Gortyna for the annual banquet. The prefect and all the local worthies. As soon as the earthquake and the wave hit us, I sent him a report. He should be back to take charge at any time. ‘
‘How far away is Gortyna?’ Cato asked. ‘Fifteen miles or so. ‘ ‘And the prefect has not returned yet, nor sent a reply?’ ‘No. Not yet. ‘ Macro took a deep breath to calm his growing sense of frustration. ‘And what have you done in the meantime?’ ‘Done?’
‘To help the people down there. ‘ Macro jerked his thumb in the direction of the window. ‘To help rescue those trapped in the ruins, to treat the injured and organise food and water for the survivors, and to restore order. Well?’
Portillus’s brow creased into a frown. ‘I have done all that is necessary to make sure the men of my cohort were seen to first, and to make them ready to carry out whatever orders the prefect gives them the moment he returns from Gortyna. That’s what I’ve done. ‘
‘Bullshit!’ Macro growled. ‘Bloody jobsworth. You and your men are sitting on your arses while the people down there need you. It is your duty to keep the peace. There’s bugger all else for you to do on a garrison posting. ‘
Sempronius coughed. ‘Macro. I’m sure that Centurion Portillus and his men will do what’s needed the moment his prefect returns. ‘
‘Assuming he does return, ‘ Cato added. The others turned to look at him. Portillus raised his eyebrows. ‘Why wouldn’t he return?’ ‘When exactly did you send the message to him?’ ‘Last night. ‘ ‘Then he has had time to respond or return. So why haven’t you heard from him?’ ‘I don’t know!’ Portillus flapped an open hand. ‘Could be any reason. Perhaps he is needed in Gortyna. ‘ ‘Perhaps, ‘ Cato conceded. ‘Then again, if what has happened here in Matala is anything to go by, surely Gortyna will have been hit hard as well. ‘
As Portillus struggled to come to terms with the implications of Cato’s words, the sound of a horse’s hooves clattering across the courtyard echoed faintly through the basilica. Macro turned towards the sound and went to the door. A cloaked figure came running through the entrance and across the hall, making straight for the prefect’s office.
‘Seems that we may be about to find out what’s happened at Gortyna, ‘ Macro said quietly.
A moment later the new arrival was standing in front ofthe three officers and the senator, struggling for breath. His cloak and face were grimy with dust from a hard ride. He made an effort to stand up straight and salute before making his report.
‘Is this the man you sent to Gortyna?’ asked Sempronius. Portillus nodded as he faced the man. ‘Did you find the prefect?’ ‘Yes, sir. That is, I saw him. ‘ ‘Saw him? What do you mean? Speak sense, man!’ ‘I saw his body, sir. The prefect’s dead. So is nearly every other official in the province, sir. ‘ ‘Dead?’ Portillus shook his head. ‘How?’ ‘They were all in the banquet hall at the governor’s palace when the earthquake struck. The roof collapsed on top of them. The survivors on the governor’s staff have been pulling the bodies out all day, sir. There’s only a handful left alive. Some of them won’t live long.’
‘I don’t believe it, ‘ Portillus mumbled. ‘It’s not possible. ‘
Cato edged closer to the messenger. ‘What about the governor? Is he dead?’
‘No. At least not when I left Gortyna, sir. He was hurt bad, like. His legs have been crushed. He sent me back here to report to Centurion Portillus. ‘
‘Me?’
‘Yes, sir. You are the senior Roman official in Matala. He’s ordered you to take charge here. ‘
‘Me?’ Portillus’s eyes widened with shock, and not a little anxiety. ‘There has to be someone else. ‘
‘No, sir. ‘
‘I…I need to think. ‘ Portillus backed away and then turned to gaze out of the window. ‘I need time to make a plan. Time to restore order. I…
‘How far away is Gortyna?’ Cato asked. ‘Fifteen miles or so. ‘ ‘And the prefect has not returned yet, nor sent a reply?’ ‘No. Not yet. ‘ Macro took a deep breath to calm his growing sense of frustration. ‘And what have you done in the meantime?’ ‘Done?’
‘To help the people down there. ‘ Macro jerked his thumb in the direction of the window. ‘To help rescue those trapped in the ruins, to treat the injured and organise food and water for the survivors, and to restore order. Well?’
Portillus’s brow creased into a frown. ‘I have done all that is necessary to make sure the men of my cohort were seen to first, and to make them ready to carry out whatever orders the prefect gives them the moment he returns from Gortyna. That’s what I’ve done. ‘
‘Bullshit!’ Macro growled. ‘Bloody jobsworth. You and your men are sitting on your arses while the people down there need you. It is your duty to keep the peace. There’s bugger all else for you to do on a garrison posting. ‘
Sempronius coughed. ‘Macro. I’m sure that Centurion Portillus and his men will do what’s needed the moment his prefect returns. ‘
‘Assuming he does return, ‘ Cato added. The others turned to look at him. Portillus raised his eyebrows. ‘Why wouldn’t he return?’ ‘When exactly did you send the message to him?’ ‘Last night. ‘ ‘Then he has had time to respond or return. So why haven’t you heard from him?’ ‘I don’t know!’ Portillus flapped an open hand. ‘Could be any reason. Perhaps he is needed in Gortyna. ‘ ‘Perhaps, ‘ Cato conceded. ‘Then again, if what has happened here in Matala is anything to go by, surely Gortyna will have been hit hard as well. ‘
As Portillus struggled to come to terms with the implications of Cato’s words, the sound of a horse’s hooves clattering across the courtyard echoed faintly through the basilica. Macro turned towards the sound and went to the door. A cloaked figure came running through the entrance and across the hall, making straight for the prefect’s office.
‘Seems that we may be about to find out what’s happened at Gortyna, ‘ Macro said quietly.
A moment later the new arrival was standing in front ofthe three officers and the senator, struggling for breath. His cloak and face were grimy with dust from a hard ride. He made an effort to stand up straight and salute before making his report.
‘Is this the man you sent to Gortyna?’ asked Sempronius. Portillus nodded as he faced the man. ‘Did you find the prefect?’ ‘Yes, sir. That is, I saw him. ‘ ‘Saw him? What do you mean? Speak sense, man!’ ‘I saw his body, sir. The prefect’s dead. So is nearly every other official in the province, sir. ‘ ‘Dead?’ Portillus shook his head. ‘How?’ ‘They were all in the banquet hall at the governor’s palace when the earthquake struck. The roof collapsed on top of them. The survivors on the governor’s staff have been pulling the bodies out all day, sir. There’s only a handful left alive. Some of them won’t live long.’
‘I don’t believe it, ‘ Portillus mumbled. ‘It’s not possible. ‘
Cato edged closer to the messenger. ‘What about the governor? Is he dead?’
‘No. At least not when I left Gortyna, sir. He was hurt bad, like. His legs have been crushed. He sent me back here to report to Centurion Portillus. ‘
‘Me?’
‘Yes, sir. You are the senior Roman official in Matala. He’s ordered you to take charge here. ‘
‘Me?’ Portillus’s eyes widened with shock, and not a little anxiety. ‘There has to be someone else. ‘
‘No, sir. ‘
‘I…I need to think. ‘ Portillus backed away and then turned to gaze out of the window. ‘I need time to make a plan. Time to restore order. I…
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