Against the Tide of Years by S.M.

Stirling
To Marjorie Totterdale Stirling, 1920-1997. Ave Atque Vale.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Lyrics from "Fogarty's Cove" used by permission of Ariel Rogers/Fogarty's Cove Music,
copyright !"#, $ritten by %tan Rogers&
My than's again to the people of (antuc'et )individuals too numerous to name*, to the +&%&
Coast ,uard, and to the historians, linguists, and archaeologists&
-han's also to %u.anne Feldman and Anne/Marie -albott for their help, and to La$rence 0&
Feldman, 1h&2& )anthropology* and M&L&%&, for help3and help $ith the beer&
!OLOG"E
%ince the 4vent, everything has changed& 5e've had to 6ust accept it3those $ho didn't go into
shoc' and never come out3li'e time itself, a mystery $e'd never solve& Many couldn't accept it,
and 7 thin' that accounts for a lot of the cra.iness that bubbled up in the first year or t$o& 8n top
of it all, 5illiam 5al'er headed off to 4ngland $ith his band of thugs, to set himself up as a
'ing, and $e had to fight a $ar to stop him& 7f he'd stayed up in the t$entieth, maybe 5al'er
$ould never have been more than a mildly amoral officer in the Coast ,uard instead of a
$arlord and emperor, and his bitch/9ueen 0ong $ould certainly never have had the opportunity
to rival 4li.abeth :athory and ,iles de Rais in the atrocity league&
,od 'no$s, 7 li'e to thin' the rest of us have improved on the original history a bit, $here $e
could3spreading potatoes and sanitation, putting do$n human sacrifice and slavery& Mind you,
there are still times $hen 7 $a'e up and e;pect to hear radios and cars< (o$ $e've had a fe$
years of comarative peace, and things are loo'ing up& For no$& 5hat really $orries me is that
$e couldn't finish 5al'er off&
!rom t"e er#onal journal# o$ !ounding %ouncilor &an Arn#tein, as 9uoted in 2avid Arnstein,
An 7ntroductory 0istory of the Republic of (antuc'et&
Ch& =, the Crisis of the %econd 2ecade
)(antuc'et -o$n> 8ceanic +niversity/:oo'$or's 1ress, ?"A&4&*
(May, Year 2 A.E.After the Event)
Agamemnon, son of Atreus, @ing of Men, 0igh 5anna; of Mycenae, and overlord of the
Achaeans by land and sea, decided that he loved cannon&
"Aou did not lie," he said, smiling li'e a $olf at the shattered section of fortress $all& 0e inhaled
the stin' of burnt sulfur as if it $ere perfumed oil& "Aou can ma'e more of theseB"
-he outlander bo$ed& "7f 7 have the metal and $or'men 7 need, Lord @ing," he said in fluent
,ree' $ith a $histling, nasal accent&
":y 'eu# (ater, Ceus Father of ,ods and men," Agamemnon s$ore& "Aou shall have $hat you
re9uire3and besides that, you shall have land of me, houses, gold, comely $omen, fine raiment,
$eapons3yes, and honor in my house among my e)*etai, my s$orn companions<"
-he outlander bo$ed again& +il-liam +al)eear", t"at'# "i# name& 0ard to remember the foreign
soundsD there $ere murmurs at the 'ing's bac', from nobles displeased at seeing an outlander
raised so high among them mere $ee's after he arrived at -iryns, Mycenae's port& !ool#&
"(ever have 7 seen or heard of anything li'e this," he said, as the gathering began to disperse&
"(ot even among the 0ittites or the clever %udnu, the %idonians&"
Agamemnon's personal guard fell in behind them, sunlight brea'ing red off the bron.e blades of
their ready spears, eyes $ary under their boar's/tus' helmets&
"And to find such among the savages of the northlandsD" -he 'ing shoo' his head& "5here
comes this 'no$ledge of thro$ing thunderboltsB"
"Ah, my lord 'ing," the tall stranger said& "T"at is a very long story&"
C#ATE! ONE
March, Year 8 A.E.
(June, Year 2 A.E.)
,et that ,od/damned moa under control<" a voice shouted from the street& 7t $as a 9uarterdec'
soprano, trained to carry mast/high through a galeE the accent $as pure Carolina sea/island
gumbo&
Marian, Fared Cofflin thought as he 6oined the councilors cro$ding to the $indo$s, using his si;
feet t$o of lan'y height to peer over their heads& 8ne of the big birds $as sprinting do$n :road
%treet, heading for the harbor3or 6ust a$ay from the handlers $ith poles trying to catch it&
1eople tumbled out of its $ay, bicycles toppled, ponies reared, a cart overset and bags of stone/
ground flour burst in a beige mist&
"2amned funny/loo'ing things, aren't theyB" someone said&
Fared Cofflin agreed& And t"e, *ere a lot cuter a# c"ic)#, he thought& %ort of fu..y and about the
si.e of a tur'eyE the -agle had pic'ed them up in a (e$ Cealand that the 1olynesians had yet to
reach, during her survey voyage in the Aear .ut, o", "o* $a#t t"e, gro*& -he head still loo'ed
fairly chic'enli'e, although it $as bigger than a ,erman shepherd's, no$E the eye bore a loo' of
fi;ed stupidity leavened $ith terror& -he bird itself stood t$elve feet tall and $eighed more than
a co$, $ith a long nec', a bulbous body, and absurd, enormous three/toed feet3pile driver feet,
and a man thre$ himself out of the $ay of a 'ic' that could have snapped his nec'& -he ponies
dra$ing another cart bolted, spilling barrels of $hale oil, and the slipping, sliding chaos that
follo$ed $ould have been funny if it hadn't been so dangerous&
A steam/hauler puffed out onto :road from 4asy %treet, pulling three $agons under tight/laced
tarpaulinsE it loo'ed a little li'e an old/time locomotive, $ith the $heels of a heavy/hauler truc'&
-he driver and fireman too' one loo' and bailed out the other flan' of their open/sided vehicle to
get out of reach of the moa's si;/foot nec', but they tripped the bra'e and e;haust valves first and
it coasted to a halt in a huge *"u$$ o$ $hite vapor that made the giant bird flinch and slo$&
-hen someone vaulted onto the tarpaulins, a tall slender blac' $oman $ith a long curved blade
in her hands&
Marian, all rig"t, Cofflin thought& 5hich e;plained $hy she $asn't here alreadyE it too' a
genuine emergency to ma'e Commodore Marian Alston/@urlelo late for anything& For a
%outherner, she had a positively Aan'ee attitude to$ard punctuality& Maybe it $as the t$enty
years she'd spent in the Coast ,uard before the 4vent&
-he )atana flashed in a blurring arc as the huge bird tried to stop, turn, and pec' at the annoying
human all at the same time& Another flash of sunlight on steel, and there $as a crac) soundE
Alston $ent to one 'nee on the tarpaulin, and shavings of bea' spun free& -he moa bra'ed
frantically on the slippery asphalt, then fell on its rear $ith an audible thud and an ear/stunning
cry of S/+AAA/0
",et that ,od/damned thing under control befo' it hurts somebody, Ah said<" she shouted again&
:efore the moa could scramble upright the 'eepers $ere on it, and one of them clapped a bag on
the end of a long pole over its head& A yan' on a cord dre$ the bag tight, and the fight $ent out
of the co$/si.e mass of gray feathers&
"%1111irrrr-aaa)," it sounded in muffled protest, follo$ing mee'ly as the 'eeper hauled on
the cord& -$o more came behind and to either side, carefully avoiding the refle;ive 'ic's&
"Come on, -astes Li'e Chic'en," the 'eeper said& "Aou've got an appointment $ith an a;&"
"5hose bright idea $as it to let one of those things loose in to$nB" Cofflin as'ed& Actuall, t"e,
ta#te more li)e veal, he added to himself&
Angelica :rand coughed discreetly& "5ell, Chief, $e're roasting a couple of them for the 4vent
2ay festivities, andD $ell, it's a lot easier to get tons of bird into to$n if they $al', and they're
usually 9uite docile, this $as 6ust a little troubleD"
"%omeone could have gotten hurt," he said sternly to the Councilor for Agriculture& 0e could
hear Marian's 9uic' step in the hall$ay outside& "Let's get bac' to business&"
"4;ecutive Council of the Republic of (antuc'et $ill no$ come to order," the recording cler'
droned& "All are present& Fourth meeting of the Aear G After the 4vent, March t$enty/first& Chief
4;ecutive Fared Cofflin presiding&"
2amn, 3ut *e've gotten $ormal, Fared Cofflin thought& And single/digit years still sounded funnyE
granted, using ":&C&" and "A&2&" $as 6ust plain silly, since nobody 'ne$ if or $hen3$hen, if
you listened to 1relate ,ome. of the ne$ 4cumenical Christian Church3Fesus Christ $as going
to be born in this mutant history& -he younger generation found the ne$ system natural enough&
0e brushed a hand over sandy blond hair even thinner on top than it had been at the 4ventE he
$as fifty/si; no$, honest, straightfor$ard years even if he had looped around li'e this&
Fisherman, (avy s$abby, chief of policeD and since the 4vent, head of state&
%"ri#t.
"8'ay," he said at last, $hen the reading of the minutes $as over& "Let's get do$n to the serious
stuff& Martha," he $ent on to his $ife, smiling slightly, more a movement of the eyes than the
lips&
Martha Cofflin, nee %toddardE e;/librarian, no$ %ecretary of the Council, $ith a long, bony
Aan'ee face li'e his and graying bro$n hair&
"First item is immigration policy," she said& ":efore the Council are petitions to allo$ increases
in the yearly 9uota of immigrants and temporary $or'ers to the 7sland from Alba&" -he 5hite
7sle, $hat this era called :ritain&
4dd, Cofflin thought again& -here $ere plenty of islands, but everyone 'ne$ $hat you meant
$hen you said t"e 7sland these days& & #uo#e it *a# inevita3le *e'd develo our o*n #lang&
And our o*n $eud#, he thought as hostile glances $ent up and do$n the Council table& 8n the
one hand, (antuc'et needed the hands& 4verything too' so muc" $or', $ith the limited
technology they had availableE on the other handD
Angelica :rand of :rand Farms noddedE so did half a do.en others&
"7'm trying to get sugar/beet production started, and3"
"5e need that ne;t dry doc' 3adl,3"
"7f $e could only get some coal, there are surface deposits up in (ova %cotia3''
4ur 3udding lutocrat#, Cofflin thought& 1eople on the Council tended to have useful 'no$ledge
and to be more energetic than most3that $as $hy he'd pic'ed them& ,ood people, mostly, but
you had to $atch them&
"5ait a minute<" said Lisa ,errard of the %chool Committee, static crac'ling from her silver/
$hite hair& "5e're already overburdened& All these immigrants are illiterate3$hat $ith the adult
education classes my people are $or'ing around the cloc', the teacher/training program is
behind schedule, and the crime rate's up<" -houghtful nods&
Cofflin loo'ed at his younger cousin ,eorge, $ho'd ta'en over his old 6ob as head of the 7sland's
police& "Ayup& Mostly %un 1eople& Can't hold their li9uor, and then they start hitting& 8r if a girl
tells them to get lost, or they thin' someone's dissed themD"
"And besides that," Martha said, "if $e're the ma6ority, $e can assimilate t"em& -oo many, and
it'll start $or'ing the other $ay 'round, or $e'll end up as a ruling class $ith resentful aliens
under us& And as ,eorge says, many of them 6ust don't understand the concept of la$s&"
"8r $hy it's a bad idea to piss up against $alls," someone laughed&
"Actually," a voice $ith the soft, dra$ling accent of the Carolina tide$ater cut in, "$e may have
something of an outlet for their aggressions&"
A couple of the Councilors loo'ed over sharplyE Marian $as usually e;tremely 9uiet at Council
meetings, e;cept $hen her defense and shipbuilding specialties came up&
"From the reports," she $ent on, "5al'er is leavin' us no choice but another $ar to put him
do$n&"
T"an) ,ou, Marian, he thought, letting one eyelid droop slightly& 0er imperceptible nod replied,
5ou're *elcome&
"5ell, perhaps $e should move on to item t$o," he said neutrally&
"7tem t$o," Martha said dryly, giving him a glance&
All rig"t, all rig"t, #o &'ve learned to 3e a olitician. Someone "a# to do it.
"5illiam 5al'er," she continued&
-his time the e;pressions do$n the table $ere unanimous& 6o3od, li'ed the renegade Coast
,uard officer, or any of the t$enty/odd other traitors $ith him& (antuc'et had had to fight an
e;pensive little $ar to stop him over in Alba3and had ended up $ith a sort of 9uasi
protectorate/hegemony/cum/alliance over most of southern 4ngland&
Cofflin cleared his throat and loo'ed at the Councilor for Foreign Affairs and his 2eputy37an
Arnstein and his $ife, 2oreen& -hey handed around their summary, and 7an began, sounding
much li'e the history professor he'd once been&
"8ur latest intelligence reports indicate he managed to get all the $ay from the 4nglish Channel
to ,reece, arriving about three months after the end of the Alban 5ar, and3"
-here $ere long faces at the table $hen he finishedE many had hoped they'd seen the last of
5al'er $hen he fled Alba years ago& %omeone sighed and said it out loud&
"5ishful thin'in'," Alston snapped& "5e should have made sure of him, no matter $hat it too'& 7
said so then&"
"And the -o$n Meeting decided other$ise," Cofflin said& -he Republic $as very emphatically a
democracy& :ac' then they'd decided that the margin of survival $as too thin to 'eep hundreds
under arms combing the endless $ilderness of :ron.e Age 4urope&
And t"e, *ere rig"t, Cofflin thought& (ot much prospect of catching 5al'er, and if they'd
chased him hard bac' then he'd have settled some$here deep in the continental interior, $here
the 7slanders couldn't touch him& Leave him alone, and his arrogance and lust for revenge $ould
ma'e him stop $ithin reach of salt $ater3planning to build a navy someday and come bac' for
a rematch&
Marian had once said she $as unsuited to Cofflin's 6ob because she $as a hammerD and sa$ all
problems as nails& .ut #"e'# a ver, good "ammer, and #ome ro3lem# are nail#, he mused, and
$ent on aloud> "7 thin' $e can prod the %overeign 1eople into some action no$, though&" 0is
statement $as only half ironic& -he people *ere sovereign here, very directly& "-he screaming
about ho$ $e're spending too much on defense ought to die do$n a little, at least& MarianB"
Marian Alston pulled out a sheaf of papers& "0ere's $hat 7 propose," she began&
Little of it $as a surprise to him& Contingency planning cost nothing, and he had a limited
discretionary fund to $or' $ith for more concrete preparations& At lea#t *e could la, t"e
ground*or), #ince t"e Al3an +ar& -he ne$ Marine regiment $as coming along fairly $ell, from
the reports3young 0ollard $as a doer, and the Republic had gro$n enormously over the last
eight years, in numbers and capacities&
Cofflin $ondered grimly $hat 5al'er and his renegades had been doing in those same years&
5al'er $asn't the 'ind to let grass gro$ under his feet, damn him& 7f they didn't do something
about him, eventually he $ould do something about t"em&
"8h, s$eet fuc'ing Fesus Christ on a 0arley," 5illiam 5al'er muttered in 4nglish, before
dropping bac' into archaic ,ree'& "Sevent, alternative meaningsB"
-hic' adobe $alls 'ept the heat at bay, but light lanced in li'e spears of $hite through small,
high $indo$s& -he room $as a rectangle, $hite$ashed plaster on the $alls and hard/pac'ed
earth covered in gypsum on the floorE it smelled of the damp clay in a tub, and of clay tablets
drying in $ic'er bas'ets&
-he Achaean scribe sat patiently on his stool& "Aes, lord," he said, humoring the ne$ly/come
stranger the 0igh @ing had set him to serve& "-here are seven tens of meanings for this sign&"
0is pen $as a reed $ith a sharp thorn set in the tip, and his $riting surface moist clay pressed on
a board& -he thorn scratched a circle divided by t$o straight lines, li'e a four/spo'ed $heel&
"-his is the sign )a," he said& "Also the sign for ga, )"a, )ai, )a#, )anD"
And ,ou "ave to $igure out *"ic" $rom conte7t, 5al'er thought& +"at an a3ortion o$ a *riting
#,#tem&
-he real 6o'er $as that the script $asn't even $ell suited to ,ree'& -he main ancestors of these
clo$ns had arrived in ,reece as illiterate barbarian $ar bands from the northE they'd pic'ed up
$riting from the Minoan Cretans, along $ith most of $hat other feeble claims to civili.ation
they had& -he original script had been designed for a completely different languageE all the signs
for sounds ended in a vo$el, and there $ere a $hole bunch of ,ree' sounds that didn't have a
sign at all&
1athetic& 5hich $as all to the good, of course& (ot a day $ent by that he didn't bless 5hoever or
5hatever had caused the 4vent&
"-han' you, 4n'helya$on," he said to the scribe& 6o $uc)ing *onder nearl, ever,one'# illiterate
"ere& "(o$, ho$ have you progressed $ith my people's scriptB"
7n the original history, if "original" meant anything here, Mycenaean civili.ation $as going to go
under in another fifty years or so in a chaos of civil $ar and barbarian invasionE this $riting
system $ould be completely lost, and $hen the ,ree's became literate again after their 2ar'
Age it $ould be by borro$ing the ancestral alphabet from the 1hoenicians& -he Romans $ould
get it from the ,ree's and then pass their version do$n to 5estern civili.ationD and here he
$as, teaching it to the ancestors of the ,ree's& More *eird #"it&
"Lord, a child could master that script you sho$ed me," 4n'helya$on said tolerantly& "-$enty/
si; signsB -hat is nothing&"
0e pic'ed up another slab of prepared clay and 9uic'ly $rote out the Roman alphabet& "7t is
interesting, lord37 have yet to find a $ord that cannot be $ritten in it&"
"Aou $on't," 5al'er said dryly& "And it can be learned by a child3that's the $hole point&"
-he scribe $as a middle/aged man, $hich meant mid/thirties here, $ith a fe$ strea's of gray in
his pointed blac' beard& 5al'er could $atch the thought percolating through, and some of the
implications popping up li'e lightbulbs& 7t $as a loo' he'd become deeply familiar $ith since the
4vent& -he locals $eren't necessarily stupidE sho$ them a concept and they'd often grasp it 12H
3the smarter and less hidebound ones& (ot all of them thought that So it *a# in t"e da,# o$ our
$at"er# $as the ans$er to every problem, $hen you sho$ed them an alternative& -he tric' $as
finding the right ones&
4n'helya$on loo'ed do$n at the clay tablet& "AndD ah, 7 see& -he sounds of the letters seldom
change&"
"%mall need for us scribes, then," the Achaean $ent on after a moment, his voice subdued&
"(o, more need for scribes," 5al'er reassured him& "-he more that can be $ritten, the more $ill
be $ritten& And here you $rite on s'ins as $ell as clay, trueB"
"8f course, lord," 4n'helya$on said& "Clay is for rough notes, for monthly tallies& 5e transfer to
parchment for lasting useE parchment is costly, of course&"
:ecause it $as a by/product of the sheep/and/goat industry, the hide scraped and pumiced until it
$as thin and smooth& Meat $as an upper/class lu;ury here, and leather had a hundred other uses&
"0ere is something $e call aer&"
"Ahh," the scribe said again, handling the sheet& "Li'e the 4gyptian papyrusB"
"(o& (otice it's more fle;ible& And it's made out of linen ragsE this sample piece $as made here
in Mycenae& (early as cheap as clay, and it's much easier to $rite on&"
More lightbulbs $ent on& 5al'er nodded and roseE one thing he'd learned in Alba, before those
interfering bastards from (antuc'et upset his applecart, $as that po$er $as li'e an iceberg3
nine/tenths of it $as invisible, the unspectacular, organi.ational side of things& At least here he
didn't have to start from absolute ground .ero $ith a bunch of savages $ho didn't even have the
concet of organi.ation beyond family and clan&
"-hin' about these things, 4n'helya$on," 5al'er said& "7 $ill need a man $ho understands both
the ne$ and the old $ays of $riting and record 'eeping& %uch a man could rise high, in my
service& Aou must spea' $ith my vassal 4d$ard son of Fohn&" 5ho had been a C1A, before the
4vent& 2ouble/entry boo''eepingD
0e nodded to the Achaean's bo$ and $al'ed out into the main hall$ay of the house
Agamemnon had granted him3his to$n houseE there $ere also estates in the countryside do$n
by -iryns, and the land in the vale not yet called %parta&
-his $as a typical nobleman's mansion for this day and age& -he basement storerooms and the
lo$er course of the $all $ere made from big bloc's of stone, neatly fittedE above that $ere t$o
stories of massive adobe $alls and a flat roof& -he outside $as $hite$ashed, the $alls inside
covered in smooth plaster and then painted $ith vividly colored frescoes of fabulous beasts, $ar,
and the huntE the beams and stucco of the ceilings $ere painted too& 7n the center of the hall $as
a big circular hearth, sun'en into the floor and stone/lined, surrounded $ith a coaming made of
hard blue limestone bloc's& 4ven in a summer a notional fire $as 'ept going, the smo'e $afting
up to a hole in the ceilingE four big $ooden pillars surrounded it, running through the second
story and up to a little e;tra roof $ith a clay 9uasi chimney in it& A gallery surrounded the pillars
$ith balconies from $hich you could loo' do$n into the great hall&
7t all sort of reminded him of %outh$estern style, 1ueblo/%panish, li'e the old ,overnor's palace
in %anta Fe but gaudier& 0e'd been raised on a ranch in the :itterroot country of Montana, but
he'd been do$n that $ay competing in 6unior rodeos& 7t $as a little gloomy, since most of the
light came through the roof or from the antechamber at one end, but his follo$ers $ere already
putting up oil lamps& -he local olive/s9uee.ings $eren't as bright as $hale oil, but the still
should be operational in a couple of days& Alcohol gave a nice bright light, $hen you 'ne$
enough to use a $oven $ic' and a glass chimney&
,uards stood by the entrance$ay of bron.e/bound $ood, his o$n men from Alba& -hey $ore
e9uipment he'd made up there before the $ar, iron chain/mail hauber's and conical iron helmets
$ith nasalsE they carried steel/headed spears and round shields bla.oned $ith his device, a
$olfshead&
Another came and bo$ed his head, his helmet tuc'ed under one arm& 0is blond hair $as cropped
at his ears li'e 5al'er's, and he sported a close/trimmed yello$ beard&
"+e"a7ot"i#," he said3"Lord" in the tongue spo'en by the 7raiina tribe in remote north$estern
4urope, or "chief of he clan&"
"-he men are settled and $e are unpac'ing the goods& -he ra"a7 here has sent slaves, $ith many
loads of fine things3cloth, and furniture& -he Lady 0ong and the Lady 4'hnonpa your $ives
are directing them&"
",ood, 8hotolari;," 5al'er said& "-hat's +anna7 Agamemnon, by the $ay& Aou and the others
$ill have to learn Achaean, and 9uic'ly& 7t is needful&"
7t shouldn't be too difficult, either& -he proto/$hatever that 8hotolari;'s people spo'e $as only
about as different from this archaic ,ree' as French $as from 7talian&
"And your handfast man :ill Cuddy $ishes to spea' $ith you on the setting up of his lat"e# and
of Martins's $orge," the young guard/captain $ent on&
0e managed the 4nglish $ords $ellE the t$enty Americans among 5al'er's follo$ers still used
the language a fair bit, though he doubted their grandchildren $ould& (ro3a3l, t"ere'll 3e a lot o$
loan *ord#& 4ven the civili.ed languages here lac'ed a lot of concepts&
"Let's go," 5al'er said, settling the )atana and pistol at this belt& "5e'll put in a forge, but the
rest of the machinery's going do$n to %parta& 8h, and get Alice&"
Alice 0ong $as a doctorE he'd need to see to sanitation and $ater supply $ith her, here and at
their other locations& :ad $ater $as dangerou#& 0e'd nearly crapped himself to death more than
once since the 4vent& And she could get a start on moderni.ing the royal te;tile plant, too& -he
palace had hundreds of slave $omen spinning and $eaving, but he had models and dra$ings for
spinning 6ennies and 'ic'pedal looms $ith flying shuttlesE bac' in Alba they'd gotten them
$or'ing $ell& After a lot of e;periment, but it $as all basic 4arly 7ndustrial stuff, $ell $ithin the
capacities of a local carpenter& -he machines $ould free up a lot of labor for other $or' and
ma'e the 'ing properly grateful for all the e;tra $ealth&
1mmm, he $ondered, "o* long 3e$ore *e give t"e /ing o$ Men t"e "eave-"oB
(ot for 9uite a $hile, he decided reluctantly& 0e'd have to thoroughly understand the politics
here and ma'e some allies first&
5al'er laughed aloud and slapped his henchman on the shoulder& "Let's get to $or'," he said& "7
$ant to be read, before $e meet my old s'ipper again&"
8hotolari; $as a hardy man, born to a $arrior people& (evertheless, he shivered slightly at the
sound of his lord's laughter&
"8ot it," Lieutenant Iic'i Cofflin said, giving the bolt a final turn&
-he ne$ carburetor stood out against the pre/4vent machining of the aircraft engine& 7t loo'edD
clun'ier, someho$& 9u#t ma)e it ea#, to relace, ma)e a coule o$ do:en, and #*itc" a# t"e,
*ear out&
%he $iped her hands on a rag and then turned to Ronald Leaton& "Aou $ant to do the honors,
RonB"
-he tall, lan'y engineer shoo' his head, stepping bac'& "7t's a Coast ,uard pro6ect," he said&
"%eahaven's 6ust the prime contractor& All yours, Lieutenant&"
Iic'i nodded& "All right, then&"
%he too' a deep breath& -he converted hangar near (antuc'et's little airport $as al$ays
cluttered, $ith parts and $or'benches and machine tools& Right no$ it $as even more so, $ith a
big bag of goldbeater's s'in3scraped $hale intestine3hanging from the ceiling& A tube ran
do$n from that to the Cessna engine mounted on a timber frame$or' in the middle of the
concrete floor& -he rest of the team gathered around, in stained blue Coast ,uard coveralls or the
e9ually greasy unbleached gray cotton that %eahaven 4ngineering favored& -he hangar smelled
of hot $hale/oil lubricant, and other things less familiar these days3gasoline fumes and a faint,
nose/rasping hint of o.one&
Another deep breath, and she pushed the ignition button& -he engine coughed, sputtered,
blattedD and then settled do$n to a steady roar& %ome of the $atchers covered their ears, unused
to something (antuc'et had heard little of since the 4vent3an internal combustion engine at full
throttle&
",reat<" Iic'i shouted& "Let's ta'e her up and do$n, and vary the mi;& %tandby<"
-he engine snarled, coughed again as the mi;ture of hydrogen from the gasbag and methanol
altered& !our "undred $i$t, "or#eo*er, or t"erea3out#& About $hat it had put out in its first
incarnation as half the engines on a Cessna puddle 6umper&
",et that ad6usted<" Iic'i said& -he tests continued, s$eating/hot $or' on a summer's day, until
at last she tripped the s$itch and $iped her hands again, smiling fondly as the engine sputtered
into silence&
"2amn, you 'no$, 7 thin' this is going to $or'," she said&
"(o reason $hy it shouldn't," Leaton said& "Methanol, hydrogen, gasoline3it's all an
inflammable gas by the time it reaches the piston&"
Iic'i chuc'led indulgentlyE she $as t$enty/seven, nearly t$o decades younger than Leaton, and
she still felt motherly to$ard him sometimes& 8ne reason $as the other$orldly $ay he had of
forgetting ever,t"ing but the tas' at hand&
"7 meant the $hole -manciator program, not 6ust the engine," she said&
"8h& 8h, yes, that too& All right, people, brea' for lunch<"
0e and Iic'i and a young man in ,uard fatigues $al'ed over to a sloping table by the concrete/
bloc' $all& 1lans $ere pinned to it, sho$ing a tapering teardrop shape five hundred feet long and
a hundred and ten $ide at its broadest point, $ith a cruciform set of fins at the rear that loo'ed
li'e, and $ere, $ings from light aircraft& Along the bottom of the for$ard one/third $as a
gondola curving do$n from the hull, $ith three engines in pods mounted along either side of it&
-hose loo'ed li'e cut/do$n sections of aircraft $ing too, and $ere&
"(ever thought 7'd be piloting a dirigi3le, of all things," she muttered to herself, feeling a rush of
e;citement& 7t $ould be her first command in the ,uard, period, unless you counted a harbor tug&
&$ & get it, she thought& -hat hadn't been decided yet&
-he younger man3his name $as Ale; %toddard, a fourth cousin once removed of the Chief's
$ife3loo'ed up from e;amining the blueprints&
"7f you don't mind me as'ing, Lieutenant Cofflin, $hat did you thin' you'd be pilotingB" he said&
"F/#s," she said& "7 $as going to go to Colorado %prings, the year the 4vent happened&" At his
blan' loo', she $ent on> "-he Air Force Academy, in Colorado& +p in the t$entieth&"
"8h," he nodded, polite but someho$D not indi$$erent. 9u#t a# i$ & *a# tal)ing a3out $l,ing to
t"e moon. ;eal, 3ut not reall, real&
7t $as ama.ing $hat an effect it had3e;actly ho$ old you'd been at the 4vent& 4ven a couple of
years, and the outloo' $as entirely different&
& *a# on t"e cu#, she thought& -ig"teen. 6ot quite an adult 3ut not a )id eit"er& Ale; had been
si;teen on that memorable dayE not a little 'id, she 6udged, but unambiguously a )id& 0e had
gro$n up in a $orld $here steam engines $ere high tech, and schooners and flintloc's everyday
realities& 0e probably didn't get that occasional feeling of alienation, as if a glass $all had
dropped bet$een him and the $orld&
Iic'i ran a hand over her close/cropped reddish/bro$n hair and turned her attention bac' to the
dra$ings& -he frame of the airship $as made up of t$o long strips that curled from bo$ to stern,
crisscrossing each other in an endless series of elongated diamonds li'e a stretched/out geodesic
dome& 7nside that frame$or' $as a series of strengthening rings, each braced $ith spo'es
reaching in to a central metal hub&
"-hat $ire's the only metal," Leaton said, his finger tapping a hori.ontal vie$ of one of the rings&
"4verything else is laminated birch/$ood and balsa and $ic'er&" 0e cleared his throat& "8nly
steel, rather& -he clamps $ill have to be aluminum&"
4veryone $inced slightly& -he Republic's ne$ industries, here on the 7sland and the mainland
and Alba, could turn out steel of a sort, iron, copper, bron.e, and brass, but aluminum had to
come from pre/4vent stoc'piles& Leaton had a plan for a small hydropo$er plant on the mainland
to convert Famaican bau;iteE the only un$or'able thing about it $as it $ould ta'e the entire
national labor force ten years to get it going, in $hich time they'd all starve to death& Li'e so
much else, it $ould simply have to $ait a generation, or t$o or three&
",ood thing $e can get the engines burning that li9uid fuel/hydrogen mi;," Ale; said&
"Ayup," Leaton replied&
Iic'i nodded& -hat $ay, the reduction in lift $ould precisely match the lesser $eight as the
methanol or gasoline or $hatever burned, meaning you $ouldn't have to dump ballast or valve
gas, $hich e;tended range& %o did the middle cell of the five cylindrical gasbags inside the hull&
-he for$ard and the rear t$o $ould be inflated $ith hydrogen, crac'ed out of $ater $ith a
portable generator $herever the airship $as based, to give the ship pretty $ell neutral buoyancy&
-he middle one $as a hot/air balloon& T"at $ould provide the variable lift, again reducing the
need to dump $ater ballast or release precious hydrogen to rise or fall&
Leaton rested one hand on Iic'i's shoulder and the other on the younger ,uard officer's&
"2amned fine piece of $or', if 7 say so myself3couldn't have done it $ithout you& 7t's going to
$or'&" 0e cleared his throat againE it $as a gesture of his, li'e 'noc'ing on $ood& "8nce $e've
got the bugs out of it, of course&"
"8f course," Iic'i said dryly& -hen she snorted& "Commodore Alston $asD impressedD too,
$hen she sa$ the plans on Monday&"
"%he $asB" Leaton said, brighteningE Ale; loo'ed eager as $ell& "5hat did she sayB"
"%he saidD" Iic'i stretched her Aan'ee vo$els to try and match the sea/island ,ullah of the
Republic's military leader& "2o 9e#u#, a" 'm glaaa,d a" ain' goin' u on t"at-t"ea"0''
-hey shared a laugh& ",ot to go," Leaton said& "5ashington %treet Mills is having problems $ith
their ne$ po$erloom, and if they don't get it fi;ed the Commodore $ill flay me3they've got a
big sailcloth order in for the ne$ frigates&"
-he t$o ,uard officers too' their bo;ed lunches and bottles of sassafras tea to a bench outside& 7t
$as a $arm day, for springtime in (antuc'et3seventy/t$o degrees, according to the
thermometer3 and the $ind in from the south smelled of turned earth from the spring plo$ing,
a rich, not unpleasant odor of fertili.er, and a tang of sea salt under that& -he airport no longer
loo'ed abandoned, $hat $ith the ne$ pro6ectsE one huge shed $as going up, the frames li'e
giant cro9uet hoops spanning a stretch of unused run$ay that furnished a ready/made floor&
:esides that, the scout balloon hung high overhead, loo'ing li'e a miniature inflated version of
the -manciator'# plans $ith a t$o/person gondola slung underneath, toy/tiny at the top of a
thousand feet of cable&
An ultralight $as going up too, $heeled out of a hangar $ith ground cre$ hanging on to the
$ingtips as they $restled it around to face into the $ind& -he fuselage belo$ $as a one/person
ply$ood teardrop, $ith a little la$n mo$er/style engine and a ducted/fan propeller behindE
stubby pylons e;tended on either side, bearing a brace of blac'/po$der roc'ets&
9e#u#, & "ate t"o#e t"ing#, Iic'i thought& -he electric ignition system for the roc'ets $asD not
ver, #o"i#ticated3that $as a nice, tactful $ay to put it&
"Aou 'no$," Ale; said meditatively after a $hile, "7'm a little surprised that the -manciator got
approved& 7 mean, it'll be u#e$ul, having something that can scout $ay around and carry light
cargo3 and 7'm damned glad 7'm getting an opportunity to fly3but is it cost/effectiveB"
"(ot here," Iic'i said gently& "(ot on the 7sland&"
"(ot3oh&"
-he younger officer nodded& Iic'i Cofflin $as the daughter of one of the Chief's sisters, a much
closer connection than his to the %ecretary of the Council&
"5ell, let's get bac' to $or'," she said& "2on't you love being on the cutting edge of technical
progressB"
"2amned right," Ale; said, nodding&
9e#u#, Iic'i thought, as she follo$ed him bac' into the hanger& & t"oug"t & *a# jo)ing&
C#ATE! TWO
April, Year 8 A.E.
