"Admirable," both Greeks muttered, wondering how far reality fell short of this ideal. From what they had seen thus far, it came chillingly short.
"But I am sure you want to see what is going on here," Flaccus said, signaling for the slaves to clear away the remains of lunch.
"Aren't you going to look over the documents we've brought?" Zeno asked.
Flaccus glanced at the scrolls and tablets on the table. "Oh, I shall. Eventually."
Izates cleared his throat. "Um, if you will not think the observation too impertinent, you seem to have a rather Norbanus-like disregard for senatorial guidance."
Flaccus shrugged. "Really, there is no rush. I already know what is in there. There will be a pompous official pronouncement from the Senate. Then there will be some letters from Gabinius and other friends and allies, telling us about the real political climate in Rome and what our enemies are plotting against us. Just the usual stuff. After all, what we do here in Alexandria is merely a sideshow. The real action just now is in Sicily and Judea and parts eastward, soon to be followed by the real war against Carthage. We really don't merit much senatorial attention."
Flaccus clapped his hands and a pair of young slaves came running with his armor and weapons. "The queen insists upon these military trappings," he grumped as, with some difficulty, the boys got his old-fashioned, muscled cuirass buckled about him. "She wants everyone to be in no doubt where her support lies. The locals are frightened of Carthage, but they have learned to be truly terrified of Rome."
"We've been told of how Titus Norbanus conducted his part of the battle between Hamilcar's army and that of the deposed advisors; Also of his progress down the Nile before he set off eastward," Zeno said.
"He's shown a flair for generalship nobody expected," Flaccus admitted. "Put the fear of Jupiter's thunderbolts into the Egyptians. And if an untried boy like Norbanus can do that, what will the seasoned Roman commanders be like, eh?"
He led them from his rather lavish quarters at the now-familiar legionary pace into an adjacent courtyard that had been converted into an exercise yard for the Romans. There they found another Roman dressed in full battle armor practicing sword work against a wooden post. By now the Greeks were familiar with the legionary sword drill and were no longer astonished at the subtle use of the shield and lightning jabs of the gladius.
"Marcus, I've brought friends," Flaccus said.
The other man stepped back from the post and sheathed his sword. He removed his helmet, revealing a face as hard-planed as any they had ever seen. This man looked like the final refinement of the Roman soldier ideal. He was sweating abundantly, but his breathing was slow and steady and he spoke easily.
"Welcome. You look like a pair of seasoned travelers. What brings you to us?"
Flaccus made introductions and told Marcus of their mission.
"Excellent! The Senate is showing some sense for a change. You should hear the men they usually send here with dispatches. I ask them how the rebuilding of Rome is progressing and they say, 'it's going fine,' or 'slowly,' or something like that. They always resent being used as messengers and are anxious to be with the legions."
"Aren't you?" Izates asked.
"Not really. I've been fighting all my life, and there will always be plenty of campaigning to do. We're doing important work here, and it will prove crucial in the years and campaigns to come."
Zeno eyed the much-splintered post. "I confess I'm rather surprised to see a soldier of your years and experience practicing at the post like a recruit."
Marcus grinned, almost softening his harsh face. "My father put a wooden sword in my hand and a wicker shield on my arm and set me at the post when I was seven years old. I've done this drill more days than not every year since. You'd be surprised how sloppy your sword work can get if you neglect post practice. Sparring with an opponent is more enjoyable, but you lose your precision if that is all you do."
"Let him get started and he'll talk about fighting all day long," Flaccus told them. "Marcus, I've promised these two a tour of our facility. Would you care to guide them?"
"Of course! I'd like nothing better."
"You see?" Flaccus said. "This is the one thing he likes even better than fighting. The Archimedean school is his pride and joy. He'd rather test a new machine than celebrate a triumph."
"Actually," Marcus said, "there's no reason why I can't do this and celebrate a triumph as well, eventually. Come along." They set off, the two Romans unconsciously falling into lockstep.
"Archimedes has been a rather obscure figure," Izates said. "Of course, everyone knows the story of how he discovered the principles of buoyancy and displacement, and his geometric discoveries, but his school here has been practically unknown."