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The feast was entering its third hour, and Tekla was incredibly fed up with it. In the beginning, it was kind of interesting to watch the romans with their weird hairdos and togas, sampling the food items on different degrees of delicious and disgusting (Mrs Vali included some traditional school canteen dishes on the menu, and since Petronius was fairly uninterested in the workings of the kitchen – „or anything else really” Tekla thought maliciously –, and the rest of the slaves didn’t dare to argue with the master chef[1], the guests could enjoy some nice hungarian-style squash stew with meatballs for the first time in history); however, by now the show was starting to die down, and Tekla’s legs were cramping after standing in one place for so long, her arms from holding the amphora.
Next to her Edina was whining quietly.
„When can we eat finally? I’m dying of hunger over here!”
„After the guests go home” sighed Tekla for what felt like the 12th time. She was starving, too.
„But someone is just arriving!” Edina pointed at the door. Tekla stared at the newcomers, or more precisely only one of the two: although the bright red hair, the laurel wreath and the black clothing was already somewhat unusual, it was nothing compared to the fact that man was sautering into the room wearing actual, honest-to-god sunglasses. With frames and lens. Sunglasses. In ancient Rome. Sunglasses.
Tekla happened to know the first object that could be called sunglasses (if you were generous) had been used by no else but Nero. Will be used? Oh, doesn’t matter. The point is, we’re talking about a polished emerald! The glasses of the mysterious guest were somewhat strange, old-fashioned, but certainly not just a cut gemstone: they had everything that make sunglasses sunglasses. And that hair, it really can’t be such bright red by nature! Tekla glanced at the man's companion, but on him, she saw nothing conspicuous.
„If they sit down together, I’ll serve them!” she hissed to Edina. „If separately, yours is the one in white, mine is the black!”
„Right, so you get the cute guy!” Edina hissed back. Tekla shook her head, irritated. She didn’t have time to argue.
„Yeah, obviously that’s why, oh my god! Be happy you don’t have to move!” And with that, she was already leaving, stepping up to the guests who were sitting down next to each other.
„Honeyed wine?” she asked in a tone she hoped was balancing just on the edge of the servitude expected from slaves.
„Thank you, dear” said the man in white. He seemed younger up close – despite his pure white hair his face looked only middle-aged. Tekla dutifully poured his wine, then turned expectantly toward the one in the sunglasses. He held out a cup.
“Don’t hold back!”
Tekla poured, and stared intently at the snake on the man’s face. Tattoos are anachronistic at this place and time, aren’t they? She wasn’t entirely sure. Her thoughts raced back and forth. Is it possible they are lucky enough to run into another time traveller? Is this a good thing at all? What should she say? She has to seize this opportunity!
„How interesting uhmmmm pieces of glass you have over your eyes, sir” she commented. Congratulation, Tekla. Exceptionally witty.
„What? Oh, right.” The man waved dismissively.
„Are you from far away?” Tekla probed. She tried to pour the wine slowly, so she could linger with the talk.
„We can say that” grinned the man. „Quite far. You wouldn’t guess it, girl.” Tekla’s breath hitched. Yes!
„Crowley!” scolded him his companion. Tekla almost punched the air. Whatever kind of name this was, it didn’t sound contemporary.[2]
“Maybe I know more than you think.” She tried to reciprokate the man’s wolflike grin. “I’m not exactly a local either.”
The one called Crowley was clearly having fun now. He turned completely toward Tekla in his seat.
“Yeah? And what is that you know, slave girl?”
Tekla was thinking quickly. The sunglasses didn’t look like they were from the twenty-first century, but the color of the hair dye suggested the man couldn’t come from much earlier. Maybe he specifically chose this model so that the ancients can accept it easier?
„I know where America is, and that it’ll become a great power” she said finally. This seemed like a good hint, and hopefully not to suspicious for anyone who doesn’t have insider’s knowledge about the future.
Both guests immediately got excited.
