so beyond the cataract. They were led by Prince Talmis. He’s the eldest son of the King of Nubia. He’s already extended their kingdom into Aethiopia and has quite a reputation as a general. He means to enhance it by attacking this province, I’m certain of it.’
‘But why?’ Cato asked. ‘Have the Nubians been provoked?’
‘In a manner of speaking,’ Petronius admitted. ‘A year ago, the Emperor ordered me to send a survey to map the Nile to its source. I advised him that such an expedition would cause friction with the Nubians. They’re a touchy people.’
‘No doubt. I would imagine they suspected this was a prelude to invasion. Why else would Claudius want the area mapped?’
‘The imperial secretary gave me his firm assurance that there are no plans to invade Nubia. The purpose of the expedition was purely scientific.’
Macro scratched his cheek. ‘And you believed Narcissus, did you, sir?’
‘Whether one believes Narcissus or not, once the Emperor gives the order then the thing is done. So I sent the cartographers up the Nile with a small escort, and a message of goodwill.’ Petronius paused.
‘What happened?’ asked Macro.
‘Prince Talmis sent their heads back with a message warning us to keep our noses out of Nubian territory.’
Cato leaned forward. ‘And, naturally, you sent out a punitive column.’
‘Of course. What else could I do? Rome is not prepared to suffer such an insult to her authority. Our men burned several of their settlements, enslaved over a thousand of their people and destroyed whatever irrigation infrastructure they came across. Since then we’ve had these raids and I’ve had to send reinforcements south to bolster our defences along the frontier. Under normal circumstances the garrison of Egypt is perfectly capable of defending the province and keeping order. We have two legions, the Third based here in Alexandria, and the Twenty-Second at Heliopolis. There’s also nine cohorts of auxiliaries based in forts across the delta and along the Nile. However, as you well know, I had to lend my good friend Senator Sempronius three thousand men from the Third Legion and two auxiliary cohorts to put down the revolt on Crete. He has still to return most of those men. Right now, I have two cohorts of legionaries available to hold Alexandria. A thousand men to control over half a million. Not an easy job at the best of times. But since this business with Ajax began – if you’re telling me the truth – the sailors and merchants have been up in arms demanding protection. That’s over and above the usual friction we have between the Jews and the Greeks. Then there’s the fellahin, the peasants, along the coast, ready to revolt, thanks to these raids on the villages and the sacking of that temple. Oh, and there’s one other thing,’ he added bitterly. ‘The latest readings of the Nilometers suggest that we’re in for a poor crop.’
‘Too little water?’ Cato surmised.
Petronius shook his head. ‘Too much. The Nile’s going to flood much higher this year, which means it will take longer to recede and the crops will have to be planted late. The fellahin are going to go hungry and the tax take is going to fall. I have the men to deal with the first problem, but as sure as Vulcan made little knuckledusters, I’ll get it in the neck once the imperial treasury detects a shortfall in Egypt’s tax take.’ Petronius raised his hands helplessly. ‘So, as you can see, your friend Ajax has arrived on the scene at the very worst of times.’
Macro’s eyes narrowed darkly. ‘Ajax is no friend of mine, sir.’
‘Figure of speech,’ Petronius excused himself lightly.
They were interrupted by a rap on the door frame. All three turned as a guard entered the room. ‘Sir, got the gypo from the temple you wanted outside.’
Petronius winced. ‘Soldier, I really would rather that you and your companions referred to our provincials in less pejorative
‘But why?’ Cato asked. ‘Have the Nubians been provoked?’
‘In a manner of speaking,’ Petronius admitted. ‘A year ago, the Emperor ordered me to send a survey to map the Nile to its source. I advised him that such an expedition would cause friction with the Nubians. They’re a touchy people.’
‘No doubt. I would imagine they suspected this was a prelude to invasion. Why else would Claudius want the area mapped?’
‘The imperial secretary gave me his firm assurance that there are no plans to invade Nubia. The purpose of the expedition was purely scientific.’
Macro scratched his cheek. ‘And you believed Narcissus, did you, sir?’
‘Whether one believes Narcissus or not, once the Emperor gives the order then the thing is done. So I sent the cartographers up the Nile with a small escort, and a message of goodwill.’ Petronius paused.
‘What happened?’ asked Macro.
‘Prince Talmis sent their heads back with a message warning us to keep our noses out of Nubian territory.’
Cato leaned forward. ‘And, naturally, you sent out a punitive column.’
‘Of course. What else could I do? Rome is not prepared to suffer such an insult to her authority. Our men burned several of their settlements, enslaved over a thousand of their people and destroyed whatever irrigation infrastructure they came across. Since then we’ve had these raids and I’ve had to send reinforcements south to bolster our defences along the frontier. Under normal circumstances the garrison of Egypt is perfectly capable of defending the province and keeping order. We have two legions, the Third based here in Alexandria, and the Twenty-Second at Heliopolis. There’s also nine cohorts of auxiliaries based in forts across the delta and along the Nile. However, as you well know, I had to lend my good friend Senator Sempronius three thousand men from the Third Legion and two auxiliary cohorts to put down the revolt on Crete. He has still to return most of those men. Right now, I have two cohorts of legionaries available to hold Alexandria. A thousand men to control over half a million. Not an easy job at the best of times. But since this business with Ajax began – if you’re telling me the truth – the sailors and merchants have been up in arms demanding protection. That’s over and above the usual friction we have between the Jews and the Greeks. Then there’s the fellahin, the peasants, along the coast, ready to revolt, thanks to these raids on the villages and the sacking of that temple. Oh, and there’s one other thing,’ he added bitterly. ‘The latest readings of the Nilometers suggest that we’re in for a poor crop.’
‘Too little water?’ Cato surmised.
Petronius shook his head. ‘Too much. The Nile’s going to flood much higher this year, which means it will take longer to recede and the crops will have to be planted late. The fellahin are going to go hungry and the tax take is going to fall. I have the men to deal with the first problem, but as sure as Vulcan made little knuckledusters, I’ll get it in the neck once the imperial treasury detects a shortfall in Egypt’s tax take.’ Petronius raised his hands helplessly. ‘So, as you can see, your friend Ajax has arrived on the scene at the very worst of times.’
Macro’s eyes narrowed darkly. ‘Ajax is no friend of mine, sir.’
‘Figure of speech,’ Petronius excused himself lightly.
They were interrupted by a rap on the door frame. All three turned as a guard entered the room. ‘Sir, got the gypo from the temple you wanted outside.’
Petronius winced. ‘Soldier, I really would rather that you and your companions referred to our provincials in less pejorative
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