The Dreams of Morpheus(21)
Servius picked it up and read it quickly. ‘How much can you get a tablet for, Magnus?’
Magnus shook his head, unable to believe his luck. ‘I’ve just got one for free plus the half I have already, that’s—’
Servius flicked some beads on his abacus. ‘Twenty-one thousand, six hundred denarii or eight hundred and sixty-four aurii.’
‘But it’ll take some time to realise that money; at least a year, probably more,’ Terentius pointed out.
‘With no initial outlay to cover, that doesn’t matter, my friend,’ Magnus said, leaning back in his chair and beaming. ‘You take as long as you like and we’ll go fifty–fifty, five denarii each per sale.’
‘That’s generous, Magnus.’
‘I’d say it’s fair. You provide the boys and the premises and I’ll provide the resin; you can settle up once a month with Servius. In the meantime I would be very grateful if you could ensure that Aedile Brutus samples the new pleasure next time he frequents your establishment; in fact, encourage him to have two of those balls and then send me a message at whatever time of day or night it is.’
Terentius looked quizzical. ‘Certainly, Magnus.’ He stood to leave.
‘I’ll send a couple of my lads back with you to pick up the rest of those tablets.’
‘Of course, Magnus; will I see you later?’
Magnus was aware of Servius’ eyebrows raising a fraction and shook his head, waving a hand in dismissal. As the door closed behind Terentius, he turned to his counsellor. ‘Well, I had to sample the goods before I could decide whether to invest in them or not.’
‘Very wise. And what do you think?’
‘I think that it’s wasted on doctors; it’s much more than just a medicine.’
‘Will we really make that sort of money?’
‘Oh, yes, my friend; once those who can afford it try it, they’ll find it hard not to go back for more.’
‘And you?’
‘Now I know how good it is I daren’t have it again; not if I want to get things done, if you take my meaning?’ Magnus got to his feet, stretched and yawned. ‘Have all the lads assembled here two hours before dawn; wake me then.’
*
‘Magnus, wake up.’
Magnus roused himself and opened an eye to see Servius standing over him, holding a lamp. ‘Are all the lads downstairs?’
‘No, there’re still a couple of hours to go yet.’
‘Why wake me then?’
Servius indicated with his head to the door.
Magnus sat up in bed and squinted, trying to focus. ‘Rufinus! What are you doing here?’
‘Yesterday, after the festival, I went to tell my intermediary to stop making inquiries about selling the resin.’
‘Good. And?’
‘I couldn’t find him.’
‘Shit!’
‘It’s worse than that; he was found about an hour ago. It was all round the cohort very quickly because of the state he was in.’
‘Go on.’
‘He’d been tortured before they cut his throat. It was made to look as if they wanted to get the keys for the stores off him because some stuff was missing, but not enough in my opinion to warrant murder. Besides, I know Aetius—’
‘Aetius? Of course, who better to act as an intermediary; he can buy or sell anything.’
‘Could. But he wouldn’t have risked his life for a set of keys.’
‘But he would have risked it to keep his reputation for discretion.’
‘I’d asked him to approach a couple of doctors to see whether they would be interested.’
‘And one was the Urban Cohorts’?’
‘Exactly.’
‘Who went straight to the Urban Prefect, who immediately had a little chat with Aetius and, because he was killed having been tortured, we can assume that he gave them what they wanted.’
‘Yes, Magnus; they know my name.’ Rufinus handed his half-tablet of resin to Magnus. ‘This is no good to me; I need cash. I’m disappearing until all this dies down.’
‘Very wise, my friend.’ Magnus took the half-tablet, calculating its intrinsic worth, and knew that he could be very generous in buying Rufinus’ silence. ‘Servius, give the centurion twenty-five aurii.’
Rufinus’ eyes widened at the equivalent of two and a half years’ pay for an average legionary. ‘That’s good of you, Magnus.’
‘I’ll always help a friend. There’ll be another twenty-five for you if you haven’t mentioned my name by the time the fuss dies down. Now get going.’
‘Thank you, Magnus.’
Servius paused in the doorway as he followed Rufinus out. ‘There was a message from Antonia’s steward, Pallas. He’ll be at the river steps below the Temple of Asclepius half an hour before dawn.’