As he finally came to, Atilius
attempted to make sense of the situation that he was in. It was difficult for
him to realize where he was because he was not able to focus his eyes. Without
his eyesight, Atilius relied on his other senses to determine where he was and
how he had gotten there. Atilius attempted to listen closely to the sounds that
surrounded him. As he did this he could hear the familiar sounds of merchants
and slaves conducting their daily business. As well, he could hear the recognizable
sounds of students learning and men debating. Atilius knew that these sounds
could only put him in one place, the center of his city, the Forum.
Atilius was relieved to know that
he was in a familiar place, however he was still confused on how he had gotten
there. Atilius attempted to piece together his morning. He remembered leaving
his home atop Palatine Hill and making his way down towards the Forum. He
stopped on his way at a point on the path that allowed for a view of the entire
Forum. He remembered looking down and seeing the great buildings that made up
the center of the city. He admired the Basilica Lulia as well as the Basilica
Aemilia and the way these large buildings used the strong shape of the columns
to support their magnificent tops. He continued on his path and walked by the
Temple of Cybele remembering the stories he was told as a child of how it
burned down and was rebuilt, but the statue inside of Quinta Cloelia remained
undamaged. The last thing he remembered was the sound of somebody approaching
from behind him.
