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!
