Centurion

'What now?' Cato muttered.

'You do as I say, master. Remember?'

Cato nodded.

'Follow my lead and do not speak. When we reach the gate I will say who I am. It is likely that I will be recognised in any case. I will tell them that you are another slave who escaped from Prince Balthus' retinue with me. I will tell them that the camp of my master is a short distance away to the east. I will say that I will tell them precisely where it is only when I am given a reward for the information I have for Prince Artaxes.They will admit us, and escort us through the gate to find the prince. Once inside we will be in the slum quarter of the city.The streets are narrow and winding. When I tell you, we run and you follow me. We will easily outstrip them and lose them in the streets, but you must not lose sight of me, master, or you'll get lost, and be sure to fall into their hands.'

'That's your plan?' Cato whispered furiously. 'What if it doesn't work?'

'Have you got a better idea, master?' Carpex responded testily.

Cato nodded vigorously. 'We should get the fuck out of here and think of a proper plan.' But it was already too late. There was no time to do anything else. 'What if they send for someone instead of escorting us into the city? What then?'

'Then?' Carpex looked surprised. 'Then we are sure to be discovered for what we are, master, and we'll be executed.'

Cato shook his head in wonder at the desperate nature of his companion's ruse, and despair that there was no way out of it now.They were close enough to the men guarding the gates to be seen in the loom of their torches, and to turn round would provoke their instant suspicion. Cato swallowed nervously and hoped that his headpiece would hide his Roman features in the darkness.

Carpex quickened his pace and, with a nervous glance over his shoulder, hurried up to the east gate, with Cato close behind him.

They were instantly seen by some of the guards, who lowered their spears and pointed the tips at the two figures coming towards them. A harsh shout split the darkness and the remaining guards scrambled to their feet, weapons at the ready as Carpex and Cato stopped a short distance away. One of the rebels came forward, shouting at them. Carpex raised his hands and dropped to his knees and began speaking in a frightened rush. Cato knelt down behind him, head lowered, adopting what he hoped was an obeisant slave posture. The exchange between Carpex and the guard continued for a little longer, and the tone of the other man's voice changed from hostile to surprised and then excited as he beckoned to Carpex to stand up and follow him. Cato scrambled to his feet and stayed as close to the slave as possible as they were led past the other men and through the gateway.

Inside, by the light of more torches, he could see an ancient street, edged with refuse, leading away between grimy buildings. After several days in the desert the close, fetid smell of the city hit his nostrils like a blow and he instinctively wrinkled his nose. The officer in charge of the gate lit a small torch and led them up the street at a fast pace. Carpex and Cato followed, and then came two more men, carrying spears, and wearing scale armour and helmets. The trick of it, Cato knew, was to make their break fast enough to get out of range of a spear thrust, or even a throw, if the guards were sufficiently alert to chance such a thing after their fleeing prisoners. The street bent round a public well, and then began to climb gently at an angle to where Cato assumed the citadel must be. All the time he watched Carpex closely, muscles tensed and ready to flee. Twenty paces on a narrow alley opened up to their left and Carpex edged slightly towards that side of the street as they approached. As they drew level, Carpex stumbled on to his hands and knees with a cry of pain. The leader turned, frowned, and called back to his men as he continued up the street. One of the guards strode past the slave and halted a few paces further on to watch Cato. The other guard reached down and roughly pulled Carpex to his feet.

Carpex came up fast, hurling a handful of gravel and filth into the face of the guard. The man instinctively flinched back with a surprised gasp.

'Run!' Carpex shouted in Greek and leaped for the entrance to the alley as Cato sprinted after him. The moment they left the light cast by the officer's torch they were plunged into darkness. The alley was narrow, scarcely wide enough for two men to walk down it abreast, and the intensity of the smell of rotten food, shit and sweat was overpowering as Cato and Carpex stumbled and slithered past dark doorways and shuttered windows. Behind them the officer shouted orders to his men and then there was a glimmer of light behind the two fugitives as the guards thrust their way into the alley.

'Move!' Carpex dragged Cato behind him as they ran on. Glancing back over his shoulder Cato saw the officer leading the pursuit, torch held high and flaring brightly in the confined space, casting a red hue over the guards and the squalid surroundings.The officer shouted and thrust an arm towards the two fugitives.

'Stay close!' Carpex hissed, and they scrambled on, keeping to the middle of the alley in a bid to stay clear of any obstacles leaning against the walls close by on either side. Behind them Cato could hear the clatter and thud of the guards' boots as they tried to run down their prey. Carpex slithered and lost his balance, nearly fell, but managed to keep going as Cato almost ran into the back of him.

'They're gaining!' Cato said through gritted teeth. 'We have to do something.'

'Just keep ru

But Cato was already sure the attempt to stay ahead of the enemy was bound to fail.There were too many obstacles in the street. Sooner or later they would fall headlong and be caught. Ahead he could just make out a change in the shadows as the alley bent sharply to the left. As Carpex scrambled round the corner Cato knew that he must act, or they were doomed, and the men of both cohorts along with them. He grasped Carpex's arm. 'Wait there!' He pointed to the middle of the alley, a few paces on from the corner. Then, snatching his robes aside, Cato drew his sword and flattened himself into the nearest doorway. His heart was pounding so loudly in his ears that it was difficult to clearly make out the approaching footsteps. He knew there would be only one chance to turn on his pursuers. Cato must strike hard and fast, just as Macro would in the same situation. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs, as the flickering red glow of the torch flared on the walls in the angle of the corner.

Then the gloom of the alley was brilliantly illuminated as the torch burst round the end of the wall Cato was pressed into.The officer caught sight of Carpex at once and shouted with triumph as he ran towards the slave. The first of his men appeared a moment later, just as their officer passed Cato. With as loud a roar as he could manage Cato sprang out, sword held high, tip pointed towards the face of the guard.There was no pause as he slammed his sword arm out, taking the man in the cheek just below his left eye.The blade cut through flesh and muscle before shattering the bone beneath and driving deep into the skull. Instantly Cato withdrew the sword with a savage wrench and swirled round in one movement, still roaring at the top of his voice. The rebel officer had half turned, his face a mask of surprise and fear in the red glow of the torch. Then the edge of Cato's sword cut into his neck, between the mail shirt and the rim of his helmet. The blow had been directed with all the strength at Cato's command and it carved diagonally through the neck and split the collarbone before it hit the officer's spine, and stopped. His legs gave out and he slumped to his knees with a puzzled expression, just before he died.