RomanQuest by Herbie Brennan Page B

of grain?
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    Return muttering to yourself to the tourist map at 25 and select another destination.
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123
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    â€œLook,” you tell the guard patiently, “I just want a quick look inside in case the Sibyl happens to be hiding in there.”
    â€œSacre bleu!” he exclaims and hurls himself upon you.
    â€œSacred blue?” muses the Mercury phone in your ear. “Did the Gaul say ‘sacred blue’? What a meaningless turn of phrase - no wonder we conquered them so easily.”
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    But you have no time for these philosophical and linguistic musings. Having lost your chance of a first strike you’ve got a difficult fight on your hands whatever Mercury might think. The guard has 60 Life Points. His sword strikes at +5 and his breast-plate will deduct 5 points from every damage blow scored against him. If he happens to throw a seven at any time during combat, he will invoke the name of the Gaulish hero Asterix and automatically score double damage with that blow. Should you be killed in this fight, go to 13 . Should you survive, you may enter the shuttered villa at 82 .
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124
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    It’s like the high point of a movie. Time slows. The trident sails gracefully through the air. The expression on Caligula’s mad face changes slowly from glee to horror. The trident comes closer and closer to his chest. Sunlight glints on its three wicked barbs. There is a stunned silence in the auditorium. You seem to register close-ups of shocked face after shocked face.
    Time speeds up to normal. The speeding trident reaches the royal box. Caligula screams and clutches his chest.
    The trident misses.
    Your mouth falls open. You can’t believe it.
    â€œTraitor!” screams Caligula. “Assassin! Guards, do your duty!”
    But as armed men pour into the arena, you suddenly find yourself surrounded by a milling phalanx of gladiators, both amateur and professional.
    â€œKeep your head down,” one whispers. “We’ve no love for the Emperor. With a bit of luck we can get you out of here!”
    There is a moment of confusion with much shouting, jostling and some swordplay before you find yourself in a gloomy little stone flagged chamber underneath the auditorium. Two gladiators are with you.
    â€œThe boys will keep the Praetorians busy for a while,” one tells you soberly. “Your best chance is to get up into the auditorium and mingle with the crowd. There’s so many at the games today they’ll never spot you. When you get there, we’ve a job for you.”
    â€œWe want you to find Cassius Chaerea,” hisses the other. “When you do, give him this.” He hands you a wicked looking dagger, handle first. “Careful,” he warns, “the blade is poisoned. One prick is instant death.”
    â€œHow will I know him?” you ask urgently.
    â€œCan’t miss him,” says the gladiator. “He’s tribune of Caligula’s personal Praetorian guard!”
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    A man to be avoided I’d have thought, but you can make up your own mind about that when the time comes. Meanwhile get off to 64 and for heaven’s sake don’t draw any more attention to yourself.
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125
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    This is rather impressive. Four Corinthian pillars front the entrance to this temple building and as you climb the broad steps your eye catches a Latin inscription which swims and wavers for a moment before the Mercury Phone in your ear transforms it into English:
    TEMPLE OF THE GODDESS
    FORTUNA AUGUSTA
    Built in 3 b.c. by the city magistrate
    Marcus Tullius
    Whose body now lies buried outside the
    Porta Stabia
    as a mark of respect from a grateful citizenry.
    WARNING
    POSITIVELY NO ADMITTANCE
    WITHOUT A SIBYLLINE PASS
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    If you happen to have a Sibylline Pass about your person, you can