Final Campaign

about to do battle,or in some sort of danger. As we drew closer to the city, we beganto encounter the larger latifundia, but I could see a fairnumber of smaller holdings. Curious about this, I stopped a pair ofmen driving a small cart, one sitting on the seat, the otherwalking along beside, and I asked them about it. While neither ofthem were unfriendly, there was a caution in their manner, theireyes darting to the sword at my belt, as if trying to determine myintentions.

Thinking to soothe their fears, I told them,"I'm just curious. We," I indicated Diocles, "are on our way toRome. I'm taking a new posting with the army," I made the lie up onthe spot.

"Yes, sir," the man sitting in the cartreplied, but there was a sullen undertone to his voice, resentfulperhaps. "Those," he indicated with a nod, "are settled by men likeyourself, but retired, obviously."

"Ah," I thought I understood the man'sattitude. "Were these lands you worked on?"

"Yes," the driver said, and this time therewas no mistaking the bitterness. "But you soldiers don't hire usanymore. You all have so much money, so that along with the landyou buy slaves."

Although I understood his attitude, I feltcompelled to point something out to him.

"Well." I kept my tone mild. "In alllikelihood, we did take those slaves with our rightarms."

"That doesn't help us, does it?" This camefrom the second man, who I saw was barely that; probably thedriver's son. "Now we have to live hand to mouth hauling whateverwe can from one place to the next! We haven't been home in a month,and it's all because of the Legions!"

He spat on the ground defiantly and behindme, I heard Diocles hiss, and I will confess I felt the firststirring of anger. But he was young, and while I was no longer ayouth, I remembered the strength of the passionate feelings ofthose days. And I was honest enough with myself to know that he wasjustified in his feelings, so I held up a hand in a placatinggesture, remembering a long-ago conversation with Scribonius aboutthis very matter when we had been stuck on the Campus Martius.

"Pax, boy," I told him. "I didn'tmean to upset you, I just wanted..."

That was as far as I got.

"I'm no boy! I'm a man, just like you!" hesaid fiercely, and I saw the older man blanch, but he kept his eyeson me.

Taking a breath, instead of answering, Iurged Ocelus forward to draw near the boy, so I could look down onhim, thinking that between my size and being mounted that would beenough. While he suddenly did not look so sure of himself, I wassecretly impressed that he stood his ground.

"What's your name?" I do not believe he wasprepared for that simple question, and he looked over to the olderman.

I saw him give a slight nod, and the boyanswered, "V-Vibius Pacuvius."

"Well, Vibius Pacuvius, I salute yourcourage," I said genially. "And yes, you are a man. I ask yourforgiveness for my rudeness."

If a pair of horns suddenly sprouted out ofmy forehead, I do not think he could have looked more shocked, andhis companion was no less so surprised.

Finally, he managed to stammer, "Y-You areforgiven. Sir."

"Thank you. And thank you for yourinformation."

Pulling a handful of coins out, I was aboutto hand them to the boy, but one in particular caught my eye. Itwas one of the remaining coins that we had received almost tenyears before, shortly after we arrived at Actium with MarcusAntonius. I felt a grimly amused smile tugging at my lips as Ileaned down, beckoning the boy to come near enough.

When he held out his hand, I told him, "Seethis coin here?"

I dropped it into his palm and he looked atit, although his gaze kept shifting to the others I was stillholding.

"See that mark there? That's for myLegion."

A change came over the boy, his expressionbecoming interested.

"You were with the 10^th Legion?Caesar's 10^th?" he asked me.

"You mean the 10^th Equestris?Yes, you could say that," I replied dryly.

"Let me see that," the other man demanded,then grunted as he examined it.

Looking over at him, I saw that he wore asimilar expression to the boy’s, and they were so alike that I wassure that they were father and son.

"So you must have known their Primus Pilus,"the older man said, looking at me shrewdly.

Behind me, I heard Diocles make a chokingsound, and I knew he was trying not to laugh.

"Titus Pullus?" I nodded. "Yes, you couldsay that as well."

"Is he as fierce as they say?" the boyasked. "I heard that he's almost seven feet tall and that he couldlift a fully born cow off the ground!"

"I don't know about that," I saiddoubtfully, rubbing my chin as I enjoyed myself more than I had insome time. "He is pretty strong, but a cow?" I shook myhead. "A fully grown sow? Definitely."

It was becoming increasingly hard to keep astraight face, and Diocles was not helping a bit. That probably waswhat prompted the man on the cart to narrow his eyes in suspicionas he looked from me to Diocles.

"He's just having fun with us, Vibius," theman finally spoke. "I don't think he was in the 10^thhimself. And he might have seen Titus Pullus, but I don't think heknows him."

"Well, it was worth a try." I shrugged, thendropped the rest of the coins into the boy's hands. "Again, thankyou for the information. Not all Legionaries are bad. See?"

"Yes, sir, thank you, sir," the boystammered, looking at this sudden fortune, and I saw his father'seyes narrow at the pile of coins shimmering in the boy's hand.

"Pacuvius," I called out to him. "I wouldappreciate you letting Vibius here keep some of that forhimself."

I could tell he did not like it, but heagreed.

"And one other thing, Vibius. Being sodisrespectful to someone like Titus Pullus would get you killed.You're lucky you didn't run into him."

The boy swallowed hard, then Diocles and Ileft them there to continue on our way. It was some time before thesilence between us was broken, and it was not any spoken words, butlaughter. After a few moments, both of us