Read Count Belisarius for Free Online Page B

with this stone, so that he fell forward stunned. Belisarius, without saying a word and still carrying the stone, returned to his tutor’s side.
    Palaeologus trembled, expecting the other boys to avenge their playmate, and indeed some of them now advanced with threatening cries and gestures.
    Belisarius did not retreat or apologize. He said: ‘If any others of you dare to insult this old man, my tutor, I will do again what I did.’
    Because he showed courage, a party of boys led by Uliaris rallied to him. Uliaris asked: ‘What is your Colour, boy? We are Blues. The boy you struck, Rufinus, is leader of the Greens.’ They expected him to proclaim himself a Blue too, in self-protection, and to be of service to their faction at some later time.
    But, strange as it may seem, Belisarius had been brought up atTchermen in so unworldly a way that he had never even heard of the rivalry of the Blue and Green chariot-racing factions; which was almost as strange as if he had never heard tell of the Apostles Peter and Paul. For in both halves of the Roman Empire the factions are every-where constantly spoken of, and they are no new invention either; but date from at least the reign of the Emperor Tiberius, who was a contemporary of Jesus Christ.
    Belisarius answered Uliaris: ‘I belong to the Whites, and this is my lieutenant.’ He pointed to Armenian John. Belisarius in his troop of boys on the estate had employed a white standard, to match his name, so the troop was called ‘The White Troop’.
    They explained, surprised at his words, that every boy must be either Blue or Green, or a turn-coat, or a trimmer. It was true that there were originally Red and White factions at the Hippodrome, representing the colours of summer and winter, just as the Green represented spring, and the Blue autumn. But chariot-races are now run two charious against two, and not all four chariots each against the others; so White and Red no longer exist as independent factions, having long ago become affiliated, respectively, to Blue and Green, and disappeared.
    Belisarius realized that he had said what sounded foolish, but none the less decided to abide by his words. He answered: ‘If there are not yet any Whites at this school, Armenian John and I must make a beginning.’
    They grew angry then, Blues as well as Greens, and told him that it was a strict rule of the schoolyard that knives or stones or other dangerous weapons should not be used in their tussles, but hands and feet only, and soft missiles like mud or snow.
    Belisarius mocked at them for this and said: ‘And it was you who called me a girl-boy!’
    This provoked a noisy rush against him and Armenian John. But Andress dropped the satchel and ran to their rescue. Meanwhile Palaeologus had gone to fetch aid; the undermaster soon appeared and prevented further mischief, for he induced Rufinus to make his peace with Belisarius.
    Rufinus had recovered from the blow and, being a noble-minded boy, said that he admired Belisarius for avenging what seemed to be an insult to his tutor. He told Belisarius: ‘If you and your comrade care to join the Green faction as members, you will be welcome.’
    Uliaris shouted: ‘No, let them come to us. We were the first to ask.’
    It was unheard of that two faction leaders, such as Uliaris and Rufinus, should be competing for the support of a new boy. Usually it was only with difficulty and bribes that such a one obtained full membership in a faction: he had to wait for many months as a mere hanger-on to the faction that he favoured.
    Belisarius thanked Rufinus for his invitation, but excused himself, as being a White; and Armenian John did the same. So Rufinus laughed. He did not appear insulted, but said: ‘If your huge White army needs help against the Blues, you know what allies to summon to your aid.’ The affair ended more quietly than it had begun, and when the boys heard that it was