deck
accompanied by Antinous, neither troubled by the lurching movement of the
ship, but down below poor Vibia Sabina lies in her cabin, groaning and
wishing that she had not eaten before their embarkation.
Above the roar of the wind and the crash of the waves against the
sides of the ship only the insistent beat of the drum which keeps the
rowers in time can be heard. Conversation is scarcely possible but
Fortunatus, ever aware of danger to his Emperor and his Emperor's
darling, shouts an urgent warning. Perhaps their Excellencies would care
to go below, out of the reach of the waves which seem almost to be
reaching across the deck to grab hold and sweep overboard anyone not
firmly fastened to a rigid structure.
But Antinous is fascinated by the sight of the huge brown walls of
waterthe top of the ladder that
leads below deck.
As they reach the hatchway and are about to descend, there breaks
the largest wave so far and torrents of water sweep across the deck
hurling all three off their feet. Antinous is dragged towards the deck
rail. Hadrian can do nothing as he is flat on his back, his limbs
flailing helplessly but Fortunatus has flung himself across the deck and,
just before the boy is dragged overboard, manages to grab hold of, first
a fold of tunic, and then, more substantially, his left leg. It is a tug
of war between Fortunatus and the sea with Antinous as the rope but the
ship's captain and some men see their predicament and rush over to their
aid, finally managing to get their Emperor and Antinous to safety.
As if the