Land of the Gods Read online

  ‘Is your best friend going to die, then?’ it said.

  Clementinus was looking over the fence at us.

  ‘Go away,’ I said, wishing I knew more Latin so I could say it more strongly. Clementinus spat.

  ‘They’ve got a stretcher all ready for your friend’s corpse,’ he jeered. ‘I bet he gets it right in the middle of his –’

  ‘Go away,’ I said, again. But Clementinus was enjoying himself.

  ‘It’s going to be agony,’ he said. ‘First he’ll get his –’

  I got up, grabbed Clementinus by the front of his tunic, and pulled him over the fence. Then I hit him.

  I’d been looking forward to hitting Clementinus, but it was impossible to do it properly because he crumpled into a ball at once and started shrieking. I was just trying to turn him over when someone called my name.

  It was Claudia, up on the mound. She slithered down the grass slope and the next thing I knew she’d climbed the fence and was looking down at us.

  ‘What are you doing down there?’ she asked. ‘Father’s ever so cross. He thinks you’ve run off with his money.’

  ‘Of course I haven’t,’ I said, distracted. ‘But Aphrodisius is going to be thrown into the arena to fight to the death and I don’t know what to do.’

  ‘Oh. What’s Clementinus doing?’

  I looked round. Clementinus had uncurled himself and was crawling stealthily away. Good riddance, as far as I was concerned.

  ‘How can we get Aphrodisius out of here?’ I asked.

  ‘You can’t,’ said Claudia. ‘Forget it. And more to the point, how are you going to get yourself out of there?’

  It hadn’t occurred to me until then, but the fences were smooth and unclimbable from my side. I was just wondering what to do when there was a bray of trumpets and then a cheer. Claudia looked up so sharply she nearly fell off the fence. Then she reached out a hand to me.

  ‘I’ll pull you up,’ she said.

  The ground was beginning to shake under my sandals as though someone was hitting the ground with a mallet. Clementinus and Aphrodisius looked round wildly, squawked, and leapt to their feet.

  ‘You’d never be able to pull me up,’ I said to Claudia. ‘I’m much too –’

  ‘Quick!’ said Claudia, suddenly as white as her tunic.

  I looked round at them all. They were all terrified.

  ‘Look,’ I said. ‘Just what is going on?’

  Then something began making a noise like a pair of bellows and Clementinus jumped a foot in the air and grabbed hold of Claudia’s hand – but of course all he succeeded in doing was pulling her down on top of the rest of us. And I still didn’t know what all the panic was about.

  Up on the mound someone shouted something, and the shout was taken up by others. They’d all turned to stare further along the grassy strip – and when I followed their gaze, I finally understood.

  They’d released the wild bull. And it was in with us.

  Chapter Twelve

  Clementinus took one look, squawked again, and threw himself, scrabbling wildly, at the fence. He got three feet up and then he slid down again, his fingernails scraping the wood all the way.

  The bull was lithe and black. It looked mean.

  I stood there for a moment listening to my heart beating. Aphrodisius was running round in circles going, ‘Ooh, ooh,’ and it wasn’t until he trod on my toe that my brain stopped screaming, ‘Nooooo!’ and started working. We had to get out of there. I grabbed Aphrodisius as he went by on his fourth circuit, shook some sense into him, and then between us we managed to bundle Claudia up over the fence. I’m naturally really brave like that. Then I noticed that someone was jumping up and down squealing, ‘Me next!’ in my ear, so we bundled Clementinus over as well. I might have left Clementinus to get gored by the bull if I’d had time to think, but things were just happening so fast.

  The bull fixed his angry red eyes on me, stamped, and charged. I went to run, tripped over the end of my stupid toga, fell, and rolled, somehow managing to leave my toga behind me. Luckily the bull went for the toga. It tossed and ripped it horribly, but before it could turn back to finish us off I’d at least had time to get to my feet.

  I’d seen men fighting bulls at the cattle gatherings at home, so I knew the tricks; well, I knew them in theory, anyway. There were loads of people shouting all round, and a little way away a man had jumped over the fence onto the grassy strip, but I’d snatched up what remained of my toga and I was too busy watching the bull to take much notice.

  I’m ever so brave, obviously, but I think that if I’d had more time I’d have been a bit worried. That bull looked so mean. It charged at me, but at the last minute I sidestepped and the bull went through with the toga on its horns, snorting and half-blinkered. I’d meant to whisk away the toga at the last minute, but that bull was even faster than I’d thought.

  What next? The bull was turning in a tight circle, kicking up divots of mud.

  I suddenly realised there wasn’t anything I could do next. Then someone seized me. It was Sabidus Maximus.

  ‘Quick!’ he bellowed. Aphrodisius was nowhere to be seen, but Marcus Lepidus was up on the fence. Sabidus half threw me up, Marcus Lepidus swung me round, and I found myself falling down onto a jumble of other people’s arms and legs. Then someone tumbled down on top of me, and I knocked my head, and after that I just lay quietly and watched the stars slide past.

  After a while, people began to untangle themselves and get up.

