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better than barbarians. Rome was the implacable enemy of Carthage, and Carthage had resisted the spread of Greek interests in the western Mediterranean. The Romans were brutal, but Carthage had become a by word for cruelty.
    Gabinius told them of the great northward march; when the Romans took their household gods and sacred objects, their arms and whatever tools they could carry and sought a new home beyond the Alps. He told them of the hungry early years, of the resistance by native peoples, and of the Romans' ultimate victory. He told of Roman expansion year by year, and of how certain native nobles saw in the new comers an opportunity for themselves.
    "Since that time," Gabinius said, "we have spoken of the old families and the new families. Old families like my own date from the exile. New families are of northern origin."
    "And they are full citizens?" Zeno asked, intrigued as al ways by this unique concept of citizenship.
    "Certainly. Our Consul Norbanus, whom you saw leaving the Curia today, belongs to the most prestigious of the new families. They have been consulars for more than fifty years. His father and grandfather were consuls and a great grandfather was praetor shortly after the exile. He was a chieftain who understood that supporting Rome would make him far more than lord over a few hundred obstreperous savages."
    It sounded too cozy and friendly for Zeno. No Greek could truly believe in political harmony on any profound level, and he remembered the shouting from inside the Curia. He sensed that there must be tension, jealousy and resentment between these new and old families.
    In response to the Roman's questions, Zeno spoke of the situation in Greece, of the great coastal cities of Antioch, Sidon and Tyre, of the islands Cyprus and Rhodes. Gabinius asked Izates about Judea and its capital, Jerusalem. Zeno noticed that his friend was not asked about his native city, Alexandria, even though the capital of Egypt was perhaps the most important city on the sea.
    He remembered reports he had heard that a Roman delegation had already visited that city. They've been sending re ports to the Senate, he thought. This Roman already knows all he needs to know about Alexandria. The scope of Roman prepara tions was something far beyond his experience. They have just retaken Italy and already they are laying plans for world conquest. They will know exactly what they are doing and whom they will face when they start. Even Alexander made no such plans. He just bulled his way through with luck, charisma and a confidence in his enemy's weakness.
    "Perhaps you can answer something for me," Zeno said hesitantly.
    "You have but to ask," Gabinius told him.
    "The world knows that you Romans are in the process of taking Sicily."
    "We are taking it back," Gabinius corrected. "It was ours after the first war with Carthage, when we fought Hannibal's father there."
    "To be sure. Yet, travelers hear many things and there is a story on the ships and in the taverns all around the sea that a Roman force, a rather large one, accompanied the Shofet Hamilcar's expedition to Egypt. Yet now you are at war with Carthage. What has happened to that Roman army, last heard.of some distance down the Nile from Alexandria?"
    Gabinius leaned back in his chair and seemed to consider this for a while. He gestured with his cup and a slave refilled it, then the others.
    "Ah. This very question is getting to be something of a sore point in the Senate lately. You see, our two consuls for the year are Titus Norbanus and Quintus Scipio; one old family, one new. Each has a son. If you would understand the new Rome that has arisen here, then I must tell you about these two remarkable young men."
    And so he began to speak to them of the younger Marcus Scipio, and of the younger Titus Norbanus.

CHAPTER THREE
    The place was called Sinai. it might as well have been the realm of Dis or Pluto. To the Romans, ac customed to the verdant North, to beautiful Italy, it