

Jake and Topaz stood side by side at the stern, staring back at the dwindling figures of Lucius and Gaius. Jake remembered the story Rose had told him on their way there – how she had fallen in love with a farmer in Peru.
Of course, it’s hopeless falling for a civilian
, she had sighed,
because they can’t go back with you. It’s hard enough explaining you live on the other side of the world, let alone the other end of history
. Jake said nothing to Topaz, but reached out and took her hand. It was warm, soft, trembling. She squeezed Jake’s fingers and a lump went down her throat.

Austerio was tremendously excited by the speed at which the ship tore across the sea, and kept
offering up theatrical blessings to Neptune. At Herculaneum, they accompanied him to the theatre and he bade them a dramatic farewell – before being reunited with his long-lost ‘enemy’, Fico the Fantastic. On seeing the two actors together for the first time, it was quite clear to everyone that in fact they were utterly devoted to one another.

When the youngsters reached the open sea again, Nathan appeared at Jake’s side with the sword that he had confiscated. ‘I believe this belongs to you,’ he said. It was the weapon with the dragon hilt that Nathan had presented to him at Point Zero. Luckily Jake had left it in the Roman bureau, accidentally taking Nathan’s, when he had rushed off on his crazy mission.

‘Thank you,’ he said, taking it gratefully. Then he added with a timid smile, ‘I’ve learned a lesson or two.’

‘The truth is, we all get carried away from time to time,’ Nathan said. ‘At a ball once in Habsburg, Vienna, I thought I could carry off skin-tight leopard print. I was the laughing stock of the city.’ His tone became more serious. ‘Every one of us is hot-headed from time to time – even Charlie has his moments.’

They headed south for Messina, and before long
sighted the hills of the large island. Just before they had set off, Nathan had sent a Meslith to Point Zero, informing the commander of their progress. They, in turn, had contacted Rose and Jupitus, who were standing very close together on the quay when the
Conqueror
arrived.

Jake jumped ashore before they had even docked, and gave his aunt a great hug. She pretended to be horrified by all his cuts and bruises but really felt quite proud. Jupitus waved at another ship along the quay, announcing that the
Hippocampus
was fully operational again and that they should all set sail immediately. Then he gathered up his crutches, limped over and struggled aboard alone.

‘You two getting on all right?’ Jake asked tentatively.

Rose grinned. ‘Surprisingly well. Why don’t you come with us and tell me all about your adventures?’

When Jake had first seen the
Hippocampus
at Point Zero, he’d felt sure that he’d seen it before. As he climbed aboard now, he had the same sensation: its sun-bleached timbers, its sails of cream and blue stripes were still familiar.

Both ships set off across the bay side by side. Within minutes they had rounded the lighthouse
and were heading for the open sea.

Rose appeared from below with a tray of tea and biscuits. ‘Refreshments . . .’ She handed a cup to Jupitus. He took it, barely raising a smile; then Rose and Jake sat down cross-legged and started dunking their biscuits.

‘Why do I recognize this ship?’ Jake asked.

‘What’s that, darling?’

‘I feel like I know it somehow – even the name . . .’

Rose was one of those people who could neither lie nor keep a secret without blushing or becoming twitchy. She was now doing both: fiddling with her teacup as her cheeks went red. Jake examined her suspiciously, making her even more self-conscious.

‘You know something, don’t you? There
is
a reason the ship’s familiar . . . When I asked Mum and Dad about it before, they started behaving oddly too.’

‘I’m not behaving oddly,’ she insisted.

‘Rose, you’ve gone pink.’

‘Drat! I’ll get into such trouble if I say anything. Your parents have sworn me to secrecy.’

‘So there
is
a secret!’

Rose took a slurp of tea and munched a biscuit, wondering what to do. Finally she sighed. ‘Well, I suppose you were going to find out soon enough.’

Jake felt a thrill of excitement, as if he were about to hear something momentous. He was not disappointed. Rose looked round and checked that Jupitus wasn’t listening, then leaned in close. ‘You
have
sailed on this ship before, a number of times . . . when you were a baby.’

‘A baby?’ gasped Jake. ‘I don’t understand.’

‘When you were very young,’ she whispered, ‘your parents and I took some trips on it together, as a family. Alan, Miriam, me, you . . . Philip.’ And now the bombshell: ‘The last time was Persia, 1327—’

‘Persia? 1327?’ Jake stammered.

‘I remember because your mother had terrible toothache,’ Rose reflected.

Jake had to get up and go to the rail to take some calming breaths. ‘So I’ve been to history before?’

‘Just a couple of times – before we all gave it up. It seemed wrong to leave you at home. And you were no trouble at all. Spent most of the time sleeping.’

Jake laughed.

‘I suppose you’ll have to tell your mum and dad I let the secret slip. No doubt I’ll be in the dog house.’

At length the passengers on both ships took their doses of atomium in preparation for the horizon point. After the appalling outward journey, Jake braced himself for more of the same. But, although it was as dramatic, with the same amazing out-of-body experience, he didn’t suffer any horrific hallucinations. They vaulted all the way to the Atlantic, to an entry point in the Bay of Biscay, just west of La Rochelle. It was getting dark by the time that Jake spied the conical shape of the Mont St Michel in the distance.

Ever since Rose’s confession, Jake’s mind had been working overtime, mulling over the information that he had already travelled into deep history as a young child. He had asked her a number of other questions but, making sure that Jupitus wasn’t within earshot, she insisted that his parents should fill him in on the rest. Now he clung to the rail at the prow of the
Hippocampus
, willing her on. He had so much to say to his parents – not just about Rose’s revelation, but about Philip.

So when the ship docked just behind the
Conqueror
, to an enthusiastic welcome, Jake was the first to disembark, running down the gangplank towards his parents.

‘Heaven’s above! What have they done to you?’ asked Miriam. Like Rose, she was taken aback by the damage to his face.

‘Miriam, that’s no way to greet him.’ Alan pinched Jake’s cheek. ‘This is what an adventurer looks like.’

Jake was about to blurt out his news, when Jupitus suddenly gave an urgent cry. ‘Foreign craft approaching!’ Everyone turned at once.

Another ship, its slanting sails silhouetted in the twilight, was cutting across the sea towards them. Instinctively the whole group huddled together as Galliana quickly produced a telescope from her belt and examined the vessel.

‘It’s Chinese,’ she said, sounding equally alarmed.

‘Should we arm ourselves?’ asked Jupitus.

It was enough for Oceane to clutch at her pearls and retreat into the safety of the castle, pulling Josephine along behind her.

Galliana continued to stare through her telescope, examining the occupants of the craft. She could make out six silhouettes, standing at the prow. ‘I’ve
seen this ship before. It belongs to the Chinese bureau.’ Then, as she identified one of the passengers, she relaxed. ‘That is Madame Tieng, no question.’