'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 terms.'

The man blinked. 'Sir?'

'Egyptians, not gypos, eh?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Very well, bring him in.'

Cato looked around at Macro and took a sharp breath as they waited for the survivor from the temple to be brought in to tell his tale.

CHAPTER FIVE

Hamedes was tall and solidly built. His bruised head had been shaved, but several days without any attention had left it with a dark furze. Somewhat younger than Cato, his eyes were deep-set either side of the wide curved nose that was typical of the native race. He wore a plain red military tunic, which Cato guessed must have been lent to him. He stood before them barefoot and unbowed. He spoke in Greek, fluently.

'You sent for me, sir,' he announced, somehow making the last word sound like a condescension.

'Indeed.' The governor nodded. 'I'd like you to tell your story to these two officers.'

'Why? I've already given a statement, which was taken down by your scribe. It's not necessary, a waste of time.'

'There's no need for the high and mighty act,' said Macro with a frown that would have unnerved a less easily subdued man than Hamedes. 'Just be a good lad and give us the details.'

The priest looked Macro up and down. 'And who might I be addressing, if I may ask?'

Macro puffed his chest out. 'Centurion-'

'Enough!' Cato intervened. 'You are here to answer our questions, not ask your own.'

'Really? I thought I was here because I am a witness to Roman aggression against the temple of Isis at Keirkut. The temple is now a ruin, and its servants are carrion meat for the vultures. I am here to see that they have justice, sir.' He paused briefly. 'That is, if those who come from Rome are familiar with the concept. Meanwhile, it seems that I am a prisoner.'

Macro glanced at Cato and spoke quietly. 'Quite full of himself, isn't he? If he wants to play us around then I'm quite happy to take on the role of interrogator.'

'Not yet,' Cato replied quietly. 'Let's see what we can learn by less obtrusive means, eh?'

He turned to Hamedes. 'The governor has asked us to join his investigation into the incident. We could read the report, but I would prefer to hear it directly from your own lips. It would be of considerable assistance to us in seeking the justice you desire.'

The young priest stared back, and then nodded. 'Very well. I am prepared to cooperate on that basis.'

'How good of you,' Macro muttered, and Cato shot him a warning look.

'Tell them what you told me, Hamedes,' said Petronius. 'If you please.'

'Very well.' He closed his eyes briefly to compose his thoughts. 'It was the last hour of the day when they came. The high priest had begun the ceremony of Ra's entry into the underworld. The senior priests were by the altar on the river landing. The rest of us were kneeling on the bank of the river, around the sacred barge. That's when I first noticed the sail. A Roman warship had entered the river from the sea and was making for the eastern bank of the tributary. The high priest seemed to pay it no attention and continued with the ceremony, preparing the bushel of wheat to be burned as an offering to Ra, the most wise and merciful.' Hamedes briefly clasped his hands together and bowed his head. 'The ship continued towards the landing. At the last moment they took in their sail and turned to come alongside the steps leading down into the Nile. At once the Romans threw down a ramp and came ashore.'

'Were they in uniform?' asked Cato. 'Like myself?'

'They wore tunics like yours but they were white. They had swords, shields and helmets like those worn by your auxiliaries.'

'Marines then,' said Macro. 'It fits with what we know.'

Cato nodded. 'Carry on. What happened next?'

'They surrounded us and forced us to gather around the barge of Ra, most wise and merciful.' Hamedes repeated his earlier gesture. 'Except for the high priest. They took him aside, to be questioned by their commander. He came ashore last.'

'Can you describe him to us?' Cato said evenly, ignoring the glance that Petronius shot towards him.

Hamedes frowned. 'Tall, muscular. Brown eyes. More Greek-looking than Roman, but then that's to be expected in Egypt. He wore scale armour, a plumed helmet and a blue cloak. And he had a sword, the same kind that all you Romans carry.'

'You saw him up close, then?'

'Yes, I was near him when he questioned the high priest.'

'So you would recognise his face again, if you were to see him?'

'I am sure of it.'

'Fine.' Cato waved a hand. 'Please continue.'

Hamedes nodded. 'He told the priest that he was acting under the orders of the governor at Alexandria. The officer announced that a new edict had been issued confiscating all the gold and silver held in the temples. He demanded that the high priest show him where our vault is. The high priest refused. He was angry. He told the officer that the temple was sacred ground and that the Romans were defiling it. He ordered the officer to take his men and withdraw. Instead the officer told his men to bring him one of the junior priests. Then he drew his sword and beheaded the man. He asked the high priest where the vault was again, and killed another man when he did not get a reply. He continued killing us, one by one, until finally the high priest spoke. He cursed the Roman, then took him to the vault. The Romans made four of us carry the caskets of gold and silver coin to his ship. Then, when we had finished, he began to kill the rest, starting with the high priest.' Hamedes paused, and when he spoke again there was a tremor in his voice. 'I saw the blood run down the steps and into the Nile…'