The blackened remains of Miriam’s house were clearly visible and once again Cato felt consumed with guilt that this woman had been so cruelly rewarded for saving his life. As the column approached the village, Parmenion led them in a wide circuit round its periphery. He did not halt the column but kept them marching down the wadi, away from Heshaba. ‘I thought we were supposed to stop there.’ Cato spoke quietly to the veteran as they rode side by side at the head of the cavalry squadron. ‘They’ve had enough of us for the moment,’ Parmenion replied. ‘We’re coming back the same way, so we can let them know the score then.’ Cato looked at him shrewdly. ‘Still out to win their friendship?’ Parmenion glanced back at him. ‘Perhaps I’m just trying not to lose whatever good will remains between us. If we go in hard today, it might just be the final straw for those people. Then they’ll go over to Bannus. And if the people of Heshaba turn against us, then what hope have we with the rest of the province?
