There were a couple of chuckles, but Pinarius didn’t join in. ‘You certainly look the worse for wear, hastatus.’
‘Sir.’
‘I am told that you came to your centurion with this news in the full knowledge that you would be severely punished for disobeying his orders. Which were to stay in your quarters, and not to visit any establishments that sold wine.’
‘That’s right, sir,’ said Quintus, meeting Pinarius’ gaze.
‘Corax also says that a day or two before, you and a comrade prevented some other legionaries from raping the innkeeper’s daughter?’
‘Yes, sir.’
There was a short pause as Pinarius stared at him. ‘Very well. You’re either a good liar, or telling the truth. Corax is an officer of the finest quality, and if he vouches for you, that’s good enough. Dismissed.’
‘Sir.’ Quintus saluted again and turned to go.
‘Wait outside,’ ordered Corax.
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Are you sure about this, Pinarius?’ cried Pera as Quintus walked out. He moved as slowly as he dared in order to catch what was being said.
Pinarius’ reaction was instant. ‘I am. Are you calling into question Corax’s word?’
‘Of course not,’ said Pera, sounding flustered.
‘Then I suggest you keep quiet.’
Hiding his delight at Pera’s embarrassment, Quintus made his way to the atrium. If things went to plan from this point, the men on Thersites’ list could be seized before the meeting went ahead. Not only would the Carthaginians be prevented from taking the town at night, but a vote by the townsmen in favour of remaining loyal to Rome was far more likely.
His mood dampened a little. Despite this success, he and his tent mates were still to be punished.
And his head felt like a well-beaten piece of iron on the smith’s anvil.
In the event, things did not go exactly as Pinarius would have wished. The Carthaginian sympathisers, Simmias and Zenodoros, were nowhere to be found. Ochos was not in his house; neither were most of the rest of the fifteen men on Thersites’ list. Urged on by their centurions, small parties of legionaries searched Enna from top to bottom, but their attempts were hampered by their lack of numbers — an attempt not to raise the suspicions of the populace. By the time that the meeting in the agora was due to start, only two suspects had been detained. Both were taken straight to Pinarius’ house. This news shot around the town as fast as legionaries could carry it.
Not long after, Corax’s maniple started deploying in the agora, which was already more than half full. Most of the glances thrown in their direction were unfriendly, but no one hurled any insults or, worse still, missiles. A continuous stream of men emerged from the little streets that opened on to the space, meaning that no one lingered beside the legionaries. The new arrivals were a cross section of the population. There were labourers and farmers in short, dusty chitons, potters with clay-encrusted hands, butchers in stained aprons, black-faced smiths and well-dressed merchants with supercilious expressions. Old men with sticks limped along, complaining about the pace of their peers. Small boys darted in and out of the crowd, playing catch and annoying their fathers, while their older brothers made derogatory comments.
The press was greatest around the steps up to the temple of Demeter, one of the most important goddesses on Sicily. This shrine, a grand affair with an six-columned frontage, took up the northern face of the agora. Corax’s hastati took up position along the southern side of the large, rectangular space, and Vitruvius’ soldiers covered more than half of the eastern. Pera’s maniple spread out along the western side. It wasn’t long before a messenger from Pinarius appeared to the rear of Corax’s maniple. He passed on a message quietly, and moved off in search of Pera.
Quintus and his comrades were close enough to hear Corax talking to Vitruvius after the messenger had gone. ‘There was only time for a short interrogation, because of this damn gathering. They pleaded ignorance at first, but once one of them had his toes in the kitchen stove, he sang his heart out. The innkeeper was speaking the truth.’
‘They were going to let the stinking guggas in at night?’
‘So it seems,’ replied Corax grimly. A rumble of anger erupted from the hastati, and he did nothing to quell it.
‘Where are the rest of the treacherous arse-lovers on the list?’
‘Here.’ Corax waved a hand at the agora. ‘We’ve got no hope of finding the fuckers.’
The sacred fountain at its centre was now all but obscured by the throng. Boys were clambering up on to statues to get a better view of what was going on. The colonnaded rows of shops and businesses that bordered its two longer sides were no longer visible. Even the steps to the minor temples which lay on the shorter faces, one of which was behind them, were lined with loudly talking men. Yet no one was standing close to the hastati. It was understandable, thought Quintus. Pinarius’ deployment was meant to intimidate.
‘They’ll show their ugly faces when Pinarius starts to speak, surely? We can snatch them that very moment,’ Vitruvius declared.
‘We’d start a riot. No, we have to play it softly, as Pinarius said. Otherwise, things could get out of hand,’ Corax muttered. ‘One suspect mentioned that some of their supporters have armed themselves. We’d sort them out if it came to it, but it could be nasty. There are an awful lot more of them than there are of us.’
‘What are we to do?’ asked Vitruvius.
‘Stay calm,’ replied Corax. ‘Keep our position. Any moment, Pinarius will get here. His soldiers will split up to cover the sections of the east and west sides closest to the temple of Demeter. He will address the townsmen on the issue of who should retain control of the keys to the gate, and then invite its leaders to speak. If they speak for Rome-’
‘That won’t happen,’ hissed Vitruvius.
‘True. If they speak against us, we’re to do nothing as long as their words are peaceable. We’ll let the assembly finish, and seal off all but two streets that lead away from the agora. Pinarius has the suspects with him. One will be placed at each exit point so that they can identify the bastards on the list. We can grab them one by one.’
‘And if they say that we are the enemy? If the crowd turns on us?’
Every hastatus within earshot craned forward to hear Corax’s response.
‘If that happens — or if any other treacherous move is made — Pinarius will clench his fist by his waist. In that case, we are to fall on every man present with drawn blade.’
‘Very well,’ said Vitruvius grimly. ‘If it comes to it, we shall do our duty.’
‘Hades, I hope it doesn’t come to that,’ muttered Quintus to Urceus.
‘So do I. But if it does, it does. They’re not Romans, are they?’
It was shocking but true. The hastati would follow orders — no matter what. So would he. Corax was his superior, and he had sworn to obey him, even if the order was to slay unarmed men. Gods above, let this go off without violence, Quintus prayed, wondering if it had been wise to take Thersites’ list to Corax. Yes, it had, he decided, harsh though that judgement was. If he hadn’t, countless legionaries, his friends among them, would have had their throats slit in their sleep.
The tramp of studded sandals on paving stones drew everyone’s attention. It was Pinarius, arriving at the head of his maniple. Sunlight flashed off his polished helmet and breastplate, and his crimson horsehair crest had been freshly dyed. He looked truly impressive. So did his men. In the midst of the soldiers, Quintus caught a glimpse of a pair of bruised, bloodied faces — the suspects, surely — before their heads were covered with old sacks and they were whisked off to the designated exits. Pinarius spoke a few words to Corax and then, in a clear exercise of intimidation, he marched his legionaries straight across the middle of the agora. The silent crowd parted like a block of wood split by an axe. Pinarius stalked up the steps of Demeter’s temple with about twenty men. The rest of his maniple spread out until they met up with Vitruvius’ and Pera’s troops. All four sides of the agora were now manned by legionaries. The multitude of locals shifted about unhappily.