I put out his fire

Chapter 60 The Woman with the Beard

It was almost dawn when Nero arrived in Latham.

Under the gray-white sky, dark clouds of ash rolled in the air, as if leaking from a hole in the sky.A large area of ​​the apartment was burnt to nothing but ruins, like skeletons with their flesh and blood removed.

There was a constant flow of people around, the firemen used bullock carts to push away the broken buildings, and the slaves carried the mutilated bodies that had been burned.The burnt smell permeated the air, spreading from all directions.The pungent taste fills all human perceptions.

Nero stood stiffly among the ruins, red toga robe, pale silver hair.He is the only thing that can be called color in the current gray and black scene.

A fireman stepped forward tremblingly, his face was covered with black marks mixed with ashes and sweat.

"Lord Domitius..." he humbly said, "We have posted signs on all the walls that are still standing. If the sheriff can still see it, he will find it here..."

Nero suddenly became irritable, grabbed the fireman by the collar and dragged him over, "He will definitely see it! Watch your words."

He pushed away the fire alarm, and leaned against a blackened wall as if he couldn't stand still.He slowly squatted down along the wall, raised his head, and looked at the flat ground that had been swept by the fire.

The ruins of the building were pulled to the sides, leaving a large open space in the middle.Nero's vision was unobstructed, reaching to the end of the sky.In his field of vision, the tall ruins on both sides meet at one point at the end.Clouds of gray smoke swam quietly across the sky like crocodiles hunting.

The water vapor between Nero's eyelashes became heavier and heavier, and the scene in his field of vision was blurred into several gray patches.

A black dot appeared out of thin air at the end where the ruins meet.

Nero blinked hard, and wiped the mist from his eyes with the back of his hand.

Despite the distance, he immediately recognized that it was his Rhodes.

Rhode's figure was in the middle of his field of vision.This group of black dots was moving, and the horizon line passed behind him, dividing the field of vision into upper and lower color blocks, with the gray sky above and the black ground below.The black spot grew bigger and bigger like a solar eclipse, dominating all the gray tones around it.

Nero watched Rhodes walk up to him step by step.

Rhodes was covered in dust and wore black clothes and hats.He took off the long-brimmed hat and flicked off the dust accumulated on the brim with his fingers. His plain facial features were hidden in the scattered long hair. Against the black and white background without color, he showed a simple and simple temperament.

"Your eyes are red." He brushed his sideburn hair behind his ears, "I'm not dead yet."

Nero put his back against the wall and stood up again.He swayed a few steps with soft legs, staring at Rhodes' black and white eyes, as if he was sleepwalking.

"Where have you been?" He seemed to have just woken up from a dream, "I have someone looking for you all night."

Rhode stepped on a high place and sat on a torn concrete block.He spread his legs apart, bowed his back, and placed his elbows on his knees, in a posture that surpassed everything.Nero looked up at him against the skylight, and could only see a black silhouette.

Nero had a panic that couldn't catch him.

"I'm in a shop that was blown up." Rhode's voice came from the shadow, "Its explosion was the origin of the fire."

Nero's eyes were stung by the light behind him, "Did you find anything?"

"No." Rhodes said, "Everything was blown into slag and black charcoal, and I got almost nothing."

Nero followed the flow of the silhouette until he glimpsed the moss at his feet.The moss green was like a parasite, attached to the bottom of the broken wall.

"Latham's winter is so humid that water can be squeezed out of the quilt." He said thoughtfully, "An explosion in this kind of weather can be said to be very unusual."

"This is not the only thing that is unusual." Rhodes said, "When we were fighting the fire, we found that a large number of slaves were fighting the fire spontaneously, and they were very organized. They will put out the fire like the selfless gods. I have to admit that the slaves who grow up in contempt and malice are the lowest overall quality in Roman society."

Nero was alarmed, "What about these slaves?"

"We sent them away. After all, they didn't even have catapults or water pumps, only low-level water pipes. Staying on the scene of the fire will only get in the way."

