At the edge of the island three men sat astride their beasts of war taking in the sunrise peacefully. Blissful silence reigned in the encampment of men behind them as their men slumbered on undisturbed by the delicate sounds of morning that awoke in the coastal air as the animal life slowly came alive. The Roman centurion in the center looked particularly serene, he and his horse motionless, taking in the beautiful sights. Around him the other two horses restlessly pawed the ground.
“A beautiful country, a beautiful country,” he mumbled to no one in particular. “A shame we Romans always feel the need to mar everything with the blight of war.”
The two other men exchanged glances. “There is nothing Roman about you,” one of them finally said.
“That's true, I have taught you to ride bareback as the Barbarians of Gaul, to wield a knife as they do in Arabia, and to wrestle as they do in the Wilds of Africa. Why the only things I haven't taught you something of my own countrymen in Judea.”
“That is not what gives you away as not Roman,” the third man broke in. “It's that you haven't taught us to build. Everything you teach is to destroy.”
The Roman gave a hollow laugh as he kicked his horse into a trot. Behind him the other two men hurried to follow suit.
“You are right on that score, oh noble men of Achaea. Perhaps it is the heritage of my own country or maybe I have ever been apt in the art of destruction. Even as a child, I was always skilled in that direction.”
Now they were galloping. All of them having a splendid time, as their well-muscled beasts easily ate up the ground underneath.
“Ah but you have taught us something of your own country.”
“And what is that,” he asked?
Now they had to raise their voices to be heard over the brisk wind which whipped across their faces.
“Why to follow along like a Roman lapdog, eating up their leavings agreeably.”
In response, the centurion, whose name was Judah, snorted, “don't ever let Cullius hear you say that or it could mean your head. he truly has big plans for your unit in his legion. He means for you to form the backbone of his fighting force. It would be a big shame if you never got to enjoy the profit of your labors.”
They began to circle back until they arrived back at the beachfront from which they started. Their strong stallions still showing barely any strain from the gallop. When everyone had dismounted, Judah turned to turn towards the other two men and gave them each his hand.
“In all seriousness, you fellows have learned all I have left to teach and it is time that I return to Cullius.”
The two Greek men exchanged glances. “It is good then,” one of them said, “We did not yet have a chance to tell you but a rider came late last night after you already retired to your tent. Cullius sent for you. The message didn’t say much only that he has heard from Rome and desires to speak with you. He will see you in Corinth at the bathhouse.”
“Come let us break our fast,” said the third man, “and then we will send you off on your way.
Several days later, after a short boat ride followed by a couple days hard and hard riding overland Judah found himself arrived in totally different surroundings. He entered the city of Corinth, an Achaean coastal city, with the sun proudly shining down from the west of the sky and the hum of the local market hitting its apex. He passed a Tanner who had spread his skins out on half a dozen stands made of wooden sticks stuffed into the dirt, a procession of strangely girdled woman and a half naked toddler who gawked up at his proud prancing horse trailing behind him. The little one shrank back in fright, but kept his feet rooted on the spot, eyeing the beast in terror until his Mama hastily yanked him out of the way.
“Move boy or you'll get run over,” she snarled, cuffing him over the ear and dragging him after her, all the while bowing up at Judah awkwardly.
Everyone was doing that. Marking his attire and his magnificent horse, and then getting out of his way with alacrity. In the distance he caught the scent of chamber pots and turned just in time to see two grimy looking men, bearing dozens of the things, scurrying in the other direction. For once he was grateful from the way people reacted when they saw him.
Eventually he made his way to the better part of town and then, as the streets spread out into wide sprawling pathway, turned down a large circular lane which ran in front of a medium sized domed building. The lane was connected to the building by a path which was flanked on both sides by a stunning garden bursting with a panoply of colors. He had arrived at the House of recreation for the few and the wealthy, otherwise known as the bathhouse. There were bathhouses for the masses, of course, but this was where any patron who could afford to pay the fee, did so to obtain luxury and privacy.
Judah left his horse tied securely by the horse posts that were available and hurried up to the entranceway where a bath attendant waited to take the patrons fee.
“Ah, Master Judah,” the attendant said, recognizing him and immediately waiving the fee, “the governor is waiting for you in his usual place. He's in the hot room now, I believe.”
That meant Cullius was sweating away his exhaustion while receiving a back rub. Judah entered the building and found himself in a small atrium, adorned at the center with an elaborate water basin, beyond which the walls narrowed, funneling around an archway. On the far side of the arch was a small passageway which eventually widened to create a second room, this one a square. Here elaborate mosaics decorated the floor, upon which rows of copper benches sat. This was the room for undressing. In each corner of the room there was an archway which led to four private bathing chambers used by the wealthy. A final passage lay straight ahead which lead to a slightly larger bathing chamber than the others and which was meant for small groups.
As soon as Judah entered this changing room, an attendant descended upon him to help strip him down. He collected Judahs clothing in a pile and stored them in the in the window of the odiyarin - a gilded set of storage shelves - that lined the walls of the room. The man then pointed him down the passage in the far left corner, where the most luxurious set of bathing rooms on the premises were located.
