The Gladiator

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

The crews of the warships were left with the task of burying the dead of Matala, while Fulvius marched his column on to Gortyna. Cato rode ahead with a squadron from the mounted cohort, consumed with anxiety for the fate of his friends. He led the horsemen on at a gallop, thundering along the dusty road to the provincial capital, all the while terrified of what he might see when he finally arrived in sight of the city. The horses and men were only allowed to stop and rest when they were on the verge of exhaustion, and then Cato ordered them to walk on until he judged that the mounts had recovered enough to continue being ridden.

All the time his mind was a raging turmoil of images. In his mind's eye he saw Gortyna in smouldering ruins, streets littered with butchered bodies, leading all the way up to the acropolis, where…

He clamped his eyes shut for an instant to force the image from his mind and turned instead to prayer, silently begging the gods to spare Julia, Macro and all the others. If they were safe, then Cato swore to be the servant of the gods — their slave — and live only to please them.

If the price of his friends' lives was his own, then so be it.

An inner voice chided him for being a hypocrite. Since when had he ever placed so much faith in divine intervention? He felt torn between the two impulses, and then turned instead to thoughts of revenge. If Ajax had killed them, Cato resolved never to rest until the gladiator was hunted down and killed, whatever the cost. His heart filled with hatred that spilled into his veins and he was consumed with a burning intensity of purpose to destroy Ajax, to obliterate every fragment of his being. Until now, he had never tasted such a desire for revenge, and for a brief moment some part of his mind, still capable of rational thought, reminded him that this was the self-same revenge that fuelled the fire burning in the heart of Ajax.

'Fuck Ajax,' Cato muttered to himself through clenched teeth.

The decurion who was walking his horse beside him glanced at Cato. 'Sir?'

'What?' Cato glared at him.

'I thought you said something. An order, like.'

'No. It was nothing. Nothing.' Cato moved round to the side of the horse.' Mount up!'

The horses' flanks were still heaving like bellows and the decurion looked at Cato ready to protest, then bit his lip. The rest of the squadron wearily pulled themselves back into the saddle and took up their reins.

'Get a move on!' Cato barked at the slowest of them. 'If we're too late, then the gods help you.'

'Sir,' the decurion edged his mount closer to Cato and lowered his voice, 'the lads are exhausted.'

'I don't bloody care. We have to reach Gortyna as soon as possible.

D'you hear?'

'Sir, it will not make any difference how quickly we reach Gortyna.' He gestured to his men. 'There's only thirty of us. If the slaves are there, then we're not going to be able to do anything. If they've already dealt with the city, then…' He shrugged. 'We won't be able to change what has happened.'

'I don't give a damn,' Cato growled. 'I'm in command, and if we have to ride the horses into the ground to reach Gortyna before dark, we'll do it. Understand?'

The decurion took a deep breath and nodded.

'Then let's go.' Cato thrust his arm in the air, and swept it forwards as he spurred his horse into a trot. 'Advance!'

He increased the pace into a gallop and they pounded on down the road. Late in the afternoon, as the shadows were lengthe ning, the milestones indicated that the city was close. The crops on either side had been harvested, and the trees in the orchards and olive groves that they passed were stripped bare, as if a host of locusts had swept through the land. There were bodies too, sprawled beside carts and wagons that had been unable to outrun the slaves. Cato felt his guts knot in agony as he saw the evidence that Ajax and his army had gone before him. He was being driven to the edge of sanity by the dread of the sight that would greet them when they finally reached the city.

Then they passed the last milestone, as the road climbed over a slight rise, and the city was there before them. Cato reined in.

'Halt!'