Ranger 1eter ,irenas grunted as he lifted the gutted $hitetail from the pac'horse's bac' and
brought it to a nearby cache/tree& -$o other deer hung from the $hite/oa' branch already, and
he 9uic'ly ran the dangling leather cord through a slit bet$een the bone and tendon of this
carcass's hind legs&
5ith one hand braced against the flan', he 6er'ed the crossbo$ bolt free& 4asier than digging out
a bullet, and cheaper3it $as only in the last couple of years that ammunition had gotten cheap
enough to use for hunting&
"0ere it is, 1ete," %ue Chau said, handing him half the deer liver, spitted on the green stic' she'd
used to grill it over the lo$ coals of the fire&
"-han's& 1er's says than's, too&"
%he laughed and nudged the dog $ith her toe& 1er's didn't normally allo$ liberties, but right no$
he $as too occupied $ith the deer head to resent it& ,irenas s9uatted by the fire to $olf the meat
do$nE the smell alone $as enough to ma'e a man drool after a day's hard $or'& 7t $ent $ell $ith
the green smell of summer forest, the leafy/yeasty odor of the mold on the ground, and the spicy
sassafras tea boiling in the pot& -he rich organ/meat 6uices filled his mouth and ran do$n over
his chin as he bit into the liver&
1ave to #"ave #oon, he thought, $iping his chin $ith a palm& -he bristles rasped at his hand& 4r
me33e #tart a real 3eard& 0e'd tried t$o years ago, but it had gro$n in patchy, as $ell as three
shades closer to orange than the ash/blond thatch on his head& %till, he $as t$enty/one no$, old
enough to raise a decent crop, and it $ould be a relief to stop scraping his face& %having in the
bush $as no 6o'e, even $ith a good %eahaven straightedge&
0e $as conscious of the girl's eyes on him as he stripped off his e9uipment belt and buc's'in
hunting shirt and $ent to the edge of the cree' to $ash off& <oo) all ,ou *ant, he thought,
grinning as the $ater's pleasant coolness cut through the s$eat and dried blood on his s'in& 0e
stood an inch over si; feet in his moccasins, $ith long legs and arms and shoulders heavy $ith
the muscle that logging and hunting put on you& 0is face $as broad in the chee's, snub/nosed,
$eathered to a dar' tan that made the pale gray of his eyes all the more vivid& 0e flung bac' his
head in a sho$er of droplets and turned, still grinning& %ue $as a couple of years younger than
him, but $ell past the ga$'y stageE a loo'er, too, $ith e;otic slanted blue eyes, amber s'in, and
long blac' hair, the heritage of a half/Iietnamese father and a French Canadian mother&
6ot t"at an, o$ t"at old-timer cra mean# an,t"ing "ere, he thought, catching her eye and
$in'ing, chuc'ling $hen she blushed and loo'ed a$ay& Aou $ere a (antuc'eter or not, that $as
the important thing here in the Aear G& %o far all they'd done on this hunting trip $as hunt, but he
had hopesD
%he fro$ned as his e;pression $ent cold and his eyes slid past her& "1ete3"
-he man cut her off $ith a chopping gesture& "5hat is it, 1er'sB" he said&
-he beast stayed in his stiff crouch, head pointing north$ard and hair bristling along his spine,
the beginnings of a battle rumble tric'ling out of his deep chestE he $as a mastiff/$olf mi;
nearly a yard high at the shoulder, and right no$ he loo'ed to favor his $ild father's side of the
cross& 1eter's eyes flic'ed about& -hey had camped by a little overhang, $here the cree' ran
do$n from a stretch of roc'y hills& A couple of elms had fallen here in some storm, leaving a
clearing edged $ith thic' brush& 0alf a do.en steps in any direction the $oods began, $hite pine
north, $hite oa' and chestnut and hic'ory lo$er do$n, all tall enough to shade out most
undergro$th& (o$ that the sun $as three hours past noon, the shado$s under the great trees
$ere deep and soft, hard on eyes half blinded by the light spearing do$n into the open space&
%ue had gone silent, her eyes scanning as $ell& %he too' three casual steps side$ays and pic'ed
up the %eahaven/made rifle leaning against a shagbar' hic'ory, her thumb going to the hammer
to pull it bac' to full coc'& 1ete $al'ed to$ard his o$n bedroll and $eapons, e9ually slo$lyD
no sense in ma'ing $hoever or $hatever $as approaching commit themselves&
A t$ig snapped, and four men moved through the scrub at the forest edge& 2amn, 1eter thought
as he halted and stood at his ease, his face an unreadable mas'& ;at"er "ave a 3ear, or a cougar&
"0eel, 1er's," he said& -he dog trotted to stand beside him, hair bristling on its nec' and
shoulders, teeth sho$ing long and $et&
-he (antuc'eter raised his right hand $ith the palm for$ard&
"1eace," he said3the gesture $as common here, and they might have that much 4nglish&
Alt"oug" & dou3t it, he decided& -hey $eren't any group he recogni.ed& %toc'y, muscular men
$ith bron.e/bro$n s'ins, dressed in breechclouts, leggings, and moccasins much li'e his& 0ide
bundles rode their bac'sE t$o of them gripped flint/headed darts set in atlatls, spear/thro$ing
leversE one had a steel/headed trade hatchet in his handE another, an elaborately carved hard$ood
club& -heir bold/featured faces $ere as impassive as hisE he $atched their eyes, hands, feet, all
the clues that told of intentions& 4ach had the sides of his head shaved and painted vermilion,
$ith the hair up in a roach above and trailing in a 9ueue behindE all the tribes on the coasts near
(antuc'et did& -hese had bars of blue pigment across their faces at eyebro$ level as $ell, and a
strip of yello$ from bro$ to chin&
+"atever t"e "ell t"at mean#. Ma,3e $rom $ar inland& 8r they might not be from any tribe at all,
6ust homeless $anderers from bands bro'en up in the epidemics& 8ne had heavy facial scarringE
he'd seen 7ndians mar'ed up li'e that from the chic'enpo; in the Aear J& 4r ma,3e mea#le# $rom
t"e ,ear a$ter,
"1eace," he said again&
="-o"& -hey $eren't loo'ing at himE they $ere loo'ing at the camp& 7t $asn't much, 6ust t$o
bedrolls and traveling gear, but it $ould be a fortune in steel $eapons and tools to locals& And
attac'ing strangers $asn't considered $rong by any of the tribes they'd contacted3not unless
oaths had been s$orn&
"Aou're $elcome to share our camp," he said& "1in,e '"otoo," he repeated in Le''ansu, the
tongue of the seacoast people that the (antuc'eters had most dealings $ith& 0unters from one of
the bands $ho traded $ith the Americans $ould have replied in 'indE they too' hospitality
seriously&
2amn& (o response at all, e;cept to $iden out a little as they came to$ard the fire& 0e $as
conscious of a cold, sour churning in the pit of his stomach and a furious annoyance that %ue $as
hereD and all of it $as incredibly distant, li'e the drumbeat of blood in his ears&
"%top<" he said, $aving them bac', sco$ling& %an't ju#tD
-he spearcast came $ith blinding speed& ,irenas $as already dropping and rolling as the
ash$ood shaft $hic'ered through the space he'd been occupying to thud three inches deep into a
beech tree and stand 9uivering& -he second spearman $as aiming more carefully $hen %ue's rifle
$ent off $ith a sharp crac' and a long 6et of off/$hite po$der smo'e& -he 7ndian folded around
himself $ith a surprised ooo$< li'e a man $ho'd been punched in the gut& 0e $ouldn't be getting
up again, though, not $ith an e;it $ound the si.e of a baby's fist blasted out the other side of him
by the hollo$point&
,irenas flipped himself bac' to his feet, and the eighteen/inch bo$ie strapped along his right calf
snapped into his fist, then into a gutting s$ing& -he hatchet/man 6in'ed in midleap as he dodged
bac', his $ar shrie' turning to a yell of alarm& 0is friend $ith the club $as using it to fend off
1er's, the dog sho$ing an endless ratcheting snarl and ma'ing little rushes $henever he sa$ an
opening& &gnore it& -he $orld san' do$n to one man and a ra.or/edged piece of steel on a t$o/
foot $ooden shaft& -hey circled, crouched, their soft moccasins rutching in the fallen leaves and
pun' of rotten branches& Five seconds passed, and then the 7ndian feinted t$ice and s$ung in
earnest, a blo$ that $ould have chopped half$ay through ,irenas's face& 0e met the descending
arm $ith a bladed palm, and the hatchet spun a$ay& -he bo$ie slammed for$ard, cutting edge
up&
-he 7ndian's hand slapped do$n on his $rist& For an instant they grappled chest to chest, the
heavy smell of s$eat and the bear grease that the man $ore on his hair ran' in his nostrilsE the
$arrior's body felt li'e a bundle of rubber and steel& -hen ,irenas hoo'ed a heel behind an an'le
and pushed& -hey $ent do$nE the (antuc'eter landed on top of his opponent, one 'nee in his
stomach& -he air $hee.ed out of him in a cho'ing grunt& ,irenas pinned him $ith his left hand
and ripped the other free of the $ea'ening grasp, stabbed once, again, again& -he body thrashed
under him and blood splashed into his face, but he ignored it as he rolled erect&
-hat $as 6ust in time to see the third 7ndian grab %ue's rifle in both hands, trying to $restle it
a$ay from her& 7n a less serious situation, the loo' on his face as she hopped up, 'ic'ed both feet
into her attac'er's belly, and fell bac'$ard to flip him up and over $ould have been comical& %he
spun around on her bac'side li'e a top, raising both legs and slamming her heels into the 7ndian's
face as he started to rise3a move from the unmercifully practical school of unarmed combat that
Marian Alston had made part of 7slander schooling& %he scrambled to grab the rifle, came up to
both 'nees and pounded the steel/shod butt into the 7ndian's bloodied face again and again,
panting $ith fright and rage&
-he last 7ndian $as $rithing under a hundred and t$enty pounds of $olf/dog, trying to hold the
fangs a$ay from his face& ,irenas scooped up his crossbo$ from $here it hung on a branch nub
and put the short, thic' 9uarrel through the 7ndian's chest a second before the $ide/stretched 6a$s
$ould have closed on him&
-hat $as a mercy, in its $ay&
"Reload<" he snapped at %ue& %he $as pale and her hands shoo'& ";eload0 6o*<" %he too' a
deep breath, let it out, and obeyed& 0e nodded satisfaction& "0eel, 1er's&"
,irenas pumped the iron lever set into the forestoc' of his cross/bo$ si; times, and the thic'
steel bo$ cut do$n from a car's leaf/spring ratcheted bac' and clic'ed into place, ready for the
9uarrel he slipped into it& -he girl pushed up the breech lever of the rifle, her eyes enormous in a
face gone pale, thumbing home a paper cartridge, closing the action and priming the pan& -hey
both $ent to ground behind logs, eyes scanning&
"1er's< Circle<" he snapped&
-he dog slipped through the underbrush and made its $ay around their campsite& -he ranger
follo$ed, infinitely cautious& 0e found 1er's nosing bac' along a trail and follo$ed it for a fe$
hundred yards, until he sa$ a place $here all the 7ndians had paused in a muddy patch&
"8nly the four of them," he said as he stepped bac' into the campsite& Relief mingled $ith
sadness as he cleaned the 'nife and loo'ed at the dead men& "2amn3"
%ue Chau had been staring at them too& Abruptly she turned and blundered three yards a$ay
before going to her 'nees and vomiting up a rush of half/digested deer meat& ,irenas nodded,
sighed, and too' her a panni'in of $ater&
"Rinse and spit," he said& "-hen have a drin' of this&"
-he silver flas' had been his father'sE it had Cyrillic lettering on it& -he contents $ere pure
(antuc'et barley/malt $his'ey, aged a year in charred oa'& -he girl obeyed, cho'ing a little,
then $ent to splash her face&
"%orry," she began&
"(ope," ,irenas said& "Aou did pretty good&" 0e 'ept his tone cool& "%till $ant to be a RangerB"
%he loo'ed at the dead men& -he bo$el stin' $as already fairly bad, and the flies $ere arriving
in droves& "-his sort of thing, does it happen oftenB"
"(ope," ,irenas said again& "%ometimes, though& Mebbe once a year&"
%ue too' a deep breath& "5ell, 7'm not 9uitting," she said&
",ood," he said $ith approval& "(o$ let's cover them up and get going&" 0e loo'ed at the sun
again& "Might ma'e the base if $e push it&"
-hey bro'e out the shovels and dug, setting roc's from the stream on top of the earthE ,irenas
planted the men's $eapons as mar'ers at their heads& %ilence reigned as they bro'e camp and
headed south to$ard 1rovidence :aseE %ue $ent in the lead $ith her rifle in the croo' of her
arm, then the three pac'horses $ith the 'ills and gear& ,irenas brought up the rear, and 1er's
$ent further still, li'e a hairy gray shado$ among the trun's of the huge trees&
7t $as hours before they sa$ sign of their o$n people& -hat $as scanty at first, a buried
campfire, hoofmar's, a nest of feral honeybees, clover and bluegrass gro$ing $ild from seed
dropped in horse/dung& -hen brea's in the forest canopy $here loggers had gone through,
clearings scattered $ith stumps and chips or already ran' $ith tall grass, brambles, flo$ers, and
saplings& -hey stepped onto a rutted drag/trail heading do$nhill, and then the hills parted to
sho$ (arragansett :ay gleaming out before them, $hite/ruffled blue $ater, ban's and islands
green to the $ater's edge, s'y thic' $ith $ildfo$l& 0alf a do.en craft $ere in sight3a schooner,
fishing boats, tugs hauling rafts& :elo$ ran a road, gravel over dirt, and they could hear the faint
shrie' of a steam $histle&
"0ome," %ue said&
%he opened the breech of her rifle and used the cleaning rod to tap the paper cartridge out,
sto$ing it in the pouch at her belt before blo$ing the priming out of the pan and easing the
hammer for$ard& ,irenas slipped the 9uarrel from his crossbo$ bac' into its 9uiver before
pulling the trigger $ith a flat *"ung sound&
"0ome," he agreed, $ith a sigh&
",et sent to the past, spend all your time annotating reports," Councilor for Foreign Affairs 7an
Arnstein muttered, in the privacy of his sunroom/office& "5hat a dashing life $e e;iled
adventurers lead& Christ, 7 might as $ell be bac' in %an 2iego grading history papers&"
+ell, not e;actly, er"a#, he thought, resharpening his goose/9uill pen on the ra.or built into
the in'stand and loo'ing do$n at the report& 8od, 3ut & "ate t"e#e en#& -he last ballpoints had
run out years ago, and nobody had gotten around to fountain pens yetE it $as the usual story3too
much else $ith higher priorities&
8od, 3ut & mi## m, (%. 4", 8od, $or a la#er rinter.
