Free Live from Moscow by Eric Almeida Page A

to
have found peace, a way forward. Through reading? Whatever worked. Each person
had to choose his own means.
    She'd learned that from Peter.

 
 
     
    CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
     
    From a viewing plateau on one side of the valley, Claire and Peter gazed
out. The Pont du Gard was a stunning work of Roman engineering. Construction
was all in stone. The structure had endured 2000 years, from around the time of
Christ. Claire had visited once before, when she was 12 years old with her
parents, an only child and the beneficiary of lavish attention. They'd tried to
communicate historical and architectural details to her from a guidebook.
Because of her age she'd been oblivious.
    On this visit she'd also brought a guidebook. There was no need for it.
 As usual Peter had done his research.
    He started with history. The Roman general Agrippa initiated construction in
19 BC; it was completed several decades later. Building materials consisted of
limestone: blocks weighing up to six tons each, hauled into place by massive
pulleys and slave labor.
    The edifice served two purposes, Peter explained: bridge and aqueduct.
Claire followed his finger downward as he indicated six large arches rising
from the River Gardon and adjoining, rocky banks. These supported the first
level, which included a bridge roadway wide enough to accommodate ancient
horse-drawn traffic. Now it was reserved for pedestrians and bicyclists, and
accessible from the viewing plateau. From the bridge level rose eleven more
arches: identical in size to the base arches but more numerous because they
connected a wider expanse. These in turn supported 35 much smaller arches on
the uppermost level, which under-girded the aqueduct. It spanned 275 meters and
soared 50 meters above the river---the highest bridge in the ancient world.
    In Roman Gaul, the enclosed canal transported water a total of 50 km from
the springs at Uzes to the city of Nimes, 18 km to the southwest. Flow came
from subtle use of gravity. Over this 50-km distance the total downhill
gradient was only 17 meters, or .4 percent. Such propulsion was more than
adequate. During a period of 400-500 years, the conduit provided the main water
supply for Nimes: about 400 liters per person per day to city residents.
    "Amazing," Claire said.
    "Yes," Peter answered. "Especially given the technology of
those times."
    "Shall we walk out on the bridge? Maybe take some photographs?"
    "I have another suggestion."
    Claire smiled. "I'm listening."
    "Why don't we take that trail and climb higher." He pointed to a
craggy walkway that wound up the hillside from the viewing area. "That
will bring us to the aqueduct level. We can walk across that to the opposite
bank. From there we can descend another trail and return over the bridge, which
will bring us right back here. And we can take photographs along the way."
    She glanced first at the trail, visible at various points but hidden at
others by trees and brush. A few small groups were making the climb. Most other
tourists meandered toward the bridge or down to a picnic area on the riverbank.
Then she gazed further up, shielding her eyes from sunlight. She spotted some
small human figures at one end of the aqueduct, where it joined the hillside.
No people were visible on top.
    "Are you sure we can cross up there?" she asked. "I don't see
anyone doing it."
    "The practice isn't encouraged. But the authorities don't
intervene."
    A year earlier, Claire might have hesitated. No longer. This was one of the
features that thrilled her about Peter. He was controlled and directed. But
she'd learned; that didn't preclude the unconventional.
    "You're on," she said.
    He returned a smile and reached for her hand. They crossed the viewing area
to the trail and began ascending the hillside. Sweet and fertile scents
permeated the air. The morning sun warmed their faces and spirits. They were at
the beginning of their first real vacation together, a four-day, April escape
to Nimes and Arles before