'Nineteen,' Ephraim corrected. 'That is, of whom we are yet aware,' he continued, spitting phlegm onto the dirt floor and scuffing at the resulting damp stain with his sandal. 'They try to crush us as they continue to oppress our brothers in Judaea.'

'The Roman sc.u.m will never annihilate the tribes of Israel,'

Basellas noted, and turned to the others in his group for comments. Hopefully supportive.

'Matthew speaks the truth,' said Yewhe in a harsh and angry voice. 'What have the Romans ever done for us?'

'Let us not travel down that that road again,' a tired Ephraim said, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the sleeve of his black clothing. 'They give us water and bread and yet they murder us in our beds and defile our temples with their heathen ways. They violate our women and sodomise our boys, they plunder our goods and our cattle and they tell us that road again,' a tired Ephraim said, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the sleeve of his black clothing. 'They give us water and bread and yet they murder us in our beds and defile our temples with their heathen ways. They violate our women and sodomise our boys, they plunder our goods and our cattle and they tell us that we we are barbarians whilst they are civilised men. As it is written, surely, they shall be put unto death?' are barbarians whilst they are civilised men. As it is written, surely, they shall be put unto death?'

Murmurs of agreement ricocheted around the room.

'I echo the beliefs of Ephraim,' said Yewhe, standing and punching his fist into the palm of his other hand. 'For too long the tyrants have despoiled our land with their wicked, G.o.dless ways. We need to plan a public vengeance upon the Romans for the execution of our brothers.' The murmuring became louder and more pointed.

A youth stood to join Yewhe, his large brown eyes ablaze with a fanatical fire. His name was Benjamin and he was sixteen. When he was twelve he had seen his father dragged through the streets to the execution place and put to the sword while his mother and sister wept in the dirt. From that day onwards his only thoughts had concerned the death of Roman soldiers and destruction of Roman property. 'The beast must die,' he said through gritted teeth. 'Matthew, show us the way, and we shall follow. An "inspired act of G.o.d"

should happen.What say you?' Basellas was silent, his hand stroking an unshaven chin. When he spoke, his voice was low and conspiratorial. 'For too long,' he began, 'we have suffered under the yoke of Roman occupation. Of the vile and base dogs which enslave us. Now is the time to strike against them.'

'No.'

A lone voice cut through the rising tide of hysteria within the room. All heads turned to the solitary figure at the back, sitting half in the shadows with his wife by his side. Simeon stood and moved into the light, revealing a handsome yet sad face. Instantly, the room parted for him to walk towards Basellas and the two hot-headed young agitators. 'Zealots we are, and Zealots we shall ever be,' Simeon continued,'until we are Zealots no longer, and are united with all of the children of Israel.'

There was a look of amus.e.m.e.nt on Basellas's face. 'Wise words, my brother,' he told Simeon. 'Our father would have been proud of you this day. Would, if he had not been done to death two years past by those pigs of Rome.'

There were shouts of agreement from around the room.

But not as many as there had been before. Simeon commanded just as much respect as his older brother amongst the group, if not more. He was a good and intelligent man and the others knew this. Simeon had always favoured uniting the disparate tribes amongst the Jews so that they could fight the Romans as one people with one voice. A calming influence on his brother and a brilliant strategist, his voice carried authority and commanded that it be heard.

Only a fool would argue with Simeon.

'I do not believe that a son of Jacob does not wish to see the land awash with the blood of the gentiles,' hissed Yewhe, bitterly. 'Your father was a great man, Simeon. And your brother is is a great man. But you...' He paused, and gave Simeon a look of pure contempt. I know not what manner of man a great man. But you...' He paused, and gave Simeon a look of pure contempt. I know not what manner of man you you are.' are.'

There were gasps from some of those present, amid one or two voices of support and encouragement. Yet Basellas sat and said nothing, watching the protagonists like a man following the intricate plots and subplots of a chariot race.

'You may wade knee-deep in Roman blood if you wish, Yewhe,' said Simeon. 'You and your...' He looked at Benjamin with pity in his eyes. 'Your disciple. And you will die. And. upon this being so, there shall be no memorial for you after you have gone. No tributes save that "Here lies Yewhe, he was young and headstrong". The graveyards are full of those who are so inclined.'

