XVIII
PAGANUS INVICTUS
Rufio Pagano tore from the warehouse and through the streets of Rome as if he were a dog with its tail on fire. His vision blurred with tears of rage and betrayal, and yet his fists were balled as if he were in search of a fight at the close of the taverns.
“Where you going, you ginger knob?” a group yelled after him as he ran through them and into the Forum Romanum.
Peli raced at his side, nipping at Rufio’s ankles as if he were trying to halt his progress away from the warehouse.
“Leave me alone!” Rufio shouted at Peli, but most of the people about him saw only the well-dressed, teary-eyed sprinter who cut his way past. Even the players upon one of the makeshift stages took notice.
“Look!” one of the pantomime actors said, his huge prosthetic phallus waving i
