Erik: It is strange, how people and society are in general. When I travel alone I will receive taunts, stares, and ridicule; yet when I travel with Ann and Meg people tend to stay quiet, although they do stare. It's as if they can't believe such beautiful women would be friends with such an unusual man.
I myself find it strange that they have not left yet, but rather are pressing onward with me. They know they have the opportunity to stay, I am not holding them hostage.
We reached Rome after two sun-soaked and breezy days, only to have the clouds open and rain begin. We were drenched when we reached a hotel, and immediately paid for two weeks advancement.
If we planned to stay longer we could pay more, and if we left early we could just get our money back. We spent the soggy day in our rooms, talking and laughing. I must say Meg is quite vivacious and interesting. Ann, on the other hand, is aloof and formidable, although it is easy to break her defenses when one trys.
After we were ready for bed Ann consulted the maps. I didn't know where I wanted to start; Rome is so full of history and architecture. Etruscan tombs, Imperial temples, early Christian churches, medieval bell towers, Renaissance palaces and baroque basilicas. Above all, The Coliseum.
Meg suggested that since I was uneasy about the Vatican that perhaps her and her mother could visit that while I bouyed about in other districts. I immediately shot that idea down. In no way was I going to be seen out in public without one of my lady escorts. I wasn't comfortable by myself, open and vulnerable to the public eye.
Of course I did not tell this to Meg, but rather explained that I did want to see the Vatican, and she must surly want to visit the Pantheon and The Forum, and many other important Roman places. They agreed, and we went to bed.
Or rather, they went to bed while I stayed up late, tossing and turning, and finally losing myself in a book until early morning.
Ann: Rome is so full of ancient history, beautiful buildings, and opulent wealth. We visited the Vatican, although we did not see the Pope. It was over flung with priceless art, lavish designs, and the most gorgeous marble floors.
I prayed with Meg upon that floor, while Erik stood away and drew on his papers. I hoped that someday, somehow, Erik would find God, or some form of him. Any religion was better than none at all.
We visited many other buildings; the Castel Sant' Angelo bridge, Capitoline Hill, the seat of the government, and the many piazza's and museums that lined Rome's vast city. We ended up staying for over a month, but my careful financial planning and tracking kept our massive fortune from dwindling away.
No matter how beautiful Rome was, it was damn expensive. After we had exhausted the many roads and paths, even taking a short tour through the ruins of Pompeii, we decided to head off.
I asked Erik where we were going next, but he pointed to Meg, who told me Switzerland. I figured that was a nice country, but I asked how long it would take us to get there. According to Erik's planning, it would take us nearly a month to transverse across Italy into Slovenia, and another month to travel across that country into Switzerland.
Two months. Two months of back-breaking work for the horses, and two months of constant, wearying travel. It was no wonder then that less than two weeks after Erik returned from his trip Ceaser had passed on.
That old horse had not had the strength for such a journey; I doubted our young horses even did. But we tested them anyway, as we packed our belongings and left the soft, gentle city of Rome.
Meg: Our month in Rome was delightful. Every sight, every building, was marvelous. Erik showed us all around the historical city, taking us here and there. It was a constant whirlwind of activity, but I loved every moment.
I believe my mother was tired, however. She wasn't as young as I, nor as energetic. Erik, on the other hand, showed no signs of stopping. That wasn't unusual, after all, he had been locked away under the Opera for so long it must have been heaven to stretch his feet.
We spent our days traveling Rome, and our nights traveling the stars. Erik bought me a book on astronomy, and I learned all there was to know. We would spend hours in the night reading and searching the sky, and I learned much more than astronomy. We would talk as well, about many things.
Erik confided in me, and I too confided in him. He told me about Christine, his frustrations and sorrows; and I would tell him about my mother's relentless presence.
Together we would gossip, talk, or often simply stare into the sky as we sat side by side, each lost within our thoughts. Erik was a kind and gentle man, and I realized I was beginning to have feelings for him. I kept them to myself however, for I knew his heart only belonged to one woman.
Rather, I suggested that after Rome, if he was interested, we could travel to Switzerland. He wondered if my mother would appreciate being dragged once more to another place.
I told him she would have to deal with it; I wanted to explore, and so did Erik. We weren't going to let Antoinette tie us down.