As the horses snorted and the riders breathed heavily, Cato squinted as he scanned the landscape. The ground surrounding Gortyna bore the unmistakable signs of being the site of a huge camp. The remains of hundreds of fires had scorched the ground and left low piles of ash at their centre. Every tree, shrub and small building had been stripped for firewood and kindling. Here and there lay piles of animal bones picked clean by those who had fed on them and were now attracting small clumps of birds and rats who gleaned the bits of gristle that were left. There were some latrine ditches, but most of those who had camped here had simply defecated in mutually agreed areas where patches of their waste lay in clear view. A handful of figures were visible outside the city and more on the walls and in the towers along them.

'Ours or theirs?' muttered the decurion.

'Only one way to find out,' Cato replied, tightening his grip on the reins.

The decurion looked sharply at him. 'If they are slaves, then our mounts are too far gone to make much of an escape.'

'Then you had better pray that those are our men.' Cato waved the column on and urged his horse into a trot. They made their way across the plain towards the city. At their approach there was a thin blast from a horn and those outside the city hurriedly made their way back towards the nearest gates and sally ports. Cato slowed the pace as they came within quarter of a mile of the city's west gate and ordered the squadron's standard bearer to raise his staff so. that the pennant would be clearly visible as they approached.

The decurion gestured towards the men on the gate. 'They're clearly ours, sir.'

'Too early to say,' Cato replied.' The rebels have been helping themselves to the kit they took off our men. Keep your eyes peeled.'

As Cato walked his horse towards the closed gate, a figure stepped up behind the ramparts and raised a hand. 'Halt! You at the front, advance and be recognised.'

Cato clicked his tongue and edged forward. 'Tribune Cato!

Returning from Alexandria with the reinforcement column. Open the gate!'

'Yes, sir!' the optio on watch replied, with evident relief.

Moments later the doors swung inwards and Cato spurred his horse into the city, followed by the rest of the squadron. As soon as he was through the arched gateway he slipped off the back of the horse and strode over to the optio, jerking his thumb towards the plain.

'Seems you had company whilst I was gone.'

'Yes, sir. Thousands of 'em.'

'Did they give you any trouble?'

'They made one attack the day they arrived, and paid a heavy price. After that they settled in to starve us out.'

'So where are they?'

The optio shook his head.' No idea, sir. They were gone this morning. Must have marched off during the night and left the fires burning so we wouldn't catch on until first light. The governor's sent patrols off to search for them and see where they're headed.'

'The governor?' Cato frowned. 'Where's the prefect? Macro?'

'Macro's gone, sir.'

'Gone?' Cato stepped up to the optio and grabbed his harness.

'What do you mean, gone?'

'Captured, sir.'

'Macro taken prisoner? I don't believe it. How is that possible? You said the attack was beaten off.'

'It didn't happen then, sir. It was afterwards, while he was trying to get the governor's daughter to safety, away from the city.'

Cato swallowed and stared into the optio's eyes, unblinking. He lowered his voice.' The governor's daughter, was she also captured?'

'Yes, sir.'

'How do you know this?'

'The leader of the rebels, that gladiator, had them brought forward in a cage when he tried to talk the governor into surrendering.'

Cato felt a flush of hope lighten his heart. 'So they're alive.'

'Yes, sir. Or at least they were when the gladiator showed them to the governor. That was several days ago though, sir. Last anyone has seen of them.'

Dread flooded back into Cato's heart. He looked down and saw his knuckles were white where he was holding the optio's harness so tightly. He forced himself to let go and step back, and gestured to the cavalrymen. 'Have these men taken to the stables at the governor's palace. Make sure horses and men get fed and find them a place to rest.'

'Yes, sir.'

'Does the governor still have his headquarters up on the acropolis?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Very well.' Cato breathed deeply to ease the tension in his chest.

'Carry on, Optio.'

Leaving his horse in the care of the decurion, Cato made his way through the streets towards the road leading up to the entrance of the acropolis. The townspeople forced to live in the ruins he passed spared him no more than a glance as they prepared for the evening meal. The weary resignation of their spirits was clear in almost every face. Only the children showed any signs of life and contentment as they heedlessly played amid piles of rubble between the surviving buildings.

