The Hooverville Hexagon: This'n'That

 

 

Relaxing View of the Day

by SashaQ

 

Some trees from my walk on the Wirral.

 

Historical Novel

from the forthcoming (eventually!) work Life Among the Goths

by DG

 

The story so far: Demetrius and Radu are living in Ravenna during the reign of Theodoric the Goth. Demetrius has decided to take a trip to Camulodunum in Britain, which is still Roman (but barely). Here is the conversation about preparations, with period-correct maps.

 

That struck Ulf as very sensible. 'So clothes, money, books and letters, food I guess,' he counted off on his fingers, 'and. . . ' he brightened. 'A map! You need to know which roads to take.'

'Exactly!' Demetrius beamed. 'Can you help me?'

Ulf looked at Radu doubtfully. 'What about that map you showed us in class? You said it was very new.'

'I said it was the latest thing, that's true,' said Radu. 'I also said, if you recall, that it was. . . '

'. . . a sign of the collapse of civilisation. I remember.'

Demetrius raised an eyebrow. 'That bad?'

'That bad.' Radu opened a codex, whipped it around, and displayed on the table next to the salami.

 

'Ye gods,' said Demetrius. 'That is absolutely breathtaking.'

'It's by Cosmas Indicopleustes, aka Cosmas the Monk. Guess where he's from.'

'Don't tell me: Alexandria?'

'Where the fools come from, yes.'

'This absurdity has set cartography back a thousand years.'

'Pretty much.'

Radu thought. 'I know! Ulf, hand me that scroll. You haven't seen this one yet. It's a copy of Agrippa's map and shows the roads.'

Gesturing to Ulf, who hastily removed salami, dishes, and wineglasses from t he table, Radu unfurled the scroll with a flourish.

It unrolled.

And unrolled.

And unrolled.

Demetrius rolled his eyes. 'How long is this monstrosity?'

'About 22 feet.'

'Well, we can have a look, but frankly, I was thinking of something more. . . er, portable.'

Radu grinned mischievously. 'Like a tabula stationis benzinariae,' he suggested.

'Exactly.'

To a puzzled Ulf, Radu explained, 'We think the wayside inns that sell hay and grain for horses and donkeys should also provide itineraria for travellers at a price.'

'What a good idea,' said Ulf. 'Maybe I'll do that when I grow up.'

'You? You'll be a government councillor. But you can make it a law and they'll have to do it.'

The three studied the map, such as it was, and Demetrius wrote down the route he needed in his own itinerarium.

'This will get me to the straits,' he said. 'After that, I need the itinerarium for Britannia. I know there is one.'

'Your wish is my command,' grinned Radu, who had found the right codex. He opened the book. 'Let's see. . . yes. We need iter VII. . . '

 

That's awfully dark,' said Ulf. 'Did somebody spill posca on it?'

'Guilty. But we can make it out.' They pored over the pages, copying unfamiliar names. Demetrius sang softly to himself, something that sounded like faraway places with strange-sounding names are calling. . .

They worked on plans until Unna called them for dinner.

 

Editor's Note: We hope to resume our Works in Progress sometime in September, technology permitting. We will update everyone on the mailing list.

 

History Corner

by DG

 

Video of the Day:

(DG)

 

When it rains, sometimes it pours. And makes the ducks happy.

 

Photo of the Day

 

Good things to come!

 

 

cucu,  Dmitri Gheorgheni, Editor