The Eagle In the Sand

'So if Ba

'Ba

'All others?' Cato smiled. 'Even Gentiles?'

'Not yet,' Miriam admitted. 'But there are those amongst us who wish to broaden our movement, spread our beliefs amongst other peoples. It is the only way to guarantee that my son's legacy does not eventually follow him into the grave.' She paused, and gently stroked her hand along the casket.'But for now, this village is virtually all we have. As you said, it is no earthly paradise, but at least we are free of the ideas that turn people against each other. That is a paradise of sorts, Cato. Or at least it was, until you turned up with Symeon.'

Cato looked away, back towards the village where he could just make out the blackened corner posts of Miriam's house.

'Tell me about Symeon. How is it that you know him as well?'

'Symeon?' Miriam smiled. 'He was another of my son's friends. A very close friend. I suppose that's why there's no love lost between Ba

'Did Ba

'I fear so. I'm sure that's part of the reason for his bitterness.'

'What happened to Symeon after your son's death?'

'He tried to keep the movement going in Jerusalem for a while. But the priests hired men to hunt him down. They killed his wife and sons and Symeon fled the city and disappeared. For a long time. Then he appeared here a few years ago. Since then he has spent his time travelling across the region. He keeps in touch with my son's followers whenever he can, though I don't see much of him out here. Not as much as I'd like. He's a good man. Heart's in the right place, and one day he'll settle down and commit himself to something.' Miriam smiled. 'At least I hope he will.'

'I can trust him, then.' It was meant as a question, and Cato was relieved when Miriam nodded.

'You can trust him.'

'Good. That's what I need to know. That, and the location of Ba

Miriam looked sharply at him. 'I don't know where his lair is, Centurion. And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you. Just because I saved you doesn't mean that I am on your side. I would no sooner betray Ba

'I'd like to,' Cato said quietly. 'You've endured more than enough hardship already. The thing is, I'm not sure whether you can stay out of it. At some point you may have to choose a side, if only to save yourselves. And that time may come sooner than you think. If I were you, I would reflect on that.'

'Don't you think I haven't already?' Miriam said wearily.'I think about it every day, and always I ask myself what Jehoshua would have done…'

'And?'

'I'm not sure. He would say we should not take part in this fight. That we should argue for peace. But what if no one listens? At times I think that Symeon is right.'

'And what does he say?'

'That sometimes people ca

'Fight for peace?' Cato smiled. 'I'm not quite sure I understand how that works.'

'Nor do I.' Miriam laughed. 'You men aren't exactly the most coherent thinkers when you start spouting your philosophies. Anyway, Symeon told me that it would make sense when the time came.'

Cato shrugged. It all sounded like the usual mystical nonsense that arose whenever politics and religion intermixed. One thing was certain. Ba

Cato stood up. 'I have to go. I have to catch up with the patrol before dark. I just wanted to apologise for what happened. Centurion Macro will be taking over command of the Second Illyrian very shortly. He will make sure that your people are treated fairly from now on.You have my word on it.'

'Thank you, Cato. But what happens until then?'

'Prefect Scrofa is still in charge.'

'So the violence will continue against the villages in the area?'

Cato shrugged helplessly. 'As long as he is in command he can do as he wishes. All I can do is try to soften the blow.'

'Why can't your centurion take over from Scrofa right now?'

'He can't.' Cato's hand went to the bulge of the thin scroll case beneath his tunic. 'Not without the proper authorisation. We're waiting for it to arrive.'

'Then you had better pray that it arrives quickly, Centurion Cato. Before Ba

07 The Eagle In the Sand

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

We can't just stand here and watch,' Macro said angrily.

'Why not?' Centurion Postumus replied. 'We offered them our protection and they turned us down. Perhaps next time they'll think twice before they spurn my offer.'

'Next time?' Macro's eyes widened in surprise. 'There isn't going to be a next time. They're being slaughtered over there.' He gestured down the track to where the raiders from the desert had charged in amongst the caravan's small force of armed escorts. The latter were hopelessly outnumbered and it was clear that they were being cut to pieces. Beyond them the camel herders were streaming away from their charges, abandoning them, and their precious cargo, to the raiders. The merchants in charge of the caravan had wheeled their camels round and were now riding them back up the track towards the Roman cavalry patrol as fast as they could go. Postumus watched them with an amused expression.

'I can't wait to see their faces when I tell them the price has doubled.'

Macro turned to him. 'What did you say?'

'It's at this stage that we double the price for escorting them the rest of the way. Oh, don't worry, they'll agree to pay it without any argument.'

'Then what?'

'Then we charge in. The raiders take what they have and run for it, and it's all over and another contract is in the bag. A few months of this, sir, and you'll be sitting on a small fortune.'

'And if the raiders decide to fight it out?'

'They won't. We have an unspoken understanding with them.'

'What?'

'Think about it, sir. It's important that the threat is real. So if they see us riding behind a caravan, they have come to know we'll let them carry out a quick attack. For our part, when we ride to the rescue, they know that we won't pursue them into the desert. Neither side loses any men and both sides get to profit. The only losers are the caravan cartels, and the next time they come this way, they'll pay up without any fuss.'