Lucilla--NaNoWriMo2014

Chapter Four

Colonel North called Mark into his office.

"Marcus Costello reporting to the colonel as ordered."

"Mark, we need you again."

"I'm not going back to Capri again, am I?"

"Nothing like that, Mark."

"What is it then?"

"You have an lengthy assignment.  Cloak and dagger stuff this time."

"No more commando type reconnaissance raids now?"

"No, this one involves a woman."

"Woman?"

"Remember your civilian casualty from your last raid on Capri."

"Yes, she spoke only Latin, sir.  She was a real looney woman.  I was glad to have all but forgotten her."  Mark looked uneasy.  "Why do you want me to concern myself with an obvious nut?  She was an obvious fake.  There is no way she could be who she said she was."

"This is classified and will not leave this room if you refuse."  Colonel North then added, "That is, if you were in a position to refuse this mission."

"A mission with a woman who is out of her mind?"

"No, she is really Lucilla, daughter of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius and sister to Emperor Commodus."

"But Lucilla is dead, assassinated on Capri in the year 182."

"She was until you changed history.  You saved her life and brought her to North Africa.  She is here now.  We need you to persuade her to go with you on a mission to the West Coast of Italy in order to gather intelligence on Italian and German troops.  We need you two on the ground to give us more accurate information in preparation of our coming invasion of Italy in 1943."

"You have to be crazy!"

"She has unique talents that could be of benefit to our war effort.  You are an expert in Greek-Roman history and in Latin and Greek Languages?"

"Yes, but-"

"Your assignment over the next few months is to take Lucilla and train her to be an OSS agent to go with you."

"Whoever thought this mission up ought to have his brain in a glass jar and have it studied at MIT."

"When do I meet this Lucilla?"

"Today."  Colonel sat back.  This mission was ordered by General Omar Bradley himself.  He named you are the most qualified OSS operative to carry this mission out successfully."

At Lucilla's tent, her attendant, a lovely nurse-captain ushered Mark in.  There sat Lucilla eating her food with hands.

"Lucilla, I want you to meet Mark Costello."

Lucilla sat back in disgust.  "Could you not bring me someone else.  This man dares to go by the name of my father.  It is sacred."

"You speak English now.  It is quite good."

"I learn fast." She paused and managed to speak in her disgust.  "Marcus!"

"I am here to persuade you to help us with the war effort."

"Why should I help you?"

Mark thought and then asked, "How did you come to enter our century?"

Lucilla sat back.  "I forgot all about that.  The old man Nerva provided me a time portal for me to enter.  When I fled my assassins, they were holding onto me.  We all came thougth the portal together."