N) You see a scruffy-looking man holding the reins of the two mules. He, by some good fortune, hasn’t noticed that you fell into his cart. You duck down again, into the coarse straws of wheat. What should you do now? If you run from the cart, the man is sure to think that you are a thief, trying to steal his goods. Staying put definitely sounds like the best plan. The mules continue down the rough roads, causing the cart to shake and shimmy. Your civilization was famous for its construction of roads. Roads like this one allowed trade and travel to increase. You even have an old saying, “All roads lead to Rome!” These roads also allowed the Roman Empire to conquer vast lands and move troops quickly to the battlegrounds. The cart must be nearing the city, for you hear the steady chatter of voices and the sounds business. Peering out of the wheat, you notice huge public buildings, supported by immense columns. Temples to Neptune, Jupiter, Vesta, and other gods and goddesses decorate urban Rome. Your city was built on seven hills, high up, so that it is difficult to attack. You suddenly become aware that your clothes are tattered and torn from the fall and the scuffle with the bear. As the cart passes a laundry man’s house, you reach out quickly and snatch a white cloak. As you carefully wrap the new toga, you notice that this material is very expensive, only the upper class would wear something this nice. Once you’ve tied the toga tight, you hop quietly out of the cart with the driver none the wiser. A group of wealthy nobles walk toward the public baths.
copyright Jay D'Ambrosio 2000