matter of time. He nodded at Dolabella and turned back to Cleopatra.
“It seems once again that duty calls.”
“Come to my bed tonight.”
He gave her a peck on the cheek.
“I will count the moments.”
He lifted both her hands and kissed them. Then with a swish of his cloak he turned and strode from the room. At the door he turned back, smiled, and was gone.
“Yes come to me tonight Caesar,” she said, “And when I give birth to our son he will inherit your world.”
Night had come as Caesar ascended the steps of the fortifications. He reached the top and his men below fell silent at the sight of their leader. Torches lit the compound and Julius could see thousands of faces staring up at him. On approaching he had heard their shouting. Now they were quiet. Many unsure of their actions. Many veterans remembering Caesar’s wrath at previous mutinies and the punishments that followed. Now though there was a sense of, safety, in numbers.
“Men!” he began, ”By now you all know that our water supply is contaminated, about the sabotage by the enemy. The enemy fear you men. He knows he cannot defeat you without these mind games. They are over a million strong and have gained nothing, no ground on us. For every one of you lost hundreds of theirs have fallen. Their dead lay in the streets becoming food for the animals that prowl in the night. Do not fear these desperate tactics of an army, an enemy, who is poorly equipped, poorly trained. You are the best fighting soldiers in the world. Your officers are second to none. You have the best commander…” he paused, “In me!”
A terrific cheer rose from the assembled legionaries. Someone shouted Caesar’s name and others took up the chant. Then as the voices began to die down Marcus Iunius shouted.
“Perhaps we should withdraw Caesar!”
Julius raised his hands for silence.
“No! Absolutely not. The very second we begin to retreat the Alexandrians would overwhelm the barricades and our positions. We would never make it to the harbour alive. Retreat is both unnecessary and wholly unacceptable.”
“But we can’t carry on without water.”
“Queen Cleopatra has given me her copies of the layout of the water systems,” he held the map up for them to see, “Hers are the best available. I will pass it on to your officers. Beneath this courtyard is a conduit system which carries water to fountains on our side of the palace. Next to our pipes are pipes that run directly into the royal section. Take your shovels and dig down men. Dig for your very lives and you will strike the clay pipes. Break through them and you will have your fresh water.”
Again there was a terrific cheer. Julius handed the plans to Sejanus.
“Your men need to dig down here,” Julius pointed to the pipe network on the left, “The water is fairly deep. Buried hundreds of years ago to protect it from earthquakes.”
“Yes sir. I will assign teams.”
“Try to tap into the source after this junction here. That way the royal palace will still have a water supply, though limited.”
“Yes sir.”
Sejanus saluted and left. He passed Marcellus on the steps running in the opposite direction.
“Caesar!” Marcellus called even though he was still some distance away. The senior officers swirled around as Marcellus stopped, bent over, to catch his breath. He had sprinted from across the other side of the palace complex.
“Marcellus?”
“Sir. I have just received word from Domitius Calvinus. He has made it along the coast with a fleet of ships from Rhodes.”
“That’s excellent news,” Caesar was delighted.
“No sir. It’s not,” Marcellus said, still trying to catch his breath, “He only has sails for power and the strong westerly winds are preventing him from getting any closer for now. He’s anchored near the shore.”
“So we just need to hold out until the wind dies down. That doesn’t seem so bad. I’ll break the news to the men.”
“No that’s not the end of it Caesar. I’ve just received word that Achillas has a fleet of ships sailing directly for the harbour. I think he means to attack our ships sir! Calvinus won’t be able to get through.”
CHAPTER TEN
Caesar stood in the prow of his galley in full battle armour as the oars dipped into the water. It was dark now and he’d ordered all lights on his ship extinguished and silence. There was to be whispering only.
He turned and looked back at the other ships following. Like his they were in