Rhodes said so, and there was a chuckle: "When they saw us, they were very surprised, maybe they didn't expect the fire department to arrive so soon. Of course, this is thanks to my subordinates who didn't obey the command, It was they procrastinating that kept the team from going far."

Nero said angrily: "I will dismiss them from their posts."

"No need." Rhode's silhouette shook his head, "As long as I am the chief of the fire department, the fire police will never be obedient. The fire police are all selected from serving soldiers. How can a soldier who is aggressive and unyielding be willing to submit to a soldier?" The blood of sinners bows down."

Rhodes' shoulders were quite straight, with rigid lines.His stamina was captured by Nero.Nero's bone was stuck in his throat, and only he knew that this strength actually originated from helplessness and loneliness; he saw through his strength, and only felt heartache.

Rhodes sat up straight, propped his arms back, and his shoulder-length black hair was blown back and forth by the cold wind.

"A fire broke out in the downtown area. The area was small, but the casualties were serious. More than 100 charcoal-like corpses were found in just one night." He paused and continued, "I think I will be dismissed and punished soon."

"As long as I am here, no one will punish you." Nero said firmly.

"But you can't stop people from criticizing me. I have foreseen that poets will name monsters in epics after me, women will defile my image to frighten their sleepless children, and you will be called fools or fools. His image was discussed by nobles and common people." Rhodes laughed at himself in a contemptuous tone, "In fact, it is already like this now."

Looking up at his silhouette, Nero felt a deep sense of powerlessness.

The self-confidence brought by the royal blood and the majesty supported by money and power were all shattered by the uncontrollable reality at this moment.No matter how strong and powerful mortals are, they will become devoid of dignity when encountering the looting of fate.

"I want you to remove me from my position as bodyguard and fire chief, and to separate from you." Rhodes looked up to face the smoky sky, "This is not only because I dragged you down, but also because..."

He closed his eyes and pursed his lips. After being silent for as long as the water clock had run out, he slowly said, "It's also because I'm really tired."

Nero fell into an ice cellar, "Yes..." he responded weakly.

He subconsciously clenched his fists, "However, you will live in my new manor during this time, and allow me to visit you secretly. This is my biggest compromise, Rhodes."

Rhodes nodded slightly as if coping.

……

In Julius' villa, every three or five steps would stand a naked eunuch or female slave.

Since the last fire, Julius has intensified, and his life has been extremely promiscuous.

A naked eunuch crawled up to Julius' feet, held up one of his feet, and rubbed the sole of his foot against his chest.Julius curled up his toes and clamped his flesh forcefully.The eunuch smiled flatteringly, and kept kissing his master's feet with his soft lips.

Julius was stubbled and his hair was matted.He caught a glimpse of the eunuch's red chest through the slits of his eyes, and he couldn't help but curl one corner of his mouth, and the flesh of his cheek was squeezed out immediately.

"Well done, what a good boy." He touched the eunuch's face with his foot.

He waved to the nearest female slave, and lay down on the sofa.The back of his head was resting on the slave girl's legs, and she asked her to feed him grapes one by one.

Several musicians knelt beside the sofa, plucking the lyre with jeweled fingers.These high-level musicians were trained in the orchestra established by the royal family and received a good education.They have dealt with nobles all day long, and they have been influenced by what they have seen and heard. Except that they do not have a noble birthplace, their knowledge and conversation are no different from those of nobles.

Julius shook his mushy head along with the music.

The leading musician drank water to moisten his throat, and sang a popular ballad:

"You came to him clothed in forbidden love,

Bewitch the inherited blood with the inherited blood.

It turns out that silver-haired people love black-haired people,

It turns out that the cross is hard to block ghosts,

It turns out that love is the resentment of generations.

If the prince knows that you are a vengeful ghost,

Oh, if he knew you were a vengeful ghost..."

Julius' greasy ear twitched.He said with a mouth that smelled of grapes: "What song is this?"

The sound of playing music immediately subsided.The musician replied respectfully: ""The Black-haired Servant" is a ballad that is spread all over the world, and even ignorant children can hum a few words."

