APOLLONIA

Ten

She was in a much better mood today, though not quite as happy as usual. She sent her letter to her father and then went to the temple to pray. Back at the house again, she talked to her mother while eating lunch. She told her about Scipio giving her half of Nerius' fortune. Her mother leaned over the table and stabbed a clump of grapes with her table knife. "Why, how thoughtful of him! How are you going to spend it?" Apollonia had not thought of anything to do with the money, except keep it safe for later. When she shrugged her shoulders, her mother suggested she go visit their more pleasant relatives in Pompeii. Perhaps she could use the time to vacation and relax. She smiled. That was how she would spend her money; a vacation in Pompeii with her dear uncle, Andronicus. A week later, she was waving to her mother as she rode away in a coach with all her clothes, jewelry, makeup, stationary, and Jovian. The road to Pompeii was full at first. Many travelling merchants, peasants, slave traders, fishermen, and people of all shapes and sizes crowded the path, chattering and grunting, all trying to get somewhere on time. The first day was very loud and frustrating, but the further away from Rome they got, the quieter it was. Soon they were surrounded by rolling hills of crop and herds of cattle. The first night they parked on the side of the road. The thirteen slaves and servants, as well as the driver slept on mats all around the coach. Apollonia curled up with Jovian in the coach, surrounded by soft blankets. It was rather cold but exciting to sleep outside she fell asleep almost right away.- On the day they would enter the city, it started raining early in the morning. Apollonia wrapped up in her blue shawl and held Jovian. The horses' hooves clopped on the road and the slaves stomped alongside the coach, muttering quietly in their native tongues. One of them, a girl about her age, looked up at the horizon and her eyebrows shot together as she peered suspiciously ahead. Curiously, Apollonia leaned out of the coach window and squinted into the foggy mist. She saw a crowd of men on horses with what seemed to be ragged, miserable folk trudging alongside them. Suddenly, the slave-girl gasped and cried out. "Stora gudar de slavhandlare!" Focusing intently on the band of slave traders, she too squeaked. They were Carthaginians! They would take her servants and then steal her valuables. Also, if they found that she belonged to Scipio Africanus' family, she would be killed! Upon hearing this, most of the slaves ran off in panic, leaving only the few servants that had been with the family for years. An old, wrinkled man shouted to the remaining few. "Vi måste skydda dam!" Commanding the others to protect their master's daughter with their life. Apollonia saw the band getting close. She could hear the stomping of their horses' hooves. Feeling a hand on her shoulder, she turned suddenly to find the slave girl in the coach with her. In her swedish tongue, she ordered Apollonia, "Ge mig dina juveler så att jag kan vara dig." Apollonia stared at her, begining to understand her plan. Impatiently, the girl cried. "Skynda!" Quickly, she pulled off Apollonia's bracelets and put them on her own wrists. Obediently, Apollonia took off her rings, earrings and circlet. Since the slave girl did not have pierced ears, Apollonia shoved the earrings under a cushion to hide them. The rumble of the hooves roared in Apollonia's ears. Sliding off the seat and letting the other girl sit there instead. She sat on the floor of the coach. Remembering at the last moment to wipe the makeup off of her cheeks, eyes, and lips. All at once, the beat of the hooves stopped. Now, she heard shouting. Trembling at the bottom of the coach, Apollonia looked at the slave, who looked very regal wearing her jewelry and siting on her cushions. She could see fear on her face, but she sat upright and their seemed to be an air of grace and dignity about her. Apollonia felt impressed by her great courage. She was risking her very life for Apollonia's safety. If she was taken as a slave and behaved, she would not be in danger. She would wait until the perfect time and then run away and go home. The Carthaginian men were climbing into the coach and dragging both the girls out. All the time they were shouting loudly in a language she did not understand. She was dropped, unimportantly to the ground while two men held the slave girl and argued back and forth. They were looking at her ring and some other bandits were rummaging through the coach, finding Jovian and letters from her father and brother. The arguing grew louder as the two men holding the slave girl's arms fought back and forth. They must have realized who she was and were now trying to decide what to do with her. Apollonia, with two other slaves were put in chains and hooked to a rope which had a long line of slaves already attached to it. Watching from a distance, Apollonia saw what seemed to be the leader of the band walk to the pair of arguing bandits and he shushed them. He then started talking to the girl. Whenever he asked her something, she would not speak. He continued to ask her different questions but she refused to say anything. Finally, he grew tired of her stubborness and turned to walk away. As he walked, he waved his hand and gave an order to the two men. The very moment he spoke, the men ripped their swords out and Apollonia shut her eyes just in time.

  Stora gudar de slavhandlare means "They are slave traders!"

 Vi måste skydda dam means "We must protect the Master's daughter!"

  Ge mig dina juveler så att jag kan vara dig means "Take off your jewelry and I will wear it."

Skynda means "Quickly."