A Thermae For the General
By Jo and Beej
Maximus and Joimus were on one of their regular walking tours of their
land. He liked to be aware of everything
that was happening with it, where each of his animals was, how the wheat crop
was growing, how the fruit was
swelling in the small vineyard or in the orchards. And she liked to be at his
side. They had just arrived at a flat area
hidden from view by a row of poplars not far behind the main house. So far it
remained empty.
Maximus stopped, gazing at it silently. "A thermae," he said. "I should really
like a thermae here." Looking down at his wife, he added, "What do you think?"
"A bath, a Roman bath? Is that what you mean?"
"I do. I miss the process of it." He rubbed a hand across his beard. "And so
often I was on campaign and nothing like that was available." He smiled at her
as she looked at the space, trying to picture a Roman bath there. "It would not
be like Caracalla, you know. A much smaller scale, yet still with all the
necessary components. I could sketch what I want. I'm sure workmen might be
found in the area who could build from that."
"I haven't met him yet, but Bridgid was telling me that a very talented young
plumber has recently arrived in the Glen. She says he knows tile work as well."
"Would you call her and ask how I might contact the man?" They had finished
their walk and were returning to the house at this point anyway. "My mind is
filling with sketches."
Back at their house, he got out a large tablet of blank paper and sat at the
kitchen table, dark head bent over it, a charcoal marker flying in his hands.
Joimus smiled quietly at the sight. The thought of the thermae was obviously
making him happy. A quick call to Bridgid provided a means of contacting the
plumber and arrangements were made for him to come out to the Meridius' home
early that evening for a consultation with the General. Maximus spent the rest
of the afternoon working diligently, getting on paper what he saw in his mind.
About four a knock sounded on the door and Joimus opened it to find a
pleasant-looking young man with a slightly hesitant and very appealing smile on
his face.
Jeff was nervous as he waited for the door to open. He wiped his hand down the
leg of his jeans as he realised that he was sweating. The door finally swung
open and he came face to face with whom he could only imagine was the lady of
the house. Warmth and friendship emanated from her and Jeff began to feel more
at ease.
"G'Day, I'm Jeff. I've got an appointment with..." he paused to check the name
he'd written in his notebook. "General Meridius. I hope I'm not too early."
"You're just fine, Jeff. I'm Joimus, the General's wife. Please come in. He's
drawn up some plans for you to look at."
She guided him into the living room where Maximus stood, his eyes panning
quickly up and down the young man,
liking the earnestness he found. "Thank you for coming so quickly," he said,
extending his hand.
Jeff wiped his hand down the side of his jeans in a nervous gesture before
grasping the General's hand in a vigorous handshake. "G'day, General. Thanks for
giving me the chance to work on your thermae. I have to admit to having never
done anything like this before, but trust me, I'm a fast learner, and I do good
quality work at a fair rate."
Jeff walked to the sketches on the kitchen table and looked them over, waiting
for the General to explain them to him.
Maximus explained the purposes of the varying chambers and as he did, his
eyes lit up in anticipation. He really wanted this, more than he'd realized
before actually drawing the plans for it. He'd always loved the opportunities,
rare as they were in his adult military life, to spend time at the baths. And
with this, he and Joimus could share the experience.
"Of course we will use modern heating methods rather than fires," he went on,
looking up at the intently watching young man. He grinned, "I sincerely doubt
there is anyone in the Glen who would be interested in feeding wood into
underground fire chambers. Are you at all familiar with heating systems, Jeff?"
Jeff breathed a sigh of relief when he was told Maximus would be happy with
modern heating. He wasn't quite sure if he'd have been up to the task of working
out all the plumbing involved with under ground heating chambers. He grinned
back at Maximus and relaxed a little.
"Oh, yes, General. That's one of my specialities, and to save you looking for a
tiler, I can do that, too, so my quote would include everything you need."
"It sounds like I have found the perfect man for the job," Maximus replied.
"Come, Jeff, walk with me and let me show you the location I have chosen for the
thermae." He turned to Joimus. "Would you wish to come along?"
