Steve had little to say as Hunter chose a direction and led him through the trees. Asking him how he was making his choices would invite an answer that was more complicated than it was worth. Between the data about the terrain and the forest that Hunter had stored continuously since arriving, and his enhanced hearing, Hunter was using too much information that he would have to explain at length. Steve decided just to keep walking.
Hunter located a trail fairly quickly but they left it periodically to avoid Germans Hunter heard coming. Some were warriors walking with a quiet determination. Others were old men simply out gathering firewood. When the Germans had passed, Hunter returned to the trail.
On several occasions, he mentioned to Steve that he could hear small groups of horses in the distance. They were almost certainly Roman patrols, but they never drew near enough to alter Hunter’s direction. Hunter and Steve spent several hours moving through the forest, sometimes retracing their steps and moving from one trail to another.
Wayne spent much of the day hiding outside the village of Prince Arminius. Ishihara was adept at moving them to remain upwind of the village dogs and to avoid the war parties that kept arriving in the village. Prince Arminius received each war party enthusiastically. Then he sent them on their way, always in the same direction. Julius remained near him, and MC 3 stayed close to Julius.
“Julius must have said something to him about helping him or not straying too far,” said Wayne. “MC 3 has to be responding to a Second Law instruction to behave so consistently.”
“Very likely,” said Ishihara.
“When they found me here, they tied me up. Yet they seem to have adopted him.”
“Perhaps his willingness to cooperate under the Second Law made him seem like a friend,” said Ishihara.
“Yeah, maybe. He must have shown up as a kind of lost crazy man. But it’s all going to make getting him away harder. If he won’t leave Julius’s side, we’ll have to hope Julius and MC 3 go take a few minutes away from everyone else.”
“I have observed Julius’s trip to the latrine in the hope that they would be alone,” said Ishihara. “However, with so many visiting warriors, that has not been the case.”
“You have any suggestions?” Wayne asked sourly.
“Only to wait for our opportunity,” said Ishihara. “Impatience would be a mistake.”
“I was afraid you’d say that.”
Marcus did not speak to the Governor as they rode side by side at the head of the army during the afternoon. Occasionally he made a few friendly observations to Jane about the weather or the scenery. Actually, however, he was carefully eyeing the muddy road ahead as they topped every rise and rounded every curve.
He did not expect German warriors to appear unannounced on the open slopes that the army was crossing that day. What he was looking for was rugged, difficult terrain in the distance that they would have to cross the next day or the day after that. Late in the afternoon, when the army halted to make camp, he remained mounted and examined the winding route that lay in front of them.
“What is it, Marcus?” Jane looked from the road back to him. “You see something?”
“Nothing dangerous at this moment,” said Marcus. “But do you see how the road forks, down this slope in the distance?”
Jane paused, looking. Finally she nodded. “Oh, I see it, now. The army will reach that fork in the first hour of marching tomorrow.”
“I’m not sure which way we’re going. But the fork on the left leads into some very rugged country.”
Governor Varus dismounted and glanced up at him. “Something wrong, Tribune?”
“No, sir. Uh-I thought I might take our guests on a brief ride back along the troops for a moment, though, if they’re interested in seeing the sights.”
“You haven’t had enough riding for the day?” Governor Varus shook his head, handed his reins to a groom, and wearily walked away.
“Would you come with me for a moment?” Marcus asked, looking at Jane and Gene.
“Sure.” Gene shrugged.
“Lead on,” said Jane.
Marcus steered them around to the side of the column, which was dispersing to build the camp. He rode back to Fabius Albinus, the centurion in command of the advance patrols. Fabius had just dismounted, and was dismissing one of the patrols that had just returned and reported.
“Centurion,” said Marcus, looking down at him. “Have your patrols reported whether any German villages are close by?”
“Yes, sir, they have. Several are close.”
“I have a favor to ask, Fabius.” Marcus made his tone more casual, since he had no direct authority to give Fabius an order. “I’d like to see a few of them myself, but I don’t dare go without a large escort.”
“I can send a couple of decuries with you. Almost all the patrols have rejoined us now.”
“I had more in mind, Fabius. Would you ride out with me-and bring your entire troop?”
“The entire century?”
“Would you mind? Perhaps for an hour, no more.”
“The men have been riding all day. They’re ready to stand down,” Fabius said slowly.
Marcus merely waited, as Fabius studied his face. They both knew the time would come when Marcus could return the favor.
“All right, Marcus. I’ll take them out with you.”
“Thank you, Fabius. I won’t forget it.”
As Fabius mounted again and called out his orders, Jane moved up next to Marcus and leaned close to him.
“Marcus? Are you going to get into trouble over this with the governor?”
Surprised that she would question his decision, he almost ordered her to back away. Her tone of genuine concern stopped him, however. Next to her, Gene also was watching him. After all, they had heard the governor tell him earlier not to interfere with existing marching orders or army directives.
“It may be a problem,” Marcus said quietly. “But if I can learn something that will convince the governor to stop a disaster, then this will be worth the risk.”
“Please don’t,” said Jane.
“I’ll be fine. But I must ask you two to remain in camp with Demetrius. I will be back soon.”
20
Fabius had his century of cavalry mounted and in formation in only moments. He nodded to Marcus, who drew up next to him at the head of the column. Then Fabius spurred his mount to lead them out.
“Halt! Halt, I say!”
Marcus clenched his teeth at the sound of Governor Varus’s voice. He forced himself to remain calm, however. On his left, the governor angrily strode across the mud toward him. Behind Governor Varus, Jane and Gene had dismounted but were watching.
“Centurion, dismiss your troop,” said the governor. “Return to your normal duties.”
“Governor Varus-” Fabius began.
“Don’t waste your breath,” Governor Varus growled. “The tribune doesn’t need any excuses from you.”
Fabius turned and began a quick stream of orders to his century.