Tabula Rasa

Chapter 23

Ruso placed the lamp on the table in the doctor-on-duty room and flipped open the writing tablet he had chosen from the vast selection of used items in the office. Someone had already tried to obliterate what appeared to be a shopping list from the surface of the wax, so he had decided to wipe it clean and put it to better use.

If Albanus did not manage to call in here on the way over to Arbeia, he would arrive at his new job completely unaware that the nephew was missing.

To-Albanus, Tutor at the House of the Prefect, Arbeia

In the absence of the prefect’s name or unit, he would have to entrust this to somebody with some common sense and hope for the best.

From-G Petreius Ruso, Medical Officer, XXVV, Parva.

Ruso to Albanus.

I hope you have arrived safely in Arbeia.

He tapped the stylus on the casing of the tablet for a moment, then began:

I am writing to you about your nephew Candidus. He worked here at the hospital for three days but I am sorry to say that we have not seen him since the ninth day before the kalends of November. He left no message and we have been unable to trace him. I am hoping you may have heard from him.

As soon as he turns up I will write again. Meanwhile if you have any idea where he might be please put my mind at rest.

Tilla and I are well and she sends her good wishes.

She didn’t, but it would do no harm to pretend. Not knowing what to say about Grata, he ended with:

Go well, old friend.

Then he slapped the tablet shut, put the stylus down, and pinched out the lamp. His eyes felt gritty even when he closed them. He felt better for having written the letter, even though he was not going to send it yet. There was always the chance that when the pharmacist returned from leave-which must be soon-he would know exactly where Candidus was, and they could all stop worrying. If he didn’t, the letter would be sent, and the worrying would carry on.