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<div><font size="5">Here is the remainder of the scene with Gavrus. And Bitt & the Legate have an interesting conversation.</font></div>
<div><font size="5"><br>
</font></div>
<div><font size="5">Chris</font></div>
<div><font size="5"><br>
</font></div>
<div><font size="5">*********************</font><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><br>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><br>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bitt wound up waiting patiently outside
while the rest of his contubernium had marched off. The bull had collected his
weapons and left. Evidently reconsidering his employment and taking his
strength and skills to someone else. A smart idea.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Eventually Gavrus came out and stormed past
without a second glance at anyone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Were you trying to insult Tiberius Gavrus,”
Tribune Vitellius asked as he stepped through the door.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“He insults me and all my clan when he
speaks,” Bitt snarled. Showing more anger than he had intended. “Just seeing
how he treats his slaves is insulting.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Regardless,” the tribune countered. “He is
a powerful person and not one to make an enemy of.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bitt shrugged. “My clan has been fighting
enemies like him for a long time. We’ve outlasted them all. Besides. Someone
like him has lots of enemies. I’m just one of them.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“True, but I am just worrying about you,”
the tribune responded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“I would never do anything to dishonor the
legion. I apologize if I’ve caused any problems,” Bitt said earnestly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“You didn’t cause any further problems,” the
tribune responded. “He is an annoyance we have to forebear because of
politics.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Back home his treatment of them would have
had him challenged to a duel long ago,” Bitt turned and looked in the direction
of the mongoose but he had already vanished from sight. “If he wants to do
something stupid I will happily kill him. I know a dozen in my clan who would
cheerfully come all the way here just for the chance to slit his throat.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Don’t do it just yet,” the tribune said
laconically. “It was complicate things.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bitt nodded his head slowly. “Eventually
someone will do it. Maybe one of those escaped slaves?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“That would be appropriate,” the oryx
commented in an amused tone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The fox laughed. “Did he at least accept any
of our advice?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The tribune laughed. “He’s been ignoring it
for two years. Why would he change now?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bitt shook his head. “Some people are truly
stupid.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Not stupid, stubborn,” the tribune
responded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Doesn’t he understand that he is only
headed for more trouble?” Bitt asked. Confused. “This will end badly for him
unless he changes.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Some people accept change and others fight
it ferociously,” the tribune responded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“And people wonder why the empire is
failing,” Bitt muttered. “Slavery is wrong.”</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There was a moment of awkward silence.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Those people you called The Lost. Did any
ever come back?” Vitellius asked.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“A few. My great grandfather Alexander
earned his freedom and came home. To be sure of his status he had the
certificate confirming his freedom. Carried it with him at all times. He was
even buried with it. He had a bronze plate made. Had it prominently displayed
in his home. It’s still an honored Clan possession.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“If you spotted one of the escaped slaves,”
the tribune asked. “What would you do? Arrest him?”</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“No,” Bitt answered. “I’d give him some
coins and suggest how he could escape permanently.”</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Legate nodded. “An honest answer. But
one you should keep to yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If I
gave you a direct order to hunt down and bring in these escaped slaves. Would
you do it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Would you give such an order?” The fox
countered in soft tones.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Vitellius laughed. “Answer the question
without any more evasions.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“As a legionnaire,” Bitt explained in clear
tones. “I am here to fight the enemies of the empire. A beaten, starved and
enslaved person is not the empire’s enemy. Gavrus is. Him and all like him,
enslaving, torturing, stealing.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“His business has been declining steadily
for many years,” the oryx explained. “People in the capital aren’t buying as
much of his garum anymore.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“The capital?” the fox asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Cormundum itself,” the oryx responded. “The
emperor himself used to enjoy it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Which emperor?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“All of them.” was the reply.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“The population of Cormundum has been slowly
declining over the last seventy-five years,” the fox said in a scholarly tone.
“From a high of one point seven million. Last census was fifteen years ago and
stated a population of one point four million. But most consider that a sham. A
more accurate number is probably half a million.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“How do you know that?” The oryx asked,surprised.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“There are people in my family who keep
track of such things,” the fox explained. “And make sure I stay informed of
every problem whether real or imagined.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“They are not happy about you being a
Legionnaire?” The noble asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“There were harsh words and bad feelings
between me and some of my family when they discovered I had joined the legion,”
Bitt commented sadly. “It’s one of the reasons the governor sent me here. To
allow time for tempers to cool down.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;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;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Old hatreds die hard,” the tribune
commented sadly. “This region is filled with people who do not forgive or
forget. There always seems to be someone fighting someone else for reasons that
only they understand.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;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;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“We keep the peace,” Bitt added. “While the
legions are here everyone has to behave and stay at peace. The same as back
home. No more fighting and feuding among the clans. Some of my family just don’t
understand that.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Few people really do understand that,” the
tribune commented.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;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;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Please do not send us back
there. Tempers will flare and something violent and nasty will happen that we
will all regret,” Bitt asked calmly. “Especially me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“It was decided to send one a
unit from the Auxilia instead of the 76<sup>th</sup>,” the officer explained.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bitt shook his head. “So spread
out the loathing and disgust for that fur among other people.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The legate gave a humorless
laugh. “He will no longer be our problem. And the governor is not happy about
all of these troubles. So he will be watching Gavrus closely for a while.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The fox leaned closer. “And so
will we?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Of course,” the legate
responded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Gavrus will always be our
problem,” Bitt commented. “No matter what we do.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;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;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Are you loyal to the emperor?” The legate
asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Which one?” Bitt responded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The legate laughed and shook his head.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“I am loyal to the empire,” Bitt
said. “You’d never need worry about that. But I refuse to allow fools like
Gavrus to keep committing such evil. People like him are destroying what we in
the legion are fighting to protect.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Old and noble thinking,” The
legate commented wistfully. “That seems to be all too rare these days.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“I come from a line of old and
noble ancestors” Bitt responded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The legate nodded. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“What chance is there that they
will be caught?” The fox asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“To be honest,” the legate
answered. “Little if they haven’t been caught by now. They are probably already
out of the province.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Good. Then they made it,” Bitt
muttered happily</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“One would think you had run
into one of those escaped slaves,” The legate commented.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Are you directly asking me?”
Bitt evaded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The legate was silent for a
moment. “No. No I’m not.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Item 234976A.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Uncovered in the 1988 season. Iron slave collar. Broken into many pieces
and deliberately buried.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">On loan from the Musée
d’histoire de Marseille<b><font size="2">,</font> </b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Marseille France.</span></span></i><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> </span></div>
</div>