Monstrorum Misericordia
Junius Secundus Cato made his way down the dark and filthy alley that
lay in the nameless warren of streets between the old Temple of Luna and
the Temple of Diana in the lower Aventine.
Regularly he glanced over his shoulder concerned over the possibility of
]being followed, a concern that had only grown since he had slipped out
of his villa in the Piscina Publica the low-lying district east of the
Aventine Hill and begun the long walk west along the Via Nova. That street
was the lesser of two roads in Piscina Publica and was less often used after
the fall of night.
Secundus had chosen the Via Nova for that very reason hoping to avoid prying eyes
as he made his way towards the Porta Ardeatina a secondary postern or lesser gate
that primarily served cart traffic during the day and which was often closed by night.
The other larger gate, the Porta Appia, was highly fortified and heavily staffed by the
fourth cohort of Vigiles and Secundus had no desire to be stopped at the greater gate that
serviced the heavy traffic of the Via Appia which paralleled the Via Nova, but whose width
and wealth of business made it the most popular road for both wagons and pedestrians headed
into the heart of Rome. Secundus being of the rank of equestrian, a knight, would be recognized
by any of the seasoned watchman and recognition was what the aging knight most wanted to avoid
this particular evening.
