Coventina (24 page)

“Come on, I know a way in,” Aja grinned, taking Lucius by the hand. She guided them through a doorway near some construction being done on the outside of the amphitheater.

“You know, you’re countrymen achieved so much Lucius,” Denise said.

“Really. Would this place be anything like it is today had you not settled here?” Layla asked.

“This was settled and built long before I was born,” Lucius said.

“Your legion marched with Caesar in this country?” Aja smiled.

“Yes. Our Legion did march, and fight, and die with Julius Caesar, as well as his heir who was emperor when this was constructed.”

Denise could see that Aja was really falling for Lucius. She had known her most of her life, known her as the brilliant but distant dear friend that she was. She could not remember anyone being in her life before this that had such an effect on her.

“This planet is still a very brutal place Lucius. Rome was a pretty brutal empire during an even more brutal period. I hate to think where we’d all be today without it all having ever existed,” Layla smiled.

Denise wondered just how much brutality would be needed of her and her friends to finally put to rest the brutality that entered their lives unwillingly.
It is unavoidable.

Once inside they rested their bottoms on seats that were more than 2,000 years old. There was a shared silence when they did. On the floor of the arena a dance troupe was working on a dance routine.

“Imagine what it was like back then?” Layla said.

“It was as highly charged as some of the sport I have seen on the television celebrated now. Of course, nobody dies now unless it is an accident,” Lucius said.

“See, we are getting better as a species,” Denise said.

They did not go into great detail yet, so for nearly an hour they started laying out their plans with Lucius, in hopes that he would take it to the others as a primer. Since time was of the essence, they would have to act very soon.

“We will bring everyone to France for the final preparation,” Denise said.

“May I recommend the farmhouse rather than the city?” Aja said.

“Is it large enough?”

“Come. This place isn’t going anywhere. Let me show you. We can have lunch.”

“Not before we at least seen the famous Van Gogh café,” Denise said.

“Absolument.”

Farmhouse

“It’s dirt roads from here, turn right at the next one,” Aja said.

“This must get a little sloppy when it rains hard,” Layla said.

“One of the reasons I would love to own a vehicle like this. It’s just over a mile with all the curves.”

“It’s a very beautiful region,” Denise said.

“Take the first right, then the first quick short left, then the next right, and then left.”

“Right, left, right left. Got it,” Layla giggled.

“Must be real fun when it’s raining a lot, and dark,” Denise said.

“Are you quite sure you would not allow reverse engineering on this baby exclusively to moi?” Aja grinned.

“Perhaps, some day.”

They twisted and turned down the dirt road, surrounded on all sides by foliage.

“AC darling, those are vineyards I see past the tree line are they not?” Denise said.

“They are indeed my Virgo friend.”

“Little analytical me.”

“Looks like they’re everywhere,” Layla said, as she saw what looked like a clearing ahead.

“One more left Layla.”

She turned the Mustang left and headed up that road to reveal two multi-story buildings.

“Welcome to Echappee Belle.”

“Oh my, those are very old,” Denise said.

“They are over three hundred years old,” Aja smiled.

Layla parked the Mustang between the two buildings.

“Aja darling, this is more than an old farm,” Denise giggled.

“Not all of it is mine. Over there, on the other side of those taller trees, that belongs to Maurice.

“And every other direction?”

“Mine, at least for oh, roughly 600 acres.”

“Six hundred acres. Honey that has got to be everything between here and the paved road,” Layla said.

“It is. Come on. Let me show you inside.”

They walked over to the large structure first. “I’ve been wanting to do something with the condition of the vines, but that would require hiring someone and you know how I love my privacy,” Aja said.

“You could grow food instead,” Layla said.

Aja opened the door to reveal a space that had at some point been gutted except for the large support timber beams that were stained a dark brown, and the support walls that were made up of different sizes and shapes of stone. The walls put in place to separate the kitchen from the main room were all white. A dark wood stairway led up to a loft where the bedroom was.

