Free Legio XVII: Battle of Zama by Thomas A. Timmes Page B

the one who threatened the Praetor!  Get out of here, and you better hope we don’t meet again.”
    “Yes sir,” muttered the frightened man.
    As he walked away, Cassius returned to Manius’ office.  “Sir, I think they’ll comply with your demands.”  Manius smiled.
     
    *******
     
    That evening Manius remembered the poem Flavia had given him the night he left Rome.  He rummaged through his bags and found it. As he read it, his eyes filled with tears.  It was sweet and innocent, and his lovely daughter had written it for him.
     
    “To a Great Man and a Wonderful Father
    The one I rarely saw and never knew stood knocking at my door.
    Who are you strange man; mean you life or death, a beginning or an end?
    Life and more, declared the stranger; I bring glad tidings;
    My heart has opened to the infant now grown tall and beautiful
    No longer a child; not quite a woman
    I will love you and guide you, he said.
    I opened the door, just a crack at first, to see if ‘more’ meant ‘more;’
    To my surprise, it wasn’t the Proconsul, Praetor or Legion Legate,
    But Manius, my father, who wanted access to my heart and my life
    Enter, said I, and tell me who you are.
    My list of people I truly love has grown by one during autumn’s waning sun,
    Grandmother, Rivkah, Lucia, Titus, Decima, and you now fill my life and warm my heart
    I now know you and thank the gods”
     
    Manius put away the poem.  He felt lifted and sad.  He reached for his papers and a pen.  He quickly wrote letters to Lucia, Flavia, and Titus and then extinguished the oil lamp.  It was late.
    Early the next morning, Centurion Sentius, his new Facilities Manager, knocked on Manius’ office door. “Sir, I’ve assembled all the people who worked for Durius.  They’re waiting in the warehouse.  I’ll warn you they’re aware he’s been fired and are more than a little apprehensive as to their own future.”
    “Sentius, do you know where these men are living?  Where do they sleep?”
    “Sir, the best I can determine is that they work here all day and sleep in the warehouses, the Legion camps, or basically anywhere they can find a space.”
    “That’s what I was afraid of,” sighed Manius.  This is now a military camp and access will be limited to those who work here.  At night, I want them out of the camp unless their duties require them to be here.  Modius, go get Sempronius for me.”
    Sempronius walked in 10 minutes later expecting to be asked about the taverns.  Manius said, “Tribune, this camp is wide open and poses a security risk.  I want you to construct a manned entrance for anyone entering and leaving the camp.  Prepare a letter authorizing those who work here to enter the camp.  Place their names and a seal on it to prevent counterfeits.  Once you issue the letters, if an individual without a letter wants access, you will have to approve it and provide an escort as long as that individual is on the camp grounds.  Workers will no longer be allowed to remain in the camp at the end of the work day.  Conduct periodic sweeps of the warehouses and Legion camps to ensure everyone leaves.  You have one week to do this, and now I want you to go with me when I speak to the camp workers.  When I conclude my remarks, I want you to explain this new policy to them.”
    Manius walked over to the warehouse.  Inside stood about 300 men.  Uncertainty hung in the air.  Manius introduced himself and said that shortly the Consul and his staff would arrive to begin preparations for an expected invasion of Africa.  He explained that the camp was under new management and the old ways have changed.  He talked about the new requirements that he envisioned once the Consul was settled in and preparations got underway for the invasion.  He concluded his remarks by stating that no one would be fired without provocation.  He then introduced Sempronius and walked out.
    Walking back to his office, Manius worked to convince himself of a few