The Gladiator (46 page)

Ahead, the fires of the rebel camp gradually became more distinct, and he could see individual figures by the light of the flames. A dark mass directly ahead blotted out the fires beyond, and Cato realised that he was nearing the grain ships. He stopped and raised an arm. ‘On me! On me!’

The water churned around him as the words were passed on and the men began to gather on the steady swell. Once the sounds of splashing had ceased and Cato was happy that as many men as possible were with him, he called out again, as loudly as he dared: ‘Let’s go!

The men kicked out, spreading out a little as they approached the ships. They silently swam towards their targets with grim determination. Cato made directly for the centre of the rafted ships, and gradually they blotted out all sight of the camp beyond. He could hear the lap of the waves against their hulls, and even an occasional voice above the slap and hiss of the sea. He slowed his pace, kicking steadily but carefully so that he did not break the surface of the water. Ahead of him he saw a dark line against the background and realised he had come across an anchor cable. He made for it and grasped the coarse rope, finding it reassuringly steady. Slipping the shoulder strap of the waterskin and the bundled weapons securely over his head and shoulder, he eased himself on to the anchor cable and began to work up towards the bows of the ship.

Emerging from the water his skin tingled in the breeze, but the concentration and effort needed to edge forwards made him ignore the discomfort. He wormed his way up the cable, dripping as he edged towards the hawse, where it passed through the stout timbers of the grain ship. The further up he crawled, the more it began to sway, and his muscles tensed as he struggled to stay astride it. Then the timbers of the hull were within reach, and Cato held on with one hand while the other scrabbled up the weathered surface, over the side and gripped on. He pulled himself up, then grabbed at the side rail with his other hand. His shoulder muscles protested painfully as he drew his body up and peered over the side. There was no one visible in the bows. Beyond the foredeck there was a short drop to the main deck, where a sturdy hatch coaming led down into the hold. Aft, the deck rose up again to the steering platform. Several men lay or sat on the main deck, while one stood by the handle of the steering paddle, spear in hand. T h e stench of pitch filled the air and Cato saw a dull glow at the stern where a lamp burned inside a small leather screen. Ajax’s threat to burn the ships was quite real.

Cato eased his feet up on to the cable and pressed down as he heaved himself over the side, controlling the movement as best he could so that he did not land on the deck with a thud. Instead, he landed on top of a man sleeping in the shelter of the ship’s side. There was a grunt as Cato’s knees winded the rebel, who gasped as he stirred to find a wet, near-naked figure sprawled over him. Cato bunched his fist and drove it into the rebel’s face, snapping his head back against the deck with a dull bump. He hit him again, and again, until he was certain the man was insensible.

Cato sat on his haunches, his limbs shaking terribly from the cold and his exertions. He took a moment to rub himself vigorously to restore some warmth. Then he unfastened the length of cloth that bound his weapons, cursing under his breath as his fingers fumbled with the ties. As they came undone, he felt the reassuring touch of his sword blade. He crouched on the deck as he fastened the belt around his middle, and then cautiously rose up to help the next man over the side. It was Atticus, and a moment later he too was on the foredeck, armed and ready. More men swarmed up the anchor cable and joined them, while Atticus drew his dagger and cut the rebel’s throat.

Once Atticus, Vulso, Musa and three other men were aboard and had their weapons to hand, Cato squatted down in front of them. ‘All ready? When I give the word, we head across the main deck. Go in fast, and show no mercy. I want the ship taken without the alarm being raised. Atticus, you take Vulso and Musa and make your way down the port side. I’ll lead the rest.’ He glanced round at the shadowy features of his men, most of whom were shivering, like himself, from the cold and the terrifying exhilaration of the instant before battle began. Cato grasped his sword firmly and turned aft. ‘Let’s go.’