0e pushed his glasses bac' up his bea'ed nose3and losing t"em $as something he didn't even
$ant to contemplate, given $hat the 7sland lens grinders $ere turning out as an alternative3and
read the paper before him again, $inding his fingers absently in his beard& 7t $as a long/standing
gestureE unli'e many on the 7sland, he'd had this bac' before the 4vent, $hen shaving $as easy&
7t $as bushy and curly and a dar' russet bro$n $here it $asn't gray, li'e $hat $as left of the
hair on his head, almost matching the color of his eyes&
0e tugged harder as he read on& -he @eyalt$ar tribe over in Alba $ere building boatsD
probably $ar/boats for raiding abroad& %ome bright boy in a leather 'ilt had figured out that
$hile under the -reaty of Alliance they couldn't hitch up their chariots, ta'e do$n their
tomaha$'s, and hit the neighbors up for cattle and $omen in the old style3several punitive
e;peditions had driven t"at lesson home3 third parties $eren't covered&
T"o#e eole are li)e t"e $uc)ing -nergi:er .unn,& -here $as a map of Alba in one corner of the
room& A line ran from roughly $hat $ould have become 1ortsmouth to $hat $ould have become
southern Aor'shire& 4verything east and south of it $as the various teuat"a of the %un 1eople,
the 7ndo/4uropean/spea'ing ne$comers 5illiam 5al'er had enrolled in his attempt at con9uestE
these days they $ere (antuc'et allies in theory, a resentful protectorate in fact& 5est and north
of that $ere the Fiernan :ohulugi, allies in fact&
2otted lines mar'ed individual tribes& "@eyalt$arD right, north ban' of the -hames&" -he %un
1eople tribes $eren't much for commerce& 5hat they did understand $as raiding, rustling, rape,
and slaughterE and no$ they $ere playing Ii'ing&
":lond 1roto/Celtic Comanches of the :ron.e Age," 7an muttered, turning pages to loo' at the
s'etch of the ship& +p front $as a figurehead that loo'ed for all the $orld li'e a dragon's head&
%ome passing 7slander trader or priest of the 4cumenical Church might $ell have told them
about the Ii'ings, li'e dropping a catalyst into a saturated solution& A# i$ t"e, didn't get enoug"
idea# o$ t"eir o*n. 1ave to 3e care$ul not to u#" 'em too "ard, t"oug"&
First, radio Commandant 0endri'sson to send out more agents& -he treaty forbade hindering
traders and missionaries, $hich $as convenient for espionage& Find out $ho e;actly $as doing
this& 6ote> *e mig"t u#e 3ri3e# and economic t"reat# to lean on t"e /e,alt*ar "ig" c"ie$, i$ "e'#
not involved& -hen see $hich of the @eyalt$ar's neighbors had the most blood feuds $ith them
3inevitable that some $ould& T"e, could complain to the Alliance Council at %tonehenge,
saying that they felt threatened, and that $ould put it under the treaty's purvie$D if you
stretched that deliberately ambiguous document a point or t$o&
"(ote," he $rote at the bottom& "Consult $ith 2oreen"3his $ife treated ,ordian 'nots the $ay
Ale;ander had, and that corrected his tendency to on/the/one/hand/but/on/the/other himself into
paralysis3"then tal' it over $ith Marian, Fared, and Martha&" 0e brushed the feather tip of the
9uill over his nose&
"(ote," he $ent on& "-al' to 1relate ,ome.& MissionariesB"
For a moment he chuc'led at the thought& A thoroughly secular Fe$, helping to spread religion
among the pagans of :ron.e Age :ritain& 4cumenical Christianity at that3the federation of
denominations here, something rather li'e very 0igh Church 4piscopalian $ith +nitarian
overtones& Another dry chuc'leE the sna'e $as biting its o$n tail $ith a vengeance, $ith
Americans bringing the Anglican faith to Alba&
-hen he began $riting up an appreciation for the ChiefE they'd have to e;plain things to the
-o$n Meeting& 0o$ the ancient Athenians had gotten an,t"ing done $ith all decisions made by
a committee of thousands baffled him, all the more so no$ that he'd seen direct democracy in
action&
0e sanded and blotted the paper, rose, stretched, and loo'ed at his $atch, Four/thirty, and he'd
been $or'ing since eight& "Christa," he said to his second assistant, ambling out into the sitting
room and then do$n the corridor to "er office& ",et fair copies of these typed up, $ould youB
And run one over to the Chief's, and one to Commodore Alston/@urlelo at ,uard 0ouse&"
Almo#t un$air, he thought, loo'ing around at the filing cabinets and map boards& 1reliterate
cultures 6ust didn't appreciate the advantage that being able to store and collate information li'e
this gave you& .ut t"en again, a# Marian Al#ton-/urlelo i# *ont to #a,, $air $ig"t# are $or
#uc)er#&
7an trotted up the first flight of stairs, to one of the converted bedroom suites that served as
2oreen's office& -he former student astronomer loo'ed upE she $as sitting across a table from a
short, dar' man in a long $oolen robe, flo$erpot hat, and curled beard, repeating a sentence in
something guttural and polysyllabic& 1apers $ere scattered on the surface, some covered $ith
ordinary $riting, others $ith $hat loo'ed li'e Art 2eco chic'en trac's&
A))adian, 7an 'ne$, $ith a shudder3the %emitic language spo'en in 0ammurabi's :abylonE he
had to learn it too& A''adian $as the diplomatic language in today's Middle 4ast, the $ay French
had been in Loui; K7I's 4urope& At least they'd been careful $ith their language teacher this
time, after the nasty e;perience $ith 7s'eterol of -artessos in the Aear & %hamash/nasir/'udduru
3the ,od %hamash is ,uardian of the :oundary %tone, or %ham for short3$as a $eedy little
:abylonian date merchant $hom one of the 7slander ships had pic'ed up in a brief initial survey
of the 1ersian ,ulfE he' d been living on :ahrain )2ilmun to the locals* and not doing very $ell&
7n fact, he loo'ed a lot li'e %addam 0ussein after a long, strict diet&
"My lady," he said in a thic'ly guttural accent, $ith a sidelong glance at 7an, "here $e have
theD it is to sayD symbol, meaning 'day&' " 0e dre$ one $edge $ith the broad end upright, and
t$o more springing off to the left and slanting up$ard& "7t to be is able also to be the symbol for
a #ound&"
"5hich soundB" 2oreen as'ed $ith a sigh&
"7t is sound ud," the :abylonian said& "-hat is first sound& Also symbol is for tu or tarn or ar or
li)" or )"i#" . & &" 0e dre$ another, $ith an upright $edge, three hori.ontal to the side, and an
arro$head to the left& "7t is sound #"u, qad, qat& Can mean quatu, it is meaning in your speech,
'hand&' Also emuqu, 'strength,' or gamalu, 'protection,' orD"
7an cleared his throat& "5hat say $e commit some dereliction of dutyB" he said&
",od, yes," she groaned& "%ham, you can 'noc' off too& %ame time tomorro$&"
-he :abylonian made a bobbing gesture over folded hands and collected his $riting materials&
2oreen tidied her o$n des'E she $as neater than 7an, perhaps because as 2oreen Rosenthal
before the 4vent she'd been a budding astronomer in her late t$enties rather than a bachelor3
$ell, $ido$er3professor of classical history 6ust past fifty& %he also loo'ed e7tremel, good
bending over li'e that in a light summer dress, $ith her long blac' hair falling do$n and half
hiding a $onderful vie$ of decolletage& %he'd been positively chun'y $hen he'd first seen her,
bac' the day after the 4vent& -hat $as $hen she $as $or'ing as an intern at the Maria Mitchell
8bservatory, $here she'd used the little reflector telescope to pinpoint the real date from the
stars& 4$ cour#e, *e all lo#t *eig"t t"o#e $ir#t #i7 mont"#, and 8od )no*# *e're not li)el, to #it
around *atc"ing TV an,more& (o$adays she could have modeled for a statue of 7shtar, one of
the se;ier 'ind&
"Let's pic' up 2avid and grab something to coo' do$n at the doc's3couple of lobster, $e'll
boil 'em up and thro$ together a salad&"
-heir house'eeper/nanny had the boy in the 'itchen $ith her $hile she sat $ith a coo'boo',
reading slo$ly, her lips moving& :ac' at the end of the Alban 5ar the 7slanders had insisted that
the defeated %un 1eople tribes let all their slaves go free& 2endit$ara had been one of many $ho
came to (antuc'et, since she had no surviving family& -he gap in living standards $as so
enormous that even the most lo$ly 6ob here $as lu;ury by :ron.e Age standards&
Sort o$ li)e Me7ico and %ali$ornia, onl, more #o, 7an thought& "7f you haven't started dinner yet,
2endit$ara, don't bother," he said& "5e'll handle it3Huigley's :aths first, and then the evening's
yours&"
"-han' you, boss," she said, dipping her headE she $as half his age and short, a round/faced
blonde $ho loo'ed e;tremely 4nglish, physical types evidently being much more constant than
culture or language& -he Alban gave them a shy smile of gratitude for the free timeE she $as
seeing a young man $ho $or'ed in the $halebone mill&
7an and 2oreen $inced slightly& ,etting her to use something else besides the %un 1eople term
for "master" had been difficult& %o had getting across the concept of being an employee and
$or'ing for $ages&
"Can 7 see the boats, 2addyB" 2avid as'ed& 0e sho$ed signs of sharing his father's height, but
the face had 2oreen's oval shape and olive tone and blac' ringlets hung around his ears&
"Aes, you can see the boats if you promise to 'eep close to me and your mother," 7an said& 0e
could see the si;/year/old considering the bargain&
"5ill," he said& "7 *ant to see the boats&"
T"at'# a relie$, 7an thought, chuc'ling& (antuc'et $as a better place for children than L& A&, but
there $ere still street ha.ards&
"5hat a .oo," 7an muttered an hour later, as they $atched 2endit$ara scamper off to meet her
bone grinder and 2avid started to tell them about a game of catch he'd played $ith one of the
other children in the baths& -he roar of traffic nearly dro$ned the child's treble piping&
"All right, all right, hold your horses, $e'll get out of the $ay," 7an said, as a carter cried for
space& 0e and 2oreen $ere standing on the broad, flat e;panse of the %teamship 2oc', $here the
ferry from the mainland had tied up to drop off cars and truc's and tourists, bac' before the
4vent&
Arnstein loo'ed up refle;ively as he remembered that never/to/be/forgotten nightD 8od, eig"t
,ear# ago. A little more, since the 4vent had been in March and it $as into Fuly no$& -he
cra$ling dome of fire over the island, and then the terror ne;t day as the impossible truth san' in&
-hen the even $orse terror> seventy/five hundred Americans on an island that produced little
besides daffodils and a fe$ gourmet vegetables& Fear of starvation, food riots, cannibalismD
0ell of a thing for a middle/aged professor of classical history to get himself caught in& 0ell, he'd
almost canceled his spring vacation on (antuc'et that year&
":ut $e made it& -ight at times, but $e made it," he muttered&
0e loo'ed over at 2oreen as she bent to 6er' their son bac' from a determined attempt to pet a
pony& -he shaggy, stiff/maned animal $as sul'ing in the traces of a cart heaped high $ith barrels
of maple syrup from 1rovidence :ase on the mainland& 7t had a loo' of settled discontent on its
face, an 7/am/about/to/bite/you e;pression& -he :ron.e Age chariot ponies they'd brought bac'
from Alba usually did& -he first generation crossbred from the Alban mares and the 7sland's
9uarter horse and Morgan and -horoughbred stallions $ere a lot better, but still e;pensive&
"5hat $as that, 7anB"
"7 said $e'd made it&" -he t$o of them nodded in silent agreement&
Fishing boats $ere unloading amid a raucous s$arm of gulls a little to the southeast, at %traight
5harf and its basin and the ro$ of long piers constructed over the last fe$ years& -hat part of
to$n hadn't been as densely built up before the 4vent, and the ne$ $aterfront there $as full of
fish/drying sheds, $or'shops, $arehouses, and timberyards built since&
0ere on %teamship 2oc' only the respect due Councilors 'ept a small bubble of space open&
0alf a do.en brigs and schooners $ere tied up3the classes that (antuc'et's ne$ merchant
houses used for long/distance $or'& -he ratcheting of the spindly cranes and $inches that s$ung
heavy loads ashore $as loud even against the clatter of hooves and iron $heels on the pavement&
Factors and dealers and store'eepers dic'ered and yelled, customs agents pro$led, sailors
chanted their rhythmic 1eave? "o0 #tam and go, #tam and go, "eave? "o< as they hauled to
unload cargo& 7ndians in blan'ets 6ostled 'ilted 1roto/Celtic $arriors and priestesses of the
Fiernan :ohulugi cult of Moon 5oman from Alba in poncho and thong s'irt, $atched by an
8lmec noble $earing a cloa' of $oven hummingbird feathers that shimmered in impossible
shades of tur9uoise, scarlet, purple& A herd of moas3the smaller breed, only four feet at the
shoulder3$ere being pushed cluc'ing and protesting onto a barge, headed for Long 7sland and
the farming life& -he spattered by/product of their fright added its aroma to the thic' odors of
drying fish and boiling $hale blubber, ra$ leather, horses and horse dung, s$eat and
$oodsmo'e, tarred rope and $ooden hulls&
-he fresh sea bree.e 'ept it tolerable even in summer& Mostly tolerable& 8ne reason the Meeting
had authori.ed steam dredgers $as to dig deep channels southeast up the lagoon, so some of the
more odorous trades could be moved do$n$ind of to$n&
-hey dodged around a cargo from the Caribbean going inland on steam/haulers3bul' salt from
the 7slander penal settlement in the :ahamas, a fe$ precious sac's of coffee from plants set out
on -rinidad the spring after the 4vent, chun's of ra$ asphalt, sulfur for gunpo$der&
(lu# quet:al $eat"er#, jaguar elt#, c"ocolate 3ean#, ra* cotton, ma"ogan, and d,e*ood# $rom
trading along t"e Main, he thought& -he list sounded more romantic than the hot, s$eaty,
dangerous realityE the 7ndians do$n there $ere corn farmers and therefore more numerous and
better organi.ed than the hunting peoples along the (e$ 4ngland coast& -here had been one
short, sharp $ar $ith the 8lmecs already&
4$ cour#e, t"at *a# t"at no3le #avage True .eliever idiot <i#)etter'# $ault. ;ou##eau, *"at #in#
"ave 3een committed in T", name< Lis'etter and her follo$ers had ended up very dead, along
$ith a fe$ of the 7slander military and a $hole raftload of 8lmecs& Lis'etter's people had been
sacrificed to the Faguar ,od and eaten, most of them&
0e didn't even li'e to t"in) about $hat had happened to Lis'etter before she died&
"And spea'ing of lobster pots," he said&
-hey pushed their $ay to the base of the %teamship 2oc', along a $aterside section of 4asy
%treet, then over to the shallo$er basin beyond 8ld (orth 5harf, $hich no$ catered to the
inshore fishery&
",ot 'em right here for you, Mr& Arnstein," the lobsterman said, hauling up a net dangling
overside from his boat&
"-han's, Fac'," he replied, handing over a silver nic'el, the Republic's o$n coinage, and
accepting the change in coppers&
-he former soft$are salesman nodded than's& 2avid prodded the gently s9uirming canvas sac'
$ith his fingers and giggled at the sensation& 7an chec'ed his turn at the fisherman's soft
e;clamation and loo'ed to his left&
Another ship $as being to$ed south bet$een the brea'$aters and into (antuc'et's harbor& -he
design $as AmericanE to be e;act, a scaled/up copy of the 5are, a t$o/masted topsail schooner
that had carried tourists around the island before the 4vent& 7t $asn't 7sland/built, though&
Countless small details sho$ed that, starting $ith the styli.ed mountain on the flag at the
mainmast top& %i; small bron.e cannon rested $ith their mu..les bo$sed up against the
bul$ar's on each side of the craft&
4ne o$ &#)eterol'# #"i#& 7an shoo' his headE you had to hand it to the manD
"5hen you tell it, my sire, it's as if 7 can see it $ith my o$n eyes," %arsental said, his eyes
glo$ing&
7s'eterol hid a grin& -he ne$ 'ing of -artessos $as still in his thirties, $ith no silver strands in
his bo$l/cut blac' hair and all his teeth& 0e could remember $hat it $as li'e to be a boy of
t$elve $inters, 6ust coming to a man's estate and $ild for great deeds&
0e leaned bac' in the courtyard lounger, smiling at the children sitting around his feet& 2ec'
chairs $ere another Amurru'an thing& T"e -agle (eole certainl, )no* "o* to ma)e t"em#elve#
com$orta3le, he thought idly&
"5eren't you frightenedB" one of his daughters as'ed&
7s'eterol laughed& "%ome of us $ere li'e to soil our loincloths," he said& "-here $e $ere, 6ust
t$o shiploads of us3the old ships, remember, small and frail3alone among the northern
savages on a trading voyage& -hat $as dangerous enough, they're $ild and uncouth& -hen there
it $as, the -agle ship itself& -hree hundred feet long and made of iron3"
-hey gasped&
"3and $ith masts a hundred and fifty feet tall& -hree of them& 0ull shining $hite as sno$, $ith
a red slash of blood/color across it and the great golden image of their 4agle god beneath the
bo$s& Many of us $anted to flee right there, 7 can tell you&"
":ut you didn't, my sire," his eldest son said&
"(o& Let that be a lesson to you&" 0e reached out a hand and made a snatching motion& ":e
cautious, but $hen the Fester drops a chance for advantage, ta'e it< -he Fester is bald behind, you
can't grab 0is hair once 0e's past& 7 stayed by the side of the barbarian chief $e'd been dealing
$ith, and Arucuttag of the %ea re$arded me& For $hen the Amurru'an, the 1eople of the 4agle,
landedD one of them spo'e Achaean, and 7 could act as their go/bet$een $ith the natives as
they dic'ered for grain and beasts&"
0e fi;ed an eye on his eldest son& "%ee $hat learning foreign languages can doB 7'd have been
dumb as a fish but for that& %o study your Achaean and %udunu and 4nglish&"
%arsental nodded, slo$ and thoughtful& 8ood< 7s'eterol thought& 0e didn't intend that his heir
should fritter a$ay the mightiness he $as building here&
"-hat's $hen you met the Med6ay chieftainessB" a daughter chimed in eagerly& "-he (ubian
$arriorB"
7s'eterol $inced slightly& 1ave & told it #o o$ten t"at c"ildren correct meB %till, it $as important
that they all learnE there $ould be $or' enough for all the children of his $ives& Little Mettri
didn't loo' as if she'd settle do$n to spinning and overseeing the housemaids, and she loved this
part&
"Aes," he said& "A tall $oman, blac' as charcoal, $as their captain& Alston $as her name, a
fierce $arrior, good sailor, s'illed $ith the s$ord and very cunning& %he's still the Amurru'an
$ar/leader, under their 'ing, Cofflin&"
"A $oman," %arsental said dismissively&
7s'eterol reached out a hand and rapped him on the head $ith his 'nuc'les& "-heir customs are
different& 2on't underestimate an enemy< 7've made that mista'e, to my cost&"
"Aes," he $ent on, "she $as the one $ho invited me to their homeland across the River 8cean,
to teach them the languages of these lands around the Middle %ea& 8n the -agle 7 met +illiam
+al)er@3 he pronounced the Amurru'an name carefully3"and became his blood brother, for
he $as discontented $ith the rule of Cofflin and Alston and $ished to find a land $here he
himself could be lord& And there 7 learned muchE and from him 7 learned much& -ogether $e
pirated the 5are and her cargo from (antuc'et, together $e con9uered and ruled among the %un
1eople and the 4arth Fol' of Alba& 5hen the Amurru'an made alliance $ith the 4arth Fol' and
defeated him, it $as 7 $ho too' him and his band to the Achaean lands, and 7 received in re$ard
the great ship 5are and much of her burden of treasures&"
"After you stopped here in -artessos and made yourself 'ing $ith his aid<" they chorused&
"(ot 6ust made myself 'ing," 7s'eterol said& ":egan to ma'e -artessos great3and after the
Crone comes for me, you $ho are my children must ma'e our city greater still& And to do that
you must learn many things, so3"
-hey groaned but obeyed as he signaled to the servant to ta'e them bac' to their lessons&
7s'eterol stretched and sighed& -ime to get bac' to $or'& 0e $as a slight, $iry man of medium
height such as $as common in southern 7beria, dar' of hair and eye and olive of s'in, $ith thin
$hite scars seaming the bro$n s'in of his forearms and a mariner's calloused hands&
"%end in the 'ing's chief of ma'ers," he said& -he must'eteer guards by the entrance to the
courtyard stood motionless, but a messenger from the ran' standing by the $all hurried out&
%oon the official came, $ith a slave bearing a long bundle behind him& :oth $ent do$n on their
faces in prostration, and 7s'eterol signed them up&
"Let me see it," he said& -hen> "Aes," he $ent on, pulling bac' the hammer of the mus'et& "Aou
have done $ell& 7 $ill not forget it&"
-he mus'et $as solid and deadly feeling in his hands, stoc'ed in beech$ood, the iron blued to
an even finish& 7ts smell of oiled metal $as heavy and masculine amid the scents of flo$ers and
sun/dried earth& 0e s$ung it to his shoulder and too' aim at the figure of a $arrior in the mural
painted on the $hite$ashed $all of adobe bric' across the courtyard&
Squee:e the trigger, he remembered& %lic)-*"a< and the hammer snapped do$n& %par's fle$ as
it crac'ed the fri..en/cover bac'& A pouch of cartridges accompanied the $eapon, each $ith one
charge in a cylinder of paper, and a bullet shaped li'e a conical helmet $ith a hollo$ in the flat
base& A minie 3all, the boo's said3$hy, he didn't 'no$, for it $as not in the least round&
"Aesss," the 'ing of -artessos said happily&
0is hands caressed the $eapon& Much better than the first crude batches& 7n a fe$ years they
$ould have breechloaders, but this $as $ell enough&
"0o$ manyB" he as'ed his Chief of Ma'ers&
"Lord of the city and the Land, :ridegroom of the Corn ,oddess, Favored %on of Arucuttag of
the %ea and the Lady of -artessosD fifty no$, and ten more each seven days, to begin $ith&
4ach $ith 3a,onet and ramrod&" -he man's tongue stumbled slightly over the 4nglish $ords&
-hat $as not such pleasant hearing& -he man hurried on> "Lord @ing, if you did not insist on the,
the mea#uring *it" #cre*# of each part3"
"-hen the guns could not be repaired at need $ith ready/made parts," 7s'eterol snapped&
And i$ man, "ad to 3e taug"t to reair t"e art#, t"e, *ould #tart ma)ing t"em $or t"em#elve#&
5illiam had left him a set of duplicate micrometer gauges along $ith the spare lathe, and he
intended to 'eep the manufacture of guns his o$n monopoly 6ust as long as he could&
"7 do not understand this ma'ing of each thing so li'e another thing," the artisan said&
"7t is not necessary that you understand, only that you obey<" 7s'eterol shouted in e;asperation&
"Aou are the 'ing, lord," the man said, bo$ing, turning pale beneath his natural olive&
(ot only the 'ing, but a 'ing more po$erful than the one $ho had fallen to iron/armored
$arriors and fire/po$der bombs and 5illiam's deadly 8arand ri$le& -he old 'ing had done
nothing $ithout consulting the heads of the great families&
-oday many of those heads hung on iron hoo's from the $alls of the palace& (o$ $hen the 'ing
of -artessos commanded, men fell on their faces and obeyed3men in the $hole southern half of
7beria, and in the lands south across the 1illars, as $ell& 0e and 5ill had spo'en much, those
months in the 5hite 7sle, and his share of the 5are'# cargo included boo's to supplement $hat
he'd learned in (antuc'et itself& -he history of the years that might/have/been $as full of hints
on the manner of ruling and ho$ a 'ing might gather all the reins of po$er to himself, on the
'eeping of records and maps and registers, on police and 3u-reau-cra-c, and armies, on the
coining of money and the building of roads& -he problem $as that he had so fe$ others $ho
understood& Most of them $ere young men he'd raised up from nothing, but that $as good too3
such men 'ne$ that all they had depended on his favor, not on their birth&
0e reined in his temper as the chief of ma'ers trembled before himE it had ta'en 7s'eterol long
enough to understand the Amurru'an $ords interc"angea3le art# and ma## roduction himself&
7n that false history the 4agle 1eople recorded, nothing remained of -artessos three thousand
years from no$& (o trace of the city or her people, of her gods or tongue or customs& 7f he $as to
build a house that $ould last forever, the foundations must be laid deep& 0is voice $as stern but
not angry $hen he $ent on&
"5or' harder on the machines for the cutting of metal< -hen you $ill ma'e many, many more
mus'ets, and everything else that the 'ingdom needs&"
"Lord @ing, $e hear and $e obey," the man said, bac'ing a$ay&
7s'eterol rela;ed bac' onto the lounger and considered the list $ritten on the paper before him,
$ritten in his language but using the 4agle 1eople's al"a3et& 0e fro$ned slightlyE paper the
7slanders $ould sell, glass$are, tools, lu;uries& :ut not lathes or milling machines& 5ell,
-artessians might not have the arts from out of time, but they $ere no foolsD and he had the
dra$ings, the boo's, the men 5ill had helped train in Alba&
Already they had done muchE oddly, the most useful of all had been the machine $ith lead seals
for the ma'ing of boo's3movea3le t,e, in the Amurru'an tongue& 0e intended to see every
free child in -artessos schooled in it, even the girls&
All the common people of -artessos called do$n blessings on his nameE he'd given them $ealth,
made captains of fishermen and lords of farmers, brought in foreign slaves to do the rough $or'&
4ven the ne$ customs, the burying/of/e;crement and $ashing/$ith/soap rituals, no longer
brought complaints& (ot $hen so fe$ died of fever or flu;&
1mmm. And no* t"at & "ave an em3a##, t"ere, *e can3ver, #lo*l,, ver, #ecretl,3#ee i$ an, o$
t"e Amurru)an *it" u#e$ul )no*ledge can 3e 3roug"t "ere and join me&
-he 4agle 1eople had godli'e po$ers, but they $ere men $ith the needs and $ea'nesses of men&
0e could offer land, slaves, silver, $ealth, po$er as nobles under him& 7t $as a great pity 5ill
hadn't accepted his offer, but 5illiam 5al'er $as not a man to ta'e second place, no matter ho$
rich the re$ards&
Rosita Menende. $al'ed in, her robe of gold/shot crimson sil' brushing the tiled floor& 7s'eterol
$inced slightlyE sil' $as another thing the 7slanders $ould sell in -artessos, but the price $as
enough to dra$ your testicles up into your gut& And, of course, $hat one of his $ives had, all the
others demanded, leaving him no peace until he bought it for them&
"0i," she said in the Amurru'an tongue, sitting on a stool by his feet& 0e replied in the same, to
'eep fluency&
"0ello, Rosita& 0o$ does your school goB"
"Fine, 7s'ie," she said&
1a# #"e 3een drin)ing againB he $ondered, but then he rela;ed& (o, it $as 6ust 4agle 1eople
gaucherieE they had no sense of ceremony or manners& +ell, #"e'# $ar $rom "er eole, lonel,
#ometime#& Most of the time being a 9ueen in -artessos $as enough compensation for herD
although to be sure, he hadn't mentioned his other t$o $ives $hen he'd courted her bac' on
(antuc'et&
"Actually, 7s'ie, some of the students could ta'e over more of the basics, the $ay they do the
A:C stuff no$," she said& "1lus Mis'elefol and a couple of others are good enough to do most of
the routine translations of the boo's, if 7 help them a little $ith the dictionary," she $ent on&
",ood& Aou $ill have more time for teaching the mathematics and boo''eeping and medicine&"
%he rolled her eyes but 'ept her sigh silent& 4ven a 9ueen $asn't immune from the 'notted cords
of her husband's belt& 4specially a foreigner 9ueen $ith no 'indred in the city&
+ell, #"e'# rett, enoug"3and she'd given him one child, a son3 3ut "er )no*ledge i# more
imortant t"an "er loin#& %he'd been a healer's helper bac' on (antuc'et, a regi#tered nur#e in
-ng-il-i#"& 7nvaluable here&
5al'er's $oman, Alice 0ong, $ould have been even more useful& A full doctor, a mistress of
some of the 7slanders' most po$erful arts&
"-hen again, no," 7s'eterol said to himself, shuddering slightly& "7 am very glad the Lady of 1ain
is far, far a$ay&"
Far enough a$ay that the thought of her $as stirring& 0e dre$ aside the loincloth that $as his
only covering on this $arm day and motioned Rosita closer& %he 'nelt on a pillo$ beside the
lounger&
"+se some of that Amurru'an 'no$ledge," he said, grinning and guiding her head $ith a hand
on the bac' of her nec'& -his $as another thing he'd learned on the 7sland, and it $as catching on
fast here&
C#ATE! T#!EE
August, Year 8 A.E.