  ‘Lucan!’ said someone. ‘Are you all right?’

  I was still trying to work out what day it was, so I hadn’t got any spare brains left to answer a difficult question like that. Someone lifted me up. It was a man with a scarred face. I had an idea that I’d probably seen him somewhere before.

  ‘He saved my life,’ someone was saying breathlessly. ‘Did you see, Father? He saved me and Clementinus!’

  ‘Yes, yes,’ said the scarred man, with a sigh. ‘I saw, sure enough. Very well, very well, I admit defeat. My family I can withstand, but this time fate has vanquished me.’

  The man put an arm round my shoulder. I was really surprised. I still hadn’t quite worked out who he was, but I’d never have put him down as the affectionate type.

  ‘We’ll go to the Temple of Levana tomorrow, and there we will make sacrifices to the goddess Levana,’ he said, resignedly. ‘And after that I shall be your father.’

  Everyone around me started looking terribly pleased, so I thought I’d better look pleased, too.

  It was funny, because I had a faint idea that my father had been someone else entirely.

  ‘I think the poor boy is still dazed,’ said someone, after a while.

  ‘Food,’ said the scarred man, decidedly. ‘That’s what the boy needs.’

  The scarred man summoned a pedlar who was going by with a tray of cakes – and when I saw the pedlar’s face I suddenly remembered everything, because it was Balbus.

  I don’t think Balbus was all that happy to see me being doted on by a rich Roman family, but he sold us the cakes anyway.

  ‘Be honest, and honour the gods, and you will prosper,’ Sabidus told Balbus, through a mouthful.

  Balbus took the money, scowled, and stomped off. That was the last time I saw Balbus – but he was cunning, and I bet he got rich again. Whether he got honest, I wouldn’t like to say.

  The cake soon made me feel better, so as we’d paid to get in we went to see what was left of the circus.

  The first act after we got to our seats was a gladiator.

  ‘That’s a gladiator?’ I asked Claudia, because that man must have been the scrawniest, weediest gladiator in the history of the Roman empire.

  Then I looked again and saw that it was Aphrodisius.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Aphrodisius was not only weedy, but he was also the biggest coward I’ve ever come across in my entire life. They had to drag him into the arena and then, when his opponent the retiarius came out, Ap
hrodisius took one look, jumped in the air, and started running as fast as he could. He ran very upright, with his hands by his sides and his large feet splayed out, and all the retiarius could do was chase after him.

  Unfortunately the retiarius was weighed down with his trident and he couldn’t catch Aphrodisius. They had to get extra men to come and try to corner him. But Aphrodisius was as fast as a greased weasel with fear, and the extra men just tripped each other up. So then the men who were employed to carry off the bodies came on as well, and eventually, after a lot of falling over and bumping into each other, they did manage to catch Aphrodisius.

  And then the purple, puffing retiarius got out his dagger and looked round for permission from the crowd to deliver the final blow.

  I couldn’t look.

  I’m sure a Roman audience would have given Aphrodisius the ‘thumbs down’ sign for death but most of that crowd had been born Celts, and they were all laughing so much they only just had the strength to wave their handkerchiefs to stop the execution.

  Aphrodisius, the biggest coward in Britain, left the arena with the applause ringing in his ears.

  Claudia and I tried our best to persuade Marcus Lepidus to buy Aphrodisius, but Marcus Lepidus had too much sense for that. So then we tried to persuade Sabidus.

  ‘He did help save my life,’ pointed out Claudia. ‘And it seems ungrateful to leave him to his fate.’

  I think Claudia could have worn Sabidus Maximus down in the end, but he had to leave to rejoin his legion the next day and so she didn’t have time. But Aphrodisius ended up all right, because so many people talked about how funny he’d been that Tammonius Vitalis, the magistrate, bought him as a clown.

  It was a good thing Aphrodisius didn’t end up in our household, really, because he was a lazy, no-good liar. Still, it was funny to see him swaggering about. Aphrodisius thought that being the slave of the chief magistrate made him the finest thing in town, and after a while he hardly deigned to speak to me.

  So that’s how I became a Roman. It’s all right. I mean, I’m well fed and comfortable – except at school, which is barbaric – and my mother and father are all right, mostly. Since I saved Clementinus from the bull he and his father leave us alone.

  The only things I really miss are the Celtic stories people used to sing round the fire, about how evil the Romans are.

  Still, I’m getting used to being a Roman. Sometimes, when I wake up snug and warm in my bed, I remember the stone hut I used to live in.

  And, just for a moment, I think I’m in the land of the gods.

  Bonus Bits!

  Who were the Celts?

  Between about 750 BC and 12 BC the Celts were the most powerful people in central and northern Europe. They lived in tribes.

  The word ‘Celt’ comes from a Greek word ‘keltoi’, which means ‘barbarians’.

  The British Celts lived in roundhouses. We know about these as remains of them have been found during archaeological digs.

  Who were the Romans?

  The Romans became the dominant power in Europe when Julius Caesar led his Roman legions to conquer Gaul (now mainly France) and then, in 55 BC, attacked Britain. Julius Caesar didn’t stay in Britain for long, but 100 years later the Romans attacked Britain again and this time they settled.

