can do to help?”
“As a matter of fact, there is. Lend me those two geniuses, Acamus and Pittacus, until I complete this assignment.”
“Sir, those are my two best men! If I give them to you, what am I going to do?”
“Here’s how I see it,” explained Manius. “We’re both tasked with basically the same assignment: training troops for Consul’s invasion of Africa. I am more than happy to take the lead, and fold your organization with its manpower, reach, and influence into my effort. You’re a member of Scipio’s staff; I am not. You can keep me connected to the overall effort, and warn me of any politics going on within the Staff that may influence our mission.”
“Now that you put it like that, I’ll release them to you. I really don’t have a choice. Even if I went to the Chief, I’d lose the fight. They can sail with you on the 27th if they’re willing. I have to reiterate, they are civilians. I’ll miss them, but we’ll manage. I am always being told that no one is indispensable.”
“By the way,” said Manius, “when do you plan to arrive in Sicily?”
“The entire staff is scheduled to sail on October 27. The Consul will sail 10 days later and arrive about November 18th. The Advance Party left about a month ago along with the 500 Legionaries that the Consul managed to bring back from Spain.”
Manius thanked Velius, and went out to buy the two bottles of expensive wine he promised to Acamus and Pittacus.
On the 25th, the two Legionary aides assigned to Manius by the Chief appeared at his office. One was a veteran Centurion named Cassius with 20 years in the Army; the other, Modius, was a strong looking man in his mid-20s. “Sir, we’ve completed travel arrangements for you and for your two clerks. I can give you the details whenever it’s convenient.” Manius pointed to the two chairs. “Sir, we will accompany you every step of the way. We will hire and pay the porters, procure your food, and serve as body guards. Those docks at Ostia can be pretty rough.”
“The ship’s a seaworthy trireme called Luno with an experienced crew. The Captain wants to sail at 11:00 A.M. to take advantage of the tides and wants to be loaded by 10:00 A.M. We will pick you up at your villa at 5:00 A.M. We’ll have the two clerks with us. I’ve rented a reheda carruca (carriage) that can carry six passengers. As you know, we’ll have a grueling 20 mile trip facing us on those damn iron wheels. With four horses pulling, we should be able to make about 5 mph. I expect to arrive at the port at 9:00 A.M. Sir, eat a light breakfast. I’ll have a jug of ginger tea and some ginger roots in the carriage. I suggest you drink it all before we sail. There shouldn’t be any problem with sea sickness.”
Centurion Cassius continued, “The Captain plans to sail to Neapolis (modern Naples), which is some 120 miles (193km) from Ostia, and will take on water and food. It’ll take about two days to get there. From Neapolis, we’ll hug the coast line and stop at night to beach the ship. The Captain hopes to make about seven knots an hour, and with good winds cover 50-60 miles a day. He expects to make port at Messana (modern Messina) on the east coast of Sicily in another four days. The final leg of the trip is from Messana to Lilybaeum, another three days. The Captain will beach the ship each night so he’s bringing along a strong Legionary guard force. The ship will be a little cramped. Overall sir, the trip should take about nine days if the weather cooperates.”
“The Captain is aware that you will be aboard, and will offer you all the courtesies due your rank. You will be expected to eat in the Captain’s room aboard ship, if you’re up to it, and attend a more formal dinner once on the beach. I will bring a generous supply of ginger roots to eat to combat sea sickness. Sir, I recommend you sit in the middle of the
“As a matter of fact, there is. Lend me those two geniuses, Acamus and Pittacus, until I complete this assignment.”
“Sir, those are my two best men! If I give them to you, what am I going to do?”
“Here’s how I see it,” explained Manius. “We’re both tasked with basically the same assignment: training troops for Consul’s invasion of Africa. I am more than happy to take the lead, and fold your organization with its manpower, reach, and influence into my effort. You’re a member of Scipio’s staff; I am not. You can keep me connected to the overall effort, and warn me of any politics going on within the Staff that may influence our mission.”
“Now that you put it like that, I’ll release them to you. I really don’t have a choice. Even if I went to the Chief, I’d lose the fight. They can sail with you on the 27th if they’re willing. I have to reiterate, they are civilians. I’ll miss them, but we’ll manage. I am always being told that no one is indispensable.”
“By the way,” said Manius, “when do you plan to arrive in Sicily?”
“The entire staff is scheduled to sail on October 27. The Consul will sail 10 days later and arrive about November 18th. The Advance Party left about a month ago along with the 500 Legionaries that the Consul managed to bring back from Spain.”
Manius thanked Velius, and went out to buy the two bottles of expensive wine he promised to Acamus and Pittacus.
On the 25th, the two Legionary aides assigned to Manius by the Chief appeared at his office. One was a veteran Centurion named Cassius with 20 years in the Army; the other, Modius, was a strong looking man in his mid-20s. “Sir, we’ve completed travel arrangements for you and for your two clerks. I can give you the details whenever it’s convenient.” Manius pointed to the two chairs. “Sir, we will accompany you every step of the way. We will hire and pay the porters, procure your food, and serve as body guards. Those docks at Ostia can be pretty rough.”
“The ship’s a seaworthy trireme called Luno with an experienced crew. The Captain wants to sail at 11:00 A.M. to take advantage of the tides and wants to be loaded by 10:00 A.M. We will pick you up at your villa at 5:00 A.M. We’ll have the two clerks with us. I’ve rented a reheda carruca (carriage) that can carry six passengers. As you know, we’ll have a grueling 20 mile trip facing us on those damn iron wheels. With four horses pulling, we should be able to make about 5 mph. I expect to arrive at the port at 9:00 A.M. Sir, eat a light breakfast. I’ll have a jug of ginger tea and some ginger roots in the carriage. I suggest you drink it all before we sail. There shouldn’t be any problem with sea sickness.”
Centurion Cassius continued, “The Captain plans to sail to Neapolis (modern Naples), which is some 120 miles (193km) from Ostia, and will take on water and food. It’ll take about two days to get there. From Neapolis, we’ll hug the coast line and stop at night to beach the ship. The Captain hopes to make about seven knots an hour, and with good winds cover 50-60 miles a day. He expects to make port at Messana (modern Messina) on the east coast of Sicily in another four days. The final leg of the trip is from Messana to Lilybaeum, another three days. The Captain will beach the ship each night so he’s bringing along a strong Legionary guard force. The ship will be a little cramped. Overall sir, the trip should take about nine days if the weather cooperates.”
“The Captain is aware that you will be aboard, and will offer you all the courtesies due your rank. You will be expected to eat in the Captain’s room aboard ship, if you’re up to it, and attend a more formal dinner once on the beach. I will bring a generous supply of ginger roots to eat to combat sea sickness. Sir, I recommend you sit in the middle of the
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