Free The Gladiator by Simon Scarrow Page B

have you been here?’ ‘Seven years, sir. ‘ ‘Seven years, ‘ Macro repeated flatly. ‘And you just chose to ignore it?’ stick, with dark, wizened features, but he carried the scars that spoke ‘No, sir, ‘ the quartermaster replied indignantly He was a thin old of some active service, Macro conceded. The quartermaster continued. ‘The prefect told me not to bother. Said that how as we were a garrison unit, and the province was at peace, there was no point in preparing for a siege, sir. ‘
    ‘I see. Right, well, that’s going to change. At first light I want you and your clerks down here.The cistern is to be drained, thoroughly cleaned, repaired and made ready to store any rain that falls. ‘
    ‘Yes, sir. ‘
    Macro stared at the quartermaster. ‘Look her… what was the name again?’
    ‘Corvinus, sir. Lucius Junillus Corvinus. ‘
    ‘Corvinus, eh?’ Macro smiled. ‘Crow – it suits you. Now then, we have people out there who need our help. For now we are just going to help the survivors. D i g out any of those trapped in the ruins, then we have to feed them, see that they have fresh water and shelter. In the longer term we will need to make sure that there is order. If the food runs short then we’re going to be hard pressed to keep things peaceable. In that event, I need every man of the Twelfth Hispania properly equipped and ready to fight. So that means you will need to pull your thumb out ofyour arse and make sure the men have what they need. Got that?’
    ‘Yes, sir. I’ll do my best. ‘
    Macro shook his head. ‘Best isn’t good enough. You will do what I need you to do. If you can’t do the job then I’ll send you back to the ranks and find someone who can. ‘
    ‘B-but you can’t do that, ‘ Corvinus stammered. ‘I will protest to the prefect, sir. You have no authority to remove me. ‘
    ‘You can protest all you like. The prefect is dead. ‘ ‘Dead?’ ‘He was killed when the earthquake hit Gortyna. Him and most of the senior officials running the province. That’s why Senator Sempronius is taking charge of things. That’s why I am in charge of the cohort, and why you are going to have to start earning your pay for the first time in years. ‘ Macro paused and then gently punched the man on the chest. ‘It’s all down to us, Corvinus. We’re all that stands between those people out there, and starvation and chaos. Now, I’ll ask you one time only. Can you do your job?’
    Corvinus took a deep breath and nodded.
    ‘Good man! N o w then, I want a full inventory of the cohort’s kit in my hands before the first change of watch tonight. You’d best start now. ‘
    ‘Yes, sir. ‘ Corvinus saluted and turned away, hurrying across the courtyard to the supply office and storerooms. Macro watched him for a moment and then sighed. He hoped that this was going to be the briefest command he would ever hold. Just long enough to set the cohort back on its feet and deal with the crisis in Matala before a new prefect arrived. Then he, Cato and the others could continue their voyage back to Rome. The sooner the better, he mused as he made his way back to the prefect’s office.
    Once he had finished reading through the waxed note tablets, Macro sent for Portillus. While he waited, he helped himself to one of the small jars of wine that the prefect had kept in a small rack in the corner of the office. Several tiles had fallen in and smashed the jars in the upper section of the rack, but some at the bottom had survived. He tugged the cork stopper out and sniffed. A fine aroma wafted up into his nostrils and he smiled. Clearly the prefect had been a man who knew how to indulge himself. Shutting one eye, he peered into the jar.
    ‘And half full. ‘ He smiled to himself as he took the jar and a silvered cup back to the desk and filled the cup almost to the brim. ‘Not a total disaster then. ‘
    There was a knock at the door, and without waiting for a response, Portillus opened it and