The Gladiator

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Over the following days, Cato was charged with organising the ofeeding of the inhabitants of Gortyna, and those refugees camped in the ruins and outside the walls. Having gone through the inventory of the food supplies stockpiled on the acropolis, it was clear that the population could be fed for at least a month. Each morning wagons left the acropolis for distribution points across the city to hand out rations to the waiting queues. The wagons were escorted by sections of auxiliaries, who protected them and ensured that all waited their turn to be given their allotted share of the food.

At the same time, the stocks of food held privately by Glabius's friends were confiscated and the inedible grain and meat that they had been selling was burned in a pit outside the city. At first the merchants had protested, demanded compensation and threatened to present their claims to Rome. Cato coolly invited them to proceed with their threat, and added that he would be sending his own report on their corrupt appropriation of imperial funds, with the collusion of Glabius. The merchants quickly backed down, and some, more mindful than their companions of the harsh justice meted out by the emperor, even offered to repay the small fortunes they had made from the sale of overpriced and spoiled food supplies.

In addition to the food stocks of the merchants, Cato sent strong patrols on to the farmland that sprawled across the southern plain, searching for further supplies of food to add to those held on the acropolis. With the inventory fluctuating every day, he needed help in keeping track of the consumption and supply of food, and one evening, as Sempronius dined in his new headquarters on the acropolis, Julia volunteered to take on the task. It was the usual affair of the senator, his daughter, Cato and Macro, each one on a couch, in front of a low table. Sempronius and his daughter sat side by side with Macro to the senator's left and Cato to Julia's right. The meals were simple, as the senator felt duty bound to share the privations of the inhabitants of Gortyna to an extent. The handful of small dishes presented by those kitchen slaves that remained were as artfully presented as anything served at a great banquet, and were consumed with great gusto by Macro.

'Lovely!' He smiled, licking a smear of sauce from his lips as he set down a small bowl of shredded pork in honeyed garum. 'I could eat that all night.'

'And so could most of the people outside these walls,' Sempronius observed as he chewed slowly. 'But we have to lead by example, as any centurion of your experience should know '

'Well.' Macro sucked through his teeth. 'There's a time and place.'

'This is it, alas.' Sempronius swallowed and considered the situation for a moment. 'We need more food, and soon.'

'What about Egypt?' asked Cato. 'Surely they have more than enough grain to spare?'

Sempronius nodded. The crops that grew along the Nile were famous for their yield, and were the largest source of grain for the teeming multitudes of Rome who had come to depend on regular, free handouts paid for by the emperor. 'I know the legate there well.

Gaius Petronius. We served together on the Rhine. Petronius was one of the equestrian tribunes — a good man. I could ask him, but the chances of any emergency food aid from that quarter are slim. Rome has the first, and only, call on Egyptian grain. The truth of it is that we have to make do with what we have for the present. That means that you must keep a close eye on our level of supplies.'

'True. I could use some help with the books, sir. If you could spare some of your clerks.'

'I'm short-staffed as it is. But I'll see what I can do.'

Julia lowered her plate and shifted round on her couch. 'What about me, Father? I could help Cato.'

'You?' Sempronius raised his eyebrows.

'Why not? You have paid some of the finest teachers in Rome to educate me. I'm sure I could manage to book — keep easily enough.'

'I'm sure you could, but I didn't pay those fine teachers just so that you could do the work of a humble clerk.'

'I'm sure.' Julia smiled mischievously. 'But whatever happened to leading by example? Surely that applies to all of us in this crisis? It would show the locals that Romans, no matter how high born, share their burdens. A shrewd political move, if nothing else.'

Sempronius stared at her for a moment, and then shook his head ruefully. 'Gentlemen, if I have one word of advice for you, don't have children. Or at least, if you must, then never overindulge them, else they will be your masters by and by.'

'I'll drink to that!' Macro laughed, as he helped himself to a goblet of wine and drank half of it down in one gulp.

Julia frowned. 'Have I ever failed to show you the respect that you are due, Father?'

'Well, now that you mention it…'

They stared at each other for a brief moment, before breaking into light laughter. Julia swatted his arm and then reached for an apple. Her father smiled fondly at her for a moment before he continued softly, 'Sometimes you remind me so much of your mother.

