[Mkguild] Roman story part 22

[cokane8116 at aol.com]

More of the Garum scene.  I find the idea of eating garum disgusting. The horrors done to slaves angering. 

ChrisThe Lurking Fox



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    For protection Bitt noted about a half dozenguards dressed and armed like the sentry at the gate. All seemed equally boredand just ignored the legionnaires.    The slaves themselves were energeticallyavoiding the legionnaires. Always managing to put a tank between them and the soldiers.    The supervisor was of no help at all. Hestood off with folded arms and scowled at the Legionnaires. Saying not a word.    Eteiwi took a small jug out of his pack andhanded it to Vinius. The decanus went over to Gallio and offered him a drink.    The ermine took the jug and sniffed the opentop for a moment. Then he took a long drink. “I don’t need any of you cominghere and spying on me,” the ermine snarled instead of a thank you.    “We don’t want to be here,” your master;Gavrus asked us to come,” Vinius responded.    “What does he know?” The ermine responded.“He comes here for a day or two each month and complains that I’m spending toomuch money.”    Vinius looked around. “Spending too muchmoney on what?” He asked incredulously.    Gallio shook his head. “Trade with thecapitol is down. Gavrus is worried he will have to sell one of his palaces andnot overeat so much.”    “Instead of just garum why not do wine?”Vinius suggested. “Everyone else around us are growing grapes for wine.”    The ermine shook his head. “I don’t needsome legionnaire telling me what to do. I know how to run this place.”    Vinius shook his head. “If we keep having tocome back here it’s clear you don’t know how to run this place.”    These slaves are worthless,” the supervisorsnapped. “I have to keep at them to get any work from them at all.”    “If you treated your people better perhapsthere wouldn’t be any problems,” the hound commented.    Gallio snarled at the legionnaire.    Nearby the rest of the legionnaires watchedthe two but were interested in trying to find a spot that stank less. Withlittle success.    “So,” Bitt asked slowly. “How many timeshave you been down here before?”    “Us or the legion as a whole?”  The hyena asked. “We’ve only been here twicebefore. Thankfully. But the legion seems to come here every few weeks.”    “Why?” The fox asked.    “The owner is a supporter of the governor,” Decebalusexplained. “And he complains to the governor and the governor tells the Legatusto satisfy him.”    “And we get stuck in the stench,” Bittmuttered.    Tossius laughed. “You don’t see the governorcoming out in this smell? He’s back in his palace sipping wine.”    “And eating something weird dipped ingarum,” Sabinus added.    Vinius left the ermine and came over to thelegionnaires.    “How did it go?” Bitt asked Vinius.    “As expected,” the hound answered. “Rude asusual.”    The fox looked at one of the workers who waslaboriously stirring one of the tanks with a long wooden rake. “Who would dosuch work?”    “They’re slaves Bitt,” he responded. “Theyhave no choice.”    Bitt turned and looked at Vinius with a gazeof anger and determination that was so strong the hound shivered. “There isalways a choice,” the fox growled. “Better to die honorable than live likethat. Slavery should be banned.”    “Slavery is an important part of the empire.The empire would collapse if there were no more slaves,” the hyena countered.    “No,” the fox responded with a hard shake ofthe head. “No. We don’t have slaves at all back home.”    “None at all?” Vinius asked, surprised.    “None,” the fox responded and repeated.    “How does your society do without slaves?”The hyena asked,    “Quite well,” the fox responded. “And wedon’t need to have legionnaires watching over the workers. And we certainlydon’t eat rotten fish guts.”    “I like your people already!”  *****************     When the tribune returned, he found thecontubernium waiting for him outside the gate and upwind. The smell wasmarginally less horrid there.    “What did you see?” the Tribune asked.    “I see that If he treated his people betterhe wouldn’t have these problems,” Bitt growled.    “Bitt,” the decanus ordered. “Keep quiet.”    “Let him speak,” the tribune ordered.    “There are no raiders or bandits,” the foxexplained. “No one in his right mind would strike here with this horriblestench. You wait till the garum is being carried in some caravan. When it’s onsome lonely stretch of road.”    “If not bandits,” the buck asked. “Thenwho?”    Bitt didn’t answer at first but simplyturned and looked back at the tanks. Three of the slaves were looking at themfor a moment. Then they went back to work. Making an extra effort to ignore thelegionnaires. “If you treated a Legionnaire like that they would mutiny.”    “They’re not Legionnaires,” the legatecountered.    “But they are still people,” Bitt answered.    “Not to him,” Vinius answered and pointed upthe slope to the manor.    “He’s a fool,” the fox snapped. “My parentstaught me that you can tell how good a leader is by how he treats the people heleads.”    The tribune laughed. “Words of wisdom tolive by. That are lost on him. I want you to patrol the area. For the next twodays. Make a show of it. Be sure everyone knows you are around. That shouldquiet things down.”    “For a while,” Vinius added.    Bitt nodded his head. “Eventually they willstart rebelling again and we will have to come back. Again and again.”    “I will speak with the Legio Legatus andexplain what is really going on,” the legate explained.  ***************** 
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