Doctor Who_ Byzantium! - Keith Topping [4]
The conservative military, as ever, had been slow to follow the new emperor's lead. But things were changing. Rapidly.
Now was the time for a new order to make a name for themselves across the breadth of the empire, and Marcus, and many like him, were determined to muscle their way to Nero's side when they and their brothers of the future swept away the last crumbling debris of the past.
Marcus Lanilla was not so much ambitious as destined.
`You believe that you know it all, do you not, boy?'
Calaphilus asked with contempt. ‘That is the kind of ignorance that almost lost us Britannia two years since.
Leaving pups like you, fresh off their piss-pot, in charge of matters. I would not let you run the public whorehouses, much less anything bigger or more important.'
`You believe that Britannia is worth keeping?' sneered Marcus. He was clearly appalled that he should be spoken to like this by a man of most base and common birth. One who had merely risen through the army ranks rather than achieving his lofty station through a noble lineage, as Marcus and all of his friends had. `Had you ventured to that land, boy, then you would know that it most certainly is.'
The old soldier paused, aware that his anger was making him say dangerous things. This insolent cur, Marcus Lanilla, had friends in some very high places. His father had been a senator, as had his grandfather before him. People with those sort of contacts could be hard enemies to fight, as Calaphilus knew from bitter experience. Gaius was a soldier who hated the deceitful two-faced conflict of politics more than he hated the Jewish wretches that he willingly slaughtered in the streets of Byzantium in his emperor's name. It did his soul good to know that Marcus would get his ripe comeuppance once day. Arrogant young thugs with delusions of grandeur like him always would. And, Calaphilus hoped, he would be there to see it. That would truly satisfy the old soldier. But, for now, they had more pressing issues to worry about than Lanilla arid his games of conquest. Like the increasing number of attacks on Roman property and citizens from a fanatical element of the Jews.
`By executing half a dozen, we have shown these Zealots that we are frightened of them. It was the same in Judaea.
We grow lazy and decadent and think that they do not have the capability to hurt us in the great dominions. But we are wrong. We should do, this day, what vi is done in the emperor's name in Gaul and string them up, mercilessly, in their hundreds. One massive show of strength is all that is needed. Then we shall have a pax Romanus for decades.
And we could, if the powers that be would let us.’
Though neither could quite believe it, Marcus found himself agreeing with the older man about their mutual enemy, a weak and flaccid, transient praefectus who had opposed and prevented plans for such a demonstration of Roman power and control.
`These Jews have clearly been inspired by the recent Zealot uprisings in Jerusalem. They seem intent on causing trouble. They should be put down with maximum force,' he noted. 'They are only, after all, a race of syphilitic scum. Wipe them from the face of the earth once and for all, that is what I say.
Ànd that is your wise counsel is it, boy?' Calaphilus looked gravely at the young tribune:The Jews have faith as well as blood running through their veins; he noted.
‘I do not understand such views, personally.'
'Then that will get you killed,' continued a sneering Calaphilus. ‘You, and a lot of good men who serve under you.' He sat down again and began to fan himself with