Bitt and his squad mates wind up visiting somewhere no one wants to go. Chris ************************
When Bitt arrived for formation one morning TribuneVitellius was waiting there. “We’re headed to Mozta,” the Tribuneexplained. That got a groan and several curses from theentire Contubernium. “The garum factory?” Bitt asked nervously. The oryx nodded in answer. “We have gottenword that something happened there.” Bitt stopped for a moment. Then he turnedaway from the group. “Wait!” Bitt said as he ran away. “I’ll be back.” “What?” Vinius shouted. “You forgetsomething?” “I’m not going back there unarmed,” the foxsaid and passed from sight. “What does that mean?” Vinius asked. “We’ll find out in a moment,” Tossiusshrugged. The fox came back a moment and fell into hisassigned spot in the formation. Vinius didn’t speak but looked at the fox. Bitt reached into a pouch dangling from hisbelt and produced two bars of soap and a small vial. “The strongest I couldafford.” He handed the vial to the decanus. The hound removed the stopper from the vialand took a careful sniff. His nose was assaulted by a really strong, sweetsmell. “This is the type of crap even a cheap, street whore wouldn’t wear.” “Anything is better than the stench there,”the fox countered as he took back the vial. It was safely tucked back into thepouch. ************* The march from the fortress was made at afast pace. They reached the junction where a side roadsplit off and headed to the garum factory. There they met a very nervousteamster. The goat had a large wagon pulled by two, feral horses. The goat wasvisibly shaken and nervous. He pointed down the side road. “Down there. They’reall gone and the place is burning.” With that done the goat got onto his wagonand fled. “Let him go,” the tribune ordered. “He willnot be of any further help.” Bitt could smell it long before theyactually reached it. The legionnaires had been descending the road down towardsthe shore. Unlike the last time the smell that came to them was not of rottingfish. It was smoke. It spurred them to move faster but not too fast. The closerthey got the more cautious they became. Swords were drawn and everyone stayedalert. The gate leading into the complex was open.There was no sign of the guard with the spear who had been there previously.There was no sign of anyone. Vinius used the point of one of his pilum togently push open the gate. They were all wary of an ambush. At first nothing looked different. The tankscarved in the stone looked the same and nothing seemed out of place. Then henoticed that no one was there. Neither living nor dead. They were gone. A fewwooden tools lay scattered about as if dropped in haste. Bitt noticed thatthere was no real damage. Nothing smashed or torn down. And no bodies scatteredabout. The smell of the garum was still there but down to a tolerable level.The one overwhelming smell was of smoke. “We missed all the excitement,” Decebaluscommented. “Whatever happened was over long before we got here.” “Stay alert,” Vinius ordered. “Look for any survivors or evidence of whathappened,” the Tribune added. “Break into pairs,” the decanus ordered.“Start searching but stay close.” “If everything here is stone,” Sabinusasked. “Where is the smoke coming from?” The tribune pointed up. Above them was themansio from which smoke was billowing. “Lots of wood up there,” Tossius commented. “Not for long,” the jackal added. “VINIUS! TRIBUNE! HERE! NOW!” Bitt orderedat the top of his voice. They turned and saw Bitt and several othersstanding next to one of the tanks. The decanus muttered several curses in anequal number of languages. He raced towards the tanks at a dead run. Thetribune followed close behind. “What?” Vinius asked as he came up them. Bitt had his head down, his nose covered witha cloth and with his back to the tank. He didn’t speak but just pointed overhis shoulder into the tank. The tribune took a deep breath and peeredinto the tank. There, floating face down amidst the foul goo was a body. “Fish him out of there Bitt,” Viniusordered. “Why do I have to do it?” The fox asked. “Cause you are the lowest ranking personhere,” the decanus ordered. “Good thing you brought that soap,” thehyena commented. Bitt leaned over the side and was hit hardby the stench. He stumbled backward a few steps. “He’ll need it.” Tossius added. The fox looked around and saw what heneeded. Nearby was a long wooden pole with a hook on the end. Next to it was alarge piece of gray cloth that was reasonably clean and didn’t smell. He tookoff his armor and the tunic under it. Leaving him in just his loin cloth. Bitttook his scarf and soaked it with a large dose of the perfume. Then he tied itover his nose. Bitt used the long pole to try and fish thecorpse out. It took several tries before he got the hook snagged under an arm.He pulled it toward him and succeeded and draping the head and arms over theside of the tank. The fox turned the body over “It’s thesupervisor Gallio.” “Not a big surprise,” the tribune commented. Bitt wrapped the cloth around the arms andthen grabbed hold. The body didn’t move. “Someone grab the other arm.” No one moved or spoke. “GRAB AN ARM!” Bitt ordered. “The longer youwait the longer we’ll have to be in the smell.” Reluctantly Tossius came forward andgingerly took hold of one arm. The two pulled and the body came free of thenoxious liquid with a loud slurp. It was lowered to the ground with a degree ofrespect. The tribune leaned close to the body. “Hisskull has been smashed in on one side.” “At least he didn’t drown in the stuff,”Tossius commented. “That’s a blessing,” Someone muttered. “Leave two here on guard,” the tribuneordered. “We’ll go up to the mansion and see what’s left there.” “Kegan and Sabinus stay here on guard,”Vinius ordered. “The rest follow us.” The group made its way slowly up the stepsbeing wary of any potential ambush. But things at the top were quiet. The onlymovement was the smoke coming from the windows and doors. “We cannot go in there till the fire burnsitself out,” the tribune commented out loud. “What happened here?” Eteiwi asked. “I think one of the slaves snapped.” Bittanswered. “And killed the foreman. The rest thinking they would be blamed,panicked, took what they could carry and fled.” The tribune nodded in agreement. “And theguards?” “They were probably then ones who set fireto the mansion,” the fox answered. Rolozius shook his head. “No loyalty?” “Why should those mercenaries care show anyloyalty,” “I doubt Gavrus treated them any better thanhe did his slaves,” the fox commented. “What makes you think it wasn’t raiders?”the tribune asked. “If it was raiders there’d be more deadscattered about,” the fox responded. “At least one or two of the guards andseveral of the slaves. And if raiders were after the garum why attack here?There’s literally nothing worth stealing. And what raider would voluntarily getnear this awful stench.” “Where is the owner?” Vinius asked andpointed to the flames. “Could he be in there?” The tribune shook his head. “I doubt it. Heusually stays back in the city and let Gallio run it.” “Servants?” Bitt asked. “He always brought his own when he cameout,” the tribune answered. ******************* They were there for only the day;thankfully. The tribune sent word back to the fortress. A priest arrived awhile later with a cart. The feline collected Gallio’s body and took it awayfor proper burial. The mansion burned for most of the day.Poking through the smoking ruins later wasn’t much good. But it did show thatno one was in it when it burned down. Maybe. “We’re going to spend the next few dayslooking for escaped slaves,” Vinius commented. “I’m not here to chase slaves,” Bitt said ina calm, clear tone. “Do as your told Bitt,” his decanus ordered. Bitt glared at the decanus but didn’t speak. The next two days were spent is patrollingthe countryside looking for slaves. No one showed any real enthusiasm for thetask and they just went through the motions. That suited Bitt fine. Hissympathies were with the now escaped slaves. ****************
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