Legatus Legionis: Book Two in the Gaius Claudius Scaevola Trilogy Read Free Page A

do then was get the timing right; that would be roughly calculated, but could be adjusted later by trial and error for finer tuning. If that did not work, an alternative might be a cam; a wheel that would rotate, but because of an asymmetry, such as a groove, or a different radius, would move a switch.
    Now that he had defined the problem properly, there were so many possible solutions that he had a new problem: which of these were the most likely to work? He would think about this and design something, then make a model and see if he could make a lever from a wheel move a rocker arm between two positions on a regular basis with sufficient force to turn a valve.
    * * *
    Eventually, the last cohort was marching down the road, and Gaius could return to his tent. He changed into less formal clothing and sat down to an early lunch of bread, cheese and fruit, then he drank some water. Sooner or later he would have to pack up this tent and leave, but that could wait. His orders were to remain in Judea, which presumably meant proceeding to Caesarea. There was no hurry; he could get started tomorrow, and leaving it for tomorrow might save him effort as he understood that a few soldiers had been sent from Caesarea to assist him.
    He had to find somewhere peaceful where he could be alone. There was an olive grove nearby; he would find some shade there, sit and think further on his invention. In the event, nothing came to him, but it was, nevertheless, very pleasant. For the first time in months he was not responsible for anything, and he intended to enjoy not doing anything, and taking a long time not doing it.
    He was about to return to camp when he saw a man and a woman walking towards him, and from the way they had altered course after seeing him, and the woman had pointed at him, they were obviously looking for him. As he got up and they got closer, he recognized the woman: Rebecca, the Christian woman he had saved from being stoned for blasphemy by some Jewish fundamentalists.
    "Greetings to you," he said, as they approached.
    "Greetings," Rebecca replied. " Legatus , this is James, the brother of Jesus, and James, this is Legatus Claudius Scaevola."
    "As it happens, I am no longer a Legatus ," Gaius replied with a smile, "so I am afraid if you want something, I may not be able to help."
    "I gather you were responsible for the extraordinarily large amount of money that was thrust upon us yesterday," James said. "We wish to thank you."
    "You will thank me best by using it only for the benefit of the poor," Gaius replied.
    "It will all be so used," James replied. "Why did you do that?"
    "I chose you to distribute it because I thought you would be the most trustworthy for that purpose."
    "What I meant was, why give it to the poor through Christians?"
    "You think it was atonement for Romans crucifying your brother?" Gaius asked curiously.
    "Was it?"
    "Sorry if I disappoint you, but no, it wasn't."
    "Good! I would only be disappointed if it were. But you haven't answered. Why?"
    "Then this will probably disappoint you. I honestly don't have a good reason. I came across a group of Jewish thieves who were trying extortion on a caravan and a group of Roman auxiliaries who were probably also demanding money from the caravan for protection. I was really annoyed, but I didn't know what to do. Then that solution just came to me. It was the one solution in which nobody in the wrong could benefit, and the ones who did benefit were those who were completely innocent, at least on this matter, and who really needed help. I trust you to give it."
    "And you didn't try to benefit yourself." This was a statement, not a question.
    "Why would I?" Gaius said in a puzzled tone.
    "That you ask that question is its own answer."
    "You're going to try to convert me," Gaius smiled.
    "No, I'm not," James shook his head. "There is no need to convert you, as you put it."
    "You can't be both a priest and a Legatus ," Rebecca added.
    "My brother was a great