RomanQuest Read Free Page B

“What’s the story?”
    â€œThe story,” hisses Cassius, “is that our monstrous Emperor must die today. The man has been bad news from the day of his unfortunate birth and even in the short time he’s been Emperor he’s managed to bring Rome close to bankruptcy. After his accession he squandered everything Tiberius left in the state treasury, then resorted to extortion of prominent Roman citizens and the confiscation of their estates. He has more blood on his hands than any other Roman Emperor and that’s saying something.”
    Cassius glares at you and pokes his finger in the air for emphasis. “Early last year he marched with an army into Gaul. He plundered the whole country, which was quite a good thing actually since plundering Gaul is an old Roman tradition. But then he marched his troops to the northern shoreline so he could invade Britain!”
    â€œWhat’s wrong with that?” you ask, bewildered. “I thought invading Britain was an old Roman tradition as well.”
    â€œIt is,” thunders Cassius, “but having reached the coast he ordered his men to forget about the invasion and collect seashells! He had the idea he’d conquered the ocean and bested Neptune. The man’s as nutty as a Roman fruitcake.”
    â€œSo what’s happening?” you ask.
    The tribune draws himself up to his full height. “What’s happening is that I, Cassius Chaerea, and my friend Cornelius Sabinus, have decided to rid Rome of the monster once and for all. Everything is now in place for the assassination. Have you brought the poisoned dagger?”
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    Well have you? Should you be carrying a poisoned dagger about your person, give it to Cassius Chaerea and go to 101 . Otherwise your fate lies at 146 .
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23
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    The familiar scent of old blood reaches your nostrils as you walk through the arch and along the tunnel that leads into the arena and you find yourself hoping fervently that any smell of new blood won’t be your own.
    As you step into the sunlight, a bored looking man walks over and hands you a trident. “You’ll be one of the volunteer contingent, I expect. This is your weapon. Any next of kin?”
    You shake your head. Not in this time.
    â€œOcus Cayus -” (Okay, Mercury translates) “ - get over there with the rest of the amateur lunatics for your presentation to the Emperor.”
    You go where he directs and find yourself in the middle of about twenty nervous young men to one side of the arena. After a moment, lectors shepherd you towards the royal box.
    The familiar figure of Caligula spots you at once and waves. “Yoo-hoo!” he calls, grinning broadly. “Want to answer some more questions?”
    â€œHere’s the only answer you’ll get from me this afternoon,” you shout back as you hurl your trident at his heart.
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    Now hurl your die as well. Score 1, 2 or 3 and go to 62 . Score 4, 5 or 6 and go to 124 .
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24
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    There are a couple of dozy-looking guards on this gate but they seem to be there just for ornament since they aren’t stopping anybody or checking papers. With a huge feeling of relief you skip through the gate and onto the road out of town.
    You’ve escaped! You’re out of Pompeii before the fateful eruption! Now all you have to do is get far enough away to make sure you’re safe when the volcano actually blows.
    â€œExcuse me,” you call to a passer by, “but where will this road take me?”
    â€œTo Vesuvius!” he calls back cheerfully.
    â€œThank -” You stop abruptly. This road is actually going to Vesuvius? Boy, did you pick the wrong gate out of the city.
    As you turn, there is a terrifying roar as the peak of Vesuvius splits open behind you and a black pine-shaped cloud erupts from the volcano showering massive