Ruth Downie - Medicus

From somewhere back in the shop, Bassus's voice cut him short."You never wanted to? Are you joking? We had a deal!"

"Nobody will be selling her," put in another voice. "That slave is the legal property of the Aesculapian Thanksgiving Fund."

The medicus turned and demanded to know how long she had been locked up here. "Until the deadline ran out, I suppose?"

They both ignored the torrent of words that followed.

"So," she said to him, "it is true. You would sell me."

She tried not to flinch as the medicus took her by the shoulders. He looked as he must look when he was trying not to tell a patient bad news. "No," he said. "I mean, I didn't…"

She raised one hand to her throat.

"Well, yes…" Ruso stumbled on, correcting himself. "But I didn't-what are you doing?"

She put the acorn up to her mouth. "Why should I live as a slave in this world when I can be free in the next?"

His grip on her shoulders tightened. "What are you talking about?"

Her lips brushed against the curve of the acorn as she made the words. "Let me go, or I will take the poison."

"Tilla, for pity's sake!" He was looking at the acorn, trying to decide whether he could grab it before she put it between her teeth. He would not be fast enough. They both knew it.

"You are as bad as the others," she told him. "You are worse. You pretend to have honor."

For a moment he said nothing. Then he raised his head. "Daphne needs you, Tilla. The baby is coming and she's in trouble. I think she's going to die."

"Go and help her yourself," she told him. "You are the medicus."

"That's how I know," he said.

"You lie to me. You are lying now about Daphne."

"Daphne will die," he urged. "I'm begging you, Tilla. If you know how to help her, come now."

She knew what he was thinking. He was wondering if she had lied about bringing out babies just as she had lied about being able to cook.

"Why do you care for Daphne? She is a slave. You are a medicus to the soldiers."

"If you can't help," he said, "say so now and I'll go and do my best." He was afraid, but not for himself. He was afraid for Daphne.

"You will make it worse," she told him. "Let go of me and show me where she is." She raised her voice so the other men could hear. "If anyone comes near, I will go to the next world."

The medicus turned to the men. "Stand back," he ordered. "Let her pass."

By the time they reached Daphne, she seemed barely conscious of what was going on. Her head was hung down, her hair plastered flat with sweat. The girls holding her looked weary and frightened. Merula was standing over them, hands on hips. She looked relieved to see Ruso. "Doctor! Do something, will you? The customers can hear her in the bar!"

Ruso knelt beside the pale form and put one hand over hers.

"Daphne, it's the medicus. Can you hear me?"

The girl's eyelids flickered and fell still again. "Daphne, Tilla's here.

We're going to help you. Just hold on."

Daphne's head lifted for a second. Her lips parted but instead of a cry of pain a misshapen vowel sound emerged.

"That's the spirit!" urged the older girl.

Ruso glanced up. "What did she say?"

The girl grinned. "She said piss off."

"Take no notice!" ordered Merula, turning to glare at Tilla. "What's she doing here?"

Tilla stepped forward and knelt by Daphne, talking in her own tongue as she examined her. Without looking up, Daphne stretched out a trembling hand and Tilla grasped it.

"You need to wait outside," Ruso said to Merula.

Beyond folding her arms, Merula failed to move. "Of all the nights," she remarked, eyeing the unfortunate Daphne. "Three girls out of action back here while we're rushed off our feet in the bar. And now the door staff are playing up. We've even had to borrow a servant from one of the neighbors. Not that he's much help."

This, Ruso supposed, explained why Priscus's man had not been at home. It was hard to imagine the timid house slave being much use as a security guard. "Go back to work," he urged. "We'll manage here."

"It's too late now. Madam here's made so much fuss she's frightened all the customers away."

Tilla turned. "You must all get out."

Ruso said, "I'll stay in case you need any-"

"Out!"

"Who do you think you are?" demanded Merula. "He is a doctor, and this is my room!"

Tilla put her hand to her throat. "There is poison inside," she explained, fingering the acorns as she glanced between Ruso and Merula. "If anyone comes near, I will eat it. I will die. And her," she pointed at Daphne, "and the child. Understand?"

Ruso grasped Merula's arm and forced her out into the corridor. "We understand," he said, and closed the door behind them.

"She's bluffing," said Merula.

"No, she isn't," said Ruso. "She knows about poisons."

They heard the thud of the bar dropping on the other side of the door. "Bitch!" muttered Bassus, who had apparently been lurking outside with Priscus. "We'll sort her out later." He glanced at Merula. "Busy night, was it?"

"Yes. No thanks to you, or to madam back there. Stichus is closing up. You might think of helping him."

"He can work for free if he wants," retorted Bassus, heading off down the corridor. "I'm going to pick up a bit of what's owed to me."

"Don't you dare touch that money!" shouted Merula, running after him. "It isn't yours. I have to take out costs, pay the bills…!"

Priscus turned to Ruso. "I don't think we need you now."

Ruso hesitated just long enough to bid his promotion a silent and sad good-bye, and to wonder how many night duties he would owe Valens because of this. Then he said, "I'm not leaving here without Tilla."

"The girl belongs to a legionary welfare fund. If you attempt to remove her, you will be put on a charge and she will be taken from you."

Ruso was about to argue when there was a roar of, "Bastard!" from somewhere at the far end of the corridor.

He asked, "What time did they find her?" but Priscus was already hurrying toward the sound, calling over his shoulder, "I have the documents, Ruso!"

Ruso followed him along the corridor, through the empty kitchen, and into the brighter light of the bar.

Bassus was still shouting. "Bastard! Thieving sniveling ginger bastard!" The top of his head was visible as he rummaged behind the counter. Everyone except he and Merula seemed to have gone.

Merula flung herself across the counter, elegant bottom in the air, arms flailing, reaching for something. As Ruso watched she slid back to the floor. In her hand was the box in which the earnings were kept secure behind the bar. She upended it above her head. A sprinkle of dust and a small brown feather drifted to the floor. She gave a howl of despair. "The entire payday money!"

Priscus was saying, "But who-?" when Bassus rose from behind the bar and hurled a jug across the room. "Him and that cheap tart!" The jug hit the wall opposite with a dull crack and shattered on the floor. A couple of late-night customers who had crept in around the unlocked shutters made a hasty retreat.

"But who-?"

"Stichus and Chloe, of course!" exclaimed Merula. "I should never have trusted him once that little vixen got ahold of him."

Ruso closed his eyes and let out a long, slow breath. He had been relying on Stichus to give him back the money to pay the Aesculapian fund. Instead, it was clear the man had stolen the bar takings and fled. Without the money to cover the loan, even if Tilla were released tonight, Ruso would have to hand her back to Priscus tomorrow.

There was a scrape of wood on tile and a clatter of tumbling cups as Priscus shoved a table aside. "They won't get away with this!" he announced, peering around the shutters into the dark street. "We'll have them followed."