The moment of hope that Cato had felt when he had heard that Macro and Julia were alive was now dashed by the know -

ledge that they were still in the hands of Ajax. While they served a purpose as hostages they would live, but the moment the enemy judged them worthless their lives would be forfeit. Worse still, if Ajax took it into his head to enact some kind of grisly revenge for the death of his father, then Macro and Julia would be subjected to every imaginable torture and torment before being granted the mercy of death. Cato felt sick at the idea, and had to pause in his stride for a moment before he could continue up the slope to the acropolis.

When he reached the headquarters he found Senator Sempronius in his office, sitting at the window as he stared blankly out across the city. A wine jug was on the desk and he was nursing a goblet in his hand when Cato rapped on the door frame.

'What is it now?' Sempronius said wearily. 'Anyway, I thought I gave orders that I was not to be disturbed.'

'It's me, sir.' Cato spoke gently.

Sempronius turned round quickly and his expression filled with relief.' Cato! I feared we had seen the last of you. Come in, my boy.

Sit you down!'

His words were slightly slurred. Cato could not tell if it was fromexhaustion, grief or wine. Sempronius set his cup down on the table and refilled it before pushing it towards Cato. A small amount slopped over the rim and ran red down the side. The senator leaned forward on his elbows. 'Well, what have you to report?'

'Sir, I've heard what happened to Macro and Julia.'

Sempronius's shoulders sagged. 'Yes.'

'We have to believe they're still alive.'

The governor nodded, and for a few moments both men stared at each other in a shared grief that went beyond words. Then Sempronius cleared his throat and looked down at his hands as he spoke. 'Your report, please.'

'Yes, sir. Legate Petronius has provided most of the men you requested. We landed at Matala this morning. I rode ahead of the main force. The reinforcements will reach Gortyna by tomorrow night.'

'Good.'

'There are also warships and marines at Matala that we can call on. The reinforcements are under the command of First Spear Centurion Fulvius, of the Twenty-Second Legion.'

'Fulvius? Why not you, as I requested?'

'Legate Petronius decided I was too junior for such a command.

He appointed Fulvius to lead the column until the reinforcements reach Gortyna, and then you are to assume authority over them. I had thought that Macro would take charge, sir.'

'Yes, well, that is no longer possible. We shall need a new commander.' Sempronius look ed up.' Do you still have that document authorising you to act as tribune?'

'Yes, sir.' Cato reached for the thong around his neck, and pulled the leather tube out of his tunic and offered it to the governor. 'It's here, together with your ring.'

Sempronius took the tube, pulled off the cap and tipped the contents out on to the desk. He placed his family ring back on his finger and then picked up the roll of parchment and tapped it gently on the desk as he thought. 'Macro is no longer with us. Therefore the command passes to you, Cato.'

'Me?' Cato shook his head in astonishment.' Me? But, sir, I–I…'

Sempronius pushed the document across the table towards Cato.

'There. Your appointment still stands, which means that as tribune you outrank Fulvius. The command of the forces at Gortyna is yours.

That is my decision, and my order. When the reinforcements arrive, I want you to take command of them, find Ajax and destroy his army.

That is your priority, Cato. You are not to let any other considerations interfere with your orders.'

'Sir?'

'There will be no negotiations with the rebels. No deals with regard to hostages.' Sempronius swallowed.' Do I make myself clear?'

Cato nodded. 'And if, in carrying out your orders, the chance to effect a rescue of the hostages does occur…?'

Sempronius stared at him, eyes moist and lips trembling.

'Then you get my daughter back, you hear? And save your friend Macro.'

'I will do everything in my power to save them both,' Cato replied. 'I swear it, on my life.'

The patrols that had been sent out to find and follow the slave army reported back to Gortyna the following evening, just as Centurion Fulvius reached the city with his tired, dusty column of legionaries and auxiliaries. While the men were found billets in the city, Fulvius and the commanding officers of each cohort were summoned to the governor's quarters on the acropolis, where Cato and Sempronius awaited them.