He kept low, crouching as he moved along the ship’s side, where he hoped the shadows might conceal him long enough to surprise the rebels. At the end of the foredeck, three steps led down to the long, broad expanse of the main deck. Three of the rebels were sitting on the edge of the hatch coaming, talking in muted tones as they shared a wineskin. Cato saw one of them lift it up and swallow several mouthfuls. As he approached them, he increased his pace to a trot, then a sprint, drawing back his sword. He slashed at the first man, cutting into his head with a soft crack before the rebel had even begun to turn towards the sound of the sudden rush of padding feet. The second man just had time to glance round before Cato punched him hard on the jaw and thrust him over the side of the hatch and into the hold. The third man lowered the wineskin and let out a choked gasp as Cato caught him with the backswing of his sword, cutting through the hand holding the wineskin and into the man’s neck. He crumpled on to the deck as the dark forms of the Roman legionaries swept on, hacking into the rest of the rebels.

The sentry with the spear had been looking over the after rail, but he turned at the sound of the commotion on the main deck. Cato leaped up on to the aft deck before the man could react and ran straight at him. There was no time for the rebel to lower his spear, and Cato thrust his sword out an instant before he crashed into the man, slamming him back against the sternpost. Winded by the impact, the man could only gasp as Cato thrust his sword up into vital organs. There was a brief struggle before his enemy sagged and released his spear, which clattered on to the deck. Breathing heavily, Cato withdrew his blade and turned to see that the rest of the crew had been disposed of. He crossed to the oil lamp and hurriedly blew it out.

‘Next ship,’ he ordered softly, pointing to where another grain ship loomed in the darkness. He led the way across the main deck and peered cautiously over the side. There were two ropes securing the vessels to each other, and Cato indicated them. ‘Haul us in.’

His men took up the strain and braced their feet against the ship’s side. Slowly the gap closed and the grain ships collided with a gentle bump. At once Cato scrambled on to the next deck, followed by Atticus and the others. He heard cries from some of the other ships and the clash of weapons. A voice called out, sounding the alarm, and Cato realised the element of surprise had gone. He filled his lungs and cupped a hand to his mouth. ‘Up the Twenty-Second!’

Musa echoed the war cry and it was quickly taken up by other voices in the darkness. Cato turned to Atticus. ‘Clear this ship.’

‘Yes, sir!’ ‘Musa? Where are you?’ A figure came towards him. ‘Sir?’ ‘You have the buccina?’ ‘Yes, sir.’ The legionary held up the curved brass horn. ‘Then sound it. As loud as you can.’ Musa fumbled for the mouthpiece, filled his lungs and blew for all he was worth. The first note was flat and clumsy, and while Cato swore, Musa spat and tried again. This time there was a sharp, shrill blare that cut through the darkness. Musa blew three short notes, rested and then repeated the signal.

‘Keep it going!’ Cato slapped him on the back and went to join Atticus and the others. As he made his way across the main deck, he stepped over a body and saw several figures struggling on the far side of the hatch. He hurried round, straining his eyes to make out friend from foe. Fortunately the legionaries were all stripped down to their loincloths while the slaves wore tunics and cloaks. Cato sensed a movement to his side, and turned to see a man emerge from a small cabin under the aft deck, falcata in hand. He ducked low, and lashed out with his sword, striking the man on the shin.With a cry ofagony he toppled back into the cabin and out of sight. Cato stayed in a crouch, looking round for another enemy. His heart was pounding in his chest and the cold and the tension made his body tremble. Musa was still blowing the buccina, and in the rests between the repeated notes Cato caught the strain of another faint blast of notes in the distance.The other group had begun seizing the beached ships then. Moments later, up on one of the hills overlooking the bay, a series of sparks flickered into life, quickly flaring up as the signal was passed on to the warships waiting out at sea.

Cato backed into the side of the ship and took stock. All around him in the darkness he could hear the sounds of the vicious struggle being waged across the decks of the grain ships lying at anchor and bound together.The legionaries were giving full vent to their voices, partly to encourage each other, but mostly to add to the terror of their enemies. From the shore came the sound ofmore horns and the faint roar of Fulvius and his men charging the flank of the rebel palisade. Cato puffed out his cheeks. So far it was going to plan. Now it all depended on keeping the momentum going, before Ajax and his men could mount any organised resistance to the surprise attack.

