Chapter IV: CCXL (or as Felix might write it, CCXXXX)
In the Colosseum, which is in the process of being built even as Damon is falling out of a boat, the number over the forty-ninth entrance is written as XXXXVIIII.
At this size, some of the background details aren’t clear…
It seems things are going swimmingly for Felix and his friends. No doubt that pesky volcano will settle down now and act nice. Besides the Imperial Weather Forecast said nothing about brief pyroclastic flows overnight. Now everybody back to the temple to prepare a sacrifice of thanksgiving.
I know–It’s nothing a few honey cakes or goat sacrifice can’t fix.
Is the bear swimming out to the boat?
Getting into the boat would probably be awkward for everyone. But maybe the bear can make it across the bay or find some flotsam to float on….
the remnants of an arch, maybe.
Or a floating door.
Or a bunch of sponges from the Baths.
I have it on good authority Sweetums the bear has landed an excellent gig feasting on Christians at the Roman Circus. Even now he’s hot-footing it north toward Rome.