'No.' Cato held his arm. 'Leave him. Let's go on.'
The pens were only a short distance ahead of them, and Cato weaved cautiously through the remaining shelters until they reached the rear of the structures. Beyond them the ground was open all the way to where the group of men were gathered in front of what Cato assumed to be the gladiator's personal tent. They were watching the destruction of their comrades down in the camp, and talking in anxious tones, though Cato could not catch the sense of what they were saying. The walls of the pens stood as tall as his shoulders, and he knew that if he stood up to peer over the walls to look for Macro and Julia he was almost sure to be seen.
He rose up as high as he dared and called out softly, 'Julia?…
Macro?'
There was no reply. He called again, a little louder this time. Still there was no reply.
'They're not in there,' Atticus muttered.
'No.'
'So what do we do?'
'Keep looking,' Cato said firmly, and edged along behind the pens until he reached a gap where he could crawl forwards and look round from the safety of the shadows. He saw it almost at once — a cage a short distance from the largest tent and away from the other shelters. It was on the highest point of the camp, exposed to the elements. Cato edged back as yet more rebels fled past. The Romans flattened themselves to the ground and lay still. Once the rebels had gone, Cato turned to the others.
'I know where they are: Macro and Julia.' He told Atticus and the others about the cage.
'Did you actually see them?' the optio asked.
Cato shook his head. 'Too dark. But where else could they be?'
'I'm beginning to think they could be anywhere. Pretty soon this place is going to be overrun with slaves fleeing up from the main camp. We'd best find the hostages as soon as we can, sir.'
'Then let's move.' Cato gestured with his hand and rose into a crouch, making his way back a short distance from the pens and in amongst a cluster of the shelters. He paused to let the others catch up, then the small party continued through the last of the huts and along the slope, out of sight of the tents. To their right the sea was a dark mass, and the sound of the waves breaking on the rocks below came clearly to their ears. When Cato judged that they were parallel to the cage, he led them back up the slope, cautiously picking his way through the stunted bushes and rocks. Some one shouted a warning, then there were more raised voices, and Cato paused for a moment until he realised they could not have been seen. A few more steps and then the ground evened out and they could see the cage, twenty paces away. Beyond that there was a patch of open ground and the side of the tent with the men forming a screen before it as they fended off a stream of rebels rushing past. For the moment none of them were watching the cage. Cato squinted and saw the dark shape of a bulky figure within, slumped against the bars. Hope made his heart beat faster, then he felt a chill of fear as he realised that there was only one person in the cage, unquestionably male.
'Macro?' he called out.
The figure stirred, then replied gruffly, 'Who's that?'
Cato released a sharp breath of relief. 'It's Cato.'
'Cato?' Macro's voice was strained. 'By all the gods, let it be true.'
'Just a moment.' Cato turned to Atticus. 'You come with me.
Musa, Vulso, you keep watch. Let me know if anyone comes.'
Cato kept low as he scuttled across the open ground, closely followed by Atticus. They kept a watchful eye on the rebels, but no one looked in their direction. As he reached the cage, Cato's nose wrinkled at the stench of human waste. He dropped down beside the bars, opposite Macro.
'It really is you.' Macro's voice rasped.' Thought I was going mad.
Get me out of here.'
'Where's Julia?'
'In the tent. Ajax sent for her. Had her cleaned up first.'
Cato felt the blood go cold in his veins. 'Did he…?'
'How the hell do I know?' Macro shook his head. 'Get me out of here and we'll go and rescue her.'
Cato examined the do or to the cage.' Damn, it's locked.'
'Of course it's fucking locked,' Macro hissed.' Why else would I still be in here?'
Atticus chuckled.' Nice change to see
'Who's that with you?' asked Macro.' Not that twat Atticus?'
'The same.' Atticus grinned.
'Bloody great,' Macro muttered. He fixed his gaze on his friend.
'Cato… thanks.'
'You didn't think I'd leave you to die?'
Macro was silent for a moment before he replied. 'There were times when I gave up hope.'
'Thanks for the vote of confidence.'
Macro chuckled drily.
Cato grasped the bars of the cage door and gritted his teeth as he strained to prise them open. He gave up with a bitter grunt. 'We need the key. Who has it?'
'One of the guards, over there.' Macro pointed him out. 'If I can get him to come over here, can you two handle him?'
'We'll have to.' Cato crouched down behind Macro, and indicated to Atticus to lie flat.
Macro grasped the bars of the cage, drew a deep breath and bellowed, 'Guard! Guard! Over here!' He paused a moment and repeated his cry, shaking the bars more violently. One of the men by the tent turned in his direction and then spoke to the rebel who had been tasked with watching Macro and Julia since their capture. He picked up his spear and wearily approached the cage.
'Keep it down, Roman!'
'Fuck you!' Macro shouted back and shook the bars again. 'Fuck that old hag of a mother of yours!'
The guard paused and then growled with anger as he ran towards the cage and lowered the tip of his spear.
'Shit…' Macro just had time to mutter, before the spearhead rattled through the bars, and he dodged to one side to avoid it.
Instantly he snatched at the spear shaft and thrust it to one side. The other end swivelled sharply, and caught the guard off balance so he tumbled over and crashed into the side of the cage. Macro released the shaft and thrust his arms through the cage, grasping the guard round the neck and hauling him up against the bars as he flailed at Macro's brawny forearms.
'Get him!' Macro grunted. 'Before he works loose.'
Atticus was up first, scrambling round the end of the cage and dropping heavily on the guard, driving the breath from his body as Macro tightened his grip, choking the rebel. He struggled violently for a moment and then went limp. There was a shout from the direction of Ajax's tent, and Cato saw that the other rebels were looking across the open ground. As soon as they realised what was happening, they snatched up their weapons and began to sprint towards the cage.
'Get the key!' Macro shouted at Atticus.
Cato glanced back towards Musa and Vulso and beckoned frantically ' On me!'
Atticus snatched away the thong around the guard's neck, grasped the key and fitted it to the lock as the rebels ran towards them. As soon as the lock clicked, Macro burst the do or open and grabbed the guard's spear. Rising up into a crouch, he swung the point round toward the rebels as Atticus and Cato drew their swords. With an animal roar Macro charged forward.
'Bloody hell, there he goes again,' Cato muttered under his breath as he hurried after his friend, moving to the right as Atticus went to the left. The fury on Macro's face must have been evident even in the wan glow of the fire burning in front of Ajax's tent, for the rebels hesitated and regarded him fearfully as they readied their weapons.
There were seven of them, eight counting the old woman, who had picked up a hatchet and screamed in rage as she hurried after the others.
Cato glanced up and saw the rebels lowering their spears as the gap between the two groups of men closed.
