The Siege: Agent of Rome (The Agent of Rome) by Nick Brown

Author:Nick Brown [Brown, Nick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Published: 2011-07-21T00:00:00+00:00

XXIV

Outside the granary, four legionaries were piling jars into two large sacks – food for the men. Cassius leaped up the steps past them and through the open door without a word. Not far behind were Strabo and Kabir. They exchanged bemused looks, then followed him inside. He came to a halt in front of the biggest stack of barrels in the granary.

Running his thumb across his chin, Cassius stared at the barrels. They were arranged in neat rows, five high.

‘Well?’ said Strabo.

‘Help me.’

Cassius placed both hands against the second barrel up at one corner of the stack. Pushing back and forth, he created a wobbling motion that quickly spread upward.

‘Careful!’ said Strabo, joining Kabir behind Cassius so as to avoid any falling barrels.

‘I said help me!’

‘To do what exactly?’ Strabo fired back.

Gritting his teeth in frustration, Cassius gave the barrel a powerful shove.

All three of them leaped back as the third barrel slipped sideways off the second and the two above smashed to the floor. Many of the curved planks that made up the barrels splintered, releasing thick, dark rivers of dates.

‘Happy now?’ said Strabo, surveying the mess.

Cassius held up a hand.

‘Did you hear that?’

‘Hear what?’ said Strabo dismissively.

‘Yes, I heard something,’ said Kabir.

With the Syrian’s help, Cassius moved the remaining barrels out of the way. Beyond was an identical stack, labelled as olives and meat. Cassius again reached for the second barrel up. Kabir gripped the other side and they began rocking the container. On the fourth push they successfully dislodged it and again narrowly avoided being struck from above.

The three of them were now standing in a heap of broken wood and dried food. Cassius moved closer to the next stack. He pushed his face between two barrels and shut one eye. There was space there – quite a large space. He could see a section of flooring.

Strabo looked on cynically, arms crossed.

‘You don’t seriously think—’

A flash of movement. Cassius jerked his neck back just quickly enough to avoid the thin blade that shot between the barrels. His speedy retreat caused him to lose his balance on the slippery fruit. Strabo caught him.

With a sharp scrape of metal on wood, the knife disappeared. From beyond the barrels came the sound of scrabbling hands and hurried breaths.

Strabo, staring incredulously at the spot where the blade had been, forgot to let go of Cassius. Pushing the Sicilian’s hands away, Cassius got to his feet. Kabir, who had already drawn his sword, moved right, trying to see between the barrels.

‘Who—’ said Strabo, his face pale.

‘I’ll cover outside,’ said Kabir. ‘He may have a way out.’

As the Syrian hurried away, Cassius and Strabo stood still, listening intently. Whoever was in there was moving.

Strabo waved a hand in front of Cassius, then nodded at the barrels. Cassius nodded back and the two of them planted their hands on the nearest stack. This time they simply pushed, aiming to bring the tower down on their hidden foe. Cassius had barely applied any force before Strabo’s shove toppled the barrels into the space beyond.

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