Rome - 19. Chapter 19

At breakfast, we were missing Duccius, Niciu, Deacon, and four of the boys. I looked at Felix, “They came down early. They asked that I fix some food for them to take with them. I packed some bread, cheese, and boiled eggs. Your brother had a flask he filled with water.”

I smiled, he would have fun, but more importantly, he accepted them as friends and not slaves. I sat in the courtyard with Aumen, eating one of Felix’s cakes, when the rest of the group struggled in. Sitting on the lounges, Felix passed among them, offering his cakes, one of the boys followed with bowls of fruit, another boy had a tray of cheese followed by a boy with bread. Another boy had a bowl of eggs, and another boy had cups, followed by a boy with a bottle of wine and water. All dressed in tunics. It was a casual morning. Mother asked where is Duccius, grandfathers wanted to know where Niciu and Deacon were.

"Did they eat earlier?”

“Yes, they went hunting in the north. I think Duccius wanted to go and convinced Niciu and Deacon to go with them.”

“Did they go by themselves?”

“No, Felix gave them some food, and four of the boys went with them. I think Duccius rather likes hunting. The last time he went with them, he felled a deer. That is all I heard about the rest of the time he was here. Father, you may like to go hunting with them.”

“Maybe I will.”

“Good, I’m sure there will be another hunting party in a few days.”

The men wanted to see the gardens, groves, and vineyard. Looking at the olive trees, “It looks like you’ll have a good harvest.”

“Yes. I think our water system helps.”

What do you mean, water system?”

“Father, I have clay pipes underground that flow with water. The roots can draw the water as they need.”

“Why isn’t the earth here wet.”

“The pipes are deep. I can show you when I show you the meat pit.”

“Meat pit?”

“Yes, the last time Duccius was here, he killed a deer, the boys killed a boar. It was too much for one meal. So we packaged the meat and took it to a cold stream to keep. I decided since we were successful digging a well, I would dig a well for the meat. So I use water from the well, which is very cold, to keep the pit cold, and we store meat there that the boys bring from their hunting trips.”

My father looked at me. I smiled at him. Gaius looked at the pit, “This is very clever. So you put fresh meat here, and it keeps.”

“Yes, I’ll show you.”

I pulled up some meat and unwrapped it. They looked at it, felt it, smelled it, “I can have Felix prepare this for our supper, and you can taste it.”

“Yes, I’d like to taste it.”

“Great, between Felix and Calliope, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.”

I watched my father pull some cherries off the cherry tree. He ate it, spitting out the seed. “Do you think a cherry tree will grow here?”

“I don’t know, let’s mark the spot and see.” I had one of the boys walking with us, getting a peg, and marking the spot. My father, never a trusting soul, marked off the spot from the nearest tree. As we walked through the grove, my father had to taste all of the fruit, even the olives, which weren’t ripe. Then we went to the vineyard. The vines were growing. They were supported by wooden pegs and small strips of cloth. “

The vines are young. It’ll be a few years before you’ll get enough grapes to make a decent wine.”

“Yes, I calculate three years at least. There are some grapes, but they are small and a little bitter.”

“What about this vine? It looks healthy.”

“That vine we found on the site, the grapes are bitter. Felix uses the juice in his cooking. They add an interesting flavor to wild meat.”

As if on clue, one of the boys came and informed them that the midday meal is ready. Walking toward the Villa, they passed the meat pit. Lucinius had shown them the pit earlier. Removing the wooden lid, Gaius put his hand in the water. “That is very cold.”

“Yes, that is why the meat stays fresh.” He just looked at Lucinius and smiled. As they enter the courtyard, Lucinius saw the boys. Now would be the test.

His father looked, “Who are these boys?”

“They are the boys who work the Villa.”

“They are slaves!”

“No, Father, there are no slaves on this Villa.”

“You bought them, and they are slaves.”

“Yes, I bought them. They have worked off their cost. I pay them based on what I’d have paid hired labor. They bought their freedom.”

“Why didn’t they leave?”

“Why would they? This is their home. They share in the proceeds of this Villa.”

“I don’t understand. Why would a freedman stay here and work?”

“Freedmen need to support themselves. Many freedmen in Rome work the market and other manual works utilizing various skills, why not a Villa.” His father didn’t say anymore.

Felix began to bring food to the table, as usual. The boys looked at me, “Aenais, take a plate and offer it to our guests. Nathan, take one of the plates with food and follow.” That was all I said. The other boys followed suit. Then when all of our guests had full plates, the boys helped themselves. I looked at Aumen and smiled.

The next morning when I went for breakfast, I saw the boys outside working. “Felix, did the boys have breakfast?”

“Yes, they came down early. They wanted to be up and working since they took it easy yesterday.”