'Your words are wise indeed, Simeon,' said Ephraim from the side of the room. 'Not least because they are so cowardly and self-serving.'

Benjamin took an aggressive pace towards Simeon.

'Meanwhile, you would stand aside and do nothing whilst your brothers are hunted and killed. How long, Simeon, how long before a Roman with a twitching sword comes to thy door at the dead of night and slits your gullet asunder before taking himself to Rebecca's chamber?'

enough,' interrupted the woman beside Simeon. Rebecca joined her husband and gave Benjamin a vicious cold stare.

'You are a child grown old before thy time, Benjamin,' she told the young man. 'The horrors visited upon your family made me weep for you all. But there my sympathy must end.

For rage hath made you bitter and twisted and loosened your judgment. Listen you well to my husband, Benjamin, and all others that would follow your brash and ill-advised quest. For if we are not united then we are divided and shall all die. And in our death Rome shall have their undeserved victory.'

As those in the room were digesting this, Rebecca slapped Benjamin across the face. 'Thy mother should have curbed you thus, two years since, insolent child. If any Roman dog were to lay his filthy hand upon me, then he would die the death of a thousand cuts with his manhood removed.' She turned angrily to Basellas and rounded upon her brother-in-law. 'Why allow you this?' she asked, half-kneeling before him. 'Why will you not take thy brother's counsel and accept it with opened arms instead of listening first to the ranting of these children who crave nothing more than death and glory for its own sake?' 'My wife speaks the truth,' Simeon added, holding Rebecca's hand tenderly 'We are strong only when we all stand together.'

' My own dear brother,' Basellas said, staring so closely at Simeon that he could see his own reflection in his brother's eyes. I remember the dying words of our father even if you have forgotten. "We fight and we fight until we die and then others will fight after us." That is how it is. That is how it always has been. And that is how it shall be hereafter.'

Simeon turned away, aghast, and ignored the gloating looks on the faces of Benjamin and Yewhe. 'Then we have nothing left to say to each other, my brother,' he said.

He and Rebecca began to walk slowly out of the room.

Behind him, BaseIlas shouted at the departing figure, his voice rising in manic tones. 'The gutters of Byzantium shall overflow with the blood of every last Roman within the city.

Blessed be the men that ease our suffering and use their swords diligently and with no mercy, for they shall have a place in heaven awaiting them.

'Byzantium shall be ours once more,' Yewhe added, his fist raised to the roof. Others joined his salute to Basellas who sat, smug, in victory.

Chapter Six.

The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death

Woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed!

Good were it for that man if he had never been born.

Mark 14:21

The praefectus, praefectus, the governor protector of the the governor protector of the coloniae civiura coloniae civiura Rontanorum Rontanorum Byzantium, Thalius Maximus, strode into the domed vault of the atrium of his villa. Byzantium, Thalius Maximus, strode into the domed vault of the atrium of his villa.

I beseech the G.o.d Ja.n.u.s to stand watch at this door and protect the humble wretches that dwell within. And the virgin G.o.ddess Minerva to grant wisdom to all of those who seek its pure embrace,' he muttered and he tugged at the fastening of his soiled and filthy purple-trimmed toga. He was tired and weary and his temper was frayed at the edges. 'Drusus,' he bellowed as three slaves approached to help him remove his clothing. A tall and imposing man with a bald head and piercing brown eyes strode from the direction of the kitchens.

Despite his subservient position to the praefectus praefectus within the household, there was nothing remotely fawning or weak about the way in which this freedman carried himself or went about his, and his master's, business. within the household, there was nothing remotely fawning or weak about the way in which this freedman carried himself or went about his, and his master's, business.

'Forgive me, master,' he said with complete sincerity and regret and yet also dignity 'We did not expect you to return to this place until some days hence.'

"My bowels did give me a sudden desire to leave Rome far sooner than antic.i.p.ated. I am weary and require that my bath be filled for me and fresh garments made ready. My head aches from the lack of food, so prepare a meal, which I shall take in the peristyle peristyle after I have bathed and rested. I should like Gemellus to join me there, also.' after I have bathed and rested. I should like Gemellus to join me there, also.'

