‘You get used to it.’ Florianus waved his hand dismissively. ‘It happens all the time.They pick on their own more often than not, those people they accuse of collaborating with Rome. Usually a quick kill in the streets, but when their targets are hard to get at the sicarians are not above using suicide attacks.’

‘Shit,’ Macro muttered. ‘Suicide attacks. What kind of madness is that?’

Florianus shrugged. ‘You make a people desperate enough, and there’s no telling what horrors they are capable of. Give it a few months here, and you’ll see what I mean.’

‘I want to leave this province already.’

‘All in good time.’ Cato gave a thin smile. ‘This Bannus.You said he operates on the far side of the Jordan.’

‘That’s right.’

‘Near the fort at Bushir?’

‘Yes, so?’

‘That’s the fort where the Second Illyrian Cohort is stationed, under Prefect Scrofa.’

‘Yes. What of it?’

‘Our cover story is that we have been sent to relieve Scrofa. Macro is to take command of the cohort and I’ll act as his second in command.’

Florianus frowned. ‘Why? What possible use will that serve?’

‘I believe Prefect Scrofa was appointed directly on the orders of Longinus?’

‘That’s true. He was sent down from Antioch. But it’s not unusual. Sometimes a new commander is needed and there’s no time to refer the matter to Rome.’

‘What happened to the previous commander?’

‘He was killed. In an ambush, while he was leading a patrol in the hills. That’s what his adjutant said in the report.’

‘Quite.’ Cato smiled.’But the fact that his adjutant was named by the same man who told Narcissus about Longinus is more than a little intriguing, to my mind at least.’

Florianus was still for a moment. ‘You’re not serious?’

‘I’ve never been more serious.’

‘But what is the connection with Longinus?’

Macro smiled. ‘That’s what we’re here to find out.’

Centurion Florianus called his orderly and sent for some wine. ‘I think I could use something a little stronger. You two are beginning to frighten me. There’s more to this than you’ve let on.’

Macro and Cato exchanged a brief look and Macro nodded his assent. ‘Go on then. You know the background to this better than I do.’

07 The Eagle In the Sand

CHAPTER THREE