Beyond they could hear the Germans shouting triumphantly. They would be edging towards the blaze, itching for the moment when the fires had subsided enough to allow them to stream into the village and slaughter the cohort. But for now the flames showed no signs of subsiding, indeed the fire was growing ever more intense as it spread amongst the huts. The heat in the street was already intolerable and Cato found himself squinting to protect his eyes, buffeted by the wavering, stinging air. The centurion knew the time had come to retreat, a bitter truth to swallow — but a necessary one.

‘All troops to me! All troops to me! Back down the street!’

The legionaries turned and quick-marched until they reached the limit of the fire where Macro ordered them to halt and close up once again. The men looked back in relief, glad to be out of immediate danger. The position they had occupied moments earlier erupted in a shower of sparks as a building collapsed across the street where they had been standing.

‘Close one, sir,’ muttered one of the men.

‘We’re not out of it yet,’ Macro replied sourly. ‘Fire’s spreading fast. We’ll fall back with it. If we’re lucky, we can keep the fire between us and Herman.’

‘Until we run out of village,’ Cato said softly.

Macro turned quickly, on the point of shouting out some abuse, but the boy was right. ‘Until we run out of village,’ he agreed. ‘Or Vespasian reaches us.’

The fire, let loose like an uncaged beast at some amphitheatre, raged across the village, hungrily devouring all in the path of its blazing jaws. Above it, the sky glowed orange and the snow falling from the sky melted into rain. Little by little the legionaries gave ground and, as they did so, Macro became aware that the blaze at the gateway was dying down far more quickly than it should. He frowned, uncomprehending. Then he saw Germans beyond the falling flames, throwing buckets of water on the ruins of the gate where smoke and steam mingled. As he watched, the men around him became aware of what was happening and a low murmur of despair trickled through the Sixth century. The Germans were clearly not content to leave the Romans to the eventual wrath of the fire, they wanted blood, and the street leading up to the gate was nearly clear of flames due to its relative breadth.

‘Silence!’ Macro shouted. ‘We’re not done for yet. Not as long as we can keep the fire between us and them. First two squads with me. Castor!’ Macro yelled to the century’s veteran. ‘See to it that the rest tear down buildings along the street — anything that helps the fire line spread. Got that?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘But you keep the line open for us. When you’re done you call us back. We’ll fall back through you.’ Macro turned to the front two squads. ‘All right, lads, listen. If Herman gets down the street we have to hold him back long enough for the others to do their work. Then we run like hell. Come on then.’