Doctor Who_ Byzantium! - Keith Topping [74]
And there were others within the movement who had free access into other territories like Thrace. But which Roman or other gentile would listen to Peter, or Philip, or John? Paul was essential to the mission.’
'An intercontinental public relations official,' the Doctor noted. 'The Damascus conversion was needed to turn Christianity from a Jewish cult into something altogether more complicated.'
'We needed to speak unto the nations,' Amos noted.
'Because of what was being done to us by the Jews in our own Iand. You have heard tell of Stephen, perhaps?' asked Amos.
'Yes. Stoned to death for blasphemy, poor chap. Your first martyr.'
'Would that there was another way,' Reuben continued.
'He was a friend of mine. And of James and Daniel. After that, Jerusalem was no longer safe for any of us. The only way in which we could survive was by taking our church out into the nations.'
'The prophets, John and Peter and Philip and the rest, all preached in Samaria. A very dangerous place,' Rayhab said.
'They all healed and resurrected, as the Christ had before them. The Jewish Christians eventually dispersed northwards to escape the oppression in Jerusalem from the Zealots. They followed the apostles into areas in which they had begun to make conversions. Hence, we are here in Byzantium.’
The Doctor nodded, wisely. 'Your people have suffered many hardships and trials in your quest to spread your good news. You have my sympathy if not my devotions.’
'Sympathy does us little good, Doctor,' Amos noted.
'Nevertheless,' the Doctor replied. 'I will help you with this,'
he concluded, waving one of the scrolls in his hand.
Edius Flavia arrived at the Villa P raefecius and strutted, arrogantly, like a peacock with delusions of grandeur, into the great hall.
Once there, he headed up the sweeping marbled staircase to the servants' quarters on the mezzanine. At the top of the stairs, he was approached by a nervous slave boy who asked if he required any help.
'No,’ said Edius, flatly, ‘unless you want to throw yourself onto the end of my sword for sport, yes?'
The slave, Gravus, mutely shook his head, bowed and hurried away without turning his back on the Roman tribune, who stared after him with a gloating sneer on his face.
Halfway along the corridor, he met another obstacle. This one was more formidable.
‘The tribune requires directions, perhaps?' asked Drusus in a heavy and sarcastic tone.
Edius turned and stared Drusus up and down for a long and considered moment, 'Be advised, freedman,’ he said, 'that I come upon this house exactly on the hour, on the strict and sole orders of Gaius Calaphilus. I have business with one that is within and not with the likes of you. Now be off with you before I have you flayed across a wheel until you die.'
Drasus bowed so low that his head almost touched the ground. He stood upright, turned and slowly walked in the opposite direction with Edius staring hatefully after him.
The young soldier finally tore his eyes away from the departing figure and found the door that he was looking for. Without knocking, he threw it open to discover Felicia lying on her bed covered only by a thin sheet. She looked up at Edius and a smile grew on her lips. ‘You came,' she said. Ì
thought you might.'
Edius sat on the bed, roughly, and swung his feet around to kick Felicia in the back. `Get on the floor and take off my boots, harlot,' he said with a cruel snarl. The handmaiden instantly complied.
She shook the sand from his leather sandals as she removed them and flung them into a corner as her vampire eyes looked up at him, hungrily.
`Now,' he said, 'my belt and sword need removing, unless you want me to fillet you.'
Felicia undid the silver belt-buckle and let the heavy scabbard fall away behind Edius onto the floor with a clatter.
Edius slipped out of his own tunic and knelt on the bed.
`Stand up,’ he ordered. The handmaiden did so.
`Come here,' he continued.
Felicia did as she was told.
‘Lie down and don't make a sound or you shall suffer for it,'
he concluded.