Drusus ran the household of the praefectus, praefectus, ruling it and those within it with a rod of iron. He bowed and within the s.p.a.ce of no more than a dozen words, had effectively conveyed a series of sharp commands which made certain that everything that Thalius had asked for would be done. ruling it and those within it with a rod of iron. He bowed and within the s.p.a.ce of no more than a dozen words, had effectively conveyed a series of sharp commands which made certain that everything that Thalius had asked for would be done.

Quickly.

As the praefectus praefectus retired to his bath and sank deeply and gratefully into the soothing hot spa waters, he was thankful that he was surrounded by men like Drusus and Gemellus, and others within his house who did what they were told and also, frequently, what they were not, but should have been. retired to his bath and sank deeply and gratefully into the soothing hot spa waters, he was thankful that he was surrounded by men like Drusus and Gemellus, and others within his house who did what they were told and also, frequently, what they were not, but should have been.

And who protected him from his enemies and, more often than he would have liked, from himself.

Other praefecti, praefecti, he reflected, were not so fortunate. he reflected, were not so fortunate.

The governor was just finishing the first of several courses of dinner, vegetables and sh.e.l.lfish with black olives, when Gemelius Parthenor arrived. Thalius's advisor, Gemellus was a wise and clever little man, with piercing eyes. Studious, and with a sparkling infectious enthusiasm that made him popular amongst Roman society in Thrace and beyond, perhaps Gemellus's only major failing was that he was unable to see the worst in his enemies, believing that he was a man who had none.

But few men are so fortunate.

'My good friend,' said Thalius, half-standing and offering a seat to Gemellus in the peristyle, a secondary atrium courtyard with a wide, opened ceiling that allowed exterior light to flood in. The yard was surrounded by a garden shrouded in shrubs and bright and colourful flowers. Candles were lit around the praefectus's praefectus's table as sunset was approaching with the stealth of a fox. 'Please join me, we have much to discuss,' commanded Thalius. Gemellus sat beside his friend and looked around the newly decorated yard. 'I approve of the changes here,' he said. 'Your absence has, at least, proved beneficial to the decor. If not to the political and social situation.' table as sunset was approaching with the stealth of a fox. 'Please join me, we have much to discuss,' commanded Thalius. Gemellus sat beside his friend and looked around the newly decorated yard. 'I approve of the changes here,' he said. 'Your absence has, at least, proved beneficial to the decor. If not to the political and social situation.'

Thalius winced. and not to my health, and strength,' he added with a wry smile, pausing while breaking some bread to mop up the juices on his plate. He belched, loudly, as he swallowed the bread and then returned his attention to the unasked question that Gemellus was obviously itching to hear answered. 'Woe to all Rome, my friend. It is in a sick and sorry state of crisis and depression.'

The little adviser nodded, sagely, having suspected such a tale of misery from occasional injudicious or wine-provoked comments made by visitors from the Imperial city. 'The boy emperor is, I suspect, proving to have fewer administrative abilities than was hoped.'

'Nero is a fool,' fool,' spat Thalius, bitterly. 'He always was a fool, he always will be a fool. His father was no idiot, no matter what the history books of our children will tell us, for history is written by the winning side and, make no mistake, my friend, but this arrogant pup has won it all.' He stopped, shook his head and then looked closely at his advisor. 'I tell you this, Gemellus. If this popinjay with his ludicrous notions of grandeur is not bridled and harnessed well by someone with integrity, and soon, then Rome shall drown in an ocean of its own vanity. But who shall this be? For all of the good men are now gone: Palas, Narcissus, Burnes. And now Seneca.' spat Thalius, bitterly. 'He always was a fool, he always will be a fool. His father was no idiot, no matter what the history books of our children will tell us, for history is written by the winning side and, make no mistake, my friend, but this arrogant pup has won it all.' He stopped, shook his head and then looked closely at his advisor. 'I tell you this, Gemellus. If this popinjay with his ludicrous notions of grandeur is not bridled and harnessed well by someone with integrity, and soon, then Rome shall drown in an ocean of its own vanity. But who shall this be? For all of the good men are now gone: Palas, Narcissus, Burnes. And now Seneca.'

Gemellus gasped. 'Seneca is dead?'