“He is nearly done with his sweat,” the attendant murmured softly, giving him a friendly tip that he would be catching the governor at his most relaxed moment - not that Judah usually needed any help in staying in his friend's favor.
Judah entered the bathing room and found Cullius seated, naked, on a wood bench as steam swirled all around him. It came billowing up through tiny invisible holes in the floor, from the furnace room underneath, where the bathwater was heated.
The first clue he got that something was wrong came from the slight narrowing of the mouth as Cullius shed the blissful look of ecstasy from his face and set his jaw. This was already not the way Judah was usually received; quite the opposite in fact.
My friend,” Judah called, lifting his hand in Jovial greeting. “I have heard your loving family has written from Rome. What news have you? What tiding do they send of the mighty Caesar back in Rome?”
They clenched hands in brotherly greeting and then Judah took his own seat across from the governor to begin his own sweat as they conversed.
“It is bad, my centurion, there are new vacant seats in the senate; a lot of them. Rome is near anarchy and my family summons me. They are having me replaced over here.”
“Why? These days everyone seeks only to flee Rome, yet your family summons you?”
“They say that it is a good time to be a man both military and politics. They also recall that I found great favor with the Caesar during his recent excursion to the Greek mainland this year. Now, they see opportunity where others see danger and they think I am the most perfectly prepared to take advantage of it.”
Judah squinted back at his friends grave face, not understanding the situation at all. “we can change our plans; instead we will go to Rome. Why do you wear the long face, surely you don’t fear danger?. Your family surely has your best interests at heart and you are normally a hound in pursuit of opportunity. We are not doing anything so important here on this barbarian beach that we can’t leave behind. You should be bubbling with excitement?”
His best friend, who saw through his attempt to rile up excitement, gave him a wan smile. “We? We? Who said anything about we? This is a Lenii family matter and I have decided I am departing alone.”
“But…but…” Judah sputtered, totally taken aback by this unexpected declaration. “How can this be, we have our plans together do we not? We have been working toward just such an opportunity as this for a long time!”
Looking back into his friends unwavering eyes, for the first time Judah saw that this was no joke. Cullius fully intended to do this thing and leave him behind.
“Are you just going to forget Gaul, Judah demanded, “and all that we have been through; leave it all behind? Thrice we have worked together and captured the enemy standard. I have secured your troops honor for you, I have saved your life uncountable times. Can you really intend to throw our past all away,”
Cullius sputtered through a litany of excuses, of which Judah was buying none of them. Finally, Cullius admitting the truth. “It’s my family; you are not Roman so they don’t approve of our friendship. They insist I must leave you behind when I come to Rome.”
Come now,” Judah said trying to take a different tact, “Lets not let a small thing like family pressure get in the way of a friendship – no a trust- built over twenty five years! I will make a counter suggestion for you; one you are able to get behind. Let me trail behind you, making my own way to Rome in the coming months at my own expense. No one knows who I am. When this all blows over and your family forgets everything, we can reconnect. I will even change my name if you want.”
Cullius flapped his hands, despairing of making his point understood. “You don’t understand,” he said, growing frustrated. “My family is powerful; you can’t trifle with them like that. They can lock you up or make you disappear. What if they figure out who you are, we couldn’t playact, as if our past didn’t exist, we would get caught. How would you like it if they slipped a knife in your foreigner back?"
“Besides,” cullius added, now that he was speaking his mind, “what would you do for me in Rome? This is not Gaul where the enemy stands in lines waiting for you to spear him. Its not soldiers I need. This is politics, man. Backstabbing politics. Roman Honor. What use would you have in all that subterfuge; it’s not your strong point. What is there for you a Jew in Rome?”
“How… hhow can you?”Judah stammered in bewilderment, “What am I supposed to do now with all our plans disappearing like…like your dirty bath water?” He could not believe what his friend was saying. He, Judah, brought up friendship and the great bonds, years had created between them while Cullius responded with Practicalities? with excuses? Judah, couldn’t fathom what had come over his friend. It was a total betrayal. Never before had he been treated like this. They had planned for years, how to shoot Cullius’s star to the top – their plans went back nearly twenty five years to when they had met in Gaul- and overnight his friends whole attitude changed? Judah was indignant, now, Cullius wasn’t even going to talk to him about it anymore?
“I don’t know,” Cullius said, getting up to leave, his relaxing sweat over – or maybe ruined by the moment. “Maybe its time you returned to Gaul. You would still find glory there. If you want, I can get you a high commission commanding auxiliaries or perhaps even the legionnaires. Or, maybe, you can consider returning to Judea.”
That was it, their audience was about to be over. In one lightening quick moment Judah had the rug pulled out from underneath his feet.
As he swept through the door to exit, Cullius turned back one last time, “I do have a feast planned for tonight,” he said, “to celebrate my departure and I also have some valuable gifts I will present to you as a heartfelt gesture of my appreciation for our time together, so do attend.” With that Cullius strode out, his still sweat laden body disappearing beyond the arch.