Age of Treason Page #2

night, but he never arrived.

-I need to know why.

-I don't look for lazy lovers.

And I don't pay

to have them found.

My rate's 150 sesterces a day

plus expenses.

You rate is 100 a day.

I'll pay you 200, plus

a cash advance of six days.

Have we finished

talking about money now?

Possibly. But there are

other things I'd need to know,

starting with your name.

From what I hear,

you need the extra 100 a day

far more than you need

to know my name.

So let's just leave it

at Helena for now, shall we?

DRIVER:
Halt!

It appears we've arrived.

I'll have the money

sent over to your office

along with a small bust of Cato,

so you'll know his likeness.

I haven't said

I'll take the job.

You haven't said you won't.

And Falco, thank you for

sparing the necks of my men.

But cross me in this and I won't

be as generous with yours.

FALCO:
"Let's leave it

at Helena for now," eh?

She was the essence

of Rome itself.

Beautiful, rich,

and very dangerous.

But then, turning down

200 sesterces a day...

So which to choose?

An omen might be handy now,

some sign to point the way.

(CLATTERING)

Finally! Why should I

worry myself warning you

if you're too damn drunk

to take notice?

I wasn't drunk, Lenia.

I was contemplating.

Well, you better start

contemplating the pair

that's on their way up

to see you now.

Because one of them's big enough

to stand across the harbor

and pee all the way

to the palace!

FALCO:
The landlord!

I'd been dodging his goons, not to

mention the rent, for months now.

And if he couldn't get

anything out of my pocket,

I knew he'd be just as glad to have some

cheap gladiator pound it out off my hide.

FALCO:
(SHOUTING ANGRILY)

It doesn't matter to me,

Falco, if you are dying of leprosy!

You can rot in Hades,

for all I care!

But before you go, you'll pay me

every cent you owe me,

or my name is not

Germanicus Festus!

(COUGHING DRAMATICALLY)

Ugh!

You looking for Falco?

You'll find him in there, or what's

left of him. I wouldn't get too close.

He's got the Big L,

poor bastard. Ooh!

-It's you again!

-Says who?

Since you already know this Falco,

maybe you should tell him

that we've been sent by

Senator Garrus to pay his bill.

Pay his bill?

What are you talking about?

He's paying me off

with a gladiator?

That trans-Tiberian snake.

Our deal was for cash!

It's not for you, Master Germanicus.

He belongs to Falco now.

-This is Falco.

-You're damn right it is.

And this Marcus Didius Falco

does not buy, sell

or own anyone,

especially gladiators.

But this is Justus. Everyone

comes to see him fight.

No, I'll tell you what this is.

This is a tax shelter.

Or a nasty ploy to keep him away

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