'So the rumours state. Last month, in Pompeii. The new praetorian praefectus praefectus is a deranged madman named Tigellinus who casually brings out the worst despotism in Nero's disposition. The energy and hope of the is a deranged madman named Tigellinus who casually brings out the worst despotism in Nero's disposition. The energy and hope of the quinquennium quinquennium has disappeared from the hearts of all true men. Instead, there is wilful narcissism and depravity abroad, even within the senate itself.' has disappeared from the hearts of all true men. Instead, there is wilful narcissism and depravity abroad, even within the senate itself.'

Again, Gemellus said little, but cast a quick and nervous glance over his shoulder to make sure that they were not being overheard. 'Chose your words carefully, my friend.

There is no sense in drowning yourself before the flood is upon us.'

Oh but I am weary and lost, Gemellus,' replied Thalius, sadly 'Sometimes I yearn for the simpler life. The people of this land, the growers of grapes and olives and wheat, and the herders of sheep and cattle. The merchants and craftworkers who practise their trades in the city. Do they they have the troubles that I am party to? Do they spend half of every night doubled in the pain of indigestions and diarrhoeas caused by worries for my beloved Rome?' have the troubles that I am party to? Do they spend half of every night doubled in the pain of indigestions and diarrhoeas caused by worries for my beloved Rome?'

In their own way,' said Gemellus with a little smile, 'they probably do, my friend. What are the troubles of one man but dust in the wind to another? For he has troubles of his own and no one with whom to share them. The servant who breaks his master's vase shall have the skin whipped from his back, yet he cares not for Lucius Nero and his mismanagement of the great empire.'

Thalius Maximus seemed satisfied with this piece of beautiful philosophy. He was well aware of how others saw him - as a bored politician, who was thoroughly mistrusted by the military and who mistrusted them in return. He hated this part of the empire, cursing the very day that he had been sent by the emperor to this benighted land. He truly longed to return to somewhere closer to Rome. He was certainly a competent organiser, and for that reason had been entrusted with this key outpost. But Thalius was at a loss to understand the religious tensions of the region and he had never been keen to meddle in the internal affairs of the Greeks or the Jews, both of whom (and especially the latter) he struggled to understand as a people.

The chaos in Nero's capital was, if truth be told, a necessary diversion for him from the mundanities of Byzantium and its frustrating levels of society. 'Tell me of what has transpired here in my time of absence so that I may be apprised of any changes pertaining to this place and my role within it,' he asked.

'There have been the usual regretted outbreaks of lawlessness and debauchery. The latter, usually, amongst our own troops.'

Thalius rolled his eyes and clucked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. 1 suppose that I should make an example of the next legionnaire found on his knees in some Greek or Jew wh.o.r.e's bedchamber. One swift and merciless kill for all to see and reflect upon should help to keep the ill-educated vermin in line'

'You may have trouble with our n.o.ble general if you attempt such a thing,' Gemellus added with a sigh. 'The Greek city-states have no important military or political role, as well Gaius knows, but he likes to think that he is still in Britannia, fighting the Trinovantes, or Boudica's wretched Iceni at the G.o.d Claudius's side.'

At that moment, as Thalius continued to discuss mundane household affairs with his friend, Gaius Calaphilus entered, announced from the peristyle exterior by Drusus in a loud and booming voice.

'My friend,' Gemellus whispered to Thalius as the old soldier laid his helmet and sword by the entrance, bowed, and strode into the peristyle. 'Do not make this any harder than it needs to be.'

Thalius Maximus nodded to the soldier and then, with some obvious relish, continued his conversation with Gemellus, ignoring the presence of general Calaphilus entirely.

Calaphilus stood by the table awaiting a request that he sit which never came. After a while he simply sat anyway and picked at the praefectus's praefectus's olive-bowl. Gemellus, meanwhile, a little embarra.s.sed at his friend's rudeness, inadvertently stoked the fires of hatred between the two men by mentioning a Greek slave girl from Thalius's own household staff, Dorcas, who had expressed her Christian belief and wished to have her religion recognised. olive-bowl. Gemellus, meanwhile, a little embarra.s.sed at his friend's rudeness, inadvertently stoked the fires of hatred between the two men by mentioning a Greek slave girl from Thalius's own household staff, Dorcas, who had expressed her Christian belief and wished to have her religion recognised.

'Her belief in what?' asked Thalius with a genuine puzzlement.

