‘I don’t like being nursemaided,’ he grumbled.
‘Better than being assassinated,’ Cato replied.
‘Let ‘em try.’
The decurion glanced round at his squadron, saw that all was ready, and raised his arm.
‘Column! Advance.’ His arm swept down towards the gate and the sentries stood aside under the great arch as the column clopped forward, out into the street that ran down from the Antonia, alongside the north-facing mass of the temple complex towards the Kidron gate. As they emerged from the shadows of the gateway Cato blinked at the sunlight shining directly into his eyes. This was a mistake, he suddenly realised. The sun would blind them to any ambush the sicarians might attempt along the street and he squinted painfully as he scanned the buildings crowding in on each side. But there was little sign of life. A few early risers were abroad, some beggars were taking up their pitches for the day and a mangy dog trotted from one pile of refuse to the next, sniffing for morsels of food.The handful of people on the street gave way as the column approached and stared expressionlessly at the mounted soldiers as they passed by. Ahead of them, Cato saw the watchmen on the city gate draw back the locking bar and begin to ease back the heavy slabs of timber that protected the city.A short while later, without incident, the squadron rode out of the city and began to descend the steep track leading down into the valley of Kidron. Cato breathed a sigh of relief.
‘Glad we’re out of there.’
Macro shrugged. ‘It’d take more than a few fools who fancy themselves with a blade to worry me.’
‘That’s a comfort to know.’The dust from the mounts ahead of them was already filling the air and Cato pressed his knees into the flank of his horse and twitched the reins to the side. ‘Come on, let’s get to the front.’
By the time the column had crossed the valley and climbed the Mount of Olives on the far side, the sun had risen far enough into the sky for its heat to begin to be felt. Macro, far more used to the climate of the northern provinces, started to dread the prospect of spending the rest of the day swaying in the saddle under the direct blaze of the sun. His helmet hung from the saddle frame and like the rest of the soldiers he wore a straw hat over his felt helmet liner. Even so his sweat soon made the liner feel hot and prickly and he silently cursed Narcissus for landing them with this job. As the horses picked their way along the track that led towards the River Jordan where it fed into the Dead Sea, they soon left behind the large estates of the wealthier Judaeans. Most of the great houses were closed up, their owners no longer daring to live under the threat of a brigand’s knife. Instead they had retreated to their houses in Jerusalem where they could live more safely. The land steadily became more sparsely populated and the villages they rode through comprised huddles of mudbrick hovels surrounded by small strips of cultivated land.
‘This is crazy,’ Macro commented. ‘No one could live off these scraps of dirt. Hey, guide!’
Symeon turned in his saddle and smiled. ‘Yes, my friend?’
Macro stared at him. ‘You’re not my friend. Not yet. You’re just a guide, so watch your lip.’
‘As you wish, Roman. What did you want of me?’
Macro indicated the intricate patchwork of fields around the village they were passing. ‘What’s going on here? Why are their plots so small?’
‘It’s the Judaean way. When a man dies his land is divided between his sons. When they die in turn it is divided between their sons. So, every generation the farms get smaller and smaller.’
‘That can’t go on for ever.’
‘No, indeed, Centurion. That is one of the problems that blights this land. When a man can no longer support his family, he is forced to take a loan against his property.’ Symeon shrugged.’If there’s a bad harvest, or if the market is glutted, he can’t pay the loan off and his land is forfeit. Many drift to Jerusalem looking for work, the rest go into the hills and become brigands, preying on travellers and terrorising some of the smaller villages.’
Macro pursed his lips. ‘That’s not much of a life.’
‘Still less of a life, now that the people have to pay Roman taxes.’
Macro looked at him sharply, but the guide just shrugged. ‘I mean no offence, Centurion, but that’s how it is. If Rome wants peace here, then she must look to the needs of the poor, before she adds the spoils of Judaea to her coffers.’
‘The Empire’s not a bloody charity.’ Macro sniffed. ‘It has an army to run, borders to maintain, roads to build, aqueducts, and . . . well, other things. Doesn’t come cheap. Someone has to pay. And without us, who would protect these people, eh? Answer me that.’
‘Protect these people?’ Symeon smiled thinly. ‘Who from? They would scarcely be any worse off under the heel of another empire.’
‘I was referring to people like Bannus and his brigands. Rome will protect them from Bannus.’
‘The people don’t see him that way. Many are inclined to see Bannus as some kind of hero. You won’t defeat Bannus unless Rome governs Judaea with a lighter hand, or garrisons these lands from top to bottom. I don’t see that happening in my lifetime.’
