Simon Scarrow - The Eagle In the Sand

'He's got a good eye for that,' Cato commented. 'He'd make a fine auxiliary when he grows up.'

'Yusef will not be a soldier,' Miriam replied firmly. 'He's one of us.'

Cato glanced at her. 'One of what, exactly? I am told that you, and these people, are Essenes.Yet you don't seem to wholly embrace their way of life.'

'Essenes!' Mirian laughed. 'No, we are not like them. The pleasures of life are to be enjoyed, not denied. Some of my people were once Essenes, but they didn't want to spend the rest of their days dead to the joys of the world.'

'Pardon me, but Heshaba is hardly my idea of paradise.'

'Perhaps not,' Miriam conceded. 'But it is our home, and we are free to make it as we will.That was always my dream. After my son was executed I turned away from Judaea. I'd had enough of their petty factions, playing one sect off against another. The high priests in Jerusalem were the worst of the lot. Endlessly splitting hairs over interpretations of the scriptures, while their families grew wealthier and wealthier. That's why my boy, Jehoshua, became involved in the political struggle. Not just against Rome, but against those who exploited the poor. He was quite a speaker, and at the end huge crowds used to come and listen to him. That was when the priests decided that Jehoshua had to be silenced. Before he persuaded the people to turn on them. So they had him arrested and saw that he was executed.'

'I thought you said he was crucified?'

'He was.'

'But only the procurator could authorise that.'

'The procurator at the time was a weak man. The priests threatened to stir up trouble against the authority of Rome unless my son was executed. They made a deal and my boy was killed. His closest followers were hunted down and the movement was broken up. Some of the leaders wanted to avenge Jehoshua. They took to the hills and have been raiding the estates of the rich and attacking Roman patrols ever since. In Jehoshua's name. Bannus became their leader. He had been a follower of my son, and claimed to be carrying out his will.'

'That's how you know him, then.'

Miriam nodded. 'He was a fiery young man, even in those days. Very idealistic. Jehoshua used to joke that Bannus was the living spirit of the movement. I often thought they were like brothers. Bannus looked up to him all the time, so he took his death very badly. He became very bitter towards those of us who still believed in peaceful resistance and reform. Eventually he killed a tax collector and went on the run. There were plenty of others like him in the hills, and he gradually won them round. He must have picked up some of my son's speaking skills, I suppose. He visited me regularly for a while, trying to win me over to his point of view. If the mother of the movement's figurehead was on his side then he knew he could draw on far more support. I refused, and he no longer regards me with the affection he used to show me. Anyway he has acquired a large enough following of his own now, as you Romans have discovered.'

'True enough.' Cato nodded. 'But as long as they hide out in the hills we can contain the problem.The thing is, I overheard that comment he made about having some outside help.'

'What comment? When was this?'

'That day when Symeon and I hid beneath your house. I overheard you speaking with Bannus outside. He said he was expecting aid from some friends.'

'I remember now. He seemed quite excited by the idea. I wondered who he was talking about.'

Cato stared at the ground between his boots for a moment before he responded. 'The people who would have most to gain by arming Bannus are the Parthians. That's my fear.'

'Parthians?' Miriam stared at him. 'Why would Bannus go to them for aid? They're more of a danger to us than Rome will ever be.'

'I think you're right,' Cato replied. 'But it seems that Bannus must hate us more than anything else in this world. I guess he subscribes to the "my enemy's enemy is my friend" school of thought. He wouldn't be the first man in history to fall for that. And if it's true, then there's every danger that he can stir up a rebellion large enough to draw down the full might of Rome in this region.' Even as he said the words Cato felt a twinge of guilt over his duplicity. They were true only if Cassius Longinus proved not to be a traitor. Otherwise there would be no army to counter Bannus, only the scattered garrisons of auxiliary forces, like the cohort at Bushir. If there were no legions in Syria, and Bannus struck quickly, the Roman presence in Judaea could be swept away very easily. He could not trust Miriam with that knowledge. She must be made to believe that Bannus could not succeed, and would only bring fire and the sword to her fellow Judaeans. Only then would she be sure to do everything she could to dissuade Bannus and those who might support him. Cato decided to change the subject.

'So if Bannus is a warmonger, what exactly do you and your people here stand for?'

'Bannus is not a warmonger,' Miriam said quietly. 'He is a tormented soul whose grief has been twisted into a weapon. He has lost the person closest to him in life, and does not know how to forgive. That's how we differ, Cato. At least that is our most important difference… My people are almost all that's left of the true movement. Once we saw what a nest of vipers Jerusalem had become we decided to find somewhere to live alone and apart from other people. That's why we came here. I did not want to be reminded of those who took away my son's life…' Her lip quivered for an instant, then she swallowed and continued. 'We are outside their law, and we welcome all others who wish to join us.'

'All others?' Cato smiled. 'Even Gentiles?'

'Not yet,' Miriam admitted. 'But there are those amongst us who wish to broaden our movement, spread our beliefs amongst other peoples. It is the only way to guarantee that my son's legacy does not eventually follow him into the grave.' She paused, and gently stroked her hand along the casket.'But for now, this village is virtually all we have. As you said, it is no earthly paradise, but at least we are free of the ideas that turn people against each other. That is a paradise of sorts, Cato. Or at least it was, until you turned up with Symeon.'

Cato looked away, back towards the village where he could just make out the blackened corner posts of Miriam's house.

'Tell me about Symeon. How is it that you know him as well?'

'Symeon?' Miriam smiled. 'He was another of my son's friends. A very close friend. I suppose that's why there's no love lost between Bannus and Symeon. They were good friends before they became rivals for Jehoshua's affection. Towards the end I think it was clear that he preferred Symeon. He had a nickname for Symeon. What was it? Ah yes, Kipha.' She smiled fondly. 'It means "rock" in our tongue.'

'Did Bannus know that Symeon was your son's favourite?'

'I fear so. I'm sure that's part of the reason for his bitterness.'

'What happened to Symeon after your son's death?'

'He tried to keep the movement going in Jerusalem for a while. But the priests hired men to hunt him down. They killed his wife and sons and Symeon fled the city and disappeared. For a long time. Then he appeared here a few years ago. Since then he has spent his time travelling across the region. He keeps in touch with my son's followers whenever he can, though I don't see much of him out here. Not as much as I'd like. He's a good man. Heart's in the right place, and one day he'll settle down and commit himself to something.' Miriam smiled. 'At least I hope he will.'

'I can trust him, then.' It was meant as a question, and Cato was relieved when Miriam nodded.

'You can trust him.'

'Good. That's what I need to know. That, and the location of Bannus and his men.'

Miriam looked sharply at him. 'I don't know where his lair is, Centurion. And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you. Just because I saved you doesn't mean that I am on your side. I would no sooner betray Bannus to you than you to him. If the opportunity arises, I will do all that I can to persuade Bannus and his followers to end their struggle and return to their families. Meanwhile I will have no part in your conflict. Nor will my people. I would ask you to just leave us alone.'