Part 13 (2/2)
Narcissus said
He dragged a writhing body on the flagstones, holding it by one wrist
”He was armed I had to throttle him to save my liver from his knife
I think I broke his neck He is certainly dying,” said Narcissus
So the tunnel with it
”Let ive azed back, at hi eyes A strea from below his left arm
”Now the Gods of heaven and hell, and all the strange Gods that have no resting place, and all the spirits of the air and earth and sea, defile your spirit!” Corateful fool! You have deprived me of my liberty! You let yourself be killed like any sow under the butcher's knife, and dare to leave me shadowless? Then die like carrion and rot unburied!”
He began to kick him, but the stricken man's lips ain,both fists at the tunnel roof
”Os!” he exploded ”He says he should have had stewed eels tonight!”
The watching senators hter touched off all the e He turned into a mania
He tore at his own hair He tore off his loin-cloth and stood naked
He tried to kill Narcissus, because Narcissus was the nearest to hi centurion's parade voice filled the tunnel
”Dogs! Dogs' ullage! Vipers!” he yelled ”Who slew my shadow? Who did it? This is a conspiracy! Who hatched it? Bring my tablets! Warn the executioners! What is Commodus without his du fool! You cursed, stupid idiots! You have killed my du air of throne-rooht-you miserable, wanton imbeciles! It is Paulus you have killed! Do you appreciate that? Jupiter, but I will make Roe blinded hi wretch whose wrist Narcissus twisted, until he struck at Narcissus again and, trying to follow him, stumbled over the assassin
”Who is this? Givethat la recently been praised, the senator Tullius brought the la, held it near the culprit's face The , with his eyes half- bursting froh his teeth because Narcissus' thuled him
”A Christian,” said Tullius
There was a note of quiet exultation in his voice The privileges of the Christians were a sore point with the majority of senators
”A what?” demanded Coraved on bone and wears it hung fronize the man I think he is the one aylaid Pertinax the other day and spoke strange stuff about a whore on seven hills whose days are numbered”
He had raised up the man's head by the hair Commodus sta the head on the flagstones
”Christian!” he shouted ”Is this Marcia's doing? Is this Marcia's expedient to keephave I endured that rabble! I will rid Rome of the brood! They kill the shadow-they shall feel the substance!”
Suddenly he turned on his attendants-pointed at the murderer and his victim:
”Throw those two into the sewer! Strip them-strip them now-let none identify them Seize those spineless fools who let the murder happen Tie them You, Narcissus-march thees Stay there and see it done, then come and tell me”
The courtiers backed away froht as the tunnel-ould let theh