“There he is !!!” Punctuating her outburst by waving at the teenager, Enerie adds, “And ‘tis about time, too!”

“Thank the gods!”

Nodding her agreement with Ceres, the Vestal exclaims, “Aye! Now we’ll get to hear all about the Babylonians and the Baths!”

“No, Dear - now we’ll return to the Atrium Vestae and you’ll get ready for your Duties in the Temple tonight.”

“O, Ceres …”

“Don’t ‘O’ me, Enerie – it’s long past the time when we should have been home, and as it’s your turn to do the Sacred Duties, we can’t linger in the Forum any longer today.”

“But surely there’s time to talk to C.C. about the Babylonians before we go?”

“C.C. is but a boy, Dear – and I doubt that he’d have noticed much about them to tell us of them. But even if he did, it wouldn’t be very Vestal-like for us to interrogate him on the subject of II visitors from Babylon…”

“O, Ceres – we need not be that specific in our questioning. We’d only have to ask him if they liked the thermae enough to remain there, or if he escorted them somewhere else. And in telling us about that, he might reveal other things about them – especially if we phrase our questions correctly.”

“But there’s no time, Enerie!” Softening her tone, Ceres adds, “We simply can’t hang around this statue all evening asking C.C. cloaked questions about a couple of foreigners if we’re to get back home – and get you ready for your Duties in time.”

“Then we’ll talk with him while he walks us home.”

“Sure – and everyone in the Forum will overhear our talking to him about II men!”

“Leave it to me, Ceres.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll suggest that we take the side streets …”

“Dear gods - II Vestals of Rome walking around the side-streets of the City at sundown?”

“We’ll be PURRfectly fine, Ceres. None would dare approach us, and C.C. will be escorting us - so no one can fault us for being in such places alone.”

“I don’t know, Enerie – we didn’t think the Babylonians would approach us either, and we were in the Forum when we met them – and look at the near-disaster that turned out to be!”

“It seems more of a miracle than a disaster to me - and besides, they’re foreigners – and they had no way of knowing that we’re us, Ceres. And as soon as C.C. explained about us, the Babylonians were sincerely apologetic – and C.C. will be right there with us this evening, so that should we happen upon some unknowing strangers again, he’ll take care of everything.”

“It would be my honor, Ladies!”

Turning to find the breathless teenager bowing in front of them, Ceres whispers her thanks while Enerie explains that they need to take the short-cut through the side-streets if she’s to get to the Temple in time tonight.

Straightening from his bow, C.C. looks at the Enerie and exclaims, “You mean you want to hurry home?”

“Sure.” Gently smoothing her long hair, Enerie adds, “I’ve got my Sacred Duties, ya know.”

“But the side-streets? After sundown?”

“Aye, please.” Slowly moving away from the marble statue in the direction of a side-street, Ceres adds, “But please stay close to us, C.C.”

“Yeah.” Moving to walk with her sister, Enerie exclaims, “And while we’re walking home, please tell us all about the thermae, and all the people who were there, and who talked to who and what they said when they talked and what they were doing when they weren’t talking and – well, anything else you can think of!”

“Huh?”

Leveling a dazzling smile in the teenager’s direction, Enerie explains, “Please tell us of the baths and of any other places you went to when you left us, C.C. Please?”

Sighing dramatically, she adds, “It would so help to pass the time while we walk home on the dark and dusty side-streets of Rome.”

Shrugging his shoulders, C.C. falls in step near the Vestals and replies, “Okie dokie!”

Taking Enerie’s arm in hers, Ceres whispers, “Gods, you’re good!”