The man was lazily dangling his legs in the water of the calidarium. There were few people that day at the spa and this certainly made it more pleasant and restful, away from the prying eyes of those who often sought him out only to ask for favours or sponsorship.
“Good day, senator.”
The man with his feet soaking in the warm water turned slowly to see the other sit down quietly next to him. Quite young and possessed a fairly muscular physique, he too was naked with the exception of the long linen towel that fell from his left shoulder.
“I’ve been expecting you, tribune.”
The newcomer sensed the vague tone of reproach in the words. “Forgive me for being late but…”
“It doesn’t matter. Let us come to the reason why you asked to see me.”
“Everything is ready.”
The senator studied the wrinkles under his interlocutor’s eyes.
“Very well. Go on then.”
The tribune hesitated.
“Is the Senate with us?”
“The Senate supports you.”
“The whole Senate?”
The senator sighed then looked around him and took his feet from the water. The soldier helped him to stand up.
“Let’s go to the swimming pool, tribune. It is getting too hot in here.”
The two men moved in silence. They left the calidarium and headed for the narrow refrigerated corridor that led to the swimming pool without passing through the laconicum. The senator paused for a moment to look at the statue of the Apoxyomenos which was visible through the large arch that led to the main avenue of the spa. “The Greek sculptors are unsurpassed, don’t you think?” he said without waiting for an answer before setting off again. “Their sculptures need no interpretation. It is the postures themselves which are the clear vehicle of the message. Only we Romans always need to constantly reiterate perfectly obvious concepts.”
When the two men arrived at the natatio, the senator took his place in a marble hollow which allowed him to descend into the water avoiding a sudden change in temperature. The warm flows accompanied his body carefully towards the water at room temperature. With a nod he invited the tribune to follow him. “Did you know that this swimming pool was obtained from the regularisation of the natural basin of the palus caprae?” Seeing that the soldier did not understand, he added: “My father was among the senators who approved the resolution.”
The other nodded without conviction. “Senator,” he ventured, “we need the support of the entire Senate.”
“Do not worry, tribune. The most influential members of the Senate are with you. You have my word. Augustus is now old and sick but he will not lack the comfort of those who care about the fate of the Empire.”
“When are you thinking of telling him…?”
“Telling him? Why on earth should we tell him? He must never know. Indeed, it is essential that he never know.”
“Very well,” said the soldier, “in that case let us proceed.”
“Can I know what you have in mind?”
“A coordinated operation in all the provinces of the Empire. A month from today. We believe that two or three days should suffice.”
“Around the ninth of September, therefore.”
“Exactly.”
The senator thought for a few moments. He dipped his hand into the water and wiped his shoulders and hairy chest. “What if someone escapes? If someone weren’t where you expect them to be? If you want to eliminate a pack of wolves, you have to exterminate them all, or you will have to deal with the ferocity of the survivors.”
“Nobody will survive, senator. You have my word.” The tribune took a step back to avoid being drenched by the water the senator continued to splash on his shoulders.
“Do you know what failure would mean for you? You are young and you have a promising military career ahead of you.”
“Those who are not in the pack have long hidden our hounds in their shadows.”
A gratified smirk appeared on the senator’s face.
“My only regret is that Augustus will never know about the great favour we are doing him.”
The soldier bowed his head.
“True.”
“Well, tribune. Thank you for your visit.”
The standing man paused to look at the ripples on the surface of the pool. “So I have your word?”
“Good luck, tribune,” was the senator’s peremptory reply. The soldier gave a nod of farewell and departed.
When he had disappeared from view, the senator dived into the natatio, feeling a shiver of pleasure run through him when the water submerged him up to his neck. As he relaxed, he narrowed his eyes and thought of what the soldier had said to him.
Those who are not in the pack have long hidden our hounds in their shadows. A bold but poetic comparison. Unusual for a soldier.
It was true that Rome was changing if even the military nowadays managed to give a metaphysical meaning to the work of their swords.