The loom of the fire spread across a wide area and Cato realised that in skirting it he might well be seen by one of the men in the screen he had just passed through. Directly beyond the fire was the gate, barely a few hundred paces distant. With a last glance round to make sure he had not yet been seen, Cato rose up from the grass and started to run forward, picking up speed as he approached the fire. Then the first of the sleeping Durotrigans was at his feet. Cato leaped over him, and the next one, and sprinted straight for the man standing in front of the fire. The warrior glanced over his shoulder, his eyes instantly widening as he caught sight of the savage expression on the face of the Roman hurtling towards him. He fumbled for the shaft of his spear, but it was too late. Cato slammed into the man’s back and thrust the enemy warrior, sprawling, right on top of the fire. As Cato rolled to one side, back on to his feet, and sprinted for the gate, a terrible shrieking from the warrior split the night. At once the men sleeping on the ground stirred and ran to help their comrade. Cato did not look back, but ran as fast as he could for the gate. Behind him there was a shout as he was seen, and more shouts as the alarm spread.

Cato had a good start, but already he was aware of dark shapes on either side, angling in towards him as they converged on the entrance to Calleva. Cato could see faces on the wall turning towards him. Someone drew an arrow to his bow and loosed a quick shot at the approaching figure. Cato sidestepped and there was a whirr close by in the darkness as he ran on.

‘Don’t shoot!’ he cried out in Latin, before he remembered the most recent password. ‘Boiled asparagus! Boiled asparagus! Don’t shoot!’

Another arrow whipped close by, this time from behind, and Cato flinched as he forced every last effort out of his tired legs.

‘Open the gate!’ he shouted, as he raced up to the defence ditch surrounding the town.

‘It’s the centurion!’ a voice shouted from the ramparts. ‘Get the fucking gate open!’

Cato ran up to the thick timbers and desperately struck his sword against the unyielding wood.

‘Open up! Open up!’ he screamed.