While I did not care all that much for histone, we had already agreed that once we put to sea, Vellocatus wasin command, including the right to determine who was allowed out ondeck at any given moment. At this moment, only the officers werepresent, so I headed over to Saloninus, who was leaning on therailing of the ship, staring north, in the opposite direction ofthe coast.
“Are you watching for a storm?” Iasked in a teasing tone. “Or for some huge beast that will devourus?”
“What if it’s both?” he retorted,although he did offer a thin smile.
Deciding that I would cheer him up, I toldhim, “I wanted to let you know about a decision I’ve made.”
This seemed to interest him, slightly, andwhen he turned to regard me, I was struck by how it was his righteyebrow that was raised in the kind of inquiring expression peoplehave, despite the fact that the eye was gone.
“Oh? What’s that, PilusPrior?”
“I’ve selected Structus’ replacement,”I answered, and now he was truly surprised.
“But I thought the Primus Pilus saidwe’re waiting until we get back to Ubiorum,” heexclaimed.
“He did,” I allowed. “But I know thatmy choice might be a bit of a…surprise, so I’ve decided to make itand sign the warrant, then turn it in to the Praetorium when we get back.” Shrugging, I triedto sound confident as I said, “Sacrovir may not be happy about it,but he’s not going to overrule my decision.”
I was now staring off in the distance, but Isensed him looking at me, and I was certain that he wouldunderstand that I was speaking about him.
However, after a few heartbeats, he asked,“Well? Who is it?”
That got my attention, yet when I looked athim, I could see he was truly in the dark, so I suppose I ruinedthe moment somewhat by snapping, “Why, it’s you, you idiot.”
“Me?” he echoed. Shaking his head, herepeated, more softly, “Me?”
The expression on his face quelled anythought I had of having more fun at his expense, and I stood erect,pivoting so I was looking down directly into his good eye as Isaid, in all sincerity, “Aulus, there was no other man I evenconsidered for the post. You’re the best Optio I’ve ever had, andthe men of the Second wouldn’t want to follow anyone else.”
Truthfully, I had never asked any ofthe men who I commanded for an admittedly brief period of time, butI was, and am confident I was right, although given what we weregoing to be facing, by the time I actually did turn in that warrantto the Praetorium, I do notthink that Sacrovir gave it a second thought.
I cannot say whether the storm that cameroaring from the north that would prove to be so catastrophic toour fleet and create a disruption in not just my life but all ofthe men of the First and Second Centuries had hit during thedaylight hour would have made any difference or not, but I can onlyspeak for myself that being awakened by being dumped from myhammock onto the deck, only to continue rolling across the cabinuntil slamming into the side of the ship certainly contributed tomy sense of disorientation…and yes, fear.
“Gnaeus!”
As far as I knew, Alex just called myname once; later, he told me he called for me several times. He hadmanaged to remain in his hammock, after a fashion, by wrapping botharms around the canvas, although he was hanging upside down, whichI could not see anyway because it was totally dark in the cabin.When I collided with the wooden wall, my head hit hard enough toignite thousands of sparks behind my eyes, yet as dazed as I was,it was the sounds I recall most vividly. I am not a superstitiousman; I do not believe that we are surrounded by numeni who are bent on causing all manner ofmischief and mayhem, but the shrieking sound that only later did Idetermine was from the crack of space between the wooden shuttersthat were securely fastened shut and the frame that held them madethe hair on the back of my neck stand up. That, however, was theonly thing that was standing, because when I tried to struggle tomy feet, the deck seemed to drop out from under me, except thistime, it was in the opposite direction, and sent me careeningacross the cabin. Instead of hitting the opposite side ofthe Brizo this time, Icollided with the desk that was fastened to the deck, which I clungto with all my strength. Since this was the first moment I couldclear my head, this was when I became aware of something that waseven more frightening than the shrieking wind. To my inexperiencedears, it sounded as if the Brizo, which prior to this instant I feltcertain was sturdy and sound enough to stand up to any storm, wasliterally breaking apart around us. There was a low-pitchedgroaning noise that seemed to emanate from beneath our feet, whilefrom up above and farther forward, it sounded like a dozen men weresnapping kindling over their knee.
“Are you all right?” I had to shoutthis to be heard, and Alex shouted back that he was.
Saloninus, for some reason, had opted tostay below with the men that night, which I confess had made mefeel a bit guilty, but not enough to do the same thing. Now,however, I felt that I had to leave the cabin to at least checkwith Vellocatus, who was presumably standing almost directly aboveus trying to keep the ship under control. I had no idea how I wasgoing to do that when the deck under my feet was so unsteady, butafter a few heartbeats, I thought I had gotten a sense of therhythm to the movement.
“I’m going out on deck!”
Even as I heard the words and recognized myown voice, there was a part of my mind screaming at me to remaininside, arguing that Vellocatus had made it clear he was in commandand there was nothing I could offer in a situation like this.Nevertheless, I felt myself staggering towards the door, but
