Act
One
Scene
One
Sub-Scene
Two
Mark
Antony
“Mark
Antony? A familiar name, and more so when we fought together.” Caesar asked.
The man was introduced as Mark Antony approached Caesar and hugged him.
“Hello,
cousin.” Mark smiled. He was related to Julius Caesar through his mother,
Julia. Julia was a member of the Julii, specifically the Caesar family. Her
father was Lucius Julius Caesar, and Gaius Julius Caesar was her cousin. This
relationship made Antony and Caesar distant cousins, but their involvement in
the battles with the Gaul’s made him admired by Caesar.
“Cousin?”
Brutus was surprised. “I never knew.”
“Not
many knew. I hardly expressed my lineage to many.” Julius smiled. “Mark here is
a relative of my father. We battled the Gaul’s when he was just an enforcer. He
fought well, and one day, he saved my life.”
“It
was a moment of opportuneness to be there then.” Mark had seen the Gaul hitman
who had flanked Julius. He did what was needed; he rushed over and shot the
hitman in the back.
“Not
my best shot.”
“Yes,
Mark was not happy with the kill. He is a gentleman at the battles; no
backstabbing or that rear shot. He wants to see his victim’s eyes when they are
killed by him.” Julius laughed. “Not all of us here do that. We take the
opportunity when there is one.”
“How
are you, Mark? I did not get to see you after Gaul’s called for a truce.”
“I
was away. The... Consul assigned me to handle the Sicilians up north.” Mark
smiled. He wanted to say that it was Julius who send him but that will be
embarrassed the other if said. “I …….”
“Was
it mine to call? It may not be, but things have been piling up. Say it was my
call and welcome back.” Caesar corrected the situation.
“It
may be but for now, do have a seat here.” Julius offered Mark a seat at the
round table. Brutus was ignored, but he took one of the available seats. There
were eight seats, and on that day, with Mark Antony and Brutus, six seats were
taken.
“I
was discussing the killing of two of our lieutenants, Isaac, and Moses. We need
to find out who is involved.” Julius looked at Brutus and then Agrippa.
“I
suspect it was the Visigoths. They have been... " Brutus was intercepted.
“Alain
of Visigoths would have told me of that. I will send a message to him.” Julius
said. “I do not believe it can be him.”
“And
Dino. I overheard the name mentioned.” Brutus smiled and then added. “Do you
trust the Visigoths? May the gods hold you in their favour.".
“Alain
and I go back some years. We had been rivals, but we have called a truce on it
for some time. I …...”
“You
shot his nephew, Daniel.” Brutus reminded Julius.
“And
he shot my cousin.” Julius reminded Brutus: “Tom Casey was shot by the nephew,
and I seek revenge.”
“Vengeance
never ends. Soon, it was all over for us.” Brutus sighed. “How all occasions do
inform against me,
And
spur my dull revenge!” (Hamlet 4.4.35-6)
“Brutus,
please ……” Agrippa cut in.
“Both
were fools. They were fighting over some filly in Philly.” Julius recalled the
conflict.
“It
was the cause of the war then.” Julius looked at Mark. “We battled for over a
month before we called it off to discuss a truce. Crassus was the mediator, and
later found out to be the one that Casey was in the mess. The filly was Crassus
dame.”
Mark
nodded towards Julius. He was in the war, but he never knew why. He just did as
his task required. It was the same when he asked to mediate with the Sicilian.
“Why
are you here?” Julius asked Mark. “I meant back here.”
“I
was to come here to tell you that the Sicilian agreed to the arrangement with
Rome. We will not go above the agreed borders; the 38th parallel, and all will
be fine.” Rome was on the alert for a war with the Sicilians over some
territories. It was a year and six months dealing with Mark for Rome, and the
other side was one named Sonny “Boy” Carlini. Mark was the emissary of the Consul,
but he was more of a hostage there initially. He did his best and was rewarded
by the agreement.
(The
other rarely known 38th parallel structures, also known as the 38th parallel
lineament, are a series of seven circular depressions or deformations
stretching 700 kilometres (430 mi) across southern Illinois and Missouri and
into eastern Kansas.)
“How
is Fulvia?” Julius asked. “And Lucius? Did you visit them yet?”
The
illicit relationship of Mark and Fulvia was hidden but Caesar knew all that was
to know of his boys.
“I
have not met them yet. I was chaperoned here by the Consul member to meet you.”
“I
was told of Mark’s return and had him brought here. He …...” Brutus wanted to
claim credit for the visit. “We battled once; I was his commanding boss’ foe
but we are good now.”
“Mark
needs to see his family now. The meeting is over.” Julius told everyone.
“Lepidus sends in Enobarbus from the corridor.”
“Oh,
Mark. I duly apologize, but could you stay behind? I may have a task for you.”
Julius said.
“Before
we end, Caesar, I want to report on the arrival of Agent Elliot Ness from Treasury.
He just arrived.” Pedro Menas looked at the emperor. “We know little of him. He
may be...”
“The
Treasury agents are manageable. The last one was taken from us. We did not give
him the cement shoes.” Agrippa cut in. The last agent was handled by the ‘Muddles’
when he renegaded on their dealings. He wanted to cap his hauls for the
authorities and was dunked in the drum of cement legs. He was to feed the fish
at sea off the coasts, while the authorities had him tagged as ‘dirty’ when
they found a suitcase of money in his apartment. His disappearance was
considered a close case thereafter.
“Elliot
is paired with Best. You do recall him from...” Agrippa was cut off.
“I
remember him. He had his best friend shot before his eyes. He ……. I will attend
to the matter later. Get me, Enobarbus in.” Julius ended the meeting.
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