A Byzantine Requiem 2

Senator Mauritius, in all his magnificent colorful clothes and posture, was angry. He was walking all around the office, his face turned red and his eyes reflected flaming rage. The Turk with his apathy by the door with an expressionless face was looking at him, and me, after my report, was waiting for, for…. something, to happen, or to be spoken. Suddenly, and without saying a word, senator Mauritius furiously grabbed a chair and threw it on the window behind my back, I can’t say if he had intentionally missed my head but he did, the poor window behind me didn’t. The chair fell out on the city walls and crushed and the senator felt his feet 5cm above the ground and the Turk in his back squeezing his throat, one arm in front one arm behind, and now, along with his red face, his eyes had popped out. I made a sign to the Turk to loosen his grip, the poor man regained his breath and looking at him straight into his eyes, I said.

So now, it’s the messenger’s fault again, huh? You have asked me to follow your charming wife because you have remarked some signs, that you didn’t want to share, I did and I’ve told you she was fucking around with young strong soldiers sometimes with two at the same time. Then your honorable pathetic existence asked for more details that I figured they would be irrelevant but you insisted so I did. It’s not my fault that your sex-starved wife was taken in a sandwich by two huge ones filling both her holes, is it? I was just looking unseen because I was asked to do so, not that the scene was unpleasant to watch, mind you, but you wanted all the details! And yet you’ve tried to hurt me with that chair and gave me a broken window in mid-winter in my back! In my own house! I can easily ask my friend to squeeze and choke you to death and no law will find me guilty. Have you come to my house to kill me, senator?

Terrified he moved his head left and right with remarkable speed.

I thought so and I nodded the Turk to let him sit down in the other chair. The stupid cuckold had started crying! Let’s discuss my fee senator and double it, please, because it’s difficult these days to find a reliable and fast craftsman to repair my window.

I’m terribly sorry for all this …. explosion, noble Vardas but I was furious, although it’s no good as an excuse to put in on you, he said trying to regain his dignity. I will double your fee, the sum we have agreed on when I entrusted you this assignment, money is no problem, pride is.

I am sorry for your marital disappointment senator but these days it has become commonplace for married women to fuck big strong soldiers. I don’t know why and I don’t really care. I know you’re an honorable nobleman and it might become difficult to cope with your situation in the Senate, but this is too far away out of my interests. I am just a messenger of bad, rarely good, news, and when a case is closed, it is definitely closed for me, you can count on my confidentiality. Please, leave that purse you’re hiding under your cloak to the young, smiling lady in the recess on your way out, and come back again when you have another assignment for our very efficient agency

I will Vardas, and I’m telling you that I will always be much obliged and in debt to you so, do not hesitate to call upon me if you need anything

And with this, the poor cuckold who had regained his dignity left. With the Turk right behind his back, he went into Hypatia’s office to pay and left.

The agency, after our first case, had rarely a quiet day. Missing persons, young rich girls who had discovered carnal pleasures and left to find more, unfaithful husbands chased by their wives and, rarely husbands who had suspicions about their wives’ loyalty. The cuckold is always the last to know, after the baker, the barber, his friends, and his whole neighborhood. Hypatia had proved to be efficient in her position, the beggars’ networked was a very helpful resource, Sidonia’s shop and its tenants in the Messe were a total success, even my mother had never complained about anything. It had started to become a bit boring albeit the money we were making and this, was practically useless since the winery had been going like a charm as it always had been since Papi's days. (see first Byzantine Requiem)

A young boy I had often met in the kitchens came in with a message that someone had left at the gate. It was a summon to meet no less than the emperor Justinian himself at the palace, next morning at 11. He would send a carriage for me.

The Turk was agitated. Not the palace again! It may turn to be dangerous recalling our last deal with the palace.

For one, imperial summons to see the emperor cannot be ignored and for a second, do we really have something to be afraid of. We have been under the unofficial protection, or was it the indifference(?), of the empress Theodora and even the dead, knew who was REALLY ruling the empire.

You’ll go alone, won’t you? the Turk asked

Of course! It was for me only

I was afraid you would say that. For how long shall I stay waiting outside before I come in

For no time at all! Go to the market, to the winery, to the baths, get laid, I don’t know, have a good time. there will be no problem, I can assure you. let’s go now and see what’s for dinner and meet with some smiling people. Your grouchy face becomes boring sometimes

"And then go cruising to the taverns downtown as usual, huh?

