Iron and Rust. Harry Sidebottom

CHAPTER 28

       CHAPTER 29

       CHAPTER 30

       CHAPTER 31

       CHAPTER 32

       CHAPTER 33

       CHAPTER 34

       CHAPTER 35

       CHAPTER 36

       CHAPTER 37

       HISTORICAL AFTERWORD

       THANKS

       ABOUT THE AUTHOR

       ALSO BY HARRY SIDEBOTTOM

       ABOUT THE PUBLISHER

       CAST OF MAIN CHARACTERS

      IN THE NORTH

      Alexander Severus: The Emperor

      Mamaea: His mother

      Petronius Magnus: An imperial councillor

      Flavius Vopiscus: Senatorial governor of Pannonia Superior

      Honoratus: Senatorial commander of the troops detached from Moesia Inferior

      Catius Clemens: Senatorial commander of the 8th legion in Germania Superior

      Maximinus Thrax: An equestrian army officer

      Caecilia Paulina: His wife

      Maximus: Their son

      Anullinus: An equestrian army officer

      Volo: The commander of the frumentarii

      Domitius: The Prefect of the Camp

      Julius Capitolinus: Equestrian commander of 2nd legion Parthica

      Macedo: An equestrian army officer

      Timesitheus: Equestrian acting-governor of Germania Inferior

      Tranquillina: His wife

      Sabinus Modestus: His cousin

      IN ROME

      Pupienus: The Prefect of the City

      Pupienus Maximus: His elder son

      Pupienus Africanus: His younger son

      Gallicanus: A Senator of Cynic views

      Maecenas: His intimate friend

      Balbinus: A patrician of dissolute ways

      Iunia Fadilla: A young widow, descended from Marcus Aurelius

      Perpetua: Her friend, wife of Serenianus, governor of Cappadocia

      The die-cutter: A workman in the Mint

      Castricius: His young and disreputable neighbour

      Caenis: A prostitute visited by both

      IN AFRICA

      Gordian the Elder: Senatorial governor of Africa Proconsularis

      Gordian the Younger: His son and legate

      Menophilus: His Quaestor

      Arrian, Sabinianus, and Valerian: His other legates

      Capelianus: Governor of Numidia, and enemy of Gordian

      IN THE EAST

      Priscus: Equestrian governor of Mesopotamia

      Philip: His brother

      Serenianus: His friend, governor of Cappadocia

      Junius Balbus: Governor of Syria Coele, son-in-law of Gordian the Elder

      Otacilius Severianus: Governor of Syria Palestina, brother-in-law of Priscus and Philip

      Ardashir: Sassanid King of Kings

OUR HISTORY NOW DESCENDS FROM A KINGDOM OF GOLD TO ONE OF IRON AND RUST.

CHAPTER 1

      The Northern Frontier A Camp outside Mogontiacum, Eight Days before the Ides of March, AD235

       Hold me safe in your hands.

      The sun would be risen, well up by now, but little evidence filtered through to the inner sanctum of the great pavilion.

      All you gods, hold me safe in your hands. The young Emperor prayed silently, his mouth moving. Jupiter, Apollonius, Christ, Abraham, Orpheus: see me safe through the coming day.

      In the lamplight the eclectic range of deities regarded him impassively.

       Alexander, Augustus, Magna Mater: watch over your elect, watch over the throne of the Caesars.

      Noises, like the squeaking of disturbed bats, from beyond the little sanctuary of the domestic gods, beyond the heavy silk hangings, disrupted his prayers. From somewhere in the further recesses of the labyrinth of purple-shaded corridors and enclosures came the crash of something breaking. All the imperial