Gladiator: Vengeance Page 15

  ‘That’s my Cerberus!’ Marcus shouted gleefully. ‘Well done, boy! Well done.’

  But there was no time for anything more as the dogs that had moved on Lupus were advancing again. Their hunger drove them forward, despite the warning of their pack leader, and Marcus could only watch helplessly. Lupus cried out in terror and Cerberus’s head turned towards him as he leapt forward, crashing into the side of the nearest dog, a powerfully built hound with a tan hide, and knocking him flying. Another dog managed to swerve round the tangle of furry limbs and raced straight for Lupus. As it made to leap at his offal-stained chest, something struck it in the side and it instinctively spun round to look.

  Marcus saw a broken clay cup lying on the sand. Someone must have thrown it from the crowd. Glancing up, he saw people cheering excitedly at the unexpected turn of events. No one had seen an execution of criminals turn out like this before and they were cheering for Cerberus as he fought to protect the humans.

  ‘Come on, boy!’ Marcus shouted out. ‘Come on, Cerberus!’

  ‘Cerberus!’ Festus bellowed. ‘Cerberus!’

  Marcus heard the cry repeated in the crowd as it spread quickly.

  ‘That’s it!’ Festus cried out excitedly. ‘Keep ’em at it! Cerberus!’

  The large hunting dog bit into the head of the tan dog and tore at its ear. Drops of blood flicked through the air as the animal pulled free, leaving a gaping tear in fur and flesh at the top of its head. Cerberus growled as it retreated and then turned his head from side to side, daring the rest of the pack to take him on, or try to get past him to Marcus and the others. For a moment it seemed as if he had them cowed but another hunting dog stepped forward, dark hackles up as it growled. It had only one eye, the left socket empty and crudely stitched up. The remaining eye fixed on Cerberus and it stopped a short distance from him as it lowered itself into a crouch. Cerberus snarled and stood foursquare, as if trying to intimidate his new challenger by his greater height. If that was the intention, it didn’t work. The one-eyed rival shuffled forward and then leapt. Cerberus reacted a fraction too slowly and tried to counter-attack with a charge of his own. The momentum was with the other hunting dog and it knocked Cerberus on to his back and fell on him, snapping with its jaws as its claws scrabbled furiously against its opponent’s chest.

  The crowd let out a gasp of dismay and leaned forward before someone called the dog’s name again, and others joined in. Marcus could only look on helplessly as the two beasts snapped and clawed at each other in a savage blur of teeth and fur, as blood flecked the sand around them. Try as he might, Marcus’s dog could not break free of his opponent and was pinned down under his weight. Marcus could see that Cerberus had several wounds already and he felt a surge of despair as he saw the animal’s suffering.

  ‘Get up, Cerberus!’ he cried out as hot tears filled his eyes. ‘Don’t give in, boy!’

  With a quick twist of his back, Cerberus freed his hind legs up and braced them against the belly of the other dog, then began to scratch and kick, tearing into the thin layer of fur covering his stomach. The one-eyed dog reared up then caught a kick in the chest and tumbled on to his side. At once he scrambled back up and met Cerberus head on, both dogs rising on their hind legs as they bit at each other and lashed out with their claws.

  ‘Cerberus! Cerberus!’ the crowd cheered.

  The one-eyed dog suddenly tilted its head to strike at its rival’s throat. Cerberus struck first, lunging forward and biting hard into the windpipe of the other dog. It tried to growl but the sound was muffled by the pressure on its neck and it twisted desperately from side to side as Cerberus hung on grimly, worrying away. Slowly the other dog began to weaken and its movements became feeble until it collapsed on the ground. Cerberus kept his grip, using one paw to press down on the writhing flank of the one-eyed dog. All the time the crowd’s cheering increased in volume and hysteria. At last the loser went limp and lay on its side in the sand. Cerberus slowly released his grip then stood over his victim to make sure it was finished. Marcus took a deep breath and closed his eyes in relief.

  When he opened them he saw the arena official and his men running across the sand carrying staves. They shouted and waved at the dogs, driving them away from Marcus and the others. Only Cerberus remained, feet planted apart as he stood in front of Marcus and snarled.