“This is a good structure,” Lucius said, tapping on the stone wall.

“I thought you might be able to appreciate its construction,” Aja smiled.

“Really nice. Might be kinda tight with a crowd the size of ours,” Denise said.

“Come on, let me show you. I think we’ll all fit.”

We’ll all fit. Hmmm.

Yes. I caught that too,
Layla said.

Aja led them to the other building. It too was constructed from the same materials. “It must have been a guest house, or it could have been for the help. I thought perhaps it might be too nice for the help. I did some minor remodeling.”

She opened the door to reveal a large furnished room, one large room only, with a loft built above it the same size except for the stairway leading up to it. “There used to be a very old kitchen in here. I turned that into a bathroom. The rest is just space. We could easily fit six queen size futons in here don’t you think?”

“Aja, it is magnificent,” Denise said.

“So all cooking is done in the main building?” Layla said.

“Yes. Speaking of cooking, is anyone hungry?”

“You have food here?”

“No, not here, somewhere else.”

“Okay, but the futons are my treat, I insist,” Denise said.

“If that pleases you.”

Aja and Lucius locked both places up as Denise and Layla leaned against the Mustang.

“This will be better than the city,” Layla said.

“Yes. Let’s get them here tomorrow. So little time.”

“Yes.”

“One cannot come to France without trying at least one of their magnificent crepes,” Aja said, as Layla steered the Mustang back towards the paved highway.

“Is it in the neighborhood?” Denise asked.

“Well, it’s about an hours drive through some beautiful country, and it is on the way home, in Aubenas.”

“Aubenas, got it,” Layla said as Denise looked for the coordinates on her iPhone.

Let’s drive there. I need to think,
Denise said.

Okay baby,
Layla said.

Their journey took them over two lane roads, a four-lane highway, then back to two lane roads that took them into Aubenas. Along the way the women listened as, at the request of Aja, Lucius gave them an idea of what life was like with the Ninth Legion.

“When on a campaign, there was rarely a moments rest. Everyone worked together, at times feverishly, because we knew it would give us all a better chance for survival.” He went on to explain the multitude of duties they all learned, from building and design to cooking. “Sentry duty was rather dull, or it was never a dull moment. It all depended on where the legion was, what were its orders. A lot of work went into setting up any camp for a legion. Some would be assigned to dig trenches, others to build palisades, some to set up tents, and all of this after at times marching 20-30 miles.”

“Dig trenches huh? That must have taken a long time,” Layla said.

“No one liked doing it, but it was necessary. With several thousand men digging to get it over with, surprisingly it only took a few hours.”

“What about when you weren’t, you know, campaigning?” Aja smiled wickedly.

“Oh, well, if we were lucky, we would be stationed at permanent forts, as we were at Eboracum. There we had duties but they were not as intense and did not cover every hour of the day as they did when in camp.”

“What did you do to entertain yourselves?” Denise asked.

“Well, ahem, you know, what men usually do with free time on their hands.”

“Gambling?” Layla asked.

“Yes gambling, as my dice confirm.”

“Drinking?” Denise asked.

“Yes, there was always drinking.”

“Love? Did you find time for love?” Aja smiled.

“Oh yes. Our being here is clear evidence of that. We were not permitted to marry. Many of us found someone among the population that always seemed to settle near our permanent forts. Considering all we are dealing with now, it is rather embarrassing to admit that frequenting brothels was a daily occurrence for many.”

“Brothels?”

“Were the women free or slaves that worked in these brothels?” Layla asked.

“I believe most of the women were slaves. Many were freedwomen. Being a slave in Rome, you were considered property, and your owner could employ you as a prostitute. Many however, were self-employed and would take you to a rented room.”

“It simply does not seem as sinister somehow, compared to what happened to Coventina and the others,” Aja said.

“I do not believe it was,” Lucius said quietly.