  Where are the places in the story?

  Lots of real places are mentioned in this story, although you probably don’t know them by their Roman names. Here is a whistle-stop tour of them!

  Viroconium – This was a Roman town. At its peak it was believed to be the 4th largest Roman settlement in Britain with a population of more than 15,000 people. It was roughly in what is now Wroxeter, Shropshire.

  The Spring of Sul – This can still be seen in what is now the city of Bath. In Roman times, Bath was called ‘Aquae Sulis’, which means ‘the Waters of Sul’.

  Calleva Atrebatum – This was an Iron Age settlement that then became a Roman town, near Silchester in what is now Hampshire. There are still ruins that can be seen today and are known as Silchester Roman Town.

  Carthage – This is a city in Tunisia. The Romans destroyed the city in 146 BC. However, the Romans then rebuilt Carthage and it became the Roman empire’s fourth most important city.

  Isca Silurum – This was the site of a Roman fortress and settlement. It is in the outskirts of modern-day Newport, South Wales, and its remains can still be seen today. It had a large amphitheatre.

  Verulanium – This was a Roman town. Its remains can still be seen today in St Albans, Hertfordshire.

  Londinium – This was a major centre for business and shopping in Roman times. It stood on the site of the current City of London.

  What does that mean?

  There are lots of words in this story that are specific to Roman times (which is hardly surprising, as the story is set in those times!). This list might help you if you get stuck.

  Latin – the language of ancient Rome and its empire

  homestead – a farmhouse and outbuildings

  beast of burden – an animal like a donkey or mule that carries heavy things

  toga – a loose piece of clothing worn by the people of ancient Rome. It was made of a single piece of cloth and covered the whole body apart from the right arm

  denarii – Roman silver coins

  centurion – a commander in the Roman army

  basilica – a large, rectangular hall or building that was used in the Roman empire for official events and as a law court

  merchant – a person who sells things

  strigil – a curved metal tool that was used by the Romans to scrape sweat and dirt from their skin in a hot-air bath

  amphitheatre – a circular or oval building that had no roof, used for sport and drama events. It had seats up the sides in tiers for people to watch the action in the middle of the ring

  gladiator – a man who fought with weapons against other men or wild animals for people to watch

  retiarius – a gladiator who used a net to trap his opponent

  Boudicca’s Battles

  In the story Lucan and Claudia argue about Boudicca. But who was she?

  The Iceni tribe lived in what is now East Anglia. They were Celts but their king was a friend of the Romans. When he died, he left half his kingdom to his two daughters, and the other half to the Roman emperor.

  The Romans wanted to have all of the kingdom so they treated Boudicca and her daughters very badly. They wanted her to give up her throne. They also demanded extra taxes.

  The Iceni tribe were angry and other Celtic tribes came to join them in their fight against the Romans. They marched to the capital of Roman Britain, Camulodunum (which is now Colchester in Essex), and attacked the town. They burned the new Roman temple.

  Boudicca and her tribe then continued on and she led her army towards Londinium. The Romans did not have enough people to fight the Celts and so they fled. The Celts burned the city and killed hundreds of people (both Celts and Romans).

  The Iceni then decided to move on and attack Verulanium. The Roman governor, Paulinus, prepared for battle and called for more soldiers. The Roman commander in Isca Dumnoniorum (which is now Exeter) refused to send more so Paulinus had to fight with what he had. Boudicca had ten times more people than Paulinus but the Roman army was very well trained.

  There was a huge battle – the Romans won and therefore the only reports we have come from the Roman side! Many of the Celts were killed and Boudicca drank poison to kill herself rather than be captured by the Romans.

  What Next?

  This story gives us lots of information about life in Roman times. Why not do some research to find out more? Choose a question and use books and the internet to answer it. Think about how you could present your answers – in a written, spoken, video or visual presentation – you choose!

  You might have your own questions based on this story or you could make a start with one of these:

  • What was life like as a slave to a Roman master? />
  • How did the Romans train their army?

  • What did Roman baths look like?

  • Would you have liked to be a Roman child?

  Did you enjoy Lucan’s story?

  Then look out for these other

  adventures in ancient history!

  ISBN: 9781472925893

  Join brothers Arthur and Finn as they travel back to ancient Egypt to discover dangerous rivalries and a prince and princess with strong opinions. Can they prevent a kidnapping and stop a war?

  ISBN: 9781472925923

  Travel back in time with Arthur and Finn to help one Spartan soldier save his family before facing his final battle. Can they impress the Spartan king and avoid the wrath of the Persian Army?

  First published 2016 by Bloomsbury Education, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

  50 Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3DP

  www.bloomsbury.com

  Bloomsbury is a registered trademark of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

  Text copyright © Sally Prue 2016

  Illustrations © Jez Tuya 2016

  The moral rights of the author have been asserted. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers

  A CIP catalogue for this book is available from the British Library

  ISBN: 978-1-4729-1809-3 (paperback)

  eISBN: 978-1-4729-1810-9 (ebook)

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