„America? What are you jabbering about, dear child” the man in white was wringing his hands. “I have not the faintest idea where that is, I’ve lived in the Roman Empire in my whole life” he lied very unconvincingly.[3] Tekla reevaluated and decided both of them must be time travellers. The man caught the eyes of his companion through the sunglasses and fell silent.
Crowley spoke very precisely, with an edge that was completely missing from his voice previously:
„And whoever or whatever this America might be, whose location you apparently know?
„We can’t talk here” announced Tekla. „I’ll volunteer for the grocery shopping tomorrow. You’ll find me at the market at sunrise.”
Crowley raised his eyebrows.
„Does this have anything to do with the „pieces of glass over your eyes”?” he waved toward Tekla’s face. Tekla instinctively raised her hands and her fingers hit her glasses.
„Yes!” she immediately replied. I can’t believe i forgot about those! „That’s exactly what this is about!”
Crowley tilted his head. He still didn’t seem to understand everything. Maybe there are no glasses where – when they are coming from yet. Or anymore. The other guest looked from Tekla to Crowley and back again, confused.
„Is this a surprise inspection?” he asked Tekla in a somewhat panicked tone. „Because if so, I’m…” His eyes flitted over to his companion again, and he obviously didn’t know how to continue. If he was waiting for Tekla to help him out, he waited in vain, of course. She had no idea what he was talking about. Maybe they are members of an actual time travelling agency? Envy flashed up in Tekla against her will. And now he thinks I’m here to check on how he does his job. Well, based on how guilty he looks, not too well.
„It’s not an inspection” she reassured him. „I’m just a collegue.”
Hearing this the man very much did not calm down, and Crowley’s eyebrows have risen even higher.
„Collegue?” he repeated incredulously. He downed most of the contents of his cup in one gulp. Tekla quickly poured again, she was glad she had a reason to stay. Petronius had nothing to complain about, she was just paying attention so the guests always have their cups full.
„Yeah. You know, came from far away, glasses, hair dye, tattoo and all…” Tekla’s voice died down. It didn’t look like they did. Suddenly Tekla would really rather stood in the corner. „Yes. So tomorrow at sunrise at the market.” She backed away, the gaze of the two time travellers followed her to corner, where she once again assumed her position next to Edina. When it became clear she won’t go any further, the men immediately looked at each other and started to whisper heatedly, their eyes flashing back to Tekla again and again. This wasn’t reassuring the least.
„What did you talk with them?” Edina asked, bored.
„You don’t think they are weird?” Tekla asked back. „That they don’t look like they … fit here?”
Edina looked over the two men again.
„I think they look just as stupid as everyone else here” she announced. „These sheets are utterly ridiculous. And that hairband is terrible, I wouldn’t wear it if they paid me.”
„What? Oh, you mean the laurel wreath. Yeah, you’d do pay for it if you wore it.” Privately Tekla was very proud of her word play, even if nobody appreciated it around her. „I’ll go to the market tomorrow morning if you take the dishes after lunch.”
„Oke-y!” Edina jumped at the offer. She didn’t like doing the dishes, but liked even less getting up early.
Tekla sighed and closed her eyes. Hopefully, tomorrow she’ll be able to clear everything up.
[1] Soon after their arrival, Mrs Vali, trampling through any potential arguments, took over the kitchen. The reigning „master chef” at that point had the title for only a few months, gaining it following the misfortune of the predecessant, and to tell the truth, felt neither experienced nor committed enough to work in this position; moreover lacked any suicidal tendencies, and all in all was quite happy to be demoted to kitchen assistant under the hands of Mrs Vali.
[2] All right, it didn’t sound ancient Latin. Tekla had no idea what kind of names the celts, goths and all the other people were using currently.
[3] My dear readers surely know already who this mysterious „man in white” is, but maybe are wondering how he knows about America, might he be immortal but certainly not a time traveller. Well, naturally angels (and demons, for the two are the same – in this aspect certainly) are perfectly aware of every detail of the geography of the world, especially those they helped to design.