-he scream $as high and shrill, a $ail of agony and helpless rage& Marian Alston/@urlelo sat
bolt upright in bed, then turned to sha'e the figure beside her gently on the shoulder&
"5a'e up," she said firmly& "5a'e up, 'dapa&"
-he Fiernan $oman tossed, opened her eyes& -hey $ere blan' for a moment, before a$areness
returnedE then she sei.ed Alston in a grip of bruising strength&
"7 $as3the :urning %na'e had me, the 2ream 4ater," she gasped& "7 $as the %un 1eople's
prisoner again, 3ut ,ou didn't come . & &"
Alston returned the embrace, crooning comfort and stro'ing the long blond hair& 1ad m, o*n
nig"tmare# a3out t"at, she thought& 1resumably in the original history3if "original" meant
anything3 %$indapa "ad died among the 7raiina& 0er $hole people had vanished, overrun and
s$allo$ed up& And & *ent on alone, 3ac) u in t"e t*entiet"& -he room $as very dar'E an
internal cloc' developed by a lifetime at sea told her it $as the end of the midnight $atch,
around three in the morning&
%he felt tears dropping on her shoulder and tenderly $iped them a$ay& "-here, there, sugar," she
$hispered& "7 did come&"
Rescuing %$indapa had been sort of a side effectE they $ere there to trade for stoc' and seed/
grain, that first month after the 4vent& %he certainly hadn't e;pected them to end up together& &n
$act, 'daa "ad to rett, *ell drag me into 3ed, a$ter mont"# o$ m, dit"ering3all t"o#e ,ear# in
t"e clo#et made me timid. %"ri#t, *a# & #tuid&
-he rest of the ,uard 0ouse $as 9uietE evidently the children hadn't $o'en& Alston $aited until
her companion's shuddering died do$n into 9uiet sobbing, then turned up the lamp on the
bedside table& -he period/piece splendors of the house $ere a bit faded no$, eight years after the
4vent, but $ith a s9uared/a$ay neatness that $as solely hers&
%$indapa $iped her eyes and ble$ her nose on a hand'erchief from the dresser& Marian smiled a
little, remembering teaching her to do that $ith something besides her fingers& -he blue eyes
$ere clear no$, $ith the mercurial mood shifts she'd come to 'no$ since the 4vent& T"e onl,
t"ing relia3le a3out 'daa i# 'daa, she thought $ith a rush of tenderness& 8dd that they got on
so $ell&
"5hat $ere you thin'ingB" the Fiernan said& "7 could feel your eyes touch me&"
"-hat you're my other half," Marian said& "And about that night do$n in the 8lmec country&"
%he remembered t"atA one hand $ent to her left thigh, touching the dusty/$hite scar&
Remembering the dar'ness and the $et heat, mud under her boots, the light of the flares and the
burning temples of %an Loren.o brea'ing in shatters of brightness off the obsidian edges of the
8lmec $arriors' spears and club/s$ords& -he 9uet.al feathers of their harnesses, the paint and
precious stones and snarling faces& -he cold sting of the spearhead in her legE at the time all she
felt $as an enormous frustration that her body $ouldn't obey herE that they might not get out
$ith Martha Cofflin after all& And then %$indapa, s$ord flashing as she stood screaming over
her fallen lover&
-he Fiernan nodded& "Moon 5oman has $oven the light of our souls together," she said&
"And 7 $as thin'ing that you're cute as hell," Marian added, grinning&
T"at'# 8od'# trut" a# *ell, the blac' $oman thought& %$indapa $as her o$n five/foot/nine
almost to an inch, slender and long/limbed& -here had still been a bit of adolescent gangliness
$hen they first met, but it had gone $ith the years bet$een& -he oval straight/nosed face loo'ed
firmer no$ too, tanned to a honey color and framed by the long fall of $heat/colored hair&
"5oof<" Alson said, as the Fiernan's leap and embrace too' the air out of her lungs&
"And you are as beautiful as the night s'y $ith stars," %$indapa murmured do$n at herE that $as
as strong as compliments came, in the Fiernan :ohulugi tongue& 7t sounded pretty good in
4nglish, too& "Let's share pleasure& 7 $ant3"
Marian stopped her $ith another 'issE loving someone didn't ma'e them more li'e you, and she
$as #till embarrassed by Fiernan bluntness at times&
"-han's," Iic'i Cofflin said, ta'ing the thic' mug of sassafras tea& -he $armth $as $elcome in
her handsE the early morning $as chill enough to ma'e her $ool/and/leather flight uniform only
a little too heavy&
"5ell, this is it," Ale; %toddard said, loo'ing up at the huge structure that crea'ed above them,
secured by a do.en mooring ropes along either side& 7ts blunt head $as pointed into the
south$est $ind, and it surged occasionally against the restraining lines, as if eager to be gone&
%he nodded, feeling the e;citement hit her gut $ith a chill that counterbalanced the $arm,
astringent taste of the tea& Scar,, too, she thought& %he'd had her share of ris'y business over the
past eight years, $ith the e;peditionary force in Alba3she'd carried a crossbo$ to the :attle of
the 2o$ns3and bad $eather at sea& -his $as a little different& -he design studies said the
-manciator $ould $or'E she'd helped cran' up one of the mothballed computer $or'stations to
run the stress calculations for the frame and $or'ed on the design phase as $ell as the
construction& %he 'ne$ it #"ould $or', but trusting yourself to this flying $hale made out of
birch ply$ood and cloth $as still a bit nerve/rac'ing&
"4specially $hen 7 $as going to fly shuttles," she muttered $ryly, then shoo' her head $hen
Ale; loo'ed up from his chec'list& "Let's get on $ith it," she said aloud&
-he -manciator did loo' a little li'e a $hale, li'e an orcaE some $ag had $anted her named
!ree +ill,, but the Commodore had stomped on that good and hard& Iic'i did one more careful
$al'/aroundE chec'ing everything one last time $as something that $as drilled into you at Fort
:randt 8C% very thoroughly, and even more as a middie on a ,uard ship& -he strong smell of
the doping compound on the fabric s'in filled the air about her, and the scents of glue and
birch$ood&
-he immense presence of the airship $as a bit intimidating too& %he 'ne$ ob6ectively that it $as
light and fragile, but it felt formidably solid looming above her li'e this& And it $as 3ig, bigger
than the -agle, $hich $as the largest mobile ob6ect in the $orld, this Aear G After the 4vent&
"7 hope you get the command," Ale; said behind her& %he concealed a slight start& 0e $as a tall
young man3si; gangling feet3but he moved 9uietly& "Aou deserve it&"
"-he Commodore $ill appoint $hoever she thin's can do the 6ob best," Iic'i said, then grinned&
"-han's for the thought, though, 4nsign %toddard& 7'm supposed to have dinner $ith the Chief
and the Commodore on 0arvest (ight, so $e'll see&"
-he -manciator'# gondola $as a hundred feet long, a narro$ s$elling built into the airship's
frame& 5hen it $as grounded, the craft rested on outriggers, $ooden s'is much li'e a
helicopter's s'ids& -he rear ramp fle;ed and creased a little beneath their rubber/soled boots as
they $al'ed upE everything on board $as built as light as possible& :eneath their feet $ere the
tan's for $ater ballast and li9uid fuel and the compartments for cargo3or, under other
circumstances, Leaton's hundred/pounder cast/iron bombs& -hree tall $heels stood along each
side, $ith a member of the cre$ at each& Another came climbing do$n a ladder that stretched up
into the hull above, access to the gasbags&
"Captain on dec'<"
"As you $ere," she said, feelings spurt of pride&
%atain $or at lea#t a da,& -he cre$ rela;ed and $ent bac' to the preflight chec'point& -he
Commodore's idea of discipline $as strictly functionalE ceremony had its place, but that $asn't
getting in the $ay& Another good thing about $or'ing for her $as that if she thought you $ere
competent enough to do a 6ob, she didn't stand over you or 6oggle your elbo$&
9u#t deal *it" it cometentl,, quic)l, and *it"out unnece##ar, $u##, Iic'i thought& So let'# get
on *it" it&
%he $al'ed for$ard, past the engine stations, the folded/up bun's, the tiny galley $ith its electric
hot plate3no e;posed flames on t"i# craft, by ,od<3the map boards and the big, clun'y spar'/
gap radio and smaller, smoother/loo'ing pre/4vent short$ave set& -here $as a s$ivel chair at
the point $here the dec'ing came to an end, $ith the sloping $indo$s that filled the curved nose
of the gondola surrounding it on three sides& Lo$ consoles surrounded it as $ell, mostly pre/
4vent instruments adapted to their ne$ tas'sE air speed, pressure, fuel, temperature gauges& -he
$indo$s loo'ed do$n on a shado$ed section of the (antuc'et Airport run$ay, mostly deserted
in the preda$n light& -he $hole pro6ect $asn't e;actly clandestine, but it had been 'ept on the
H-&
And & 'm #uo#ed to leave 3, da*n and come 3ac) 3, #un#et, 3arring emergencie#, she
reminded herself, running an eye over the instruments& 4verything still nominal&
"All hands to stations," she said& "Raise the ramp&"
"All hands," Ale; echoed& "Ramp up<"
Iic'i Cofflin turned and loo'ed do$n the long space& 4ngine cre$, buoyancy control, ballast
control, radio, navigation3that $as Ale;'s department, as $ell as being K8E and vertical and
lateral helms 6ust behind her& 8ood cre*, she thought& Fourteen in all, enough for $atch/and/
$atch& 8nly the radioman $as older than she, a ham operator bac' before the 4vent& 8nly five
Albans, and they'd all come to the island as teenagers, Ale;'s age or younger, enough to get the
basic education re9uired&
"All right, people," she said& "5e've all $or'ed long and hard getting the boat ready& (o$ $e're
going to ta'e her up and see $hat she can do&"
6o3od, on (antuc'et had any lighter/than/air e;perience, if you discounted people $ho'd been
up on rides in ,oodyear blimps, $hich included 7an Arnstein, oddly enough& -hey'd all read
everything they could find, but there $as no substitute for hands/on e;perience&
%he slapped the bac' of the chair& "-manciator'# going to give us some surprises, unless she's
completely unli'e any vehicle human beings have ever made& %o stay alert&"
"Aye, aye, ma'am<"
Iic'i nodded, too' off her pea'ed cap, and sat& "Let's go&"
"%leepin' li'e babies," Marian $hispered in the preda$n dar'ness, moving carefully so that the
armor $ouldn't rattle&
"-hey are babies," %$indapa ans$ered softly, giving her hand a s9uee.e&
-he nursery do$n the corridor from their room held t$o beds, each $ith a girl and a stuffed
animal3Lucy had a blue sna'e, and 0eather a 'oala bear& -he redhead $as lying on her bac',
snoring almost daintilyE the dar' girl curled on her side, as if protecting her goggle/eyed serpent&
More stuffed toys stood on shelves, along $ith dolls, bloc's, pu..les, picture boo's, a dollhouse
Fared Cofflin had made and Martha painted for a birthday last year, $ooden horses carved in
Alba, a fanciful model ship on $heels from Alston's o$n hands& -he girls $ere seven almost to a
dayE they'd both been ne$borns, orphaned by the Alban 5ar&
+ell, <uc,'# $at"er i# ro3a3l, #till alive, Alston thought meticulously& 0e'd been the only blac'
$ith 5al'er, and they hadn't found his body& 0er mother had died in childbirth and been left
behind $hen 5al'er and his gang ran for it& Alive until & catc" "im& -he big blac' e;/cadet from
-ennessee hadn't gone over to 5al'er for $ealth or po$erE it had been his damned fetish about
the imaginary :lac' 4gyptians, and 5al'er's promise to send him there $ith the secret of
gunpo$der and $hatnot to protect them against the 7ce 1eople 5hite 2evils& -hat didn't ma'e
him any less of a traitor in her eyes& 7t $as actions that mattered, not intentions&
"Let's go," she said 9uietly&
-hey padded do$n the stairs, the $ood crea'ing sometimes, and into the big 'itchen at the bac'
of the house, flan'ed by the sunroom that overloo'ed the rear garden& For a moment they busied
themselves $ith preparations for tonight's dinner, seeing that the $ood stove $as fed and
bringing out the suc'ling pig from the pantry& Alston chuc'led at thatE t$o $omen in %amurai/
style steel armor $ith long s$ords across their bac's, feeding the nineteenth/century $ood stove
in a house last remodeled by a California investment ban'er in the dying years of the t$entieth
century&
And t"o#e girl# u#tair# *ere 3orn t"ree t"ou#and ,ear# 3e$ore me, 3ut t"e,'re t"e $uture.
-he brea'fast oatmeal $as bubbling 9uietly in an iron pot atop the stove, but it $ouldn't be ready
for another hour and a half& -hey cut themselves chun's of bread and $ashed it do$n $ith $hole
mil' from the 6ug in the icebo;, then fastened their boots and too' the $ooden practice s$ords in
their hands as they let themselves out& (antuc'et $as cool in the preda$n blac'ness even in late
summer, the air damp and smelling of salt, fish, $hale oil from the street/lamps, $oodsmo'e
from early risers& -he t$o $omen crossed over to the north side of Main %treet, turned onto 4asy
%treet and then %outh :each and began their run, bodies moving $ith smooth economy to the
rattle and clan' of the armor, hands pumping in rhythm&
":etter you than me<" a $agoneer called to them, ya$ning at the reins&
Marian recogni.ed him and gave a $aveE he'd been $ith the 4;peditionary Force in Alba& 4dd.
So man, got )illed, and in#tead o$ t"ro*ing #tu$$ at me, t"e #urvivor# li'e me&
"4asy day," she said to her companion& "8nly an hour"3running out to Fetties :each, do$n the
sand cliffs, some )ata on the $et sand, then bac'3"and $e'll have to head in to start dinner&"
"7t is a holiday," %$indapa ans$ered, then sprinted ahead, laughing in sheer e;uberance at the
day and at being alive&
Ver, muc" alive, Marian thought& And t"at ma)e# me $eel li)e livin' too&
"7 never thought 7'd be no#talgic about living in fear of starving to death," Fared Cofflin said&
"Aou aren't," his $ife replied succinctly& "Aou're 6ust feeling hard/done/by&"
-he Chief 4;ecutive 8fficer of the Republic of (antuc'et stared do$n at the papers on his
living/room tableE the tall sash $indo$s of the Chief's 0ouse $ere open to the $arm evening air
and the sounds and smells of summer, and roses bloomed outside in the narro$ scrap of garden&
7t'd been an inn 6ust up from :road, originally built as a shipo$ner's mansion bac' in the G=Ls&
%ort of a running 6o'e bet$een them and Marian and %$indapa, the Cofflins on ,ay %treet and
the Alston/@urlelos on Main&
":alance of paymentsB .alance o$ a,ment#B -he $hole damned island is sent bac' to M?L
:&C&3"
"-hat's M=M :&C& no$, dear&
"M=M :&C&, and 7'm supposed to $orry about the 3alance o$ a,ment#& Christ, 7 remember $hen
$e $ere all $ondering about ho$ $e'd get through the $inter&"
"Marian< ,et a$ay from that<" Martha called&
A seven/year/old girl $ith stra$/blond pigtails snatched her hand a$ay from a cut/glass decanter
and $ent bac' to pulling a $heeled model ship across the floor& Cofflin's e;pression rela;ed into
a smile& 7f the island had stayed in the t$entieth, he'd never have met Martha3not beyond
nodding as they passed in the street, at least& 6o little Marian, t"en. 6o 9ared 9unior or 9enni$er
or Sam, eit"er& -$o of their o$n, and t$o adopted from the orphans of the $ar in Alba& 0e and
his first $ife bad never been able to have children and never got around to adopting, and then
:etty had died bac' half a decade before the 4vent& Strenuou#, ,oung#ter# are, 3ut *ort" it, he
thought& 8f course, ending up $ith four at his age $as more than strenuous&
"And then this bunch $ant to start a ne$ settlement do$n in Argentina," he $ent on& "As if $e
$eren't spread out enough already&"
"2ear, there's no la$ against emigrating& 5e can scarcely send Marian out after them for leaving
$ithout permission&"
"%pea'ing of $hich," he said, tossing do$n the papers& "-here's young 1ete ,irenas and "i#
group of let's/get/ourselves/'illed enthusiasts& Christ& %hould 7 have sat on themB -hey might
have given up3"
"5hat's their average age, FaredB"
"0e's the oldest, and he's all of t$enty/one&"
"5ell, then&"
Cofflin sighed& "Let's get going& 7'll thin' about that later& Marian's e;pecting us for the
anniversary party&" 0is daughter loo'ed up at the sound of her name& "(o, s$eetling, Aunt
Marian&"
Aoung Marian's middle name $as 2eer 2ancerE that $as $hat "%$indapa" meant, in 4nglish&
2amn, 3ut &'m glad t"e 4agle *a# clo#e enoug" to get caug"t u in t"e -vent. 8od )no*# "o*
&'d "ave ulled u# t"roug" *it"out Marian& 8r $ithout Martha, or 7an, or 2oreen, Angelica
:rand, Ron Leaton, or %am Macy, orD *ell, particularly *it"out Marian&
0e loo'ed at his $atch& "%pea'ing of $hich, 5here's3"
"0i, +nc, Martha&" Iic'i Cofflin came through the door $ith a bound and scooped up the child&
"0o$'s it going, midgetB"
Cofflin smiled as his niece tussled $ith his daughter and Martha rounded up the rest of the
offspring& Iic'i didn't have the Cofflin loo's, but then, her mother had married someone from
a*a,, as (antuc'eters said3from -e;as, at that& 0e'd been off/island $hen the 4vent happened,
a particularly final form of divorce&
Iic'i $as stoc'y rather than lan'y, $ith a snub/nosed frec'led face and green/gray eyes& %he
$asn't in uniform, this being a family/and/friends evening3he tried to 'eep #ome distinctions
bet$een that and government $or'& -he 6eans $ere pre/4vent, her shirt $as Murray's Mills
product, 8lmec cotton spun and dyed $ith $ild indigo here on 7sland, the shoes hand/cobbled
from Alban leather&
4ur #ucce##or#, he thought& Iic'i's generation, $ho'd come of age after the 4vent& -o them the
t$entieth $as fading memoryE to their younger siblings, hardly that& -o Cofflin's o$n children it
$ould be history learned from boo's and stories&
"4vening, Iic'i& 0o$'s your motherB"
"+mmmm, fine, +nc& Aou 'no$ ho$ it is&"
0e noddedE Iic'i didn't get along all that $ell $ith her stepfather, and her mother had started a
ne$ family3one of her o$n, plus three Alban adoptees& +ell, ,ou ic) ,our $riend#, 3ut ,ou're
#tuc) *it" $amil,, he thought& -hough it $as natural enough, seeing as ho$ Mary had lost her
elder t$o boys to the 4vent as $ell as her husband& Although presumably they $ere still3the
$ord made no sense, but 4nglish grammar $asn't $ell adapted to time travel3all right, up in the
t$entieth&
0e pushed do$n a cra$ling horror that they all felt no$ and then& +"at i$ *e de#tro,ed t"e
*orld, 3, 3eing "ereB +e could "ave. T"e, could "ave all gone out li)e a matc" in t"e *ind a#
#oon a# *e c"anged #omet"ing 3ac) "ere3all dead or not even t"at, all o$ t"em never e;isting,
a mig"t-"ave-3een& -he Arnsteins thought that the 4vent $ould produce a branching, t$o trun's
on the tree of time, but nobody could 'no$ for sure& Come to that, nobody 'ne$ an,t"ing about
the 4vent e;cept $hat it had done&
0e shoo' his head and 'neaded the bac' of his nec' against the sudden chill& Martha touched
him briefly on the arm, a firm, $arm pressureE the e9uivalent of a hug to them, and he felt the
tension slac'en as he smiled bac' at her&
7t $as a $arm late/August evening as they stepped out, shepherding the children before themE
the big American elms lining the bric' side$al's $ere still in full leaf, and the $hale/oil lamps
on their cast/iron stands $ere being lit by a -o$n $or'er $ith a long pole topped by a torch& -he
to$er of the old +nitarian church stood blac' against the red s'y ahead, still sho$ing a little gold
at its top in the long summer t$ilight&
"+mmm, +nc," Iic'i dropped bac' a little to $al' beside him, lo$ering her voice& "7'm a bit
nervous& 0aving dinner $ith the Commodore&"
0e raised a bro$& "-hought you did that as a middie," he said&
"5ell, yeah, but that $asD structured& Commodore Alston made a point of inviting groups of
officer/candidates to dinner no$ and then&"
"%he doesn't bite," Cofflin said& "7 read your report on the -manciator'# trials, too& Loo'ed
good&"
"5e did have that problem $ith longitudinal stability&"
"Ayup& -hat's $hy they call it a te#t flight, girl," he replied, hiding a smile& "And she's going to
give you good ne$s, ne;t time you see her in her o$$icial capacity," Cofflin $ent on& "Aou can
ta'e the #econd off the lieutenant3but you didn't hear it from me&"
"5e#<" Iic'i $hopped, pumping a fist, then self/consciously calming $hen Martha loo'ed bac'
over her shoulder $ith a raised bro$& Cofflin had noted that the younger generation $ere a bit
more spontaneous than hisE probably influence from all the Albans around no$adays&
"7 $as a little afraid somebody else $ould be put in to command the -manciator $hen it $as
finished," she said, burbling a bit&
"2oubt 'eeps' you on your toes," Fared said, and then, "4vening, 7an, 2oreen," $hen they met
the Arnsteins outside the Fohn Cofflin 0ouse&
"4vening all3hi, Iic'i& ,ot the $hole tribe $ith you, 7 see," 7an said& 2avid $as $aving to the
Cofflins' four from his father's shoulders, prompting a chorus of "8ive me a ride. 2add,0 @
"Ayup," Cofflin said& -hen, "all right, Fenny, u you go&"
0e hoisted his adopted daughter to his shouldersE she $rapped her arms around his forehead and
cro$ed gleefully& Cofflin gripped her feet, partly for stability and partly to 'eep her sharp little
heels from drumming on his ribs& Marian $ent up on Iic'i's shoulders, and Fared Funior on
2oreen'sE someho$, it didn't occur to anyone to as' Martha& %he too' a small hand in each of
hers instead, smiling at the children's giggling and the moc' horse noises coming from the other
adults&
-he ban' and some of the shops $ere closing do$n, but the restaurants and bars on Main $ere
full, spilling cheerful lantern light and noise and coo'ing smells onto the cobbles& 0e could see
right through the Cappuccino Cafe to its little garden pla.a beyond, hear the fiddle and guitar and
flute from the trio performing there and the voices of the customers singing along, clapping and
tapping their boots to the tune&
"-hat's a ne$ one," he said&
+e ju#t lo#t #ig"t o$ t"e .randt (oint lig"t
2o*n lie# t"e 3a, 3e$ore u#
And t"e *ind "a# 3lo*n #ome cold toda,
+it" ju#t a *ee touc" o$ #no*.
Along t"e #"ore $rom -el (oint 1ead, "ard a-3eam Mu#)eget
Tonig"t *e let t"e anc"or# go, do*n in !ogart,'# %ove0
7t had a nice s$inging lilt to it& "%ounds different no$, that sort of song," he said& 8ne of the
many small compensations of the 4vent $as that $ith electricity a strictly rationed rarity, most of
the types of music he hated $ith a passion $ere impossible& 0e $asn't alone in that, either&
Marian had told him once that to get rid of gangsta rap she'd have been $illing to be stranded in
the Furassic $ith a pac' of velociraptors in $hite sheets&
M, Sal "a# "air li)e a raven'# *ing,
.ut "er tongue i# li)e "er mot"er'#
+it" "and# t"at ma)e quic) *or) o$ a c"ore
And e,e# li)e t"e to o$ a #tove
%ome #uertime #"e'll *al) t"e 3eac",
+raed in m, old du$$le
+it" "er e,e# uon t"e ma#t"ead reac"
2o*n in !ogart,'# %ove0
A girl $as up on a table, dancing to the tune, but he'd give odds #"e $asn't American/born&
Fiernan, from the $ild, patterned grace of the movements3dancing $as a big thing in their
religion and they got a lot of practice&
S"e *ill *al) t"e #and, #"ore# #o lain,
+atc" t"e com3er# roll in
'Till & come to +ild ;o#e %"ance again
2o*n in !ogart,'# %ove0
"Certainly does have a different ring," Martha replied& "For one thing, half the people singing it
really do ma'e their living at sea&"
Fared nodded a little $istfully& 0is 6ob 'ept him ashore and pinned to his des' much of the time
3although he did insist on getting a$ay at this time of year, usually to harpoon bluefin tuna& 0e
could easily afford to pay the -o$n ta; straight up in money, but there $as a satisfaction to
doing something useful $ith your hands& (ot to mention doing a hard, dangerous 6ob $ell
enough to gain the respect of youngsters&
0e $or'ed his big fisherman's hands& 7t got harder every year, and sometime he'd have to let
nature ta'e its course& -here $as al$ays the .oojum, his little t$enty/footer& %omeday he'd teach
his 'ids ho$ to single/hand a 'etch&
"Fol'ie stuff $as al$ays popular here," 7an said& "Li'e you said, it has more of a, hmmm,
re#onance no$& 7 understood a lot more about 0omer once 7'd seen a real battle $ith chariots and
spearsD although that's something 7 could have lived $ith not 'no$ing&"
"Let 'em sing," Cofflin sighed& ",ot a difficult couple of years coming, unless 7 miss my guess&
-hey've all $or'ed hard, they deserve a party&"
7t $as the last evening of $hat some bureaucrat at the -o$n :uilding had named, $ith stunning
originality, the Civic 0arvest Festival& -hey still celebrated -han'sgiving in (ovember, of
course, but this mar'ed that first harvest of rye and $heat and barley, the year of the 4vent&
-he Councilors nodded and $aved to friends and ac9uaintances as they turned south up MainE
Fared returned a mounted police$oman's salute as she rode by $ith her double/barreled flintloc'
shotgun on one hipE the horseshoes beat a slo$ iron clangor on the stones $ith an occasional
bright spar'&
1ave to t"in) a3out utting do*n a#"alt "ere, some note/ta'ing mechanism in the bac' of his
mind prompted& -he tourists had li'ed authentic Ae 8lde cobblestones, but they $ere as
inconvenient as hell no$, unli'e the other features3lots of fireplaces, for instance3of
(antuc'et's mainly early/nineteenth/century do$nto$n& -he noise $hen a lot of iron/shod
$agon $heels hit them had to be heard to be believed, for starters&
"7'll be damned," 7an said suddenly, craning his nec' around so fast that his son $hooped and
buried his hands in the hair over Arnstein's ears&
"5hatB" 2oreen said&
"7 sa$3"
"%a$ *"at0 Aour 6a$'s dropping, 7an&"
"7 sa$ a tattooed 7ndian $ith a harpoon $al'ing do$n to$ard the doc's&"
"5hy notB" Cofflin as'ed& "-here are a fe$ of them $or'ing the tuna boats, they're good hands
$ith a3"
-hen he $heeled about himself& A barbed steel point glittered for a moment in the light from the
streetlamp beside the 0ub, but the bearer $as 9uic'ly lost in the cro$d&
",ave me a bit of a chill," 7an said& 2oreen nodded, and Martha gave a slight dry chuc'le&
"1roblem is," she said, "$e've all had our sense of the impossible $renched about, badly&"
Cofflin nodded& 0e still $o'e up some days $ith that sense of dislocation, a feeling that the
solid, tangible $orld he sa$ and smelled and tasted around him $as 6ust a veneer over chaos&
%omething that might spin a$ay, dissolve li'e a mist at sea and leaveD nothingB 8r another
e;ile beyond the $orld he 'ne$& 7f once, $hy not againB
"5hat's $rong, 2addyB" Fenny said an;iously, feeling the moment of shivering tension in his
shoulders&
"(othing's $rong, Fenny," he said, reaching up $ith a reassuring pat and putting the same into
his voice& 9enn,'ll gro* u *it" t"at, he thought& -he 4vent $ould seem 9uite reasonable, if you
gre$ up $ith it& 7n a couple of generations they'd probably thin' of it as a myth, and '$ay do$n
the road some professorial pain in the ass $ould "prove" that it $as a metaphor and hadn't
happened at all&
-hey 9uieted the children and $al'ed further up Main, past the 1acific :an'& Coast ,uard 0ouse
had been 'no$n as the 4ast :ric' bac' before the 4vent& A $haling s'ipper had built it and the
t$o others beside it in the GJLs, red fours9uare four/story mansions in the sober Federal style
that rich Hua'ers had favored bac' then& All three and the -$o ,ree's, their neoclassical rivals
across the street, had been o$ned by coofs, rich mainlanders $ho $ere not on the 7sland at the
time of the 4vent&
Iic'i s$allo$ed and ran her hands over her hair3probably had memories of being called on the
carpet here, since it $as ,uard 0H&
Fared Cofflin grinnedE he'd turned the 4ast :ric' over to Marian Alston for residence and
head9uarters $hen the -agle returned from its first trading voyage to Alba, that spring right after
the 4vent, and he'd done it $ith glee&
1art of his pleasure in that $as the thought of the California financier $ho'd paid three/point/
seven million dollars for it 6ust si; months before and ,od 'ne$ ho$ much in renovations and
furnishings& 8ne very irate moneyman, $andering through the primeval 7ndian/haunted oa'
$oods of the :ron.e Age island that the t$entieth century had presumably gotten in e;change,
loo'ing for his missing investment& Maybe Fesus could love an investment bro'er, but Fared
Cofflin didn't intend to even try&
0e gave another spare chuc'le as they $al'ed up the bric' side$al', careful of the roots of the
elms that bulged the surface&
"5hat's the 6o'eB" 7an as'ed&
"-hin'ing of the fuss bac' up in the t$entieth, $hen they $o'e up and found us gone and
nothing but trees and 7ndians on the (antuc'et they got," he said& "Christ, can you imagine $hat
the 6ational -nquirer cro$d must have doneB"
7t $as an old 6o'e, but they $ere all laughing $hen Crid.y$elfa opened the door&
"-he ladies are in the 'itchen, Chief, $or'ing all day after the morning," she said $ith a 9uic',
choppy %un 1eople tang to her 4nglish& "-hey said to par' yourself, and 7'll ta'e the children on
to the bac' yard through&"
Cofflin nodded, chuc'ling again at the $ay (e$ 4ngland vo$els $ent $ith the :ron.e Ager's
accent& (aa) t"e caa in 1aav'd ,aad 'n go to t"e aat,& 5ith no -I or recorded sound to sustain
,eneral American, it sounded li'e the native (antuc'eters' clipped nasal t$ang $as gradually
coming out on top in the 7sland's linguistic ste$& ;evenge o$ t"e 5an)ee#&
"My ladies, they're here at the door," Crid.y$elfa said&
"And $e're read,, by ,od," Alston said, loo'ing at the cloc'& 0alf/past seven p&m& e;actly&
,ood& %he'd al$ays hated unpunctuality&
-he cream for the bis9ue $as 6ust right, very hot but not boiling& %he used a potholder to lift the
heavy croc' from the stovetop and pour it into the soup pot $hile %$indapa stirred it in $ith a
long $ooden spoon&
T"an) ,ou, Momma, she thought& 0er mother had gotten her started as a coo', bac' on 1rince
7sland off the %outh Carolina coast& And it had been on a cast/iron monster much li'e thisE their
little truc' farm hadn't run to lu;uries& T"oug" "o* #"e managed *it" #i7 o$ u#, &'ll never
under#tand&
"0eather< Lucy<"
-hat last out the $indo$ to the gardens, $hence came a clac' of $ood on $ood and shrill
imitations of a )ia&
"Mom, $e $ere 6ust playing at 3o))en," 0eather $heedled& "Aou and Momma %$indapa play at
s$ords all the time& 4ven $ith real s$ords, #"ar ones&"
"-hat's not playing, it's training, and you'll hurt each other $ith those stic's," Alston said, forcing
sternness into her voice& "5hen you're old enough, you'll get real 3o))en to train $ith& (o$
come in and $ash your hands and faces& Aou can play $ith 2avid and the other 'ids until
dinner&"
"8h, 2avid's 6ust a baby," Lucy said, $ith the lordly advantage of t$o years e;tra age&
-he children dashed up the steps and through the sunroom&
"-hat all smells good, Mom," 0eather said e;pectantly& "Really, reallyD"
Alston hugged the small form to her, meeting %$indapa's eyes over her shoulder& All rig"t, ,ou
*ere rig"t, she thought& T"e )id# *ere a good idea33etter t"an good& Alston had lost her o$n
children in the divorce after Fohn found out about FoleneD 8od, *a# t"at $i$teen ,ear# agoB 8r
$hateverE up in the t$entieth, at least& (o solitary chance of getting custody, not $hen he could
have destroyed her career in the ,uard $ith one short sentence and ruined her chances of being
a$arded the children in front of a %outh Carolina court& And %$indapa couldn't have any
children of her o$n& 1elvic inflammation, from the $ay the 7raiina had treated her&
Alston cut t$o slices from a loaf and spread them $ith $ild/blueberry 6amE the bread $as fresh
enough to steam slightly& "-hat ought to hold you t$o for the long half hour until dinner's on the
table&"
"Run along," %$indapa said gently, bending to 'iss the small faces& ",et those hands clean&"
"Ann," Fared Cofflin said, pushing the empty bo$l a$ay& "(o$ t"at'# ho$ to treat a lobster
soup&"
"Lobster 3i#que, dear," Martha corrected, helping herself to one of the broiled clams $ith
herbed/crumb crust&
"Ayup&"
-he dining room had changed a little since this became ,uard 0ouse& -he burgundy $allpaper
$as the same, $ith the brilliant gold foliage around the topE so $ere the 5aterford chandelier,
the 1hiladelphia/Federal sideboard and the long mahogany table, but the rugs on the floor $ere
from 2ilmun at the entrance to the 1ersian ,ulf& A pair of crossed tomaha$'s over the fireplace
had bron.e heads shaped li'e the bills of falcons, lovely and deadly& -hose $ere from the 7raiina,
a tribe settled in $hat $ould have become 0ampshire3 plunder of the Alban 5ar&
4lse$here $ere mementos of the -agle'# s$ift survey around the globe in the Aear M A&4& and
voyages since> a %hang robe of crimson and gold sil' made in AnyangE a s9uare/section bron.e
sacrificial a; covered in ancestral Chinese ideographsE a bla.ing indigo/and/red/green tapestry of
dyed cotton from coastal 1eru, covered in smiling gods and geometric shapes&
Cofflin helped collect the soup plates and ta'e them out to the 'itchen to soa'E off that, in the
sunroom, the children $ere eating, $ith 6ust as much noise and chaos as you $ould e;pect from
ten healthy youngsters bet$een three and seven, plus the house'eeper's t$o teenagers and the
Colemans' youngest, $ho $as still in a high chair& Crid.y$elfa $as presiding, $ith a smile that
seemed genuine& 0e'd noticed that the locals 6ust $eren't as fastidious about mess and confusion
as those born in the t$entieth&
8od )no*# & love 'em, 3ut it'# nice to eat *it"out t"e )id# no* and t"en, he thought& At least "i#
$ere all past the dump/your/porridge/over/your/head stage& Most of the time& -he $ay Marian's
redhead $as s9uealing and $aving her for' loo'ed li'e danger to life and limb&
"5hy did you name her 0eatherB" Cofflin as'ed idly, as everyone came bac' in $ith fresh
dishes and e;claimed over the suc'ling pig borne aloft in glory $ith an apple in its mouth&
%$indapa began handing around plates& 0e pic'ed an olive from a bo$l and ate it&
"5hy do you t"in), FaredB" Marian replied, carving $ith 9uic', s'illed stro'es&
-he savory meat curled a$ay from her blade, and she loo'ed do$n the table, visibly estimating
portionsE the Cofflins, the Arnsteins, %tarbuc', Captain %andy Rapc.e$ic. and 2oc Coleman3
%andy had been 4;ecutive 8fficer on the -agle $hen all this started, and she'd 'ept her maiden
name $hen she married the 7sland's senior medico& Iictor 8rti., $ho'd been a lieutenant bac'
thenE his $ife $as a relative of %$indapa's named Fair$en, hugely pregnant no$, and the t$o
$ere chattering a$ay in the soft glug-glug sound of Fiernan, the tang and lilt of a language that
had died a thousand years before Christ&
"5ouldn't have as'ed if 7 'ne$," Cofflin said, smothering a mild annoyance $hen most of the
rest of the table got the allusion and he didn't& Martha $as chuc'ling into her $ineglass& 8nly
Iic'i loo'ed as baffled as he $as&
"0eather 0as -$o Mommies, dear," his $ife said& "2on't you rememberB"
"5ell, of course she has t$o3oh&" 0e thumped the heel of his hand on his forehead&
"7t's a perfectly good name," Alston said& " 'dapa, this load is for the other table& 8ne of my
grandmothers $as named 0eather&" A slight 9uir' of the lips& "2oubt she e;pected to have any
red/haired great/grandchildren, though&"
%teaming layers of sliced por' lay on the edge of the platter, cut $ith a surgeon's neatness& 4$
cour#e, doing t"at 9aane#e #*ord #tu$$ $as "er "o33,, Cofflin thought, passing the applesauce&
4t"er "o33,, 3e#ide# coo)ing, t"at i#&
"%ay," he $ent on3it $as all old friends here3"do 0eather and Lucy ever have much in the
$ay of, ah, problems about thatB (o$ that they've started schoolB"
"About their parentsB" Marian gave a slight cold smile, and %$indapa loo'ed briefly furious&
"Aes, sometimes& A fe$ times&"
"%orry about that," Cofflin said, flushing $ith embarrassment&
"8h, no problem& -hey're very athletic little girls, for their ages&"
-he smile $ent slightly $ider at his loo' of incomprehension& "7 gave them some pointers and
told them to ambush $hoever gave them serious trouble about their mothers, t$o on one, and
beat the living shit out of them& And if the parents complained3$ell, they could come complain
to me&"
0e loo'ed into the dar' eyes of the person $ho he 'ne$ $as, after Martha, his best friend in this
post/4vent $orld& And the embarrassment turned, 6ust for a second, to a 6olt of pure, cold fear&
S"it, 3ut &'m glad Marian never "ad an, olitical am3ition#.