Now, why that’s not such a bad idea at all? I said taking my smiling sister Hypatia by the waist going down the stairs.

After the morning ritual with sports, training, cold bath, and huge breakfast I put on some nice clothes, a yellow tunic, a dark green cloak with my special brooch, and leather boots to go and meet with the emperor. I like it very much to move into casual clothes and sandals but, I didn’t intend to provoke the emperor with my looks. I was not poor, after all. The carriage was there in time, a guard was expecting me at the palace gate to lead me to the emperor. In HIS purple room this time, his throne and all those exaggerated and fully decorated clothes and shoes, I mean, the jewels on his shoes would have been too heavy as a woman’s necklace and enough to feed 100 poor families for a month, the emperor was not alone there. There were no guards or eunuchs around but only one man dressed officially standing at his right of the throne dais.

"Rumors have it you are a very capable and efficient man in whatever is what you’re dealing with, Vardas, and, after the advice of my Magister Officiorum here present, the honorable Comes Ignatius, I have decided to ask you to come and see us", he welcomed me without even a grin. Shake hands was totally out of the question, no one was allowed to touch the emperor physically but his wife perhaps.

So, that was what he was! The terrible super-powerful Magister Officiorum of the city, in other words, the top-chief of the Praetorians, and the secret police of course, and the sole and absolute administrator of all palace personnel. The grand Manitou himself! That was intriguing already.

How I can be useful Your Highness? Chief Comes Ignatius seems to know everything that happens in the city or even under it.

Magister Ignatius came on stage. A little man with thin hair and signs of upcoming baldness in his 50s.

There is a very delicate matter that we have kept secret so far. Very embarrassing, all my services had a try, it has always led to a dead end. In my despair and although my services had been very capable, I have decided to ask the emperor for outside help and that’s why you are here

"In other words, you want to assign a delicate case to me because your people’s work had been fruitless so far?

Exactly

And the emperor himself was interested in interfering in a matter of the police regardless of how delicate it maybe? I asked genuinely surprised. No thanks, but no thanks. I have a pile of my own unsolved cases pending that I cannot procrastinate. First come first served and never take a new case when one is still on the run, is our policy.

You refuse a service to the emperor who had personally summoned you?, shouted the emperor.

Justinian was getting angry and when this arrived, he could become very unpredictable and probably lethal. I had exaggerated of course claiming too busy because the main reason was that I had absolutely no intention to mingle in the palace circus, it could have easily turned unhealthy, and definitely no intention of becoming Justinian’s puppet on a string. Admittedly, I was intrigued though.

"What is this delicate case all about, anyway? I asked in a more compassionate tone.

Justinian looked at me and in a very solemn and menacing tone, he answered sharply.

I will not accept a refusal for an answer Vardas. You WILL serve your emperor who personally demands it! Now, leave with the chief-Magister and give him your full cooperation and help. You will be nicely rewarded by me

And with a sign of his hand kicked us both out. Arch Magistrate Ignatius rushed his way out pulling my arm and I followed. We walked some huge marble corridors and halls, the emperor had looted the empire altogether for artworks of splendid glamour to decorate his palace, and we entered his headquarters to arrive in his office.

Please, do understand me, I feel useless and the emperor demands fast results. Given the cul-de-sac I have reached, I honestly believe that a third person’s investigation might produce better results

He looked as if he was about to cry. I had a terrible suspicion the Interior services might have been compromised. I pitied him

What is the problem, chief?

In six weeks’- time, we have had 14 young children missing. Aged 8 to 10. And although they come from modest families, we do care because: first, we don’t know if they are only 14 or more since not all parents come to the magistrature claiming and second, if the news started circulating, a total panic in the city’s population would be a heavy wound to their moral, in a period when the capital is almost completely rebuilt and restored and the new Hagia Sophia is about to be finished.

14 children????? Anyone reported or found dead?

Not that we know off.

All right chief, I will try. I don’t give you any promises but, I and my people will do our best. One condition and one demand only. First, I don’t want any contact or hustle from your men doing this. I will do it alone. And second, I want a global pass of an authority signed by the emperor to have access to anything I need, anywhere I go, any place I have to get in and interrogate. Additionally, inform your city-jail directors to keep some isolated cells for my use. Too much to ask?

Not at all Honorable Vardas. Everything will be ready for you by tomorrow

"In this case, send me at my office all the files you have about these children by tomorrow noon and I expect my authorization pass-par-tout to be with them, too."

