‘Aye, sir.’ The officer turned to order his sailors to raise the ship’s boat from its cradle on the main deck. While several strained on a pulley rope, others steered the small boat over the side and then it was lowered into the sea. Six men clambered down and took up the oars and then Macro descended the rope ladder and cautiously made his way to the stern seat and sat quickly. A moment later the craft shoved off and the sailors heaved on their oars, propelling the boat towards the Sobek. As they approached the side, one of the sailors lowered his oar, took up a boat hook and caught the rope looped either side of the gap in the ship’s rail. Macro clambered forward, steadied himself and waited for the boat to rise on the swell, then launched himself at the ladder hanging down the ship’s side. He climbed quickly, before the swell passed and dunked him in the sea. Cato was waiting for him.

‘Walk with me.’

They made their way to the bows where Cato curtly ordered a couple of sailors aft so that the two officers would not be overheard. Macro felt a pang of concern as he noted his friend’s gaunt features. It had been several days since they had last spoken face to face and once again Macro noted the dark patches round the young man’s eyes. Cato leaned forward and rested an elbow on the thick timber of the bulwark as he turned to face Macro.

‘What is your supply situation?’

‘We can last another two days if I put the men on quarter water allowance. After that they won’t be good for anything, even if we do find Ajax, sir.’

A flicker of pained irritation crossed Cato’s face at Macro’s reference to his superior rank. He coughed. ‘Look here, Macro, you can drop the “sir” when no one’s listening. We know each other well enough for that.’

Macro glanced round at the men further along the deck and turned back. ‘You’re a prefect now, my lad, and the men will expect me to treat you as such.’

‘By all means. But when I need to speak frankly to you, in private, then we speak as friends, all right?’

‘Is that an order?’ Macro replied sternly and then his lips could not help lifting a little, betraying his real mood. Cato raised his eyes. ‘Spare me the aggrieved feelings of a former fellow centurion, eh?’

Macro nodded and smiled. ‘All right then. So, what’s the plan?’

Cato concentrated his weary mind. ‘Ajax’s trail has grown cold. The men need a rest.’

‘And so do you.’