"Father!" "Whatever happened?" "He's very weak." "All my brother's wealth was lost." "Venalicius is free." "Here to recover debts of Marcus Flavius Geminus." "The Aphrodite was wrecked." "I can dive." "For treasure?" "Welcome to my villa." "Dolphins." "A good omen." "That treasure's down there for good." "They say there's a monster." "He's gone too long." "Shouldn't have let him go." "Lukos!" "Lukos!" "Wake up!" "Wake up, Lukos!" "Don't listen to the sirens." "Up to the light." "Up to the air." "Lukos!" "He's got something." "Lupus, you're brilliant!" "Whoa, let him breathe." "There is treasure!" "Now you believe." "How much?" "Three amphoras full of gold?" "!" "That's a fortune!" "How much does one amphora hold?" "Lend me your tablet." "An old kylix." "Can I have a look?" "Lupus!" "What is?" "Behold, more blood flows." "Oh, no, you don't!" "Too many dives." "No treasure is worth Neptune's curse." "You can dive tomorrow." "The treasure's not going anywhere!" "Got it!" "One gold aurei is worth 100 sestercii." "A small amphora holds about 400 aurei." "It's about 40,000 sestercii, times three." "120,000!" "That's more than enough." "I can pay my father's debts." "Nobody tell him." "Did you find any treasure?" "Only this!" "An old pot." "Never mind." "When I first went to sea, I used to dream of treasure ships, but most cargo is boring, everyday stuff." "This isn't a cooking pot." "No." "A kylix." "It's probably Greek, like the figurehead." "I wish I could help." "Don't worry, Father." "Since the dolphins came," "I know everything's going to be all right." "WOMAN SCREAMS" "What's the matter?" "She is gutting fish." "It has no heart." "Oh, no!" "What does it mean?" "It's a bad omen." "Very bad." "The day Caesar was murdered, the sacrificial lamb had no heart." "This one here?" "Urgh." "What kind of fish is it?" "Lupus." "Lupus, don't dive." "The omens are bad." "Nonsense." "Besides, he only needs to make one more dive." "Lupus uses the big anchor like the stones, to descend." "Which takes these floats we borrowed from Phrixus." "He hooks this round the amphoras and cuts the cord." "The floats bring them to the surface." "You'll go down very fast, give you more time at the bottom." "All keep clear of the rope." "Ready?" "88 legionaries, 89 legionaries, 90 legionaries... 150, 151..." "He's been down too long." "I think I feel a tug." "Pull him up!" "I can't." "Not till I'm sure." "What do we do now?" "It's caught on something." "210, 211..." "Swim up to the light." "Up!" "You escaped the monster, you're free." "Swim up, Lukos!" "It's all my fault!" "I made him dive for treasure." "Behold!" "We're too late!" "I know what to do." "Turn him on his back." "What are you doing?" "Breathing his spirit back into him." "Pray." "Everybody pray!" "You did it!" "You saved his life." "How did you do it?" "I saw my father do it once." "Did you lose your spirit?" "God will refill me." "What happened to him?" "Leg is bleeding." "Poor Lupus!" "He must have been terrified." "I'll take him straight to his room." "You get some help." "It can't be!" "Venalicius!" "He's just put out from Ostia." "He'll go by." "No, he's stopping." "He must know we're here." "He will not come against the Pliny!" "Nobody tell Lupus." "Thank you." "You're so kind." "Miriam!" "Miriam, what are you doing?" "Nothing!" "I was just thanking Gaius for his gift." "Uncle Gaius?" "My first name is also Gaius." "There was nothing improper, I assure you." "He is sleeping now." "My father says that's the best cure." "Poor Lupus!" "We'd nearly found the treasure!" "It doesn't matter." "How can you say that?" "!" "Lupus nearly died, my father's ruined, you and Gaius can't get married." "This present of Pliny?" "They're very pretty." "He said I should have dolphins of my own." "Do you like him?" "He's very kind, very thoughtful." "What about Uncle Gaius?" "We hardly know each other." "So much has happened." "The eruption, losing the farm." "Everything's spoilt." "Without farm, you are not loving Uncle?" "It doesn't sound very good, does it?" "But the garden, the vineyards, a way of life that hadn't changed for centuries." "It made me feel safe." "Uncle Gaius hasn't changed." "But we can't be together now." "All I see are our differences." "What does your father say?" ""These are women's worries."" "No mothers to help us." "If only." "Come quickly!" "Venalicius steals the treasure!" "He can't, it's ours!" "We can't just stand here!" "What to do?" "How did he know about it?" "I told him." "Father, what are you doing here?" "Where is Lupus?" "He's in danger." "Inside sleeping." "He had an accident, diving for the treasure." "Venalicius is stealing it." "We have to stop him." "He's not trying to steal it." "He wants to help you." "You don't believe that." "He hates us." "He's done many bad deeds, most of all to Lupus, but he wants to make amends." "Why did you even talk to him?" "In prison, I tended the wound Lupus gave him." "He's evil." "I took an oath to treat any man." "Do you know what this is?" "A sica, an assassin's knife." "It belongs to a patient, a wrestler." "He told me a boy tried to hire him." "This boy wanted him to kill Venalicius." "Oh, Lupus!" "But