Macro shook his head. ‘These Judaeans sound like a pretty stuffy lot. Fuck knows why, given that they’ve been rolled over by every empire that’s passed through the region.’

Symeon shrugged. ‘Perhaps they believe their god is saving them for something special.’

‘Their god?’ Cato looked at the guide curiously. ‘Yours too, surely?’

‘I told you. I no longer subscribe to the faith.’

‘What do you believe in?’

Symeon did not reply straight away, but glanced briefly at the distant crowd of people being baptised before he spoke. ‘I’m not quite sure what I believe in any more . . .’

‘What about that lot we passed yesterday?’ Macro broke in. ‘The Essenes, or whatever you called ‘em.’

‘Essenes,’ Symeon confirmed.’They’re simple enough. The Essenes believe that the world of men is corrupt, evil and unspiritual.That is why God has not favoured Judaea. They try to live a simple, unadorned life. All possessions belong to the community and they live strictly according to the word of the holy books.’

‘Not the best of drinking companions, then?’

The guide glanced at Macro. ‘No. I suppose not.’

‘Any more sects worth mentioning?’

‘Just one. Most of them live in a small settlement near Bushir. They’re a lot like the Essenes. At least some of them are.The ones who call themselves the true followers of Jehoshua. The trouble is, they have a rival faction.’

‘The one led by Bannus,’ said Cato.

‘Yes, that’s right.’ Symeon glanced at him in surprise.

‘I must have heard of him in Jerusalem,’ Cato explained quickly.

Symeon continued. ‘Bannus claims that Jehoshua meant his people to use force to establish the authority of his teachings, and that the Essenes are attempting to take over the movement and corrupt Jehoshua’s creed. He says they have watered it down into a powerless set of beliefs. The irony is that although they have a limited number of followers in Judaea, there are cells springing up all over the Empire according to my friend Florianus.’

‘Who is the leader of this faction?’ asked Cato.

Symeon looked at him closely. ‘Do you really need to know? Bannus is the real danger. Remove him, and the province might have a chance to be at peace.’

‘You’re right, of course,’ Cato replied smoothly. ‘I just like to know the full details of a situation, that’s all.’