Marching With Caesar-Final Campaign, page 53
"Of course, sir. We'll see that he's stabled in the back and rubbed down. Maybe even a bag of oats?"
Understanding he was doing what he could to ease the awkwardness of the situation, I told him I appreciated it. I thought he would simply detail a man to lead Ocelus away, but again I was in for a surprise. Stepping inside, I saw the Optio beckon, and another Praetorian emerged, and it was this man who led Ocelus away, after a quiet but stern talking to, of course. How many men does it take to guard a door? I wondered. The two men at the door stood silently, but I did not know if they were forbidden to talk, or if they could not think of anything appropriate to say to a soon-to-be-disgraced Camp Prefect. That was fine with me; I was in no mood for small talk. Finally, what seemed like a sixth part of a watch but was probably half that, the Optio reappeared, beckoning to me.
"If you would follow me sir, I'll take you where you need to go to get started."
Get started? How long was I going to be here? was what occupied my thoughts as I followed the man, and just as had happened the first time, I quickly got lost in the twists and turns of the hallways. Turning a corner, I saw another two men, in the Praetorium blue but not wearing their helmets, standing outside a doorway. That, I assumed, was where Octavian was located, and when I saw the Optio stop in front of the door, my heart started pounding even more fiercely against my ribs. Giving a sharp rap, there was a muffled sound, and the Optio partially opened the door, poked his head in, then straightened up and beckoned to me again.
"You can go in immediately," was all he told me as I passed him, but I do not remember if I thanked him.
I also do not know if his omission of who it was I was about to see was deliberate, or an attempt to surprise me, because when I entered, I stood there for a moment, open-mouthed.
"Come in, Pullus," Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa said evenly, without a hint of warmth in his voice. "We have a lot to talk about."
If this tactic of placing me in front of Agrippa before I came face to face with Octavian, which I was counting on, was used to rattle me, it worked perfectly. All the talking-to I had given myself before this meeting seemed to evaporate in the time it took me to cross the room to stand before Agrippa. Although there was a chair there, I was not fooled into sitting in it. Instead, I came to intente in front of his desk, locking my eyes above him as I rendered a salute, and uttered the words that I had so many times before.
"Camp Prefect Titus Pullus, reporting as ordered, sir."
Although Agrippa returned the salute, he did so silently, then leaned back in his chair to examine me. Naturally, I did not try to meet his gaze, staring instead of an imaginary spot above him as he continued to regard me in silence.
Finally, he said, "Sit."
With as much precision as I could, I took a seat in the single chair in front of his desk, but I did not change the focus of my gaze, only shifting slightly to keep staring at the spot just above his head. As little control or power as I had, I was determined that I would exert what I did have by refusing to show my nervousness by breaking my focus. Finally, I heard Agrippa hiss in what I took to be frustration.
"All right, Pullus. You win. We need to talk, but I can see that you're determined to play the Stupid Legionary, so I'll begin. Do you know why you're here?"
"I know that I've been accused of something to do with Marcus Primus' campaign," I told him. "But that's all I know."
This was not the complete truth, but neither was it a lie. Over the long years of my career, I had learned to speak the duplicitous language of the nobility, and I was determined to use it here. Agrippa stared at me hard, as if trying to determine whether I was lying. Finally, he gave an abrupt nod.
"That is the bare bones of it. But specifically, you're being charged with complicity in the conducting of an unauthorized campaign into Thrace by the Praetor of Macedonia, Marcus Primus."
"May I ask how Augustus arrived at the conclusion that I was complicit? Because, as I recall it, I was never asked about whether or not I chose to participate in this campaign. In fact," I felt compelled to point out, "I did ask to see his orders from Augustus. Which he showed me," I finished.
Agrippa had straightened up in his chair, and his eyes narrowed as he stared at me, but I could not interpret his expression.
"That," he said carefully, "is not the information that Augustus has."
"Well, his information is wrong," I replied forcefully. In my excitement and agitation, I felt my rear leave the chair as I tried to press my point. "In fact, the whole campaign almost came to a halt because I demanded to see Primus' orders."
Agrippa suddenly leaned back, but his gaze did not waver.
"Go on."
Gathering my thoughts, I tried to decide how forthcoming I should be, and decided to let the dice fly.
"When I challenged him on it, he told me to wait for a watch before he summoned me to the Praetorium. That's when he showed me a set of orders that stated that this campaign was not only authorized, but that punitive action against any Thracian tribe we encountered was also allowed, in retribution for the unprovoked attack on the army of Marcus Crassus."
Even as I mouthed the words, the image of Balbus, his mouth full of blood as he tried to smile and reassure me it would be all right shoved into my mind. Agrippa said nothing for several moments, and instead stared down at the scroll in front of him.
"That," his eyes did not leave the scroll, giving me my first intimation that I was not going to like what came next, "is not the information that Augustus has. In fact, his information is that while you indeed demanded to see Primus' orders, that he admitted the orders were forged, but when he promised you a share of the gold he planned to extort from Serdica, you agreed to go along with the fiction."
I heard a gasp, but it was barely audible because of a roaring sound in my ears that I suppose was caused by my rapidly increased heartbeat.
