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it. At once, the mate and his men hurriedly lashed the spar to the stump, and then tied more ropes around it, as tightly as possible, until satisfied that the makeshift mast was as firm as it could be. There was no rest for the crew as they improvised the necessary shrouds, sheets and a cross spar from the ship’s sweep oars, lashed together. Lastly they fetched out the old sail from a locker and fastened it to the spar.The makeshift rudder was lowered over the stern and a man assigned to the tiller before the sail was carefully hoisted up the mast.
    A light breeze filled the sail with a rippling series of thuds, as the mate looked on apprehensively. Then he gave the order to sheet home, and the
Horus
began to make way through the gentle swell just as the first glimmer of light appeared on the horizon. On deck, those who were not helping to crew the ship lay down to rest, exhausted. Senator Sempronius cradled his daughter’s head and shoulders in his lap and covered her with his cloak. Once the mate was satisfied that the ship was performing as well as it could under the rough repairs that had been carried out through the night, he came to report to Macro and Cato.
    ‘We’re holding a course along the coast, sir. Should make Matala before the end of the day. We can put in for repairs there. ‘
    ‘Good job. ‘ Macro smiled. ‘You’ve done well. ‘
    The mate was too tired for any modesty, and just nodded before he made his way aft to give his orders to the man at the tiller, and then leaned on the side rail. Macro rubbed his hands together and gazed towards the coming dawn. Y o u hear that? Safe and sound on dry land by the end of the day’
    Cato did not reply. He was staring at the distant coastline of Crete. After a moment he stretched his shoulders and rubbed his neck. ‘Safe and sound? I hope so. ‘
    Macro frowned. ‘What now? The prospect of being saved from a watery grave not good enough for you?’
    ‘Oh, I’m pleased enough about that. ‘ Cato forced a brief smile. ‘The thing is, if that wave almost destroyed the ship, then the gods only know what it has done to the island of Crete… ‘

CHAPTER FOUR
    As the
Horus
crept round the point, those on board got their first glimpse of the devastation that had been visited on the port of Matala by the giant wave. The warehouses and wharves had been smashed to pieces and the debris swept up the slope beyond where the densely packed houses had collapsed under the weight of the sea water surging ashore. Fishing boats and ships lay shattered across the rocks and cliffs either side of the bay. Further inland, above the high-water mark where the wave had come ashore, the destruction continued. Buildings large and small had been flattened, as if crushed under the foot of some titan. Further inland fires burned out of control and columns of smoke swirled into the afternoon sky. Only a handful of people were visible amongst the ruins, some desperately plucking away at the debris to find their loved ones and valuables. Others simply sat and stared at their surroundings in shock.
    Macro swallowed. ‘What in Hades happened here?’
    ‘The wave, ‘ said Julia. ‘It must have destroyed the port before it reached us. ‘
    ‘Not just the wave. ‘ Cato shook his head. ‘The wave swept in over the land for some way, but beyond that, there’s still plenty of damage. ‘ He turned to the senator. ‘Seems like that earthquake in Bythinia you told us about. ‘
    Sempronius stared at the scene opening out before them for a moment before he replied. ‘This is worse, far worse. I’ve never seen anything like it. ‘
    They continued to stare at the devastation as the
Horus
crept into the bay. Despite the repairs of the previous night, the ship was still steadily taking on water, and regular shifts of the surviving crew and passengers had taken turns on a human chain to bail the water out of the hull. The water level in the hold had been slowly rising all day, making the