Further, any woman who had been raped or violated, or anyone who could identify a murderer should now step forward. Those that did had their stories heard, and if corroboration could be found, those details were recorded. Then the citizens were formed into a line, and marched along in front of the lines of Parthians. A woman suddenly shrunk away from one, almost fearfully. A legionnaire grabbed the man by the hair and dragged him forward. As the man struggled, a second legionnaire kicked him viciously in the stomach, and the man fell to the ground, to be dragged, whimpering, to an assembly point. The scene was repeated, sometimes the accuser leaping and clawing the accused, sometimes the accuser merely pointing the accused out and screaming abuse. Soon a group of forty-four Parthians had been separated.
Gaius then addressed the remaining Parthians. "You men have raided or assisted the raiding of territory under the Pax Romana, and for that there is a price that you will pay. These other men," and he indicated the forty-four, "have been accused of more serious crimes carried out during the raid on this village. I shall now hear the charges, and the accused's defence. If any of you have relevant evidence you may step forward and give it. In this I give you my word. If you give relevant evidence which helps clarify the situation, your personal situation will improve."
He then heard the individual cases, and seventeen other Parthians did give evidence supporting the villagers. Gaius then announced that he found the forty-four guilty, and ordered them to be presented the following morning. He then gave further instructions to some of his men, then he addressed the small number of witnesses. By now he had established that this raid was essentially an individual event, and was not a deliberate violation of the treaty by the Parthian nation.
"You men," he looked down at them, "have committed crimes, but I keep my word. You have helped identify the particularly guilty, and as a reward, you may go. You have a one-day start, and if, after tomorrow you are found on Roman soil, you will be killed. Take bread, take water, and go."
* * *
The following morning, Gaius first addressed the main group of Parthians.
"As the price of your adventure, you will be taken and sold as slaves, the proceedings to be taken to the Roman treasury. As slaves, your very lives are at the disposal of your owner, although you will have limited rights. However, if your master wishes to flog you, be flogged. If you raise your hand against your master, try to escape, or do anything else that could be considered as a revolt, you will be punished according to Roman law. You will now stand in line and observe what that punishment entails."
He turned towards the forty-four, and addressed them. "You have been found guilty of crimes punishable as follows. By the order of the Senate for the People of Rome, endorsed by the divine Augustus, by the great Tiberius, and by the current Princeps of Rome, Gaius Julius Caesar, you shall be stripped of your clothing, you shall be suitably scourged such that you know pain, then you shall be crucified. You may have hurt villagers, but they will know, without any shadow of doubt that yours is the greater pain." He turned to a Centurion, nodded, and said, "Commence!"
For over half an hour the canes and studded whips flashed, until the bloodied victims could barely stand. Then they were dragged and laid down, an arm extended, and as the nail was driven through each arm, the victim invariably gave out a terrible scream. Then the second wrist, then the legs were folded over, and a larger nail was driven through both. Water was splashed over the faces of anyone who had fainted through pain, and when it was clear that the victims were fully conscious, the crosses were hoist up.
A sequence of screams and moans ensued, as the men squirmed and tried to ease the pain, each movement accentuating it. Then one man slumped forward. A soldier tried to prop him up, and although the pain through the arms must have been excruciating, the man continued to slump. Gaius ordered the soldier to let the man be.
As the day proceeded, the victims became fainter, their cries more pitiful, and the flies became thicker. The villagers by now had left, their thirst for revenge assuaged. The remaining Parthians were kept standing rigidly. If they did not, another cross could be found, or failing that, there was always tomorrow.
Then, as the sun began to set, Gaius nodded and announced that Rome required pain, but was not entirely without mercy. He ordered the mallet. A huge mallet was produced, and a soldier walked along the line of crosses, smashing the legs of each victim. There were more screams, then the bodies slumped forward, no longer able to support themselves. Death by asphyxiation would soon follow.
"That," Gaius addressed the prisoners as the light began to fade, "is the consequence of any further rebellion on your part. When you are sold, if your owner beats you, bear it or die on the cross."
* * *
Gaius had sent a scout with a message explaining what had happened immediately following the victory, and to his surprise a message came back. Governor Vitellius had been replaced, and as a reward for a job well done, the new Governor was to permit his cohort to parade his victory, and his captives, through Damascus. Accordingly, as the cohort reached sight of the city walls, Gaius rode forwards and took his position at the head of the column. He would lead the first and third centuries into the city, followed by the prisoners escorted by further soldiers, followed by the long baggage train, and finally the second century would bring up the rear.
When he reached within a hundred meters of the wall, he halted, and, as part of the ceremony, the loudest horns blew the ceremonial announcement of triumphal arrival. A horn response came quickly, and slowly the massive Jupiter gate opened, and before him were the colonnades of the Via Recta. He adjusted his helmet, then gave the signal to advance. As his horse commenced a slow trot, the caligae of the first cohort smashed into the stone. They had returned triumphal, and they would announce this to all.
As his horse carried him through the great arch, a great cheer rose up. He was surprised at first, then he noticed the remaining troops of the legion lining the way. They were cheering forcefully, for a triumphal march had two purposes: it celebrated the returning troops, and it intimidated any citizens who were not wholly devoted to the Roman cause. The general population also cheered loudly and wildly, and a few flowers came flying through the air towards Claudius. It was cheap to cheer, the noise put the Romans in a better mood, and the better a successful soldier felt towards a city, the better their lives tended to be. As he rode slowly along the street, Gaius felt proud. Here, on his second command, a little over 900 hundred men were escorting just under three thousand captives, and a considerable baggage train of silver and weapons. Behind him his soldiers marched steadfastly on, the iron discipline clear, but the look on each man's face left no doubt of the pride they felt. It was a moment he knew he would cherish as long as he lived, and he savoured every second of it.
Eventually he had to turn off the Via Recta and proceed towards the legionary headquarters. A sense of relief came over him. He had returned, successfully, and now he could bathe, and eat better food. Then he noted wryly that even his formal commander had turned out, but he was not in direct line. Before him was a new Governor, Publius Petronius, and Gaius had little doubt of the significance of the invitation to report to him rather than the Legate.
"So," Petronius eyed Gaius, when they had returned to the Governor's villa, and a cup of wine had been given to each, "you had a victory."
"The troops had a victory," Gaius replied.
"Yes, they did," Petronius nodded, "but you did too. Why didn't you pursue the enemy first up?"
"You disapprove, sir?"