Julius spat out a grape seed, moved his swollen lips and said, "The lyrics are very special."

"That's natural." The musician said, "The prototype of the lyrics is Lord Domitius and his personal guards. Their stories are hot topics in the streets."

Julius opened his red eyes and seemed much more awake.

"Nero?" he asked, tilting his head.

"Yes, but I don't dare to say the name of this gentleman." The musician said, "He appointed the son of the criminal who stabbed his uncle as his bodyguard, gave him an honorable position, and bribed the court to protect him in every possible way. A normal politician would have executed a servant with a ruined future."

Julius snorted and smiled mockingly.

"It is said that their relationship is unusual. Someone once caught them kissing in a carriage. And..." the musician smiled meaningfully, "The slave who served the emperor told me that it was because of him that Lord Domitius refused to marry the princess. intermarriage..."

Julius chewed the grapes and put his legs on the eunuch's shoulders, letting him massage him.

"When my villa was on fire, I saw his bodyguards. But I was drunk at the time, so I didn't see him clearly." Julius recalled, "I only remember that he has black hair and black eyes..."

"Oh, he led the fashion trend in Rome." The musician took the words, "Many adults dyed their hair silver, and dyed their favored slaves black. There are masters and slaves walking around the square who follow the trend and dye their hair. Now this is the fashion."

The musician said with a smile: "Thanks to them, the hairdresser has made a lot of money recently, and the male prostitutes with long black hair have long lines of customers. The actors in the theater have arranged many satirical plays alluding to them. The venue was full."

Julius teased: "It seems that Rome's economy has been unprecedentedly prosperous since Claudius' rule."

"Who says no?" The musician smiled and played the lyre again.

At this time, a house slave came in, knelt down and said, "Master, there is a man who claims to be your old friend at the door. After ringing the bell for a long time, he insists on seeing you."

Julius didn't even open his eyes, "Then let him in and make him a sofa."

The servant hesitated and said, "But that man...behaved abnormally. His robe was stained with blood, his hair was messed up, and he looked very down and out. Only the old ring on his finger could prove that he was once a nobleman."

"There's blood on the hem of the robe?" Julius said with his eyes closed. "Maybe it's a hunted nobleman who wants to join me. Just drive away this blood-sucking parasite."

The slave sighed, "We also drove him away, but we couldn't drive him away at all. The man also said that he specially prepared a gift for you, and you must like it."

Julius opened his eyes, waved away the hand of the slave girl feeding the grapes, and sat up from the sofa with an impatient expression on his face.The eunuch at his feet stood up winkingly, and put a sheepskin on his bloated back to keep out the cold.

Julius wiped the grape juice from the corner of his mouth with a towel, glanced at the house slave and said, "Go out and have a look."

……

When the villa door opened, a thin figure was trapped inside the door frame.

Under the dim light, the man was wrapped in a thin robe, shivering in the cold wind.He was too thin and looked like a rag propped up by a stick from a distance.

Julius walked over with the help of his servant, squinting his eyes in the night, struggling to look at the door.

The lamp carried by the house slave was getting closer and closer, gradually illuminating the person coming.

The first thing that catches the eye is the mottled blood.The person's lower body oozes a large amount of shocking blood red, and the hem of the robe is still dripping blood.As the light approached, his face was illuminated, his complexion was as pale as lime, and his cheeks seemed to be covered with shadows, sunken to the bone crevices.

Julius didn't recognize who it was at first, until he caught a glimpse of the ring on the man's finger.

He was half sober in an instant, his face was numb, and a chill came from the depths of his consciousness.He was frightened, and cold sweat quickly grew all over his back like moss that got air and moisture.

"My God...it's Munch..." He blushed, and the flesh on his face was shaking, "You look like a stray dog ​​that was run over by a wheel!"

Munch looked calm, and he didn't show any agitation except that he was shivering from the cold due to blood loss.

"Long time no see, Julius." His pale lips trembled, "What you see now is your down-and-out old lover."

