Cato looked at him for a moment and then shook his head. ‘I don’t know. I just don’t know if I could do that.’

Macro pursed his lips sadly. ‘You’re a good man. A good soldier, and a good officer most of the time. If we get out of his, then one day you’ll have a command of your own, and I won’t be there. That’s when you’ll have to make the really tough decisions, Cato. You can count on it. The question is, are you ready for that?’ He looked hard at his young friend for an instant and then punched him lightly on the shoulder. ‘Think it over. Meanwhile, I want you to make sure that the gatehouse is as ready as it can be before Bannus gets that onager back into action.’

‘I don’t think there’s any point to that, sir. He’ll batter our repairs down quickly enough.’

‘The point is that it keeps our men busy, and stops them thinking too much.That includes you. It also shows Bannus and his friends that the Second Illyrian’s not going to give up, roll over and wait for our enemies to stick the boot in.We’re better than that. Understand what I’m saying?’

‘Of course,’ Cato replied testily. ‘I’m not a fool.’

‘Far from it. But even the most brilliant minds can still learn something from those of us with experience, eh?’ Macro smiled. ‘Now see to it that you do a decent job of that breastwork.’

‘Yes sir.’ Cato nodded. ‘I’ll do my best.’

‘Of course you will. I’d expect nothing less. Don’t just stand there, Centurion. Get moving!’