taunt could as well have been aimed at him or Gellius as Longinus, and there was nothing that Lentulus could do to deny it.
A resentful silence fell once more.
‘Why are your lictores’ fasces still decorated with axes, Longinus?’ Caesar shouted. ‘Are you trying to anger the gods even further than they already are?’
Longinus was stunned by the intervention of the Pontifex Maximus. ‘I-’
Lentulus’ eyes bulged as he took in the lictores standing by the entrance. He exchanged a look of outrage with Gellius. ‘What is the meaning of this, proconsul?’
‘It was an oversight, nothing more. We had been riding all night to get here. Of course I did not wish to upset the gods!’ He called to his lictores: ‘Remove the axes at once! Sacrifices of atonement are to be made at the major temples. See that it is done!’ His bodyguards hurried from the building, and Longinus regarded the consuls again. ‘I will perform my own penitence to the gods as soon as I may,’ he said humbly. ‘It will never happen again.’
‘Damn right it won’t,’ snapped Crassus.
Other comments — angry and concerned — filled the air.
‘Let us have your report,’ ordered Gellius.
‘As every senator here knows, I have command of two legions. The slave Spartacus leads in excess of fifty thousand men. Knowing that these men had come fresh from their victories’ — Longinus cleared his throat while pointedly ignoring the consuls — ‘over other Roman forces, I decided that my best option was to mount a surprise attack on his army as it marched towards the Alps. To this end, I located a suitable position a short distance from the road near Mutina. Upwards of thirty ballistae were built and transported there in secret. My plan was for the catapults to rain down an intense bombardment on the unsuspecting slaves, creating havoc, before my legions advanced on them from the north.’
‘Something tells me that it didn’t quite happen that way,’ said Crassus quietly.
Beside him, Caesar’s lips twitched.
‘A good plan,’ admitted Gellius. ‘What went wrong?’
‘Somehow Spartacus got wind of what I was up to. A strong force of slaves attacked the soldiers guarding the ballistae at night. They caught my men off guard. The cunning dogs were armed with axes, and they brought barrels of oil. The catapults that weren’t incinerated were chopped into kindling.’ Longinus sighed. ‘Spartacus’ army marched north the following morning. I could not just let the whoreson pass by Mutina without a fight, so I led my men out and confronted him.’
A few senators made sympathetic noises. ‘He doesn’t lack courage,’ said one.
Crassus was pleased to note, however, that the faces he could see were still registering disapproval.
‘Go on,’ directed Lentulus.
‘I had my legions deploy in the classic triplex acies formation. We had trees on our left, which prevented any use of cavalry, so I deployed all of my horse on my right. The enemy came to meet us in much the same fashion. Spartacus has learned to fight as we Romans do. His troops are, for the most part, well armed and well disciplined.’
Shocked cries rang out.
I told you months ago that Spartacus was not to be underestimated, thought Crassus. But you didn’t listen. Secretly, he had been amazed by the degree of the Thracian’s successes, but he would not admit that to a soul.
Longinus waited until there was silence again. ‘His horsemen have been well trained too. They outnumbered my six hundred Gauls by at least five to one. As the armies engaged, my cavalry was driven back, allowing the enemy riders to sweep around to my legions’ rear. After that, the fighting grew very heavy. Despite this, my soldiers held their ground for a long time. In the end, however, the fierce attacks from both front and behind were too much.’ Longinus paused to compose himself. ‘My men broke and ran.’
‘Your eagles?’ asked Gellius.
A shadow passed across Longinus’ face. ‘Lost.’
‘Both of them?’
‘Yes. I stayed until the bitter end, trying to retrieve one. I would have died on the field if it hadn’t been for one of my centurions, who, with his men, forcibly removed me. I wish that I had been slain, but it is also my duty to report my failings to the Senate. This I have done. I now await the sentence of my peers — whatever that may be.’ Longinus bowed his head.
Despite himself, Crassus was impressed by the proconsul’s performance. He is courageous, both in battle and here on the treacherous ground that is the Senate. Crassus soon hardened his heart. He is just another general who failed. His failure will gain me more support. Perhaps today I can make my move. He glanced around the room and was annoyed to see that Longinus’ words appeared to have aroused sympathy in a good number of senators.
The consuls conferred with each other before Lentulus raised a hand for quiet. ‘Our thanks for doing your duty by reporting what happened. While the news of your defeat and the loss of your eagles is calamitous, it is not without precedent.’ He glanced at Gellius. ‘My colleague and I have both failed against Spartacus.’
‘Damn right you have,’ shouted Crassus. ‘Along with all the fools that you sent before that. You bring shame on the Republic!’ His heart raced in the brief pause that followed. Had he gone too far?
‘Shame! Shame on you both!’ cried Caesar.
‘Shame!’ yelled another senator.
The call took on a life of its own, growing in size and volume until the very walls of the Curia rang with it. ‘Shame! Shame! Shame!’
Crassus’ glee knew no bounds. The news of their armies’ previous defeats had produced nothing like this level of discontent. It would surely provide him with more supporters.
The uproar took some time to subside. When it did, Longinus was still in his position before the consuls, straight-backed, head bent in composed acceptance of his fate.
Perhaps because he had defeated Crixus, thereby retaining some honour, Gellius was the first to speak. ‘Longinus must be made to pay for his failure. What punishment would you hand down, senators of Rome?’
A pregnant silence fell.
Crassus was surprised to find himself undecided. Others who had failed, among them the miserable Varinius, had been ordered to commit suicide, although naturally enough, the two consuls had escaped such sentences. Yet neither of them were men of Longinus’ stature. Here was a man from an illustrious family, who had served the Republic as master of the state mint, praetor and, only the previous year, as consul. Why should he have to suffer the ultimate punishment — death — when his inferiors did not? Was exile a better alternative? Crassus regarded Longinus. He’s an able man. It would be pointless to have him fall on his sword. ‘After he has made amends with the gods, let him be stripped of his office, and pay a large fine to the treasury.’
A short pause.
‘I think that would be a fitting punishment,’ said Caesar loudly.
‘Agreed,’ called one of Crassus’ supporters.
Loud murmurs of concurrence rose from his faction. No one else spoke.
Crassus seized the moment. ‘There’s no need for Longinus to die. Not when others who’ve failed also have escaped such a fate.’
‘Too true!’ Caesar’s tone was acid.
Crassus smiled beatifically at the consuls’ futile glares. This is only the start, you fools.
‘Longinus must stand down,’ cried a senator who followed Pompey.
‘Stand down! Stand down! Stand down!’ went the chant.
Irritated, Gellius waved his hand. ‘All right. It seems, Longinus, that your fellows wish you to resign as proconsul. And to pay a fine?’ He glanced out over the floor.
‘YES!’
‘You are to pay a fine to the state treasury of…’ He conferred with Lentulus. ‘… five hundred thousand denarii.’
‘Don’t forget his penance before the gods,’ said a voice.
Longinus lifted his head. ‘It will be the first thing I do when I leave the Curia. I thank my fellow senators for their clemency. I will continue to serve the Republic in every way that I can.’ Undoing the red belt that signified his status as a general, he let it fall at the consuls’ feet. He saluted them, and then, without looking to either side,
