* * *
The task of keeping the Danube legions in camp was easier than anyone suspected. While there was very little direct enthusiasm for Claudius himself, there was even less for Scribonianus, and much less for civil war. The upper Danube legions would stand firm behind their governor, and they would persuade the lower Rhine legions to show the same loyalty to the closest living relative to the divine Augustus.
Thus at the same time that the Governor of Dalmatia made his ponderous attack on the now besieged Claudius, a message was received in the senate that the Danube legions had found their eagles mysteriously fixed to the ground, and this was interpreted as a message from the Gods. The Dalmatian legions were fully supportive of the Princeps. With his own legions against him, the Governor had lost.
Gaius also sent the Princeps two messages. The first was also for any of those close to Claudius to whom he wished to show the letter, and it explained to Claudius the background to the bungled insurrection, as he knew it, and the legions whose support he could count on. The second was personal. He promised Claudius that he could count on the legions for at least a year, but many of the soldiers were a little tired of the antics of Gaius Caesar. The Governor had made one valid point. Claudius had to restore Rome's dignity, and restore order to Rome. It was of prime importance that he did something the following summer to improve the situation. Anything, as long as it did something to improve Rome.
Chapter 17
There was a period in which little happened. The legion marched to Lussonium, and the standard exercises proceeded. There was little news from Rome. Timothy, who had remained under Gaius' instructions, sent a letter informing him that Vipsania was safely back at the ranch, and he had seen to it that everybody in Rome believed she had always been in Ravenna. There were, after all, very few days that were not truthfully accounted for.
There were no public trials. Dome of the senators were offered the choice of voluntary exile with forfeit of property, or trials when, if found guilty, they would be executed. Voluntary exile had its attractions. There were, however, a number of executions.
A letter soon arrived from Vipsania.
My Dearest Gaius,
I miss you very much, particularly since I had so looked forward to being with you. I had thought my appearance would be such a pleasant surprise, but oh how I was disappointed. I swear I had no idea what my father was involved in, and I can only thank you for your kindness. He has now gone into exile, but at least he is still alive.
My return to Rome had its moments. Timothy very kindly ensured our luggage was neatly loaded, and our ship sailed promptly on the tide. I was half asleep, and while I was hungry, I did not feel very much like breakfast. This may have been just as well, because the weather deteriorated, and the ship was tossed around something terribly. I was sick for much of the journey, but fortunately Timothy arranged for me to have a place to rest. Timothy also arranged a place to stay in Ravenna that was clean, but not in the centre, and for a few extra sesterces, we got the promise that the owner would swear we had been there for five nights. The next day we walked around Ravenna, and Timothy made me memorize where some important places were, and what we did on the days we weren't there. Really, Gaius, I think this is overdoing it, but you can be assured that Timothy did his job well. He kept asking me, what did I do on which day, and tried to fool me by saying I had said something different before.
I really think this was a waste of time, because nobody has asked me anything. Who cares what I do?
I have checked the business, and everything remains in order. Your steward is really quite efficient, and there really isn't much for me to do. His records are clear, and I can promise you he is looking after your interests perfectly. The only difficulty I have had is that some of the shipments from Egypt have not been recorded properly. These were organized by Quintus, and I assume he has the records. I shall try to find out.
Timothy stayed for a week, then he left, or he said he did. I was told by someone that they saw him in Rome a week later, but of course it may not have been him at all. I sometimes think people will tell me anything.
My father has been exiled, and I must thank you for your efforts, for I know had it not been for your plea to Claudius, he would almost certainly have been executed. Several others were. I hope you do not mind, but I stayed with him to comfort him for his last few days in Rome. He is really shaken, and he really did not know you were so attached to Claudius. It seems that the wretched Scribonianus had arrogantly assumed that if he ordered you to march on Rome to support him, you would. I think he was too afraid of treachery to get you to agree with this in advance, which was silly. Worse than that, while Scribonianus had promised many to restore the Republic, according to some of the Praetorians, he intended to be Princeps. I have no idea why my father trusted him.
I miss you, but hopefully it will not be too long until we are together again.
Your loving Vipsania
Gaius was amused to see that Timothy's attempts to remain without anyone knowing had failed. Fortunately, Vipsania did not realize that he had asked Timothy to stay, to spy on her. He was not the jealous husband, and in that respect he trusted Vipsania implicitly, but he was not entirely convinced that she would be free of conspiracy. Even if she were innocent, that did not mean that conspirators would not attempt to contact her. It was all so messy.
The news about Quintus irritated him. It would not surprise him if Quintus were cheating him a little. He probably felt that he was not being sufficiently well rewarded for what he was doing, and perhaps he was right, but that did not mean that he was entitled to help himself. Also, it was not as if he had asked Quintus to help: Quintus had taken that task on himself. All the same, if he wanted a bigger reward for carrying out whatever work he wished to specify, all he had to do was ask. On the other hand, whatever the problem was, it may have been nothing more than careless accounting, and he really did not care that much, as long as the ranch overall made a good profit, which it still seemed to be doing.
However, now there was a new problem in that Vipsania had taken an interest in the issue, and that had the potential to lead to conflict, and because of the trouble with her father, he had to support Vipsania, while at the same time not get into an unnecessary conflict with the husband of his sister. This was exactly what he did not need right now.
He would write back and let Vipsania know he completely understood her desire to be with her father for that period, and also encourage her to keep checking on the records. He would also try to get separate clarification from his Steward.
The general inactivity sent Gaius back to his engine. He had even further parts made, and he now had quite a strange collection of odd metal pieces. The problem was, would it work when he put it all together? He had made his designs, and the contraption should work, but. .
At last the first valved cylinder was delivered. Gaius stared at it, not knowing what to believe. It was rather big, and most certainly very clumsy. The cylinder itself had a piston that in principle went up and down, although it seemed a very tight fit. Not that that was a problem. It was the end with the valve, which was to be attached to the cylinder through a flange. The valve had two positions, and these were to be changed by being attached to rods attached to other rods eventually to be attached to a small wheel attached to a flywheel. There was going to be an awful lot of wobble, but the valve did have two positions that opened and shut two paths. The piston did its work because steam pressure was applied through the open valve, and the piston would push the steam out in the other position. .