distance, so we should be able to attack at the same time. We'll take the ships, get rid of the incendiary materials and then I'll give the signal for the main attack to begin. The legionary detachment will take the redoubt and roll up the flank. The auxiliary units will defend the camp and block any attempt to escape. Meanwhile,' Cato turned to Balbus, 'your squadron will round the point outside the bay and enter as swiftly as possible, making for the end of the bay, where you will land your marines and support the legionaries.'
'Sir, this is madness,' Balbus protested. 'You're proposing that your men swim nearly two miles, while carrying arms, and then board these ships and overwhelm the crews. What if the rebels have numbers aboard each vessel? If Ajax is depending on the grain fleet to make a deal with Rome, then he's sure to have them well defended.'
'I've been watching the ships this morning,' said Cato. 'I only saw a handful of men on each one. If Ajax has prepared them with incendiary materials, then he'll only need a small party aboard each one to light the fire and wait until it takes hold before abandoning ship. If we can get ten good men aboard each ship at anchor and twice as many aboard those on the beach, then we can take them.
There're twenty vessels at anchor and twelve on the beach. So, one cohort should suffice for what I have in mind. They'll have to be good swimmers, and we'll use inflated waterskins as floats to help with the weight of the weapons. If we take our time and approach cautiously, we should be able to get close to the ships without being spotted, as there is no moon tonight. There will be two men with buccinas in each party. Once the anchored ships are taken, they will give the signal for the main attack to begin.' Cato looked round.
'Centurion Fulvius, you will command the land element of the attack. You will have to crush that redoubt and get down the beach before the rebels can get enough men out of the main camp to attempt to retake and destroy the grain ships.'
Fulvius nodded, and Cato glanced at the other officers. 'Any more questions?'
There were none, and he took a deep breath. 'Well then, gentlemen, I will have your orders sent to you this afternoon. Make sure your men are ready, and give them an early supper. It's going to be a long night. Centurion Fulvius, stay behind. The rest of you can leave. Balbus, you remain as well. That's it, dismissed.'
Once the officers had filed out of the tent, Cato rounded on Balbus. 'You have an important part to play tonight, Balbus. If the navy screws up, then we may well lose the battle. If that happens, then you can be sure that the emperor will show you as little mercy as he shows me when he receives the news. Do you understand?'
'Yes, sir. I will do my duty.'
'Good.' Cato reached for a waxed tablet and handed it to the navarch. 'Your orders. Including the signal to be given for your attack. Just make sure your ships are in position in good time. Now, you have a tough ride to get back to your ships, and I suggest you get going. That is, as soon as I have my clerk prepare a document noting your objection to my plan and confirming that I ordered you to take your part in the attack. You can wait outside.'
Balbus frowned, and thought a moment, his face eloquent testimony to the struggle that was going on in his mind. Then he sighed and shook his head. 'That won't be necessary, sir. As you pointed out, it's a long ride and I'd better waste no time in returning to my ships.'
'Then you should go. Good luck.'
The navarch smiled. 'It is you will need the luck tonight, sir. The gods protect you.'
He bowed his head, then turned stiffly and marched out of the tent.
'Sailors.' Centurion Fulvius nodded.' Who needs 'em?'
'You won't be saying that when he comes to your support tonight.'
Fulvius looked offended. 'I aim to be through the rebel camp and nailing Ajax up by his balls before the first marine sets foot ashore.'
'Would that it were so easy' Cato laughed for a moment. 'There is one last element of the plan still to arrange. Once I have secured the ships at anchor, I am going to need three of your best men. They must be volunteers, mark you. I'll not order any man to come with me.'
Fulvius stared at him. 'You're going after the hostages, aren't you, sir?'
'Yes. I have no choice. I will not leave my friends to the mercy of that gladiator.'
'I understand, but you must know that you have very little chance of rescuing them.'
'Long odds,' Cato agreed. 'But I've faced long odds before and seen the dawn of another day'
'No man's luck lasts for ever, sir.'
'Really? I shall have to put that proposition to the test, Centurion.
Or die in the attempt. Come now, we have plenty of work to do before night comes.'
'Good news, Centurion!' Ajax smiled as he squatted down at the end of the cage nearest Macro. It was late in the afternoon and the heat had finally gone from the sun. It had been some hours since Macro and Julia had been given their midday ration of food and water and their lips were parched. The gladiator had brought a water bottle with him and took a long swig before lowering it and smacking his hps with exaggerated satisfaction. 'Ah, I needed that! It's been a long, hot day, but I think we're ready for your friends if they try to spring an attack on our camp.'
'You mentioned news,' said Macro. 'Just tell us and go.'
'All right then. You'll never guess who I ran into when I went to discuss my demands up at the Roman camp?'
Macro turned his head to see Ajax. He knew it must be Cato, yet he would not give the gladiator the satisfaction of responding to his question. 'What do I care?'
'Oh!' Ajax feigned disappointment.' No need to be such a grump, Macro. After all, I bring you news of your friend, Centurion Cato.
Or Tribune Cato as he is now. Quite the coming man, it would seem.'
'Cato?'Julia raised her head.
'That's right,' said Ajax. 'I've set him something of a difficult problem to resolve before tomorrow morning.'
Julia frowned. 'What do you mean?'
'It's simple.' Ajax looked at them both before he continued. 'I've decided to have one of you killed at dawn, and I've tasked your friend Cato with choosing which of you it will be.'
Macro lashed out with one of his feet, kicking the bar in front of the gladiator's face. The cage rattled under the impact but Ajax did not flinch for an instant.
'You bastard!' Macro shouted in a cracked voice.
'Come now, Centurion, you knew that I would have you killed in the end. This way there is a chance you might live a little longer. If Cato chooses you. If not, then you'll know where his affections truly lie before you finally beg me to put an end to your life. Either way, I get to increase his suffering. I imagine that neither the good tribune, nor you or the lady here is going to have much sleep tonight, eh?'
Macro shut his eyes, fighting back the black rage that burned in every muscle of his body. He clenched his fists tightly. The urge to bellow at Ajax was almost irresistible, and yet he knew that it would only provoke laughter and fresh torment, so he kept his lips clamped together and tried to clear his mind of all thought.
'It will be a shame to lose one of you. Particularly you, Julia Sempronia. You were quite a beauty before I had you put in here.' He leered at her, and Julia clutched her covering more tightly about her body. 'Such beauty should not be wasted. I think I shall give you one last chance to enjoy the comfort of being clean, to have fresh clothes and to share the company of a man, before we find out what Cato has in store for you tomorrow morning.'
Julia stared at him, terrified as she spoke tremulously. 'What do you want with me?'
'Only to use you, as slave women are used by their Roman masters.' Ajax winked. 'It might be something of an education for you. We shall see.' He paused to sniff the air and made a disgusted face. 'However, it will take some hours to make you presentable.
I'll have to give orders for you to be cleaned up at once, if there is going to be time to enjoy you tonight without having to pinch my nose.'
Ajax rose to his feet, clicked his tongue and pointed at Macro.
'You might want to try to get to sleep as soon as you can, Macro.
Wouldn't want me and the lady here keeping you awake with the noise of our merry making tonight.'
This time Macro could not contain his anger. He let out an animal groan, then opened his eyes and stared at Ajax as he growled through clenched teeth,'I swear to all the gods, if I get out of here, I will tear out your tongue and your eyes and rip you apart with my bare hands.'
