The Eagle In The Sand by Simon Scarrow Page B

Symeon lowered his feet and followed him in. A moment later Symeon cursed as Cato’s kit dropped on his head. Then Miriam replaced the hatch and rolled the bedding back. A thin slit over by the front of the house let in a shaft of light and the two men crawled cautiously towards it. The space was narrow and as Cato’s eyes adjusted to the gloom he saw that it stretched from the front to the rear of the house. It was empty, apart from a small, plain casket towards the back. They heard the sound of horses approaching and shuffled the last few feet to the slit. It was no wider than a finger and sparse tufts of grass grew in front of it, and since it was just below the level of the floorboards Cato had to tilt his head to one side to see out of the slit.
    He was staring up the street towards the track that led to the junction. A party of horsemen was riding into the village, and Cato’s heart sank as he recognised Bannus at the head of his brigands. Bannus slewed his horse to a halt just in front of Miriam’s house, kicking up a small cloud of dust that momentarily obscured the view. They heard a crunch as his booted feet landed on the hard earth.
    ‘What do you want?’ Miriam stepped out into the street. ‘You’re not welcome here.’
    Bannus laughed. ‘I know. That can’t be helped. I have wounded men who need treatment.’
    ‘You can’t leave them here. The Romans patrol the land round Heshaba. If they find them we’ll be punished.’
    ‘Don’t worry, Miriam. I just want their wounds cleaned and bound and we’ll be on our way.They’ll never know we were here.’
    ‘No.You have to leave. Now!’
    As Cato and Symeon watched through the slit, they saw the brigand chief draw his sword and raise it towards her. Miriam did not flinch and just stared back defiantly. For a moment there was a silent confrontation, then Bannus laughed and waved the sword at her.
    ‘This is what makes things possible, Miriam. Not prayers and teaching.’
    ‘Really?’ She cocked her head to one side. ‘And what have you achieved? Did you win the little fight that caused these men to be injured? No? I didn’t think so.’
    Symeon whispered, ‘Careful, Miriam.’
    ‘The situation is changing, Miriam.’ Bannus spoke in a soft, menacing tone. ‘We have friends who are about to help us. Soon I will have an army at my back.Then we’ll see precisely what can be achieved.’ Bannus sheathed his sword, turned to his men and called out, ‘Bring the wounded into the house.’
    Miriam stood her ground. ‘You will not bring them into my house.’
    Bannus turned back to her. ‘Miriam, you are a healer. My men need your skills. You will treat them, or I will start providing you with patients from amongst your own people, starting with . . . young Yusef over there. Boy! Come here. Now!’
    The floorboard above Cato squeaked as Yusef stepped outside and hesitantly approached the brigand leader. Bannus took him by the shoulders and looked down at him with a smile. ‘Such a fine boy. His father would be proud of him. Prouder still, if he joined with me and fought to liberate our lands from Rome.’
    ‘He will not join you,’ said Miriam.’That is not his path.’
    ‘Not today. One day, when he is old enough to choose for himself, maybe he will join me and make Jehoshua’s vision become a reality. One day. But for now, Miriam, you must choose. Treat my men, or I will cut one of the boy’s fingers off.’
    Miriam glared at him, and then her shoulders sagged and she nodded. ‘Bring them to my door. I will treat them there.’
    ‘No, inside. They would welcome the shade.’ Without waiting for her to answer Bannus thrust Yusef to one side and shouted orders. As Cato watched, the brigands dismounted and started helping several men into the house. Above him the floorboards creaked under the weight, and dislodged dust and grit fell on top of Cato and Symeon. A door squeaked on its hinges and with a start Cato realised that someone was