Our Eternal Curse I (26 page)

At the age of sixteen Robert returned
to Cambridge but not the Leys.  It was time to move to Kings College for
further education.  His parents and Nanny were so proud because places at Kings
were very hard to come by.  Only students who achieved a very high academic or
sporting standard went to this most auspicious seat of learning and Robert had
breezed in on the back of his rowing ability.  Because he was always ashamed of
his written work Robert’s entry exam papers were all very scant which meant
that his marks did not even come close to qualifying but luckily for him he was
known as a very fine rower and a history scholarship could always be found for
a young man who had the potential to win a blue for his college.

Staying on at Cambridge had not
been Robert’s choice because the thought of starting another new school
terrified him.  Lacking any self belief he could not see the point of further
education but his parents refused to let him return to the insular home life he
so desired.

Just days before his departure
Robert’s trepidation became so intense he seriously considered taking his own
life while walking with the guns at Pishiobury Park, but the shame and dishonor
it would bring to his family prevented him from taking such a drastic course of
action.  In desperation Robert defiantly applied to the army believing that
fighting in the Peninsular War was far more suited to his physical abilities
than any academic pursuit.  The thought of dying while fighting with the
British army in Spain or Portugal lifted his spirits because his perfect
paradox dictated he was constantly afraid but never a coward.  A glorious death
while taking as many of the hated Frenchmen with him would end his constant
wretchedness without harming his family honor; but try as he might the army
refused to accept him for officer training at his young age.  Robert discussed
his position with Arthur Wellesley but even he could not overcome the strict
age rules of the British officer class.

Wellesley’s advice was to stay
on at Cambridge and concentrate on history, “ … Particularly the history of
European conflicts also classical military and political history.  I have
learned all I know about fighting from the Romans and the Greeks, what?”  were
his exact words.

Settling in at Kings as best he
could Robert spent all of his time engaged in sporting activities.  He proved
popular with every member of the teams he represented because Robert was not
only a winner but also the life and soul of any post-event gathering. 
Unbeknown to his teammates the constant performance took a heavy toll on his
mental strength which is why he took the next inevitable step on the journey
for a mind in pain.  He and some of the older boys in his rowing team walked to
a tavern after a particularly well-won race and there he drank the first of many
disastrous drinks.  Robert discovered that he hated the taste but loved the
effect so gulping more down he became resigned to his fate and felt more
capable of achieving anything.  The beer seemed to bolster his confidence while
reducing his fear.  Quite miraculously, Robert’s ever-present insecurities
began to evaporate as his friend Jamieson brought his attention back from the
discovery of fake confidence by turning his empty tankard upside down.

“
All tankards have glass bottoms these days
Pishiobury,” he said.  “It’s so that one can look up at the bottom before one
takes a drink.  The Admiralty press gangs drop a silver shilling into an
unsuspecting drunkard’s beer you know?  When the poor fool finds it and takes
it out at the end of his drink he has technically accepted the King’s shilling
and incredibly he is dragged off to join the bloody navy!  Can you believe
that?”

Robert heard very little of what
his teammate told him because he was savoring the numbing feeling beer gave
him.  It was a warm secure feeling that was like being back at Pishiobury and
he wanted more.  Against the advice of the older boys he drank too much too
quickly.  When the combination of alcohol and inexperience took effect Robert
was too far gone to care.  As the room began to spin he was no longer capable
of worrying about what was happening to him and at the moment he threw up the
pain of living was completely gone.  Robert took no notice of the terrible mess
he was creating because he was completely lost in the anaesthetizing feelings
of his newfound liquid companion.

At six o’clock on the next
morning Endacott, one of the teammates who carried him home, returned to his
room to wake him for rowing practice.  Robert felt dreadful and could not
motivate himself to move from the couch they had left him on the night before. 
Looking sympathetically at his sad friend Endacott said, “You know the rules
old chap.  If you can’t pull an oar you have to go to lectures.”

Robert kept his eyes closed and
rolled over.  “I don’t give a shit!  I just can’t get up!”

Returning to a restless sleep
the next words Robert heard were:

“
Eight o’clock Pishiobury time to get up!  Endacott
said you were in a bad way but that was an understatement. You look completely
buggered!”

This was a far less familiar
voice.  Robert opened one eye to see who was speaking and realized with great
shock that it was Mr Woods his history professor who added, “Your friend young
Endacott informs me that you are keen to attend a history lecture this
morning.  May I suggest you clean yourself up before I see you in one hour from
now?”

Robert understood the trouble
that he would be in if he disobeyed his professor.  He toyed with the idea of
going to rowing practice but the very thought of it made him feel quite ill so
he cleaned himself up as best he could and wandered through the quadrangle on
his way to a long and boring lecture.

“
Good Lord, so you do exist,” were the sarcastic
words that greeted him as he walked into the lecture theatre which he had
visited on only a handful of occasions and all eyes smartly turned to look at
the cause of the professor’s facetious remarks.

Robert felt his first day at
Spellbrook move within him but in his weakened state he could not find the
humor required to fight off his insecurity.  All he could do was bow his head
and follow the worn floorboard until he found a vacant seat at the back of the
room.  In this position he sat feeling terrible, completely unable to
concentrate even though he felt sure a humiliating question would be coming his
way at any moment.  I am going to kill that prick Endacott!  Was all he had the
strength to think about.

