We were alone and friendless in unknown territory. We had no money. We did have a day's ration of bread – the food that our keepers had brought for us that morning.
We were somewhere in the countryside. That was unfortunate. In a city, we could have stolen what we needed – new clothes to replace our filthy rags, enough small coins to visit the local baths and a barber to make ourselves look respectable-and then proceeded to ask questions of strangers and move about without attracting undue notice. In a city, we might have found someone we knew, or who knew a mutual friend, and so might agree to loan us money or arrange for our return to Rome. But the countryside was another matter. Walking on country roads, we could not help but be conspicuous. Enemies searching for us would have a great advantage. Given our wretched appearance, strangers might take us for runaway slaves, despite our citizen's rings. It is easier to skulk through a crowded alley than across an empty field.
Where were we? From the surrounding hills and farms, there was no way to tell. I could determine directions by the sun, but was Rome north, south, east or west? Near or far? There was no way to begin the journey home except to begin walking, keeping out of sight as much as possible. I tried to keep track of our route, so that we could find our way back later, but I was dazed and exhausted and every field looked the same.
We slept that night under the open sky. We were cold, and snuggled together for warmth, and I woke before dawn with a gnawing in my belly and-my feet like ice.- But for the first night in many nights I did not dream of Eudamus and Birria, and the sight of the open sky above when I opened my eyes was very sweet indeed.
We came upon a paved road that was clearly a major highway, but which? All roads lead to Rome, but only if you go in the right direction.
"North or south?" I said.
Eco scmtinized the road for a long "moment. "South." "I agree. Do you think we might be like dogs, and find our way home purely by instinct?"
"No," he said bluntly. He was beginning to feel hungry. So was