darkness. He could scarcely make them out in the night.
He faced the front again and gauged the distance to the island of Pharos. The lighthouse lit up the sky half a mile ahead. His ship was in a clear channel amongst the various anchored vessels of the Egyptian fleet. He knew that the following Roman ships would now be getting into line to follow him through.
The decks were empty of soldiers. Caesar couldn’t spare any of his men defending the barricades so the only ones he had brought were manning the oars. The slaves that usually manned the oars had been set free and had probably already gone over to the enemy. Caesar wasn’t bothered about them. As far as he saw it they were a drain on his supplies and expendable anyway. In their constant weakened condition they certainly wouldn’t put up much of a fight.
Dolabella joined Julius. Both men smiled at each other.
“We are ahead of Achillas’ fleet Caesar. It’s all going as you planned.”
The moon suddenly broke through the clouds and the two generals could clearly see the ships following. They both glanced up.
“Curse the moonlight,” Julius said.
“Let’s hope none of these ships we’re passing have sentries.”
“These are fishing boats so I hope not but we are coming up to merchant vessels and over there is an Egyptian war galley.”
The wind suddenly whipped their cloaks up bringing a chill to the night air. The clouds scudded across in front of the moon again and they were plunged back into darkness. Dolabella was studying a large merchant ship to the left. It towered over the smaller fishing boats below it. Torches were burning on its top deck. For a split second Dolabella saw one of the torches appear to go out and come back on again. It happened again as he was watching. There was no one nearby. He sighed with relief. It was just the wind blowing the flames.
“You seem a little tense Dolabella.”
“It’s just the wind and the light playing tricks on my tired eyes.”
“If you’re tired you should try facing into the wind. That’s what has kept me awake.”
“I’ll be fine.”
After a moment or two Dolabella said.
“It is kind of exciting isn’t it sir.”
“Exciting?”
“Yes. All of this I mean. Trying to conceal ourselves as we sail into the harbour.”
“Oh yes. I suppose it is.”
Caesar looked towards the shore.
“The streets do seem unusually quiet.”
“Yes they do. Do you expect a trap sir.”
“Always expect the unexpected Dolabella. That’s what keeps you alive while others around you fall.”
“Yes of course sir. As always your advice is greatly appreciated.”
“Once we get past those bigger ships anchored there we will stop rowing and glide onto the beach.”
“The beach?”
“Yes. There won’t be time to secure the ships to the dock as usual. No the ships Captain’s have orders to drive the ships straight onto the beach. You seem surprised at this.”
“Yes sir.”
“Speak your mind.”
Dolabella knew Caesar hated his orders or decisions to be questioned and he was glad for the invite to speak openly.
“Caesar I know you would have thought things through carefully before making such a decision but if the ships are beached we would not, could not re-float them in an emergency if we needed to. For instance if we have to evacuate our assault.”
“I know and the God’s I’ve prayed for an alternative but in this one I am sure. We need the element of surprise in this Dolabella. We have to land on Pharos island and quickly secure the neighbourhoods and the lighthouse. I am convinced this can only be done with a lightning strike. Once we control these we can defend the harbour and our ships will be safe to come and go.”
“How well defended is this area of the city sir?”
“I’m hoping not very. There is no access to the Royal palace from this side. The outer walls are at their highest and thickest here. As of yet the Alexandrians have not attempted to besiege us from there. In the streets I would imagine the most they have done is erect barricades. The lighthouse is manned by the Egyptian army so they will have to be dealt with swiftly.”
They were now approaching a much larger galley, torches burning on its decks.
“Is that one of ours Caesar?”
“No.”
“Why did the Egyptians leave it here? Do you think it’s a trap?”
Caesar studied the vessel. He turned and made a signal to the helmsman.
‘Steer to port,’ the helmsman said to himself.
The moon suddenly appeared from the clouds again. Caesar