Man Eater Read Free Page B

house—’ He let his voice trail off.
    ‘But you’re related?’
    ‘The connection is not as close as you might imagine.’ Pallas put a slice of pear in his mouth and chomped away for a while. ‘And I’m afraid Sergius leans to the impression that I have outstayed my welcome.’
    ‘Why? How long have you been here?’
    He shot her a glance from the corner of his eye. ‘Two years.’
    Laughing aloud is not generally prescribed to heal bruised ribs, but Claudia couldn’t help herself. I’m beginning to like you, she thought. I’m beginning to like you very much.
    Across the room Alis clearly felt some decision ought to be made about the bowls, but before she could determine the verdict for herself, the green jug took the matter into its own handles and crashed to the floor.
    ‘Everyone ignore me,’ she quivered and Everyone obeyed. Claudia by letting a slave through to brush up the slivers, Pallas by cracking a snail shell.
    ‘Have you seen Tulola’s harem?’ He impaled the unfortunate mollusc on the point of his knife.
    ‘That ragbag collection of animals? Not yet.’
    ‘Darling girl, the beasts are Sergius’.’ His chins shook in amusement. ‘I’m talking about the men .’
    Alis took advantage of the shocked pause. ‘Oh dear, I did so want to get a matching set for dinner. Why couldn’t it have been the yellow bowl?’
    ‘For gods’ sake, woman, a man’s been murdered! Claudia and I are trying to converse!’
    ‘I’m sorry, Pallas. Sorry.’ She twisted her face in a girlish gesture which had the unfortunate effect of making her look closer to thirty-eight than twenty-eight. ‘Pretend I’m not here.’
    He did his best. ‘Not that her odalisques stay long, you understand. Our dear cousin bores easily.’
    Claudia felt her pulse quicken. ‘Are you saying the dung-beetle was one of them?’
    ‘Wander round the west wing some time, it’s quite an experience, but as much as our Tulola goes for the rough trade, she hasn’t sunk that low.’
    ‘By rough trade, you mean…?’
    ‘Britons, Iberians, Germans. The ruff-tuff hairy types whereas me’—he peered down the neck of his tunic and pulled a face—‘I’m simply a martyr to depilation.’ Claudia flung herself on the couch opposite him. ‘What about the Negroes?’ Who could forget the sight of their sweat-drenched bodies harnessed to Tulola’s chariot?
    ‘She goes through, how shall I put it, phases.’ Pallas swallowed the remainder of a sausage before elaborating. ‘Last year, for instance, she was into tattoos. Kept a whole string of Scythians, and you know how partial they are to body art. The black boys, I’m afraid, she picked up at auction.’
    To use as toys, the bitch. ‘So if he wasn’t one of Tulola’s conquests, who was the man in my bedroom?’ Pallas let out a soft belch and refilled his long-stemmed glass. ‘How should I know, darling? Never seen him before in my life.’
    How odd. Claudia helped herself to wine, but it was the strong stuff and she merely sipped, although her mind was working faster than a goldbeater’s hammer. ‘Sergius has asked me to stay for the Prefect’s questions, and,’ not that she’d hang about once Drusilla turned up, ‘I was wondering how long it would take him to get here.’
    ‘Macer?’ The fat man picked up a pickled onion and began to eat it like an apple. ‘His barracks are in Tarsulae—’
    Her ears pricked up. Tarsulae was the town where they’d spent the night before last, Claudia, Junius and the driver. She’d never forget that dump so long as she lived. In fact, her legs still bore a cluster of itchy red lumps from the damned bedding.
    ‘—which, as you know, is the only town for miles since the new road was built.’
    ‘I don’t suppose anyone could give me a hand with these crocks, could they?’ wailed Alis.
    ‘Looks good on his record, a manor that size,’ Pallas continued. ‘Even though the population is somewhat disproportionate.’
    Tell me about