I knew that wasn’t the correct answer, and I knew who would tell me the truth. I went and saw Felix’s father, “Felix told me why the boys were up early working. I think he wasn’t quite telling me the truth.”

“He didn’t want to make you angry. One of your guests commented that a slave is a slave even if they buy their freedom.”

“Thank you for being honest with me.” I knew who made that comment, my father.

“Felix, prepare food for the boys for their midday meal. Make sure they have some meat with their meal. For the rest of us, we’ll have cheese, bread, and fruit.” I saw Calliope look at me. I was angry. I thought my father was coming around. He wasn’t.

I checked on the boys as they ate their midday meal. “Tomorrow, I expect to see you at breakfast. You are not slaves. You have the right to have breakfast as a freedman.”

“Sir, your father doesn’t like us. He was talking to your grandfather; he said slaves shouldn’t eat with free people.”

“You aren’t slaves. You are free. I thought you would know that when Dante asked to leave, and I let him. If he was a slave, would I have let him leave?”

Aeneas looked down, “We’re sorry, sir. We didn’t want to cause any problems between you and your father.”

“You needn’t worry about that. The truth is my father doesn’t like me. If you want to know what this place looked like when he gave it to me, ask Aumen. You are freedmen who are partners in this Villa. I expect you to act like it. I’ll see you tonight.”

“Do you want us to serve like last night?”

“No, they can get their own. Just let them go first.”

I had one more idea up my sleeve, and I’d need Aumen to help. I had Felix prepare some of the deer meat that was in the cold pit, and Calliope would help him. I had him prepare vegetables that were boiled and baked. We had the usual cheese, bread, and the last three bottles of wine we diluted with water. I watched my father, who was sitting on a lounge. I guess he was expecting to be served. I spoke to my mother, “Come and fix a plate.”

She looked at me. I guess by my expression she knew there was a problem and my father was the reason. I invited my grandparents next and then my father. He looked at me, “Come and fill your plate. We are having the deer that Duccius killed earlier this year.”

I guided him to the table to make his selection. I knew the food was good. When he sat down, I had Aumen lead the boys to get their food. I was last to get my food. My father looked at me. He didn’t listen to what I said about the boys being freedmen. I hoped this might demonstrate what I meant. After everyone ate, Calliope and Felix came to clear the table. They placed plates of fruit on the table and pitchers of cold water.

I got Gaius looking at me. He nodded his head toward the table. I followed him, whispering, “Your father is upset. He expected to be served tonight.”

“I instructed the boys to do that last night as a welcome. The boys heard Father’s comment that slaves shouldn’t eat with freedmen. That was why there weren’t any boys here for breakfast or the midday meal. Grandfather, you know me and how I feel about slavery. Look around; the boys work hard, harder than the slaves on father’s property. I don’t need to have someone to oversee them as he does. There are no whip marks on them like his slaves have. These boys work hard because they share in the profits.”

“You don’t pay them.”

“No, but they get part of what we sell. Aeneas, how much money do you have?”

“I have five denarii.”

“Where did you get that much money?”

“It was my share of the food we sold in the city.” “

Thank you, Aeneas.”

“That’s a lot of money for a slave.”

Laughing, “You’re right, grandfather, but not a freedman, right.”

“If I asked the other boys, what would they tell me?”

“Ask them. They are free to tell you. Come with me.”

We walked to the front of the Villa. “What do you see?”

He looked to the right, “I see you have more animal sheds than the last time I was here. You have enlarged your stable. I see fields of wheat and oats and large gardens of various vegetables. I saw your tree groove and vineyards yesterday.”

“You have seen father’s place. How many slaves does he have as compared to the number of boys I have?”

“I understand what you mean.”

“Grandfather, it only makes sense that if you own something, you’ll work harder than if you are forced to work.”

My grandfather looked at me. “I don’t own a Villa. All I have is my home. If I freed my slaves, they would leave.”

“You need to talk to Dante. He wanted his freedom. I gave it to him, Duccius brought him home, beaten, hungry, and in rags. My guess is your slaves wouldn’t leave you, but it’s just a guess.”

“I’ll think about it.”

I smiled; that was good enough for me. I knew it would be more difficult for him. His slaves have lived in the city, and they knew the way of the city.

The rest of the evening, we sat in the courtyard talking about various topics. Father and grandfather spoke about the latest campaign and what it would mean. They spoke about the issues the Senate was considering, they complained about the Consuls, I laughed at that, to myself. The boys started to excuse themselves. They had to get up early where our guests could sleep in. I nodded to Aumen. He excused himself. I smiled. Father never knew that Aumen was bought at the slave market. Grandfather Gaius knew because he was with me when I bought him. I thought it was interesting that Father never knew he was a slave. He accepted him as a freedman even though he only spoke Greek.