A Roman execution squad has been assigned to guard the dead body of the man they put to death a couple of days earlier. It seems like it should be an easy operation for a change. But something - they are not sure what - has happened during the night and the body has disappeared, putting the whole squad in jeopardy. What can they do? The penalty for sleeping on duty is death. The penalty for losing a prisoner is death. There is only one thing to do - run for their lives!
Only one man is experienced enough to know how to cope with the vagaries of the barren, arid and inhospitable countryside, as well as the dangers posed by resistance fighters, Roman military police and untrustworthy locals. Their NCO is a man who is better known for his ability to work the system, or to make the system work for him. However, soon the squad comes to realise that the man they call Affa has a wealth of soldiery experience to call on, which may be their only chance of survival...