Most Wanted Read Free Page B

my father, “is to wait until dark, then strip all the finery off him and turn him loose in the street.”
    â€œThat kind of plan never works,” said my mother. “There’s always some child or a nosy old sweeper who’s bound to see you. And what would it look like, turning loose a perfectly good horse?”
    My grandmother agreed. “The emperor would have us in our own ovens if he ever found out we did that.”
    â€œIn any case,” I said, “Incitatus likes us. If we turn him out, he won’t go anywhere. He’ll just stand outside the gates until we let him back in.”
    My aunt glared at me, but she didn’t say anything.
    â€œSo there are two choices, as far as I can see,” said my mother. “We take him back to the palace and hand him over, or we keep him here, hidden away until we discover what has happened.”
    â€œThere’s another thing we can do,” said my tough cousin Quintus. “We can cut him up and feed him to the dogs.”
    Lucius grinned. “That would serve Little Boots right.”
    My grandmother stepped forward into our midst. “Now listen, all of you,” she said. “That boy”—she poked me hard in the collarbone—“came riding in here this afternoon at a very high speed. The horse is wearing a purple robe and a head collar dripping with jewels. Does everyone here really believe that no one will have noticed?”
    Everyone didn’t. When we stopped to think about it, no one did.
    â€œSomeone somewhere knows that Incitatus is here,” my grandmother went on. “So losing him or feeding him to the dogs will do us no good.”
    Quintus shrugged, but everyone else nodded, and my grandmother continued. “It’s my opinion that your son, my own grandson, signed a death sentence for everyone in this family when he brought Incitatus to these gates.”
    My heart stopped and my breath got stuck in my throat. I felt as though I were already standing in front of Little Boots, waiting to hear what particular horrors he had chosen for me.
    â€œNo!” I managed to blurt.
    â€œHe didn’t mean it,” said my mother, moving closer to me.
    â€œAlways the same,” said my grandmother. “Never stops to think.”
    â€œWell, what would you have done in his position?” asked my mother indignantly.
    â€œWhat I would have done is beside the point,” said my grandmother. “It’s what we do now that will decide whether we live or die.”
    â€œAnd that is . . . ?” said my father.
    â€œWe treat the consul as an honored guest. You invite him into your house and give him the best bedroom.”
    â€œ My house!” said my father. “Why not your house?”
    â€œBecause mine is humble and small and yours is large and elegant. Or at least it used to be when I lived in it.”
    He had to concede the point. “And what then?” he said. “What happens if they discover him here?”
    â€œThen we tell the truth. We say that we heard dreadful rumors concerning the health of the emperor, and your son witnessed unrest and violence not far from the palace. For the consul’s own safety he invited him to reside with us until the situation settled down and the true facts became known.”
    â€œI invited him?” I said.
    â€œIndeed you did,” said my grandmother. “And he most graciously accepted.”

Chapter Eight
    I didn’t sleep much that night. I doubt whether anyone in our compound did, but I know I slept least of all.
    We had tried to leave the consul Incitatus alone, once we had covered the floor of our guest bedroom with fresh straw and given him as much hay and oats as our bullocks would eat in a week. But he wasn’t used to being on his own, and he wouldn’t settle. Needless to say, I was the one who was sent in to keep him company.
    I was very comfortable, actually. The bed in that room had