apparently.'
The conversation waned, all mouths busy with the main courses. Marcus was more disillusioned with Roman society than ever before. He knew Caligula was broadly disliked, but now it seemed clear that the Emperor was mad and the citizens would suffer for his insanity.
'Yes, I've heard stories from Judaea,' said Marcus, quietly delighted at the opening.
'Do tell,' said his mother.
'I've been speaking with a Judean. He's a slave in the baths near the Forum. Nice chap. Quite intelligent. He can even read Greek.'
'Fascinating how some of the savages can adopt our ways,' said the merchant. 'But no more civilised than dogs.'
The others nodded their approval of the assumption, a commonly held superiority complex.
'So this slave, Luke is his name, he told me about a character in Judaea. I'm writing a long story about him. A novel.'
'Wonderful,' exclaimed his mother, clapping her hands and kissing him on both cheeks. 'You will be the greatest writer the Empire has known. You are still so young. You have time. All you need is the idea. Praise to Mercury,' she said, raising her goblet, 'Protector of writers.'
'And merchants!' said the merchant as all at the table raised their drinks.
'Tell us your idea, Marcus,' they chorused.
'The idea is to write a sequel to the Testament, the holy book of the Judeans, which is very popular reading among the literate classes.'
'I've read some of it,' said the artist. 'I even have the scrolls in my studio. Quite fascinating, really. Their god character is such a brute. Is it meant to be ironic?'
'Oh, it's magical,' said the merchant's wife. 'A fantasy, I'd say. The part about the creation of the Universe is so exciting.'
'Genesis, isn't it?' said Marcus's mother.
'Everybody's talking about it. Escapist, exotic literature is such an antidote to political plays and love stories.'
'I'm so tired of the Greek myths.'
All agreed.
'Yes,' said Marcus. 'So I hope to capitalise on this interest in religious escapism and continue the story.'
'In which direction?' asked the merchant.
'More wine!' called his wife. 'Bring us that pale Spanish.'
'You'll like this,' said the merchant. 'It hasn't suffered for travel. Marcus, I apologise. In which direction will you continue the story?'
'This slave, Luke, has given me the entire structure,' said Marcus, excited now at the growing potential of his story. In truth, he was amazed at the popularity of the old Judean stories among Rome's elite. It all seemed to fit perfectly. 'Just a few months ago, a man in Judaea claimed to be the son of their god.'
'Yes,' said his mother, 'the Judeans have only one god. How quaint.'
'Needless to say, he upset the local priests and they had him crucified. Our man Pilate was forced to order the killing.'
'As cunning as wolves, priests.'
'This crucified man supposedly performed miracles, such as turning water into wine.'
'Water into wine? Then off with his head!' exclaimed the merchant.
'Quite,' continued Marcus, after the laughter subsided. 'He is also said to have cured lepers and raised the dead.'
'All very interesting,' said the artist, a secret atheist. 'But it sounds like a simple religious fantasy to me.'
'It gets better,' said Marcus. 'After he was entombed, three days later, he rose from the dead.'
'A standard switch, I would've thought.'
'Those Judeans have had too much of the man's magic wine, I fear,' laughed the merchant, uneasily.
'Apparently a lot of them believe this is all true. Besides all the magic tricks, he had a profound message: that all men are equal, that the Emperor and the slave are as one before god.'
'Be careful with this tale,' warned Maximus. 'That kind of talk could get you deported. Or worse.'
He'd thought of this risk, of course, and had already taken the decision to publish under an assumed name. Perhaps a Judean name for authenticity: Matthew or Luke or just put it down as the word of God. Edgy. He would lose credit for his work and any chance at profit. But these motivations were no longer the drivers of his creative urges. His spirit demanded more. His soul had awoken. He would create a character like none seen in fiction before. Pit him against an empire. Challenge the status quo. An Odyssey for a new millennium, a Ulysses not on a journey of self-discovery through allegory, but a hero for the poor, the enslaved, the ninety-nine percent.
The dishes were cleared and dessert of Syrian pears and Greek honey was placed before them.
'Your main character, Marcus. The magician, what is his name?' asked the merchant's wife.
'Literally, the anointed one who brings the salvation of God,' said Marcus. 'For a hero, Jesus Christ has more of a ring to it, don't you think?'
'I'm worried, Marcus,' said his mother then. 'I don't want you causing any trouble.'
'Don't worry, mother. It's just a story.'
A story that can wait awhile, perhaps. This scene, this now, this is too interesting to lose.
Another story formed.
The writer excused himself, went outside to smell the night and to look at Jupiter, King of all the Gods, in all His glory. He smiled.
###
THE END
About the author
So, what do you think? Connect with Gary on Facebook and let him know.
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Gary lives and writes in Dublin, Ireland and is an Amazon number one bestselling thriller writer whose stories are edgy, controversial page-turners. Nominated for the Crime Writers' Association Debut Dagger Award with acclaimed Limerick crime thriller PURE MAD, published in 2009. Has also published atheist/DNA conspiracy thriller THE GOD VIRUS (2011), THE DEATH OF OSAMA BIN LADEN - AN ALTERNATIVE HISTORY (2012) and THE WRITER AND OTHER STORIES shorts collection (2013). Has also written a series of kids' thrillers about witches and magic in Ireland, WITCH GRANNIES. VAMPIRE STORY is his debut short film, as writer and director. Gary actively promotes secularism in SECULAR IRELAND. Published for 2015 is a New York thriller about food, art and Nazis.
Gary says: “Stories are what make us human. The beauty about writing fiction is that there really are no limits. Fiction is so powerful that the world is controlled by it, from the Bible to political manifestos. But my fiction is about escape, entertainment and excitement.
“Pure Mad, my crime thriller, is set in Limerick, Ireland and was nominated for the UK Crime Writers' Association Debut Dagger. I've since revisited the work and published The Author's Cut. The God Virus is a wild conspiracy thriller about an atheist forensics scientist who gets hold of DNA samples that raise huge questions about the origin of humanity, the power of religion and the ultimate questions of life, gods and where we're going as a species.
“I try to focus on building strong and interesting characters and letting them breathe in plots that have no limits. My stories are epic, controversial and, I hope, like nothing you've read before. If you like my work, please give it a rating and review wherever you find it.
“My latest work, TO EAT THE WORLD, is an epic thriller about a Nazi plot to use food and art to take over the US economy. Can a chef and an art dealer prevent a nuclear meltdown in Manhattan? Download the book now and find out!
Gary J Byrnes, January 2015.
Discover other titles by Gary J Byrnes
To Eat The World
The X-Games
Ireland Trilogy
9/11 Trilogy
Pure Mad
The God Virus
The Death of Osama bin Laden - An Alternative History
The Writer and Other Stories
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