Justinian

MYAKES

Yes, I was there, Brother Elpidios. Why didn't Justinian listen to the downtrodden workmen? I'll tell you why. He'd told Stephen and Theodotos to squeeze as much gold out of people as they could- he says as much; you've read the words. They were doing what he'd said. They were enjoying themselves doing it, true, but he didn't care about that one way or the other. He cared about obedience and about money. Anyone who got in the way of that had to look out.

We took Ioannakis and the other carpenters down to the Praitorion, the city eparch's headquarters on the Mese, and threw them into cells there. What I figured would happen was that the eparch would let them stew for a couple of days, tell them what idiots they'd been for insulting the Emperor, and send them home. It looked like a neat, clean way to get free of the mess.

Trouble is, I'd guessed wrong about Ju stinian. I thought he'd angry up and calm down and forget about things. But he didn't. The very next day, he sent an order to throw away the key for Ioannakis and his friends. They were still in prison- the ones who were still alive, anyhow- when he was cast down from the throne. And they were a long way from the only ones, too.

You're right, Brother. So far as I know, nobody in the Roman Empire ever did anything like that before Justinian.. except for having people tonsured and shutting them away in monasteries, that is. What? It's not the same? I suppose not, especially if they let you keep your eyes before they shut you away.

Bitter? Why on earth would I be bitter? I thank God every day that I'm alive. Well, almost every day. Some days, certainly.