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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><font size="5"> </font><font size="2"><font size="5">In these troubled time this scene seems appropriate. I actually wrote it almost a year ago.<br>
</font></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><font size="2"><font size="5"><br>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><font size="2"><font size="5"> It shows the uglier side of the empire. And it leads to a question that still haunts me "Why do people do such things to fellow human beings?"</font></font></span><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><font size="2"><br>
</font></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><br>
</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><br>
</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><font size="5"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">*****************************</span></b></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><br>
</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><br>
</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The place was located a long way outside the
city. Considering how popular the product it made was the place should be
closer. But it was banned from being any closer than five miles from the city
limits. As they got closer he understood VERY clearly why.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Bitt could smell it long before they
actually reached it. He and his contubernium had been descending the road down
towards the shore. At first the breeze had been at their back. But then it shifted
around and the wind came into their faces. And with it was a terrible smell. A
mix of rotting fish and festering sewage that was so strong that it made him
gag.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“What is that smell?” He managed. Trying not
to throw up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bitt took out a bandana and wrapped it
around his muzzle, being sure to cover his nose. That cut back the stench to
something reasonably tolerable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“That is garum,” the hound commented.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“What?” The fox asked. “You mean that sauce
the Imperials like on everything?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Yes,” Eteiwi answered. “Don’t you know
anything about it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“No,” Bitt answered honestly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“It’s made by dumping fish guts into a large
tank and letting them rot for a few months till it all turns into a pasty
liquid,” the leopard responded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“What did we do to draw this task this
time?” Philippus asked. The fennec already had a scarf wrapped around his nose
to try and block out the smell.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Because Tiberius Ulpius Gavrus is the
cousin of the governor,” Vinius responded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“I will keep our time here down to a
minimum,” Tribune <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Septimus Vitellius
commented. The oryx was leading the small unit. If the smell bothered him he
didn’t show it.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The road leveled out and ended at large
wooden gate built into a stone wall. A scruffy looking badger stood guard at
the gate dressed in dirty gray tunic and carrying a spear. Bitt noticed the
spear was just a long wooden pole with one end sharpened. Not even a metal
head. Technically it was a spear but without a metal spear point it was useless
for anything but hunting. The wood point would snap easily against legion
armor. Or armor of any sort. Still it was probably good enough to scare a
servant or chase off some feral wildlife.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The guard turned and knocked on the gate
behind him. The door opened briefly and then closed again. He turned to the
legionnaires. “Please wait. The Master will be here shortly.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After several long minutes of waiting the
gate opened and the owner; Tiberius Ulpius Gavrus stepped out. He was a tall,
corpulent mongoose dressed in an expensive, blue toga. There were gold and
silver rings on his fingers and in his ears. “You are finally here!” the
mongoose said in way of greeting. With him was an ermine dressed in decent
clothing but still looking worn.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The tribune saluted by placing his right
hand over his heart and bowing. “Good morning Sir Gavrus. I am Tribune Septimus
Vitellius.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Thank you for coming,” the mongoose
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“It’s a pleasure to be here and to help,”
the tribune lied but showing sincerity.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“This is my supervisor Gallio,” the mongoose
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place.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The guard stood aside and the gate opened
wide. The group made its way through the open gate and into the area beyond.
With each step the smell grew stronger and stronger.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“And this is where we make the Garum,”
Tiberius said proudly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bitt felt his stomach start to heave and he
leaned against a wall.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The area was a series of platforms roughly
cut into the hillside. In the middle of the area was a score of large vats
carved into the stone of the hillside. Each vat was filled with a brownish foul-smelling
liquid from which the smell was the worst. It was powerful enough that Bitt had
to step back as he fought the bile rising up in his throat. Off to one side
steps carved into the hillside led upward to a mansion that stood at the top.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“I make the finest garum in the prefecture,”
the mongoose boasted. “It’s enjoyed by the finest diners and the noble feasts.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Eat it? People eat that?” the fox
exclaimed. “I don’t even want to be downwind of it. Why would I want to eat
it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The hyena shrugged. “The Imperials love it!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bitt noticed the workers for the first time.
They were males and females of many different species and ages. All of them
were dirty, thin and worn. They were dressed in ragged and filthy clothes. They
didn’t seem to notice the foul smell.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Someone has been sneaking in and stealing
my finished sauce and property,” the mongoose snarled.” And they have destroyed
at least three of my buildings. Burnt them down to the ground.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Who?” the legate asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The mongoose shrugged in response. “I’ve
never caught them.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bitt felt a shiver run down his spine and he
turned around suddenly. He spotted one of the slaves staring at something. The
dog was glaring at something with a look of undisguised hatred. Bitt followed
the dog’s gaze and found the foreman.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When the slave realized that Bitt was
looking at him the anger and hatred vanished. Replaced by the calm and sullen
look of a cowed slave.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Never?” The legate asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“No,” the foreman responded. “They strike in
the middle of the night.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bitt thought back to that slave. The
hostility and anger he had seen. That was the anger of a person beaten down and
imprisoned. Forced to work at the most disgusting tasks imaginable. He realized
that there were no bandits or raiders. The damage and thefts were caused by the
slaves gaining a measure of revenge. Justice. And stealing to resell or trade
for food.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“We’ll discuss this in private,” the
mongoose said smoothly and pointed up hill.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Looking in the direction the owner had
pointed he saw a good-sized palace on the crest of the hill. Located far above
the stench.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“I have refreshments waiting,” Gavrus added.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The legate turned to the decanus. “Patrol
the area. Report back to me on what you see.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Yes sir,” the hound responded and saluted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Vinius waited till the legate and the
mongoose were out of hearing range before speaking. “So,” the hound said
slowly. “What do you think of this place?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“I’ve never smelled anything so horrible in
my life,” Bitt commented. “Not even when the sewage tunnel overflowed with the
spring melt.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“You’ve been here before?” Bitt asked. “I
heard someone mention again.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Gavrus complains every few weeks,” the
hound explained. “So the commander sends a contubernium to keep him satisfied.
Spread out a little and let’s patrol.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The facility was pretty simple. Just twenty
large tanks carved into the stone. There was no roof or canopy over the area.
So the slaves worked all day out in the hot sun. There wasn’t even a decent
place for them to sit down and rest. Steps lead down to simple, wooden pier
that was empty at the moment. Next to the pier was a large shed made of stone
with a large, stout door made of thick wood. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bitt opened the door and found the interior
was lined with shelves. Low boarding lined the floor keeping large sacks off
the ground. What’s in here?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Rolozius peered inside. “The salt and spices
used in making the garum.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Set across from the shed were two, small
huts. Bitt stepped to the doorway of one and peered inside. There was no real
furniture just piles of cloth and rags scattered about. The walls were of
stones just piled up and roofed over with palm fronds, scraps of wood and even
a large piece of (very) worn clothe.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He realized with a shiver that those were
where the slaves slept at night. They didn’t even have the simple pleasure of a
decent place to rest. Their latrine was a tiny, outhouse that smelled even
worse than the garum tanks. If that was possible.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The conditions for the slaves were terrible.
What was truly horrible was the ever-present stench. There was no escaping it.
It was everywhere filling their nostrils and making them gag. The place where
they stored the supplies was far better than these hovels.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
</div>