P.A. シャポー（P.A. Chapeau）
2016/03/26 10:12:38
オブシディウスはその旅路で友マルクスと幾度の手紙を交わしたのかは知られていないが、二人がベスビアン・マグナスの謎を解き明かそうと共に取り組み、意見を交わしていたことは今回の発見から明らかなようだ。

その真意を読み解けば、今回の手紙は重大な事実を明らかにしている。オブシディウス自身が自らの使命に疑問を募らせていたということだ。

今回の手紙には次のように記されていた。

「ガイウスよ、我が昔ながらの友よ。

この手紙が君のもとへ無事届くことを願う。

私がどのようなことに巻き込まれていると思うかい。不満ではないのだ。むしろ非常に興味深い課題を数多く提供してくれたと考えているよ。

数日前の晩のことだ、敢えて名を記すようなことはせぬが我らが共に知るポンペイの友に晩餐へ招かれたよ。私のこじんまりとした別荘とは比較にならなかったさ。食事も食器さえも実に豪奢だったが、ガリア風のもてなしが趣味の悪いものであることは言う必要もなかろう。私には説明のしようがないよ。

折を見て、何気なくベスビアン・マグナスに関して訊ねてみたが、その反応は実に興味深いものだった。ひとりはそんなものは知らぬと酷い偽りを吐いたし、トリクリニウムにいた残る二人は唐突に食事に関心を向けていた。何か重大なことを隠していることはわかったが、この雰囲気のなかで問い続けることは私自身の社会的立場を損ないかねなかった。私に相手するものはなくなったが、それでも構わない。私は平和と平穏をこそ求めてここへ来たのだから。

それと、私の想像に過ぎないのだろうが、ひそかに見張られているようだ。二度ほど監視されていると感じた。異なる立場にあって相談できる近しい友人が私にも何人かいるが、古ポンペイには隠された秘密があるようだ。

マルクス」

P.A. シャポー

H. Richard Loeb
2016/03/26 10:12:38
A letter between Obsidius and his friend Marcus. Reading between the lines, this letter reveals an important fact: Obsidius himself seemed to have been developing some doubts about the nature of his mission.

#InvestigateIngress

INQUIRIES
March 25, 2016 · by PAC · in Anomaly Intel

It's not known how many letters Obsidius and his friend Marcus were able to exchange during the Explorations of Obsidius, but it does seem clear based on this most recent discovery, that the two were exchanging ideas and working together to uncover the mysteries of the Vesuvian Magnus.

Reading between the lines, this letter reveals one more important fact: Obsidius himself seemed to have been developing some doubts about the nature of his mission.

Here's a transcript:

Gaius. My old friend.

I trust this will reach you on the road safe and in good health.

Whatever have you involved me in? No complaint. Much to the contrary, it has provided quite an intriguing project for me.

A few nights ago, I attended a cena at a certain mutual friend of ours' (I will leave names out of this missive) in Pompeii not far from my own much more humble summer villa. I could go on about the extravagant fare and even on the tableware itself, not to mention the Gaullic entertainment worthy of Trimalchio himself, but I lack the words to describe it.

When the moment seemed right, I innocently inquired about the Vesuvian Magnus. The response I received was quite interesting. One member of our group lied badly, saying that he had never heard of it and two others left the triclinium, feigning a sudden interest in the cooking practices.

Knowing that something of great interest was being hidden, I have continued my inquiries in less lavish surroundings and I fear my social life has deteriorated. My invitations have dropped off to none, which is fine. I come here for much needed peace and quiet.

And perhaps it is just my imagination, but it seems that I am being spied upon. Twice, I have felt that I was being watched. I have a few closer friends to inquire of under different circumstances, but it seems there are mysterious doings in old Pompeii.

Marcus

-PACcy1fq9pcypr9rz0fub0prq3cc38cx1d

#InvestigateIngress