Latin Lesson

The sun hit us like a fist as we stepped out of the church. The massive hump of the Dent de Rez, highest point of the region, loomed over us and over the stony landscape with its scattered and abandoned almond trees, cracked and twisted in attitudes of death. The word crucified came to mind.

‘By the way,’ I said to Priscilla, ‘the letters INRI over that big Crucifix in the church stand for the Latin words Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum, Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews. There was no letter J in the Latin alphabet.’

‘Like another one?’ I didn’t give her time to say no. ‘SPQR, proud legend of the Roman legions, Senatus Populusque Romanus, the Senate and People of Rome.’ The que, I explained, was the Latin for “and”.

Through her sunglasses, Priscilla was watching a buzzard high in the deep blue dome of sky, wings outstretched and circling lazily on a thermal of air. ‘Thank you, Mr Clever Clogs.’

‘Anytime.’