As the legionary centurions and the auxiliary prefects eased themselves down on to the benches set before the governor's desk, orderlies passed amongst them with cups of water flavoured with pressed lemons. Once they were refreshed, Sempronius slapped his hand on the table to bring them to order.

'Gentlemen, I know you are tired, so I will be brief. You have been sent to Crete to destroy the slave rebellion led by the gladiator Ajax.

Our latest intelligence is that he is marching to the east of the island.

He is estimated to have some twenty thousand men with him under arms, and as many camp followers.'

The officers exchanged concerned expressions as they considered the odds. Sempronius coughed. 'That is not the whole story, however.

No more than a fraction of his men are properly armed and only a handful have any kind of military training, or fighting experience.

Your men will have little difficulty in defeating them, provided you can pin them down and force them to battle. Once they are defeated, any last vestige of rebellious spirit encountered in the slaves is to be crushed without mercy' He paused to let his words sink in. 'Any questions?'

Fulvius nodded.' Do we know why they lifted the siege and marched east?'

'Not yet.'

'Do we know where they might be headed?'

Sempronius shook his head.' No. I'm told there are no cities or major ports in their path. Just a quiet strip of coastline, near an abandoned town called Olous.'

'It's possible they may have arranged for some ships to meet them in the bay next to Olous,' Cato added, nodding towards a map of the island hanging on the far wall.

'Where would they find ships?' asked Fulvius. 'I thought most of them had been wrecked by the wave.'

'The slaves have looted plenty of gold, silver and other valuables,'

Cato replied. 'I doubt they will find it difficult to find some ship owners with more avarice than principle to serve their needs.

However, we have a squadron of warships waiting at Matala. If we send them to Olous we may well be able to catch the rebels between our ships and your soldiers. If we do, then they will have no choice but to turn and fight us.'

'All right, then.' Fulvius nodded. 'I'll send the order for the galleys to get moving. My men can begin the advance to Olous at first light.'

Sempronius cleared his throat and raised himself up in his chair.

That will not be necessary, Centurion. My senior officer can give the necessary orders.'

'What?' Fulvius looked surprised. 'But I understood that Macro had been taken prisoner.'

'Yes. That's why I have selected a replacement for him.'

Sempronius waved a hand at Cato.' The tribune is to take command of the local forces and your reinforcements.'

'Him?' Fulvius stared at Cato. 'Sir, I must protest.'

'Your orders are clear enough, Centurion. You are to hand over command to me the moment you reach Gortyna. And here you are.

I have chosen Tribune Cato to command our combined forces. You will serve as his second in command.'

Fulvius shook his head. 'Sir, with respect, the tribune is too young and too inexperienced to take command.'

'Really?' Sempronius leaned back in his chair, looking at Cato as he counted off on his fingers. 'Appointed optio in the Second Legion. Took part in the invasion of Britannia, where you were decorated for bravery. You and Macro rescued the family of General Plautius. You were involved in the capture of the enemy commander, Caratacus, and the subsequent defeat of the remnants of his army.

Then you served with the Ravenna fleet in the pursuit and destruction of a pirate squadron operating from the coast of Illyria.

After that you served in Judaea and put down a revolt. And then, when I first met you at Palmyra, you held the citadel until relieved and then went on to defeat the Parthians in a frontier battle.'

Sempronius looked straight at Cato.' Am I correct?'

'Yes, sir. But I cannot take the full credit for all that.'

Fulvius was looking at Cato with a frankly admiring expression, but then turned abruptly back to Sempronius. 'An impressive record, I'll admit, but given that Centurion Macro has been taken captive, I think I should refer this matter to my legate, sir.'

'Enough! You and Cato have your orders. There will be no further discussion of the matter. I charge you both with finding and defeating the rebels. The briefing is at an end. Tribune?'

Cato stiffened. 'Sir?'