“Hey, there it is, Creperie Janette,” Aja said.

“When we are through here, there is a place back in Paris we must visit today, before they close at eight p.m.,” Denise said.

“Futons?”

“Futons.”

“You’re going to love the food here,” Aja said, stretching with her arms in the air once they got out of the car.

Lucius watched her and smiled. “I’ve never had a crepe.”

“Don’t worry, you’re going to love them.”

They dined on a variety of crepes. Crepes with chicken, roasted tomatoes and goat cheese, crepes with creamed spinach in a buttery cream sauce. Those that included chicken seemed to be the most popular.

After their delicious meal, when their bellies were full, Layla flew them back to the outskirts of Paris, and on to The Futon Factory, that sense of urgency once again dominating the moment.

Futons

Denise was certainly happy and grateful for a car like the Mustang that could fly, very fast.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for like the thousandth time,
she thought.
I hope some day my thoughts reach you again Nola.

After arriving in Paris and stopping to purchase six queen size futons that Denise insisted had to be delivered by noon the following day, they stopped at Aja’s apartments so she could pick up all she needed to continue working. They then stopped at a Food Market and purchased enough food to feed a small army. With the car loaded up, Layla piloted them back to the farmhouse. When the time came for them to act, Aja, Denise and Layla would have to be back in Paris.

“You have the run of the place,” Aja said. “Whatever you need, don’t bother to knock.”

“Probably won’t need much ‘til morning,” Denise winked. She had a bag of coffee in her bag and Layla had a coffee maker in the canvas shopping bag she was carrying.
No kitchen needed to make coffee.

“All that driving makes me sleepy,” Layla sighed through a yawn, stretching as she did. “Think I’m going to call it a night,” she said with a wink.

“Sweet dreams,” Aja said.

“Quiet night,” Denise and Layla chimed together.

Hopefully not that quiet,
Aja said.

Yes. I hope we don’t keep you up,
Layla giggled.

Denise was happy not only to have a connection for her iPhone being far out in the country, she was very happy they had high-speed Internet service in both buildings. Aja had a satellite connection for the Internet service and the television she undoubtedly rarely watched. She rang up Lucilla.

“What time is it there?” Denise asked.

“Little after one in the afternoon. You sound tired,” Lucilla said.

“It’s been a long day. I am going to make arrangements for you to be brought here, tomorrow, before sunset.”

“Where is here?”

“Same here I told you about. How are things going?”

“Well, except for a heated exchange between Anna and Diana, okay.”

“Heated exchange?”

“Yes. Nothing serious, I don’t think. She thinks Anna and Coventina are being selfish, for, you know, wanting to, you know.”

“I think I know,” Denise laughed. “Can you leave the van there or are you going to take it back to where you picked it up?”

“They want to see Vegas. So, in lieu of how our plans have changed, I will suggest we leave as soon as possible.”

“Do you have help driving?”

“I’ll be okay. I will let you know where we wind up, but we already have a pickup plan in place for Vegas.

“I will mention that when I speak with them.”

“Until tomorrow.”

“Yes. Quiet night.”

“I hope so,” Lucilla laughed before hanging up.

“Why so glum?” Layla asked upon returning from the bathroom.

“Some arguing. Diana and Anna.”

“Understandable.”

“Really?”

“Well, put yourself in her place. She has found someone to love and protect her; after all she was put through. She does not want to risk losing him, especially since they have already planned to leave.”

“Yes. I suppose I would be upset if you were being put at risk under similar circumstances. There is however, the lives they will all be leaving behind that are innocent and will eventually fall victim to the scumbags in a similar fashion as Coventina’s family.”

“Or worse.”

“They’ll get over it. They had better if Coventina and Anna decide to leave because it is a long trip to be around each other if they do not.”

“Come here,” Layla said.

Denise walked over to the couch and sat down next to her. “Yes?”

“Let’s forget about everything but each other until the morning.”

“Yes.”