Legio XVII: Roman Legion at War Read Online Free PDF Page B

how he marked out a place at Lake Fucino where the exchange could take place.  Then he told them about the guards at the gate and all the questioning he endured before actually meeting with Levi.  The villagers listened intently waiting to see if Levi had agreed to their demand.  This was the big moment, but Pontius completely passed over the part where he talked with Levi about the reward and began telling the story about his return trip mounted on a magnificent Roman horse.  The villagers knew he was now toying with them and they good naturedly booed and hissed demanding he tell them if Levi agreed to the deal.
    Manius joined in the good natured play and was genuinely amused.  This was the first fun he had had since the battle.  He laughed, yelled, and soon found himself crying with joy when Pontius said that the exchange would take place in five days.  The villagers too were ecstatic when they heard that Levi’s gratitude matched their expectations.  Coincidently, there was a mini baby boom nine months later!
     

Manius Returns to Rome
    The following day, five young men from the village set out with Manius enroute to Lake Fucino.  They were well armed with Roman swords, shields, and pila even though they lacked the skill to properly use these tools of war.  Manius rode in a wagon pulled by a single horse; his leg still not mended completely.  The others walked alongside keeping a sharp eye out for any signs of trouble.  As they walked, Manius coached them on how to properly use their weapons, where to stand if trouble approached, and what to do if a fight was inevitable.  He emphasized that they should use the sword to thrust and not to swing it overhead.  He too was armed, but doubted he would be much help in a fight.
    Several groups of men were spotted during the five day journey, but all kept their distance except one group.  They too were five in number and armed with swords and daggers.  They hailed the villagers from about 50’ away and demanded to know their business.  The one who did the talking appeared to be the leader.  The villagers took up their rehearsed positions in front of the wagon and presented a shield wall to the five.  Manius got out of the wagon and stood behind them; coaching them.  He had a pilum in his hand as did his escort.  The five approached closer and formed a line to match that of the villagers.  They intended to fight.
    As the five got closer, on cue, they drew their weapons and broke into a menacing run while yelling as fiercely as they could hoping to scatter the villagers.  Manius calmly instructed the men to draw back their pila and to throw on his command.  The five stopped abruptly about 30’ away when they saw the villagers with their arms cocked and pila pointed in their direction.  Manius yelled, “Throw.”  The five spears hissed through the air: two fell short and the other three went a little wide of the target, but did cause the men to dance to their left and right to avoid the missiles.  And that is what Manius was waiting for.  He aimed at the leader, threw, and hit him square in the side as he turned to avoid another pilum .  It pierced his heart and he dropped.  The surviving four stood staring for a moment at their fallen leader, then, rifled through his belongings, and walked away yelling threats at the villagers.
    It was over that fast and was of no more consequence to either the brigands or villagers than a fish eating a bug on the surface of a lake ~ a small ripple that quickly dissipates and is forgotten.  The villagers retrieved their thrown pila and continued on, shaken, but more confident at the same time.  Manius climbed back in the wagon and was happy to be off his aching leg.
    They found the piled rocks that Pontius had left to mark the exchange site, identified a nearby place thick with undergrowth to hide themselves and the wagon, and settled down to wait.  They did not build a fire to ward off the cold for fear it would