God Was Busy

Chapter 12

I kept busy in the garden all day, but deep down I dreaded every second, fearing Alexander would arrive from nowhere. But I was wrong, he probably was too well settled too busy in his magnificent life to think about punishing a slave.

Just when I took a break, sitting in the sunshine to eat our bread and olives, listening to the sea, trying to decide if it was closer now or a little further away. I heard a man's voice, yelling my name "Cassandra, Cassandra," Not in the royal accent, but in the rougher cadences of home. And I couldn't help but look around. I smiled automatically when my eyes finally found Hasapis, how comforting was the sight of him.

Our first interaction happened years ago. We never spoke of it. But I haven't forgotten and I know I never will.

It was during the worst time. My house was attacked by four unknown men, my father was killed and my mother was left half dead soaked in blood.

Weeks after that horrible night I knew that I had lost not only a father but a mother as well. But to my great surprise, she recovered. Most nights the sight of both of them dipped in blood would numb my body, and the pain would hit me out of nowhere, doubling me over, racking my body with sobs. I would sit straight in my dream shouting.

The neighbors and my father's students helped initially but couldn't continue for long. My mother tried her best to get a job but no one wanted a woman with a missing limb.

At fourteen years old, with my brother just seven, I took over as head of the family. There was no choice. I bought our food at the market and cooked it as best I could and tried to keep Marcus and myself alive. I did whatever it took to put food on the table. My mother would happily accept what I placed in front of her, never ask where I got it from, sometimes I even stole from the displayed food when I would find the shopkeepers of the market busy.

On the afternoon of my encounter with Hasapis, the rain was falling in relentless icy sheets. I had been in the Agora, trying to trade some threadbare old clothes, but there were no buyers. Or had no idea how to trade, as this was my first time out alone and unchaperoned, I was too frightened to venture into that rough, gritty place alone. The rain had soaked me, leaving me chilled to the bone. For three days, we'd had nothing but Sideritis plant tea that I had found on the mountain before that were the green olives from our veranda.

By the time the market closed, I was shaking so hard I dropped my bundle of clothes in a mud puddle. I knew if I bent down to pick it up, I would not be able to regain my feet. Besides, no one wanted them. I couldn't go home. Because at home Marcus was waiting for me with his hollow cheeks and cracked lips. And my mother with her empty, sad eyes.

I scavenge along a muddy lane behind the shops that serve the wealthiest townspeople. But found nothing. I pushed forward my deadened legs to carry me forward.

it crossed my mind that there might be something in the farms, stealing was punishable by whipping in front of the public but I wasn't ready to think about that, I walked forward. I could not do anything else. I had to keep moving. If I stop, it would be over.

When I passed the farmlands just outside the market, I saw some shiny golden olives. I stood there mesmerized by the beauty until the rain interfered, sprinkling on my face forcing me back to life.

In my dreamlike state, I tried to climb the olive tree but it was slippery, suddenly a voice was screaming at me and I looked up to see the Farmer, telling me to move on and that he wanted him to call the Vigiles and how sick he was of having the children stealing his olives or potatoes, The words were ugly but true and I had no defense. As I carefully backed away, I noticed him, a boy with dark hair peeking out from behind his father's back. I'd seen him before working with his father, but I didn't know his name.

As I sat there, I had a feeling that more time was passing than I actually realized. I couldn't remember how long it had been since the darkness covered everything. Was it always this dark here at night? Surely, or was the clouds responsible? some little bit of moonlight would filter down through the clouds and find the ground.

They must have been watching me as I made my way behind the pen that held their cattle and leaned against the far side of an old tree. The realization that I have nothing to take home had finally sunk in. I had to stand and get back but I couldn't, it was too much. I was too weak and tired,

Let them call the Vigiles and punish me, I thought. Or better, let me die right here in the rain.

I heard the farmer screaming again and the sound of a blow, and I vaguely wondered what was going on. Feet sloshed toward me through the mud and I thought, It's the farmer. He had come to drive me away with a stick. But it wasn't him. It was a boy. In his arms, he carried olives and a few potatoes. He placed them in front of me and left. The next day the boy visited my house as if nothing had happened the day after that and then daily, and would bring something along with him. So much so that Marcus used to wait for him.

That boy, now tall, with broad shoulders, and tanned skin from years of working at the farms was here­ — Hasapis was here.

I was surprised to see him, to rescue me yet again. I couldn't believe he had come to visit me. After all, it was dangerous if he got caught.

He said something in the ear of a man in a white chiton as the workers here wear here and walked awkwardly towards me. I looked around, as usual, the garden was empty, I felt thankful. We sat in the shade of a tree, hidden from the palace.

He pulled something wrapped in basil leaves from his pocket and held it out to me. I opened it and found cooked fish.

"I went fishing," he smiled.

"Thank you," I said. "Please give it to my mother, they feed us well here,"

"How are you," Hasapis asked me, he was not evasive, instead there was an urgency about his tone that surprised me.

"How do I look?"

"Better than what I thought," he looked at the maple leaf tiara on my head. Hasapis's not very talkative in the best of times, and now, it seemed, he has no words at all.

"How is my family?" I asked.

He coughed to clear his throat. "I am keeping an eye on them. Make sure Marcus is eating." I felt some pressure in my chest lighten at his words. People deal with Marcus as if he is not a human. I felt great after hearing these words.

"Who is that man with you?" I looked around and the man was still standing in the corner.

"A man from the lodge who brought me here," I guessed he might have to bribe him.

Then we couldn't think of anything else, so we sat in silence until the man appeared near us.

"I think I shouldn't push my luck, '' Hasapis said and left.

I felt grateful for his visit, I felt grateful that he was taking care of my family, I knew what he had sacrificed for that, I felt grateful that now I wasn't thinking about Alexander anymore, I was very grateful to Hasapis — yet again.