Centurion

Having searched the area close to the burned-out grain stores Macro was about to move on to the ruins of the courtyard which had served as the hospital when he heard a thin cry. He paused and turned, listening, as his eyes sca

'Sir, beg to report we've swept this area.The optio wishes to know if you have any further orders.'

Just then Macro heard the sound again, a faint yowl, like a hungry cat. He raised his finger to his lips. 'Quiet.'

Both men stood still, ears pricked as they slowly looked round. There was another cry, more pronounced this time, and Macro knew that it was no cat.

'Came from that way, sir.'The legionary pointed towards a blackened heap of burned grain baskets close to the remains of a wall. 'I'm sure of it.'

Macro nodded, beckoned to the man to follow him and then began to pick his way across the ruins towards the heap. The crying became continuous as they closed in and now Macro could hear a voice muttering anxiously. He stepped round the pile of burned baskets and saw that there was a narrow gap between it and the wall. A dark robe covered part of the gap and he saw it move slightly as the muttering grew in intensity.

'There!' said the legionary, and started to draw his sword.

'Leave it,' Macro ordered. 'There's no need.'

He brushed past the legionary and crunched over the charred remains of baskets that littered the ground around the pile. When he reached the robe Macro bent down, grasped a corner and pulled it away in one swift movement. There was a gasp as a young girl, no more than thirteen or fourteen, looked up from the crying infant cradled against her breast. Her mouth remained open, as if to scream, but she just swallowed and shook her head.

'Please! Please don't take us away.' She spoke in Greek and Macro noticed that her blue stola and her cloak were cut from good-quality material. Her dark hair was neatly braided and she wore a gold pendant round her neck. The baby had been hurriedly wrapped in a shawl and its tiny sickly face wrinkled as it bawled, and little clenched fists trembled in the cool air.

'He's hungry,' she explained. 'Starving. We both are. Please help us.'

Macro took the girl gently under the arms and lifted her on to her feet. 'Any more of you hiding round here?'

'No, I don't think so.' She clutched Macro's arm with her spare hand. 'Please let us stay.'

'Sorry, young lady. We have our orders.'

'I know, but you look like a good man.' She glanced at the legionary. 'Both of you do. Spare us. Let us stay.'

Macro shook his head. 'We're not going to harm you. Now just come with us.'

'If you mean no harm, then where are you taking everybody?'

Macro looked at her and replied flatly,'To the main gate.'

'The gate? Why?'

Macro felt pity for the girl and decided he would not deceive her. 'The king has ordered that all civilians are to leave the citadel.'

She stared at him as the implication of his words rushed into her mind. 'No… But that's murder. Plain murder.'

'Those are my orders, young lady. Now, come with us.' He took her arm firmly. 'Don't give us any trouble, eh?'

She tried to pull away but there was no resisting Macro's powerful grip. She bit her lip and then tried another tack, the words tumbling from her thin lips. 'I can cook for you. Look after your kit… Keep you warm at night. Just spare me and my brother. I swear you won't regret it.'

Macro felt a stab of guilt at her suggestion and a sense of world-weariness at the lengths that despair drove people to. The legionary had been listening to the exchange and glanced at Macro.

'What about it, sir? Can I have her before she has to go with the others?'

'What?' Macro frowned as he turned to the man.

'She's a nice piece of cu

'Shut your mouth,' Macro growled. 'Get out of my fucking sight and search the next courtyard.'

'Yes, sir.' The legionary snapped to attention, saluted and then turned and trotted away. Macro glared after him, knowing full well that the man would assume that his commander had decided to save the girl for himself. Another officer might have taken advantage of the situation, Macro realised, but he felt heartily sickened by his orders, even though he had no choice in the matter. The civilians would die to permit the king and his followers to hold the citadel for a little longer. It was hard, but it made sense, Macro told himself. He looked at the girl and the infant again and suddenly he was not so sure.

'What's your name?'

'Jesmiah,' she replied quickly, sensing a change in his mood. 'My brother's name is Ayshel.'

'Where is your family, Jesmiah?'

'I don't know, sir. We got separated from them when everyone was trying to reach the citadel. Ayshel and I were some of the last to make it inside before the gates were shut.'

'How have you managed to survive since then?'

'We had rations like the others. I gave most of mine to Ayshel, but he's still hungry.'

Macro looked at her and noticed how thin her face was and he guessed that beneath the folds of her stola she was skin and bones. 'Maybe you'll find your family in the city.'

She looked at him in alarm.'But you can't throw me out. They will kill me. They'll kill little Ayshel.'

Macro hardened his heart. 'Come on, young lady, let's go.'

He steered her by the arm out of the ruins of the grain store and towards the gate. Jesmiah began to cry and begged him to let her stay behind. In her desperation she promised every kind of sexual favour that her young mind could imagine but Macro continued striding towards the gate with stony resolve. At the sound of the gathered crowd, Jesmiah fell silent.When they turned the corner and saw the civilians packed together behind a screen of heavily armed legionaries, Jesmiah's legs collapsed and she fell, clutching her brother to her chest.

'I won't go! I won't! I don't want to die. I won't go!'

'Yes you will,' Macro said firmly. 'Get up. Now!'

'No… please. I beg you.'

'On your feet!' Macro pulled her up and held her still.

The girl's eyes darted towards her little brother, and then back at Macro. 'If I have to go, at least take my brother and see that he lives.'

'I can't.'

'Please!'

'No. How could I look after a baby? He is your brother. He must stay with you. Let's go.'

Macro swept her off the ground and into his arms and strode towards the gates. Jesmiah fell silent, closed her eyes and began muttering what sounded like a prayer. Macro glanced at her once and then kept his gaze fixed straight ahead. He shouldered his way through the line of legionaries and set her down roughly, then took a quick step away from her and pointed at the crowd.'There you are. Go and join your people.'

She took one last look at him, eyes filled with withering contempt, and then, cradling her brother's small head against her shoulder, she walked slowly through the wailing crowd until she stood directly in front of the closed gates.To be the first one cast out.The first one to be butchered by the rebels. She turned and stared accusingly at Macro. He watched as one of the legionaries on the gate approached her, reached out and wrenched the gold pendant from her neck, and tucked it into his purse before resuming his post. For a moment Macro thought about reprimanding the man, but then what was the point? If the legionary didn't take the pendant it would only be seized from her body by a rebel. The same rebel who might take it from the corpse of the legionary in a few more days' time. Macro shook his head wearily and stood aside as the last of the search parties bundled their discoveries through the line of soldiers.