Simon Scarrow - The Eagle In the Sand

'But, sir!' There was a pleading tone to his voice and Macro felt sick with disgust.

'Enough!' Longinus snapped. 'You will stay here! Understand?'

Postumus stared back, and there was a bitter twist to his lips as he replied. 'Oh, I understand, sir. Perfectly.'

'I shall not forget you, Postumus. I never forget those who have served me well.'

'That's a great comfort, sir.'

'Farewell, then.' Longinus nodded, made to hold out his hand, and then let it drop back to his side as he turned away and climbed down from the tower.

A little later Macro, Cato and Postumus looked on as the Governor and his escort galloped out of the fort and immediately swung north to give the approaching rebels as wide a berth as possible before they made for the security of the legions under Longinus' command in Syria. Macro noticed the look of acute bitterness in Postumus' face as he watched them ride off across the desert.

'That's what you get when you play politics, friend.'

Postumus turned to the prefect and laughed. 'You don't get it, sir. He's not going to send us any reinforcements. '

'Why?' asked Cato. 'What do you mean?'

'If you two are the best that Narcissus can come up with, then may the gods help the Emperor. Outside Rome, I imagine that it's only the three of us who know the scale of Longinus' treachery. If he leaves us here to die, then he's in the clear. Of course, the moment Bushir falls, and we're all slaughtered, he'll mount a punitive expedition and grieve over our bodies, and claim that he was just too late to save us.'

Macro and Cato stared at him a moment, then Macro shrugged. 'Fine. Then the only way we get back at that patrician bastard is by making sure we come through this alive.'

'Oh?' Postumus smiled weakly. 'And how do you propose that we do that, sir?'

'The same way we always do. By beating the living shit out of our enemy and dancing on his grave. Cato?'

'Sir?'

'I want every officer at headquarters at once. We've got work to do, and it looks like there's not much time left before Bannus will be breathing down our necks.'

'Including Scrofa? Shall I have him released?'

Macro shrugged. 'Why not? He might as well do something useful before he dies.'

07 The Eagle In the Sand

Macro looked over the faces of his officers, waiting for their complete attention before he began.

'In two days' time Bannus and his forces will be camping outside Fort Bushir. Although we don't know their precise strength yet our scouts report that we are badly outnumbered.Worse still, Bannus and his men have been armed by the Parthians who have also sent him a contingent of their horse-archers. I've sent messengers to the garrison in Jerusalem and the procurator in Caesarea. I doubt whether there will be enough troops to spare to send any to reinforce us. Worse still, it is not likely that any relief column will be sent from Syria.'

This remark brought on looks of surprise, and a tone of muted anger rippled across the hall. Macro raised a hand to attract their attention.

'Gentlemen! Quiet… The Governor of Syria is facing a substantial threat from Parthia across the frontier. He cannot spare us any men. We are on our own. I will not pretend that the odds look favourable, but we do have some advantages.The enemy must come to us, therefore we can lay a few traps to greet him. Bannus is at the head of a force comprising untrained villagers for the most part. They'll be brave enough when the time comes but bravery is no match for good training and experience. We also have the benefit of good defences. The walls of Bushir are as strong as they come for a fort this size.Without siege equipment they'll have to come at us over the walls, and if you've ever seen such an assault then you'll know how costly it can be.' Macro paused to let his words sink in, then continued. 'That's the good news. The bad news is that Bannus cannot afford to fail in his attempt on Bushir. He will throw everything he can at us. We cannot be confident of beating him. But even if we do go down to his army of brigands, we must ensure that the cost of his victory is so high that his men will not be prepared to follow him against any other Roman unit. If we can end this rebellion now, before it can spread, then his defeat is certain, even if we don't live to see it.

'Centurion Cato and I have made plans for the coming fight. There's plenty of work to be done before Bannus arrives. My clerks will bring your orders to you. Dismissed!'

The officers filed out of the hall. Postumus looked at the prefect sourly. 'What do you want me to do, sir?'

'I haven't decided yet.' Macro smiled.'Since you are so keen to get stuck into the enemy I want you right at the thick of things when it comes to the fight. Now wait for me outside.'

'Yes, sir.' Postumus saluted and left the hall.

'You really want him at your side in a fight?' muttered Cato. 'That's asking for trouble.'

'I can handle him. There's no way I'm going to let that scum run out on us. He's the one who turned the villagers against us. Now he can take his full share of the consequences.'

Cato nodded approvingly. 'Still, I'd watch him closely.'

'I will, believe me.' Macro said firmly. 'Do you think he was right about the Governor?'

'Yes. It makes sense. We can't expect any help from that quarter.'

'If only we had more men. I checked the morning strength returns before the meeting. The cohort's down to fewer than seven hundred effectives. It's not looking good.'

'No, sir. It's not. What are my orders?'

'I need a good pair of eyes out there. I want you to command the scouts. Take ten men and ride out towards Bannus. Send back regular reports on his progress.You are not to engage with any of their scouts. No heroics, Cato. Do you understand?'

'Yes, sir. There'll be time enough for that later on.'

Macro laughed. 'That's the spirit! Now, I'd better get on with the preparations.You'll need to leave as soon as you can.'

'Yes, sir.' Cato replied, but did not move towards the door.

'What is it?'

'Those people at Heshaba. I think I owe it to them to offer shelter in the fort. They saved my life.'

'No. They'll be safer in their village, especially if Bannus does take the fort.'

'I'm not sure about that. The Parthians aren't exactly famous for their kind treatment of non-combatants. Besides, I got the feeling that there's not much love lost between Bannus and those people. If we leave them out there, then they'll be at the mercy of the brigands and those Parthians.'

Macro stared at him for a moment before he made a decision.'Very well. Offer them shelter. But if they accept it, they must come to the fort by nightfall. I don't want them getting caught up between the two sides when the fighting starts.'

'Thank you, sir.'

'Cato, you can ask them, but I doubt whether that woman, Miriam, or her followers, will take up the offer. Those are their people marching on us. It's more likely they'll join them in the attack on the fort.'

Cato shook his head. 'I don't think so. There's something different about Miriam and her followers. I don't think they want to fight us. Or anyone for that matter.'

'Fine.' Macro waved his hand towards the door. 'Then make your offer and be done with it. But get moving. There's not much time.'

As Cato's column of scouts trotted out of the fort there were already many parties of men hard at work, swinging their picks into the ground as they excavated small pits all round the fort. Under the glare of the sun it was exhausting work, but there was no question of rest breaks.These men were digging for their lives. Anything that would stem the tide of the approaching enemy might help to save them. So, with the single concession to comfort of their straw hats, the men swung their picks in the sweltering heat in a desperate effort to prepare for the attack in the short time still left to them.