‘Well, no one knows what’s going to happen, do they? It’s just a normal day for most people. Luke, I’m still not convinced this is a good idea.’

‘If we’re going to contact St Mary’s, then this is the only place to be. I just hope we can find them.’

Jane remembered her afternoon in R&D. ‘Just head towards the shouting. They’ll be at the centre of it. Or possibly the cause.’

They picked their way around the streets. Since crossing the river to the Field of Mars, the buildings had become bigger and more widely spaced – many of them standing in their own grounds. And much, much grander. Now there was more white marble about, dazzling in the bright sunshine. Friezes picked out in red, blue and gold adorned many of the larger buildings. There were statues on the roofs, vivid with colour against the blue sky, and even more of them at street level. And temples everywhere. All shapes and sizes. The smell of incense hung heavily in the air. Street barrows still existed, to service passing trade, presumably, but this area was much less commercial than the one they had just left. The streets were cleaner and better paved and the noise levels slightly lower. There were still the small groves of pine trees, brilliant green with their new spring growth, but these were furnished with stone benches, offering welcome rest and shade to pedestrians. Water sellers stood nearby with their big jars and wooden cups.

‘There,’ said Jane, pointing to the huge, white, curving wall ahead of them, bouncing the bright sunshine back into their eyes. The Theatre of Pompey stood four storeys high with arched porticos on the first three floors and small square windows on the upper floor. The whole building was topped with tall wooden poles – whether to support canvas awnings to shade the audience or whether they were flag poles, they didn’t know. The new building was dazzlingly white, contrasting with pillars of red marble. The effect was eye-wateringly spectacular.

Luke consulted his scratchpad. ‘That’s it. The Theatre of Pompey.’

She shaded her eyes and tilted her head back. ‘It’s huge.’

‘It is, isn’t it? Let’s see if we can find a way in. Keep your eyes peeled for anyone who looks as if they might be St Mary’s.’

‘Well, at least our lot will be easy to spot.’

‘Yes, avoid the sinister black cloaks at all costs.’

They picked their way carefully around the building. The fast-food sellers were everywhere, bawling their wares from behind their trays. Enticing smells wafted through the air, although, as Jane said, in the way of fast food everywhere, it wouldn’t taste anything like as good as it smelled, and for heaven’s sake, Luke, you’ve already had breakfast.