The Eagles Prophecy

Then a small detail at the periphery of his vision stirred him back into full consciousness of his situation. Far below, on the blue sheen of the sea, five vessels were crawling across the sea half a mile off the rocky shore at the base of the mountain. They must have been visible for some time Cato realised, angry with himself for not spotting them sooner. Five galleys, he realised as he made out the twin lines of splashes that punctuated their progress. He watched them keenly as they turned towards the long inlet and headed straight at the far mountain and the pirate base beyond. As they drew closer he strained his eyes and saw that the two vessels at the head and tail of the small convoy were liburnians. In between them were three biremes. Cato frowned. What could this mean? Where was the Rave

Just then, as the lead liburnian emerged from the shadows into the sunlit expanse of ocean there was a dazzling flash from its fore deck. As Cato turned to look at the vessel directly the flash came again. Then another. There was a brief pause before there were three more flashes. A signal, Cato realised. The pirates were flashing a signal to the lookout station. He was seized by panic as it dawned on him that they were expecting a reply, or for the signal to be relayed. Cato stood up, trying to think. Then he turned and ran back to the shelter, shouting at the top of his voice.

'Secundus! Secundus! Get out here, man! Hurry!'

A moment later the leather curtain was wrenched aside and Secundus tumbled out of the shelter, rubbing his eyes. As soon as he saw the tense expression in the face of the centurion rushing towards him he straightened up. 'What's up? What's happening?'

'Pirate ships approaching the bay!' Cato pointed to the cliff edge.'They're signalling us. You have to help me. Come quick!'

He beckoned and turned back to the signal station. When Secundus had caught up with him, breathing hoarsely, Cato saw that the ship was still flashing its signal. He turned to the imperial agent. 'Come on, you've been with them for long enough to know the drill! What does the signal mean?'

Secundus frowned.

'Quickly man. There must be some kind of recognition signal. Something they used to show that they were friends and all was well… Tell me! We have to make the pirates in the bay think they are safe for as long as possible. Someone's going to see those ships any moment. Unless we relay the right signal they're going to know something's wrong up here and raise the alarm. Come on, tell me. What should I do?'

'I'm thinking.' Secundus shut his eyes and thought back to his time down in the pirate base. 'Yes! Yes, I remember. The black pe

Cato looked at him. 'Black? Are you certain? Not the heliograph?'

'No – that was for communicating with the citadel. They used flags for signalling to approaching ships. They flew the black pe

Cato snatched up the bundle of dark linen from the locker and fixed the toggles to the loops of twine on the mast halyard. As soon as the pe

Cato turned to Secundus. 'I hope you're right.'

Secundus swallowed nervously.'We'll know soon enough. One way or another.'

06 The Eagles Prophecy

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

'What's that?' Macro pointed up at the mountain. Beside him, on the foredeck of the liburnian, one of the seamen shaded his eyes and squinted for an instant before he replied.

'A pe

'What colour?' Macro snapped. 'Quickly, man!'

'I… I can't quite make it out, sir. Seems dark. Might be blue… or black.'

Macro turned round and cupped a hand to his mouth. 'Get the prisoner up here!'

As the word was passed for Ajax to be brought up on to the deck, Decimus came forward and joined Macro. None of the men on deck wore the uniform or carried the equipment of the imperial navy. Instead they were kitted out from the clothes and weapons taken from the two captured liburnians. Decimus sported a fine silk turban and bright yellow tunic. Macro, true to his nature, had gone for a dour brown cloak and leather breeches, and he shook his head at the extravagant costume of the ship's trierarch as Decimus climbed up on to the small foredeck. Both men stared up at the tiny shadow flickering against the light of the sun rising behind the mountain.

'He saw our signal then,' said Decimus.

'Someone did,' Macro replied quietly. 'There's no way of knowing if it's Cato up there or someone else.'

'What do you think?'

Macro scratched his stubbly chin. 'I'm not sure. If it's Cato, then how could he know the correct response? He might have had to run for it after all. That means the lookout post is back in their hands.'

There was a commotion behind them and the two officers turned to see Ajax being unceremoniously bundled out of the hatch on to the deck. Two marines wrenched him on to his feet and dragged him forward. Below the coaming of the hatch Macro could see the glint of armour from the marines packed below decks and out of sight. As the deck of the liburnian pitched up on the crest of a wave and then swooped down the far side Macro realised how uncomfortable it must be for the marines. But there was nothing he could do about it. They must remain out of sight until the very last moment if the prefect's plan was going to succeed.

The marines pulled Ajax up in front of the two officers, pi

'Fuck you, Roman!' Ajax tried to spit in Macro's face, but his mouth was so dry with fear that he just made a sharp blowing sound.

'Nice ma

The young man's eyes flashed anxiously to the trierarch and Macro let him suffer a moment's anxiety before he shook his head.

'No. Leave him. He can catch up on his suffering a little later. Right now I need him in good condition.'

'Shame,' Decimus muttered as he turned back towards the inlet opening up in front of them, and stretching back into the mountains. They had memorised the location of the bay from Cato's map and Decimus sca

'Relax,' said Macro. 'We won't be able to see it for some time yet.'

He turned to the prisoner and pointed up towards the lookout station. 'See there? That pe

Ajax glanced up, staring hard. He swallowed nervously before he turned his eyes back to Macro, and smiled.'It's too late, Roman. That's the black pe

Macro did not reply. He did not react at all, but just stared at the young pirate and tried to decide if the man was telling him the truth. To one side he was aware that Decimus was shifting uneasily.

'He's right. It is black. Or as good as… Macro?'

'Quiet.'

'It's black. They're on to us.'

'So he says…'

'I'll give the order to turn about.'

It was at that moment that Macro saw the swiftest look of triumph and relief flash across the prisoner's face and he knew that Ajax was lying to him.

'Hold your course, Decimus.'

'But you heard him.'

'Hold your course. That's an order. He's lying. The signal must mean we've fooled them.'

Decimus opened his mouth to protest, but years of hard discipline bore fruit and he saluted instead. 'Hold our course, yes, sir…'