By the gods, I miss her.'

Abruptly he lowered his eyes and coughed, then swiftly picked up his cup and held it out to Macro. 'Fill it up, Centurion. I'll join you in that toast.'

As their cups clinked together, Julia turned to Cato and took his hand, caressing the back of it with her thumb as she smiled. 'At least we can spend more time with each other this way'

'We can, as long as we make sure that we do our duty first.'

'Call it what you like,' she whispered, and then laughed as Cato shuffled with embarrassment.

Sempronius looked round. 'What's up with you, my girl?'

'It's nothing, Father. A private joke.'

'I see.' Sempronius glanced at Cato.' Make sure she works hard.'

'Yes, sir.'

There was a lengthy silence, then the senator turned back to Macro.' How are the men coming on?'

As soon as he had taken charge of the forces remaining in Gortyna, Macro had begun a rigorous training program me for the auxiliaries. At first Sempronius had not been convinced that it was a good use of their time. They were needed to police the streets and the refugee camp, and help with the gangs of volunteers and the remaining slaves as they cleared rubble and made repairs to buildings, the sewers and the small aqueduct that supplemented the city's water supplies. But Macro recalled all too well the ferocity of the slaves he had fought in defence of Matala's supply wagons, and was adamant that the men be made ready to fight as quickly as possible. Therefore the soldiers of the Tenth Macdeonian had been divided into two groups, and alternated between carrying out their work in the city and drilling on the training ground outside Gortyna.

Macro paused a moment to think before he replied. 'Truth to tell, the lads of the Tenth are willing enough, and morale is good, which is surprising given the circumstances. The trouble is they have been on a garrison posting for too long and have grown soft.There's hardly a man who would be able to march fifteen miles in full kit and make a fortified camp at the end of the day. They change formation too slowly and are sloppy with it. Still, I'm making steady progress.

Another month or so and they'll be more than a match for any band of slaves.'

'So I should hope. From the reports I receive from Marcellus, it seems that the slaves don't present much of a danger. He's swept the plain and driven them into the hills. Now he aims to starve them out, or at least weaken them enough to attempt to pursue them into the mountains, track them down and crush any resistance.'

Macro nodded approvingly. 'Seems the right way to proceed.

Good luck to him. Though I can't help thinking that the slaves seem to have lost their spirit. They were keen enough to fight when I encountered them.'

'Perhaps you and your men discouraged them. After all, your report said you had inflicted heavy casualties on them.'

'That we did,' Macro said flatly. He took no pride in the slaughter of the poorly armed and untrained slaves. But it was them or him, and there had been no time for pity.

'So, we have them contained,' Sempronius concluded. 'We have got rid of Glabius and his cronies and we have sufficient food to see the immediate crisis out. I have a feeling we are over the worst of it.

The emperor will be happy with us, and once the province is settled and a new governor sent out from Rome, we can resume our journey home.' He smiled contentedly at Macro and Cato. 'I think we should be pleased with ourselves, gentlemen.'

'Another toast?' Macro raised his cup.

'Indeed.' Sempronius laughed. 'To success.'

Their cups clattered together and then the senator turned to Cato.

'What? Not joining in? Raise a cup, Cato.'

Cato forced a smile. 'If you say so, sir. To success.'

He drank, then lowered his cup. Julia squeezed his hand. 'Why the long face?'

'I'm not sure.' Cato shrugged. 'Force of habit, I suppose. I just can't help feeling that we've not seen the back of our problems here.'

Julia looked disappointed. 'And there I was, taking you for an optimist, full of the joys of youth.'

'I'm young enough,' Cato conceded. 'But I have seen more of this world than most men my age, and many who are much older.

Something tells me we're not through this yet.You mark my words.'

'It's a fucking javelin, not a bloody crutch!' Macro bawled into the auxiliary's ear as he savagely kicked the butt away. The javelin clattered down, and with a gasp of surprise the exhausted soldier lost his balance and crashed to the ground in a cloud of dust.

