He found Caesar to be brilliant, innovative, an extremelyversatile commander. He was completely fearless and his opponents found himtotally unpredictable. A skillful swordsman and horseman, he often led hislegions on foot, marching like an ordinary soldier rather than riding like ageneral. He lived life at a much faster pace than those around him. Histremendous powers of endurance allowed him to cover over a hundred miles a dayin light carriages, traveling over the worst of roads at twice the pace of theaverage traveler. He often dictated letters and reports to his secretaries enroute, sometimes as many as four or five simultaneously. He also composedscholarly works or poems while he traveled, or worked on his famous Commentaries.in which he dispassionately, even modestly, but clearly with a thought forhistory, chronicled his military campaigns in Gaul.
He possessed great personal charm and a wit that infuriatedhis rivals in Rome when he turned it against them. Yet, for all his gifts, helooked incredibly ordinary. He was tall and very fair, with a broad, scholar’sface and melancholy dark brown eyes. He was also very vain. He kept his face andhead carefully trimmed and often depilated his body hair with tweezers. He hadstarted balding at a very early age and was in the habit of trying to disguiseit by combing what little hair he had forward over his high forehead. Later,when the Senate voted him the privilege of wearing a laurel wreath on alloccasions. he was almost never seen without it. he was somewhat eccentric inhis dress. he had added fringed sleeves to his purple-striped senatorial tunic.an affectation that caused his enemies to refer to him as a woman behind hisback and added fuel to the numerous rumors of his alleged bisexuality. He sufferedfrom bouts of epilepsy, but sought to fight them off with exercise and moderatediet.
His legions loved him. A naturally gifted speaker who had studiedrhetoric in the school of Apollonius of Rhodes, he would often address them inthe field, and always on the eve of any action. speaking to them warmly andwith great emotion, man to men. He always saw to their welfare first and hadforged a unique and powerful bond with his troops. They would have followed himto hell.
In the morning, when they crossed the Rubicon, they wouldfollow Caesar where no commander had ever taken his troops before-to Romeitself. The Senate was alarmed at his successes, terrified of his legions. Theywere well aware of his immense popularity. He had staged gladiatorial shows forthe people and sponsored lavish public banquets. He distributed grain to histroops at the slightest excuse and gifted them with Gallic slaves. He sentslaves and presents to prominent aristocrats, made loans to people who foundthemselves in debt. collected vast amounts of tribute from conqueredterritories, and sought favor with kings and allied tribes by sending themprisoners or lending them troops, all without even bothering to seekauthorization from the Senate. He helped people with legal difficulties and sympathizedwith those he could not help. It had been reported that he told them, “What youneed is a civil war.”
Even his old ally, Pompey, had grown apprehensive about Caesar.The Ties between the two men had been weakened by the death of Caesar’sdaughter. Julia. who had been Pompey’s wife, and of Crassus, who was killed inParthia. As a newly elected consul, Pompey had become the most powerful man inRome. He saw Caesar as a threat. His legions seemed invincible, their loyaltyto him was absolute.
On his return to Rome. Caesar still faced charges ofirregular conduct from when he had served as consul. He had incurred tremendousdebts and made many promises that would be difficult, if not impossible. tokeep. In his time as governor-general of Gaul. he had acquired a taste forpower, and nobody believed that he would easily give it up. Consequently. as “amatter of public interest.” the Senate had decided that since the Gallic Warshad ended and peace had been restored. Caesar should be relieved of his postbefore his term expired. They had also directed him to disband his legions.Caesar’s response was to march on Rome.
Travers alone knew what would happen when Caesar crossed theRubicon. He would wage a bloody civil war, crush Pompey’s forces, and seizeabsolute power. bringing to an end the days of the republic. His name would becomesynonymous with the title that he would assume-imperator. But on thenight before he was to cross the Rubicon-a phrase that would go down in historyas signifying facing the greatest trial and passing the point of no return-Caesarwas keyed up and nervous.
He always looked for omens and was in the habit of consultingsoothsayers. Word had reached him of a local “oracle: with great spiritualpowers. who was said to have the ability to see into the Future. He had sentfor this oracle and was anxiously awaiting his arrival, he had grown impatientand sent a messenger to Travers. ordering him to have the oracle brought to himas soon as he arrived. And as Travers stood outside the entrance to the praetoriumand waited, he saw the detachment of men that Caesar had sent out approachingdown the via praetoria. With them was a tall and slender figure carryinga staff and dressed in a hooded black cloak.
Travers hurried to meet them. The centurion in charge gavehim a salute.
“You are the oracle?” Travers asked the hooded figure. Hecould not make out the man’s face.
“I am.”
“The general is expecting you. He is most anxious to hearyour prophecy.”
As, in fact, was Travers. He hoped that he would be allowedto stay and listen. He did not really expect to hear anything surprising.Oracles and soothsayers knew what was expected of them when they were broughtinto the presence of a famous general and found themselves surrounded by anarmy. Under such circumstances, it would not be wise to read “unfavorableportents.” The man would doubtless give a reassuring reading in the mostgeneral terms, promising success and power and the favor of the gods, pockethis “offering” and hurry home. However, Travers thought it might make for aninteresting scene in his book.
“You’ve searched him, of course?” Travers said to the centurion.
“Of course, Praetor. The man was carrying no weapons.”
“Good. Come with me.”
Travers led the way to Caesar’s tent, with the vexillum,the general’s standard, a white banner inscribed with red letters giving Caesar’sname and identifying his army. placed outside it. The tent was made of leather,with two upright poles and one ridge pole. When on the march. Caesar did notavail himself of any luxuries, which endeared him to his men. He lived as theydid, ate as they ate. He was pacing back and forth, nervously, attired simplyin his tunic and sandals. He looked up eagerly as they entered.
“Ah Septimus! You have brought the oracle?”
“This is the man. Caesar.”
Travers beckoned the hooded figure forward.
“Pull back your cowl,” he said.
The man pulled back his hood. He was completely bald, with aprominent, hooked nose and deep-set dark eyes that gave him a sepulchral look.His face was long, with a pointed chin and pronounced cheekbones.
“What is your name’?” asked Caesar.
“I am called Lucan, General,” the man said softly.
“You know who I am?”
A brief nod.
“They tell me that you can see into the future.”
“I have that gift.”
“I would have you look into my future and tell me what yousee.”
Lucan nodded. “Please. sit down.” he said.