The Gladiator

'Then we must persuade them that Ajax is not to be trusted.'

Why ask them in the first place? Just tell them we ain't giving in, and we'll fight the rebels until the last man, or until Cato returns with reinforcements.'

'We have to keep them on our side even though I doubt that the idea of fighting to the last man is going to win much support. We'll have to play up the idea of the city being relieved.' Sempronius yawned and ran a hand through his grey-streaked hair. 'Either way, we must assemble the council and explain the situation. I'll have them brought here within the hour. I want you with me.'

Macro's shoulders slumped for an instant. 'It'd be better if I remained on the wall, sir. In case the enemy try anything on.'

'No. You'll be here. That's an order. If this city can be defended, then they'll need to hear that from a professional soldier. We have to talk them out of considering surrender, so you'd better be persuasive, Macro. The last thing we need is a divided city at our back when we face the rebels.'

The city's councillors entered the office with anxious expressions and took their places on the benches that Sempronius had ordered for them. He had considered making them stand, but had decided that it would be better if he stood and they sat. It was an old technique for establishing authority that he had learned from his Greek tutor of rhetoric. As the last of thementered and settled on to the benches, Sempronius glanced at Macro sitting on a chair in the corner of the office. The centurion was leaning forwards, elbows on knees and fist supporting his chin as he stared down at the floor with a resigned air. Sempronius frowned briefly, then turned back to his audience, who were talking in muted tones.

'Thank you for coming, gentlemen...' He waited for them all to fall silent and focus their attention on him. 'As you are no doubt aware, the rebels have arrived to lay siege to Gortyna. Some of you will have heard that my senior military officer and I met their leader, Ajax the gladiator, at dusk. He gave us his demands, namely freedom, and free passage out of the empire for him and his followers.'

'Then why don't you agree to his terms?' One of the councillors, a fat merchant, leaned forward. 'Give him what he wants and get him away from us.'

Several of his companions nodded and muttered their agreement.

Sempronius fixed his gaze on the man. 'Polocrites, isn't it? Olive oil exporter.'

The man nodded, and folded his arms, as Macro muttered to himself, 'Like father like son. No stomach for a fight.'

'It isn't as simple as that, Polocrites. Even if I agree to his demands, Ajax wants to take hostages to ensure that we keep our side of the deal. To that end he wants us to surrender the city and hand ourselves over to him. It is his intention to keep his hostages until he has made good his escape from Roman territory'

As the import of his words sank in, another of the councillors spoke up. 'That's preposterous. He can't hope to take the entire city with him. How would he feed such a multitude? How could the rebels stop themescaping?'

'Ajax does not intend to take everyone hostage. Just the Romans...'

Polocrites nodded. 'That's fair.'

'And the richest families of Gortyna,' Sempronius continued.

Polocrites glared. 'That's an outrage! This gladiator's fight is between him and Rome. We have nothing to do with it.'

'Why don't you go and tell him that?' asked Sempronius.' Now be quiet and hear me out. Ajax wants high-value hostages. He hopes that the emperor will think twice before reneging on any deal I may make regarding freeing these slaves if it means putting our lives at risk. I have to tell you that I do not think for a moment that Claudius would permit a mass revolt of slaves to succeed. Indeed, I think he will do everything in his power to have Ajax and his followers tracked down and destroyed. If that means we are killed, then that's a price he will be prepared to pay' He paused, steeling himself to continue.' And there's worse news. It is my belief - my conviction - that if Gortyna is surrendered to the rebels, they will take their hostages and put the rest of the population to the sword.'

'How can you possibly know that?' Polocrites scoffed.

'It's quite simple. Some days ago the garrison and people of Matala surrendered to the rebels and now they are all dead.'

For a moment there was complete stillness and silence in the room, before one of the councillors asked, 'Dead? All dead? How do you know?'

'Ajax told us.' Sempronius indicated Macro.' He brought us the heads of the men of the Twelfth Hispania, and had their commander confirm the details before being murdered in front of our eyes. If you don't believe me then you can see for yourself at first light. Ajax left the heads in front of the main gate. He said he wanted to provide us, and those back in Rome, with proof of his ruthlessness. It's possible that he also needed to burn his bridges to make sure that his followers realised there was no going back. Not after they had massacred an entire town. For the slaves there is, from now on, only freedom or death.'

'If he has proved his point, then he does not need to kill our people,' said Polocrites.

'I disagree. After Matala, he is no longer restrained by fear of the consequences.' Sempronius recalled the wild rage and hatred he had seen in the gladiator's eyes, and his cruel pleasure at the death of Portillus. 'I'd go further. He has a taste for death and an insatiable thirst to get revenge on those who were his masters. It would be madness to trust him, and little short of suicide to place ourselves in his hands.'

'What are you suggesting we do then?' Polocrites opened his hands helplessly.

'We must defend Gortyna. We must not submit to his demands.'

'How can we defend Gortyna against that host?' Polocrites rounded on Macro. 'You're the soldier here. What chance have we got of holding the city?'

Macro looked up. 'About as much chance as surviving if the rebels take us hostage.'

The councillor's jaw slackened, then he turned to his companions.

'Did you hear? The situation is hopeless.'

'It's not hopeless,' Macro countered sharply. 'I didn't say that. It depends on a number of things. The enemy have more men, but they haven't got much good kit, and they're not trained soldiers. They don't have any siege equipment, and they're going to have to learn how to attack a city from scratch. On the other hand, given the length of the wall we have to defend, and the fact that sections of it are weak where we've had to rush the repairs, numbers may well win the day. However, if we can hold them off long enough for Cato to return with reinforcements, then the day is ours.'

'And how likely is it that your friend has succeeded in reaching Egypt?'

Macro had his doubts. There would have been dangers on the road to the fishing port, then Cato would have had to cross the sea to the African coast, where there might be pirates picking off lone merchant ships. Even if he reached Alexandria he would have to face the sea again on the return journey. Macro's breath escaped with a frustrated hiss.' Centurion Cato...' he paused and glanced at Sempronius, 'I mean Tribune Cato, is one of the most resourceful officers in the Roman army. If any man can get through to Alexandria and get us the men we need to end this rebellion, it is him.'

'I see. And how long do you think it will be before he can return with an army powerful enough to destroy the gladiator and his followers?'

'Hard to say' Macro pursed his lips. 'Another ten days at the earliest, but more likely to be nearer twenty.'

Polocrites stared at him for a moment before shaking his head with a chuckle. 'For some reason I am not encouraged by this news.'

He rose to his feet and turned to the other councillors. 'There is another way to save Gortyna. To save our people.'