"Arrius?" There was no reply.
"Arrius?" Still there was no reply.
"Arrius, what's going on?"
This time Arrius turned back around to face Verrius who just stared at him in confusion.
"Are you alright buddy? One minute we were talking and then something distracted you. What was it?"
Arrius rubbed hus chin. "I just saw someone I know, someone I would have preferred not to see."
Verrius wanted to know more. "An old friend? Or possibly an old lover?"
Arrius shook his head no. "Neither really. I just saw a slave that belongs to a friend that I once knew."
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" asked Verrius.
"Well, I'm just wondering if he's going to tell his master if he saw me."
Once again Verrius asked. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
Arrius just shrugged. "I don't know, I suppose it doesn't really matter. Hermes is so unpredictable, one never knows which way the wind is blowing with him but on this one I'll bet he flies back to Green Acres and spreads the news of my being in Pompeii."
The words hit Verrius hard. "Did you say Green Acres?"
"Yes I did, it's a villa outside of town. It belongs to a former friend. Have you heard of it?"
Verrius wasn't sure what to say but figured that honesty was the best policy. "Well, yes I do."
Arrius looked at him funny. "You do do you? You want to tell me about it?"
Verrius then proceeded to tell his friend the entire story of his going to Green Acres. "I did it because I had to know why you had been calling out the name Sextus Manlius in your sleep. I was concerned, that's all."
Arrius just sighed heavily. "Did you find the answer to your question?"
Verrius shook his head. "Not really. It was obvious to me what is going on out there. All men and no women. I needed to know about you and Sextus. Were the two of you lovers?"