Happiness
Chapter 2
�Adriana, come quick,� the woman screamed, waving her arms frantically.
�What is the matter, Thea?� she asked in alarm, as some of the agitation of the woman seemed to have passed on to her.
�Damon was arrested a few minutes ago,� the woman breathed out. �They have taken him to the palace.�
�What?� Adriana�s hands suddenly became numb, letting go of the basket of fruits she was holding. The basket thudded to the ground, partly muffling her already hardly audible question, �H-how?�
Thea began explaining indistinctly and confusedly: �Damon was at the other end of the agora, talking to some of his friends� Theophilus and his guards rode in � and he told them to seize Damon� He ran� but the guards were on horses . . . and��
Adriana did not hear her last words, for she was already running across the market place toward the palace.
* * *
Damon stood at the bottom of the stairs leading to the throne of the ruler of Syracuse. His hands were tied behind his back, and two armed guards stood at either side of him, guarding him �like an extremely dangerous criminal,� Damon thought, grinning.
Dionysius slowly descended from his throne, accompanied by Theophilus and a short broad-shouldered stranger, and languidly approached the prisoner.
�Well, Damon? As you see, nothing has changed. Only two months ago you were here like this before me, pleading for the life of your friend. Now you are back again and will be pleading for your own.�
�It has only been one day since your favorite dog Cariso was murdered, and you have already replaced it with a new one. You are right, nothing has changed.� Damon retorted, his lips twisting themselves into a disdainful smirk.
The smirk quickly disappeared, however, as a sharp blow to his stomach caused Damon to double over, dropping nearly breathless to his knees. Theophilus, who clearly disliked being called a dog, raised his arm for another blow, and Damon winced slightly in anticipation. But the short stranger interfered suddenly, addressing the dictator, �I must remind you, my lord, that I need strong healthy men. I cannot have my merchandise crippled.�
Dionysius nodded and called out to his military chief, �That is enough, Theophilus!� The latter stepped aside obediently, watching as Damon struggled to get back on his feet.
�Damon, I would like you to meet your new owner Carolus,� Dionysius drawled, savoring each word as it came out of his mouth. He watched with a triumphantly evil smile the look of utter bewilderment on his prisoner�s face. �You are a thief, Damon. And in my state all crimes will be punished.�
�Since when has theft become a capital offense?� Damon inquired, licking his suddenly dry lips.
�Since I have decided so,� Dionysius� voice suddenly became icy cold. �I am still merciful to you, thief. Slavery, after all, is better than death.�
Damon looked as if he were just slapped on the face. He opened his mouth to say something, when another guard came running into the hall. The message, whatever it was, was related quietly to Dionysius, and an unkind smile twisted the dictator�s lips. �Let her in,� he said to the guard and then turned to Damon, adding mysteriously, �this should prove to be interesting.�
The heavy doors opened again in the back of the large hall, and everybody turned to look at the newcomer � a pretty young woman who was followed closely by the guard. Damon turned pale at the sight of her and felt his heart skip a beat � it was his Adriana.
* * *
�Damon!� she rushed to him, but the guard grabbed her by the arm, pulling her back. �What do you wish to do with him?� Adriana asked in a trembling voice.
�Me? Nothing,� Dionysius responded, walking slowly toward the woman. �This man,� he nodded at Carolus, �wishes to employ him in the construction of a � temple, I believe. Right?� He looked at the slave trader for confirmation, and the latter nodded curtly.
Damon felt his whole body tense up, as he watched Dionysius approach Adriana. �She should not have come here,� he thought, �this was a mistake.� There was no doubt in Damon�s mind as to the reasons for his arrest. Dionysius wanted to have his revenge. And Damon could deal with anything that this pernicious ruler had in store for him. But if he involved Adriana�. His confused and troubled flow of thoughts was interrupted by Dionysius who took Adriana by the arm and led her up to Damon, stopping only a few steps away. The dictator grinned, observing the poorly hidden emotions written on the faces of the two young people as they looked at each other.
�Perhaps,� he said, �she would also like to invoke the law of substitute. An Adriana for a Damon. Huh?�
�No!� Damon shouted, making a sudden move forward. The guards reacted instantly, crossing their spears before him, causing him to pull back. Dionysius burst into laughter.
�Love and friendship � the two greatest weaknesses of the human character. They will even prevent one from saving one�s own life.� He turned to the guard, �Get her out of here! If she comes within more than thirty steps of the palace � throw her in jail.�
�Will you at least allow us some time alone? To say goodbye?� Damon pleaded in desperation.
Dionysius� eyes narrowed into two tiny slits. �No,� he said abruptly.
Damon gritted his teeth in frustration, as he looked for the last time at Adriana, wishing to engrave her image in his mind. And before she disappeared from his view, he saw her lips move, forming three words that filled his heart with an unexpected feeling of tranquility and relief � �I love you.