Lucilla--NaNoWriMo2014

Chapter Thirty

Mark and Lucilla hitch hiked to the small village of Pontenocturna.  It was located on a hill with multistoried buildings that crowded the narrow streets.  The Church of St. Lucius was located at the top of the hill.

German units were moving to and fro while Mark and Lucilla kept count of vehicles and estimated how fast they could move.  The took a room in the Hotel Nino, which wwas crowded with German officers, who said that they were heading to the defense line south of Cassino.  Although they should not have said it, they volunteered that they were getting ready to fall back to a stronger position around the city of Cassion.  There they would occupy the low areas behind a river while their mountain units would have little trouble spotting targets of opportunity among the advancing Allies.

One suspicious German asked to see Mark's and Lucill's passports.  Having seen that and thei travel permits, they let them alone.

The next day, Mark and Lucilla were standing by the roadside awaiting for a civilian car to stop in order to give them a ride.  On the horizon there were swift-moving Allied war planes.  They swooped down on the German military vehicles, chewing them up with their fifty caliber machine guns mounted on their wings. Mark and Lucilla had heard the planes long before the Germans and took cover.  Smoke billowed from burning vehicles while men screamed in agony.

Once more Mark and Lucilla vounteered to help the wounded Germans.  They used the hotel for a temporary hospital for a day or so.

The next day they got a ride near the coast.  This time they were on the Ancient Roman road known as The Appian Way.  Lucilla felt at home once more as they passed ornate tombs of the old Romans.  She would ask the driver to stop now and then in order for her to take a photograph.  They avoided photographing all German vehicles in order that they would not be accused as spies.  With marshall law declared, they would not be tried in an Italian Court of Law.

At length they reached the town of Latino.  They checked into the local hotel and managed to meet with Partisans.  They managed to get a message to the Allied forces that Anzio could be a very good place to land invading forces.  It would allow them to outflank the Germans who were defending at Cassino.  They further warned that the Abbey at Monte Cassino would not be used by General Kesselring.

Mark met again with the local Partisan leader.  "I can arrange for an air drop of weapons, food, supplies, and ammunition.  You can help our cause by seizing the high ground around Anzio in order to hold it until relieved by the invading Allied soldiers."

"That may cost the lives of many of us here.  We are fighting alongside men who grew up with us as boys.  We will likely die together," the Partisan Leader said.

"The invasion may not take place there.  I need confirmation first.  Maybe in a day or two."

Two days later, Mark again contacted Allied Forces in Sicily.  "I urge you to take advantage of the element of surprise.  If you do not immediately move out of the beach but wait a day or two, you will have lost your advantage."

"I will tell General Mark Clark of your concern.  He is not leading the attacking forces."

That night Mark and Lucilla lay in bed discussing what lay ahead.

"Lucy, I love you so much.  I would not dream of keeping you in Anzio while I meet with Partisans."

"Yes, my love, you do not leave me behind this time either."  She kissed him on he neck as she ran her hands up and down his body.  "My place is with you."

"Lucy, do you have any idea of how you have changed since you tripped over me on Cari?"

"Yes, Mark. I was a whore.  Well, not that I walked the streets of Rome, but I looked forward to the feasts, which would give me the opportunity to try out the newly commissioned Centurions.  Oh, the pleasure the brought me.  One of my now dead children was not by my husband.  But he was never the wiser.  He never knew."  She kissed him again while taking hold of his manhood."

"Lucy, you know how to make me grow."

"Ha, my love, I was good at that long before we met.  But now life means nothing without you. I want you in my old world.  You are an intelligent man,  you can adapt to my world just as I have to yours."

"Oh Lucy, I know that the war will end some day and we will face that fateful day in which we shall find that time portal that Nerva set up for you." Mark placed his mouth on her breasts and began to nibble on her nipples. "Until then I will love you intensely, just as if we were husband and wife."

"Oh, Mark."  She said and then kissed him with extra passion as she ran her hand to his member again.  "This is the first time you said you would be my husband.  Every time we make love, it is more magical than it ever was in my world.  I love you.  Woud you be my husband?"

"Oh, my precious Lucy, would you be willing to be my wife.  What you did in your old world means nothing to me.  Now you are so changed.  Once you were selfish, drunk for power.  Seeking only your personal pleasure.  Now look at you."

"I owe my new life to you, Mark. May I call you my husband tonight?"

"Oh, yes,  we are heading for dangerour times, even more than we have experienced up until now."

"You mean that we are going to fight alongside the Partisans against the Germans?  It frightens me, but it is something that we must do in order to save lives in the coming months."

"Lucy, you will fight alongside me?  Give your life if necessary?  Back in Old Rome what would you have done?"

"Mark, we share something that no other man and woman have had together.  Fate brougth you to me and me to you.  I had no idea what was happening when you found me and saved me from certain death."

"I did not know what was happening. My fellow agents and I were finished with our mission and were ready to retreat to the shore of Capri and get into the boats there."

"And then, my love?"

"Such a lovely woman tripped over me.  I could not allow the centurion to kill you.  It was not right."

"Well, I am so pleased that you saved me."  She kissed him.  "You believed in me, Marcus Aurelius Costello.  How absurd that you were named after my father."

"Lucilla, in a few months we will have liberated Rome.  I will keep my promise.  We will find the portal. Either I will go in and marry you. Or you will stay and marry me."

"Oh, Mark, I am happier than when my first husband wed me.  Sure enough, we will be together in my world or yours."

"But, Lucy, we will be together."

They made love.