The Eagle In the Sand - Scarrow Simon (читать книги онлайн без сокращений txt) 📗

Postumus stared at him, then shook his head and sneered.'I don't have to fight you, Macro. I have powerful friends who could swat you like a gnat.'

'Really? Then let them try.'

'In any case, aren't you forgetting something?'

'What?'

'You struck me. In full view of the men.As soon as we get back to Bushir, I'll bring charges against you. Make no mistake, you'll pay for this.'

'So you say. We'll see. But for now, I'm relieving you of command for the rest of this patrol.'

'On whose authority?' Postumus smirked. 'Aren't you forgetting something? Until your appointment is confirmed you have no-'

'I know all that,' Macro cut in. 'But in this situation it doesn't matter. First, you have failed to carry out your duty. I could have you charged with cowardice when we return to Bushir. Second, I am the senior officer present. Unless you have written authority that supersedes my seniority there's nothing you can do about it. I don't suppose you have such a document on you, Centurion Postumus? No? How unfortunate.' Macro smiled. 'I can only imagine how frustrated you must feel.'

Postumus glared at him, opened his mouth to protest, and then shut it again. Macro had him.The same rigorous adherence to rules that had cost Macro his appointment had now robbed Postumus of command over the two cavalry squadrons. It took all of Macro's self-control not to laugh now that the tables had been turned on the smug younger officer. He let Postumus stew for a moment before he continued.

'I will remain in command until we return to Bushir. Until then, you are to assume the duties of an orderly. Is that clear?'

'You can't do this,' Postumus said quietly. The decurions of the two cavalry squadrons had called off the pursuit and were rallying to Macro and Postumus.

'I already have. You can sort it out with the prefect when we return to Bushir.'

'Trust me, I will.'

As the decurions trotted up Macro turned to them and announced the change of command. They turned questioningly to Postumus, but before the latter could speak Macro snapped at them, 'Ignore him! I am the ranking officer here! You will obey my orders from now on. Centurion Postumus will be facing a charge of gross neglect of duty when we return to Bushir. If you don't want to join him then I suggest you accept the change of command right away. Do either of you question my authority? Well?'

The decurions shook their heads.

'That's better! Now get your men to help the merchants restore some order to the caravan. Once that's done, we'll escort them to the Decapolis. If there's another attack I don't expect to see your men responding like a bunch of virgins at the Lupercal. I'd better see them go in hard and fast, or I'll personally make sure that both of you are broken back to the ranks.' Macro subjected them to a withering glare, and then concluded, 'Do I make myself clear?'

'Yes, sir!' the decurions chorused.

'Fine, then carry out your orders.' Macro returned their salute and they wheeled their mounts round and trotted back to their units. Macro turned to Postumus and gestured after them. 'What are you waiting for? I want you out there helping to clear up this mess as well.'

'Me?'

'Yes you. And you will call me sir from now on. Get moving before I add insubordination to the charges I aim to bring against you.'

Postumus stabbed his heels in, wheeled his horse and galloped past Macro, back towards the caravan.

Macro watched him go, and breathed a sigh of relief. Corruption had made the officers go soft. If they had had the guts to stand up to him a moment earlier then Macro feared he might have gone the way of Scrofa's predecessor. As it was, Macro had the whip hand and they had cringed like curs in front of him. In some small way that saddened him. If they buckled before the wrath of a superior officer so easily they would be little good against Bannus and his men when the time came to fight the brigands on the battlefield. As soon as his appointment as prefect of the Second Illyrian was confirmed he was going to have to crack down on the officers even more harshly than on the men. They had to be hardened up, and quickly, if they were to be a match for the Judaean rebels, and any Parthian allies.

For the next four days the caravan ambled along the track towards Gerasa.With a squadron of auxiliary cavalry on each flank there were no more attacks, and when the walls of the hill town that overlooked the sea of Galilee came into sight the merchants approached Macro to make their farewells.

'We'll leave you here,' Macro announced. 'You're safe now.'

'Only thanks to you, Centurion.' The merchant bowed his head, and then looked up awkwardly. 'The other merchants and I wish to offer you a gift, in thanks for saving our property and, perhaps, our lives.'

'No,' Macro replied firmly. He was not going down that route. He'd not end up like Postumus and most of the officers of the Second Illyrian. 'We were just doing our duty. No gift is necessary.There'll be no more bribes paid to the Roman soldiers protecting travellers along this route. That's finished with. I give you my word on that.'

The merchant looked pained. 'You do not understand, Centurion. It is our custom to offer a gift. If you do not accept, we are shamed.'

Macro looked at them and scratched the stubble on his chin. 'Shamed, eh?'

The merchant nodded his head vigorously.

Macro felt irritated by the situation. He was not one to tolerate the customs of other cultures easily and did not know how to get out of this predicament. Then an idea that he had been brooding over for the past few days came back to him and provided a very neat and useful solution.

'I will not accept a gift,' he repeated.'But I will require a favour of you in the near future.When the time comes, where may I find you gentlemen?'

'When we have concluded our business here we will be returning to Petra, to make arrangements for the next caravan. We should be there for a month, maybe two.'

'I'll send word to you in Petra, then.'

Macro watched as the merchants returned to the long stream of camels swaying up the slope towards the gate of Gerasa. He smiled. If his plan was workable at all, then the merchants were going to prove vital to its success.

07 The Eagle In the Sand

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The day after Centurion Parmenion's force left Bushir they marched through the hilly landscape around Herodion, keeping close watch on the terraced olive groves that climbed the slopes on either side.This was the kind of country that favoured the light troops that Bannus had at his disposal, and Cato could well imagine the damage that a small force armed with slings and javelins might inflict on the Roman column. Fortunately there was no sign of the brigands and at midday they reached the large village of Beth Mashon, surrounded by dusty clumps of palm trees. Their approach was spotted by a handful of children tending their goats, and as they drove their bleating charges out of the path of the soldiers one of them raced ahead to warn the villagers.

Cato glanced at Parmenion. 'Do you think we should deploy the men?'

'For what?'

'In case they're preparing a surprise.'

'Who do you think we're up against, Cato?' Parmenion asked wearily.'Some crack Parthian cavalry, or something?'

'Who knows?'

Parmenion laughed bitterly. 'There's nothing in there apart from the usual peasants. Believe me. And right now they'll be scared as hell and hoping that we don't add to their difficulties. Fat chance of that, of course. About the only time outsiders ever visit places like this is when they've come to collect the taxes or make some other trouble.'

Cato looked closely at the veteran. 'Sounds to me like you're on their side.'