Cato 05 - The Eagles Prey Read Online Free PDF

generals tearing the legions to pieces in their pursuit of glory. In a short time the Empire would have become nothing more than a closed chapter in the histories of fallen powers. What sane man would wish that on the world?’
    ‘Very nice. Very elegantly put,’ said Plautius.’But what’s this got to do with me?’
    Narcissus sighed patiently. ‘Your slow progress is costing us dearly. It’s costing the Emperor a loss of reputation. It’s nearly a year now since he had a triumph to celebrate victory in Britain. And still I receive requests for more troops. More weapons. More supplies.’
    ‘We’re just mopping up.’
    ‘No. Mopping up is what you do after you’ve beaten the enemy. What you’re doing is soaking up resources. This island is like a sponge. It’s continually sucking in men, money and political capital. How much longer is this going to go on, my dear General?’
    ‘As I said in my reports, we’re making progress. Slowly but steadily. We’re forcing Caratacus back mile by mile. Very soon he will have to turn and fight us.’
    ‘How soon, General? Another month? Another year? Longer than that?’
    ‘A matter of days, as it happens.’
    ‘Days?’ Narcissus looked doubtful. ‘Please explain.’
    ‘Gladly. Caratacus and his army are camped less than ten miles away.’ Plautius gestured to the west. ‘He knows we’re here, and knows that we’re expecting him to fall back when we advance, as he has done every time. However, when we next push forward it’s his plan to cross the Tamesis at a series of fords not far from here, march round behind us and lay waste to all those tribes we’ve subdued south of the Tamesis. He might even try to steal a large enough advance on us to storm the supply base at Londinium. It’s a sound enough plan.’
    ‘Indeed. And how did you come to know of it?’
    ‘One of his senior chiefs is an agent of mine.’
    ‘Really? First I’ve heard of it.’
    ‘Some information is too sensitive to commit to written reports,’ Plautius said smugly. ‘You never know into whose hands it might fall. May I continue?’
    ‘Please.’
    ‘What Caratacus doesn’t know is that the Second Legion has been moved up from Calleva to cover the crossing. Caratacus will be caught between my army and the river. There will be nowhere to run this time. He’ll have to turn and fight, and when he does he’ll be crushed. Then, Narcissus, you and the Emperor will have your victory in Britain. All that will remain are a few malcontents in the mountainous country to the west and those savages up in Caledonia. It may not be worth bringing them under our control, in which case some kind of barrier defence will be needed to keep them out of the province.’
    ‘Barrier? What kind of barrier?’
    ‘A ditch, a wall, maybe a canal.’
    ‘Sounds horribly expensive.’
    ‘Rebellion is more expensive. Anyway, that’s work for the future. For now, we must concentrate our efforts on defeating Caratacus and breaking the tribes’ will to resist. I trust you will want to be there to witness the battle?’
    ‘Very much so. I’ll look forward to it. Almost as much as I look forward to relating the event to the Emperor himself. You’ll do well out of this, Plautius. We all will.’
    ‘Then may I propose a toast?’ Plautius refilled both their glasses and raised his own. ‘To the frustration of the Emperor’s enemies, and a . . . crushing victory over the barbarians!’
    ‘To victory!’ Narcissus smiled, and emptied his glass.

CHAPTER FOUR
    The centurions of the Second Legion were seated on several rows of stools in the headquarters tent waiting for their legate to give his briefing. They had spent a long day preparing the legion for the rapid advance scheduled for the following morning. Quite where the unit was headed no one knew, except Vespasian, the legate, and he had not divulged any information to his headquarters staff. The sun had only just set and the air was alive with midges. They