The Legion

'Ah, there you have me.' Cato clicked his tongue. 'That's what I said to the governor. But he was adamant that the Nubians had to be dealt with first. He's probably right,' Cato conceded. 'So, it's back to the army for both of us. Of course, that may yet serve our purpose.' Cato leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. 'The last we heard of Ajax was that he was heading up the Nile. He's on the run. He doesn't have many men left. The question is, what would you do in his place?'

Macro scratched his neck. 'Look for a new base to operate from. Find new allies…' He looked at Cato and cocked an eyebrow. 'The Nubians?'

'That's my thought.'

Macro was not so certain. 'It's a bit of a long shot. Why would he do that? Why not just find a nice quiet route out of the province and bugger off to some far corner of the Empire and cause trouble there?'

'Because the Nubians offer him the best chance of doing more damage to Rome.'

'And why would the Nubians take him on?'

'Wouldn't you? You've seen the handiwork of Ajax and his men. They'd be a useful asset to any army.'

'I suppose,' Macro responded thoughtfully. 'Though I doubt Ajax will take kindly to receiving orders rather than giving them. Trust me, Cato, I've had the chance to watch the man at length. He is determined to serve no master but himself.'

'We all have to swallow our pride sometimes.' Cato eased himself back. 'I could be wrong. He might already be on his way out of the province. But I doubt it. Not while we're here.' A sudden insight struck him. 'In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he was hoping that we would be joining the army sent against the Nubians. All the more reason to join forces with them.'

'He hates us that much?'

Cato recalled the insane rage in Ajax's expression the night they had fought in the village and a familiar cold chill rippled down his spine. 'Yes. Yes, he does. I'm certain of it. And that is the only advantage we have right now.'

Hamedes cleared his throat. 'So, sir, when are you leaving for the upper Nile?'

'Tomorrow. There's a military convoy being loaded at the quay on Lake Mareotis. We've been given berths on one of the barges. We leave at dawn.'

'That soon?' Macro thought a moment and shrugged. 'Why not? If Ajax is waiting for us there, the sooner we deal with the bastard the better.' He turned to Hamedes. 'Looks like we'll be parting company. Here's to you.' He raised his cup. 'As gypo guides go, you're all right.'

Hamedes looked at Cato. 'Is that a compliment, sir?'

'From him? Oh yes.' Cato lifted his cup as well. 'Thanks for your help.'

Hamedes seemed troubled. 'The truth is, sir, that I wish to find a place in one of the older temples that still hold to the old faith. Not here, with these con men. I want to return to the upper Nile, where I was raised.' His eyes gleamed. 'And you still need someone who speaks the native tongue, to help you find the gladiator and his followers. I might serve you a while yet, before returning to the priesthood. You know I have as much reason to find him as you do. The blood of my brother priests demands justice.'

'Yes.' Cato could see the intensity of Hamedes' gaze and guess at the feelings that filled his heart and mind and fuelled his desire for revenge. He nodded. 'Very well, you can join us. I'll have you enrolled as a scout. Might as well be paid for your efforts.'

The priest smiled. 'I am in your debt, sir.'

The Nile barges were heavily laden with military supplies for the coming campaign: baskets filled with arrows, the heavier shafts of ammunition for the bolt throwers, newly forged sword blades, shield bosses and trims, tubs of nails and boots. There were scores of legionaries and officers who had been on leave, or detached service, and were returning to their units, along with some fresh recruits. Cato, Macro and Hamedes, laden down with the kit they had retrieved from the Alexandrian fleet, boarded one of the last vessels to leave and were ushered out of the way to the small foredeck while the crew thrust the vessel away from the quay and hoisted the large triangular sail. The hold had been filled and sacks of grain and jars of oil and wine were heaped across the deck.

'It's a wonder the tub stays afloat,' Macro mused as he set his kitbag down and made himself comfortable under the small awning that covered the foredeck.

Cato nodded. There was scarcely more than a foot of freeboard over the side and he wondered what would happen if the barge was caught by a sudden gust of wind. With all the cargo aboard, it would surely sink like a rock and Cato had no desire to be pitched into the Nile. It was not the prospect of swimming to the nearest bank that concerned him so much as the thought of the crocodiles that might be lurking amid the reeds, waiting to snap up some easy prey.

'Rest easy, Centurion.' Hamedes smiled. 'The waters of the Nile are always calm, and the wind constant. There is no cause for alarm. Besides, I have an offering of a jar of oil for the Nile gods.' He patted his kitbag. 'They will protect us.'

'I'm not bloody alarmed,' Macro growled. 'I'm just saying the boat looks overloaded, that's all.'

Hamedes nodded understandingly and then stretched himself out on his back, resting his head carefully on the bulky kitbag he had brought aboard and settled down to get some sleep. The two Romans watched the receding skyline of Alexandria for a while, taking turns to sip from a wineskin that Macro had bought in one of the markets of the Canopic Way. At length, Macro coughed and turned to Cato.

'Do you really think Ajax will be down there, with the Nubians?'

'The more I think about it, the more certain I am,' Cato replied. 'It offers him the best way of continuing his war against Rome.'

'And us?'

'Why not? There's every chance of killing two birds with one stone. Where else would we be when the governor needs every soldier he can scrape together to repel the invasion?'

'I'm not so keen on being considered to be part of the scrapings, if it's all the same to you.' Macro flashed a smile. 'But I take your point. And if you're right, it should make the task of finding Ajax that much easier. But duty first, eh? Defeat the Nubians and then find Ajax.'

'Defeating the Nubians might be a rather harder task than you think.'

'How so?'

'I had a word with one of Petronius's staff officers before I left the palace. I wanted some information on the forces available to Candidus. The two infantry cohorts sound like good formations, but the cavalry is under strength. It's the Twenty-Second I'm not so sure about.'

'They're legionaries. They'll stand up to whatever the Nubians throw at them.'

'I hope so.' Cato rubbed his chin and wished that he had taken the opportunity to have a shave in Alexandria before embarking. 'The fact is that the Twenty-Second is something of an oddity.'

'Oh? What's their story, then?'

'The legion was raised by Mark Antony. He filled the ranks with men from Cleopatra's army. When Antony was defeated by Octavian, the Twenty-Second was integrated into the rest of the army and has been stationed on the Nile since then. They're a mix of Greeks and Egyptians from the Nile cities.'

'You think they might be a bit soft then?'

'Maybe. They have had no part in a major campaign since the civil war. For most of them, this is going to be the first action they've gone into. I just hope they've been trained well enough for the job.'

Macro shook his head. 'Cato, even if the quality of the men is suspect, they're still commanded by centurions, and centurions, my friend, are the same the world over. As hard and demanding a bunch as you will ever find.'

'Not all of them. We've seen our share of bad officers in our time.'

'A few bad eggs, that's all,' Macro replied tersely, not willing to endure too much disparagement of the brotherhood he felt honoured to be a part of. 'The centurionate has a fine tradition. There are always exceptions.'

'Then let's hope we don't find too many of them in the Twenty-Second. '