After an hour of the most
appalling hangover-filled lecture Robert began to hear almost every other
word.  Mr Woods, who had been delivering lectures on his much-loved history at
Kings for twenty years, was talking about his visit to Rome before Bonaparte
invaded and occupied Italy.  “My colleagues and I spent many months in the old
city and we excavated many sites.”  He was speaking in his usually enthusiastic
tone but he was not able to keep Robert’s attention.

“
We carried out digs at the site of the Forum
Romanum, The Coliseum and the Circus Maximus.  We found many artifacts, few as
beautiful as this one.”  Mr Woods held up an object as he spoke.

As though a drug had been pumped
into his body Robert’s hangover instantaneously cleared.  He did not know what
adrenaline was and had no idea why the gold amulet in his professor’s hands
caused the hormone to be released into his body but he was sitting bolt upright
in his chair with profound emotions leaping within him.  Unable to take his
eyes away from the object which glowed bright yellow Robert sat motionless for
the balance of the lecture.  At the end of the class Robert stayed in the
theatre until the other students departed, then, walking to the front of the
room he approached Mr Woods and asked:  “May I have a closer look at your
bracelet please?”

“
Yes of course, Pishiobury,” replied Mr Woods.  “By
the way I hate to be pedantic but it is called an amulet.”

Robert took it from Mr Wood’s
outstretched hand as though it were the Holy Grail itself.  The moment he made
contact with the golden object irrational impulses screamed at him to wear the
“lions.”  He instinctively knew that everything would be made clear, his sad
life explained and all would be made safe but, try as he might, the gold band
would not move past his knuckles.  His rower’s hands were simply too big and
Robert felt hopeless, frustrated and betrayed.

The kind teacher had no way of
understanding what was happening to Robert but he said sympathetically, “I have
to go to another lecture now.  Please keep hold of the amulet and return it to
my study this evening.”  With that he was gone.

Saying nothing to acknowledge Mr
Wood’s words Robert walked slowly backwards completely transfixed by the object
in his hands.  When his calf muscle connected gently with the edge of a seat he
lowered himself down without a thought for what he was doing.  Turning the
bangle around Robert recognized every feature of the exquisitely embossed
“lions” which held his attention like a vice.  From somewhere deep within him
tears welled and gradually he began to issue deep heartfelt sobs of purely
instinctive emotion.

Many hours later Robert was
disturbed by the cleaners as they moved through the theatre.  As though brought
out of a trance he realized that he had been staring at the heavy gold bracelet
for many hours without moving.  He felt sore and stiff in the places where his
body made contact with the solid wooden seat so lifting himself slowly to his
feet Robert left the lecture theatre and moved like a sleepwalker through the
college until he arrived at the Mr Wood’s study.  Still mesmerized by the
amulet he knocked on the door.

“
Come,” was the simple response.  Mr Woods was
sitting at his desk talking to Anton, a very fat Italian student.

Walking into the well-appointed
rooms Robert spoke for the first time in many hours as he handed back the
amulet to Mr Woods.  “This is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.”

“
Yes it is remarkable isn’t it?”

“
It seems so familiar to me.  Is it famous?  Could I
have seen it somewhere before?  In a book perhaps?”

“
No. I am afraid that is impossible.  It was only
uncovered three years ago and it has been in my possession ever since.”

“
Déjà vu, perhaps.”  Anton sounded completely in awe
of the legendary athlete.

Standing, Mr Woods offered, “May
I introduce Count Anton — my benefactor in Rome.”

“
Oh please,” said Anton with modesty, “it was my
father who supported your excavation team in Rome.”

“
Nonsense.  Your help was invaluable.”  Mr Woods
turned to Robert and added, “Count Anton fled his family home when Bonaparte
invaded, you know?”

“
Really?  That must have been frightening.”  Robert
noticed the individual beads of perspiration forming rapidly on Anton’s
forehead as he spoke.  It was not a particularly hot evening so Robert
concluded that the thought of what was happening in his hometown provoked fear.

By way of confirming Robert’s
assumption Anton said: 

“
It was absolutely terrifying.  I got out on the
last ship with moments to spare.  My family are still in Rome managing as best
they can.”

“
Are there many more pieces like this in Rome?” 
asked Robert holding out the gold bracelet.

“
Not that I know of.  My family have been collecting
artifacts from antiquity but few are as beautiful as the one you ...”  Catching
sight of his teacher’s quizzical expression, Anton stopped talking.

Mr Woods was staring at
something projected onto the old oak paneled wall.  In the flickering light
given off from the candles the amulet’s shadow matched the birthmark on
Robert’s wrist perfectly.

A young porter broke the silence
by popping his head in to let them know the dining room was closing.

“
Damn and blast!”  cursed Robert.  “I am absolutely
famished.”  His hangover and spontaneous reaction to the amulet had prevented
him from eating all day and he was feeling a little faint.  “Would you like to
join me for dinner in town?”

Mr Woods had already eaten but
the Italian boy who obviously liked his food, nodded, smiled and picked up his
coat.

As they walked from the college
looking for a place which still sold food at this time of the evening Robert
continued the conversation about Anton’s current predicament.  “What will
become of your family in Italy?”

“
We have been successful traders since the time
before Christ.  My father says that we have survived civil wars, revolutions,
the fall of the Roman Empire, religious persecution and the Dark Ages.  He
believes that we can survive this little upstart Napoleon.”

With his interest pricked by
Anton mentioning the Roman Empire Robert asked, “Do you think that Mr Woods
will be speaking of Rome during his coming lectures?”

“
Yes of course the whole foundation of history
during our first year is Greek and Roman, why do you ask?”

“
I will be attending more lectures, Anton.  I need
to find out everything there is to know about Rome.”