‘So what would you do then, Symeon? How would you improve the lot of these Judaeans?’
‘Me?’ The guide paused for a moment before he answered. ‘I would rid them of their burden of Roman tax for a start.’
‘Then there’d be no point in having Judaea as a province. Is that what you want for your people?’
‘My people?’ Symeon shrugged. ‘They’re not really my people any more.’
‘Aren’t you a Judaean?’
‘I am. But I am no longer so sure that I share their beliefs. I have not been living in the province for many years.’
‘So how did you end up as a guide?’
‘I had to leave Judaea in a hurry over ten years ago.’ Symeon glanced at Macro. ‘Before you ask, I had my reasons, and I won’t go into them.’
‘Fair enough.’
‘Anyway, I went south, to Nabataea, where no one would come looking for me. I joined one of the companies of men who guard the caravans. That’s how I learned to use weapons properly. I’ll never forget my first caravan. Twenty days across deserts and through mountains. I’d never seen lands like it before.Truly, Centurion, there are certain places in this world where the hand of God can be seen.’
‘I think I’ve seen enough already,’ Macro grumbled. ‘Give me Campania or Umbria any day. Sod all this desert and rock.’
‘It’s not always like this, Centurion. In spring, it’s cool and there’s rain and the hills are covered with flowers. Even the desert across the Jordan blooms. And there’s a kind of majesty in the desert. To the south there’s a wadi where the sand is bright red and great cliffs of coloured rock rise up to the skies. At night the heavens are filled with stars and travellers gather round fires and tell tales that echo back off the cliffs.’ He paused and smiled self-consciously. ‘Perhaps one day you’ll see for yourself, and understand.’
He clicked his tongue and urged his horse forward, until he was a short distance ahead of the column. Macro stared at him for a moment and spoke quietly to Cato. ‘Well, what do you make of him?’
‘I’m not sure. If he knows the area as well as he says, then I can see why Florianus uses him. But there’s something about him that doesn’t seem right.’
‘What is it?’
Cato shook his head. ‘I’m not quite sure. I just can’t believe a man turns his back on his family and friends for such a long time so easily. He’s interesting.’
‘Interesting?’ Macro shook his head. ‘Mad more like. Maybe he’s just had a little too much of the desert sun.’
The column of horsemen reached the small Essene community of Qumran as the sun dipped down behind them, casting long distorted shadows before the riders. Qumran was a small settlement made up of simple houses that lined dusty narrow streets. The people warily acknowledged the greetings offered to them by Symeon as he led the column through the village towards the small fort built on a slight rise a mile beyond Qumran. Beyond the fort lay the Dead Sea, stretching out towards the mountains that rose up, fiery coloured and forbidding, in the red glow of the sun settling in the west. The fort was little more than a fortified signal station and a thin trail of smoke wafted from the brazier in the main tower that was kept alight at all times. It was defended by a half-century of Thracian auxiliaries under an ageing optio who greeted them warmly as the column rode in through the gateway.
‘Glad to see some new faces, sir.’ He smiled as Macro dismounted and returned the optio’s salute. ‘Haven’t seen any Romans for over a month now.’
Macro yawned and stretched his back before giving his buttocks a firm rub to restore some of the circulation lost after a day in the saddle. He ached, stank of sweat and was covered in dust.
‘I need a bath. I don’t suppose there’s a bath-house here.’
‘No, sir.’
‘What about back there, in Qumran?’
‘There is, sir. But we’re not allowed to use their baths.’
‘Why’s that?’ Macro said irritably. ‘I’ll pay ‘em good money.’
‘They’re Essenes, sir. Friendly enough but they won’t share any food or facilities with us, in case we contaminate them.’
‘What is wrong with this fucking land?’ Macro exploded.’Has the sun boiled everyone’s brains? What are Essenes? Not another bloody sect, surely.’
‘Sorry, sir.’ The optio shrugged. ‘That’s how it is. My men are under strict orders not to cause the Essenes any offence.’
‘Oh, very well then. Just find quarters for our men and then feed ‘em. I’m going for a swim.’
‘A swim, sir?’
‘Yes. In the sea.’
Macro noticed the surprised look on the optio’s face and continued irritably, ‘Don’t tell me our Essene friends are going to take exception to sharing a whole bloody sea with me?’
‘No, sir. It’s not that, it’s just-‘
Macro cut him off.’See to the men and their mounts.’ He turned to Cato. ‘Coming?’
