Giton waited at the bakery next to Philandros' house for Olaf to appear. The german had wanted to buy a book to help his friend as he recovered from his fall, and had asked for Giton's help since he could neither read nor write. Of course Giton had accepted right away...any reason to spend as much time in the giant's company as possible! Now that Kanakht had moved into his brother's apartment, Giton found himself wanting friends more than at any time in his life.

It wasn't very long before he saw the unmistakeable blond form coming from the direction of the Vesuvius gate, whistling a tune under his breath which the greek didn't recognize. As at every meeting so far, Giton could not take his eyes from the smoothly moving muscled boy, golden hair shining in the bright sun. Just watching the german made his body excited in ways he had scarce experienced since he first discovered sex.

Olaf gripped his hand in what could have been a bone-crushing clasp had he been less careful, and gave the greek a large smile. "Is a good day...Philandros visits Valerius--and we can go buy a gift to help him be happier! You will show me where to find books?"

As they walked south toward the old forum, Giton nodded. "There are a couple places...you want something nice, or something inexpensive?"

Olaf frowned. "All books not the same? I want something nice for Philandros--maybe something he not have already...." The boy started to list some things he had heard Philandros say he liked to read, but Giton raised his hand to stop the torrent of information.

"I know what he likes...and I think we can find something good at Myron's...he has both Greek and Latin; he hasn't read much comedy except for Menander and Aristophanes...maybe we can find something newer..." Giton let his voice trail off, and he looked back over his shoulder at the receding house of his old friend.

Olaf placed a hand on the greek's shoulder, and gave him a little shake which nearly made the boy stumble. "Is good news, I think...Philandros says you are to come visit...he misses you! So--we buy book, and later, you come to house and we both give it to him! That is fine idea, I think!"

It took most of the walk to the old forum for Giton to gather his thoughts--he had not thought to a time when he and Philandros would be friends again--he had always found it unlikely that they could recover from the machinations that bastard Lykon had set up....Now, could it be? Philandros wanted to see him?! Olaf nodded when Giton gave him a look of confusion and hope...and clouted him once more on the shoulder.

On their left as they descended the steps to the Triangular forum, were the Odeon and the larger theatre...from both could be heard the sounds of performers practicing...and that reminded him that he should be getting ready for his part in a minor production as well--but his heart wasn't in it if he could be reunited with his Philandros!

Past some booths Giton led them--nothing of value was to be found there--and over to the shop of Myron. A small sign said the shop was closed, but the man reading at a table in the shade of the balcony laughed. "They're in there...just having a bite to eat; Pallas and some greek fancy boy, and a roman who has just begun to shave! You'd best knock loudly!"

Olaf was about to do so, when the door suddenly opened, and a man about their own age with dark brown hair came out...he was simply dressed, and wearing the belt of a slave. He gave a startled look at the blond giant and the smaller greek, and smiled an apology. He stared at the golden muscles in awe for a few moments, before he noticed the freedman's cap, and moved aside to pass them.

Giton asked: "Is Pallas within? We want to do some shopping!" Laris nodded, not having been told to keep anyone out, and he closed the door behind him leaving Olaf and Giton to browse and wander the counters. Giton skimmed the greek authors quickly, and went on to the works of the romans...he knew Philandros had far fewer of these.

After only a few minutes search, he found two works by Plautus--both comedies--done on decent parchment and nicely cased in leather tubes. "I think he will like The Pot of Gold...it has a lot of funny lines in it about a miserly old man....Casina I think, involves several people wanting to marry the same woman, and has lots of tricky situations."

"Philandros will like these? You are sure?" Olaf sounded doubtful, but he had no way to judge the merits of any play, comedy or not. Giton nodded his head, and patted the boy's shoulder in turn.

"Don't worry! He will like them...let's go find Pallas!" Giton led the way toward the back of the shop, where they could hear voices from the garden. Giton had been here before, once or twice, and knew the way. The guests were speaking in Latin, so that must mean that the 'roman' was still here....probably some weedy acne-scarred boy, he thought to himself.

"Pallas--I have a buyer--and we've found a couple things to give to a friend...." Giton's voice trailed off as he came into the doorway which let onto the garden. He stopped abruptly, so that Olaf accidentally ran into him, causing them both to stumble into the sunlit square.

Blue eyes fixed on the familiar face he had missed, and his tanned face was transformed by a dazzling smile of white teeth. Olaf walked quickly across the small space and took the long-haired greek into a crushing hug.

"Hylas! I miss you--I am very mad that you not come to see us!"