'She is a Christian, praefectus,' praefectus,' Gemellus explained. 'They are a legal if somewhat minor subsect of Judaism who believe that...' Gemellus explained. 'They are a legal if somewhat minor subsect of Judaism who believe that...'

'We all know of the Christians and of what nonsense they believe,' Calaphilus noted sharply. 'At least, those few amongst us with an ear c.o.c.ked hard towards the ground.

This girl? May I suggest that she be flogged until she begs for mercy? That would, perhaps, be an effective cure for her wanton and treacherous ways.'

Thalius tutted loudly, appalled at the very suggestion. 'I am not keen to meddle in the internal affairs of the Jews. You know that,' he told Gemellus, whilst continuing to ignore the general. I cannot say that I have ever heard of these "Christians", did you say? What manner of men are they?

What do they believe in, exactly?'

'That is a very interesting question, praefectus,' question, praefectus,' replied the little adviser. 'All Jews believe that a messiah, a literal "King of the Jews", shall come unto earth from heaven and redeem the land of Israel and all of its tribes. This prophecy was first made by their ancient law-giver, the prophet Moses, shortly after the Jews had first been led out of Egypt, during the reign of Rameses II, which the Jews refer to as the replied the little adviser. 'All Jews believe that a messiah, a literal "King of the Jews", shall come unto earth from heaven and redeem the land of Israel and all of its tribes. This prophecy was first made by their ancient law-giver, the prophet Moses, shortly after the Jews had first been led out of Egypt, during the reign of Rameses II, which the Jews refer to as the exodus.' exodus.'

The praefectus praefectus nodded. 'I know my Egyptian history even if I am seemingly ignorant of that of the Jewish peoples,' he noted. 'Please do go on.' nodded. 'I know my Egyptian history even if I am seemingly ignorant of that of the Jewish peoples,' he noted. 'Please do go on.'

'Many Jewish scholars, prophets and holy men have written of the coming of this messiah. He is said to be born of the lineage of their King David who, as you know, built the great temple in Jerusalem between five and six hundred years ago. And that of his son, King Solomon the wise. They believe that this messiah will be born in a village named Bethlehem, which is a real place in Judaea. That he will gather together the tribes of Israel and cleanse them of their sins and free them from their bondage for eternity. These scriptures are not always consistent about this messiah. He is sometimes described as a great warrior and leader of men.

Yet at other times he is cast as a meek and sorrowful outsider, disowned even by his own people. Some Jewish scholars regard the entire concept as nothing more than a metaphor for their perpetual struggles. But most Jews of my acquaintance do do actually believe that the messiah is, or was, or shall be hereafter, a real person.' actually believe that the messiah is, or was, or shall be hereafter, a real person.'

An impatient Calaphilus gave a harsh laugh which caused both Gemellus and Thalius to turn their heads in his direction.

'Superst.i.tious nonsense,' said the solider with great sarcasm.

'What do you expect from a race that only believes in one G.o.d?'

Gemellus continued, undeterred, with his precise little essay on the Roman perception of the Christian cult. 'Over the centuries there have been numerous men who have claimed to be this messiah. Indeed, thirty or forty years ago, during the reigns of the G.o.d Augustus and of his son, Tiberius, there were a positive slew of them cropping up all over Judaea and Syria. The authorities in the region used to have a saying: "every week, a new messiah". The Christians, as I am given to understand, basically believe that one of these men who claimed to be the messiah was, indeed, the Christ from whom their name derives.'

'By Jove,' said Thalius with a fascinated amus.e.m.e.nt. 'Was this Christ known to us?'

'Indeed he was, praefectus. praefectus. He was a maverick rabbi named Joshua-bar-Joseph, also more popularly known to his followers as He was a maverick rabbi named Joshua-bar-Joseph, also more popularly known to his followers as Jesus of Nazareth, his name meaning, literally "saviour" in Greek. He was the son of a poor carpenter and a native of the province of Galilee. He had a considerable following amongst the uneducated ma.s.ses in that area and preached to some very large crowds. He was, by all accounts, a man of striking appearance, extremely handsome, charismatic and persuasive. As a boy, he had been something of an infant prodigy, which is quite common amongst the children of the region, preaching at the temple from an early age. He is said to have found Judaism intellectually limited and to have openly criticised its inadequacies for use in everyday living.'