Julius snatched the lamp from the slave, leaned over to illuminate Munch's face, and repeated confirmation, muttering all the time.Cold sweat was born from his forehead, along the wrinkles, and flowed into his dry temples.

Munch stood upright, smiling with a thin mouth, and his sunken blue eyes were hard to see in the night.

"When I was young and ignorant, I had a relationship with you. Although the time was short, it was also a time of innocence, wasn't it?" He said in an indifferent tone.

Julius wiped the cold sweat off his face with his hands, stared into his eyes and said, "What are you doing here?"

Menxi wrapped his robe tightly, shook his lips, and said with a leisurely smile, "Do you know about the fire last night?" He paused, "I set it on fire."

These words were spoken softly by him.When Julius heard this, it was as if he had been forced into a mouthful of indigestible food.He stared straight at Munch, his long-term alcohol-infected mind spinning slowly.It took him a long time to react.

He practically screamed, "Jesus! Why are you doing this?!"

"I want to return to the status of aristocrat, and I need a lot of real estate and money." Menxi said calmly, "I borrowed fuel from the virgin to set the fire, and originally planned to buy the house on fire at a low price on the condition that I organize a slave rescue. But I didn't expect..."

He shook violently, and continued: "I didn't expect that the fire brigade was nearby, dismissed my slaves, and interrupted my bargaining process. My plan failed. This is how Crassus obtained real estate in disguise during the Republic era. , thus becoming the richest man in Rome. I imitated him, but the god of fate didn't want to see me..."

Julius shouted excitedly: "You are crazy! You are crazy! Now is the imperial era where the royal family ruled | Crassus, who is as famous as Pompey and Caesar, is a hero who knows the current affairs, and he will not be caught like you. The predicament in front of me is overwhelming!"

Meng Xi smiled stiffly: "Perhaps, I am a stupid person and an impulsive person. I used to be a general who fought alongside Caligula. But now, I throw away my face and self-esteem to find Your shelter..."

"Arson is a felony that requires skinning and oiling!" Julius gasped, "I can't accept you. You're going to get me into trouble!"

"You have to accept me, Julius." Menci smiled coldly, "To show my sincerity, I confessed everything to you."

"You can't kidnap me with your unilateral contribution! I can't accept you!" Julius broke out in cold sweat, pointing to Menxi's face and said, "I won't expose you to the court out of personal interests. You hurry up leave my house..."

Meng Xi suddenly took a step forward and covered his trembling hand with his palm, just like a coquettish pet rubbing its fluffy head against the palm of its owner, he rubbed his chin against Julius' sweaty hand.

His stubble, like the soft whiskers of a kitten, tickled Julius.

"Do you remember?" Munch said in a low voice, "You used to like me the most. You hoped that I would cling to you like a well-behaved kitten, and that I would worship you like a woman who can only weave. But In the past, I served as a priest worshiped by thousands of people and led several Roman legions. It is impossible for me to do that when I am young and energetic..."

"Oh no..." Julius couldn't help shaking, and subconsciously shook his hand, "Stop talking, Munch..."

"I used to call you Uriel." Menshi leaned into Julius's neck and whispered, "You called me Mendy, remember? That's our nickname for each other..."

"Oh, Mendy..." Julius trembled.

He met the blue eyes of his first love, which radiated the blue-green color of a lake.Julius couldn't help being fascinated. With these blue eyes, he seemed to step back in time and space, back to his boyhood when he was not dragged down by utilitarianism, just like rejuvenating.In different stages of life, there will be different favorite people; when recalling these people, it is not so much to miss them themselves, but to miss the self who was crazy about them.

"I've also prepared a gift for you that you can't refuse..." Menxi said softly, "Do you want to see it?"

"What have you prepared?" Julius looked like a young boy with a hopeful look on his face.

Munch said with a smile, "Myself."

As he spoke, he opened the neckline that he had been covering tightly, fully exposing his bloody body under the robe.

Julius stared wide-eyed, gasped, and couldn't move as if struck by lightning.

Trembling in the cold wind, Munch forced out a forced smile: "I castrated myself."