Chapter Twelve of The Shasta Caper is now posted on Imagination blogger

Chapter Twelve

The Seven Hills of Rome. And they were climbing one. Late afternoon. Sun was burning down on them, lapping over them like a hot clay fire. Claudius wiped at his brow, then tossed the sweat to the ground.

Ignatius smiled at him. "Got a good sweat worked up, brother?"

"No thanks to you. Or rather should I say, thanks to you." Claudius said.

Their sandals were having a hard time keeping a purchase on the rocky knoll they were mounting. They had promised each other to make it before noon, but it wasn't working out that way. They wanted to look at Rome from above and draw it.

Which brought up another problem, they had forgotten to bring any drawing materials. Claudius laughed.

"What's so funny?"

"Here we are on an afternoon hike to draw Rome, but without a single thing to draw upon or with."

"Well." Ignatius answered. "We have the dirt to draw upon and rocks to make our marks. I'd say we're not totally at a loss."

Claudius laughed again, then threw himself down on a lion shaped boulder that had been carved by Dinaus, a famous sculpter from Greece. "At least we shall draw in style."

"Yes, I'm sure Dinaus would love knowing our sweaty butts are annointing the flesh of his great work." Ignatius said with a grin.

Ignatius sat down next to his brother and studied Rome, which was nestled in the lap of the seven hills. "I wonder how Caesar is doing these days."

"I'd imagine not so good, considering Brutus having stabbed him."

"Suppose not." Ignatius muttered, unhappy with his thoughts.

"What's wrong, brother?"

Ignatius grunted. "It's just that I don't understand why anyone would ever betray the one they love."

"Did not the Christ get betrayed by the kiss of his disciple?"

"True enough, but this is not religious. It is blood of blood."

"Perhaps, but sometimes the closer two people are, the more difference that truly engulfs them. Who's to say?"

They were both silent a long time, until a hawk came screaming over head.

"One day I shall fly like that hawk." Claudius declared.

"Well, if I throw you down the hill, that day shall be now." Ignatius declared.

Claudius laughed. "That'll be the day."

Ignatius rose and grabbed Claudius by his shoulders and wrestled him to the ground. "Two out of three and we'll see who can fly further?"

"You're on!" Claudius declared, and immediately threw Ignatius from him.

WHAM!