THE INQUIRY
Chapter II: A Most Perfect Evening
"I would like to drink a toast", said Porcius Festus, raising his glass,
"to two of the dearest young people I have ever known. Marcus Cassius
Julianus and Patricia Cassia were truly made for each other, and Cassius my
friend, there is no one who I would rather see married to such a lovely young
lady as Patricia than you my friend. May Venus forever keep her eyes upon
you, and may Juno ever watch over your household, and grant you many fine and
noble sons!" "And daughters!", added Justina Cassia, Cassius' widowed
sister, as she raised her glass. Metellus Sergius Draco, lifelong friend of
Cassius, refilled his own cup. "To Cassius and Patricia!" Patricia Cassia
beamed. She could not wipe the smile from her face, and Cassius in that
moment loved her all the more for it. She was happy, and that was worth the
world to him. "I only wish," Porcius Festus said with some sadness, "that I
could have been in Rome for your wedding. I wish I had a suitable wedding
present for give you." Cassius leaned towards him on his couch and gripped
his arm. "What? Here we are, in Athens on vacation, staying in your home,
enjoying your hospitality, and you think that you have somehow slighted us?
And the praise you just gave to Patricia...it is enough my friend!" Porcius
Festus smiled at him, then moved closer to Patricia, putting a big bearish
arm about her. "Tell me my dear," he said, "how is this politician of yours
treating you?"
"Like a princess," she replied, her smile unfaded. Porcius Festus pulled her
a little tighter. "Well now, I am very glad to hear it, because if he were
ever to stop..." "You would do what?", she asked mischievously, touching
nose to nose with him. "I would come to Rome, and steal you away from him!"
"Hmmmm," she purred, "and if it came to that I think I just might let you."
Cassius began to chuckle. "Alright, alright!", he said as he draped both
arms around Patricia and gently pulled her back towards him, "Here I am
married only three months and already you are trying to seduce my bride away
from me! You dirty old lecher!" Porcius Festus feigned a look of shock as
he moved back to his own cushion at the dinner table. "Now I resent that
remark Cassius! I am not OLD!" At that they all laughed, the five friends
together.
A perfect evening.
Porcius Festus reached for the wine. "Speaking of Rome, which we weren't,
tell me Cassius...is it true what I've heard, that the Emperor's mother
Agrippina was plotting against Nero?" Draco rolled over and groaned. "Oh
no! Please don't get him started, Festus!" "Is it true", Festus said,
pressing the issue, "that Nero tried to have her killed in a boating
accident?" Cassius put down his cup and thought a moment. "Well, as to the
plotting, that is the official story told to the senate." "Which the senate
ate up," interjected Justinia, munching on some grapes. Draco was annoyed.
"And why not?", he asked. "After all, conspiracies against emperors, even in
their own families, are nothing new! What makes the Emperor's reason for her
execution so unbelievable?" "Because Nero IS unbelievable!", Justina
retorted. "Justina, please", Cassius intervened, heading off an angry
response from Draco. Cassius continued, "As I was saying, with respect to
the alleged plotting, that is, in my judgment, very possible. Agrippina
certainly plotted her son's advancement, and maneuvered old Claudius into
favoring Nero over his own son Brittanicus for the succession. That she
would turn against him is not by any means an impossibility. Now as to the
boating accident, I personally find it very hard to believe a brand new boat
would just happen to fall apart with her on it, almost as soon as he
presented it to her." Draco's eyes widened. "So it was poorly made!", he
said protesting. "Do you really believe the emperor, OUR emperor, if he
wanted to get rid of old Agrippina would try to do it in so conspicuous a way
as that? Would he really be that stupid?"
"Yes!", replied Justina, her voice rising.
"Oh really? And why?"
"Because Nero IS stupid!"
"Would you two please stop it?", pleaded Cassius.
Draco was yelling now. "The empire has been continuing to run very well with
Nero in command!"
Cassius sighed and plopped his head down in exasperation on Patricia's
shoulder. "So much for the perfect evening," Patricia said with a groan.
"That is because Nero doesn't run it!", Justinia yelled back, standing now.
Porcius Festus was watching the two combatants with growing amusement. "Are
they always like this?", he asked.
