‘Next time?’ Macro’s eyes widened in surprise. ‘There isn’t going to be a next time. They’re being slaughtered over there.’ He gestured down the track to where the raiders from the desert had charged in amongst the caravan’s small force of armed escorts. The latter were hopelessly outnumbered and it was clear that they were being cut to pieces. Beyond them the camel herders were streaming away from their charges, abandoning them, and their precious cargo, to the raiders. The merchants in charge of the caravan had wheeled their camels round and were now riding them back up the track towards the Roman cavalry patrol as fast as they could go. Postumus watched them with an amused expression.

‘I can’t wait to see their faces when I tell them the price has doubled.’

Macro turned to him. ‘What did you say?’

‘It’s at this stage that we double the price for escorting them the rest of the way. Oh, don’t worry, they’ll agree to pay it without any argument.’

‘Then what?’

‘Then we charge in. The raiders take what they have and run for it, and it’s all over and another contract is in the bag. A few months of this, sir, and you’ll be sitting on a small fortune.’

‘And if the raiders decide to fight it out?’

‘They won’t. We have an unspoken understanding with them.’

‘What?’

‘Think about it, sir. It’s important that the threat is real. So if they see us riding behind a caravan, they have come to know we’ll let them carry out a quick attack. For our part, when we ride to the rescue, they know that we won’t pursue them into the desert. Neither side loses any men and both sides get to profit. The only losers are the caravan cartels, and the next time they come this way, they’ll pay up without any fuss.’

Macro shook his head in disbelief. He stared towards the caravan where the raiders had dealt with the escort and were now busy looting the leading camels.

‘How long has this been going on?’

‘Since I arrived here, sir.’

‘Was Scrofa’s predecessor in on it?’

‘No,’ Postumus admitted guardedly. ‘He didn’t approve, but then again, he just turned a blind eye to those of us who had joined the scheme. I think I would have talked him round, if he hadn’t died in that ambush.’

‘I bet.’ Macro had heard enough. He drew his sword and tightened his hands on the reins.

‘What are you doing, sir?’ Postumus asked in alarm.

‘I’m doing my duty,’ Macro growled, before he took a sharp breath and bellowed his orders. ‘Deploy into line!’

‘No!’ Postumus cried out. ‘No! Stay as you are!’

Macro whipped round towards him. ‘Shut your mouth! Not one more word from you.’ He turned back to the auxiliaries. ‘Deploy into line!’