":arbarians," %$indapa muttered under her breath&
"5hat $as thatB" Martha said&
"(othin' much," Marian said, smiling slightly& "%$indapa has a lo$ opinion of some 4agle
1eople attitudes, is all&"
"Fully 6ustified, in some cases," Martha said dryly&
1eople started passing thingsE gravy, bo$ls of scalloped potatoes, roast garlic, cauliflo$er au
gratin, sliced onions and tomatoes in oil and vinegar, steamed peas, butternut s9uash, $ilted
spinach $ith shallot dressing, lentils $ith thyme, potato/and/lobster/cla$ salad, green salad,
bread&
"8h, Mother of ,od, but 7 got so sic' of edible sea$eed," 8rti. said, biting into a piece of
tomato $ith an e;pression of nearly religious ecstasy&
"%aved us from scurvy the $inter of 'L," Martha observed, slightly defensive& "My ,irl %couts
did a good 6ob there, finding $ild greens&"
"8h, they did," 8rti. agreed& "(o dispute there& 7'm 6ust so glad to see vegetables again&"
Murmurs of agreement interrupted the chomping of 6a$s&
"-he economy's doing reasonably $ell," %tarbuc' conceded, grudgingly& %"ri#t, and t"e, t"in)
7'm #ting,, Cofflin thought& -he e;/ban'er $ent on, "2espite the lavish use of public funds on
pro6ects such as yours, young lady&"
Iic'i loo'ed do$n at her plate for a second& "2efense ta'es precedence over affluence, sir," she
replied&
%tarbuc''s shaggy $hite bro$s $ent up& "(ice to hear one of the younger generation 9uoting
Adam %mith at me," he said grudgingly& "5ell, 7 suppose it $on't ban'rupt us& (ot 9uite yet&"
-hings "ad improved& Cofflin spread butter on a piece of the che$y, crusty $hole/$heat bread&
:utter, for instance& -here hadn't been more than t$o do.en co$s on the $hole island, at first&
-he breeding program $as going $ell, though&
"Aou 4agle 1eople complain about the oddest things," Fair$en said, tossing bac' her long bro$n
hair& "Aou've $ays to have got vegetables in the middle of $inter, and then complain you that
they aren't fresh pic'ed as $ere&"
"Aou've got a point," 2oc Coleman said& "-his diet is actually healthier than $hat $e had before
the 4ventE a little heavier on salt than 7'd li'e, especially in the $inter $ith all the dried fish, but
plenty of fiber and roughage, not much sugar and less fat3loo' ho$ lean this por' is, even&
1lus, 7 doubt there are fifty people on the 7sland $ho don't do more physical e;ercise than they
used to, 6ust getting around&" Lu;ury transport these days $as a bicycle& "And no tobacco or
recreational drugs, than' ,od& 1ass the gravy&"
"7t's bac' to dried dulse for some of us," Alston sighed&
"Aou're ready so soonB" Cofflin blurted& 1ell, & t"oug"t & *a# $ollo*ing t"ing# clo#el,0
"8h, not for the real push," Alston said& "5e need more ships, more3sorry, 'dapa, 6ust a little
business3but it occurs to me that $e 6ust can't $ait until $e've got enough ships and people to
do it directly, so $e'd better start laying the ground$or' through the bac' door& Lieutenant
Cofflin3sorry, Iic'i3has her pet coming along right nice& 5e can run the tests on her, and
then start ta'ing it apart again&"
-he younger Cofflin glanced bet$een her uncle and the blac' $oman, suddenly alert& Alston
smiled slightly and nodded& "-ime you $ere brought into the loop& 4verybody here's cleared&"
%he s'etched out a plan, and a little $ay do$n the table, 7an Arnstein sighed and rolled his eyes&
"8h, ,od," he said& "Anot"er t$o languages to learn&"
0e couldn't 9uite conceal the grin that bro'e through& 0is $ife hit him $ith her nap'in and
groaned&
"-he first part, that'll be more in the nature of a long trip than a military e;pedition," Marian
said& "-henD"
"4nough business," %$indapa said firmly& "7 $ill $or' tomorro$& -oday is for play& 2essert, and
then $e dance&"
"All right," Fared Cofflin said, chuc'ling and leaning bac' $ith a cup in his hand& "Aou 'no$,
one of the fe$ good things about this 6ob is that it lets you meet every nutcase in the Republic,
and 6ust yesterday 7 met one even cra.ier than the gang around this table& Let me tell you about a
young man named ,irenas over at 1rovidence :ase and "i# $eird idea&"
1eter ,irenas loo'ed at himself an;iously in the small mirror by the $ashstand, chec'ing his
chin and his mottled/leather Ranger uniform& -hen, s$allo$ing, he glanced around the room& 7t
$asn't home, 6ust the place he lived $hen he $as in to$nE the o$ner of the Laughing Loon $as
glad to let him have it in return for a deer every $ee' or t$o& :ed and floor $ere mostly covered
in s'ins of his o$n hunting, bear and $olf and $olverineE there $as a Le''ansu spirit/mas' on
one s9uared/log $all, a coverlet of ermine pelts, a shelf of boo's, his rifle and crossbo$, some
'eepsa'es and a photograph of his mother& And on a table beside the bed $as a sheaf of papers&
"%tay, 1er's& ,uard&"
-he dog curled up on his favorite bears'in and settled his head on his pa$s, $atchful and alert&
,irenas pic'ed up the papers and too' a deep breath, then carefully closed the door behind him
and trotted do$n to the taproom of the inn&
7t $as 9uiet no$, on a $ee'day afternoon, spears of sunlight through the $indo$s catching
drifting flec's of dust, sand rutching under his boots against the flagstone floor& %ally Randon
$as idly polishing the single/plan' bar at one end $ith its ran's of bottles and big barrels $ith
taps, and the chairs $ere empty around the long tables& 4;cept for one& ,irenas sco$led at the
sight of the three seated there&
0e recogni.ed them all& 4mma Carson and her husband, 2ic'E they $ere big in the 7ndian trade&
And 0ardcase& 0e $as a big man among the Le''ansu, one of the first traders $ith the
Americans3and he'd been pulling together the shattered clans after the epidemics, trying to get
them bac' on their feet after the chaos and despair of losing more than half their numbers for t$o
years running& -he Ranger didn't particularly li'e him, not li'e some of the Le''ansu $arriors
he'd hunted $ith or the girls he'd 'no$n, but 0ardcase $as an important man&
8r $ould be, if he could stay off the boo.e& -he Carsons had no business encouraging him li'e
this&
"7 greet you, elder brother," he said in the Le''ansu tongue, $al'ing over to them& "0ave you
come to tradeB"
"-rade pretty good," the 7ndian said, in fair if accented 4nglish& "Lots of deer hides, maple sugar,
hic'ory nuts, ginseng&"
-he t$o (antuc'eter traders $ere glaring at the ranger, and the man made a motion as if to hide
the bottle of $hite lightning the three $ere sharing& 2ic' Carson didn't bother ,irenas, a beefy
blo$hard& :ut 4mmaD "eard a #na)e 3it "er once. T"e #na)e died&
"4mma, 2ic'," he said, nodding& -hen in the other tongue> "5ill you get many 'nives, hatchets,
fishhoo's, fire/ma'ers, blan'etsB"
"0ardcase trades smart," the 7ndian said, his grin a bit slac'& "8ther families $ill pay $ell for
brea'/the/head $ater& 4asier to carry than lots of heavy things&"
":ut $hen the $ater is gone, you $ill have nothing3not tools, or $eapons, or blan'ets&"
0ardcase's eyes narro$ed& "Rifles even better than brea'/the/head $ater," he said& "Aou're such
a friend to us, $hy don't you get us some riflesB Friends do that&"
2ic' Carson's eyes $ere flic'ering bac' and forth bet$een the 7ndian and the Ranger in
frustrated anger& 4mma's $ere coldE he suspected that she tal'ed more of the local tongue than
she let on&
,irenas' eyes $ere e9ually chill, and his lips sho$ed teeth in $hat $as only technically a smile&
"Aou 'no$, Ms& Carson," he said softly, "there are fines for e;ceeding 9uota on distilled li9uor
sales to the locals& And, of course, selling firearms is treason&" 8r the ratchet/coc'ed steel
crossbo$s that %eahaven had turned out for the (antuc'eters' armed forces before gunpo$der
production got under $ay&
"0ardcase must go& 0is brothers are al$ays $elcome in his camp," the 7ndian said abruptly,
staggering a little as he collected his bundles and headed for the door&
",oddammit, you pun' bastard<" 2ic' Carson hissed& "5hat'd you have to go and 9ueer our deal
forB"
"After you've given him the third drin' it isn't dealing, Carson& 7t's stealing, and that isn't the sort
of reputation $e need $ith the locals& 7'm a Ranger, 7'm supposed to 'eep the peaceD and it
$or's both $ays&"
"Aou'd better remember $ho you're $or'ing for, boy," 4mma Carson said& -here $as no
theatrical menace in her voice, not even a conspicuous flatness& %he pulled a $orn, greasy/
loo'ing pac' out of a poc'et in her 'ha'i bush 6ac'et and began to flip cards onto the board for a
solitaire game& "8r the -o$n Meeting might remind you&"
"Let's leave that to the Meeting, shall $eB" he said pleasantly& "0ave a nice day&"
0e forced his fists to un'not as he $al'ed out onto the stone side$al' of 1rovidence :ase,
blin'ing in the bright gold sunlight& Aou couldn't cure everything in life, and that $as a fact& All
you could do $as your best&
0e $as on First %treet& -he name $as not a number& 7t $as literally the first the (antuc'eters had
built $hen they made this their initial outpost on the mainland, not long after the 4vent& A street
broad enough for t$o $agons sloped do$n the hill, bound in asphalt at enormous e;pense and
trouble, lined on either side $ith buildings of huge s9uared logs& 2o$n by the $ater and the
$harves $ere $arehouses, plan' over timber framesE off to the northeast a little $as the $ater/
furro$ and a ro$ of the sa$mills it po$ered&
-he tall $heels turned, $ater splashed brightE steam chuffed and a $histle ble$ from others, for
the need had outgro$n the first cree' that the (antuc'eters dammed& Men and $omen s'ipped
over the bloating tree trun's $ith hoo'ed poles, steering a steady train of them to the ramps
$here chains hauled them up$ard& Iertical sa$s $ent through $ood $ith a rhythmic ru"""?
ru""", $hile ne$er circular ones $hirred $ith earsplitting ho$ls3errrrraaaaa", over and over&
-he air $as full of $oodsmo'e, the scent of fresh/cut $ood, horses, and $hale/oil grease, and
the over$helming smell of the sea&
Little of the surrounding $oods had been logged off& -he Meeting had decreed that, saying that
only mature timber might be harvested and only a portion of that in any s9uare mile& 4ven in
to$n enough had been left to give $elcome shadeE the leaves $ere beginning to turn, but the
afternoon $as hot enough to bring a pric'le of s$eat& 0e $al'ed uphill, past $agons and fol'
and a shouting cro$d of children 6ust out of school&
-he public buildings of the little to$n stood around a green $ith a bandstand in the centerE
school, church, meetinghouse, and a three/story bloc'house of oa' logs $ith the Republic's %tars
and %tripes flying from its pea'&
1eter ,irenas too' a deep breath, nodded to the guard3the to$n's main arsenal $as inside3and
$al'ed in& -he first floor $as rac'ed rifles, crates of gear, barrels of po$der in a special room
$ith a thic', all/$ood door& 7t $as also dim and shady, smelling faintly of brimstone& 0e trotted
up the ladder/staircase, through to the third story& :road $indo$s there let in enough light to
ma'e him s9uint& 7t $asn't until he stood to attention that he sa$ $ho $aited&
(ot 6ust Ranger Captain :ic'ford behind the table& Chief Cofflin, and Martha Cofflin, the
%ecretary of the Council& 0is eyes flic'ed bac' to his o$n commander& :ic'ford $as smiling, so
things couldn't be too bad&
"(o, son," Cofflin said& "Aou're not in trouble over that fight& As a matter of factD"
Martha Cofflin slid a paper out of a folder& "0ad Fudge ,ardner e;pedite the papers a bit& 8n the
deposition of %ue Chau and your o$n statement, there's no grounds for any proceedings& %elf/
defense&"
"And $hy don't you sit do$n, RangerB" Cofflin said&
,irenas 6uggled the sheaf of papers a$'$ardly for a second, then brought up a chair and sat $ith
them in his lap&
4lder t"an & t"oug"t, he decided, meeting Cofflin's level ga.eE he'd never happened to see the
Chief at close range before& -he long, lumpy Aan'ee face had deep $rin'les around the eyes,
and there $as a lot of gray in the thinning sandy hair&
"0o$ did you feel about itB" Cofflin as'ed&
%urprised, ,irenas paused for a minute to marshal his thoughts& "5ell, at the time, there $asn't
time to feel much of anything, sir," he said& "-hey started it, so 7'm not tearing myself up over it&
:ut 7'm sorry it happened& +sually 7 li'e the locals, get on $ell $ith 'em&"
:ic'ford nodded& "%pea's Le''ansu li'e a tribesman," he said& "Lived in one of their camps for
si; months a couple of years bac', done useful go/bet$een $or'& -rade supervision, that sort of
thing& About my best scout, and 7'm grooming him for a lieutenant&"
"%irB" Cofflin loo'ed up& "%pea'ing of trade, 7 sa$ something today you'd better 'no$ about&"
Cofflin's face too' on a fro$n as ,irenas described $hat he'd seen in the taproom of the Loon,
and :ic'ford's fist clenched on the table before he spo'e&
"Chief, $e need some sort of an e;ecutive order about this sort of thing& :etter still, $e need a
la$ rammed through the -o$n Meeting&"
Cofflin leaned bac'& "-hat's one opinion& 5hat's yours, sonB"
,irenas said, "-he Captain's right, Chief& -he Carsons are the $orst, but not the only ones& -he
locals, they 6ust can't handle hard li9uor, even $orse than Albans that $ay& :ut they 'no$ right
from $rong $ell enough, $hen they sober up and reali.e they've been diddled& Fust $rong one,
and see $hat happens< 5e could stumble into a $ar if $e're not careful& Already $ould have, 7
thin', if it $eren't for the plagues& A lot of them, they don't li'e us (antuc'eters much, sir&"
"Ayup& Can't say as 7 blame 'em&"
Martha Cofflin spo'e& "1roblem, though& First3are $e entitled to tell the 7ndians they can't buy
li9uorB -hey're adults, and not citi.ens of the Republic, either& %econd, could $e enforce a la$
li'e that if $e did pass itB"
Cofflin smiledE ,irenas had rarely seen a more blea' e;pression& "-here $as a little thing called
1rohibition& :efore your time, RangerE even before mine& 2isaster& %ho$ed the costs of passing a
la$ 6ust to ma'e yourself feel righteous&
,irenas fro$ned& "7s that a fancy $ay of saying $e can't do anything, sirB"
-he Cofflins smiled dryly, an eerily similar e;pression& -he man spo'e& "(ot at all, son& 5e
might have trouble enforcing a la$E the Carsons or someone li'e 'em $ould find a $ay to $iggle
around it& 7 can lean on them, though, until they cry uncle& (obody can get much done
business$ise if the -o$n's hostile3and that sort of thing operates by moreD fle;ible rules&"
0is $ife nodded& "5e do need to establish a tradition of dealing decently $ith the locals& 7t's
going to be more and more of a problem, any$ay& Loo's li'e our numbers are going to double
every fifteen or t$enty years, probably for the ne;t century or t$o at least, bet$een immigration
and this enthusiasm for reproduction that everyone's sho$ing&"
,irenas nodded slo$ly& "-han' you, sir, ma'am," he said&
:ic'ford cleared his throat& Cofflin lifted one 'nobby pa$ slightly& "Ayup," he said& "-ime to get
to the main business $e came for&"
Martha Cofflin produced a sheaf of papers from a 'nit carryall lying on the table& ,irenas
s$allo$edE it $as a copy of the document resting on his 'nee&
"7, ah, hadn't e;pected it to go so high so fast, Captain&"
:ic'ford shrugged& "Advantage of having a small government, Ranger&"
Chief Cofflin tapped the papers& "0ad a tirade all set up," he said, his mouth 9uir'ing slightly&
"About rec'less young fools, and ho$ $e can't afford to divert effort, and ho$ anyone han'ering
after adventure3$hich Marian rightly says is somebody else in deep shit far a$ay3can ship out
on a trader or 6oin the 4;peditionary Force& -hen 7 reali.ed 7 $as starting to sound li'e the old
farts 7 hated $hen 7 $as t$enty/one, and 7 too' another loo'& Ayup, it i# about time $e got at
least a survey 'no$ledge of $hat's going on in the interiors of the continents, something li'e
$hat the -agle did for the coastlands in 'LM& And it is logical to start $ith this continent here&"
,irenas felt a $ave run through him, li'e a $ash of $arm $ater from his chest do$n to 'nees
gro$n $ea'& 8lad &'m #itting do*n, he thought&
"-$o problems," Martha Cofflin's dry, precise voice $ent on& "First, are you the man to lead itB
(o offense, Ranger ,irenas, but you're e;tremely young& %econd, costs&"
"0e may be young, but he's not rec'less," :ic'ford said& ",ot as much e;perience as any of us
post/4vent, tooE been in the Rangers since $e branched off from the 4agle %couts& 7f 7 $ere
putting together an e;pedition li'e this, 7'd pic' him&"
Cofflin $as glancing through another file, as if to remind himself& "0mmm& Aour family's
$or'ing in the mills hereD immigrants before the 4vent, ehB"
,irenas nodded& "-hree years before, Chief, from Riga&"
"Let's see, a brother and sister, and your parents adopted t$o& -oo young to go $ith the
e;peditionary force to Alba, but plenty of time in the $oods here& Loo's li'e you prefer camping
out, mebbeB"
,irenas ans$ered slo$ly, cautiously& "Aes sir& 7D 7'm good at it& Li'e to stic' $ith $hat 7'm
good at, seems moreD efficient that $ay&"
"(o argument& Aou've done a good proposal here, too, $ell organi.ed, everything 6ustified and
costed out& 7've tal'ed $ith people $ho 'no$, and they thin' you've got some chance of pulling
it off& Let's seeD si; of you in all&"
%uddenly he grinned& "Christ, 7'd li'e to go $ith you myself, if 7 $ere t$enty and single&"
"Costs, Fared," the %ecretary of the Council said&
"Ayup&"
"7 included an itemi.ed list of necessities, sir," ,irenas said&
Cofflin chuc'led& "%on, they say 7'm cheap& And 7 am, $ith the Republic's money& 7 could pay for
this out of the discretionary funds, but 7 $on't&" 0e held up a hand& "Aes, it'll be useful, if you
pull it off& (ot essential, though, and certainly not an emergency& Remember, every penny 7 give
you comes out of someone's poc'et, $ill they/nill they&"
"%ir, this e;pedition $ill pay for itself and more, and not 6ust $ith information& -he gold3"
"5ould be mighty useful& &$ ,ou survive& Meantime you're as'ing for horses, $eapons, trade
goods, the services of si; strong young people, even a radio& And yes, $e do have ships in the
1acific no$ and then"3trading for cotton te;tiles $ith the Chavin peoples of 1eru3 "but
running up to the California coast to pic' you up is still a big ris'& %o, son," he $ent on, "it's up
to you&"
-he ranger gaped at him& "%irB"
"Aou're a free citi.en of the Republic of (antuc'et& Circulate a petition, then get up on your hind
legs at the -o$n Meeting and persuade the other citi.ens& 7'll even say 7'm in favorD personally,
not officially&"
"%irB" ,irenas felt his voice rise almost to a humiliating s9uea'& "7'm noD no speechma'er<"
Martha Cofflin's e;pression mingled sympathy and unyielding resolution& "-hen learn& Aou've
got until spring&" -hen, 'indly> "Aour age ought to help& Lot of younger people $ill be glad to
see one of theirs proposing something&"
"Lord," ,irenas muttered&
0e scarcely noticed his dismissal until he $as out in the street again& 1ell, & "aven't 3een in
6antuc)et more 'n once a ,ear, he thought& -hen> T"e, didn't tell me to $orget it, eit"er&
Resolution firmed& "7 can do it, by ,od<"
0e turned $est& 0ills rose on the edge of sight, blue and dreaming& 0ills and mountains, the
rivers li'e inland seas and the plains full of buffalo, Alder ,ulch and its goldD gri::lie# and
&ndian# and *olve#, o", m,<
C#ATE! $O"!
Septemer, Year 8 A.E.
(March, Year ! A.E.)
(June, Year " A.E.)
(July, Year " A.E.)
Septemer, Year 8 A.E.
;eveille, Marian Alston/@urlelo thought as her eyes opened, $aiting for the pitch and roll of a
bun' at sea, the crea' of cordage and lap of the $aves and the $ay a ship's timbers spo'e as they
moved&
:ut it $asn't a noncom bello$ing, "lash and sto$"E it $as roosters, and someone beating on a
triangle& "Rise and shine, sugar," she $hispered&
"7 $ill rise, but 7 refuse to shine," %$indapa said, moc'/grumpy, ya$ning and stretchingE the
corn shuc's in the mattress beneath them rustled as she moved to give Alston an embrace and
then s$ing out of the bed&
-he ferry had brought them in late last nightE it $as a chilly fall morning, and the $ater in the 6ug
and basin beside the $indo$ raised goose bumps on the blac' $oman's s'in as she $ashed and
pulled on her clothes& -he coarse blue $ool of the uniform $as clean by the standards of Aear G
3it didn't have visible dirt and it didn't smell& Considering something un$earable after one use
had gone the $ay of electric $asher/dryer combos&
Fogarty's Cove $as already bustling& 8nly an archaeologist $ould be able to find any trace of the
7ndians, less than a decade after the 4vent had crashed into their $orldE the stones of a heath, a
scatter of chipped flint, a tumbled drying rac', gourds gone $ild& -he 7slanders had done
considerably more& %teel screeched on $ood in the sa$mills, $hile hammers and ad.es rang in
the boatyard do$n by the $harves, $here a big fishing smac' $as ta'ing shape& Faint and far in
the distance came a soft heavy t"udum? t"udum as stumps $ere blasted out of ne$ly cleared
fields $ith gunpo$der& -he streets $ere full of $agons bringing in grain and meat, ra$ $ool,
eggs, pump'ins and apples, peaches and potatoes, $ine and butter and cheese3all from the ne$
farms stretching $est$ard from this outpost& %tore'eepers and craftsfol' $ere opening their
shutters and doorsE livery stable, blac'smith and farrier, doctor, haberdasher&
-he air $as full of the strong smells of horses and cattle, $ood/smo'e, drying fish& 8ver the
rooftops she could see the bright yello$s and crimson of autumn trees in $oodlots and field
verge, the old gold of tasseled corn, copper leaves in a vineyard, a $ide/horned bull dro$sing
beneath an oa' as mist drifted over the de$/$et pasture's faded green&
<ivel,, Alston smiled to herself& Crude enough by the standards of the t$entieth, but those
$eren't the standards anyone $ith sense used anymore& A livel, little )id, gro*ing $a#t&
%$indapa came up behind her and $rapped arms around her, resting chin on shoulder& Alston
sighed, a sound that mi;ed a vast content and an anticipation of the day& 5ords ran through her
mind>
& ro#e $rom dreamle## "our# and #oug"t t"e morn
T"at 3eat uon m, *indo*> $rom t"e #ill
& *atc"ed #*eet land#, *"ere Autumn lig"t ne*3orn
S*a,ed t"roug" t"e tree# and lingered on t"e "ill.