‘Oh yes.’ Cato smiled. ‘I wouldn’t miss this experience.’
From the corner of his eye Macro saw Cato exchange a knowing look with Symeon and turned on them suddenly. ‘What?’
Cato feigned innocence. ‘It’s nothing. Let’s go and swim.’
The two officers stripped down to their tunics and boots and descended the stony slope to the shore. They picked their way a short distance along until they found a stretch of pebbled beach and undressed, leaving their clothes, belts and daggers on top of a rock. Macro trod warily down to the edge of the water and began to wade out, under the amused gaze of his young friend.When he was up to his waist Macro raised a hand and rubbed his fingers together.
‘Odd . . . Feels kind of oily.’ He raised his fingers and sniffed them for a moment before dabbing them with his tongue. At once his face tightened into a grimace. ‘Ugh!’
‘What is it?’
‘The water. It tastes awful. Far too salty.’
‘Then don’t drink it,’ said Cato. ‘Just swim in it.’
‘For someone who is such a poor swimmer, you’re awfully keen to get stuck in.’
Cato laughed. ‘You’ll understand in a moment.’
Macro was too weary to continue playing Cato’s games and turned away. Stretching his arms out he thrust himself forward into the gently lapping sea. Instead of plunging down beneath the surface he bobbed up like a cork. As soon as he tried the first stroke his legs seemed to come up out of the water behind him.
‘What the hell is going on?’
Cato laughed as he waded out towards his friend, and was treading water even before the sea came close to his shoulders. It was a strange sensation and he smiled in delight. Macro was still floundering, trying to swim a few strokes further out from the shore.
‘This is ridiculous.’ He gave up and turned on to his back. Floating effortlessly, he looked at Cato. ‘I suppose this is why it’s some kind of natural bloody marvel.’
Cato settled into the water and raised his legs. ‘Strange, isn’t it?’
Now that he had got over his surprise Macro found that the experience was quite agreeable after all and for a while he experimented with propelling himself around, finding that the best way was to stay on his back and use his arms like oars. Cato followed his example, whooping like a small boy.
They were splashing about so much that they did not hear the warning shouted from the walls of the fort until it was far too late. Cato was aware of the sound of hooves first. He craned his neck round and saw a small party of horsemen, five of them, racing along the track that ran along the shore of the Dead Sea.
‘Macro! Get out!’
‘Eh?’
Cato pointed to the horsemen, now less than three hundred paces away. At once they stroked back towards the pebbly beach and as soon as their feet gained purchase on the stony bottom they surged ashore.Already the horsemen had closed the distance and Cato could see the glint of the swords they had drawn. There was no time to run back for their daggers.
‘Forget the clothes! Make for the fort!’
They ran awkwardly across the rocks, wincing as the rough surface jabbed and cut into the soles of their feet. Then they reached the track and sprinted across it and started up the slope towards the gateway. The sentry on watch was shouting down into the courtyard and moments later two men emerged from the fort, stared at the approaching horsemen and then started down the slope towards the two officers. Cato risked a glance back along the track and was horrified to see the horsemen no more than a hundred paces behind, closing fast as they bent forward along the sides of their horses’ necks, urging their mounts on as they prepared to strike with their swords. Cato knew that he and Macro would be run down before they could reach the fort, long before the first of the auxiliaries could reach them.
‘Keep going!’ Macro shouted, scrambling up the slope beside him. ‘The bastards are almost on us.’
Cato ran on, head hunched down into his shoulders as if that would somehow make him a more difficult target for the horsemen’s swords. He was barely aware of the pain from his torn feet as he focused on the gateway and ran towards it with all his might. The pounding of hooves from behind was deafening and at the last moment he risked a look back over his shoulder.
‘Shit!’ he cried out, as the leading man loomed high above him, sword raised ready to slash down with a killing blow. Cato saw the triumphant glint in the man’s dark eyes and the teeth clenched in a feral grin. Then Cato stumbled and sprawled painfully on the ground. Instinctively he rolled over and raised his arm. The man was as before, only now his eyes were wild with surprise. The shaft of an arrow protruded from his chest. His sword slipped from his hand and clattered on to the track beside Cato. Then he slipped from the saddle and fell to the ground with a heavy thud that drove the wind from his lungs in an explosive grunt of agony. Cato snatched up the weapon and rose into a crouch. The other horsemen were only an instant away, already swerving round the riderless horse. Cato glanced at Macro, who had stopped several paces further on and turned towards him.