we took a statement. We’ll see what he says when he encounters you two.’ He paused and stared at Macro and Cato for a moment before he continued. ‘However, if you’re being straight with me, and this is all the work of Ajax, then it seems we’re dealing with a rather more dangerous and resourceful enemy than I thought.’
Cato nodded. ‘Oh, he’s all that and more. Utterly ruthless. My guess is that he has ambitions to stir up a fresh revolt here in Egypt. That’s the only thing that makes sense.’
‘But why?’ Macro interrupted. ‘Why doesn’t he just run and go to ground? Find somewhere to hide until we give up the chase, then he and his followers can live out their lives as free men.’
‘No, they’ll always be fugitives. Ajax knows that. There can be no peace for him. No matter where he goes, Rome will never give up the hunt. So, all that is left to him is to fight on. It’s all he knows. One way or another he will always be our enemy. Until he is found and killed.’
‘That can’t happen a day too soon,’ Petronius added with feeling. ‘I already have enough problems containing the situation on the upper Nile without this new trouble along the coast.’ He paused and crossed over to the table, pulled up a stool and sat down, gesturing to Cato and Macro to do the same. The scribe remained sitting in the corner, discreetly taking notes. Cato glanced at him, mindful of the need to choose his words with care since Petronius would have a record of what was said.
The governor poured himself a drink before he continued. ‘The province seems to be afflicted by a confluence of threats at present, even before this gladiator of yours turned up – assuming that you are not responsible for the actions that have stirred up the locals.’
Macro bristled, and Cato shook his finger slightly to warn his friend not to react. Petronius missed the gesture; he had his cup in both hands and was staring down at the shimmering surface.
‘For the last three months the Nubians have been carrying out raids against our southern frontier,’ he went on. ‘Each time, they have penetrated further along the Nile, but always withdrawing before we could gather sufficient forces to trap and destroy them. It’s my belief that they have been testing our defences and reconnoitring the ground in preparation for a larger operation. A few days ago I had that confirmed in a report from the strategos of the nomes on the border with Nubia.’
Macro looked at Cato and cocked an eyebrow. He cleared his throat. ‘Excuse me, sir. What do you mean by these, er, nomes?’
Petronius looked at him irritably and shrugged. ‘Should have known you weren’t familiar with arrangements here. It’s a hangover from the time before Rome made Egypt into a province. The nomes are administrative districts. Each one is under the control of a strategos and a local council. They did a good job of collecting the taxes and taking care of local legal matters so Rome saw no need to change things.’
Macro grunted. ‘Glad to see the Greeks got something right.’
‘Actually, the Greeks adapted the system from the natives.’
‘What? The gypos?’
Petronius smiled. ‘You really have no idea, do you?’
‘About what, sir?’
‘This province. Egypt was a great power once. Long before Rome was even a tiny village of farmers scratching a living on the banks of the Tiber.’
‘Bollocks.’ Macro jerked his thumb towards the heart of the city. ‘That lot?’
‘It’s true, I assure you, though don’t ever attempt to get one of the locals to tell you the full story, unless you have a few years to spare.’
Cato coughed. ‘Sir? About the Nubians?’
‘Oh yes.’ Petronius refocused his thoughts. ‘The strategos at Syene. Anyway, he sent several spies across the frontier to gather intelligence. Most didn’t come back, then at last he heard from one. The man had seen columns of Nubian warriors massing a hundred miles or
Cato nodded. ‘Oh, he’s all that and more. Utterly ruthless. My guess is that he has ambitions to stir up a fresh revolt here in Egypt. That’s the only thing that makes sense.’
‘But why?’ Macro interrupted. ‘Why doesn’t he just run and go to ground? Find somewhere to hide until we give up the chase, then he and his followers can live out their lives as free men.’
‘No, they’ll always be fugitives. Ajax knows that. There can be no peace for him. No matter where he goes, Rome will never give up the hunt. So, all that is left to him is to fight on. It’s all he knows. One way or another he will always be our enemy. Until he is found and killed.’
‘That can’t happen a day too soon,’ Petronius added with feeling. ‘I already have enough problems containing the situation on the upper Nile without this new trouble along the coast.’ He paused and crossed over to the table, pulled up a stool and sat down, gesturing to Cato and Macro to do the same. The scribe remained sitting in the corner, discreetly taking notes. Cato glanced at him, mindful of the need to choose his words with care since Petronius would have a record of what was said.
The governor poured himself a drink before he continued. ‘The province seems to be afflicted by a confluence of threats at present, even before this gladiator of yours turned up – assuming that you are not responsible for the actions that have stirred up the locals.’
Macro bristled, and Cato shook his finger slightly to warn his friend not to react. Petronius missed the gesture; he had his cup in both hands and was staring down at the shimmering surface.
‘For the last three months the Nubians have been carrying out raids against our southern frontier,’ he went on. ‘Each time, they have penetrated further along the Nile, but always withdrawing before we could gather sufficient forces to trap and destroy them. It’s my belief that they have been testing our defences and reconnoitring the ground in preparation for a larger operation. A few days ago I had that confirmed in a report from the strategos of the nomes on the border with Nubia.’
Macro looked at Cato and cocked an eyebrow. He cleared his throat. ‘Excuse me, sir. What do you mean by these, er, nomes?’
Petronius looked at him irritably and shrugged. ‘Should have known you weren’t familiar with arrangements here. It’s a hangover from the time before Rome made Egypt into a province. The nomes are administrative districts. Each one is under the control of a strategos and a local council. They did a good job of collecting the taxes and taking care of local legal matters so Rome saw no need to change things.’
Macro grunted. ‘Glad to see the Greeks got something right.’
‘Actually, the Greeks adapted the system from the natives.’
‘What? The gypos?’
Petronius smiled. ‘You really have no idea, do you?’
‘About what, sir?’
‘This province. Egypt was a great power once. Long before Rome was even a tiny village of farmers scratching a living on the banks of the Tiber.’
‘Bollocks.’ Macro jerked his thumb towards the heart of the city. ‘That lot?’
‘It’s true, I assure you, though don’t ever attempt to get one of the locals to tell you the full story, unless you have a few years to spare.’
Cato coughed. ‘Sir? About the Nubians?’
‘Oh yes.’ Petronius refocused his thoughts. ‘The strategos at Syene. Anyway, he sent several spies across the frontier to gather intelligence. Most didn’t come back, then at last he heard from one. The man had seen columns of Nubian warriors massing a hundred miles or
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