I’ll see to it immediately, my friend

I will only have contact with you or maybe the emperor if he summons me again and no one else. I believe this was understood. And for the record, we had never met.

Of course, of course! Send me a message and I will be at your office at no time in total secrecy.

The man was scared shitless. He had accepted all I asked with no objection. Or maybe, Justinian had threatened him with exile to an island with the Harpies if he didn’t provide results fast, and I was his only hope. Submission must be a talent, after all. Ass licking you learn it on the way.

2

Call me irresponsible

Chief magister Ignatius arrived in a carriage with a driver the next morning. His escort-guard and the driver brought upstairs on the third floor, 14 large dossiers, one for each missing child. When Hypatia saw the amount of work ahead, she almost panicked.

I came along, Ignatius said to bring you in hand this very important and unique document and ask you not to take advantage of it for any ill-doing. I do trust your honesty and your integrity, noble Vardas, yet the power you’re given with this document signed with purple ink and the double eagle seal on wax makes you almost as powerful as the emperor. I couldn’t risk to send it with a messenger but, to be honest, … I have also expected to have a taste of your so much praised, new Samos sweet

I laughed out loud! Only a taste chief? I’ll ask the boys to bring you an amphora to take away I said with a big genuine smile.

I do have a late question for you, now you’re here tasting one of our best wines. Hypothetically speaking, I might require some heavy muscle during my investigation. Not that me and my brother-friend the Turk, here present, are not enough, but just in case we’ll have to deal with a barbarian army.

My men, at least some I know very well, are very brave, skillfully trained, and loyal. In case you need some, they will be under your orders at no time

I think, that this man was into an awful kind of trouble with the emperor Justinian about this or he had obtained a very flexible backbone by licking other people’s asses. His next fear could have been to have sex with a goat. A ‘yesman’ in all his splendor

I will be disposed for you night and day at any time for whatever you wish he bid us a good day and left gently holding an amphora of my wine in his arms like a baby.

I, the Turk and Hypatia stayed there, staring at that huge pile of folders full of documents, wondering and smiling.

Any ideas? I sked, translated to where the fuck shall we begin with?"

After five minutes of head-scratching, it was my little sister and secretary Hypatia who talked first.

I suggest, she started shyly, We make a large wood board first and one paper with the name and a resumé of the info about each missing child out of its dossier and nail it on the board. Then use colored threads from the weaver and join victims with common links and pin on each any new notes of our findings. I don’t know if this is the right way to start, yet it’s a start. At least we will be able to just throw a glance instead of looking through into each file.

My little sister Hypatia, THIS is a great plan from a beautiful mind! I almost shouted in ecstasy. we, me and the Turk, believed that we share some common genetical genes between ourselves but, reconsidering it, I am certain you have inherited genetic genes from our grandfather Archimedes. You never cease to impress me! and that was a real and genuine expression of admiration.

The Turk went to make and fetch the wood board and I and Hypatia took 7 folders each to make a one-sheet page with the victims’ names with some vital information from her dossier. After three destroyed quill-pens we finally finished this time-demanding task just about the time the Turk walked in helped by a man from the carpenter to pin that wood-board on a wall with no windows. Watching the final result of our wall of investigation we admired with joy the result and I filled a carafe of my best Cypriot wine to go with our admiration.

Our first observations were that from the 14 missing children, 11 were girls and 3 were boys. From the 14 kids, the 11 girls were missing after a church mess, mostly a Vesper, and the 3 boys from sports training gymnasiums. We have decided that I and the Turk would ask the gymnasiums and Hypatia would go talk with the families of as many girls as possible.

The time had passed quickly, we were officially summoned for dinner, none less than my gracious mother Helena, the cooking chef. A few months after the Nika riots had already been history, the city had almost totally mended its wounds, only the Hagia Sophia was still under construction but the first view of the new Basilic was amazing already. Huge and dominant, breath-taking. They said that master Isidorus had managed to control five groups of one hundred men each, of craftsmen during the same day! 500 people working nonstop in the same building! Even a total atheist like me was expecting eagerly the final result and the opening ceremony.

Along with the wellbeing of the city and the calmness that had returned after the Green-Blues thugs had been eliminated, the Vardas house had gone into a happy family style of a house, because our newcomers, my mother, and my two sisters, had proved to be wonderful persons and all the people in the house was pleased with them. Me too, I admit, except some haunted nights dreaming about 40000 people massacred and the ugly face of Empress Theodora in the dream font.

After dinner, Hypatia asked to come along to the ‘Smoking Pig" tavern with me