&$ t"ing# #o lovel, are, *", la3or #till
to dream o$ #omet"ing more titan t"i# & #eeB
2o 1 remem3er tale# o$ 8alilee,
& *"o "ave #lain m, $ait" and $reed m, *illB
<et me $orget dead $ait", dead m,#ter,
2ead t"oug"t# o$ t"ing# & cannot comre"end.
-noug" t"e lig"t m,#teriou# in t"e tree.
-noug" t"e $riend#"i o$ m, c"o#en $riend.
-hey buc'led on their $ebbingE 'nife, pouches, binoculars, and double/barreled flintloc' pistols
at their belts, )atana# over their bac's $ith the hilt 6utting up behind the left ear& %addlebags held
their traveling 'itE they carried those do$nstairs in their arms, slinging them over the benches
beside them as they sat at the long trestle tables in the tavern's taproom&
5ild Rose Chance $as an e;ample of $hat "log cabin" could mean $hen the logs $ere a
hundred feet long and a yard thic'& -he big room $as already fairly $arm $ith the fire in the
long iron/bac'ed field/stone hearth and busy3a score or more sitting do$n to a hearty brea'fast&
Alston nodded to friends and ac9uaintances as she loaded her o$n plate and san' her teeth into a
slab of hot, coarse $hole$heat bread $ith butter melting on its steaming surface&
At lea#t & don't "ave to *orr, a3out m, *eig"t, she thought& (ot $hen things li'e traveling
fifteen miles to Camp ,rant meant half a day in the saddle, not fifteen minutes in a car&
"0ey, there anyone here $ho spea's FiernanB" a voice called from the open street door&
Alston and her partner loo'ed up sharply& A $oman stood there, in ordinary bib overalls, but
$ith a shotgun over her bac' and a star pinned to one strap& :ehind her $ere a young couple,
dressed 7slander/style e;cept for their near/na'ed toddler, but obvious immigrants& :ehind t"em
$as a clamoring pac'3she thought she recogni.ed several farmers, a stra$ boss from one of the
timber mills, and the o$ner of the boatyard among them&
%$indapa began to rise, then san' bac' as the proprietor of the inn $ent over, drying his hands
on a corner of his apron&
"-hought you did, %arah," he said&
"-hought 7 did too, -ed&"
%$indapa did rise then, smiling, $hen mutual be$ilderment became too obvious& %he returned
chuc'ling&
"-hey spea' ,oldenhill dialect," she said& "-hic'er than honey3 7'm not surprised the sheriff
couldn't ma'e hoof or horn of it and the poor couple $ere frightened out of the seven $ords of
4nglish they had bet$een them& -he sheriff $ill put them up in the -o$n 0all tonight and find
someone to e;plain about contracts&"
Alston nodded approval and thre$ do$n her nap'in& 4veryone $as short of labor, but that $as
no e;cuse for ta'ing advantage of ignorance& 0er inner smile gre$ to a slight curve of full lips&
9ared'# #een to t"at& :y the time the immigrant couple had put in five years they'd spea' the
language and be eligible for citi.enshipE a fe$ years more, and they'd probably have a farm or
boat or shop of their o$n, and be do$n at the doc's clamoring for a chance at a hired hand
themselves& And their 'ids $ould be in school&
-here had been times in the Coast ,uard $hen she'd $ondered $hat the hell she $as doing3on
the 0aitian refugee patrol, for instance&
4r @cooerating@ *it" t"o#e co*3o, a##"ole# in t"e 2-A and .AT!, she thought& 7f you had to
be hired muscle, it $as nice to $or' for an outfit run by actual human beings&
-hey too' their saddlebags outE the inn's groom had horses $aiting, four/year/old Alba/Morgan
crosses& Alston s$ung into the saddle, heeling her mount out into the road&
"5orth fighting for," %$indapa said, indicating the to$n $ith an odd circling motion of her
head&
"Let's go tell it to the Marines, love," Alston replied&
% % %
"Aeah, it's coming along o'ay, man," the blac'smith said, his long, sheepli'e face neutral&
5illiam 5al'er $as al$ays a little careful around Fohn Martins& For one thing, the Californian
iron$or'er hadn't come along to Alba $illingly, li'e the rest of his American supporters& -hat
had ta'en a 'nife to the throat of his $oman, :arbara& For another, 5al'er suspected that under
his vaguely :uddhisty hippy/dippy e;terior, Martins $as capable of a really serious disli'e&
"5ell, should $e go for a converter, or should $e do the finery/chafery methodB"
0e loo'ed around the ra$ little settlement& 5al'er had been to ,reece a couple of times up in
the -$entieth, once on Coast ,uard business and once on holiday& -his loo'ed very different
from $hat he remembered& -he plain of the 4urotas River stretched a$ay on either hand, about
forty miles of it from $here it left the northern mountains to $here it reached the sea& More
mountains lined it on either side, and they $eren't the bare limestone crags of the t$entieth
century, either& -here hadn't been nearly as much time for the goats and a;es of men to do their
$or'E these uplands $ere densely forested, pine on the higher elevations, mi;ed $ith evergreen
oa' and chestnut and ile; further do$n& -he glade in $hich they stood $as $aist/high grassE the
$ind do$n from the heights smelled of fir sap& (ot 9uite li'e Montana3for a bitter moment he
remembered the sno$ pea's of the Roc'ies and the $ild, clean smell3it $as $armer, someho$,
in a $ay that had nothing to do $ith the air temperature& %picier, $ith scents li'e thyme and
lavender&
"0ey, 7'm 6ust a blac'smith, man," Martins said, hefting the sledge in his hand& "Aou get me iron,
and 7 can $or' it&"
5al'er pushed his face closer to Martins's& -he Californian $as a tall man, as tall as himself, and
ropily muscular& 8lder, of course3in his late forties no$3$ith a ponytail more gray than
bro$n at the rear of a head mostly bald, and absurd small lens glasses al$ays falling to$ard the
end of his nose&
"2on't try to bullshit me, Martins," 5al'er said& "7 'no$ e7actl, $hat you can and can't do,
family man& (o$, 7 thin' 7 as'ed you a 9uestionB"
-he sad russet eyes turned a$ay slightly& :esides :arbara, there $as an infant no$, and Martins
'ne$ e;actly $hat 5al'er $as capable of, too&
"Converter $ill ta'e si; months, maybe a year, if $e can do it at all, man3have to, li'e, tal' to
Cuddy too& Finery 7 can do right a$ay, no shit, and blister steel&"
"-hen get started on it& 5e'll $or' on the converter later&"
5al'er turned a$ay and surveyed the $or' site& -rimmed timbers $ere piling up fast, $ith
teams of near/na'ed peasants and yo'ed o;en hauling them out of the $oods& -he Achaean
architect Auge$as and 4n'helya$on the scribe $ere standing near the stream, dra$ing $ith
stic's in the dirt& 5al'er paced over, still feeling a little odd in the Mycenaean tunic and 'ilt& 7t
$as comfortable clothing for this climate, ho$ever, at least in the $armer seasons&
"8*a#ileu#," the t$o ,ree's said, bo$ing& "Lord&"
7n classical ,ree' that $ould come to be 3a#ileu# and mean 'ing, but here and no$ it $as simply
the $ord for chieftain, overlord, boss man&
"0o$ do things goB" 5al'er said&
"Lord," the architect said, "there is good building stone near here3limestone, hard and dense, a
blue stone& And 7 can build a $all across this stream&"
0e nodded& -he cree' $as about chest deep in the middle and t$enty feet across& :y southern
,ree' standards it $as a ma6or riverE according to the locals, it shran' by about half in
summertime& Flo$ $as seasonal here, but not nearly as much as it $ould be up in the t$entieth&
-he greater forest cover held $ater longer, and so runoff $as slo$er& -here $ere more springs,
tooE he $asn't sure if the actual rainfall $as greater, but it certainly $elt as if it $as&
":ut, Lord, $hy do you $ish it to be built this $ayB" Auge$as said, indicating the ground& 0e'd
s'etched the slight narro$ing a hundred yards east, $here they $ere putting in the dam, and a
curved line across it $ith the conve; end upstream&
A", t"at'# rig"t, t"e, don't "ave t"e arc" or true dome, 5al'er thought& 0e dre$ his s$ord and
used the tip as a pointer&
"-he $eight of the $ater pushes on the dam," he said& "7f the $all is straight, only the strength of
the $all holds it bac'& 7f it is curved, the $ater pushes the earth and roc' into the sides&"
"LordB" the architect said, baffled&
5al'er sheathed his s$ord and loo'ed around& 2on't undere#timate t"em, he reminded himself&
-hey built good roads for this era, and a9ueducts, bridges, to$ers of great cyclopean bloc'sE they
'ne$ ho$ to handle stone, in a solid rule/of/thumb, brute/force/and/massive/ignorance fashion&
T"e ro3lem i# t"at t"e,'ve got a #et o$ rote an#*er# to )no*n ro3lem# 3ut no concet o$
calculating #tre##e# and $orce#.
A", he thought after a moment, and cut a branch& "0ere," he said, holding it straight bet$een his
palms& "1ush do$n$ard&"
Auge$as did, and the green stic' curved under his finger& "(o$," 5al'er $ent on, "7 $ill bend
it up$ard li'e a bo$&" 0e did so& "1ush again& %ee ho$ it resists the pushB (o$ put it bet$een
your o$n palms and 7 $ill push& 0eld straight, only the strength of the stic' opposes my finger&
(o$ bend it into an up$ard arch& Feel ho$ the push goes against your hands $hen it is bentB"
"%oD so the force of the $ater $ill push against the #ide# of the emban'ment, $here it butts into
those ledges of roc'<" Auge$as said, pointing& Another thought struc' him& "And $e $ill not
need to build it so thic', to be 6ust as strong<"
"4;actly& -hat $ill flood all this land here&"
Auge$as, a dar' gri..led man, nodded brus9uely& 4n'helya$on loo'ed slightly shoc'ed at the
lac' of formality, but 5al'er let it slide& 0e recogni.ed the attitudeE it $as a professional
focusing on his $or', not somebody dissing the boss&
"-hat, yes," he said& "-hat $ill give you a head of $ater& :ut $here do you $ish to ta'e it, lordB"
0e $aved to$ard the valley of the 4urotas& Clustered, flat/topped peasant huts of mud bric'
sho$ed here and there amid grainfields and olive groves, occasionally the larger house of a
tele#tai, a baron& 8n the edge of vision $as the megaron/palace near the site of classical %parta&
Li'e that later city, it $as un$alled, but for a different reason3the 0igh @ing of Mycenae
forbade stone defenses, as he did at 1ylos and a fe$ other places directly under his ga.e&
"5e might use some of it for irrigation, eventually," 5al'er said& ":ut come, 7 $ill sho$ you
$hat the first use $ill be&"
0e led them over to a trestle table of logs& 8n it stood a model three feet high& "-hese are my
handfast men Cuddy and :ierman," he $ent on& "And this is aD replica in smallD of $hat $e
$ill build belo$ the dam&"
7t sho$ed a $heel of timbers forty feet across, $ith a chute to bring the $ater to its top and spill
onto the curved blades $ithin& At 5al'er's nod, :ill Cuddy poured a small buc'et of $ater into
the pan at the top of the model, letting it run do$n a $ooden chute& -he $heel turned on its a;le,
and the cams on the shaft moved hammers, pumped a piston bello$s, turned a small round
grindstone&
Auge$as loo'ed on in fascination as Cuddy e;plained the operation of the machine $ith patient
repetition, turning fre9uently to loo' at the dam site, visibly struggling to turn the model into an
image in his mind&
"-he first thing the *ater mill does," 5al'er $ent on, bac'trac'ing occasionally to e;plain $hen
he had to use an 4nglish $ord $ith no Achaean e9uivalent, "$ill be to drive the bello$s for the
3la#t $urnace&"
"For the iron, lordB" Auge$as said eagerly& 0e'd seen samples from the tons the 5are had
carried, and these people 'ne$ about iron in the abstract3they bought small 9uantities through
the 0ittites for ornament or special uses& -hey 6ust didn't 'no$ ho$ to smelt it or $or' it
properly yet& "-here is ore, near hereB"
:ierman put a sac' of crac'ed roc's do$n on the table and spo'e in slo$, careful Achaean>
"About si;ty/five percentD that's si; parts in ten, 7 meanD iron& 0ematite ore3real nice, e;cept
7 thin' there may be traces of nic'el, maybe a little chrome&"
":esides the ore of iron," 5al'er said, "$e need charcoal in large amounts and very pure, soft
limestone for flu;& 5e $ill need many hundreds of laborers, to bring those and all the other
necessary things together& Metal$or'ers must be trainedE 7 have a master ironsmith and a do.en
men $ho have been learning from him& -hen $hen $e have the iron from the 3la#t $urnace, it
must be further $or'ed $ith heat and hammers3very heavy hammersD"
4n'helya$on tossed his head in a purely ,ree' gesture& "-he *anna7 has decreed that this must
be so& %pend and spare not $hat is neededE 7 heard him say so, the royal $ord from the @ing's
o$n lips&"
Auge$as nodded himself, more slo$ly, a beatific smile spreading over his lined face at the
prospect of an unlimited cost/plus contract, or the :ron.e Age e9uivalent& "-hat is a command
$orthy of a 'ing indeed& 8ne seldom heard in these sad times, $hen great lords clutch their
bron.e and silver hard and trade is so troubled& -hen besides the dam, $e must build channels
for the $ater," he $ent on& "-his furnace itselfD"
"7t $ill be of stone, shaped li'e a to$er that tapers from the base to the top, but it must be lined
$ith a special type of bric'," 5al'er said& "My men are loo'ing for it3fireclay, $e call it& -here
must be ramps to the lip of the stac'&" 0e $ent on, pointing out details&
Auge$as stood silent for a moment after he finished& "7 see, lord," he said at last& "-hen there are
these buildings& And $e must have roads, roads in the hill country here, to fetch the materials&
:arrac's and storehouses of food and other goods, for the $or'ers& 0ouses for the masters and
overseers& A great pro6ect, lord, one $orthy of my s'ill& 0ere 7 $ill learn much, as $ell as do
much&"
5al'er smiled& 8reat, he thought& An ent"u#ia#t& (o$ he could get bac' to Mycenae for a $hile
and do some intensive politic'ing&
"4verything's a trade/off," Fared Cofflin said&
Martha made a noncommittal noise from behind him& "-his one is an e7en#ive trade/off," she
noted&
Cofflin grunted in his turn and pushed harder on the pedals& -he t$o/person tricycles $ere the
transportation of choice for those $ho could get them, and he didn't feel easy commandeering a
horse carriage no$ that Martha $asn't lugging around a nursing infant anymore&
Maybe they'd buy one in a year or t$o, $hen horses $ere cheaper& 4$ cour#e, t"en &'d "ave to
rent #ace in a #ta3le, and it'd ta)e $orever to get t"e damned t"ing read,& Animals couldn't 6ust
be par'ed until you needed them&
-hey $ere moving out 0ummoc' 1ond Road, south and $est of to$n& 7t $as a bit eerie, having
so many different landscapes in your mind's eye& -he thic', tangled scrub that had covered the
7sland since long before he $as born, then the frantic chopping and burning, and there $ere
fields of grain and potatoes fertili.ed $ith ash and fish offalD and no$ changing again, to
pasture and orchard&
(o$ and then they passed people at $or', a farmer on a sul'y/plo$ turning furro$s as he rode
behind t$o horses, $agons scattering fertili.er or pulveri.ed oyster shells, long ro$s of harvest
$or'ers gathering late vegetables, a herd of close/sheared sheep flo$ing around the bicycle li'e
lumpy $hite $ater as it $as driven by t$o teenagers and an e;tremely happy collie& A $agon
driven by a policeman $ent by $ith a do.en resentful/loo'ing, hungover men in itE drun'/and/
disorderly convictions, he thought, going out to $or' off a couple of days helping to mine
Mada'et Mall3the old landfill dump, $hich $as full of irreplaceable stuff& 0e nodded and
smiled to the peace officer& -hat $as lousy $or', $orse than shoveling garbage in its $ay&
",etting old for this," Cofflin puffed, glad of the e;cuse to stop $hen a hauler did, dropping off
bales of coarse salt/marsh hay from the mainland&
"(ot as old as you $ere the first year," Martha said, and he chuc'led&
True enoug". 8od, t"e *a, m, t"ig"# ac"ed< 0e felt stronger no$ than he had the day of the
4vent, and he'd certainly lost the small pot that had been marring his lean frame&
Farm $agons loaded $ith mil' tins, vegetables, and crates of gobbling tur'eys passed them on
their $ay into to$n& 0e felt a little glo$ of satisfaction every time one $ent by, nodding and
$aving to the drivers& -hat $as life itself, for his people and his family& 0ard/$on lifeE none of
them e;cept Angelica and a fe$ others had 'no$n a damned thing about farming&
-hey came to a ne$ turnoff, mar'ed :essemer casting plant N& "5ell, here's %tarbuc''s
(ightmare," Martha said, as they $hee.ed up a slight rise&
Cofflin chuc'led breathlessly as they coasted do$n the ne$/laid asphalt and bra'ed to a halt&
-his thing had s$allo$ed a lot of money3 since the 4vent he'd gained a ne$ appreciation of the
$ay money represented crystalli.ed s$eat& And using it for one thing meant not using it for
another&
Ronald Leaton $as $aiting for them in front of the office shac', $iping his hands on the
inevitable greasy rag&
" 'lo, Chief, Martha," he said&
"Morning, Ron& 5ell, 7'm glad $e persuaded you to put t"i# out of to$n, at least," Fared Cofflin
said, dismounting and peering around $ith his hands on his hips&
-he comple; itself $as built on cleared scrubland, the buildings constructed of oa'/timber beams
and bric' beside ne$ asphalt road$ays, $ith a tall $ooden $indmill crea'ing beside an earthen
$ater reservoir& %mo'e smut and charcoal dust coated everything, ma'ing even the fresh/cut
$ood loo' a little shabby&
"7t ain't pretty, but it $or's," Leaton said& -he engineer $as grinning, the $ay he usually did
$hen sho$ing off a ne$ toy& "-his is the smelting stac' of the furnace," he said, pointing to a
s9uat chimney/li'e affair of red bric' fifteen feet high $ith a movable top li'e a giant metal
$itch's hat&
"%o that's a blast furnaceB Cofflin as'ed& 7t loo'ed formidably solid&
"Cupola furnace, if you $ant to get technical, since it's for remelting metal, not for refining ore&
-hat's $here $e melt do$n the ingots& (o$, $e could 6ust melt do$n scrap and cast it straight3
7've been doing that for a couple of years, on a much smaller scale3but $e don't have an infinite
supply of scrap& And $e are getting cast iron in some 9uantity from Alba& 1retty damned good
iron, tooE those little charcoal blast furnaces can give you e;cellent 9uality and 7rondale is doing
very $ell&"
Fared found himself giving the riveted boilers an occasional uneasy glance& -here had been some
nasty accidents $ith those in the beginning&
"-hat's for blo$ing the blast into the stac'," Leaton said, pointing to the larger engine&
A long c"u$$ came from the little don'ey engine, and the tender thre$ a lever& -he $ooden lin's
of the endless belt rattled, and the ingots began to lift to$ard the top of the furnace stac'& 5hen
they reached it, they fell against the side of the conical plug $ith a loud, dull clanging and do$n
into the furnace& Another $agon brought up big $ic'er tubs of charcoal, and they $ent up the
conveyor li'e$ise&
"%o once $e've tapped the molten iron from the furnaceD over here, Chief3"
-hey $al'ed around the massive construction&
"5e ta'e it in the holding car here and bring it over to the converter&"
-hat $as the second structure, t$enty yards a$ay& -he core of it $as a tubby egg/shaped
construction of riveted steel plates t$elve feet longE it $as rather li'e a fat cannon pointing at the
s'y& :eneath it $as more rail, and men and $omen in stained coveralls $ere unbolting the
bottom $ith $renches a yard long and lo$ering it onto a $aiting cart $ith 6ac's and levers&
"Aou can see $here they've got it open, the inside is firebric' and calcinated limestoneD 5e
really should have t$o, one up and one being relined& Any$ay, $e pour the molten iron in the
top and blo$ air in through that removable bottom3it's called a tuyere, the long pipe thingie
over there s$ings in and $e get the blast from a blo$ing engine, t$o double/acting steam
pistons&"
"-hat $hat created that almighty rac'et last nightB 0ad a couple of people riding into to$n hell/
bent/for/leather, screeching that the 4vent had happened again&"
"Ayup& :etter than fire$or's3e;othermic reaction, great 3ig plume of colored lights, flameD
that's $hy $e've got tile on all these roofs& 8;ygen in the air hits the carbon in the iron and it
3urn#& -oo' a $hile to get from theory to practice, but $e're getting usable batches no$& And
hec', even the #lag from a basic/process converter is useful, ground up fine for fertili.er& 7t's all
phosphate and calcium&"
Leaton's slim, middle/aged features too' on a loo' of ecstasyE he'd run a computer store bac'
before the 4vent for most of his living, but the little engineering shop in his basement had been
his real love& 0e'd done nonstandard parts for anti9ue automobiles, prototypes for inventors,
some miniature steam engines for collectors& And he'd had a big collection of technical boo'sE
one of the most useful had been a 5orld 5ar 77 government handboo' on ho$ to do unorthodo;
things in small machine shops&
%eahaven $as the island's biggest single employer no$, if you didn't count fishing, and it had
spa$ned do.ens of smaller enterprises&
"And here's $here the steel goes," Leaton $ent on& "5e're using graded scrap in the smelter to
alloy it& 0ard to be precise $ith this :essemer process, but it $or's in a sort of more/or/less
fashion& 4ventually $e'll have to get manganese and alloying materials of our o$n, but for
no$D any$ay, the converter pours the steel into this crucible, the insulation 'eeps the steel
molten $hile $e put a couple of batches in, $e close it up and rotate it to mi; 'em up and get a
homogeneous product, and then $e pour t"at into the mold&"
-he shape being s$ung up out of the timber/lined casting pit on an A/frame crane $as nearly as
long as the converter itself but much thinner, still radiating heat as it lay on its cradle $ith bits
and pieces of sand and clay stic'ing to its rough/cast e;terior&
"-hat's no steam engine cylinder," Cofflin said grimly&
"(ope," Leaton said regretfully& "4ight/inch 2ahlgren gun& %till have to turn the e;terior and
bore it out, of course& -he boring mill's going in over there&" 0e pointed to a set of stone
foundations and a pile of timber& 0is e;pression clouded slightly& "Marian did say her pro6ect
had priorityB"
"Ayup," Cofflin nodded grimly& "-he Meeting agreed& Right no$, that's the form rogre## ta'es&
First priority, no$ that the -manciator is off on its trials&"
"Aou can see this is a lot of $or', hard/s$eat $or', though," Leaton $ent on& "About that
immigration 9uota3"
",oddammit, Ron, save it for the Council meetings<"
-he furnace belched smo'e and spar's into a s'y thic' $ith geese heading south$ard& -heir
hon'ing sounded forlorn through the rumble of burning iron&
8di'$eos of the 5estern 7sles heard the flat crac'ing sound of metal on hard leather and then
the unmusical crash of blade on blade& 0e flung up a hand to halt his follo$ers3right no$, only
a boy $ith a torch and a single spearman3and listened&
"(othing so dar' as a city at night," he murmured&
(ot even a forest before the rising of the moon& (othing that stan' 9uite so bad, either&
%ometimes he $as glad his o$n roc'y fiefdom $as too poor to support such a $arren&
-he narro$ alley$ay $here they $al'ed t$isted so that the light of the burning pine 'not didn't
travel far& 0igh mud/bric' $alls rose on either sideE this late at night fe$ of the small $indo$s
set under flat roofs sho$ed lamplight behind them& 8nly a scattering of stars glittered overhead,
hidden by the high roofs3many of the buildings $ere enormous, three, even four stories tall,
looming li'e blac' cliffs&
Ioices no$, men shouting in rage, and one shrilling scream of agony& 0e rubbed his beard& &t '#
t"e 1ig" /ing'# 3u#ine##, to )ee order in "i# #trong"old, he thought, loo'ing up to the citadel of
Mycenae on its hill above& 1lenty of lamps glo$ing t"ere, even at this hour&
":ut perhaps $e should ta'e a loo'," he said& "Follo$ me, and be careful&"
0e dre$ the s$ord hung on a baldric across his body and shifted for$ard the round shield slung
over his bac', ta'ing a firm grip on its central handhold& -he s$ord glinted cold blue/gray in the
torchlightE it $as the ne$ type, #teel as it $as called, straight and double/edged and nearly three
feet long& -he hilt $as bound $ith silver $ire and the ring/and/bar guard inlaid $ith gold, as
befitted a royal man's $eapon3it had come as a gift from Agamemnon, part of the ne$ $ealth
he'd found& 0arder to put an edge on than a bron.e s$ord, but sharper once you did, and much
more durable&
-he spearman closed up on his left, and the torchbearer fell a little behind, holding up the
burning $ood until their shado$s passed huge and grotes9ue before them&
-he alley$ay gave onto an irregular open space perhaps t$o or three spear lengths in any
direction, covered $ith $orn cobblesE thuds and groans and clatterings echoed off the mud bric'&
-he light here $as a little better, and the torch had room to spread its flic'ering glo$& Against
the $all opposite t$o men fought fourE the t$o had an in6ured friend do$n at their feet, and the
four had a fifth man sitting on the ground behind them moaning and clutching his belly& -he
attac'ers all had shieldsE three fought $ith spears, the fourth $ith a nobleman's bron.e s$ord&
-he defendersD 8di'$eos's bro$s rose under his headband& 8ne of them $as helmeted, dressed
in a tunic of some strange rippling dar'/gray stuff that reached to his 'nees, and carried a round
shield mar'ed $ith a $olfshead& A short, leaf/shaped s$ord flic'ered around the edge of it& 0is
companion $as in cloth, but he bore a s$ord that curved, long as a man's leg, and he $ielded it
t$o/handed&
Rumors clic'ed together in the Achaean's mind& 0ere $as a chance to see all that his curiosity
had desired&
",ods condemn you, bastards<" he roared, running for$ard& "%ee ho$ you li'e an even fight<"
-he retainer beside him also called on the gods, although in a rather different tone& 8di'$eos
met the attac' of one dim figure head/on, duc'ing under a spearthrust, levering the other man's
shield aside $ith the edge of his o$n& -hat too' a grunting t$ist of effort, but it left the man
staggering and open& 0e ran the long steel s$ord through his opponent's body, careful to stri'e
belo$ the ribs& -here $as a soft, clinging resistance, a bubbling scream as he $renched the blade
bac' and brought the shield up $ith desperate 9uic'ness&
0is alertness $as unnecessary for once& 0is retainer had ta'en the $ounded attac'er, a short
underarm thrust through the gut& (o$ he braced one sandal on the sprattling form and stabbed
do$n$ard $ith a force that crunched his spearpoint through the dying man's nec' and into the
cobbles beneath& -he strangers had moved for$ard promptly, blades flic'ering& -he attac'er
$ith the bron.e s$ord too' to his heels $hile they $ere dealing $ith the last of his follo$ers&
-he curved s$ord bit lo$ and hamstrung that lone and luc'less one, and the odd short s$ord
rammed for$ard into his gut in an economical underarm stro'e&
8di'$eos lo$ered his o$n s$ord and $aited, panting slightly& -he dead added their bit to the
se$er stin' of the to$n& (it,, he thought, as the stomach/$ounded attac'er 6er'ed and $ent still&
+e mig"t "ave made "im tal)&
"8di'$eos son of Laertes, *anna7 of 7tha'a among the 5estern 7sles," he said&
"5al'er son of 4d$ard, "e)*eto# to Agamemnon @ing of Men&" the other man said& 0e loo'ed
as if he recogni.ed the under'ing's name, someho$, even panting $ith effort and the pain of his
$ound& 8di'$eos s$elled slightly $ith pride at that&
"My than's," he $ent onE not an Achaean phrasing, but the $estern lord caught the meaning&
+al)eear", he thought, shaping the $ord silently $ith his lips& -his close, 8di'$eos could see
more of the man, the one of $hom he'd heard so much& 0is missing left eye $as covered by a
blac' leather patch and his bro$n hair held bac' $ith a strap of gold/chased does'inE a very tall
man, si; feet or more, $ell built and strong/loo'ing, and 9uic' as $ell, from the $ay he stoodD
e;cept that he 'ept a hand to his side, $here a spreading stain dar'ened the fabric of his tunic&
"%ince $e've fought shield/loc'ed, shall 7 bind your $oundB" 8di'$eos as'ed&
5al'eearh shoo' his head& "5e're not far from my home, and it isn't serious& Come and ta'e
hospitality of me, if you may&" 0e loo'ed around& "5e'll have to get my man here bac' as $ell,
he's got a spearthrust through the leg&" 5al'eearh's hale retainer $as binding it $ith a strip torn
from a cloa'&
"7ndeed," 8di'$eos nodded in approval& A lord must loo' to the needs of his men& "-hat's not a
matter of difficulty&"
0e turned to the nearest door and slammed the pommel of his s$ord against the beech$ood
panels& "8pen<" he roared& "8pen, commoner3a 'ingly man commands you<" 7t $as a large
houseE there $ould be a door or bedstead $ithin, and men enough to carry it& "8pen<"
-here $ere& -he Achaean $al'ed beside 5al'eearh up the hillside road and through the massive
gate $ith its t$in lions rearing above the lintel stone& -heir bron.e fangs shone above him, for
there $ere many torches and numerous guards there& -hey e;claimed at 5al'eearh's $ound, but
passed him through at his bitten/off command& -he house he led them to $as a fine one, a hall
and outbuildingsE 8di'$eos's o$n palace in the $est $as no better& 0e accepted that $ith only a
slight pang of envy& Mycenae $as rich in gold and po$er, 7tha'a $ealthy only in honor and the
strength of her men&
