The Heart-stone

From a leather pouch, he pulled a red stone. It was shaped like a heart, and it glowed like a living jewel in the palm of his hand.

"It is beautiful!" said Mardu, turning it over in his fingers. He held it up to the sun and smiled.

"It was given to me by a man who said he bought it off a Philistine," said Mardu "s father, "You must take care of it, for it is of great value."

And Mardu did take great care of the heart-stone. He kept it safe until he was a man, and when he married, he gave it to his wife as a pendant for her beautiful neck.

"A lovely stone far a lovely woman," said Mardu proudly.



But not many years after that, war came to the land and the city was sacked and plundered, and the stone was taken by a soldier, who cared for nothing but the value of the precious jewel.



CHAPTER POUR

(Rome AD 300)

Porteous sat idly, leaning against the side of the courtyard pool. A small fountain was sending a tiny cascade of drops down the carved statue in the centre, and splashing him lightly on the face with tiny drops. He was only ten but already he had grown bored with life. His parents were wealthy, and cared little for him, so he had endless idle days to fill in. Whenever he wanted something they threw him some money, and told him to go away.

Now he had nothing to do, again, and a whole day to do nothing in.

With a sigh he felt about in his pockets. There were some coins, six gold ones, and three made of copper. He dropped the copper ones into the water, one at a time, and watched them sink to the bottom. At least this was something to do, he thought.

As soon as the copper coins were all gone, he dropped the gold ones after them. Now they were all lying in the shadows at the bottom of the pool. The carp were not interested in them.

"Tiber," said Porteous.