Those centurions who had served in the northern legions, and Cato, answered him in a chorus. ‘Are we fuck!’

Macro laughed, and turned to lead them the final mile back to the training ground outside the temple complex. The optios hurriedly ordered the men to dress their ranks and raise their chins as they turned off the road and the column trudged on to the open ground, back to the positions they had occupied before they had set off at daybreak.

‘Column! Stand to attention!’ Macro’s bellow echoed back off the mud-brick wall. He set his pack down, reached for his canteen and took a long swig before stoppering it. Then he slowly paced along the lines of sweating, panting legionaries, inspecting their ranks. One more man collapsed as he stood waiting for the column to be dismissed. Macro ignored him. He put his hands on his hips and addressed the exhausted men.

‘That is but a taste of what is expected of you once the campaign begins. I know that the Jackals are keen to test themselves in battle with the Nubians. You have the spirit of true soldiers, but you must also have the body. It is the army that marches hardest that also fights hardest, and wins.’

Macro’s words died away with the late afternoon breeze. He stared at them a moment longer and then shouted the order. ‘Column! . . . Fall out!’

As soon as the order was given the men seemed to sag under the weight of their yokes and then in ones and twos they began to stagger across the training ground towards the north gate of Karnak. Macro watched them for a moment before he caught sight of Hamedes and nodded a greeting to him.

‘Well done, lad! Seems you’re as fit as any man here.’

Hamedes puffed his cheeks. ‘I think I may not take you up on that offer of a place in the legion, sir.’

‘Hah!’ Macro jerked his thumb towards the gate. ‘Get in there and have a good night’s rest. When the morning comes you’ll wonder what you were complaining about. And then you’ll try and get up and feel like a complete cripple.’

‘Thank you, sir,’ Hamedes said flatly, and walked stiffly away.

Cato was draining the last drops of his canteen when Macro approached him. ‘You went the distance after all.’

‘Did I?’ Cato’s feet burned so much it was an effort to stand up. ‘So this is what being dead on your feet feels like . . .’

‘Ah, don’t make such a fuss.’ He nodded towards the carts trundling across the training ground. ‘At least you did it. Some didn’t. I’ve had one of the optios draw up a list of those who dropped out.’ Macro reached into the sling hanging round his neck and fished out a small waxed slate. ‘Here you are.’