The Gladiator Read Online Free PDF Page A

vessel when the wave struck and swamped the merchantman. Macro . . . Julia, her father and Jesmiah, all gone, he thought in a blind panic as a deep groan welled up in his chest.
    A fresh swell lifted Cato up, and then he saw the ship, or rather what was left of her. Some distance from him the hull floated very low in the water.The mast and stern post had been carried away, and in the gloom of the gathering dusk Cato could just make out a handful of dazed figures stumbling about on deck. He tried to call out, but all he could manage was a painful croak, and then a small wavelet splashed into his face and filled his mouth. Cato spluttered for a moment, tried to call out again, and then trod water, fighting off a surge of despair as the last of the day’s light began to fail. Those on the ship could not see him. In any case, they would be too pre- occupied with their own problems to look for survivors in the sea. Cato trembled. The water was already cold enough, and he doubted that he had the strength to last through the night.
    Clutching the wooden spar, Cato struck out towards the ship. It was hard going, but the prospect of being saved lent him desperate strength, enough to keep kicking out, working his way across the swell towards the
Horus.
His progress felt painstakingly slow, and he was fearful that darkness would soon be upon him and he would lose sight of the ship.
    The distance gradually closed, and even though the night had settled across the sea, there was just enough starlight in the heavens to illuminate the darker outline of the ship against the black swell of the water. As he drew closer, Cato tried to call out again, but his feeble cry was drowned by the surge and hiss of the waves and the splashes coming from the side of the ship. Not far from the
Horus
he bumped into a wooden case floating low in the water. He steered it aside and continued to close up on the ship. Two figures appeared above him, grunting as they struggled with a large amphora.
    ‘On the count of three, ‘ a voice growled, and they began to swing the heavy jar to and fro. Cato recognised the voice well enough, but before he could try to shout a greeting, the sound died in his throat as he realised that the large jar would land right on top of him.
    ‘Wait!’ The shout ripped from his throat as he raised a hand and waved frantically to attract attention. ‘Lower that bloody jar!’
    ‘What the fuck?’ Macro’s voice carried down to the water. ‘Cato? That you?’
    ‘Yes… yes. Now put the bloody thing down, before you drop it on my head!’
    ‘What? Oh yes. ‘ Macro turned back to the other man on deck. ‘Easy there. Put the amphora down, careful like. Cato, wait there. I’ll get a rope. ‘
    ‘Where else would I go?’ Cato grumbled.
    A moment later Macro’s dark form appeared above the rail and a rope splashed into the water.
    Cato’s cold fingers struggled to find the end of the rope. When he had it he held on as tightly as he could before muttering through clenched teeth, ‘Ready’
    With a grunt Macro hauled his friend out of the sea, and as the young centurion surged up he leaned down with one hand and grasped his tunic to haul him aboard. Cato thudded down on the deck and slumped against the side, chest heaving with the effort of the swim back to the
Horus
and shivering violently as a cool breeze blew across the deck. Macro could not help smiling grimly.
    ‘Well, you’re in a right state. Proper drowned rat, you are. ‘ Cato frowned. ‘I fail to see the humour of our situation. ‘ ‘Then you’re not trying hard enough. ‘ Cato shook his head, then his heart stilled as he glanced round the deck and took in the damage that had been done to the ship, and the handful offigures working around the cargo hatch.
    ‘Julia… Where’s Julia?’
    ‘She’s safe, lad. And so is her father. ‘ Macro paused and cleared his throat. ‘But Jesmiah’s gone. ‘
    ‘Gone?’
    ‘Dead. Her neck snapped when the ship went