Master of Rome

Master of Rome
John Stack

A stirring adventure novel set amid the tumultuous clashes between the Roman and Carthaginian empires, battling for control of the Mediterranean, north Africa and Rome itself.Atticus, the young Greek captain, is now a commander of the growing Roman navy, blockading a port near Tunis, when the Roman legions suffer terrible defeat by the triumphant Carthaginian army, spearheaded by the elephant charges. He and his ships escape together with the main body of the Roman fleet out manoevred by the more skillful Carthaginians and then caught and almost completely annhilated by a terrible storm.Atticus and his crew are among the handful of survivors and being the messenger of this news to the Senta in Rome brings Atticus into political troubles, almost as stormy as the sea. He begins to feel not onlt that a greek will never be accepted by the Romans but also that the behaviour of many, noth politicians and soldiers, is such that he is not sure that he wants to be a Roman.Full of dramatic battles by land and sea, led by tremendous characters on both sides, MASTER OF ROME is a powerful novel, the third in this bestselling series by a born storyteller.

Masters of the Sea

Master of Rome

John Stack

Dedication

For Adrienne

Contents

Cover (#ulink_ad2ee9cf-c486-508b-a347-32dbeb824c3d)

Title Page

Dedication

Tunis, North Africa. 255 BC

Chapter One

The searing wind swept through the streets of Aspis and…

Chapter Two

Marcus Aemilius Paullus strode purposefully across the main deck of…

Chapter Three

Atticus sat in the stern of the skiff as it…

Chapter Four

Gaius Duilius sat motionless as the princeps senatus, the leader…

Chapter Five

Atticus stood on the foredeck of the Orcus as the…

Chapter Six

Lentulus, the master shipbuilder, stroked the threadlike grey hairs of…

Chapter Seven

Regulus walked slowly across the main deck of the Alissar,…

Chapter Eight

The quinquereme moved steadily through the crowded sea-lane, its course…

Chapter Nine

A single alarm bell was heard across the wide sweep…

Chapter Ten

Hamilcar watched impatiently as the small bird circled the tower,…

Chapter Eleven

Calix glanced at the wind-driven ripples across the surface of…

Chapter Twelve

The sentry pulled the rim of his helmet lower as…

Chapter Thirteen

Hamilcar looked out along the length of the city of…

Chapter Fourteen

The day dawned under a leaden sky, prolonging the long…

Chapter Fifteen

Baro looked anxiously beyond the wake of the Orcus as…

Chapter Sixteen

The crowd surged forward, straining against the line of legionaries…

Chapter Seventeen

The trading ship moved steadily over the dark sea, its…

Chapter Eighteen

Hamilcar looked up at the verdant slopes of the mountain…

Epilogue

The chariots moved slowly through the petal-filled air, the horses…