"Judah greets Rome," the king said.
Norbanus rose and descended the steps. He took the king by the hand. "Rome greets Jonathan, king of the Jews." Behind him, he knew that his subordinates were stricken as by the lightning of Jupiter. Their commander, with no authority from the Senate, was recognizing this foreigner as not only king of Judah, but of Israel as well!
Jonathan smiled. Norbanus led him up the steps to a chair beside his own. He presented his officers and proffered the compliments of the Senate and People of Rome. He apologized for not presenting his army for a royal review, informing Jonathan that regulations required every Roman legion to fortify its camp by nightfall, wherever it was. Even a proconsul could not ignore regulations. He promised a full review the next day.
"Word had reached us that the Romans had returned to Italy," Jonathan said. "I had expected to receive an embassy within the next year or so, should-"
"Should the Carthaginians not exterminate us swiftly?" Norbanus finished for him.
"Forgive me, but the whole tale of your return seemed so outlandish and unlikely, and the great might of Carthage so well known, that I thought it unlikely that I would ever see a Roman. I certainly did not expect four legions on my doorstep!" He laughed richly and Norbanus joined him.
"And now I may say that I am not at all displeased. As long as you do not abuse my subjects, you have full freedom of my country. I anticipate no difficulty, for I am already assured of your fine discipline."
"My men will not take a grain of wheat that is not paid for, nor will they molest your women. They will not be quartered upon your civilians but will stay housed in — their camps, and they will enter your towns only in small groups of no more than ten. My quaestors," he gestured toward four young officers, "are the bankers for their legions and will confer with your merchants and supply officers for all goods we need in bulk."
Jonathan nodded gravely. "It is good to arrange these necessary mundanities early, before there can be a chance for friction and unfortunate incidents. I find all your proposals more than reasonable. Now, the last word we had was that a large Roman contingent was with the army of Hamilcar besieging Alexandria. Is this that force? I can think of no other so near that might have come from so unexpected a direction."
"It is," Norbanus confirmed.
"I see. Please allow me to congratulate you on a tactical masterstroke. Nobody had the slightest notion that you were coming this way. Taking to the desert instead of the safe coastal route. Nobody had guessed your location or route. I suppose that this has also given you a certain-ah- shall we say, freedom of action which you might not otherwise have enjoyed." There was a rustling of shifting feet on the dais. The subtleties of his excellent Greek packed the words with a meaning clear even to the Romans: Jonathan knew that by avoiding the coastal ports Norbanus had freed himself from oversight and control by the Senate.
Norbanus shifted the subject. "I take it you have learned of our reconquest of Sicily?"
"Every ship from the West brings word of new Roman successes."
"They shall continue to do so. This detour of ours was unexpected and we are eager to return to Italy and reinforce Rome's might. Your aid in our return to our ancestral homeland will be remembered with utmost gratitude by the Senate and People of Rome."
Jonathan nodded. "I will of course do my utmost to help. Sadly, Judah is not a maritime nation. The distance to Italy is great and Carthage, at least for the moment, rules the sea. I fear that your return must entail a very long march, all the way to Greece."
Norbanus sighed theatrically. "Alas, it is as I feared. This means we must march through the land claimed by your usurping cousin, does it not?"
"It can scarcely be avoided," the king agreed.
"Might we expect the usurper to be hostile?"
"Doubtless his spies are already flogging their horses northward to tell him of your arrival. Whatever his decision, he will have ample time to prepare. He will learn that we are now friends, and he may take this amiss."
"Rome, of course, desires no conflict with the rulers of the East. However, since this-his name is Manasseh, I believe? — is clearly not the legitimate ruler, and you have proclaimed yourself to be a friend of Rome, I foresee no objection from the Senate."
The king leaned back and stroked his beard. "Things are moving very quickly."
Norbanus laid a hand upon his shoulder. "Events can never transpire too quickly for men of vision and destiny. Such men seize them and bend them to their own will."
"Very true," Jonathan said. "There is Syria to consider. The House of Seleucus is no longer what it was, but it is still formidable. As recently as this summer, Antiochus contemplated an assault upon Egypt. Parthia presses him now, but if he can make his peace with them, he may turn his attention south once more."
"My friend Jonathan," Norbanus said, now not quite so jovial, "your land is a fine one, and I do not doubt that your men are doughty warriors, but if Antiochus decides to march south in full force he will crush you. Your only course will be to kiss the ground before his feet and hope that he will allow you to keep your throne, if only as his puppet."
He paused a few moments, allowing this vision to sink in. "With the friendship of Rome, however, you have nothing to fear. Rome will not only confirm you in your throne and your titles, but will increase them. Rome always rewards her friends lavishly." He was glad that the stony faces of his subordinates yielded nothing.
"Please do not think me rude if I observe that these are vaunting words from a people who were thought extinct until last year, and who have yet to display an unshakable grip upon the peninsula of Italy."
Norbanus smiled. "Tomorrow I'll assemble my legions and put them through their paces for your entertainment. Once you have seen them, tell me whether you think Rome cannot deliver on her promises."
CHAPTER FIVE
The scene was bizarre, in some ways comical. The beach was lined with frameworks where men sat on staggered benches, pulling at oars under the direction of rowing masters, while hortators set the time with trilling flutes. There was cursing and yelps of pain and bursts of laughter as men fouled one another's oar or fell from their benches.
Other frameworks held the skeletons of ships in the building process. The sound of hammering competed with the voices and the flutes, and over all hung the smell of pitch boiling in pots.
"What energy these people have!" Zeno marveled. "And what audacity! They are going to challenge the greatest naval power in the world, and they haven't so much as an hour's experience at sea."
"Until a year ago," Izates said, "no Roman had even seen the sea."
"Exactly. They think they can do anything."
"Such confidence is unwise. It smacks of hubris. The ancient tragedies are full of stories of men who thought thus highly of themselves. The gods put them in their place."
The rowers were men contributed by the municipalities of Italy, now eager to gain favor with the new masters.
"It looks," Izates said, "like all the madmen in the world assembled on one beach."
"And yet there are at least five other such beaches in Italy," Zeno observed, "with at least an equal number of madmen upon each."
"Thousands of hayseed landsmen," Izates mused, "sitting on shore, rowing phantom galleys. It is a scene worthy of Aristophanes."
"They did this once before, in their first war with Carthage. They were successful that time."