"And who says this kind of thing?" I finally found my voice. "Whoever it is, they're lying!"
"I assure you, this source is of the most impeccable character," Agrippa replied stiffly.
That means he's a patrician, I thought bitterly, but somehow I managed to avoid blurting it out.
"Impeccable character or not, whoever told Augustus that is lying." I tried to remain calm, although it was difficult.
"Be that as it may, I must tell you that this man's testimony alone is very damning," Agrippa seemed to have a hard time looking me in the eye, which was certainly unusual for him.
"If it is, then I believe I have a right to know who it is that's making this accusation."
Agrippa shifted in his chair and, for the first time, he looked a bit uncomfortable, as if he was somehow ashamed of something, and he did not reply for the space of several long heartbeats.
Finally, he heaved a sigh, and picked up the scroll he had been holding the entire time we had been talking. Turning it so I could read it, with one hand, he pointed down to the name that was neatly printed at the bottom, just below the scrawled mark that was the man's signature. Damning my failing vision, I first tried squinting at it, which sometimes worked, but finally I had to shift forward to get close enough to read it. When I recognized the name, I had the queerest sensation, as if the floor underneath my chair had suddenly disappeared and I was dropping down, down, down. At the same time, I felt a burst of sweat, but it was the cold, fear type of sweat that leaves one clammy. In truth, I had been expecting a betrayal of some sort from one of the Tribunes, and I was sure I knew which one it would be. But this man? I wondered. How could I have misjudged him so badly?
"As you can see," Agrippa broke the silence. "Tribune Lucullus has provided evidence that is damning in its details."
Somewhat to my surprise, I was actually allowed to leave on my own, but truthfully. I do not remember exactly how I managed to walk out, mount Ocelus, and ride to the Campus Martius. Diocles had sent word to the guards standing watch at the entrance to the Campus, providing direction to the building that I would be staying at for...how long? I thought as Ocelus took me in that direction. Slaves were assigned to see to the needs of any occupants of the villa, and they were waiting to see to Ocelus and take him to the stables. I walked; stumbled would be a better word, I suppose, up the steps and crossed the shaded portico and opened the door to the villa. Diocles leapt up from where he had been sitting, on a stool near the door, and I saw his look change from concern to alarm, which was appropriate.
"Titus, what is it?"
I did not answer immediately, instead gesturing to the amphora of wine that he had ready on the table in the center of the room. He immediately ran to it, and poured me a cup, which I took with hands that even I could see were trembling. Gulping it down, I still did not speak until he refilled the cup, and I drank a second one down. Only then did I tell him what had happened, in voice I barely recognized. When I was through, Diocles did not say anything immediately. Instead, he turned and poured a cup of wine, and drained it in the same way I had. Even with the gravity of the situation, I did not fail to see the humor.
"There's a lot of that going around right now," I laughed, but it was a bitter, bitter jest.
He had sunk down onto a chair, and I followed suit as we both reached for the amphora at the same time, prompting another chuckle from both of us.
"I'm going to need to order more of this, I'm afraid," he said as he poured both of us another cup.
Sipping in silence for a few moments, Diocles finally asked, "Any ideas about what to do?"
It pained me, but I could only shake my head.
"The only good thing, I suppose, is that I have some time to prepare a defense. Primus doesn't go on trial for another two weeks, and mine will be a week after."
"That's actually a good thing that you're not going to be tried together, or even at the same time," Diocles pointed out.
"One other thing," I pointed out. "Is that my trial is going to be a Tribunal, held here. Not in the civilian courts like his."
Diocles pondered this for a moment, and I could see something about what I had just said troubled him.
Finally, he said softly, "I don't know that this is a good thing, Master."
Seeing my expression, since I had thought the exact opposite thing, he hurried to explain.
"It might be a good thing," he continued, "but I can see it two ways. Another way to look at it is that Tribunals are closed proceedings."
I did not see how that could be a bad thing, and I said as much.
"That just means that I won't have to worry about a mob of people who want to kill me," I pointed out.
"That is one way to look at it," he conceded. "But I think it's the exact opposite, and that's why Augustus wants to hold a Tribunal. Master," he put his hand on my arm to emphasize his point, "I don't think you realize how well known you are. And the fact that you rose from the ranks is actually something that is enormously in your favor with the mob." He shook his head. "No, I think that's exactly what Augustus fears, that a public trial of a man the lower classes see as a hero will incite them to violence if things don't go their way."
I sat, considering this for a moment. I do not know whether Diocles was trying to make me feel better, or worse, because the more I thought about it, the more alarming it seemed that I was headed to a Tribunal.
"So," I tried to form my thoughts. "If you're right in why Octavian wants a Tribunal, because he's afraid that the mob will cause some sort of disturbance if I'm found guilty, that sounds to me like he's trying to make sure I'm found guilty." I shook my head, in frustration mostly. "But why? It's true that we haven't had the same relationship that I had with Caesar, but I've served him faithfully."
"Well, we don't know for sure that's his intent," Diocles said, but I could tell he was just mouthing the words.
"Gods, I wish Scribonius were here," I said, finally uttering aloud a thought that had been my constant companion ever since I read the scroll.
