‘And I cannot do so at night, not with that narrow entrance. At least the wind and the waves are still calm.’
Clara spoke up: ‘You will wait as long as you can, won’t you, sir?’
‘I will, girl.’
Squint walked over to them and pointed over the bow. ‘Captain.’
A line of people had appeared from an alley in front of the dye works. Leading the way were half a dozen armed men with perhaps twenty women and children behind them. The men were all weighed down with heavy packs and most of the women were carrying woven baskets.
‘Ready the lines, Korinth,’ ordered Asdribar.
The big sailor and his constant companion Desenna hurried over to the port side-rail.
Asdribar turned to Opilio, who was sitting against the mast, hood drawn over his head. ‘Take three others and get ready with the oars. We just need enough to make way.’
‘Sir.’
More armed men were bringing up the rear of the group, looking warily at the square as the others started across the causeway.
‘I doubt they wish to cause us any harm, sir,’ said Simo.
‘They look desperate,’ replied Asdribar. ‘You’d be surprised what desperate people will do.’
Squint caught his captain’s eye and pointed at a barrel he and Korinth had earlier brought up from the hold. It was stuffed with weapons.
‘Go ahead,’ said Asdribar.
The veteran handed out spears and swords to the other sailors and took a bow for himself. Tarkel surreptitiously tried to grab a blade.
‘Back to the stern, you,’ said Asdribar. The lad slunk away empty-handed.
‘Ready to cast off, Captain,’ said Korinth.
As the group continued across the causeway, Simo looked at the fires burning in the town. He had even more reason than the others to be depressed by what he’d witnessed. Africa was a stronghold of the Church, a land that had produced glorious martyrs and influential thinkers. Yet Darnis seemed to him the most forsaken of places, where cruelty and hate had triumphed.
The group stopped when they reached the warehouses. A man close to the front spoke briefly with the others, then lowered his pack and sheathed his sword. He ran past the collapsed dock and started along the breakwater.
‘Captain?’ said Squint, an arrow at the ready.
‘You spoiling for a fight, old man? Calm yourself — and don’t point that thing anywhere near me.’
Asdribar went up to the bow to talk to the man, who was clad in the nondescript tunic and cloak of a middling Roman. He was perhaps fifty, with slate-grey hair and craggy features.
‘Is this your vessel, sir?’ he asked, stopping opposite Asdribar.
‘It is. Sorry, no space for extra passengers.’
‘Why are you still here?’
‘Not your concern, friend.’
Clara nudged Simo and pointed at the group. ‘Do you remember her?’
The daughter of Maro the timber-mechant was standing there with a woman. In her hand was one of her wooden toys. There was no sign of her father.
‘We can pay you,’ the man told Asdribar.
‘I’m already being paid. Well.’
Clara walked past Simo and approached Asdribar. ‘If she were here, Miss Annia would ask you to take them aboard, sir.’
Asdribar looked down at her with a half-smile that suggested both surprise and admiration. ‘I’m not sure she would, Clara, though I’m sure it’s what you want me to do.’
Simo took his opportunity. ‘It is the right course of action, Captain.’
‘The Christian course?’ asked Asdribar rhetorically.
He turned back to the man. ‘What’s your name?’
‘Vivius Reberrus.’
‘It’s November, Reberrus. What makes you think you’ll be any safer at sea?’
‘What I’ve seen in the last few hours. The Maseene are killing our people. Where are you headed?’
‘Apollonia.’
‘That’s good for us.’
‘What if I let you aboard, then another group turn up?’
‘There is no one else left, Captain. The locals have returned to their villages. The others left today.’
‘How much will you pay?’ asked Asdribar.
‘Twenty denarii each.’
‘That’s funny.’
‘Thirty,’ said Reberrus.
‘Fifty,’ said Asdribar. ‘Twenty for the children.’
‘Sir,’ said Simo. ‘You cannot put a price on-’
Asdribar raised a hand. Simo kept quiet.
‘Sir,’ implored Clara. ‘Look at the sweet young girl there. Her name is-’
‘Remember your place, Clara,’ said Asdribar.
‘We can’t pay that,’ insisted Reberrus.
‘Then I can’t help you,’ replied Asdribar. ‘Korinth, ready with the ropes.’
‘All right,’ replied Reberrus. ‘All right. We’ll pay.’
‘Then we have a deal,’ said Asdribar. ‘One more thing — your blades stay behind.’
Reberrus glanced at Squint, who was still holding an arrow close to his bowstring. ‘But we will be at your mercy.’
‘It’s not my mercy you have to worry about,’ said Asdribar, gesturing at the sea. ‘It’s the gods of the deep.’
Simo came forward. ‘The captain is an honourable man, sir. You have no cause to fear him and his crew.’
‘Why do you speak for us?’ asked Reberrus.
‘I …’ Simo turned to Clara. ‘We wish to see you and your people safe.’
‘How touching,’ said Asdribar.
‘I will go and tell them,’ said Reberrus.
‘You can also tell them to have their money ready at the gangplank,’ added Asdribar as Reberrus hurried away.
The Carthaginian turned and winked at Clara. ‘I would have taken them for twenty.’
‘I think you would have taken them for nothing, sir,’ said Clara. ‘You’re a good man.’
Asdribar leaned close to her and whispered: ‘Maybe. But don’t tell anyone, especially the crew.’
‘How long to sunset, sir?’ asked Simo.
‘Three or four hours.’
Simo looked back at the town.
Asdribar nodded skyward. ‘Better keep at those prayers.’
The grass was rough against the skin and six feet of it would have been better than five, but Cassius thanked the gods for the stuff; as long as they kept low, they could stay hidden.
Indavara had a fair sense of direction but Cassius knew his was better, so he took the lead as they crossed the meadow. He reckoned they were at least a mile from the mansion now and by keeping the sun in roughly the same position over his left shoulder, he could ensure they kept heading north. He was still carrying the Maseene javelin. It was a light, well-balanced weapon and — for Cassius — highly preferable to a sword. He’d always been half decent at the throwing disciplines and adhered to the theory that enemies were best dealt with from a distance.
They came eventually to a large tree beside a ditch that ran at right angles to the Via Roma. Cassius squatted next to the tree and Annia sat down on the lip of the ditch, puffing hard. Her arms were laced with little cuts from the grass and bruises where she’d been manhandled by Carnifex and Procyon.
‘Sorry, miss, but we must cover as much ground as we can.’
Cassius took his canteen from his belt, unscrewed the lid and handed it to her. Indavara leant against the tree and looked back at the mansion. While Annia drank, Cassius joined him.
At that distance it was hard to make out much detail, but both shield walls seemed to be intact. The Maseene were fighting on but scores of dead warriors lay on the ground. The tribesmen to the rear were struggling to keep control of all the riderless mounts, several of which had broken loose.
‘I can hardly believe we made it out of there,’ said Cassius, resting his head against the rough bark of the tree. ‘Thank the gods for Eborius and his men.’
‘I just hope they make it out of there too,’ said Indavara. ‘If the Maseene don’t get them, Carnifex will.’
‘We must keep moving.’
Cassius surveyed the flat expanse of land to the north. The only structure close by was the barn where they’d confronted Carnifex.
‘We’ll stay in the grass,’ he added, ‘parallel with the road, then cut towards the bridge when we can.’