0e loo'ed about 'eenly as they $al'ed into the antechamber& 7t $as brighter than he'd thought
an inside room could be& Lamps $ere fi;ed to the $alls, $ith mirrors of unbelievable brightness
behind them3 far brighter than burnished bron.e, or even silver& -he lamps $ere strange as
$ell, $ith tops of some clear crystalli'e substance above them and $ic's that burned $ith an
odd bluish color and a fruity smell& -he light made it easy to see the gear of the men $ho
cro$ded aroundE their armor $as tunics of small metal rings 6oined together& 8di'$eos smiled at
the cleverness of it&
Alt"oug"3"mmm3t"o#e ring# loo) good to *ard a #ta3 or cut, 3ut t"e, *ouldn't 3e muc"
rotection $rom a cru#"ing 3lo*&
-hey $ere hustled into the main megaron/hall, $hich made his eyes $iden& A great hood of
sheet copper stood over the central hearth, $ith a pipe of copper running up the full t$o stories
to the terra/cotta smo'e/pipe in the ceilingD and he'd thought smo'e/pipes $ere the last $ord in
elegance& -here $as a cheery bla.e on the big round hearth, but despite that, little or no smo'e
drifted up to ha.e under the painted rafters& More of the $onderful lamps $ere being turned on
by the servants, giving fine light throughout the great room, shining on $eapons rac'ed around
the pillars and door$ays& -here $ere chairs in plenty, more than you'd e;pect even in a great
noble's home, and fine hangings over them& %'illed slaves too' his $eapons and cloa' and
brought him heated $ine $ith honey and a footstool& Another undid his sandal straps and $iped
his feet clean&
5al'eearh s$ore as they lifted the tunic over his head, leaving him dressed only in his 'ilt&
8di'$eos loo'ed at the $ound $ith an e;perienced eye& 6ot too 3ad& A clean/edged gouge
$here the spearhead had plo$ed his side, perhaps touching a rib a little& 7t bled more freely
$ithout the $ool of the tunic pac'ing it, but it should heal if it didn't mortify, $hich $as al$ays
a ris' even if you $ashed the cut $ith $ine as he did3an old %hore Fol' $oman had taught him
that tric'& 0is earlier impression $as confirmed as he $atched muscles moving beneath
5al'eearh's s'inE this $as a fighting/man you'd be cautious of offending& From the scars, he'd
lived through many a battle&
-$o $omen $ith a flutter of attendants came do$n the staircase from the upper story of the
house, straightening their indoor go$ns& 8ne $as tall and blond $ith braids do$n her sides to
her $aist, $ell shaped but only passable of face& -he other $asD
8di'$eos fought not to gasp in astonishment at the e;otic loveliness& -he other $as short, $ith
s'in the color of fine amber and hair raven/dar'& Above a tiny nose and impossibly high
chee'bones her eyes #lanted, $ith a fold at their outer tips& 5ho had ever seen the li'eB
And a $ise$oman as $ell& %he $ashed her hands in $ater and some sharp/smelling li9uid that
her attendants brought, e;amined the $ound, then spo'e in a sharp, nasal/sounding foreign
language&
"%pea' Achaean, Alice," 5al'eearh said& "5e have a guest&"
"-hat needs some stitches," she said, then bent to e;amine the $arrior $ith the $ounded leg& "7'll
have to debride this3that'll ta'e a $hile& @ylefra, Missora"3that to t$o young $oman $ho
loo'ed ali'e enough to be sisters3"get him to the in$irmar,, and re him, #tat.@
5al'eearh stifled a gasp $hen she s$abbed out his $ound, then set his teeth and ignored it as
she brought out a curved needle and thread and began #e*ing the $ound together, as if it $ere
cloth&
"%it, be at ease," he said tightly& "-his is my captain of guards, 8hotolari; son of -elenthaur&" A
big yello$/haired man, young but tough/loo'ing& "And my $ives 4'hnonpa"3the fair $oman
3"and Alice 0ong& Ladies, here's 8di'$eos son of Laertes, $ho probably saved my life
tonight&"
8di'$eos bo$ed his head politely& 4'hnonpa spo'e to 8hotolari; in a strange, almost/familiar
language, then than'ed him in slo$, accented Achaean&
0ong 'ept at her $or'& Strange name, he thought& &# #"e "umanB 1erhaps she $as a dryad,
something of that sort3certainly this 5al'eearh $as other$ordly enough to $ed an
8ther$orlder& 5hen the $ound $as closed, she painted more of the clear li9uid on it and then
bandaged it, securing the pad $ith a roll of linen around her man's chest and over a shoulder&
"2on't strain it," she said& "7'll go loo' at Ielarara; no$, after 7 touch up that ear of your
friend's&"
8di'$eos made himself sit still as she came up beside him& "-his is going to hurt a little," she
said& 6o, "uman enoug", he thoughtE she smelled li'e a $ell/$ashed $oman roused from her
bed& -he fingers touched his ear, and then something stung li'e li9uid fire&
"0ere, Lord 8di'$eos," she said& "-hat $ill heal cleanly&"
5hen the $omen had left, a grave house'eeper brought basins of $ater to $ash their hands and
trays of food, bread and sliced meats, olives and dried figs& 5hile she mi;ed the $ine half/and/
half $ith $ater and poured it into fine gold cups, 5al'eearh shrugged into another tunic, moving
cautiously&
"My than's again," he said& "-he gods $itness"3
0e poured a libation, but3curiously3not on the floor& 7nstead he used a pottery bo$l $ith a
rush mat inside it& Courteous, 8di'$eos did the sameE it $as al$ays best to honor a man's
household customs&
3"that 7 and mine are in your debt&"
"May $e fight again side by side someday," 8di'$eos said& -hat $asn't unli'ely, given the
coming $ar& "5ho $ere your foesB Men sent by some rivalB"
5al'er smiled& "7 have enough of those," he said&
"-rue, you've risen far among us in only one $inter," he replied& "Far and fast, for an outland
man&" 0e loo'ed around the curiously altered hall&
"And $here one man rises, other men envy and hate," 5al'eearh said& 8di'$eos noddedE that
$ent $ithout saying& "Aou're in Mycenae for the muster against %icilyB"
0e tossed his head in affirmation& "My men and horses are camped outside the city," he said&
"5e came by sea to -iryns& 7've a guest/friend here and sought his d$elling, but he has blood/'in
sleeping li'e the ribs of a sheep on the floor of his hall, and 7 $as leaving again to see' my tent&"
"%tay here," 5al'eearh said& "-here's room in plenty, despite the $ar&"
8di'$eos nodded, smiling& -hat $as 6ust $hat he'd hoped& "7 $ill ta'e the hospitality you offer
gratefully," he said& Curious to see ho$ this 5al'eearh $ould react, he $ent on, "Although 7'd
be even gladder to be sleeping beside my o$n $ife, at home& 7f this $as a $ar against other
Achaeans, 7 $ould have found some $ay to refuse the summons&"
5al'eearh smiled, an odd lopsided e;pression& "1retending to be mad, perhapsB"
8di'$eos laughed& "Aou have a godli'e $it& 1erhaps so, perhaps so& 5ell, there may be plunder
in this $ar, at least&"
Aou had to be more careful $hen the hegemon called his vassals for aid against a foe or rebel, of
courseE dodging that call loo'ed too much li'e rebellion itself& 0e had no desire to see the blac'
hulls of a hundred hollo$ ships dra$n up on the beach before his home&
-he foreigner didn't bluster about glory& 7nstead he nodded thoughtfully& "%po'en li'e a man of
cunning mind," he said& "5hen men $ho should be vassals of the same high 'ing $ar $ith each
other, the realm is $ea'ened&"
8di'$eos blin'edE that hadn't been e;actly $hat he meantD although $hen you thought about
it, the idea made some sense in an odd, t$isty $ay& "Certainly the 'ing of men $on't get much
tribute from the dead," he agreed& "And besieging a strong city3$ell, the arro$ of far/shooting
1ai$on Apollo rain do$n on such a camp&" -here $as al$ays sic'ness $hen too men stayed in
one spot for long&
"Leaving the realm $ea'er if outsiders attac', as 7 said&"
A". A real t"oug"t& "7 'no$ of none such $ho threaten the Achaean lands," 8di'$eos said&
"Although the (arro$ %ea north of my holdings s$arms $ith pirates these days& Many more
than in my grand/sire's timeE of course, $e do more trade there, too&"
"And the savages hear of the $ealth of the Achaeans," 5al'er pointed out& 0e ya$ned, then
$inced& "7t's time for sleep&"
"7t is good to yield to dro$sy night," 8di'$eos agreed&
-he house'eeper sho$ed 8di'$eos to a room, offering to have a bath dra$n first if he $ished&
"-omorro$," he said, loo'ing instead at the lamp she carried&
7t lit the dar' corridor off the megaron $ellE a tall $a; candle in a bron.e holder $ith a handle,
$ith another bulb of the beautiful crystal/li'e substance around it& T"e 3ul3 )ee# a draug"t
$rom ma)ing t"e $lame $lic)er or 3lo*ing it out, he thought& Clever, very clever&
"5hat is that called, that crystalB" he as'ed&
"7t is called gla##, lord," she said, loo'ing surprised at his curiosity& "7 'no$ little of these things,
but 7 heard the master say it $as made from sand, in fire&"
T"i# man mu#t 3e 3eloved o$ 1e"ai#to#, the Achaean thought& 0e'd seen beads of glass, from
the eastern lands, but nothing li'e this& 6or i# "e #"unned 3, Are# -nu*ario#, eit"er& An odd
combination, the gods of craftsmen and of $ar&
-hey came to a bedchamberE unusually, it had a door of $ood rather than an embroidered
curtain& Another candle on a table beside the bed gave light& -he girl $aiting $ithin turned do$n
the blan'etsD anot"er ne* t"ing, 8di'$eos thought& 8ver the mattress $as a sheath of linen
fine enough for a lady's undergo$n, and another atop it, beneath the blan'ets and sheeps'ins&
-he mi;er and $ine cup beside the bed $ere usual enough& 0e filled the cup as he stripped and
sat on the bedside& -he girl unbuttoned the shoulders of her go$n, stepped out of it, and $aited
$ith her hands clasped and eyes cast do$nE young and comely, $ith good breasts and hips& 0e
patted the bedside, and instead of mounting her at once gave her un$atered $ine&
"-ell me your name, little dove," he said&
%he gave him a grateful smile and sipped& 0e smiled bac' at her& 8di'$eos son of Laertes $as a
man of medium height, his hair blac' $ith reddish glints and his eyes ha.el, his face still unlined
despite a $eathered bron.e tan&
"7 am called Ale;andra, master," she said shyly& 5ith an accent, so that $as probably not the
name she'd been born $ith&
"7 don't thin' you are a repeller of men, though," he said, punning on her name, for that $as its
strict meaning& -he male form, Ale;andras, made more sense&
%he laughed, and he spent some time soothing her before he put his hands to her $aist and urged
her bac', $hich made her ready to $elcome him& After$ard they tal'ed more, and it $as easy to
lead her mind&
Many men forgot that $omen and servants had ears, and tongues to tal' $ith& %uch men $ere
fools& Aou could learn invaluable things from underlings, and he intended to learn all he could of
this strange house& -he gods had given him roc'y islands on the edge of the $orld for his
demesne& -hat $asn't to say that they meant him to spend all his life as a poor under'ing&
0e didn't thin' this foreigner chief $as a fool of the more obvious 'ind, either& %omething could
come of that&
% % %
"7t seems Moon 5oman has sent stars to guide my feet on the path of $ar," %$indapa said, $ith
a sigh&
After most of a decade, Marian's mind translated automaticallyE the $ords $ere 4nglish, but the
thought $as Fiernan& An American $ould have said> 6o getting around it& %$indapa's birth/fol'
$ere a fatalistic lot&
"5e've spent more time e;ploring and building ships than fighting," she pointed out gently&
"-ruth," the blonde said $ith another sigh and reached over to s9uee.e the other $oman's hand&
"Moon 5oman turned the years themselves in their trac's to give us that&"
Alston laughed& "Aou 'no$, that's about as good an e;planation as 7've ever heard," she said&
%$indapa stro'ed a hand do$n the nec' of her mount& "-he ships are $onderful," she said& "And
horses are almost as much fun as babies&"
-hey rode side by side, in the shade of the trees left uncut on either side of $hat $as becoming
'no$n as the ,reat 5est Road do$n Long 7sland's north for'& Leaves fluttered do$n to meet
those already in s$ales by the ditches and thic' on the gravel, drifts of old gold and dar'
crimson& -o their right $ere patches of $ood, of salt marsh noisy $ith $ildfo$l, and glimpses of
the sound& %he reined in for a second to $atch a schooner beating east$ard, its sails $hite curves
of a purity that made her throat ache for a second&
-he other side of the road $as a mi;ture of forest and plo$land set out in big s9uare fields3the
Meeting had handed out s9uare/mile farms to homesteaders, leaving half the land in forest
preserve& Cornstal's rustled sere and dry in stoo'ed pyramids amid thic'/scattered orange
pump'ins, ne;t to the almost shoc'ing green of alfalfaE $here it had been mo$n for hay the
scent $as as s$eet as candy& 5heat and barley stubble $as dun/yello$ and thic' $ith the clover
that gra.ed herds of crossbred sheep& 5here teams of o;en or horses pulled disc plo$s the turned
earth $as a rich, moist reddish bro$n, s$arming $ith raucous gulls s9uabbling over the grubs
e;posed by the turning steel&
-he riders $aved to the $or'ers digging potatoes, to shepherds and their bar'ing dogs, to
passersby3farm $agons dra$n by calm/eyed o;en, the odd rider, and no$ and then a lone
pedestrian&
Alston smiled at the miles of post/and/board edging the fields, remembering the e;periment $ith
splitting blac' $alnut for Iirginia/style rail fences& -heoretically that should have been cheaper,
but it turned out that the use of $edge and maul $as something Abe Lincoln must have learned
at his father's 'nee&
Sure a# #"it no3od, on 6antuc)et could do it< she chuc'led to herself& Anybody could nail
boards, though, and one of Leaton's people had come up $ith a simple pile driver to set the posts&
-he road dipped into a belt of trees along a cree'E plan's boomed beneath the hooves of their
mounts& Alston felt her horse ta'e a sudden side$ays s'itter as something s9uealed angrily& A
sounder of pigs erupted from the mud beneath the pilings, scattering into the trees in a t$in'le of
hooves and brass nose rings& -he air $as full of a cool, damp, musty smell, leaf mold and turned
earth&,
",one $ild," %$indapa said& 0er eyes ra'ed the $oods by the side of the roadE they $ere closing
in, as the riders reached beyond the settled .one& "Li'e thatD and that&'
2eer 2ancer had the %pear Mar' tattooed bet$een her breasts, the sign of a hunter among the
Fiernan :ohulugi, and Alston $as still surprised sometimes at ho$ sharp her eyes $ere& %he
pointed aroundE at a patch of plantain, dandelions, doc', nettles, a honeybee bu..ing bet$een the
flo$ers of $hite clover, a starling flitting bet$een branches&
All t"ing# $rom 6antuc)et t"at #ailed u#tream again#t t"e tide o$ ,ear#, Alston thought& "Li'e
me, sugar," she $ent on aloud& "5orse things than being a $eed& Means you're hardy and
difficult to get rid of&"
-heir laughter echoed in the cathedral stillness of the forest, and they 'need their horses into a
canter& -raffic $ould be thin until they reached the training ground $here the republic prepared
an ans$er to 5al'er's ambitions&
"Re6oice, 8h @ing," 5al'er said, bo$ing lo$&
"Re6oice, e)*eto# 5al'eearh," Agamemnon said, nodding regal benevolence as he stepped do$n
from his chariot&
-he $ind $as blo$ing across the La'onian ,ulf, cutting the summer heat $here the 4urotas
River met the sea& All $as bustle in the cove sheltered by the roc'y headlandE $or'men, $omen
$ith 6ars on their heads, slaves moving loads of all types, $agons full of grain or timber& Ro$s
of mud/bric' huts had been built a little inland, and a tall structure $ith long, armli'e sails going
around and around& Curious, he $al'ed to$ard it and through the broad door$ay at its base&
"Ah, another of your mill#, 5al'eearh," he said&
-hey $ere no longer so strange that they shed his eyes in bafflement, although this $as different
from the ones moved by falling $ater and the interior $as dim and dusty, full of loud crea's and
grinding stone& +p above, a long pole turned $ith the sails outsideD driven 3, t"e *ind,
Agamemnon thought& %lever& As if the circle of sails $as the $heel of a chariot and that pole the
a;le& -hat turned a toothed $heel, $hich turned another $heel on a vertical shaft, and that ran
do$n to ground level& More $heels drove a giant round 9uern taller than a man, shaped in profile
li'e an old figure/eight shield& 1easants $al'ed up a ramp and tipped 6ugs of grain into the top&
:elo$, flour poured out of a spout into still larger it"oi, storage 6ugs as tall as a man's chest&
%laves dragged them across the stone platform and into $aiting o;carts, some of them the big
four/$heeled type that 5al/'eearh had made&
"%$ift," Agamemnon said& ":ut surely you don't let your slave $omen sit in idlenessB -hey can't
earn all their 'eep lying on their bac's&"
-he outlander laughed politely at his overlord's 6est, along $ith a couple of the courtiers $ho'd
driven do$n from Mycenae $ith the high 'ing& 5al'eearh bo$ed his head again&
"-rue, lordE this *ind-mill does the $or' of five hundred $omen grinding grain& -he $omen do
other chores3$or' in the fields, or ma'e cloth&"
Agamemnon grunted and scratched his beard& T"at #ound#? #en#i3le, he thought dubiously& Fust
as the $omen in the palace at Mycenae could ma'e more cloth and better, $ith the ne$ looms
and spinners that 5al'eearh's $ife the $ise$oman )his mind carefully avoided the $ord
"sorceress"* had sho$n them& Many of the slaves the outlander $as using in his mill# and mines
had been bought $ith that cloth3still more $ith the silver from ne$ deep shafts in Attica that
he'd sho$n the 0igh @ing's men ho$ to ma'e&
And didn't +anna7 <a)ed*o# o$ At"en# 3a*l li)e a ne*3orn cal$ *"en & too) t"o#e $or m, o*n,
the Achaean ruler thought $ith an in$ard chuc'le&
Much of the metal $as being stamped into little dis's $ith Agamemnon's face and titles on
themE convenient, since you didn't have to $eigh the silver, and it spread his fame $idely& A year
ago he $ouldn't have dared to sei.e the mines, but $ith cannon and mortars vassal 'ings
suddenly felt far less secure& 0e chuc'led, imagining (estor in 1ylos or La'ed$os in Athens
sitting at meat and loo'ing up no$ and then, e;pecting a bursting shell to crash through their
roof/trees&
%till, there $as something about all this that made him uneasy, something of the feeling of a
chariot $hose team had run $ild, or even of an earth9ua'e& 0e 9uic'ly made a sign of the horns
$ith his left hand and spat to avert the omen&
"%ho$ me the ships you are building," he said, as they came bac' into the sunlight and slapped
flour dust off their tunics&
"-his $ay, my 'ing&"
-here $as one floating at a pier $ith men s$arming over it, and another half built in a timber
cradle at the shore& Agamemnon bit his lip in pu..lement at that one& -he $ay the carpenters
$or'ed on it $as very strangeE instead of mortising the plan's together $ith tongue/and/groove
6oints and then putting in ribs to strengthen the shell, they $ere putting up thic' ribs and
crossbeams and then nailing a shell of plan's to them& %everal forges stood around it, red/
glo$ing iron hissing as it $as 9uenched in vats of oil or $ater&
"2oesn't that ta'e much metalB" he as'ed, pointing to the cre$s nailing the long oa' plan's to
the frame&
"My lord sees as clearly as 0orus, the Falcon of 4gypt," 5al'eearh said& ":ut no$ $e "ave
much metal& And building a ship in this $ay is so much 9uic'er than the old manner& Less s'ill is
needed, and it's stronger as $ell&"
Agamemnon almost rubbed his hands& All tin and most copper for the ma'ing of bron.e had to
be imported, and it $as so e;pensive, especially the tin& 7ron came from $ithin his 'ingdom, and
it gre$ cheaper by the day& Cheap for "im, at least& -he mines and smelters $ere a royal
monopoly, by 5al'eearh's suggestion and his decree3 under 5al'eearh's e;clusive
management, and 5al'eearh could not be a menace, an outlander $ho o$ed everything to the
@ing of Men's favor&
-hat gave him a hand on every vassal's throat& ,unpo$der and cannon gave him a spearpoint
held to their eyes&
"%ho$ me the finished one," he said&
"-his $ay& 7t's called a gullet, Lord @ing&"
Footsteps boomed out along the $harf& 0e loo'ed 'eenly at the shipE unli'e any he'd ever seen
before, it $as fully dec'ed, a smooth s$eep of plan'ing from pointed pro$ to rounded stern&
-$o masts stood tall, $hole pine trees smoothed do$n and glossy as a table, $ith furled sails&
8n either side si; small cannon $aited, on stubby oa' carriages $ith four little $heels& Cre$men
scattered from the 'ing's path as he came up the gangplan'3and from the ready spearpoints of
his guards, glittering steel/bright in the noonday sun&
"0o$ is it steeredB" he as'ed, going to the stern and loo'ing over& -here $as a single steering
oar, pivoting li'e a door on its post, but no apparent $ay to turn it&
"-his $heel," 5al'eearh said& "7t turns ropes that dra$ pulleys under the dec', moving the tiller
3the bar attached to the rudder, the rear steering oar3either $ay& 0ere in front of it is the
coma##, the north/pointing needle&"
Agamemnon shuddered a little to see a sacred oracle displayed so casually& (er"a# one #"ould
3e ut in t"e #"rine o$ 'eu# t"e !at"er and o$ $ar-#"ooting Aollo, he thought& 5e#, *it"
#acri$ice# and cele3rator, game#&
"%hall 7 sho$ you ho$ she sailsB" 5al'eearh in9uired&
"At once," he said& -hen> "0old, a minute3$ho are thoseB Are they doing a sacred danceB"
Men in tunics $ere $al'ing about in lines and bloc's not far a$ay, holding stic's& 8verseers
shouted orders, and the lines turned, advanced, marched a$ay again&
"8h, thoseB" 5al'eearh smiled charmingly& "Fust an idle thought of mine, Lord @ing& Men to
handle a ne$ type of cannon& Iery #mall cannon, such as might be useful in rough country& Men
of little account3younger sons, mercenaries, farmers&"
"8h," Agamemnon said dismissively& "(o"& 5ell, perhaps you can get some useful $or' out of
them& Let us sailE 7 hear that your ship can sail against the $ind&"
0e laughed again, and 5al'eearh $ith him& "(ot against, Lord @ing, unless it is ro$ed& :ut
closer to it than the old ships, yes&"
"Suerior violence and inten#it,, @ Ma6or @enneth 0ollard read on the last recruit evaluation
form& -hat translated as "beats the hell out of opponents in training&" -he 27's notes $ent on>
"(ro3lem# *it" di#ciline largel, overcome. @ -hat usually meant "no longer has to be dragged
a$ay $ith ropes&"
"5e've got visitors," a voice said, brea'ing his concentration&
0e loo'ed upE it $as his second/in/command )and younger sister*, Captain @athryn 0ollard&
%$eat stained her 'ha'i fatigues and dar'ened her sandy/blond hairE on her the long family face
loo'ed reasonably good even under a short/on/sides Corps haircut& %he'd had %econd Recruit
:attalion out on a field problem, open order in forest country3they'd gotten field drill do$n
$ell, but you had to be fle;ibleE massed formations $ere great for fighting spear/chuc'ers, but
that approach $ould be too dangerous $ith 5al'er's men& Arnstein's spies said the renegade $as
doing far better than e;pected $ith firearms, and so $ere the -artessians&
-he sounds of a $or'ing day at Camp ,rant filtered in through the outer room $here his orderly
had her des'3the rippling thump of marching boots $ith someone calling cadence, hooves
clopping, a distant #"oon) . & & *on)? #"oon)? *on) from a mortar team practicing on the firing
range, the crac'le of rifle shots, the rhythmic sound of a smith's hammer&
0is eyes flic'ed across the rough plan' of the office to the board that had his schedule for the
day chal'ed on it& As usual, it contained enough $or' for about t$enty hours, $hich $as fine if
you left out little lu;uries li'e sleep& 1ell, $arming *ould "ave 3een ea#ier *or), he thought& 0e
could have gotten a si;/hundred/forty/acre grant on Long 7sland and a loan from the -o$n for
start/upE all the veterans of the Alban 5ar had been offered that, and his older brother "ad ta'en
one& 0e'd decided to stay in the Corps insteadE memories of his father, perhaps, and things $ith
Cynthia hadn't $or'ed out the $ay he e;pected&
2ad *ould "ave laug"ed "im#el$ #ill,, #eeing me a major, he thought& ,unnery %ergeant 0ollard
had refused promotion to commissioned ran' four times& Al*a,# #aid "e re$erred to *or) $or a
living, @en remembered $ith a $ry smile& 6ot to mention t"e *a, "e'd get a ri#e out o$ a Marine
%or# t"at *a# art o$ t"e %oa#t 8uard&
Commodore Alston had firmly s9uelched suggestions that her command be renamed the
Republic of (antuc'et (avy& @en 0ollard understood that, too& 0is father had had a dog, and if
you as'ed %emper Fido "5ould you rather be in the Army, or deadB" he'd roll on his bac', put
his pa$s in the air, and do a fairly good dead/dog imitation&
"5ho the hell is it this time, @atB" he as'ed& Iisiting firemen had been far too common over the
last month or so& "Maybe 7 can unload it on 1addyD"
"7 don't thin' so," she said& "7t's the commodore&"
4", %"ri#t, t"e 3o##, 0ollard thought, shooting refle;ively to his feet and loo'ing around li'e a
private caught in his s'ivvies by a snap inspection&
"-han's for the $arning," he said, suppressing an impulse to smooth do$n his hair and beard
and tug at his 'ha'i uniform 6ac'et& 7nstead he contented himself $ith a 9uic' loo' in the mirror&
0e sa$ someone a fe$ years closer to thirty than t$enty, $ith sand/colored hair and beard and
the tanned, roughened s'in of a person $ho spent much time outdoors in all $eathers&
-he face beneath $as long and lantern/6a$ed, $ith a 6utting nose and high chee'bones& 7t $as a
common enough face among old/stoc' (antuc'eters3those lines had intermarried until there
$as a general family li'eness& At lea#t /at and & didn't get t"e receding c"in& %i; feet and an inch
tallE he'd been a s'inny teenager, but the passing years had put solid muscle on his shoulders and
arms& -he %am :ro$ne belt held a double/barreled flintloc' pistol and a )atana-#t,le officer's
s$ordE his helmet lay on the table he used as a des', out in his office/cum/ready/room& 0e too' a
deep breath and scooped up the flared metal shape as he $ent through, tuc'ing it under his left
arm and $aving to the orderly to 'eep $or'ing&
&$ #"e *anted ever,t"ing rettied u, #"e'd "ave ju#t given u# #ome *arning, he thought&
Commodore Alston made him nervous3she had that effect on 6ust about everybody3but she
had a reassuring tendency to concentrate on function rather than form& T"ere are a lot *or#e
eole to *or) $or&
%he $as $aiting not far from the 0H bloc' $ith her hands clasped behind her bac' the $ay he
remembered her on the 9uarterdec' of the -agle, $ith her aide Lieutenant Commander %$indapa
by her side3 ,uard seafaring ran', easy enough to remember, given their blue uniforms& And
dome#tic artner a# *ell a# aide, remem3er t"at& 5ouldn't $ant to commit a social gaffe&
"5elcome to Camp ,rant," he said, saluting& "Commodore, Lieutenant Commander&"
Commodore Alston/@urlelo returned the gesture, $ith the same precision he remembered from
the gymnasium of the high school over on the 7sland, that day he'd volunteered for the first
e;pedition to Alba&
"(eeded to tal' over a fe$ things, Ma6or," she said& "Readiness, and potential assignments&"
0e nodded stiffly, feeling a rush of e;citement li'e a hand s9uee.ing at his diaphragm&
A##ignment#. 1ot damn0 ;eal *or)B 0e didn't li'e combat, not being a lunatic or an Alban
charioteer, but peacetime soldiering could get monumentally dull&
"Ma'am<" he said& "5ould you care to inspect the troops, ma'amB"
"7'll observe briefly, Captain& 7 don't $ant to interrupt training schedules, and $e have some
matters to discuss&"
"Ma'am&"
-he bloc's of troops on the parade ground flo$ed together into a column& Another series of
commands, and the formation split and moved for$ard, opening out li'e a fan until there $as a
t$o/deep line stretching across the parade ground& Another, and they halted in place, the first
ran' going to one 'nee and the second ran' standing& Another, and each left hand flashed do$n
to that hip, dra$ing a long s$ord/bayonet& A rattling clic' and the 'nife/edged blades shone in
precise alignment, pointing to$ard an earth/and/log berm along the far side of the parade
ground&
4ach right hand $ent to the 'nob on the bac' of the rifle's stoc', and a lever came up li'e a
mon'ey's tail to e;pose the breech& Another movement of the right hand, to the cartridge bo; at
their belts& -he nitrated/paper cartridges dropped into the open breeches of the rifles, to be
pushed home $ith a thumb&
Sla& -he levers $ent do$n again& %lic), and the hammers $ere pulled bac' to half coc'& 0ands
dropped to the belts again, this time to bring up the spring/loaded priming flas's& -hose rattled
against the fri..ens, 'noc'ing them for$ard to e;pose the pan and drop in a measured amount of
fine/grain po$der& Snic), and the fri..ens snapped closed, the spar'ing surface in position to
meet the flint in the hammer's 6a$s&
"ReadyD"
-hree hundred and si;ty thumbs pulled bac' the hammers to full coc', a ratcheting metallic
sound&
"AimD"
-he rifles came upE there $as a slight ripple as each mu..le pointed at one of the man/shaped
timber outlines sta'ed to the berm& -hat had been one of Alston's ideasE better to ma'e the targets
as close as possible to $hat the troops $ould actually be shooting at&
"7n volleyD front ran' & & .$ire&"
.AAAMMMM.
