We’ve got ourselves into a right nasty situation here,’ Macro mused, when Cato had finished telling him about the patrol through the local villages. Parmenion had taken hostages from every one of them, including Heshaba, and now forty men were languishing in a store shed, fed and watered, but forced to stay inside. In the days that followed the incident at Beth Mashon Parmenion had made no mention of the fate of Canthus and curtly rebuffed any attempt by Cato to raise the matter.The death of their comrade had soured the rest of the men and their grim mood was reflected in their treatment of the other villagers they encountered, with the result that, far from subduing the locals, Scrofa’s measures had made them hate Rome even more. Cato had little doubt that the ranks of Bannus’ band of brigands would be swelled in coming days by young men from the villages visited by Parmenion.

Cato had stripped down to his loincloth and was busy washing the dust and grime from his skin. He was as sombre as Macro had ever seen him. Macro leaned back on his bed and gazed at the ceiling. ‘I don’t see how we can do any good here, Cato. Scrofa’s got most of the officers involved in his protection scam; the rest of ‘em are trying not to notice and losing heart. The men are pissed off that they aren’t getting a share of the spoils, and now it seems that Scrofa is pushing the locals towards open revolt. If that happens then the Second Illyrian is going to land right in the shit, at least while Scrofa is in command, which won’t be for much longer, I hope. We should hear from the procurator any day now, confirming my appointment.’

‘Assuming the message got through to Caesarea,’ Cato said quietly.

‘What do you mean?’

‘If the officer tasked with carrying the message was one of those on the take, I suspect he would be in no hurry to see Scrofa replaced. It would be an easy thing to do to lose the message.’

‘He wouldn’t dare.’

‘We’ll see. And what if the message was lost in an ambush? Or what if the message got through to the procurator, but the orders were lost on the return journey?’

Macro propped himself up on one elbow and stared at Cato. ‘Cheery little devil, aren’t you?’

‘Just pointing out the possibilities.’ Cato shrugged, and dabbed at his skin with a woollen cloth. ‘Besides, you’ve hardly mentioned half our problems.’

‘Do, please, enlighten me. I could do with some light relief.’