'What now?' Macro bent over the man, hands on hips, as he continued to shout. 'Asleep on my parade ground! You 'orrible little man. Who do you think I am, your bleeding mother come to wake you in the morning?' He kicked him in the ribs.' On your feet!'

Macro snapped upright and continued down the length of the century, which had just returned to the parade ground after he had taken them for a run twice round the city. Having witnessed the fate of the first man in the line, the others hurriedly shuffled to attention, chests heaving as they held their javelins and shields tightly to their bodies and stared straight ahead. Macro, in the chainmail vest, greaves and helmet he had taken from the stores of the Twelfth Hispania, was in far better shape than the men, and breathed easily as he strode down the first line, inspecting the Macedonians with a contemptuous expression. The only man amongst them with the kind of spirit he wanted to see was Atticus, who had turned out to be one of the best recruits Macro had ever encountered: tough, and with a natural talent with weapons. Macro had already earmarked the Greek for promotion to optio.

'I've seen a sewing circle of old women who looked more warlike than you lot! You are pathetic. How in Hades can you look so clapped out after a nice little trot like that? Right then, after javelin practice we'll do it again, and if any man falls out, or fails to stand properly to attention when we get back here, I will kick his arse so hard he'll be coughing his balls up. So help me.'

Macro reached the end of the line, pivoted round and pointed out the ten straw figures fastened to stakes thirty paces away. 'There's your target, one section to each. If you can't hit a still target like that on a nice neat parade ground then you are going to be no fucking use to me on a battlefield soaked in blood and covered in bodies. You will throw your javelins until every man has scored five direct hits. I don't care how long it takes, because I am a patient man and nothing makes me happier than the prospect of spending all evening at javelin practice. Form section lines!'

The men hurriedly shuffled into position. Most sections had fewer than eight men, as some had been lost in the earthquake and others were sick or injured.

'First man!' Macro bellowed.' Make ready your javelin!'

The leading man in each line stepped forward, grasping the javelin in an overhead grip and swinging the throwing arm back. They were using light javelins, more slender than the standard weapon that sometimes doubled as a spear. Macro waited until every man was ready and had had a brief chance to take aim.

'Loose javelins!'

With a grunt each man stepped forward and hurled his javelin.

They arced through the air towards the targets. There was a brief explosion of straw on two of the dummies; three went wide and five failed to make it even as far as the targets.

Macro folded his arms and glared at the men who stood empty-handed. He took a deep, calming breath before he called out,

'That was the most miserable display I have ever seen! Your best chance of survival on the battlefield would be to make the enemy die laughing at your utterly shit efforts. To the back of the line, ladies. Next rank!'

As the practice session wore on, the men failed to improve to anything close to the standard that Macro required of them, much to his exasperation. It was one thing to threaten to keep them at it until they got it right; quite another to have to endure it alongside them.

Some of the men were adept with the javelin, most could hit the target half of the time and a handful were so hopeless that Macro feared they would have missed the dummies even if they stood within spitting distance.

At length he saw Cato making his way out of the nearest city gate and heading towards the parade ground. They exchanged a salute as Cato joined his friend. As another wave of missiles mostly missed their targets, Cato clicked his tongue.

'Glad to see you haven't lost your touch as an instructor.'

'Ha fucking ha,' Macro grumbled. 'What are you here for? Assume you didn't come out here just to take the piss.'

'As if

'Anyway, you're no bloody good with a javelin. Seem to recall that you nearly skewered me that time in Germany '

'I was just a raw recruit then,' Cato responded defensively. 'I've mastered it now, of course.'

'Really?' Macro's eyes twinkled. He turned towards his men.

'Ladies! I am delighted to announce that we have a proper soldier here who is only too happy to show you the art of javelin throwing.'

'Macro…' Cato growled.

'You there!' Macro pointed to the nearest man.' Hand your javelin to Centurion Cato!'

'Macro, I really haven't got time.'

'Bollocks. Let's see who has lost their touch, shall we?' Macro waved a hand invitingly towards the javelin the soldier was holding out.' Be my guest.'