'You have work to do. Carry on.' Sempronius rose from his chair, and all the officers hurriedly stood to attention as he strode towards the door. Once he had left the office, Cato stood at ease and there was an awkward silence as the other officers glanced from him to Fulvius. Cato cleared his throat. 'You are all aware of our situation, gentlemen. Have your men get a good night's rest. We face something of a challenge in the days to come.' He smiled faintly. 'You are dismissed. Centurion Fulvius, remain behind.'

Fulvius nodded, and remained on his feet as the other officers filed out of the room and the last man closed the door behind him.

Cato took the chair vacated by Sempronius and met the other man's gaze steadily. 'I don't imagine you're too pleased with the governor's decision.'

'No, I'm not,' Fulvius agreed bluntly. 'I assume that list of your achievements is accurate.'

'It is.'

'You're obviously an impressive young officer,' Fulvius conceded. 'And I'm sure you will go far, in time. But ask yourself, is this the right moment to take such a risk and appoint youth over experience?'

'I thought the point of the governor's remarks was to prove that I do have experience,' Cato responded tersely. 'In any case, the question of who should command is academic. The governor has appointed me. Of course, I will be happy to hear any suggestions you might wish to make during the course of the campaign.'

Fulvius nodded, and Cato decided that he had better make sure that Fulvius did not take this as an invitation to undermine his authority.' Be clear on one thing, Fulvius. I will not brook any attempt to contradict me in front of the other officers, or the men.

Is that understood? If you disagree with any of my decisions, you may make your case in private only'

'I understand.'

Cato took a deep breath.' From now on, you will address me as "sir".'

Fulvius bit back on his irritation and saluted formally. 'Yes, sir.'

'Good.' Cato was relieved that the confrontation had been avoided, for the present. In truth he was not certain that he would be a better man for the job than Fulvius, let alone Macro. However, there was no avoiding the responsibility Sempronius had thrust upon him. Not without surrendering all of his authority to Centurion Fulvius, and he would not do that while Julia and Macro were still prisoners of the rebels. He paused, and smiled to himself as he realised that this was precisely why Sempronius had chosen him to command the force. He needed some one who would not put his daughter's life at risk. The only man who had as much stake in Julia's survival as her father was Cato. The extolling of Cato's record merely a ruse to win Fulvius's respect, he decided bleakly. Be that as it may, he would do everything in his power to end the rebellion and save the lives of Julia and Macro.

Fulvius was watching him impatiently and Cato cleared his mind in order to consider the details of the coming campaign.

'We have to plan the advance, and co-ordinate with the warships.

You'd better send for your headquarters staff. We've got a long night ahead of us.'

'Yes, sir.' Fulvius rose up, saluted and left the office. Cato stared after him for a moment, then sighed and reached for a blank wax slate and stylus to begin making his notes outlining the order of march for the men of his new command.

The column was already on the move as dawn lightened the eastern horizon in a watery pink glow. Two squadrons of cavalry rode half a mile ahead of the first cohort of legionaries. The mounted men were spread out in a screen to provide early warning of any possible ambushes, and to run down and kill or capture any rebel stragglers they might encounter on the road to Olous. Cato had made it clear to the decurions of each squadron that he wanted prisoners to question. More than anything he needed to know that Macro and Julia were still alive. There was little doubt as to the route the rebel army had taken. The country ahead of the Roman column had been ravaged by the enemy, and was marked by burned buildings, occasional bodies and the remains of fires. Cato was still puzzled by the decision Ajax had taken to abandon his siege of Gortyna so abruptly and make for the eastern coast.

Cato sat on his horse by the city gate and watched as the long column of legionaries, followed by the baggage train and then the auxiliaries, snaked out along the road that climbed towards the rolling hills on the horizon. In a few hours the warships at Matala should receive their orders and begin making their way along the southern coast. Even though the army had only sixty miles to march across the spine of the island and the fleet had to sail at least four times the distance, the ships would arrive first, with orders to seal the entrance to the bay and prevent any ships entering or leaving. If the rebels were thinking of escaping by sea, then that route would be closed to them and the approach of Cato's force would give them very limited room to manoeuvre, especially as they would be slowed down by their non-combatants.