"So do I," Diocles replied, and again, I do not know if he was trying to make me feel better, but when my Greek, who I considered just slightly below my best friend in terms of intellect, agreed with me, it just reinforced what trouble I was in.
"What do we do now?"
I looked at Diocles, and again, a laugh escaped from my lips, and again, it was tinged with despair.
"I was hoping you'd have some idea."
By this point, I had finished my third cup of wine, and I reached for the rapidly emptying amphora.
"But tonight, I'm going to get drunk."
I wish I could say that during my long revel with the god Bacchus that he whispered some nugget of information in my ear, but when I awoke the next morning, all I had to show for it was a pounding head and a sour stomach that was only marginally better than the day after the 10th's retirement ceremony. As I lay there, facedown and my head turned to the side of the bed by Diocles so that the vomit landed on the floor, a sudden thought flashed through me that was humorous for just an instant, but then brought up such an overwhelming sadness that I cursed whatever part of my mind had thought of it. At least I do not have an angry pregnant woman to deal with was the thought, but I knew that I would have given my entire fortune if she had been standing there, scowling at me again. Although I experienced an overwhelming urge to lie there, wallowing in misery, and perhaps even continue in the way I had after the death of Balbus, I forced myself to drag my body out of bed. Staggering out of my bedroom, I was reminded of the concoction that Iras had created that day after the 10th's ceremony, and experienced a brief hope that perhaps she had shared it with Diocles. But that was to be another disappointment in what was looking to be the way the last chapter of my career, and possibly my life, would end. Instead, I forced down another cup of wine, taking a page from the book of men more learned than I in debauching themselves, and after that I was able to keep some bread down. Knowing this was as good as I was likely to feel the rest of the day, Diocles and I sat again at the table, basically resuming our conversation where we had left off, taking stock of exactly where matters stood, and exploring options.
In my conversation with Agrippa, as one-sided as it had been, he had taken great pains to make a point that he felt compelled to repeat not once but two more times.
"You are not to attempt to contact or in any way reach out to Tribune Lucullus before your Tribunal. Is that understood?"
"But how am I supposed to know the exact circumstances of what he said?"
In answer, Agrippa handed me a wax tablet, saying, "This is a transcript of his official statement. This is the same document to which the Tribunes on the board will be referring and using as part of the evidence against you."
"Part of the evidence?" I pounced on that immediately. "What do you mean ‘part of the evidence’? What else is there?"
For the second time, Marcus Agrippa refused to look me in the eye, which only alarmed me even more, if that was possible.
"As I understand it, there is a statement from Marcus Primus that has been...extracted from him that implicates you as well."
Aside from the insinuation of Agrippa's words, that Marcus Primus, a patrician and a Praetor with Proconsular imperium had been tortured, there was a far more important point that I felt compelled to make.
"And Marcus Primus is the biggest coward I've ever served with, or under," I said heatedly. "So of course he's going to implicate me! By the gods, I imagine all the man from the torture detachment had to do was pick up one of his tools and Primus started babbling anything he thought would keep him from using it!"
Agrippa's face darkened in anger, but at that moment, I did not care.
Still, his tone was even as he replied, "Be that as it may, Primus has made a statement implicating you. Of course," he added in a casual tone that was belied by the intense stare he gave me, "you are certainly within your rights to bring up the circumstances under which this information was obtained. It may very well be as you say, and it would behoove you to point that out to the Tribunal."
I waited for more, but after a moment, I could see that this was all the help that Agrippa was going to offer. Not long after that, our meeting concluded. Now, sitting with Diocles, I racked my brain, trying to penetrate the fog as I attempted to think of what steps I could take to protect myself.
"As I understand it, the way a Tribunal works, you have the right to select the Tribune who will present your defense?" Diocles asked.
"Yes," I answered. "At least, that's what Agrippa said."
"Does it have to be a man who is currently a Tribune? Or can it be a man who's served as a Tribune with the army?"
My initial reaction was one of irritation.
"Frankly, I haven't read the manual on Tribunals," I muttered. "And as interesting as it may be, I don't think we need to waste time wondering about who can defend me and who can't. Agrippa gave me the list of Tribunes that are currently part of the Praetorian Guard, which is the only army unit in Rome."
Diocles shook his head impatiently.
"It very much does matter," he insisted. "Especially because I'm thinking of someone specific."
I will admit that aroused my curiosity, but not my hope.
"Oh? And who might that be?" I asked.
Diocles paused a moment before answering, "Claudius."
"Claudius?" I exclaimed.
I do not know what I had been expecting, but it was not the name of the Tribune who at one point had vowed to destroy me. Granted, his attitude had turned around after I had saved his life during the Crassus campaign, and while we had not become friends, we did have a good relationship. Even, I considered, after I had discovered his duplicity in the Natalis affair, when he had the scribe of his father create two letters about Natalis' supposed relationship with Gaius Maecenas, and his subsequent skimming of Natalis' extortion scheme.
As if reading my thoughts, Diocles continued, "He owes you a debt, both because of what you did, and what you didn't do in regards to his role with Natalis."
