A silence.

A punishment squad of three Soldiers, in tunics, and a Guard come on. They are laden with piles of wooden lavatory seats and spades.

Guard Field lavatory detail!

First Soldier All right all right we’re behind you.

Second Soldier I am sick of digging lavatories.

Guard Then don’t end up in a punishment squad.

Third Soldier Something to tell your kiddies, when you get back home.

Second Soldier Oh yeah. I dug a shit hole on the edge of the world.

They throw the seats down in a heap.

Guard A good fathom down, lads.

They begin to dig.

Julius Caesar wanders forward from the back looking at the ground. He is followed at a distance, though closely observed, by members of his staff – Asinus, a historian in civilian clothes, a legionary Legate, a legionary Prefect, and a Primus Pilus – a centurion of the highest rank, a man in his early sixties.

Caesar stops. His staff stops. the punishment squad stop working and stare.

A silence, all still.

Caesar stoops and picks up Marban’s knife. He walks on. The punishment squad return to work.

Dangling the knife casually at his side between finger and thumb Caesar walks by the Mother’s body, ignoring it.

Caesar Prefect of the Legion.

The Prefect runs forward.

Set the standards.

Prefect Yes General.

Caesar Don’t pitch camp yet. Wait for the order.

Prefect Yes General.

Caesar Be careful with their bodies. Consecrate the ground. Set up an altar.

Prefect General.

The Prefect goes back to the staff.

Caesar My bugler.

The Bugler runs forward.

Let them know I’m here.

Bugler Yes General.

Prefect (to the Primus Pilus) Set the standards. The order to pitch camp has not been given.

Primus Pilus Yes Sir. (He shouts:) First Standard Bearer!

The Standard Bearer runs forward. The Bugler blows a class.

A runner down the lines. The order is set the standards. Wait for the bugle to pitch camp.

Standard Bearer Yes Sir.

The Standard Bearer digs his standard into the ground, then begins to run off. The Soldiers take up guard of the standard.

Caesar Wait.

Primus Pilus Stop where you are.

The Standard Bearer stops.

Legate Gaius Julius Caesar. This is my command. It is my privilege to receive your orders –

Caesar (ignoring the Legate) Primus Pilus. (The Primus Pilus runs to Caesar. Privately:) What did we do here?

Primus Pilus A couple of cohorts got jumbled up in the trees. The runners lost contact. Then they came on this lot –

Caesar And had some fun.

Primus Pilus Without orders, one thing let to another.

(Carefully:) What with –

Caesar What with an invasion that’s deteriorated into a squalid little raid, eh Centurion?

Nothing from the Primus Pilus.

I’m not angry with the men. Let that out, down the lines.

Primus Pilus General.

Caesar Stay. (Calls out:) Prefect. (The Prefect runs to Caesar.) Any sign of them regrouping?

Prefect Nothing. We came on them suddenly and dispersed them.

Caesar Prisoners?