"How will such a campaign be supported, even supposing we agree to it?" Gabinius asked.
"I have a navy now, a very large one. It will accompany my march and will deal with any Carthaginian fleet that dares show itself."
An elderly Brutus stood. "Your army! Your fleet! Have you become Rome, young Norbanus?"
Norbanus did not flinch. "We knew what the gods wanted when the eagles flew south from Noricum. I think the gods have now shown that they favor me. Dare their displeasure if you will."
The Senate held its collective breath, but Jupiter sent no lightning.
"And I want the main thrust, to be launched from Sicily, to be commanded by my father, Titus Norbanus the elder."
The uproar was fit to rend the roof and send it skyward in tattered ribbons. The consuls sent their lictors into the bleachers to enforce silence.
"General Norbanus," said the Consul Gracchus when order was restored, "we cannot contemplate a major campaign in which members of the same family hold the highest command. We have already apportioned military duties for the upcoming invasion of Africa. Your father, the Proconsul Norbanus, of course has a splendid command, with three legions assigned to the first thrust against Carthage. But overall command has been given to the Proconsul Scaeva, hero of Syracuse. You both deserve honor, but not this." There came a rumble of agreement.
Now the elder Norbanus stepped forward. He had nothing like his son's dash and flair, and he wore plain iron mail of Gallic make and carried a simple bronze helmet beneath his arm, but he was a man of impressive gravity. "Noble senators, there will be quibbling in this house until we all die of old age. My son's war plan is bold, but it is worthy of Rome, where only greatness is acceptable. You may call for a division of the house, you may call for ten divisions. It does not matter, because this will be determined by the Roman people."
He swept the assembled senators with his eagle gaze. "Even now, the tribunes of the plebs are calling for an assembly. The Tribune Aemilius will place before the people a new law, the lex Aemilia, which will assign the commands for this war exactly as has just been outlined to you. That law will pass, I assure you. You can accede gracefully and ratify the law, or you can continue in stiff-necked opposition, but then you will only earn the contempt the people always give to obstinate aristocrats."
In the low mutter that followed this statement, Gabinius sat with his eyes closed, feeling every one of his many years. Much was clear now. All year there had been rumors: that young Norbanus was sending chests of money from the East, that some decidedly odd men were standing for the office of tribune of the plebs. He had paid little attention at the time. Strange things were bound to happen when all the best men were away with the legions. Now he understood what had been happening all along. The Norbani had accomplished something very like a coup.
He looked around at his fellow senators. Had this been an ordinary session, had the younger senators not been away on military service, violence would have broken out by now. Weapons might have been drawn. These men were too old or unfit, to resist strongly, and that, too, had been a part of the Norbanus plan. He rose, leaning on his walking stick, and slowly the Senate quieted.
"My colleagues, I see that a new star has risen in the Roman firmament. In the past, since we expelled the Etruscan kings, it has been our practice to see that no one family, no one man, ever held the power that we once granted only to kings. But who is to say that this did not bring upon us many disastrous defeats? Perhaps a Roman king would have crushed Hannibal in the first battle. No matter. What is absolutely clear is that these are extraordinary times. At this hour, we are as the Greek army before Troy, when the actions of Agamemnon offended Apollo. Are we to send Achilles to his tent to sulk in the hour when we need him most?" He gestured eloquently in supplication to his peers. Then he went on.
"I think not. You all know me. None has been so firm in opposing the pretensions of military adventurers. None has been so staunch in defense of our ancient liberties. Yet, all of you know me as a voice of reason. When many accused young Scipio of treason, I counseled that we give him his head. He is doing something new; let us see what he can make of it. When others said that young Norbanus was far exceeding the authority granted him, I said that we put him in a terrible position, let him extricate himself and his men as he may. And now who can say that he has not succeeded gloriously?
"Now this same youth proposes something incredible. He wants to finish a complete circumambulation of the Middle Sea by a Roman army, finishing with a siege of Carthage. Is this overweening ambition? Absolutely. But I agree with his father. This thing is worthy! The gods do not expect less of us. I, wholeheartedly and in advance of any decision by the Consilium Plebis, say that we must give Norbanus the younger what he demands." Abruptly, he sat. He hoped fervently that his colleagues would understand his implication: that by conceding, they set the incredibly ambitious boy up to fail in a spectacular manner. And if he should succeed?
Well, Gabinius thought, perhaps this is the future and the will of the gods: that Rome be ruled henceforth by its best generals instead of its oldest families. Who is to say that this is not just?
While the Senate debated, the two Norbani came to speak with the princeps.
"That was the sort of statesmanship that raised Rome to power over the barbarians," the elder Norbanus said.
"I did not expect this, Princeps," said the younger.
Hands folded atop his cane, Gabinius studied the glittering boy before him. "You have risen far and fast, young Titus. Men have risen so before. Rome has a way of raising such men in times of crisis. Rome also has a way of tearing them down as swiftly."
The father smiled crookedly. "You think I haven't told him that?"
"You are making mortal enemies," Gabinius pointed out.
"The greatness of a man is, judged by the number and quality of his enemies," said Norbanus the younger. "What else is the point of our lives?" It was the simple philosophy of the Senate, an intensely competitive body of men in which each strove for honor above his peers.
"Much leeway is granted the truly gifted among us," Gabinius told him. "Those touched by the gods are not always treated as ordinary men. But their actions must always be understood to be for Rome's benefit, not their own."
Young Norbanus bristled, but his father. stepped in smoothly. "No one has ever accused the Norbani of disloyalty, or of striving for their own glory to the detriment of Rome's welfare. But this is our hour, and Rome will be the greater for it."
Gabinius nodded, knowing destiny when it stared him in the face. In time the senators came to an agreement and they descended from the seats, coming down onto the "sea" to congratulate the Norbani.
Ihave lived to see the Senate of Rome walking on silk, Gabinius thought. What can this portend for the future?
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
"My instructions are quite unequivocal," Marcus Scipio explained. "I am to proceed against Carthage upon orders from the Senate, which, it is implied, will not be long in coming."
"You won't frighten the Carthaginians much," said Selene. "Just two Romans, though I've given you impressive uniforms."
The Romans and the de facto queen of Egypt were alone in her conference room, as Scipio had insisted.
"It is understood that I will arrive at the harbor of Carthage with a sizable navy, including the new vessels designed by the Archimedeans."