"Not right now, darling. I've got a new shipment coming in just a bit for the
Greenery and I need to be there when it arrives." She extended her hand to Jeff.
"I'm so pleased you've come to the Glen, Jeff… It's good to have you join our
community, and your talents seem to be just what my husband requires for this
project. I look forward to seeing you around during the construction."
Jeff smiled at Joimus as she walked off towards the Greenery, then followed the
General across his property, listening attentively to everything Maximus was
telling him about his dream. When they reached the chosen location Jeff took a
deep breath. Maximus had told him he didn't want a full sized thermae, but the
plot was still much larger than he had imagined. He thought he heard Harry in
his mind.
"Don't back down, Jeff. I know you can do this, and if you tell yourself that,
there's nothing you can't conquer. I love you, son."
Jeff looked up at the clear blue sky and whispered, "I love you too, Dad."
"Here," Maximus was saying, pointing to the area closest to where they stood,
"will be the main entrance. I will need
an apodyterium," he smiled, "changing room to you, on the left. Beyond that will
be the frigidarium with the tepidarium
just there and the caldarium possibly there. The more I think about it, the
more I also would like a laconicum, a dry
sweating room, and if we can work it out, a natatio, which would be more what
you would think of as a larger, outdoor
swimming pool." His gaze moved back and forth across the land. "I fear I may
be getting quite carried away with the
concept of this, Jeff. I would like a palestra, too, an exercise area, but
that is not something that will add to the
plumbing requirements at least." He paused, looking at Jeff, waiting for his
comment.
"Okay, General Meridius. They didn't teach Latin at my school, but if I get
your drift, you want cold, warm and hot plunge pools as well as your dry sauna
and outdoor swimming pool. I read that before the Roman men took to the waters
they were cleansed with oils that were then scraped off their bodies. So would
they have actually been clean before they jumped in the various pools, only
using the waters to invigorate their skin?"
Jeff was getting so interested in the project, he had forgotten to be nervous
in front of Maximus, and was eager to learn all he could from the General.
Maximus was pleased. "Yes, Jeff, it was usually after exercising that the oil
would be scraped off with a strigil. I
think I shall probably have to arrange for some of those to be specially made. I
doubt there is much demand for them in this time." He smiled. "We shall
forego the Roman latrine, I think, in favor of a modern bathroom." At Jeff's
somewhat puzzled look, he explained. "A Roman latrine had a shallow channel of
water running in front of the row of seats. Rather than toilet paper, we used
sponges attached to sticks. I have, alas, gotten rather fond of...flushing."
For some reason, Jeff found himself blushing at the thought of a traditional
Roman latrine. He wasn't sure why, after all, he played footy and was used to
showering with other men, and of course in the changing room you all pissed in a
line. It was the thought of doing what was usually done in a cubicle that had
brought his colour up.
"I'm glad to hear that, General. I guess Mrs Meridius will be pleased as well,
not that she'll be using the facilities. Weren't the baths a male only area?
"Oh, she will indeed use the facilities!" Maximus grinned. "We can have separate
male and female bathrooms, but the baths themselves will accommodate...everyone.
In fact, you yourself must assuredly try them. After all your work to bring this
into being for me, you should definitely experience them first hand."
"That's very kind, General. I guess the quicker I get started, the quicker we
can all accept your offer," Jeff replied, taking out his pad and writing copious
notes.
"Let me know when you think you can get started, Jeff. I have already made
many contacts with various contractors in the area as I have done so much
construction since my arrival." He smiled wryly, knowing Joimus would shake her
head at having to deal yet again with the sound of bulldozers vibrating the
glass of her greenhouse. But she would love the thermae when it was done...and
he would love having her join him in it. At that thought, his smile ceased any
indication of wryness.
"No worries, General. I’ll work on the figures as soon as I get back. They
should be ready in a couple of days. If you accept my quote, I can start at your
convenience," Jeff replied, smiling as he shook Maximus’ hand.
