Masters of the Sea Trilogy: Ship of Rome, Captain of Rome, Master of Rome. John Stack

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СКАЧАТЬ vendor. As Duilius was the largest merchant in the city, he stood to lose a great deal of money if the tax was passed, especially if the vendor was chosen to pay the greater part. This put Duilius in a no-win situation. If he opposed the tax he would be seen as unpatriotic. If he let it pass without conditions he would end up paying a huge portion of the costs of the new fleet. To watch the political balancing act that Duilius was now forced to perform gave Scipio immense satisfaction.

      As the junior consul retook his seat, another senator stood to address the chamber and the debate continued. It was then that Scipio’s eye caught Longus moving across the chamber towards a man who had just appeared at the entrance to the Curia. Scipio watched the two in conversation, remembering the junior senator well and the contrived speech he had given that had started the ten-day-long debate on the decision to build the fleet.

      ‘Councillor Demades?’ Longus said as he approached the man, confirming his recognition of the familiar figure he had spied from across the chamber.

      ‘Senator Longus,’ Demades replied, relieved to see a familiar face.

      On the one occasion Demades had addressed the Senate, Longus had been present as a member of the Senate committee responsible for trade with the Aeolian Islands, of which Lipara was one. The junior senator had taken the responsibility very seriously, an attitude reflected in the councillor from Lipara, and the two men had formed a connection. It was this familiarity that Demades now clung to as he tried to control his nerve.

      ‘I need to speak with the senior consul immediately,’ Demades said, before looking over his shoulder at Cronus standing outside the columned entrance.

      Like the other armed men of the personal guard, Cronus was barred from entering the chamber by the senatorial guard. The brief seconds out of their presence had emboldened Demades, and he had considered the idea of alerting Longus to their true identity – but the almost imperceptible shake of the head that Cronus had given him, as if he could read his thoughts, banished the idea from his mind, and he committed himself once more to this part of the Carthaginians’ plan. The safety of himself and his family was paramount.

      ‘What is it?’ Longus asked, sensing Demades’s trepidation, suspicious of a man who before had been an ally but now came from an island under the enemy’s control.

      ‘Lipara wishes to form an alliance with Rome,’ Demades said in a rush.

      ‘What?’ Longus said, incredulous. ‘You’re sure?’

      ‘Yes, of course I’m sure,’ Demades replied forcefully, his fear making him irrational.

      Longus was taken aback by the unusual intensity of the man, but he instantly dismissed it as irrelevant. If what he said was true then Rome was poised to make a huge strategic gain over the enemy. The councillor had asked for the senior consul, but Longus had no intention of informing Scipio. His first loyalty was to Duilius.

      ‘Wait here,’ Longus said and he turned to re-enter the chamber. As he did so he collided with Scipio, who suddenly came out from behind a pillar.

      ‘No need to find me, Longus,’ Scipio said, his caustic voice signifying his belief that the junior senator had not been going to deliver the message directly to its intended source, at least not until after Duilius had heard it.

      ‘Come with me, Councillor,’ Scipio said, and brushed past Longus, leading Demades through a small archway to an antechamber beyond. Longus could only look on in exasperation as the councillor was led away. Only when the two men were out of sight did his wits return and he ran into the crowded chamber.

      ‘Why?’ Scipio asked, trying to keep his expression neutral, struggling to keep his mounting excitement under control.

      He listened as Demades outlined the reasons that Gisco had told him to recite. They were plausible in themselves, although Scipio would have been content if no reasons for defection had been forthcoming. For him the mere chance of glory was proving too great a temptation, and he had to force himself to think about the proposal rationally.

      The opportunity was almost too good to be true. According to Demades, the island was there for the taking, with only a small Carthaginian garrison in the city itself and no naval presence in the area. It would be the new fleet’s first victory, minor given the odds, but major given the island’s strategic location as a naval base off the northern coast of Sicily. More importantly, it would be Scipio’s first victory, and the first step on his road to absolute power. It might even help the legions, he thought sardonically.

      His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Duilius in the antechamber, flanked by a small number of senators, Longus amongst them.

      ‘Senior Consul,’ Duilius began, ‘I just heard the news.’

      ‘Yes, Senator,’ Scipio replied. ‘Given the importance of the city, I plan on sailing immediately with the twenty galleys of the new fleet to take possession of the island.’

      ‘Senator,’ Duilius replied, thinking fast, ‘the situation is too dangerous for you to expose yourself. As per the Senate’s resolution, I must be the one to command the expedition.’

      ‘I see no danger, Duilius,’ Scipio replied confidently. ‘The island is undefended and is willing to defect. Councillor Demades will testify to the fact that there is no Carthaginian naval presence in the area. Taking the island under our protection will be a mere formality.’

      ‘We must put the decision to the Senate,’ Duilius said, knowing he had a chance of reversing Scipio’s decision in the chamber.

      ‘No!’ Scipio said, suddenly angry. ‘There will be no debate. You forget yourself, Duilius. As strategic commander of the fleet I am in charge here and I have determined there is no danger. Therefore I will sail at once.’

      ‘I must protest, Scipio,’ Duilius said.

      ‘Protest as you wish, Duilius. In fact I give you leave to debate my decision in the Senate. While you are discussing my actions, I will be on my way to free the people of Lipara.’

      With that, Scipio strode past the hamstrung Duilius, pushing his way through the knot of senators behind the junior consul. Demades watched him go. He had set the trap and the Romans had fallen prey. Now it was time to save himself.

      ‘You surely don’t need a personal guard in Rome,’ Longus said, half looking over his shoulder at the five men following himself and Demades.

      ‘One never knows,’ Demades said, thinking fast. ‘The news I carried from Lipara would be seen as a betrayal by the Carthaginians. I need protection from assassins.’

      Longus laughed at the suggestion, confident that there were no Carthaginians in Rome.

      Earlier Longus had watched Duilius storm out of the Senate and head towards his own town house. He was furious at the defeat of his mentor at the hands of the senior consul and was still wondering how he could reverse Scipio’s decision to sail to Lipara. He realized all he could do was wait for Duilius to summon him to his aid and hope that when the time came he could be of service. As the antechamber had emptied, Longus had noticed the lone figure of Demades, his presence forgotten by all in the heat of the moment. Demades had immediately approached the senator and asked him for his assistance, although at the time he would not say what assistance was required. Longus agreed and now led the councillor to his modest town house at the foot of the Palatine Hill.

      On their arrival, Longus summoned a servant СКАЧАТЬ