“Yes,” I said tersely, and withoutthinking, I added, “My men are idiots.” Realizing how that wouldsound, I hurriedly corrected, “They’re not idiots. It’s just thatwhile they’re working on the camp, it’s normally our slaves whoerect the tents, so they’ve never had to do it before.” I went onto explain our organization, and how each section of men had aslave whose responsibility is to lead the mule that carried, amongother items, the section tent. As I did so, I was scanning thearea, and I finally spotted Saloninus, who was using his turfcutter handle that is favored by Optios, to thrash Aulus Denter ofthe Third Section, whose tent was one of those that was facing thewrong way, so that the ridge of it ran perpendicular instead ofparallel to the tents on either side. I waited until Saloninus wasthrough then called him over, and while I kept my voice low, I madeclear my mood.
“I don’t care how you do it, Aulus,but get this fixed, and we better look like a Legion marching campby the time it’s dark!”
He read me correctly, doing nothingmore than stiffening to intente, saluting as he said, “I understand andwill obey, Pilus Prior.”
Returning to the Parisii, I answered thequestions, all of them from Cogidubnus; yes, every camp wasessentially laid out in the same manner, space and terrainpermitting. It was all a matter of scale, I explained, and also,whenever possible, the Centuries and Cohorts were always placed inthe same spot in the camp, which helped with the speed andefficiency of constructing a camp.
“And,” I finished on a lightheartednote, “if we’re somewhere where our men are allowed out into a townlike Petuar, and they have too much to drink, they can find theirway to their tent.”
My error was betrayed by Ivomagus’ look ofunease, but the most potent sign was that he had not translated mywords.
I understood why when he asked, “Centurion,are you asking for my brother to give your men permission to comeinto Petuar? To drink, and…” His voice trailed off, not wanting tosay the word “whore,” I supposed.
Can I possibly fuck this up more? I thoughtmiserably, but I hurried to assure him that I had no intention ofdoing so. Yes, we were understrength; the First Century hadfifty-eight effectives who sailed, and the Second had sixty-three,so it would not be more than a hundred men subtracting those leftbehind on guard, but unleashing even a section of Legionaries, atthe end of a campaign, and who had been through the ordeal we hadjust undergone, would be close to a guarantee something wouldhappen that would get us annihilated. We had our hands full inUbiorum with outraged fathers and husbands, and it is a hardenedmilitary town, albeit more than three times the size of Petuarnow.
“No, Ivomagus,” I assured him. “My menwill be confined to camp, with the exception of those who will benecessary to effect the repairs of the ship. Trust me when I saythis, and I mean no disrespect. We want to be out of here just asmuch as your brother and your people want us gone.” I smiled when Isaid this, and he accepted it in the spirit that it wasmeant.
Deciding they had seen enough, Iturned and began heading for the PortaPraetoria, which we had oriented facing the town. Thelight was almost gone, but I was pleased to see coming out of thedarkness a line of carts, heading our direction.
“Here are the supplies and thefirewood that you requested, Centurion,” Ivomagus said this with atone that alerted me that I should turn and face Cogidubnus. “Mybrother has upheld his end of the bargain.” He hesitated, thencontinued, “And, he acknowledges that you have upheld your part byreleasing half of my comrades. But, he has a favor to ask of younow.”
“Which is?” I asked warily, not sure Iliked where this might head.
“While he knows that you will not bereleasing the other half until your work is completed. Or,” headded, perhaps to remind me he had not forgotten, “those men not ofour tribe who will be released, he asks that you allow a member ofeach man’s family to come to visit their loved one aboard theship.”
I thought for a moment, then I agreedcautiously, “I think that can be arranged. But,” I cautioned, “Ican’t allow them to all come at once. And, I would ask that we dothis tomorrow when it’s light.”
After a brief exchange, Cogidubnus agreed,then Ivomagus turned to more practical, and more pressingmatters.
“What next, Centurion? What do yourmen need from us to help you with your repairs?”
“That,” I acknowledged, “is a goodquestion. Now that we have seen the dock, I must speak to the crewof the ship and the men who will be helping with therepairs.”
We agreed to meet after dawn the nextmorning, and I reentered the camp. Thankfully, matters had beenresolved for the most part, and more than half the tents alreadyhad a fire going in front of it as men began grinding down thegrain that had been in the sacks brought from the town. For thefirst time in several days, things were back to at least asemblance of normal, and I caught the scent of baking bread, whichmade my stomach turn over on itself. My tent and furnishings wereon another ship, but because of our casualties, there were extratents, and mine was placed in the middle of our small camp, where Iheaded. Alex emerged from within, and I caught a glimpse of theflickering lamp inside, and per my instructions, he had managed tofind enough stools to hold the meeting that I was about to call.The men were done for the day, but there was still much work todo.
“Well? Now that you’ve seen it, willthe dock here be big enough?” I addressed this to Cador and Motius,and the former shifted uneasily on the stool, but it was Motius whoanswered for the both of them.
“Big enough? Yes,” he said, but in amanner that told me there was more coming, although I suspected Iknew what it would be