As the tail of the column began to emerge from the city gate, Cato saw Sempronius pass through the small side arch and stride towards him.

Cato saluted.' Good morning, sir. Come to see us off?'

Sempronius reached up and took Cato's hand.' The gods protect you, Cato, and Julia and Macro.'

Cato nodded. 'I'll do whatever I can to bring them back.'

'I know you will.' Sempronius released his hand and stepped back a few paces as Cato tugged gently on the reins and dug his heels in, trotting the horse along the line of the auxiliary troops, burdened down by their marching yokes as they headed into the dust stirred up by those ahead of them in the column.

It took two days of hard marching to reach the hill town of Lyttus.

The walls had been shaken to pieces by the earthquake and the rebels had pillaged the town and put most of the survivors to the sword. A handful of old men, women and children wandered through the ruins with numbed expressions. Cato gave orders for them to be fed and detailed a century to escort them back to Gortyna. Then, as the men made a makeshift marching camp out of the rubble from the walls, and settled for the night, Cato joined Fulvius and his staff in the small temple to Athe na that had survived intact in one corner of the forum. One of the clerks was already lighting the oil lamps and distributing them to his colleagues as they sat cross-legged on the floor ready to carry out the usual compilation of strength returns and ration consumption. While Fulvius signed off each of the completed records, Cato began to read through the daily reports from the scouts that Sempronius had sent to follow the rebel army. They confirmed that Ajax was still heading east, towards Olous. Cato nodded with satisfaction. By now the rebel army would have reached the sea, and walked into a trap of its own making. It was hard to believe that Ajax could make such mistake, and for a moment Cato felt a sudden anxious doubt. There had to be something he had missed. Some reason to explain the gladiator's apparent foolishness.

Once he had finished, Cato was about to bid good night to Fulvius when there was a clatter of hooves in the forum outside the temple. One of the headquarters guards shouted a challenge as Cato looked round. A moment later a scout came running in through the entrance. He glanced round until he saw Cato in his red cloak, then hurried over and saluted.

'Beg to report, sir, I have an urgent message from my decurion.'

'He's already reported today'

'Yes, sir. That was before we moved on a little further to camp where we could overlook the rebel army at Olous.'

'Well?'

'Sir, the bay's full of cargo ships. Big ships, sir. Most of ' em are damaged. Broken masts and suchlike. Some of them were beached, being repaired it looked like.'

Cato frowned. Where on earth could the rebels have secured so many ships? A fleet of cargo ships from the sound of things. It suddenly struck him that there was only one such fleet on the seas of the eastern Mediterranean at the moment, and he chewed his lip briefly before he asked,'Did you see any kind of identification on the ships?'

'Yes, sir. We did. There was a purple pennant flying from the top of each mast.'

Cato took a sharp breath and glanced at Fulvius. 'You heard?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Then you know what it means.' Cato felt a sudden chill of apprehension. 'Ajax has captured the grain fleet.'

'If it's true, then what in Hades is it doing in that bay?' asked Fulvius. 'They should be well on the way to Ostia by now '

'It was that storm,' Cato explained. 'It struck a few days after the grain fleet left. Must have blown them far off their normal route, probably wrecking some and damaging the rest. They must have put into the bay for repairs.'

Fulvius clicked his fingers. 'That's why they abandoned the siege!

Ajax must have got news that the grain fleet had been forced to make for the bay'

Cato nodded. 'And now he's got his hands on the food supply of Rome. You can be sure that if we don't do what he says, he'll destroy the fleet and all the grain. If that happens, a month from now the mob are going to be tearing Rome to pieces.'

THE BAY AT OLOUS

ROMAN

CAMP