  ‘Easy boy,’ Marcus said comfortingly, fearing for his dog’s safety as the official and two of his men approached. ‘Easy. Don’t hurt them.’

  Cerberus looked round and cocked his head to one side, as if unsure. Then he turned and sat at Marcus’s feet and thrust his big, furry head against Marcus’s hip as he wagged his tail.

  ‘What’s going on?’ Lupus asked, bewildered.

  Around them everyone in the arena had risen to their feet, waving strips of cloth in the air to indicate that they wanted the prisoners spared. Looking up at the governor, Marcus could see that Servillus was anxiously conferring with his advisors.

  ‘It’s over!’ Festus exclaimed. ‘The crowd want us to live. The governor won’t dare to refuse them. We’re spared!’

  ‘Spared?’ Lupus shook his head then started shaking.

  The official stepped warily round Marcus and took out his knife. Cerberus raised his head and growled.

  ‘Better keep that dog under control, if you don’t want it hurt,’ the official threatened.

  Marcus nodded to him and spoke to Cerberus. ‘Easy, boy. Sit there, nice and quiet.’

  Behind him he felt the man cutting his bonds. First his feet came free, then his hands, waist and lastly his neck. He stumbled forward the moment the rope parted and slumped to his knees as he threw his arms round Cerberus. ‘Good boy … Good boy,’ he murmured. ‘I’ve missed you … How I’ve missed you.’

  Marcus laughed with joy as he felt the wet nose thrusting towards his cheek and a warm tongue slathered his skin. Then he felt a hand on his shoulder and glanced up to see Festus grinning down at him.

  ‘Care to introduce me to your fierce canine friend?’

  Marcus patted the dog’s head. ‘This is Cerberus.’

  ‘I guessed that part.’

  Marcus smiled. ‘He’s mine. Or was, back when I lived on the farm.’

  ‘Seems he still is your dog. Thank the Gods.’

  Marcus looked round and saw Lupus sitting in the sand hugging his knees as his shoulders heaved. Beyond, the crowd stood waving strips of cloth in delirious celebration of the extraordinary event that had just taken place.

  ‘Heads up! Here comes his nibs,’ the official called to the two men who had cut the prisoners free. The others had rounded up the dogs and driven them back into the holding pen. Striding across the sand towards the stakes was Governor Servillus, a small entourage of companions behind him. Marcus’s smile faded as he saw Decimus scowling at him over the governor’s shoulder.

  ‘Astonishing!’ The governor beamed as he stopped a safe distance from Marcus and Cerberus. ‘Quite the most astonishing thing I have ever seen. Those dogs were supposed to rip you to pieces. They’ve been trained to do it and starved and beaten to make them savage. This beast most of all. Now look at him! Just like a little puppy. How on earth did you do it, boy?’

  ‘He’s my dog, sir,’ Marcus explained. ‘We were parted two years ago when I was kidnapped. Cerberus was clubbed to the ground by the men who did it. I thought he was dead all this time.’ He looked down and stroked Cerberus’s good ear and the dog lifted his nose and half closed his eyes in bliss as his nostrils flared.

  Servillus shook his head in wonder. ‘Quite a story. It’s almost as if the Gods have had a hand in this. Well, I’m not one to intervene when the Gods have made their will so obvious. It’s clear to me that the two of you were meant to be reunited.’

  The governor turned to the crowd and raised his hands to command silence. Gradually the cheering subsided and the people sat in quiet expectation as Servillus addressed them.

  ‘People of Athens! I had hoped to put on a sho
w that would be remembered for years to come. Today my hopes have been rewarded! I have never seen the like of what we have just witnessed! I give you the champion of the day’s games. Cerberus!’

  The crowd roared their approval and the governor spoke again.

  ‘I order that the master of Cerberus, and his companions, are set free. Free to leave the arena!’

  The crowd cheered again and people waved their strips of cloth as Decimus bustled forward to join the governor, his expression black and angry.

  ‘These men are condemned for murder, your excellency. Are you going to allow them to walk free?’

  Servillus turned to him. ‘Look at the crowd, Decimus. They love this dog and the boy. Are you prepared to defy their wishes? I know I’m not.’

