‘And then?’ Macro tipped his head to one side. ‘Well? What then?’

It was a good question, Cato realised.The answer was straightforward. ‘Then they march over the ashes and massacre us. Or we try to make a break for it. Leave a few men behind to make it seem as if the wall is still being defended, while the rest of us head out of the eastern gate and try to get as far from the fort as possible before daybreak. After that, head north to the Decapolis.’

Parmenion shook his head. ‘They’d cut us to pieces if they caught us in the open. Those Parthians would pepper us with arrows so that we’d have to stop and cover ourselves with shields. They’d pin us down until the rest of Bannus’ force turned up and finished off what was left. Battle of Carrhae, all over again.’

‘All right, then,’ Cato responded. ‘We try something else. Something they can’t possibly expect.’ His eyes gleamed with excitement.

‘Here we go again,’ Macro muttered, turning to Parmenion. ‘Brace yourself . . . All right, Cato, let’s hear it.’

‘If we stay on the wall, the flames will either get us or force us out of cover so that we’d have to face them on the ground outside the walls. If we retreat through the firebreak and close it off with burning debris, then we’re just postponing being slaughtered a few hours.’

‘Yes. So?’

‘So we leave some men to man the walls, take the cohort out of the eastern gate, circle round and strike at their camp.’ Cato looked from one man to the other. ‘Well?’

Parmenion shook his head. ‘That is the most hare-brained idea I’ve ever heard. No offence, or anything.’

‘None taken. But what’s the alternative?You’re already agreed that we can’t just wait and see what happens. Bannus won’t be expecting us to take the initiative.’

‘With good reason!’ Parmenion snorted. ‘He outnumbers us four or five to one.’

‘Which is why he won’t even think it is us.’

Parmenion frowned. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I think I know what the lad’s thinking,’ Macro interrupted. ‘We hit them from the north, making as much noise about it as we can, and Bannus might just think that it’s a relief force from Syria. Is that it, Cato?’

Cato nodded. ‘They just might.’

Parmenion chuckled mirthlessly. ‘And when morning comes and they see exactly how few we are, they just might take us for lunatics.’