After a brief word of greeting, Decius sat down beside him. Neither spoke for some time.
“I have come,” the centurion said at last, “to thank you.”
The Egyptian raised an enquiring eyebrow, but said nothing.
“Not only did you save my daughter from drowning, and from being embroiled in the riot...” Decius studied the face beside him. He could read nothing there. The dark eyes regarded him steadily. “But...” he continued, “you stopped me from committing a crime for which my life would have been forfeit.”
The Egyptian shrugged slightly, and turned away as though he had lost interest in the conversation.
“You puzzle me,” Decius said slowly, picking his words with difficulty. “You seem so... so detached from everything going on here... yet... everything you do affects us.”
There was a lon
