Another part of the ongoing story. We return to an ugly topic.
Some values anddesires change but others are eternal. Item 147953. Bronze
tablet. .6 meters tallby .2 meters wide. Made of solid bronze. 6th century AD.
Itcertified the manumission of Alexander Ragheallach. After helping save
hismaster’s life in a fire. The item has an interesting history. Stolenfrom
the museum in 1940. It was used by a female to beat an SS officerunconscious in
1944. After escaping she kept the item. Later she met and marrieda Canadian
soldier and immigrated to Canada. They subsequently donated it backto us in
1997. We were quite delighted when Clan Brachaid came forward and explained who
Alexander was. As for the 53year old dent clearly visible in the 1400-year-old
plate. A descendant of hisexplained. “Alex would have been delighted in how the
dent got there. He wouldhave told her to hit him again!” Bitt and his
entire contubernium wereordered to report to the Principia. They found Tribune
Vitellius waiting forthem. “Good morning!” The oryx said calmly. “Thisis
about Mozta.” The entire group moaned. “Not that place again,” Vinius
complained.“Now what?” “I still haven’t really gotten the smell outof my
tunic,” someone grumbled. “It seems Tiberius Ulpius Gavrus didsurvive,” the
tribune explained. “And now he has questions.” “Meaning,” Rolozius
commented. “He’sscreaming and complaining how we destroyed his garum business.”
“He’s the one who deserved to wind up facedown in that vat,” Bitt muttered
coldly. The tribune nodded his head. “During themeeting keep quiet and let
the Commander and me speak. We’ve dealt with Gavrusbefore. Understand?” They
all nodded. “Yes sir.” As a group with the tribune at their headthey marched
across the courtyard and into a doorway. The room beyond wasfairly large but
seemed larger as it was mostly empty. There was only a singlechair in the room
and that was reserved for the Legio Legatus – the legioncommander.
“Reporting as ordered,” Tribune Vitelliussaluted the commander. Besides
themselves and the commander was atall, heavily muscled bull wearing the armor
of a legionnaire but carrying nolegion shield. He was standing next to the one
person Bitt had hoped to neversee again; Tiberius Ulpius Gavrus. The mongoose
was as lavishly dressed as thelast time. If not more so. If he thought all that
lavish clothing and jewelrywould impress them, he was wrong. Bitt had to
resist the temptation to drawhis sword and run the overstuffed mongoose
through. “When we arrived, it was deserted. Themansion was aflame and the
supervisor already dead,” Vitellus explained. “And the raiders?” The
commander asked. “None,” Vitellius answered. “I believe therewere no
raiders. The slaves became tired of their poor treatment and revolted.Not
really hard. The supposed guards were hardly a threat. I noted the
slavesconditions and attitudes on several visits. Even the Legionnaires saw
it.Reported it to me.” “I want the truth,” the mongoose screamed.“Stop
lying. Your incompetence destroyed my property.” Bitt’s anger got the better
of him. “Hisname was Gallio,” the fox responded in clipped tones. “He’s dead
and you don’teven care. All you care about is your property.” The mongoose
glared at Bitt. “No one saidyou could speak. So keep quiet.” “Don’t give
orders to my soldiers.” TheLegatus ordered in clipped tones. Gavrus turned
back to the commander. “Youincompetent fools ruined my business.” “Why is it
our fault that he doesn’t knowhow to lead people,” Bitt asked. The mongoose
snarled and bared his teeth. Heseemed ready to attack. Bitt stood there
calmly and with his lefthand reached behind his back. “ENOUGH!” Tironacus
ordered. He pointed to Bitt. “Keep quiet.” The fox saluted and nodded
hishead but didn’t speak. But he kept his left hand behind his back. His
handwrapped around the hilt of his seax. Vinius who was standing next tohim
reached over and placed his hand on Bitt’s wrist. “Easy Bitt.” Satisfied.
The Legio Legatusturned to Gavrus. “The Legionnaire speaks rudely but it’s
nothing I haven’talready told you. We are here to protect against the Parthians
and otherbarbarians, Not handle your petty workers disputes.” “PETTY?”
Gavrus screamed. “Youfailed to stop the raiders.” “Don’t start that again,”
thelegatus said interrupting. “This has nothing to with raiders.” “May I
leave sir?” Bitt asked calmly. “I amdue on sentry duty shortly.” “NO,” The
mongoose shouted. The Legatus nodded. Bitt turned and stepped towards the
door.The bull stepped in front of him and grabbed his arm. “Remove your arm
or,” the fox started towarn but stopped. “To hell with it.” He kicked the
bovine in the groin. Hard.The bovine let out a moan and fell to the floor
clutching his crotch. Bitt pulled the bovine’s sword from it’ssheath and
tossed it across the floor. “You’ll get that back when you learn toplay nice.”
Next he took the guard’s dagger. He examined it for a moment.“That’s really
nice. Who did you steal it from?” The dagger was tossed to restwith the sword.
The fox started to walk away. The bovine started to stand up. “You
littlefluff ball,” he snarled. The legionnaire fox spun around in aninstant
with his hand clasping the hilt of his sword. He partially drew theblade.
The bull held both hands out with his palmsflat and facing forward. Showing
more common sense than his employer. “I think we all need a break,” the
commandersaid. “Before tempers flare again and things get worse.” Gavrus
nodded in agreement. “I could use anice cup off wine.” The Commander pointed
to Bitt and thebodyguard. “Wait outside. Can you two do that without trying to
kill eachother?” He asked sarcastically. “Yes sir,” Bitt answered. The
bovine stood up and shuffled through thedoor, walking a bit oddly. The
Legatus turned back to the mongoose. “Acceptthis advice from me. Treat your
people like people. The next time you mightwind up floating in the garum like
Gallio.” Bitt stopped at the door with his back tothe others. “We call them
An Caillte; The Lost,” he said simply. Speaking to noone and everyone at the
same time. “When the empire came my ancestors foughtthem. And lost. One quarter
of my ancestors died defending their rights to befree people. They died free.”
He turned and stared at the mongoose fiercely. “They died for freedom. One
quarter weretaken off as slaves. Most never came back. I know that their
descendants arestill out there. Somewhere. You look at a slave and just see
something to beused. I see kin and possible cousins. Family. I see people.” And
with thosewords Bitt turned and left the room before the mongoose could say
anythingelse. *************
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