Macro grunted beside him.'Looks like top brass. Wonder what they're doing here.'
They both turned towards Prefect Vitellius, standing a short distance away as he squinted at the approaching ship with an anxious expression. Macro leaned closer to his friend.
'Has this got anything to do with that report he sent back to Rome, do you suppose?'
Cato tried to sound genuine as he replied, 'I really have no idea. We'll have to wait and see.'
Macro looked at him curiously for a moment. Then glanced round to make sure he would not be overheard, before he spoke softly.'Cato, do you know something about this?'
'About what?'
'Don't get cute with me, lad. I know you.'
For a moment Cato was tempted by the need to unburden his anxiety. But he would not put Macro in any more danger than he was already in. He owed the man that much at least.
'I'm sorry. There's nothing to tell you.'
Macro looked at his young friend intently, and wasn't convinced. 'Nothing you're willing to tell me, you mean. Well, be a bloody obstinate fool and keep it to yourself then. You always do…' The veteran patted Cato gently on the arm. 'Just be careful, eh?'
Macro moved closer to the shore and stared at the boat, which had lowered its sail. Two long sweeps were thrust out from each beam and the crew rowed the remaining distance towards the shore. At the last moment the oars rose up and the crew shifted them round to punt the bows up on to the beach. A small wave carried the craft on to the shingle where it grounded with a scraping crunch. The men at the rear of the boat advanced along the deck and clambered over the bows to dry land. There were six of them, mostly young staff officers; no doubt aristocrats working their way through their first military apprenticeships. A short distance behind them was an older man, dressed in a simple tunic and thick military cloak. Cato and Macro recognised him instantly and looked at each other in surprise.
'Vespasian?' Macro shook his head. 'What the hell is he doing here?'
Cato had no idea. He was as surprised as his friend to see their old commander again. The last time had been months before, when they had accompanied the legate on their return from Britain. Cato and Macro turned to glance at Vitellius. Two years earlier the prefect had served as a tribune under Vespasian and there had been intense and bitter rivalry between them.
Vitellius took a sharp breath and waved a hand at the officers around him. 'Follow me!'
The party from the fleet strode down the beach towards the new arrivals while Vespasian and his tribunes drew themselves up and waited a few paces above the waterline.
'Sir!' Vitellius called out, and forced a smile.'What brings you here?'
Vespasian appeared to be equally cordial as he extended his hand and the two officers clasped arms. 'The Imperial Secretary sent me. I'll introduce my staff officers later. But first we need to talk. Narcissus wants to know how the operation is proceeding.'
Vitellius frowned.'But I sent him a report. He must have received it several days ago. Unless…' He glanced round at Cato.
'The report arrived safely,' said Vespasian. 'Narcissus thanks you for it, but in view of the, er, complexity of the situation he wanted to send someone to assess the progress you're making first-hand. Since we have served together before, Narcissus gave me the job.' Vespasian smiled. 'So here I am, reluctantly.'
'I see.'
'On the way in I noticed that you've met with some success at least.' Vespasian turned and indicated the promontory.
'That? My men set a trap for the pirates. We took three of their ships and a few prisoners, including a man close to their leader, Telemachus. I was questioning him when I had word of your approach. The rest I had executed to serve as a warning to the pirates and to encourage our own men.'
'A warning to the pirates?' Vespasian mused. 'Then they must be close at hand.'
'They keep us under observation,' Vitellius admitted warily.
'Really? Well, let's not waste any time,' Vespasian continued in a lighter tone.'It's been a long and uncomfortable journey. My tribunes and I could do with some refreshment.'
'Of course.' Vitellius turned round to one of his staff officers. 'Run back to my quarters. I want a tent prepared. Food and wine for all senior officers and our guests as soon as possible. Go.'
As the man ran off Vespasian cast his eye over the fortifications lining the beach, and the fleet anchored in the bay or beached on the shingle. 'You've made a good job of the fortifications. Looks like an excellent base from which to conduct operations.'
Vitellius bowed his head graciously.
'Mind if my staff and I have a look round before we take advantage of your hospitality? It'll give your men a chance to make the proper arrangements.' Vespasian smiled.
'Of course, I'd be happy to-'
Vespasian raised a hand to interrupt the prefect. 'I've imposed enough on you already.' Vespasian glanced round at Vitellius' officers before he singled Cato out. 'Centurion Cato! Good to see you again. Would you be kind enough to act as our guide?'
'I'd be honoured, sir.'
'Thank you. Prefect Vitellius, we'll join you in a short while.'
'I'll look forward to it, sir.'
Without a further word Vespasian moved off along the beach, Cato at his side, while his staff officers kept a short distance behind. Vitellius watched them closely for a moment, smiling as he relished the harsh punishment that would shortly be inflicted on Centurion Cato. The report he had sent back to Rome had been completely unambigious in pointing out Cato's dereliction of duty. Vespasian would surely be carrying a warrant for the young officer's death. But while the removal of Centurion Cato was a satisfying prospect, it was deeply worrying that Narcissus had sent Vespasian to assess his progress. Clearly the carefully worded description of the early stages of the campaign had not succeeded in pulling the wool over the Imperial Secretary's eyes. Vespasian would have to be handled carefully if the true scale of the disaster was to be concealed from Narcissus. Vitellius turned round and beckoned to Macro.
'Sir?'
'Get back to the prisoner. Clean him up and take him somewhere safe and secure and out of earshot of Vespasian.'
'Yes, sir.'
Vitellius stared in silence at the retreating backs of Vespasian and his party for a moment longer, then he turned away and strode into the camp.
As soon as he had finished inspecting the shore defences Vespasian dismissed his staff officers and ordered Cato to take him around the outside of the ramparts. When they were a safe distance from the palisade Vespasian turned to the centurion and spoke bluntly.
'All right then, time to dispense with the pleasantries. The Imperial Secretary hit the ceiling when he read the prefect's report. An imperial fleet almost defeated by a bunch of pirates. Hundreds of lives lost and valuable equipment sent to the bottom of the sea. And when I passed through Ravenna, the place was on the verge of anarchy. I had to send to Arminium for a cohort of auxiliaries just to keep the lid on the situation. When news of that gets back to the palace Vitellius had better make sure his affairs are in order and his will is written.'
'It's that serious, sir?'
'The prefect might survive if we can defeat these pirates quickly, and find those scrolls. At least his report had the virtue of being honest and not trying to cover up for the mess he's made of things. That might just save him.'
Cato winced. There seemed to be no end to Vitellius' good fortune. You could drop him off the Tarpeian Rock and he would land on his feet.
'Centurion, I need to know exactly what the situation is here,' Vespasian continued. 'Prefect Vitellius is supposed to be on a punitive mission, taking the offensive right to the door of the pirates' lair. Instead, I feel as if I've just arrived in a bloody besieged city. How the hell did it get to this? Speak plainly. I suspect I don't have to worry about you covering up for this particular superior officer, given your past experience of Vitellius.'