【明報專訊】It's the start of a new week, a Monday morning, and at the place where the three roads meet a number of ladies on their way to market stop to exchange gossip and catch up on the latest news. They hear that the armies of the north are still being bothered by those pesky Goths, and in the far reaches of England Emperor Hadrian is building a wall in an effort to keep out the annoying barbarians. The topic turns to the weather and the high price of vegetables, and dear, oh dear, the fields are so dry, will it ever rain? "My little Marcus grows like a weed. I'm off to buy him a new pair of grass sandals!" says his mother.