He waited a moment but his officers remained silent, and Macro nodded. ‘That’s all, then. Return to your units and brief your men. Have them formed up and ready to board the boats the moment the legate gives the signal to proceed. Good luck.’

The officers murmured a reply in kind and then made their way out of the shade beneath the date palms and returned to their centuries, clustered along the riverbank in whatever shade they could find. Macro watched them briefly before he turned to Cato.

‘What do you think?’

‘They seem up for it,’ Cato replied. ‘In any case, once the attack begins, it’s do or die. That tends to have a powerful motivating effect on the men.’

‘True enough.’ Macro looked at Cato. ‘What about you? Are you ready for this?’

‘As ready as I ever was.’

‘You didn’t have to volunteer for it.’

‘No. But then why would I let you snatch all the glory?’

Macro shook his head. ‘Since when did you ever do anything for the glory of it? You always have to have some damn practical reason or other for volunteering.’

‘Is that so?’ Cato pursed his lips. ‘Then let’s say that it’ll do the men good to see one of the senior officers fighting alongside them. That, and I have to make sure that no harm comes to you. I’m not going to be the man who has to take back the sad news to your mother. That would take someone of extraordinary courage, and foolhardiness. Not me.’

Macro laughed and slapped Cato on the shoulder. ‘For your sake then I’ll try to stay alive, eh?’