The Gladiator

'Hardly an inspiring display of unity.'

'No, sir.' Macro chewed his lip. 'But I think they'll keep their mouths shut for a little while.'

'I hope so.' Sempronius rubbed his temple and shut his eyes. 'It all comes down to Cato in the end, doesn't it?'

'Yes, you're right.' Macro went over to the window and rested his hands on the frame as he stared out towards the main camp of the rebels. 'I meant what I said about him being the best man for the job.

The trouble is, being the best is not enough sometimes. He's pushed his luck in the past and it won't last for ever.'

'Don't write him off too quickly.' Julia's voice carried across the room.

Both of the men turned and saw her at the door. She stared at Macro for a moment and then made her way down the gap between the benches and sat on the one nearest her father's desk.

'I wasn't writing him off,' Macro explained. 'I'm just concerned for him.'

'We all are,' Sempronius added. 'With good cause. I hope he won't let us down.'

'He won't,' Macro said firmly.

Sempronius turned to his daughter. 'What brings you here?'

'I came to report on the day's food consumption. Your guards said there was a meeting. I waited outside until it was over.'

'I take it you heard everything.'

'Most of it.' Julia nodded. 'Can't say I'm very impressed with the locals. What do you intend to do about them, Father?'

'Do? Nothing. Not unless they start making trouble for us. If that happens, they can join Glabius in the acropolis cells.'

'I'd have that man Polocrites closely watched if I were you.'

'She's right,' said Macro.' The man's trouble. Might be better to lock him up now, before he can spread any more of his poison.'

Sempronius considered the suggestion for a moment before he shook his head. 'We'll leave him be for now. I can't afford to be making enemies inside the city when we have a far greater danger to deal with. We're already in enough peril. Which is why I've come to a decision.' He leaned forward and looked steadily at his daughter. 'I want you to leave Gortyna.'

'Leave?' Julia shook her head in surprise. 'What are you talking about? I'm staying here. With you.'

'That's impossible. It's too much of a risk. There is a good chance that Ajax and his army will take Gortyna. If the city falls, I could not bear the thought of what might happen to you.'

'Father, it's not as if this is the first time we've been under siege.'

'No, but last time I had no option. We were trapped in Palmyra.

There is still time for you to leave Gortyna and make it to the north of the island. You can wait there for news.'

'I will not go,' Julia replied firmly. 'I will stay by your side. I will wait for Cato. And if the city falls, then I will die by my own hand before any of the rebels can touch me. I swear it, Father.'

Sempronius looked pained at her suggestion. He stared at her while he fought with his fear for her safety. 'Julia. You are my only child. You are the most important thing in my life. I cannot let you remain here where your life is in danger.'

'Er…' Macro shuffled awkwardly. 'Would you like me to, ah, leave the room?'

'No,' Sempronius replied. 'Stay'

Julia smiled fondly and reached forward to take his hands. 'Father, I know what I mean to you.'

'No you don't. No child does, not until they have children of their own.'

She returned his gaze for a moment and shook her head sadly. 'I cannot go. I do not want to leave you, and I must be here when Cato returns.'

He leaned wearily back in his chair. 'I have made my decision. You will leave Gortyna.'

Julia glared at him, then lowered her head and stared at her hands.

When she spoke, there was no hiding the strain in her voice. When do you wish me to leave?'

'Tonight. I suspect that Ajax will want to cut the city off the moment he realises that we will not be agreeing to his demands. If you leave under cover of darkness, you can put some miles between you and Gortyna before dawn. I'll send a small escort with you. The rebel scouts will miss you if you go quietly and head north into the hills. Make for Cnossos.' He turned to Macro. 'I want you to pick some good men to escort my daughter from the city.'

'Sir?'

'You are to go with them until they have reached a safe distance from Gortyna. Then you can return here.' A brief look of embarrassment crossed the senator's face. 'I know there's a chance that you might have some trouble getting back, so I won't order you to do this. I ask it as a favour, to a friend.'

'Don't worry, sir,' Macro replied firmly. 'I'm happy to do it. For you, and for Cato.'

'Thank you.' Sempronius stood up and crossed the room to the window, where he clasped Macro's arm. 'You're a good man. One of the best.'

'I said I'd do it, sir. You don't have to go on about it.'

Sempronius laughed. 'Very well. Go now. Take your pick of the men, the best of the horses and enough rations for the journey.

Report back to me as soon as you return.'

'Yes, sir.' Macro nodded, and Sempronius released his arm. As Macro made for the door, Julia stepped forward to embrace her father. Sempronius kissed the top of her head. He held her tight for an instant and then let her go. She turned away and hurried from the room without looking back.

Sempronius listened to the light patter of her sandals, soon lost under the harsh clatter of Macro's nailed boots, then both died away as they left the building. He took a deep breath to calm the pain in his heart and gazed out towards the twinkling sprawl of fires that marked the rebel camps.

'Cato, my boy,' he muttered to himself, 'for pity's sake don't fail me now.'

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

As dawn broke, Yannis woke Cato to point out a trailing column of smoke rising into the sky above the horizon. To their right, the Egyptian coast was two miles off, low-lying and almost feature-less, apart from the occasional cluster of small huts and fishing boats.

They had been sailing along the coast since putting in briefly at Darnis to take on water. There were no roads along the coast and Cato had been advised to continue the journey by sea. Once he had learned the rudiments of sailing, Cato and Yannis had taken it in turns to steer the fishing boat while the other Romans did their best to keep out of the way in the small, cramped and stinking craft. The weather had been fine and a westerly breeze meant that they made good time. There had been no need to put in to land each night after leaving Darnis since the moon had lit their way, sparkling dully off the sea. Even though they had made good progress, Cato was fretful, his mind constantly occupied with concern for his friends back in Gortyna. Indeed, he had been dozing, thinking of Julia, when Yannis had shaken his shoulder gently, and now the fisherman looked amused as Cato stirred, won de ring what he had just muttered.

'Yes, what is it?'

'We're in sight of the lighthouse. I thought you'd want to know.'

Cato scrambled stiffly up from the side of the boat and balanced his feet against its motion as he stood beside Yannis. He saw the column of smoke at once, and the faint gleam of a polished surface at its base.' How far away are we?'

'I've heard that it's possible to see the top of the lighthouse from twenty or thirty miles away. I've been to Alexandria a few times, when I was a soldier. See that sparkle? That's a huge curved piece of brass, regularly polished. By day it reflects the light of the sun, and at night the flames of the fire that burns at the top of the tower.'