Cato's eyes narrowed furiously. He snatched the weapon and strode to the front of the line. Turning to face the target, he focused on it intently as he flipped the weapon in his hand and caught it in an overhead grip. He placed his leading foot carefully, eased back his throwing arm and sighted the target along his left arm, lining it up with his middle finger. Then, taking a deep breath, he tensed his muscles and hurled the javelin forward with all his strength. The weapon arced up, reached the apex of its trajectory and then dipped down and punched through the centre of the dummy's body Cato spun round towards Macro, hands balled into fists as he hissed triumphantly, 'Yessss!'

At once he forced himself to recover his composure and strolled back towards his friend, trying hard to look casual, as if hitting the target was all in a day's work. Macro nodded his head in admiration.

'Nice throw'

'Eat your words, Macro.'

'Not bad at all, except that you some how managed to throw the bloody thing the wrong way round.'

'What?' Cato turned quickly to look at the target. Sure enough, the point of the javelin was protruding from the chest while the butt sagged on to the ground on the other side. 'Shit…'

'Well, never mind.' Macro patted his shoulder. 'It's a useful demonstration in improvisation, if nothing else.'

Cato scowled.' Ha fucking ha.'

Macro laughed.' Now then, what brings you here?'

'Message from Sempronius. A section of the sewer has collapsed and needs to be dug out. He wants you and your men to see to it.'

'Oh, thanks. Just what I needed.'

Cato smiled as he saluted Macro again. 'What goes round comes round, eh? I'll see you later on. Right now I have to get back to the acropolis, and the delights of record-keeping. Have fun.'

The sunlight was streaming through the windows high on the wall in the office next do or to the one recently vacated by Glabius. Here too there were windows overlooking the city, and Cato was staring out over the damaged buildings and ruins, now washed in a pale orange hue. His mind gradually drifted back to the concern that was consuming him. Over the previous days, Marcellus's optimistic reports on his progress were being countered by fragments of news and rumours arriving at Gortyna that told of numerous raids by the slaves on isolated farms and estates. Then, the previous day, a cavalry squadron sent in search of a patrol that had not reported in returned to inform Cato that they had discovered the bodies of the missing men. The cavalrymen had also passed through a village where every man, woman and child had been slaughtered and left in a pile of mutilated bodies in the centre of the village, scarcely three miles from Gortyna.

'Hey!' Julia called out from the other side of the desk. 'Would you mind keeping your attention on the job?' She tapped the slate in front of her with a stylus.' My father wants the revised figures tonight, and we still have to account for the supplies on those wagons that turned up at noon.'

'Sorry.' Cato flashed a smile. 'Just thinking.'

He picked up the inventory of the first wagon and prepared to add up the ticks for each sack and announce the total to Julia to note down.

There was a sudden sharp rap on the door, and Cato turned round.

'Come in!'

The door opened, and one of Sempronius's clerks entered. 'Sorry to interrupt, sir, but the senator wants to see you at once.'

'At once?' Cato glanced at Julia and saw her frown. 'Very well, I'll come.'

He pushed his chair back and stood up, pausing a moment. 'We'll continue later on.'

Julia nodded wearily.

Cato followed the clerk out of the office. He wondered why Sempronius had summoned him so peremptorily. They were not due to meet until the evening briefing. At the end of the corridor, the door to the senator's office was open and the clerk stopped to knock on the frame.

'Centurion Cato, sir.'

'Very well, show him in.'

The clerk stood to one side and Cato strode past him into the office. Sempronius was sitting at his desk. To one side stood an officer.

Cato recognised him as one of Marcellus's centurions. The man was in armour, and a bloodstained rag was tied round his sword arm. His face was covered with stubble and he looked exhausted and strained.

Sempronius glanced at Cato with a drawn expression. 'I have sent for Macro. He should join us shortly. Meanwhile, do you know Centurion Micon?'

Sempronius indicated the other officer, and Cato looked at him briefly and nodded as he crossed the room and stood in front of the desk. 'I take it you have a report from Prefect Marcellus?'

Micon looked to the senator for guidance.

'Just tell him,' Sempronius said wearily. 'Tell him everything.'

Cato turned to Centurion Micon, as the other man cleared his throat. 'Yes, sir. Centurion Marcellus is dead.'

'Dead?'

'Yes, sir.' Micon nodded wearily.' Him and all his men.'