Coriolanus Act 4.3.1

Scene 4.3.1

A Highway between Rome and Antium

The last war between Volsces and Roman had erupted on the borders with two battle fronts. The Volsces had moved fast with their armored vehicles. They override the border outposts and rolled over the defenses. The border guards were no match for the regular army of Volsces. The Romans retaliated fast with their superior armors, but the Volsces had their planned strategies. It was just the blunder of logistics to send the supplies not as per schedule. Those blunders caused the Romans to regain their land. It was that blunder which concentrated the war in some locations. The war became an armored attack battles with both sides wrecking each other. The location of the battles was littered with burnt armors with unmarked graves for those who were lucky to be buried. After the war, the race for the salvagers to come in and reclaimed the scraps. Among the salvagers were also the spies that were to pick on anything that could be used for the country’s technology. Even the Volsces have made some advances in tracking of terrain. It was a valued technology.

The location which we were looking at was a section of the highway where a border outpost had stood. It was more of an uncompleted building then after having undergone a barrage of shelling by the Volsces. The salvagers have not arrived there yet, but there was a vehicle carried the logo of a salvager. The person who stepped out was dressed like one but he had a shoulder holster with a blaster there. He picked up the vid-cular to scan the surrounding areas.

“I know you well.” The voice came from the rear of him. He turned to look, and saw the bearded man in the overall but the other person was carrying a rifle. He was wearing a Roman insignia cap.

“You know me, Volsces. Your name is Adrian.” The Roman lowered his rifle. “The war is over, and we could speak easy.”

“It is so, Sir. Truly, I have not forgotten you.” The Volsces smiled. “You did look better than as a Volsces.”

The other was a Roman who impersonating a Volsces when he met the so named Salvager.

“I am a Roman, and my services are as you are, against them. Know you me yet?”

“Nicanor? No?” The Volsces scratched his chin. He did shave his chin that morning, removing his itchy beard so he resembled a Volsces general outlook.

“The same, Sir.” Nicanor smiled.

“You had more beard before. What’s the news in Rome? I have a note from the Volscian to meet you here. You have saved me a long wait.” Adrian looked at the double agent. He disliked double agents; they are unknown of their loyalty to either side, except their own side.

“There been in Rome strange insurrection; the people against the Nobles and Consuls.” Nicanor explained.

“Had been? Is it ended? Our state does not think so. They are in a warlike preparation, and hope to come upon them in the heat of their division.” Adrian replied.

“The main blaze of it had passed, but a small thing would make it flame again. The Nobles receive so to heart the banishment of the worthy Coriolanus. They are in the ripe to take all their power from the Commoners. This lies glowing and it’s almost mature for the violent breaking out.”

“Coriolanus banished...” Adrian was surprised. He had heard the hero was making Consul.

“You are welcome to the news.” Nicanor stood there. “The day serves well for them now. The fittest time to corrupt a man’s wife is when she fell out with her husband. Your noble Tullus Aufidius will appear well in these wars, his great oppose, Coriolanus, being now in no request of his country.”

“He cannot choose.” Adrian wanted to cut the meeting. “We best be going.”

“Have you an army ready?” Nicanor asked out. That was why he was waiting. He was looking to work for the winning side.

“Oh, a most loyal one. The armors are repairing and added in the new enhancements.” Adrian gloated and worked up a 

grand army that may not exist. He had been salvaging scraps more than technologies. “We may just win the next war.”

“I am joyful …for you.” Nicanor handed out his hand. Then Adrian recalled the promise of cash.

“You take my part from me and I am glad of yours.” Nicanor reached for the pack in his pocket.