  ‘The mob is fickle, noble Servillus. Continue with the execution. Bring on some other animals and send this miserable wretch of a hunting dog back to his cage. Once the blood flows the crowd will forget soon enough.’

  ‘Actually, I’m trying to avoid bloodshed. One thing a wise man learns is never to go against the will of the people if it can be avoided. That is why I am governor of this province and you are not, Decimus. Now please take your place, back with the others, and let me deal with this.’

  Decimus flashed a bitter glance at Marcus, but he gave way and paced back towards the governor’s entourage.

  Servillus turned to Marcus. ‘Stand up, boy. Acknowledge the crowd. It’s the least you can do after they have compelled me to favour you and your friends.’

  Marcus rose and looked round the arena, then punched his fist into the air, and the spectators erupted with another cheer.

  Servillus kept a smile on his face as he stood beside Marcus and rested a hand on his shoulder.

  ‘Does this mean we are free, sir?’ Marcus asked quietly. ‘To do as we will?’

  Servillus shot him a warning glance. ‘Take your victory, boy, while you can. You are free to leave the arena. I suggest that you leave Athens and return to Rome, before you get in any more trouble.’ He patted Marcus on the shoulder and turned to wave to the crowd one last time before heading back to the steps that led to his box. Festus and Lupus stood with Marcus and Cerberus as they acknowledged the wild cheers of the crowd. Then Marcus felt a nudge in his back as one of the arena staff muttered.

  ‘That’s your lot. You three better get moving. It’s a tight programme and we’ve got other executions to come. Off you go, sharpish!’

  The three made their way across the sand with Cerberus walking at Marcus’s side. As they left the arena he glanced back and saw the woman who had shared their cell the previous night being dragged towards the stakes. Marcus tore his gaze away as Lupus spoke to him.

  ‘By the Gods, it’s a miracle! I thought it was all over. I was sure of it.’ He shook his head in astonishment.

  Festus clapped the scribe on the shoulder and laughed with relief before he turned to Marcus. ‘What now?’

  ‘Now?’ Marcus’s expression became determined. ‘Now, we finish what we came here to do. We free my mother, and make sure that Decimus pays the price for all the suffering he has caused.’

  19

  ‘Are you sure that’s his house?’ asked Marcus as they stood in the shade of a market portico on the far side of the street.

  ‘I’m certain. I followed his litter here and that’s where he went in, once he had dismissed his escort.’

  ‘He might have been visiting a friend.’

  Lupus shook his head. ‘The litter went down the side alley there, towards the slave quarters at the rear of the house. If he was visiting it would have stopped by the front door.’

  Festus nodded. ‘True. Then that’s where he is, most likely.’

  Around them hundreds of people were perusing the stalls and haggling with the merchants selling exotic cloth, spices and scents from the far east. Thanks to the expensive nature of the products, the market was in one of the more affluent areas of Athens. Marcus reflected that it was typical of Decimus to choose the wealthiest area for his house.

  Festus was still staring at the entrance across the street. A guard sat on a stool outside the door. Behind him the door itself was sturdy and studded with iron nails. A heavy grille allowed the doorkeeper within to examine visitors before he opened the door. The house occupied the whole of the block on which it had been built with narrow alleys along the sides and rear of the property. The walls were too tall to scale and there would be little question that Decimus would be guarded within.

  ‘The question is, what do we do now?’ Festus wondered. ‘We can’t get in there easily.’

  Marcus sighed with frustration. He was desperate to discover where Decimus was holding his mother. His impatience was pressing him constantly. Following their release from the arena, they had been escorted back to the cell and forced to remain there until the end of the day. Marcus had passed the time cleaning Cerberus’s wounds and had demanded some food for the dog before his hunger caused him to bite someone. As night fell they were taken back to the room in the guest wing and told their possessions would be returned in the morning, once they had been fetched from the palace storerooms. They had been destined for auction, the fate of any valuables left behind by those condemned to death. Two guards had been placed on the door who refused to let them leave, except if they needed the latrine and even then they were only allowed to go one at a time, a guard keeping close watch over them until they returned to the room.

