Read Online Legio XVII: Battle of Zama by Thomas A. Timmes - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Thomas A. Timmes
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the two Legion camps. The training site is in total disrepair, and the two empty camps are unfit for dogs much less Legionaries. They are filthy, smell of human excrement, and are full of garbage. You have failed to perform your duties in a satisfactory manner. In addition, I don’t like your surly attitude. Centurion, take him away!” When he left the room, Manius said, “Pittacus, you can scratch that item off of the ‘to do’ list.”
Two days later, Centurions Sertorius and Sentius rode into camp and asked to see the Praetor. Cassius showed them in. Sertorius spoke first, “Sir, I am Centurion Sertorius from Legio VI.” Sentius added, “And I am Centurion Sentius, also from Legio VI. Legate Antimus said you need Camp Managers, and, with your approval, we’d be happy to take the jobs.” Manius welcomed them, reviewed their service records with them, talked about Cannae, and hired them on the spot.
“Centurion Sertorius, you have five days to bring the training site and the two Legionary camps up to standards. Centurion Sentius, I would like you to manage all the other military facilities within our jurisdiction. Tomorrow, about 3,000 new recruits will be arriving from the countryside. I want them placed in one of the old Legion camps. They will be your work force. Have them repair the training site and clean up the camps. Act like this job is permanent, and you have my authorization to order things done.”
Manius continued, “When the Consul’s staff arrives about November 5th, I will ensure your new jobs are a permanent assignment, if you wish. Sentius, I want you to arrange a meeting for me to address all the people who worked for Durius. I’d like to do that tomorrow at 9:00 A.M. One last item, I notice that the camp is overrun with prostitutes and merchants. I have nothing against them, but I want them confined to the town of Lilybaeum. This area by the ports and warehouses is now off-limits. Be nice about it, but make it clear that they are to remain outside the military area. If fences haven’t been put up, use some of the 3,000 to do it. I suspect there’s been a lot of pilfering going on.”
Both Centurions nodded vigorously. “Good, it’s done. Go to work; see me if you have any problems, and, above all, keep me informed. You have my full support.” Manius left his office with his two body guards and clerks in tow to visit the hospital, which was under construction. He heard it was fairly large and contained numerous beds, mostly empty. When they arrived, he asked one of the orderlies to take him to the Chief Medical Office. He was led down a long corridor flanked by beds. The closer he got to the Chief’s office, he noticed more beds had patients. The orderly announced the Praetor, and Manius walked in. The doctor was a Greek named Epeius from the town of Syracuse. He stood up and greeted Manius politely. He explained how he had been captured by the Romans after the town fell in 212, and how he now worked for his captors. He said it without rancor and added, “The Romans pay better than the Greeks.”
Manius stated, “I’d like to talk to some of your patients to assess their future potential to rejoin their Legion and eventually fight.”
The doctor said, “Follow me. These men have a wide variety of ailments from coughs, to fevers, to diarrhea, and skin problems, but that’s only the half of it.”
As they walked down the corridor, Manius spotted several men, maybe a dozen or more, with bruised and battered faces. He stopped walking and asked, “What happened to these men?”
“Fights,” the doctor said. “I’ve got more of them than anything else at the moment.”
Manius approached the nearest man, “Tell me, Legionary, what happened to your face?”
The man spoke through a broken tooth, swollen lips, and puffy eyes, “Sir, I was having a few drinks with my pals when these sailors
Two days later, Centurions Sertorius and Sentius rode into camp and asked to see the Praetor. Cassius showed them in. Sertorius spoke first, “Sir, I am Centurion Sertorius from Legio VI.” Sentius added, “And I am Centurion Sentius, also from Legio VI. Legate Antimus said you need Camp Managers, and, with your approval, we’d be happy to take the jobs.” Manius welcomed them, reviewed their service records with them, talked about Cannae, and hired them on the spot.
“Centurion Sertorius, you have five days to bring the training site and the two Legionary camps up to standards. Centurion Sentius, I would like you to manage all the other military facilities within our jurisdiction. Tomorrow, about 3,000 new recruits will be arriving from the countryside. I want them placed in one of the old Legion camps. They will be your work force. Have them repair the training site and clean up the camps. Act like this job is permanent, and you have my authorization to order things done.”
Manius continued, “When the Consul’s staff arrives about November 5th, I will ensure your new jobs are a permanent assignment, if you wish. Sentius, I want you to arrange a meeting for me to address all the people who worked for Durius. I’d like to do that tomorrow at 9:00 A.M. One last item, I notice that the camp is overrun with prostitutes and merchants. I have nothing against them, but I want them confined to the town of Lilybaeum. This area by the ports and warehouses is now off-limits. Be nice about it, but make it clear that they are to remain outside the military area. If fences haven’t been put up, use some of the 3,000 to do it. I suspect there’s been a lot of pilfering going on.”
Both Centurions nodded vigorously. “Good, it’s done. Go to work; see me if you have any problems, and, above all, keep me informed. You have my full support.” Manius left his office with his two body guards and clerks in tow to visit the hospital, which was under construction. He heard it was fairly large and contained numerous beds, mostly empty. When they arrived, he asked one of the orderlies to take him to the Chief Medical Office. He was led down a long corridor flanked by beds. The closer he got to the Chief’s office, he noticed more beds had patients. The orderly announced the Praetor, and Manius walked in. The doctor was a Greek named Epeius from the town of Syracuse. He stood up and greeted Manius politely. He explained how he had been captured by the Romans after the town fell in 212, and how he now worked for his captors. He said it without rancor and added, “The Romans pay better than the Greeks.”
Manius stated, “I’d like to talk to some of your patients to assess their future potential to rejoin their Legion and eventually fight.”
The doctor said, “Follow me. These men have a wide variety of ailments from coughs, to fevers, to diarrhea, and skin problems, but that’s only the half of it.”
As they walked down the corridor, Manius spotted several men, maybe a dozen or more, with bruised and battered faces. He stopped walking and asked, “What happened to these men?”
“Fights,” the doctor said. “I’ve got more of them than anything else at the moment.”
Manius approached the nearest man, “Tell me, Legionary, what happened to your face?”
The man spoke through a broken tooth, swollen lips, and puffy eyes, “Sir, I was having a few drinks with my pals when these sailors
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