Praetorian by Simon Scarrow

Author:Simon Scarrow [Scarrow, Simon]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Headline Publishing Group Ltd
Published: 2011-11-10T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Macro was the first to break the spell. He threw Lurco’s arm off and spun round as he reached inside his cloak for the cosh. It was in his hand before he took his first pace towards Vitellius. The former tribune was too stunned to react, and further hampered by the wine he had consumed. Even so he ducked as Macro’s cosh swept through the air and the impetus sent it thudding into the side of the building. Macro’s knuckles cracked against the bricks and he let out a strangled cry of anger and pain as Vitellius stumbled back. Cato dropped Lurco and turned to help his friend but Macro charged on, thrusting his spare hand into Vitellius’s chest and sending him sprawling on to the paving stones.

‘Help!’ Vitellius cried out. ‘Help me!’

Macro fell on him, driving the wind from his lungs. At the same time he drew his bloodied cosh hand back and swung it viciously at the side of Vitellius’s head. The latter sensed the movement and jerked round, taking the blow on his shoulder.

‘Oh, sod it!’ Macro growled as he dropped the cosh, balled his hand into a fist and smashed it down directly into the other man’s cheek. Vitellius’s head struck the ground beneath and he went limp, his arms dropping untidily across his chest. Macro drew his hand back to strike again but saw that Vitellius had been knocked cold. Macro struggled up, breathing hard. Cato stood on the other side of the fallen man, staring down.

‘Great,’ said Macro. ‘Now what do we do?’

‘He’s seen us. He knows we’re in Rome. We can’t let him talk.’

‘So.’ Macro smiled cruelly, and drew his dagger out. ‘I’d always hoped it would come to this.’

‘What the hell are you doing?’ Cato grasped his arm.

Macro turned to him with a surprised expression. ‘We can get rid of him once and for all. You know what he’s done, to us and others. I can’t think of a man who is more deserving of a knife in the ribs and being left to bleed out in the gutter.’

‘No.’ Cato shook his head. ‘That’s not in our orders.’

‘Then it’s a bonus.’ Macro pulled his hand free.

‘No. Think about it, Macro. Witnesses saw him leave with Lurco. Narcissus is bound to hear of it. If he turns up dead, then Narcissus will know it was us.’

‘So? He’s no friend of Narcissus either.’

‘That doesn’t mean Narcissus won’t use it against us. You don’t go and kill the son of one of the most influential men in Rome without there being consequences.’

Macro was silent for a moment. ‘Then let’s just make him disappear. Drop him into the Great Sewer.’

‘What if his body is found and recognised?’

Macro held up his dagger. ‘I can make sure that he won’t be recognised.’

‘Put that away, Macro,’ Cato said firmly. ‘We have to take him with us.’

‘Bollocks,’ Macro grumbled. ‘Won’t be easy carrying ‘em both.’

‘We’ll manage. Keep watch while I see to them.’ Cato drew some thick twine and a few strips of cloth from the side bag under his cloak.

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