  The restrictions had angered them all. But no explanation was given for the delay in granting them a release from the governor’s custody. It was not until the following morning that Euraeus had arrived to announce they were free to leave.

  Festus had glared at the Greek. ‘You have a lot to answer for, my friend.’

  Smiling easily, Euraeus had tilted his head as he spoke apologetically. ‘I was only doing my humble duty, sir. Your arrival at the palace, coming at almost the same time as the news from Stratos, was most unfortunate. What else was a reasonable man to conclude? But innocent or guilty, the governor has decided to release you.’

  ‘Why the delay?’ asked Festus. ‘Why wait until morning?’

  The Greek shrugged. ‘I’m sure the governor has his reasons.’

  ‘The governor, or you?’

  ‘I am merely the servant of the governor. I do as he pleases and do not question my orders.’

  ‘Liar!’ Marcus snapped. ‘You are in the pay of Decimus. It is his orders that you carry out.’

  He had stepped towards the Greek, fists balled, and Euraeus instinctively recoiled, a frightened expression on his thin face. The restraining hand that Festus placed on Marcus’s shoulder had caused Cerberus to rise up and let out a low growl until Festus withdrew.

  ‘Think, Marcus. Think. This creature is not worth getting into any further trouble over. We must concentrate on finding your mother. Nothing else matters right now.’

  For a moment, the urge to strike the Greek down had burned in his veins, but Marcus knew his friend was right. He must not allow himself to become distracted. He had taken a deep breath and stepped away from Euraeus.

  ‘Good lad,’ Festus had said gently before turning his attention back to the Greek. ‘We’ll go, nice and peacefully. I take it we are no longer welcome to stay in the palace until we leave Athens?’

  A look of surprise had flashed across Euraeus’s face. ‘I assume you are joking, sir? The governor does not like hosting murder suspects, even if they are the darlings of the mob. You will be escorted to the palace gates and you are forbidden from entering the complex again under any pretext.’ Seeing the anger in Festus’s expression, he had retreated into the corridor outside, gesturing to the two guards. ‘Take these people, and their brute, to the main gate and see them out of the palace.’

  ‘Yes, sir.’ Nodding, one of the guards had grasped the handle of his sword as he curtly gestured to Festus and the others. ‘You lot, out now! Let’s go!’

  They had been forced on to the street and
Marcus realized they could not take Cerberus with them since his size and savage appearance would attract too much attention. So they had hurriedly found a small storeroom to rent for the night at the back of a seedy inn, where they left the dog tied to a post while they went with Lupus to the house of Decimus.

  Now, Marcus turned to Festus. ‘What we must do is get in there and force the truth out of Decimus. One way or another.’

  Lupus shook his head. ‘There isn’t any way in except for that door, and another like it at the rear of the house.’

  ‘We must go through one of the doors,’ Marcus said pigheadedly. ‘If you won’t help me then I’ll do it myself.’

  Festus lowered his face towards Marcus. ‘Calm down. No one said we wouldn’t help you. But we have to do this carefully. The governor let us off the hook once, but I doubt he’ll look too kindly on us causing any further problems. So we have to take it easy. Understand?’

  Marcus closed his eyes tightly, fighting off his frustration. But he had learned the value of caution so he sighed and nodded.

  ‘That’s better,’ Festus said. ‘Now we have to think about the best way of getting at Decimus. Perhaps we wait until he comes out again and summons his litter. Follow him and see if we can get to him when there’s a chance.’

  ‘What chance?’ asked Lupus. ‘He has eight men on the litter, a guard leading the way, and two more following. We can’t take them all on.’

  Festus nodded. ‘You’re right. But if he leaves the litter, then the odds are cut down significantly. He might make for the baths, or do some shopping, or some business. If he does, that’s when we can make our move. We deal with his guards and take him somewhere quiet for a little talk.’

  Marcus smiled at the prospect, but Lupus shook his head. ‘We don’t know when, or if, he is going to leave his house. We could be stuck here for hours, days even. Now that he knows we’re in Athens he’s bound to be careful. And the longer we stand here waiting, the more suspicion we’ll arouse.’