The Loyal Lieutenants Act Nine Scene One Sub Scene Three

 

Act Nine

Scene One

Sub-Scene Three

Mark is faced with choices.

 

Caesar calls Mark Antony was simple: send me Romans to Egypt. He did not specify the numbers, but it was urgent. Mark contemplated the call and was equally concerned on his side, for there was a revolt in the works. He needed the Romans to be ready to defend their own there.

“I met Charlie, and we spoke. He was initially annoyed to be approached by a mere lieutenant, but I assured him his honor was preserved.” Enobarbus reported to Mark at the mansion after his meeting. They had the meeting in one of the empty chambers.

“And I told Charlie, we are fine. We will not trigger any war now.” Enobarbus was offered a drink by Mark there. Jeeves had left the bottle and two glasses there for them.

“Charlie shared his concern about the shooting at you. He gave me the assurance; the tongs are not involved.”

“I trust him to say that, and even if he were involved, he would not tell you now.” Mark saw the lieutenant with the shirt buttons opened. “Where did he meet you?”

“Where else but one of his sweat shops?” The Tongs operate several sweat shops where the migrants churn out tailored wear and rubber shoes. The work area was crowded and noisy, with the steamers hissing on the side, releasing the needed heat to power the irons that pressed the shirts and pants. A work area may house like thirty workers alongside unsewn materials and rubber shoes. There were few ventilations, but the migrants there were used to it. Enobarbus met Charlie at the mezzanine office. The heat from the work area could be felt there, but Charlie was seated below the ceiling fan mounted to the sewing machine motor. (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/knowing-more-popular-pedestal-fans-polar-india/)

Charlie was unlike Alain; he was dressed in loose clothing and cloth shoes. He had on the hair loose to his shoulders and the dark round-rimmed spectacles, while his drink was the hot black tea. Enobarbus declined the drink in his misery, for the meeting was long and thirst was his other contention. He was backed up by two burly-looking guys whom you do not want to meet in the alley.

“The Roman issue is not mine. I was approached by them.” Enobarbus cut in then.

“Who? Was it...”

“I do not know the names, but that one was popular. He was named Moses. Killed sometime back, but we have no part in it. My aunts who attended his sermons adored him.” Charlie was of the same faith as Moses. “He spoke to me about being a friend, but he never pays his laundry bills. I had to charge the money to the others, including yours.”

“No offense taken.” Enobarbus smiled.

“I also met this other Roman, Cicero, and he was more direct. He wanted me to ally with him and one other to fight Caesar, but I told him no. I am a businessman and do not want to get involved.” Charlie ran the legit betting and laundry shops, along with the brothels and opium dens, with the side business of supplying guns.

“I got good business here. You do not offend me; I will not do yours.” Charlie was upfront. “I will not discuss the recent involvement of the Romans in my migrant’s union. It was face-losing for me, but I will deal with it later.”

Enobarbus recalled that Brutus works of recent. It contained everything, and nothing untoward happened. The last major Roman and Tong conflict was some years ago, when one of the Tongs’ boys was killed on Roman territory, and the accusations followed on that led to some fights. Crassus then called for a truce, and all was well with each other.

“Who was the other guy?” Enobarbus asked. “Brutus?”

“I do not tell when asked. What do you give me if I tell you?" Charlie was adept at bargaining.

“Well, if I knew who the other was, I could avoid the Romans’s conflicts, and we could be friends.” Enobarbus read the expression on Charlie’s face, which was expressionless. He was an experienced poker player.

“I could divert... I meant send all the mansion’s laundry over.” Enobarbus smiled. “And have them paid in advance.”

Charlie was not smiling.

“Boss, I offered the betting shops on Marie Square to Charlie.” Enobarbus confessed to Mark. “It was the bargaining piece he wanted.”

Marie Square was located on the fringe of the city but held a good clientele of bidders that paid well. It was on the fringe of the Tongs territory. It was a loss to the Romans, but the name that was given was worth the cost.

“Charlie told me it was Pompey... Junior who met him. He was in the works with Cicero and Brutus.” Enobarbus said. “Moses was killed by Junior and dumped into the sea. It was done at the ice-producing warehouse. Charlie knew nothing about Isaac, but he said Lucas Perry was by Cicero.”

“The hit on us was by Cicero using outside mercenaries. The ladies were from the south; probably the tanned folks were from there.”

“They were not ladies but disguised. I have heard of such assassins and their brutal acts.” Mark told Enobarbus.

“The one on you and Ashraf is by Cicero using the Visigoth boys. How does he know all of this? He supplied the guns to the mercenaries and the Visigoths; the suits were sent to the laundry to wash the blood off and mended the tears, before they were given away as charity for the poor.”

“Alain is being charitable.”

“Boss, what do we do now with Pompey and... Brutus?” Enobarbus asked.

“We need to discuss Caesar in Egypt.”