“Hi, Sharyn. Have a good break?”

The other girl put down the tome she had continued reading the whole time since Jason arrived and smiled at the newcomer.

“Franny! Good to see you. I had a shit break. Family. You know. But I’m glad you’re here as I need help with this bloody text.” She indicated the book she had been studying.

“But of course, my friend,” Franny said, moving over to Sharyn’s desk.

The two girls were soon immersed in whatever Sharyn had been having a problem with, and Jason turned his attention back to his computer. By the time he was ready to break for lunch, he had finished the last of the thirty-one tablets from the supposed box and also translated four of the separate lower group of tablets. He was about to call up the only publicly released translation of the tablets when he decided food was more important, especially given that he had finished his self-imposed translation task in a few hours instead of the weeks he had anticipated it would take back before his strange weekend encounter.

John Henderson the Third, an African American from old money, something he always reminded those around him of if the opportunity presented itself, had entered the room at some point without Jason realizing. While Sharyn was in her second year and Franny her third, John was in his first year of post-grad studies. Along with Alicia Franklin, who had so far failed to put in an appearance. Henderson was a specialist in Ancient Greece, especially Athens, as was Sharyn. However, her interest was in a later period compared to John’s interests and extended more into the Hellenistic period after Alexander. Franny and Alicia were Roman specialists, and Franny was going on a dig in England during the summer break. Lucky shit!

“I’m taking a lunch break, people. Does anybody want to come?” He packed up his things, slipping his laptop into his backpack before standing up.

“Hang on a sec; I’ll come too,” Franny said and returned to the conversation she was having with someone on her computer.

She had been speaking so quietly that Jason hadn’t even noticed she was talking to someone. He moved over to where he could look over her shoulder and saw a rather attractive young lady on the screen comparing notes with Franny about something to do with Hadrian’s Wall. Seeing they were deep into talking Roman stuff, He couldn’t help himself.

“Bloody Romans. So, what did the Romans ever do for us, eh?”

It was old, it was lame, but you know, the opportunity had presented itself. The girl on the screen had seen him appear behind Franny but hadn’t said anything until he had failed to resist the urge to open his mouth.

Franny swung round.

“Hey, this is a private conversation! Do you mind!”

Jason winked at the girl on the computer, who didn’t appear to be that upset at him listening in from the crinkling of her eyes and grinned at Franny.

“Don’t mind at all, Franny. Who’s your friend?”

He wasn’t sure if Franny was about to hit him or merely verbally abuse him, but the girl said something which arrested whatever retribution she was about to undertake.