The Sign of the Fish

They arrived at the camp and made their way to the house. Laurel went to carry out Marcus’ instructions while Marcus made his way quietly to his father’s study, hoping and praying that he would not find him within.
He opened the door, rehearsing his excuse for disturbing his father.
Empty! A sense of relief swept across him. So far, so good.
He went to the desk and looked through a pile of official documents. Surely, there would be something he could use. He started to panic, but managed with difficulty to calm himself down. Yes, this would do. It looked official.
He wrote on the vellum and guiltily forged his father’s signature. Finished off with the seal of the Centurion of the legion, it looked impressive. Few would question it, or so he hoped.
Marcus carefully placed the scroll in a leather bag. Before meeting Laurel, he took two of his father’s short swords fervently hoping they would not be missed.

As arranged, Laurel was waiting by the fountain, clutching a bag of food as instructed.
“What do we do now?” asked Laurel as they walked through the camp.
“We’ve got to get into the barracks,” Marcus sounded serious.
“What? How?” Laurel stopped herself, she knew it was no use arguing.
Marcus’ plan was the only one they had, it was better just to get on with it.
“All right, what do you want me to do?” She tried to sound calm, but her voice was shaking.
“Go to the front of the barracks, knock on the door, say you can’t find me. Ask if anyone has seen me. Keep them talking until I appear. Can you do that?”
Marcus hoped she could manage conversation with a group of Roman Legionaries, but wondered if he was expecting too much of her.
Laurel forced a smile.
“Don’t worry. I’ll do my best.”

While Laurel went to the front of the barracks, Marcus crept round to the back, waiting until Laurel’s diversion gave him the chance to slip inside.
Marcus heard the soldiers voices. Just a few he thought. Would he be lucky enough to get in and out without being seen? He heard the knock on the door and a soldier get up slowly to answer it.

Laurel played her part well, managing to involve the four in a discussion about the whereabouts of the boy who was actually breaking into their barracks as they spoke.

Marcus had been in the barracks before, he tried to remember where the uniforms were kept, careful to take two that were stored away and would therefore not be missed too quickly. He could hear Laurel’s voice and could tell she was running out of things to say.

Bundling the uniforms into a bag, along with the two smallest helmets he could find, he ran across the outer courtyard and quickly climbed the wall, pulling the heavy bag over with difficulty. After hurriedly hiding the bag, he ran round the side of the building, slowing to a walk as he approached Laurel and the group of legionaries.
“Salve, Laurel Antonia, I’ve been looking everywhere for you. We have a message to deliver and must hurry.” Marcus tried not to sound too breathless as he spoke.
“Marcus Augustus your guest has been worried. You have been careless!”
An old white-haired legionary, who seemed to spend more and more days in the barracks laughed loudly as Laurel smiled muttering her thanks to the soldiers, glad that the deception was at an end.

Marcus and Laurel went back for the bag and loaded it onto a donkey to take it to the meeting place at the Sign of the Fish. It was a hard journey up the hill, but with the help of the old donkey, they finally reached the cave, checked the sign and found Samuel anxiously waiting inside.
“James is being held in the city prison by the West Gate.” Samuel told them.
He turned to Marcus, speaking in a low voice, hoping that Laurel wouldn’t hear him.
“Marcus, we have little time. They say that prisoners are often tortured at nightfall, even as entertainment for sadistic guards, drunk on power and wine.
“If they’re drunk, it may be easier to fool them. Let’s hope so. Let me explain what we must do.”

Marcus outlined the plan to Samuel and Laurel, both listening intently, aware that however unrealistic, it was their only hope of success and the only hope for Jim.

Samuel and Marcus tried the uniforms and made adjustments where they could.
Luckily, at fourteen, they were almost at an age to join the army, and both were quite tall. They put on some of the uniforms and packed the helmets and swords to carry until the last minute. They didn’t want to be challenged on the road as deserting Roman Soldiers. Marcus took the spears, kept in the cave for occasional hunting, and added them to swords. Roman soldiers usually carried spears, they just hoped that they would not have to use them.

“We must eat now, we will need our strength,” Marcus adapted easily to the role of commander. Although none of them felt hungry, they forced themselves to eat something, and saved food for later. Jim was sure to be hungry after his ordeal.

With the help of the old donkey, once again the three made the short journey to Jerusalem. Across the city, near the West gate, they found a quiet corner of a deserted alleyway. There, two boys were transformed into legionaries serving the Emperor of Rome. Standing back, Laurel had to admit that she was impressed.
“Well” she smiled weakly, ”you’d certainly fool me.”
With a sharp intake of breath, Marcus tried to steady his nerve.
“The question is, will we fool anyone else?”