"Yes", both Patricia and Cassius sighed simultaneously. Draco stood up
angrily. "I find these constant insults to our Emperor bordering on treason
and in very bad taste! You will please excuse me!" He stormed out of the
room. Cassius was now visibly angry and turned to his sister. "Why can't
you be a proper woman and shut up?!?" "Excuse me husband?!", Patricia
gasped. "Sorry Patricia," he replied, calming himself, "I didn't mean it
that way!" Cassius left and ran after Draco, apologizing, begging him to
stay. With much pleading and diplomacy, he succeeded in bringing Draco back
to the dining room. Draco dropped back onto his couch, miffed. A tense
silence filled the room, and Porcius Festus tried to break the ice. "Well
Cassius, we have heard, along with the rest of Athens, the views of Draco and
Justinia. But what, may I ask, are your own?" Cassius looked at Porcius
Festus with a 'oh why in the hell did you have to ask me that right now'
look, then cleared his throat, and then, speaking slowly, carefully treading
this ground with the skill of a mountain goat, he began to answer.
"Hmmmm....well, while I do not share my sister's absolute hatred for Nero, I
do think that as far as the running of the government is concerned, her
position comes nearer to my own than that of my dear friend Draco. It is
true that Nero has not involved himself too closely with the adminstration of
the state, preferring instead to leave that to his freedmen, much like
Claudius did, and to Burrus and Seneca. Those two have so far managed to,
how shall I say it, managed to guide Nero, or at least keep him somewhat
controlled. And for himself Nero would rather devote himself to music and
the arts." At that, Justinia was finding it very difficult not to break
down in a fit of laughter, and Porcius Festus took notice. "What's that? Is
he really bad?", he asked eagerly. Cassius himself was starting to feel the
urge to laugh well up in him, but he, with great effort, managed to control
this. "Well, uh, the arts keep Nero pretty much occupied and so prevent him
from taking much of a direct hand in government. The Augustan system in Rome
itself keeps the state functioning as it should, at least for the most part,
and this, uh, makes far more forgivable Nero's sins against the muses".
Justinia was on the floor howling with laughter now, and Cassius was covering
his mouth, trying to hide his smile. "Have you heard him sing?", Porcius
Festus asked, smiling. Cassius' side was hurting now. "Yes, actually, and
the performance was, uh,well....I was told that when he sings, the images of
the Muses in the theater are seen to shed tears." Patricia Cassia rolled on
her back laughing. "Oh Cassius! He is not as bad as all that!" "No, my
dear, of course not", Cassius replied, laughing himself now. "But the point
I was trying to make is that if the political and administrative system works
well enough without Nero's direct involvement, it shows that the role of
Emperor is really unneccessary, and that a reestablishment of the Republic
would be feasible!"
"Oh Gods, here he goes again!", moaned Draco. "Cassius here has two missions
in life", Draco explained to their host. "One is to restore the Republic.
The other is to marry off his sister. The first may be possible, given
enough energy and bloodshed and good fortune. The second is....well, Cassius
could not marry Justina off even if he paraded her naked in front of a bunch
of desperate sailers in Ostia, with her wearing a sign saying, 'Help
Yourself'!'" With that, Justinia Cassia rose, furious. "I can tolerate
bitter arguments", she said icily, "but I do not have to sit here and take
personal insults, with not so much as a word of defense from you, my
brother!" And with that, Justina Cassia turned away and stormed out of the
room.
It was starting to get late, and Patricia could not help feeling down.
The ugly battling between Justinia and Draco had ruined the evening beyond
repair. Now she was tired, and all she wanted was to retire for the night.
Draco sulked on his pillow at the table, still burning hot with anger against
Justinia. He thought it almost impossible to believe that once, back in
their childhood, they had been friends. Their relationship had strained with
the years. Now, after tonight, their hatred would be mutual and enduring.
Oh, but Patricia! Now she was different in a thousand ways from Justinia!
Draco found it impossible to keep his eyes off her. She was the youngest of
their gang back in childhood, the one always running after the others in
their games, trying to keep up, whining when she felt left out. But oh, what
a beauty she had grown to be, Draco thought, his eyes drinking up her supple
features. Helen of Troy may have had the face that launched a thousand
ships, but Patricia's could launch a thousand fleets! He wanted her, desired
her. But she was Cassius wife, and her heart belonged to him. And deep
down, Draco resented his old friend for it.