What was that?’ Ajax eased himself up from his couch, ears straining to catch the sound he had heard briefly a moment before. One of his bodyguards stood before him, holding Julia’s arm firmly as she waited for Ajax’s inspection. A long linen stola had been found for her, dyed a vivid blue, and he had paused to admire the spectacle of the Roman woman from his couch. She was quite a beauty, he had mused to himself as he sipped a cup of watered wine. He had felt his lust stirring as he ran his eyes over her figure, and had begun to fantasise about the kinds of pleasure he might exact from her, while inflicting as much pain as possible, when the faint notes of a brass horn sounded in the distance. It came again. Three sharp notes, and a rest.

Ajax was instantly on his feet and running across the tent. He swept the tent flaps aside and ran out into the night, where he stopped and stared across the bay. In the light of torches and camp fires along the palisade, he saw men fighting on and around the redoubt, with tiny flickers of red light as sword blades flashed reflec- tions of flames. The notes sounded again, nearer than they should, and Ajax was puzzled for a moment, until he realised with a shock that the notes came from down in the bay, from the direction of the anchored grain ships. He ducked back into the tent and stabbed his finger at the woman.

‘Keep her here! Don’t take your eyes off her. If she escapes or is harmed, you’ll answer for it with your life!’

Snatching up his sword belt, he buckled it on as he ran towards the horse lines. Around him the men of his bodyguard were tumbling out of their tents and shelters to investigate the commotion on the far side of the bay.

‘Don’t just stand there!’Ajax shouted at them. ‘We’re under attack! Get your weapons and ride to the palisade! Move!’

He took the nearest ofthe horses kept saddled and ready for use at any time of day or night, and threw himself on to the animal’s back. Snatching at the reins, he kicked his heels in and urged the horse down the path towards the main body ofthe rebel camp.As he passed the cage where Centurion Macro sat behind bars, he heard the Roman cheering madly, but there was no time to stop and silence his tongue.Ajax resolved to do that the first moment that could be spared. It would be a pity to kill Centurion Macro quickly, but die he must, to honour the memory of his father. All around, figures were rising up in the glow of the camp fires and staring in confusion towards the distant fighting. Ajax bellowed at them to take up their weapons and make for the battle, before the Romans took the grain ships.

As he galloped through the camp, swerving here and there to avoid those who were too slow to react to the approaching rider, Ajax felt sick in the pit of his stomach. He had underestimated his enemy. He had been certain that the threat to destroy the grain ships, vital to the survival of Rome, would forestall any attempt to attack his camp. The ships had been carefully prepared by his men, flammable materials placed in the holds and doused with oil and pitch, ready to set on fire at the first sign of approaching Roman warships. So where were the fires? Ajax reined his horse in as he reached a small rise in the ground, and strained his eyes as he tried to make out what was happening across the bay. He could see one of the beached ships by the light of a brazier burning on the sand. Men were clustered about its bows, splashing in the shallows as they attempted to climb aboard and grapple with those defending the vessel. Then it hit him. The Romans had taken the ship. Taken all the ships . . . But then a sudden lick of flame from further down the beach lit up the deck and mast of one of the vessels. The fire caught and more flames gushed up into the night, accompanied by flickering tracery as the rigging started to burn. Out in the bay another fire started. N o t all the ships had been taken then. There might still be a chance to beat off the attack and seize the ships back from the Romans, or at least burn them all to prevent them falling into the hands of his hated enemy.

Several of his bodyguards had caught up with him, and Ajax raised his arm and called out as he charged on towards the beach: ‘Follow me!’

As they galloped on through the camp, he continued to call his followers to arms and order them to the beach. At the same time, part ofhis mind raged at himself. How had the Romans done this? How had they managed to get to the grain ships without being seen? He had taken every precaution. There were men watching all the approaches from land and out to sea.They could not have missed so many of the enemy. Surely? They must have used boats, but any boats would have been seen, even on this moonless night. It would only have been possible if they had swum the length of the bay, under the cover of darkness. That had to be it, he decided, furious with himself. He could not help a moment of grudging admiration for his enemy, and then the horses reached the beach.

A large group ofhis men stood clustered at the edge ofthe camp. Ajax halted and turned towards the riders following him. ‘Kharim! Are you with me?’