Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8 THAT AFTERNOON THE ROAD TO VESUVIUS They headed for the mountain Vesuvius, a massive triangle of green that loomed up to the east of Pompeii. As they left the city behind, Tata ripped the armor from his shoulders and legs, and threw the pieces into a ditch. He left his helmet in a field of wheat, a trade for the old tunic he snatched from the farmer's drying line. They rode for hours, crossing orchards and olive groves, pastures and fields. Night was coming, and Tata decided they should stop in a patch of woods halfway up the

mountain. They got off the mare and stretched their aching legs. Marcus reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of grapes he'd snatched from a vineyard they'd passed through. "Hungry, Peg?" Marcus said to the mare. "Peg?" Tata asked, arching one of his bushy brows. "Short for Pegasus," Marcus said. Tata smiled, stroking the mare's nose. Marcus fed the grapes to Peg one by one, until they were all gone. Peg smacked her lips and rubbed Marcus's cheek with her nose. "We have a friend for life, it seems," Tata said. Peg nickered as though she agreed, and Marcus and Tata laughed. It was that moment, as their laughter filled the air, that it really hit Marcus: This was not a dream, not a wish, not a desperate prayer to the gods. He and Tata were together! A jolt of happiness practically lifted him off the ground. And Tata

seemed to feel it, too. They looked at each other and smiled. But then a shadow passed over Marcus's heart. Because as happy as he felt at this moment, he knew they were in terrible danger. "They'll come after us," Marcus whispered. The slave hunters. Festus would hire the best, most cunning men, experts in tracking their prey. "They won't look for us up here," Tata promised. "The hunters will be searching Pompeii. It will be days before they come to the mountain. And by then we'll be gone. We'll head back to Rome, Marcus. I have no doubt that Linus's friends will help us. Somehow I need to continue Linus's work." It amazed Marcus that Tata could be so certain, so filled with hope. He draped an arm around Marcus's shoulders and looked up into the sky, admiring the bright moon and the swirl of stars. But what Marcus saw in the bright moonlight was the angry bruise on Tata's cheek, the purple scar zigzagging along his chin. How Tata must have suffered these past two months!

Marcus had already told Tata about his time with Festus. The words had poured out of him during their ride up the mountain, until at last he had told Tata about every last moment of his time with his brutal master. But Tata hadn't said a thing about being with the gladiators. And now Marcus wanted to know. "Will you tell me what happened to you, Tata?" Marcus said.

Pain flashed through Tata's eyes and he looked away from Marcus. "That is the past now," he said. And from his tone, Marcus knew that he must not ask again. But he couldn't help thinking about what his father must have been through. And it made his blood boil. "I hate that lanista!" Marcus burst out. "And I hate Festus! I hate all of them for what they did to you, Tata! We need to get even!" Yes, Marcus thought, they'd get revenge! They'd set fire to Festus's villa! Find the lanista and… But Tata whipped around, gripping Marcus's shoulders. "No, Marcus," he snapped. "Never speak like that. You must never let hatred take over! Then you are no better than Festus! And hatred like that will destroy you." Marcus blinked, stung by Tata's sharp tone. "I'm sorry, Tata," Marcus said. Tata's face softened. "There is goodness in the world, Marcus, and kindness. You cannot forget

that." Goodness? Kindness? Marcus had seen none of that lately. If there was one thing Marcus had learned these past two months, it was this: The world was a dark, evil place. Only the most ruthless would survive. But Marcus said none of that to Tata, who would not approve of such dark thoughts. And they were both so tired. They led Peg into a small grove of trees and tied her up for the night. Tata stretched out on a grassy patch. "Tomorrow our new life begins," he whispered, and within seconds he was fast asleep. Marcus lay down next to Tata, but he couldn't get comfortable. His muscles ached from the long ride. But it was the strange noises that kept snapping him awake — distant rumbles, low hisses. Was he dreaming? Once, he drifted to sleep, but was awakened when the earth seemed to be shaking. He sat up, wondering if Tata felt it, too. But Tata was sound asleep.