flamen

Matthew Flamen let months go by without going to call on his wife in the hospital.

To Flamen's surprise he found that his mouth had gone dry.

The wife of the flamen was known as the flaminica.

Taking Flamen's arm, he led him briskly towards the door.

If you were the flamen, people would have to take it seriously, wouldn't they?"

He was about to say something else when he realized that Flamen wasn't alone.

"I got hints about that from Flamen too, on the way here.

Eyes darting past Flamen, he took in the others who were present, and his tone changed.

Does that make you feel any happier about Flamen's threat to take her away?"

He glanced at Flamen, who gave a vigorous nod of agreement.

Divorce her, and remain the flamen Dialis for the rest of his life?

"I can make damned sure that she doesn't," Flamen assured him.

On that exact same day of the year, the flamen Dialis was born.

That, chiefly, was why Flamen put up with him.

I'm on the right track, Flamen told himself, pleased.

Flamen's eyes were on the screen as he brought up subject after subject for intensive analysis.

"So that's it" Flamen pushed back his rotachair and started to rise.

Conroy said over Flamen's shoulder; he was the taller by half a head.

She sounded perfectly sincere, although Flamen's reaction was to look suspicious.

Seeing him, Flamen changed his mind instantly and shut down the sound on the vuset instead.

Anyway, if things went on as they were going at the moment there wouldn't be a Matthew Flamen show for long.

He leaned back grinning plumply at the expression on Flamen's face.

A rather good-looking man, younger than Flamen had imagined: certainly still in his thirties.

"Sounds as though, all things considered, you might have been better off than I am," Flamen said, and glanced at his watch.

It was a non-answer, but Flamen didn't bother to pursue the matter.