of the world and wanted to turn back, but Maximus insisted that they continue on their course. Eventually Maximus lost sight of the other two ships, they called out hoping to find them in the fog, but they never saw them again. In fact, they had panicked thinking they must be getting close to the edge of the world and turned around to returned to Rome. On their arrival back in Rome they told Pertius that Maximus had sailed right off the edge of the world.
In the meantime, the crew of Maximus's ship rowed and rowed, for seven days they kept rowing before the fog cleared.
As the ship cleared the fog Maximus could see that they had sailed into some sort of natural harbour. On three sides were steep sided snow-capped mountains, the water was calm, all was quiet save for the haunting call of an eagle high in the sky, it was an eerie scene.
The crew shipped oars and stared open mouthed as if expecting something spectacular to happen at any moment.
Maximus stood at the very tip of the bow and called out. "Hello."
It echoed back, "Hello, hello, hello, hello."
"Is there anybody there?” there, there, there, there.
"NO, clear off!” Off, off, off.
"Hmm, completely deserted," Maximus muttered to himself.
"It's no good men, we won't find any virgins here, we'll have to go further up the coast. But first we must land to get more food and warmer clothing; I'm freezing."
The ship was turned toward shore and soon the crew were dropping anchor next to a pretty stretch of land with a small beach between the cliffs.
"Hmm not as bad as it looked," Maximus thought to himself.
"We'll camp here tonight lads."
The crew disembarked, unpacked the deckchairs and tents, and soon had camp set up on the short beach. They lit a big fire to help keep themselves warm, then a small hunting party went out to catch some fresh food. After an hour or so the hunting party returned with a score of birds that they had caught. The cook flattened them with a club and fried them on the fire, during evening the whole crew were sat around the campfire on their deckchairs, eating their chicken supper, licking their fingers.
The next morning the warm sun shone over the most beautiful landscape Maximus had ever seen. He summoned the five centurions to discuss their situation.
"Now then lads," Maximus decided to come straight to the point, "this is the most beautiful place I've ever seen. I've no idea how we got here or how to get back to Rome, so I've decided to build a permanent camp here, and then to explore this lovely land."
"Er, what about the emperor’s virgins?" Centurion Causticus enquired.
The others nodded in approval of the question.
"How many virgins have you seen since we left Rome Causticus? Do you think Pertius is going to come looking for you?"
"Here all six of us can live as Kings! Wait, that's it. We'll call this place the Land of the Six Kings," enthused Maximus.
"No Maximus," interrupted Causticus, "we are Roman, therefore you must call this place the Land of the VI Kings."
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