The Legion

'He'll not get away, sir.'

'I trust not,' Cato replied flatly. 'That would be difficult medicine to swallow.'

The trierarch squinted into the rising sun, then shaded his eyes as he followed the course of the ship. 'They're still on fire. Why haven't they put it out yet?'

'Perhaps they need every spare man on the oars,' Cato suggested.

'Hmmm.'

They watched in silence for a moment longer before the trierarch shook his head. 'In the name of the gods, what does that fool think he's doing? He's heading towards the mangroves at full speed. They'll run aground for sure.'

Cato nodded. 'Then that's his plan.'

'To escape through the mangrove?' The trierarch shook his head. 'Impossible.'

'Why?' Cato turned to him.

'Sir, I've patrolled the delta ever since I joined the navy. I know it well, and I tell you there is no more difficult terrain than the mangroves. Even if you can fight your way through the reeds and the roots, the mud will suck you down and the air is foul with the stink of decay. If that's not bad enough then the place is alive with insects and leeches, not to mention the crocodiles. It would be suicide to attempt it.'

'If he doesn't, then they face certain death.' Cato looked at the ship, no more than a mile away. 'If I was Ajax, I would take the risk. He has nothing to lose. If he escapes, then he can continue to plague Rome. That's what drives him on.'

As the rowers below deck bent to their oars and the Sobek surged across the bay, Cato watched the renegade ship with a growing sense of unease. Despite what Phermon had said, Ajax was determined and resourceful enough to fight his way through the dense tangle of mangrove.

'Look!' The trierarch stuck his hand out.

The mast of the renegade ship shuddered and then abruptly toppled forward across the port beam, taking the rigging and spar with it. Some of the oars had snapped, others had snagged so that, from afar, the ship looked like a broken insect as it ploughed a short distance into the reeds and low-lying trees of the mangrove before coming to rest. Disturbed birds flitted into the air and the dust and sand that lay like a dull patina on the leaves of the stunted trees stirred into a thin haze about the wreck. The fire flared briefly, then settled into a steady blaze while the smoke swirled into the air. As Cato watched, the tiny figures of the ship's crew picked themselves up off the deck. In moments they had lowered a gangplank into the shallows and the first of them clambered down from the ship, clutching a loose bundle in one hand and a sword in the other.

'They're getting away,' said Cato, his heart dulled by despair at the sight of the crew abandoning the burning ship and disappearing into the tangled gloom of trees and rushes. 'They cannot be permitted to escape, do you understand, Phermon?'

'Yes, sir.' He gestured down towards the deck. 'The lads are doing their best.'

Cato glanced over the side at the oars, sweeping forward and driving through the water, and up and forward again in a swift rhythm. He climbed down on to the deck and turned to face the legionaries clustered on the main deck. 'Listen here!' He waited a moment until they were still and he had their full attention. 'I want fifty men to pursue the enemy making off into the mangrove.' Cato pointed towards the enemy ship. 'You men were with me on Crete. You know what Ajax and his followers have done. You saw the atrocities with your own eyes. We have to capture or kill him and put an end to his foul work.' He turned to their commander, Centurion Rufus. 'I only want volunteers. Don't pick any wounded men. I don't doubt your men's courage, but it'll be hard going and open wounds will soon fester in those marshes. Those who'll follow me need to leave their armour behind. They're to take only shields and helmets, together with their swords. And rations and water for three days.' He gazed at them for an instant and then nodded. 'That's it. Those who are coming with me, be ready to march as soon as we reach the far side of the bay. Dismissed!'

He turned away and strode forward to the bows to watch as the warships closed up on the burning vessel stuck hard and fast into the twisted roots and silt of the mangrove. The trierarch looked over the side and gave the order to reduce speed, and then backwater, to kill the momentum of the ship as it drew close to the shore. The other warships had also slowed and gave way to the Sobek as she edged towards the mangrove, a short distance from the abandoned vessel. The air was filled with the crackle of flames and the sharp reports of bursting timbers. The fire was burning more fiercely than ever and Cato realised that Ajax must have given orders to feed the flames before he and his men had quit the ship.

'Phermon!' Cato had to shout to be heard over the noise of the blaze. 'Get some men over to that ship. See if they can put the fire out.'

'Aye, sir.'

There was the faintest of shudders beneath Cato's boots as the ship ran aground. At once the marines on the foredeck lowered a gangplank into the shallows, muddied by the impact of the ram.

'Here,' Cato called to the nearest of the legionaries. 'Give me a hand with the cuirass.'

While he raised his arms, the soldier eased the armour off Cato's shoulders and laid it on the deck. Cato nodded his thanks and then helped himself to a canteen, one of the waterskins and a haversack, hastily stuffed with hard bread and strips of dried beef. He slipped the strap over his shoulder and picked up a shield, then turned to Centurion Rufus. 'How many men came forward?'

'Fifty, sir. As you requested.'

'All volunteers, I take it?' Cato could not help a slight mocking tone.

'You know how it is, sir. An officer asks for volunteers and woe betide any man who takes him at his word.' Rufus grinned. 'That said, they're all good men. I picked the best.'

'Then let's go.'

As the burly centurion led the first section down the gangplank, Cato turned to the trierarch. 'When Macro and his men get across the bay, tell him to come after us. I should think it'll be easy enough to follow our path.'

'Yes, sir.'

Cato thought for a moment before he continued. 'Then take the fleet back to Alexandria and report to the governor. Inform him that I intend to pursue Ajax until I bring him to bay and finish him for good. Then we'll make our way back to Alexandria. Got that?'

Phermon nodded. 'I'll tell him. And may the gods protect you, sir. I'll pray that Fortuna favours you.'

'I hope so. She's proved to be a fickle bitch from the moment the hunt for Ajax began.' Cato paused and looked at the trierarch gratefully. 'Have a safe voyage home.'

He turned and took his place in the line of soldiers waiting their turn to descend the gangway. The wooden planks bowed under the boots of the men making their way down and Cato had to watch his balance carefully when his turn came. At the bottom of the gangway he stepped into the murky water, which rose up to his thighs, and felt his way towards the shore. Stunted trees sprouted from tangled clumps of roots that disappeared under the water and the stench of rotting vegetation filled the hot air. The legionaries ahead of him swirled through the water towards a small earth bank where reeds grew higher than a man. There was a muttered curse as one caught his boot in some of the roots and pitched forward with a splash. He rose up dripping and grumbling, picked up his kit and continued towards the reeds. Cato probed his way carefully towards the shore and emerged from the cloudy water. Centurion Rufus nodded to him and then bellowed past Cato towards the remaining men.

'Come on, you lazy bastards! Pick it up!' He turned to Cato. 'I sent the first section on ahead, sir. Told 'em to try and keep up with Ajax's men but not to engage them.'

'Good.' Cato approved. 'And have the rearguard section make sure that they mark our progress through the mangrove. Centurion Macro will be following us.' Cato looked round at the dense vegetation and shallow water stretching out ahead of him. 'Besides, we might need to retrace our steps.'