Roman Holiday

Another rollicking short story from the Chronicles of St Mary’s.

''Question: What sort of idiot installs his mistress in his wife’s house? Especially when that mistress is Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator, Queen of Egypt and the most notorious woman of her time?''

''Answer: Julius Caesar – poised to become King of Rome. Or as good as.''

Question: At this potentially sensitive point in your political manoeuvrings, who are the last people you’d want crashing through the door, observing, recording, documenting …?

I think we all know the answer to that one.

Roman Holiday – an epic, stand alone tale set in Ancient Rome, 44 BC, featuring, in no particular order: an attempted murder, stampeding bullocks, Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile, a bowl of poisonous snakes, a smallish riot, Julius Caesar, and Mr Markham’s wayward bosoms.

Spoiler Plot Summary for Short Story Roman Holiday (RH):
 * The team (Max, Peterson, Markham, Guthrie) go to 44BC ancient Rome. They go to Caesar's house, where Julius has moved his mistress Cleopatra in with his wife, who was humiliated
 * They're introduced to Cleopatra.
 * Markham spots a viper in the food being served to Julius and Cleopatra
 * They leave before they're questioned. A chase ensues. They make it to the pod. The Roman soldiers try to get in. They use the "silent scream," which they forget to turn off before returning, to much chaos