If Draco had tried to admire Patricia discretely, he failed, for Porcius
Festus, in his seat across the room could not help but notice Draco's
infatuation. Indeed, he had noted it the day they had arrived in Athens. It
seemed the only one who did not realize the situation was Cassius himself.
Poor Cassius. A man who loved his best friend so much he was blind to the
fact that they had grown apart. Two things stood between them. His marriage
to Patricia was one, and his love for the idea of the old Republic was the
other. If Cassius had any inkling at all of Draco's growing estrangement
from him, he had blocked it out. The breach between Justinia and Draco
caused him pain. Old friends should not tear at each other so. And it
reminded Cassius of the other friend he had in his youth, along with Draco.
His father had dubbed the three of them 'the triumvirate'. Draco, Cassius,
and the other one, the one who had quit Rome, leaving Cassius only a note
saying farewell. All of them had been hurt by his sudden departure, which
did not even allow them to say goodbye, or to try to talk him out of it. He
simply left, for a city in the eastern empire called Caesarea.
"Sir! A messenger has arrived with a letter for Master Cassius!" It
was Glaucon, Porcius Festus' servant, standing at the entrance of the dining
room. "That's fine Glaucon," Cassius said with a yawn. "Take the letter and
I'll read it in the morning." "Begging your pardon Master Cassius," Glaucon
said apologetically, "but the man is a soldier sir, and he says his orders
are to hand you the letter personally, and to wait for a reply." Cassius and
Patricia looked at each other, concerned. "Very well then, send him in!"
A moment later the soldier entered. "Sir! Lucius Vatinus Lupus, of the
Augusta Cohort in Caesaera, with a message for the honorable senator Marcus
Cassius Julianus!" He produced a small case and handed it to Cassius.
Porcius Festus slapped the soldier on the back with a friendly smile. "Well,
son, you look pretty famished. I am sure if you go to the kitchen the cook
will have something for you!" "Thank you sir, most kindly. I shall." The
soldier left the room. "Caesarea?", said Patricia. "Cassius, could it be
from..." "It's from Germanicus," Cassius said, opening the scroll. He
began to read it aloud. "From Tribune Flavius Vedius Germanicus, Augusta
Cohort, Caesarea, to the Honorable Marcus Cassius Julianius, Senator of Rome,
Greetings! I pray to the Gods this letter finds you and your company in
excellent health in Athens. I felt the need to write you, my friend, so that
you may be fully advised of the current situation here in Caesarea. I deem
it best to advise you to consider postponing your visit to this city for the
time being. The situation here is most critical, as......" Cassius stopped
reading aloud, continued reading quietly, reading the letter intently while
taking his seat. His face showed grave concern, so that Patricia grew
worried. "Cassius?", she said. "Cassius, what is it?" Cassius did not
notice her, and appeared to be rereading the letter, his face now registering
a growing shock. Porcius Festus waited a moment before asking him directly.
"May we know?" Cassius set the letter down and looked up at the older man.
He spoke softly. "There has been a massacre in Caesarea. Over four hundred
people killed." "Oh dear Gods!", Patricia whispered, covering her mouth with
her hand. "Romans massacred?" Cassius shook his head. "No, my love. It
appears Romans did the massacre. On the order of the Procurator, Antonius
Felix." "Does he say exactly what happened?", asked Draco, rising from the
table. "A riot", replied Cassius with growing disgust. "A damn riot. And
Felix ordered the soldiers...." He was visibly shaking with rage now, and
Porcius Festus took the letter and studied it for a moment. Digesting the
contents quickly, he summarized them for the others. "The Jews and Syrians
in the city began a quarrel over their respective rights, and of which group
took precedence over the other. A riot ensued, but the Syrians were
outnumbered. Felix, as Procurator, should have ordered the soldiers to
disperse the rioters, restore public order, and affirm the rights of boths
groups. But instead, he wanted to choose sides, and so had the soldiers
attack the Jewish area of the city. The result was hundreds dead, houses and
shops burned and pillaged." "That stupid, incompetent bastard slave!",
Cassius shouted. Justinia Cassia entered the room with alarm. "What has
happened?" she asked, a bit frightened by Cassius display of fury. Patricia
took her aside and whispered something in her ear. Justinia closed her eyes
and sighed, "The fool! How did he ever get appointed?" Cassius explained.