why?" "Venalicius is Lupus's uncle." "He's gone!" "Lupus!" "Lupus!" "Lupus!" "Lupus, come back!" "Lupus!" "Come back!" "Lupus!" "Feels wrong coming out by ourselves." "Why not turn back and wait for the others?" "They won't know how to dive like you." "Let's leave it till tomorrow, when you've got your strength back." "Where's your master?" "The first net catches the best fish." "45..." "Venalicius was a sponge diver on an island called Symi." "He lost his eye diving too many times." "His father sold him to slave traders, but the boy was too deformed to sell so joined the crew instead." "Push!" "Wait!" "The float rope." "How will you bring up the treasure?" "See!" "Venalicius is trying to steal the treasure!" "His name is Phillipos, he's trying to help." "There is good in everyone." "It doesn't matter what we think." "Lupus is down there." "He means to kill him!" "Never leave a diver in trouble, Lukos." "You know that." "191, 192... 136, 137..." "Dear Lord, we pray that your repentance is in their hearts..." "What's Lupus got to be sorry for?" "203." "204." "Coming up!" "Feels like treasure to me, all right." "Lupus!" "He's in trouble!" "Bring him to the villa!" "What's wrong with him?" "Was it Lupus?" "Lupus saved him from the octopus." "It's Neptune's curse." "He dived too much." "His blood is boiling." "Not even your father can save him." "I wished his dying, but not this." "Lupus." "Your uncle wants to talk to you." "He hasn't got long." "You know that." "You've been very brave, and you have your revenge." "Can you be braver still, and give it up?" "Please." "Only listen to him." "VENALICIUS CHOKES AND SPLUTTERS" "I know you hate me - so you should." "But I promise you, I never meant to kill your father." "I came home to be revenged on my father." "But the old man was dead and your mother, the only girl I ever loved, she was there with my own brother." "He had stolen my woman, my happiness." "I swore to kill him." "No!" "I waited till you and he had gone diving." "We talked, your mother and I, as friends," "and when we heard you return, she embraced me." "Your father must have thought I was attacking her." "He pulled his knife but he'd never tried to kill a man before." "I saw my brother's blood on my hands and I knew the gods had cursed me." "I want to make amends for what I've done." "You are my only family." "Please." "Accept it." "Please." "Please." "Forgive me." "God bless you." "Do you want the body to be buried?" "Cremation?" "Is that the way on Symi?" "I understand." "He has no power over you any more, Lupus." "Is your tongue loosened?" "Poor boy." "Not any more." "He's inherited everything from Venalicius." "He's rich." "He's even a ship owner!" "The Vespa!" "He won't carry on that trade?" "No!" "I don't know what he'll do." "Any news from your uncle?" "We didn't find the treasure and now we never will." "Neptune is hoarding it for himself." "Apart from this." "The kylix!" "You cleaned it!" "Can I show it to Pliny?" "It's yours, little owl." "Excuse me, may I come in?" "Please." "Forgive the disorder " "I'm preparing a court case and I must make a good impression." "First step on the ladder, you know." "I wanted to ask your opinion." "Great Mother Juno." "Where did you get this?" "From the wreck." "Black figure is very old, and it's beautifully painted." "It's perfect." "I think it's the work of Exekias the Master." "There are very few of his vases in existence." "You will look after it carefully, won't you?" "Yes." "Thank you." "Please, may I confide in you?" "I'd be honoured." "I didn't tell my father, but Dr Mordecai brought bad news from Ostia." "My father's patrons can't help him." "If he doesn't have 100,000 sestercii by tomorrow, the bankers will take everything." "I'm very sorry." "And it isn't just Father and I, there's Nubia and Alma and Caudex." "And Uncle Gaius and Miriam can't get married." "One tree is struck by lightning and the forest burns." "Yes, exactly." "So I wondered if..." "I might buy your kylix?" "And I take it the asking price is... 100,000 sestercii." "I know it's a great deal of money." "It's worth it, and of course I want to help, but I'd have to raise the funds, and I'm really just making my way." "But, if the case goes well, and I have every reason to expect..." "I'm sure it will." "You'll be brilliant." "Yes, well." "Why not?" "Live dangerously, eh!" "Thank you, thank you." "Uncle Gaius!" "Flavia." "Miriam." "Have you seen my brother?" "I have good news for him." "I'll take you to him." "I'm trembling." "Your heart is like the worship drum?" "Yes." "And I feel sick." "I think you are loving him, and not farm." "Your mother's necklace." "You gave to Venalicius to buy me." "Oh, Lupus, thank you!" "Look, Father, look!" "What a day!" "Your mother's necklace and the Geminus fortune restored." "Lupus's bed hasn't been slept in." "He was still on the beach when I left." "Look!" "Emperor Titus wishes Dr ben Ezra to come and work in the plague clinic." "This plague is just the beginning." "Rome will be devastated." "You will never see your mother again!" "Your mother's been poisoned." "Will she die?" "The Ark of the Covenant!" "To open it is to be cursed."