‘As you wish.’ Postumus twisted round in his saddle and bellowed an order for his men to move off the track. Then he turned back to the leader of the caravan, bowed his head politely and turned his horse about to trot off and join his men. Macro caught up with him and edged his beast alongside.

‘That didn’t seem to go very well.’

‘Oh, it’s not over yet. We sometimes get this reaction from merchants new to this route. But he’ll change his mind soon enough.’

‘You seem very sure of yourself.’

‘I have every reason to be.’

Postumus did not elaborate and Macro sat irritably in his saddle as the long procession of laden camels and their herders swayed by. The escorts stood between the caravans and the Roman cavalry, and eyed Postumus and his men warily until the end of the caravan had passed. Then they turned their camels and trotted them back on to the flanks of the caravan. Once they had gone Macro turned to Postumus.

‘What now?’

‘We wait a little while, and then follow them.’

Macro had had enough. ‘Look, you’d better just tell me what’s going on here. No more of your games, Postumus. Just tell me.’

‘Maybe nothing will happen, sir. Maybe they will complete their journey in safety, but I wouldn’t bet on it. The route between here and Gerasa is the haunt of a number of raiding parties.’

As soon as the rear of the caravan was a mile or so distant Postumus gave the order for his men to advance slowly along the track behind it, making sure that they kept their distance as they followed. The hours passed slowly and Macro began to feel the effects of the previous night’s sleeplessness. His eyes felt heavy and sore and he had to blink frequently to try to refresh them. Ahead, the distant figures of the caravan loomed hypnotically, only increasing his sense of weariness. It was late in the afternoon when Postumus halted the column so abruptly that Macro almost slipped from his saddle. He shook his head to clear the heaviness that shrouded his mind.

‘What? What’s happening?’

‘It’s just as I anticipated, sir.’ Postumus smiled.’Raiders, coming out of the desert. Over there.’

He pointed to the right and Macro saw a line of camels emerge from beyond a low dune and swoop in towards the straggling length of the caravan. At once Macro’s hand reached for his sword as his mind cleared at the prospect of action.

‘Let’s get moving.’

‘No.’

‘What do you mean no?’ Macro growled. ‘Those men are attacking the caravan.’

‘Precisely.’ Postumus nodded. ‘And don’t those merchants wish that they had taken us up on our offer to protect them? Now they’ll learn just how expensive it can be to travel without a proper escort.’

‘They’ll be massacred!’ Macro said angrily.’We have to do something.’