"Felix was appointed about six years ago by our governor in Syria, Quadratus.
But that was probably based on a request from Nero. Felix is the brother of
Pallas, old Claudius' freedman and chief administrator." "And Pallas is now
one of Nero's chief asskissers", Justinia added. "Well, he at least was
until Agrippina fell from grace.", Patricia said. Porcius Festus sat back
down in his chair and rubbed his eyes. "Well," he said, "this could engulf
the whole damned province in revolt. Felix is finished." Cassius looked
back at him. "And you are the next in line for the job Festus!" Festus
raised his hands to stop him. "No, I don't think so. Nothing like that has
even been hinted at to me!" "Festus, listen to me", said Cassius, "your name
has already been mentioned as the most likely choice for the job, should
Felix continue to screw things up over there. And this letter we just
received speaks of a very serious, large scale screw-up!" "The phrase 'most
likely' does not mean 'for certain', Cassius. I'm sure they can find a
better man for the job than I.", Festus countered.
Cassius shook his head. "Very doubtful Festus. But maybe so. Still, I would
wager that within a few weeks your appointment will arrive".
Several weeks later, a representative of the Emperor Nero Claudius
Caesar Drusus Germanicus arrived at the home of Porcius Festus, bearing his
official written appointment as Procurator of the Province of Judea,
replacing the worthless Felix, who was recalled to Rome and spared further
punishment only through the interventions of his brother, Pallas. Cassius
was out at the time, booking passage for their return trip to Rome. When he
returned, Patricia informed him of the news, and Cassius found his old friend
Festus in the study. Porcius Festus was seated at his desk, waiting for him.
"Congratulations are in order, so I am told!", said Cassius as he strolled
into the study. Porcius Festus smiled and nodded, and motioned to Cassius to
take a chair. Cassius sat down, and Festus, looking him in the eye, asked,
"Would you consider putting off your return to Rome for a time Cassius? I
would appreciate it if you would accompany me to Caesarea to help me get
settled in to the new post." Cassius was taken by surprise, though he looked
down at the floor, and seemed deep in thought. Slowly, he shook his head.
"I'm not sure that would be at all wise, Festus. Judea is an Imperial
province, not a Senatorial province. I don't think Nero would be happy with
me going there, meddling in the affairs of Judea." "But you would not be
there in any official capacity!", Festus pointed out to him. "You would be
there officially on holiday, as we had originally planned to do. I need your
help Cassius. You are a natural diplomat. And while Rome's policy towards
the Jews has been very tolerant and conciliatory, our administrators in
Palestine have for the most part been public relations disasters! I need
your help to conciliate the Jewish authorities and evaluate any legal matters
that may require careful scrutiny. Believe me, I would not ask you if I was
not in need of your assistance right now. And...." Festus hesitated a
moment. "And I am not quite as robust as I once was Cassius. If I had
someone I already know and can trust to help me bear the strain of the first
few weeks, well, I would be in your debt." Cassius looked down and stared at
the floor again, thinking. After a few moments, he raised his head, and
slowly a grin appeared on his face. "Then Caesarea it is." he said,
extending his hand across the desk. Festus grinned and shook Cassius hand
with a grip that made Cassius wince. "Then it is settled!" Cassius called
for Patricia and Justinia, and when they arrived he told them of the change
of plan. Draco arrived and also agreed to go along, instead of returning to
Rome alone, even if it meant more weeks of Justinia's company. Patricia
smiled at her husband and said, "Cassius love...are you sure this is the only
reason you want to go to Caesarea?" "No...it isn't", he replied. Turning to
Festus, he explained further. "Back when we were growing up, I had two very
close friends. We were inseperable, so much so that my father called us the
Triumvirate. Draco here was one. And the other...well....something
happened. I cannot elaborate on this, but he was never quite the same after
that. When we had come of age and in the senate, he left Rome and settled in
Caesarea. He was my other best friend, and I would give my right arm to see
him again. "Hmm, interesting", Festus said rubbing his chin. "Anyone I
should know?" Cassius shook his head. "I really don't know. I don't know
how he'll like seeing me again. But you share his cognomen. His name is
Gaius Lupinius Festus."
End of Chapter II
The story will continue in Chapter III, 'Reunion'.
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