A small fogban' of dirty beige smo'e drifted side$ays, smelling of fire$or's and rotten eggsD
#melling o$ deat", he thought& -he thought of $hat these breech/loading rifles $ould do $as
satisfying in a technical sense, but the pictures in his mind's eye $ere best put aside&
:oth ran's came to their feet, grounded the butts of their rifles $ith a rattle, and stood braced&
Alston $al'ed do$n the files, her face an unreadable mas', her eyes appraisingE he follo$ed at
her right hand, the courtesy position&
-he uniforms $ere gray/'ha'i/bro$n linsey/$oolsey four/poc'et tunic and trousers $ith
deers'in patches on elbo$s and 'nees, flared samurai/style helmet, rifle, utility 'nife and t$enty/
inch bayonet, $ebbing harness and pac'& -he faces $ere less uniform& Fe$ of the ran'ers $ere
7sland/bornE many more of the noncoms and nearly all the officers, of course& A scattering of
7ndians, they made $onderful scouts, but most $ere from Alba, about evenly divided bet$een
Fiernan :ohulugi and %un 1eople&
"7nteresting," Alston said to him sotto voce& "7 can't al$ays tell $hich are $hich&"
0e nodded, pleased& Aou $eren't supposed to have a past, in the Corps&
%he stopped in front of one& "5hat's your name, RecruitB"
"Ma'am, this recruit is 5innifred %mith, ma'am<" -he voice carried a harsh, choppy accent that
had never been bred on the 7sland&
Mu#t 3e an &mmigration 4$$ice name, he thought& Replacing something a %un 1eople tribes
$oman on the run from her 'infol' didn't $ant remembered& 1robably on the run from
something that got a $oman pinned facedo$n in a bog $ith her head shaved and her throat cut&
"5hat's your tribe and clanB" Marian Alston as'ed&
"Ma'am, this recruit's tribe is the Republic of (antuc'et and her clan is the Corps<"
Alston gave a small crisp nod and $al'ed onE 0ollard hid his gratified smile& -he Republic of
(antuc'et had found them one $ay or another, from its bases in Alba or the doc'sides on this
side of the AtlanticE adventurous youths, runa$ay slaves, absconding $ives, taboo/brea'ers, the
ambitious attracted to the promise of 7slander citi.enship and a land grant for si; years' service&
Many $ere simply uprooted from home and fol' and custom& -he Alban 5ar and the flood of
7slander trade and tools and ideas after it had left gro$ing upheaval in their $a'e&
-hey smelled of dust, s$eat, leather, gun oil, burnt po$der, and healthy $ell/$ashed young
bodies& @enneth 0ollard 'ept his face impassive, but he felt a glo$ of prideE this $as "i# $or',
built from small beginnings3the Marines had started out as landing parties for ,uard ships&
Follo$ing along behind the Commodore, he could see eyes flic'ing to$ard Alston refle;ively as
she passed& -o the Fiernan :ohulugi she $as the $arrior $ho'd come from beyond the $orld to
ta'e the %pear Mar', rescue and court a priestess of the @urlelo line, lead Moon 5oman's people
to victory and crush their ancient enemies& -here $as a star named for her no$, folded into the
endless chants that they sang at the ,reat 5isdom, $hat $ould have been called %tonehenge& -o
the %un 1eople she $as more of an ogre, $ord spread by the fe$ $ho'd gotten bac' alive to their
homes from the :attle of the 2o$ns& 0er race heightened things in both casesE the %un 1eople
had a tradition of dar'/s'inned demons they called (ight 8nes, and almost none of these :ron.e
Agers had seen a non/Caucasian before&
6ot t"at t"ere are man, in 6antuc)et, eit"er, he thought& Memories of the enormous variety of
peoples on the mainland pre/4vent seemed distant and dreamli'e no$&
"Iery good, Ma6or& 2ismiss to duties, if you please&"
-he battalion scattered, trotting to their barrac's and then to classrooms and $or'shops around
the parade s9uare& -hey $ere first and foremost fighters, but doctrine held that every rifleman
should learn a craft or trade as $ell, so that the Regiment could be as nearly self/sufficient as
possible abroad& And the teaching included the three R's and the rights and duties of a citi.en&
0e too' a deep breath& "-he ne;t thing you should see concerns more recent recruits, ma'am&
1unishment drill&"
"5hat's the offense and sentenceB" Alston as'ed&
"Article seven> se;ual harassmentE punishment gauntlet, defendant's choice&"
5ith the alternative choice being dishonorable discharge and five years' penal servitude on
7nagua in the :ahamas, digging salt from the lagoons& (ot many chose thatE he'd rather have a
fe$ $ee's of pain himself&
"Ah," she nodded& "5hat $ere the circumstancesB"
"%ection seven, basically," he said&
0ollard had read the old +niform Code of Military Fustice, as $ell as the stripped/do$n version
Commodore Alston/@urlelo had drafted for the Republic of (antuc'et's armed forces& -he
+CMF loo'ed incredibly comple; and far too focused on procedure at the e;pense of results& -he
ne$ code $as 9uite simple on se;ual matters, as on much else3no fornication on dutyE none up
and do$n the chain of command in the same unit, e;cept bet$een married couples and registered
domestic partnersE no unauthori.ed pregnanciesE and a catchall clause allo$ing administrative
penalties for action# or #eec" rejudicial to di#ciline and good order& Apart from that, $hat
consenting adults did on their o$n time $as their o$n business&
"-his $as the usual thing," 0ollard $ent on& "%un 1eople man and 4arth Fol' $oman& %he
decided she didn't li'e him anymore, and he couldn't get it through his head she could tell him to
get lost& -hought it $as 6ust a fight, until it came out at the Mast&"
0e thought he heard Alston's aide mutter "Scum3ag#@ under her breath, but it $asn't loud enough
to hear& 0is inner smile $as $ryE having Fiernan and clansmen from the charioteer tribes in the
same unit $as murder sometimesE they 6ust didn't li)e each other and their customs $ere about as
distinct as you could getD and neither al$ays meshed $ith Americans, either, to put it mildly& A
complete set of national stoc'/figures had gro$n up already, $ith the same underlying element
of truth that most stereotypes had3to the Americans, the Fiernan seemed li'e good/natured,
happy/go/luc'y slobs, and to the Fiernan the American 4agle 1eople $ere detail/obsessed
control frea's $ith a serious pic'le up their butts& And both thought the %un 1eople $ere
homicidal maniacs $ith hair/trigger tempers3and la.y, to boot&
7t $ould have been easier to have an all/7slander unit, li'e bac' during the Alban 5arE he
$ouldn't have had to $aste so much time running elementary literacy classes& -he problem there
$as that there 6ust $eren't enough 7slandersE everyone $as in the militia, of course, but that $as
for home defense and ma6or $ars declared by the Meeting& For that matter, things $ould have
been a little simpler if the Marine e;peditionary regiment $as all/male, but that ran up against
the same ob6ection3not enough recruits3and of course there $as the long term to thin' about&
Alston certainly $ouldn't have stood for that sort of precedent, or Martha Cofflin, or his sister,
@at, for that matter&
"-hat is a problem," Alston said, in her soft, dra$ling voice& "-hose tribes, they've got a
confirmed case of the virgin/$hore comple;&"
"-his gets it out of them," 0ollard said grimly, as they came to an area behind C :arrac's& "8r at
least convinces them to 'eep it to themselves& %econd offense and it's off to 7nagua, or the
hangman, depending on circumstances&"
A young man stood shivering and na'ed before a table& 0is eyes flic'ed to the ne$comers and
gre$ $ide as they sa$ Commodore Alston&
"Carry on, Lieutenant," 0ollard said&
-he 7slander at the table $as young, around t$enty& 0is voice $as stern but not un'indly as it
$ent on, "Aou understand the nature of the offense and sentence of the court/marital, 1rivate
Llandaurth 5ithara;ssonB"
"Aes, sir," the recruit said&
-he 6unior officer paused for a translationE Llandaurth nodded again and spo'e in his o$n
language& A corporal said, "0e understands, sir& 0e says he too' the 4agle 1eople's salt and
agreed to obey their la$s& -he $oman $asn't his, and he did $rong& 0e's ready to face his
punishment&"
"Aou chose the gauntletB"
-he man straightened, his pale s'in flushing against the to$ color of his hair and an archipelago
of frec'les& "Llandaurth 5ithara;son is no co$ard, to run from hurt," he said in slo$, careful
4nglish&
-he lieutenant nodded& ",ood& And remember, 1rivate Llandaurth, that your offense is not only
against the la$ but against your comrade/to/armsD your oath/s$orn shield/brD sister& 7n battle,
you must each $ard the other's life& 5hat you did is as if you turned a$ay in battle and left a
comrade to the enemy&" A pause& "-ranslate that, please&"
-he fi;ed loo' of endurance flic'ered into pu..lement for a second, then a slo$ nod&
"%ergeant, e;ecute the sentence&"
A drum began to beat, and the drummer fell in beside the prisoner& Llandaurth turned and began
to $al' in step $ith it, a pause bet$een every step, to$ard an alley$ay made of thirty/seven
standing figures& All of them $ere $omen, all the $omen in his companyE they had their rifle
slings in their hands, buc'le/end outermost& -he first $as a private $ith a blac' eye and a puffy
s$elling along the side of her face& %he gripped the leather strap $ith both hands, $hirled it
around her head and struc'& :rass and co$hide snapped into fleshE a bloody $elt and gouged
$ound appeared across the man's bac' and buttoc's& Another stri'e smac'ed into his shoulders&
0e grunted in involuntary refle;, cupped one hand over his genitals and the other to protect his
eyes, and 'ept $al'ing to the slo$ beat of the drum as the musician paced do$n beside him
outside the gauntlet&
0ollard pursed his lips& Some o$ t"em are "itting almig"t, damned "ard and $a#t, he thought& 4n
t"e ot"er "and, t"i# i# supposed to "urt 3ad& 7f the offense had been a little more serious3real
in6ury to the victim, for instance, or an actual rape3the punishment $ould have been a noose&
0alf$ay do$n, the condemned man's grunts changed to hoarse cries, torn out past clenched
teeth& Llandaurth $ent to one 'nee for a second, and the drummer marched in place& -hat meant
e;tra blo$s as he staggered bac' to his feet& -hree/9uarters of the $ay, and his body and scalp
$ere a mass of blood and $elts, sheening crimson in the sunlight& -he rifle slings $ere spraying
drops of red no$, and the man fell for$ard, cra$ling the last do.en paces li'e a crippled dog&
-he drum gave a final flourish and fell silent& -$o troopers $ith a stretcher came for$ard, and a
medic hurried to his side&
"Carry on, Lieutenant," 0ollard said again, as they $al'ed on past the dispersing cro$d& 8ne of
the $omen $ho'd administered the punishment loo'ed pale, and t$o others $ere helping her sit
and put her head bet$een her 'nees&
"+npleasant but necessary," Alston murmured&
%$indapa nodded vigorously& "-he %un 1eople don't 'no$ ho$ to behave $ith a $oman unless
you 'ic' them," she said& ,rudgingly, she $ent on, "%ome can learn from that&"
"7've met Americans $ho could use the same treatment," Alston said, her full lips pressed
together&
"5e've given a fe$ Americans the same treatment," 0ollard said& "(o$, this is our armoryE
every recruit is trained to use the repair tools&"
5hen the inspection $as finished, he led them into his o$n office, and an orderly brought
glasses of fi..y sarsaparilla on a tray& -he room $as plain boards for the most part, $ith a
$indo$ opening onto a porch and the main parade ground& %oon it $ould be sundo$n, time for
everyone to fall in as the flag $as lo$ered and then be trooped off to dinner&
"Iery satisfactory, all in all," Alston said after a long moment's silence& "5hat's your appraisal
of the training program as a $hole, Ma6orB"
4", %"ri#t, no* i#n't that a que#tion&
"Ma'am, it's going smoothly no$& ,eometric progression, of course3train one, he or she trains
t$o, t$o become four, four become si;teen, and so forth& Right no$ $e can turn out as many per
year as the original plan called for and e;pand that on short notice&"
",ood," Alston nodded& "And you're satisfied $ith your training cadreB"
"Fully satisfied no$, ma'am& 7n factD $ell, a lot of them have much more e;perience than 7 do
3pre/4vent e;perience, that is& 7'm surprised 7 got this appointment&"
"5e're not cursed $ith a seniority system here, Captain, and you did very $ell in Alba&" %he
paused, loo'ing at himE he met eyes so blac' that you couldn't see the pupil& 7t $as more than a
little disconcerting&
"7n a $ay," she $ent on, "pre/4vent e;perience is $orse than irrelevant here& Commandin' this
sort of unit isn't much li'e drivin' tan's into @u$ait City&" At %$indapa's raised bro$s she $ent
on, "-hat $as a $ar $e had, a little before $e came to this time&" -o 0ollard> "7n any case, 7
couldn't spare any of my ,uard officersE they're needed for the ships& 7 thought you'd do $ell
here, and you have& 7n fact, you've pretty $ell $or'ed your $ay out of a 6ob&"
"And into anotherB" 0ollard as'ed eagerly&
"An;ious for a fightB" Alston as'ed, her voice unaltered&
& mu#t 3e nut#. /at"r,n certainl, t"in)# #o& 0e remembered the battles of the Alban 5ar $ell
enough& -he $ay his balls had tried to cra$l bac' up into his gut as the enemy host came out of
their dust/cloud& -he light spar'ling on their blades, the sound of their chant as they advanced
and the rhythmic boom of $eapons hammered on shields& -he $ay a man screamed $ith an
arro$ through him& -he $ounded later, lying across the field li'e a lumpy carpet that t$itched
and $rithed, calling for $ater, or their mothers& @athryn limp on the medic's table, her leg a mass
of blood around the $ooden shaft& And the stin'D
0e also remembered $hat Alston had as'ed him in the high school gymnasium, bac' right after
the 4vent, $hen he and his younger sister had volunteered for the battalion&
"-here's a 6ob needs doing, ma'am&"
%he gave a small cool nod of approval, and he felt oddly heartenedD and no* 7 "ave to rovide
t"at to my eole. %"ri#t&
" 'dapa," she said, "let's see it&"
0er aide opened a satchel at her side and spread a map on the des'& All three of them leaned
for$ard& "-his is our latest appraisal," she said& 8nly the slightest trace of the singsong lilt of
Fiernan $as left in her voice& "7ncluding $hat $e've gotten from our :abylonian, %hamash/nasir/
'udduru&"
%he managed to roll the guttural A''adian syllables off her tongue readily enough30ollard $as
supposed to learn it himself, in his plentiful spare time& 0e'd made a fair start, but3
+ell, #"e did "ave an advantage on me, he thought& 0e'd learned a good deal about Fiernans
himself in the course of the past couple of years& -he priestesses of Moon 5oman had to
memori.e enough information to rupture a mainframe, starting $hen they $ere toddlers& 2oing
astronomy and fairly comple; mathematics $ithout $ritten symbols absolutely re9uired a
science of memory&
0ollard e;amined the map carefullyE it sho$ed the Mediterranean basin and the lands beyond as
far as the 1ersian ,ulf& -he outlines of coast and mountain $ere much the same as the maps he'd
seen in high school3but the names of the countries $ere utterly different&
%$indapa's finger touched southern 7beria, 6ust $est of ,ibraltar& "-artessos holds the %traits, the
-artessos is no friend of ours3@ing 7s'eterol has an alliance $ith 5al'er&"
"0e also has fairly up/to/date sailing craft $ith cannon," Alston said& "(ot as good as our ships,
or our cannon, but there are a lot of them& 5e can't get steamers that far in any numbers, either&"
0er finger made a circle on the map& "0e controls the $hole of southern 7beria and northern
Morrocco no$& :ut the real problem is further east&"
0er finger slid over the blue Mediterranean, past 7taly&
"From $hat $e've been able to gather3some of the -artessians visiting here tal', and the
Arnsteins have agents in place at our embassy in -artessos35al'er arrived in ,reece about si;
months after the end of the Alban 5ar& %ince then, he's been hard at $or', ta'en over here and
here and here& 5e "ave to stop him& 7f he gets control of much of this area"3her pin'/palmed
hand spread long, slender fingers to cover ,reece, the Aegean %ea, and much of $estern
Anatolia3"$e're in deep trouble& 0alf the population of the $orld in this era lives bet$een
,reece and $estern 1ersia, countin' 4gypt3and he's got an embassy in 4gypt, too&"
"%o $e can't leave him be, and $e can't get at him," 0ollard said&
"(ot directly," %$indapa cut in& ":ut there's a bac' entrance to that compound&"
%he set out another map, ranging it belo$ the first& 7t $as a $orld mapE again, the physical
characteristics $ere much the same, but $hole continents $ere blan', or had only a coastal entry
or t$o $here an 7slander ship had visited&
"(ot through here," she said, tapping the Red %ea& "4gypt is too close to 5al'er these days, and
it's bad sailing, any$ay& 0ere&" -he finger veered east$ard, up the 1ersian ,ulf to the point
$here the 4uphrates and -igris Rivers 6oined and flo$ed into the sea&
0ollard $histled soundlessly& "7ra9D" he said&
0is o$n finger moved on the first map, up the rivers and over the mountains to AnatoliaE a vague
area mar'ed "0ittite 4mpire," centered on the city of 0attusas, not far east of $here An'ara
$ould have stood, in a future that included a nation called -ur'ey& As far as anyone 'ne$, the
remote ancestors of the -ur's $ere living some$here in southeastern %iberia at this moment&
"4ven $ith firearms and cannon, that $ould be a long $ay to march and fight," he said neutrally&
",ranted," she said dryly& "0o$ever, $hat $e've got in mind is a diplomatic mission $ith heavy
military escort& Land here"3she tapped the head of the ,ulf again3"ma'e arrangements $ith
the authorities, move north to the 0ittite area, and organi.e resistance to 5al'er& 0opefully, 'eep
him busy, 'eep him off/balance, and limit the amount of territory he controls, until the
Republic's in a position to open the Mediterranean and deal $ith him directly&"
0ollard 'ept his face e;pressionless& +ell, t"e %ouncil i#n't t"in)ing #mall, he decided after a
long moment's silence&
"Ma'am, that's not $ithin my area of e;pertise," he said carefully&
Alston nodded& %$indapa suddenly bro'e into an urchin grinE he felt his o$n lips tug up$ard
involuntarily&
",lad you see that," the commodore said& "Actually, our diplomatic e;perts $ill handle that3the
Arnsteins& Aou'll be along to provide an escort, to e;ert force to accomplish the political
ob6ectives that the Arnsteins3and the Council, $e'll be in radio touch, of course3set, and to
help organi.e local forces&"
"8h&" A $ave of relief made his 'nees feel $ea'& "-han' you, ma'am& 7 thin'D $ell, 7 can at
least give t"at a good try&"
"4;cellent&" At the blac' $oman's nod, %$indapa set a heavy stac' of files in front of him, all
mar'ed "Confidential&"
"%tart studying these and set up Camp ,rant to operate under your successor3ma'e your
recommendation as to that& 5e $ant to get goin' as soon as possible, in order that you don't get
there too much behind the ne$s of your coming&"
C#ATE! $&'E
(June, Year "A.E.)
#ct$er, Year 8 A.E.
"%teady<"
-he mass of %iceliot $arriors $as three hundred yards a$ay, coming at a dead run& %unlight
blin'ed off their metal, although for most of them that $as only a spearhead or a 'nife& -he
sound of their feet and screaming $ar cries drummed in his ears& Four chariots came ahead of the
pac', $ith chieftains dressed in armor much li'e the Mycenaeans&
"%pea'ing of $hich," 5al'er murmured to himself& Most of the Achaean host $as still do$n by
the shipsE he glanced bac' over his shoulder and made a small t#) sound&
8etting t"eir reciou# gee-gee# and dogcart# out, he thought&
8di'$eos $as beside him, leaning on an old/fashioned figure/eight co$hide shield nearly as tall
as he $as, $ith his 7tha'ans behind him& -he tall horsehair plume of his helmet bobbed over his
headE the protection $as ro$s of bone sa$n from boar's tus's, se$n onto a thic' boiled/leather
bac'ing& 0e $as $earing a chain/mail shirt under that, though, not the cumbersome affair of
bron.e plates that $as the native e9uivalent& -he ,ree' ha$'ed dust from his throat, s9uinted,
and spat&
"7 hope your savior ,od inspires you," he said calmly& 0is arms/men $ere shifting in place,
$iping their palms on their tunics for a better grip on their spearshafts& "-here are about four
thousand of themD and only si; hundred here ready to fight&"
"Let me sho$ you," 5al'er said& .rig"t 3o,, t"i# one. Stead, nerve#, too&
0e turned to his o$n men, four hundred of them, spaced in bloc's t$o ran's deep bet$een the
si; field guns&
"Ready," he said, his voice clear but carrying&
-he front ran' 'nelt& -he second leveled their mus'ets and thumbed bac' the hammers, a ripple
of motion li'e the spines of a hedgehog bristling&
"Aim& ,unners, ready& Fire on the $ord of command&"
-he gunners s'ipped aside, holding the lanyards of their $eapons& 0e 6udged the distance to the
charging locals& -$o hundred yards, over ground as near flat as no matter3the heights of
4pipolai, that later $ould be the core of %yracuse, $ere ragged behind them& 0e dre$ his s$ord
and raised it&
@! ire.@
-he steel flashed do$n$ard& -he noise that follo$ed $as stunning, a blo$ felt through the gut
and chest as much as through the ears& -he cannon leaped bac'$ard, their trails plo$ing furro$s
in the dusty earth& -he crash of four hundred rifle/mus'ets $as almost as loud& A huge cloud of
dirty/$hite smo'e billo$ed out, smelling of burnt sulfur& 7t drifted a$ay rapidly, and there $as a
murmur and shifting among his men as they sa$ the results& 0is o$n eyebro$s $ent up a little&
-he guns had cut $edges through the native $ar/host, as neat as if ,od had stamped them out
$ith coo'ie cutters& 5ithin the cleared spaces lay body parts and ground that loo'ed as if it had
been #la#"ed $ith red goo& Further a$ay, shapes t$itched and moaned& A horse screamed high
and shrill, dragging itself along by its forelimbs, then collapsed&
-he half/inch minie balls of the mus'ets had done a fair bit of damage as $ell, leaving bodies
scattered bac' a hundred yards or more&
5al'er smiled li'e a $olf as he lo$ered his binoculars& "%teady, there," he called out& "@eep it
going&"
-he gun teams $ere 6umping in $ith s$abber and rammer& 0ot bron.e hissed as the $et sponges
$ere run do$n, t$irled, and pulled free& Loaders came for$ard $ith cartridges of case shot, and
the rammers pushed them do$n& ,unners stepped close and ran long steel pins do$n the
touchholes to pierce the thin linen that held the gunpo$der, then filled the pans $ith priming
po$der from their horns& %i; men ran each gun bac' to its original position, and the cycle $as
ready to begin again& -he mus'eteers $ere going through their o$n drill3bite open a cartridge,
prime the pan of their flintloc's, put the butt bet$een their feet, pour the rest of the po$der do$n
the barrel, follo$ it $ith the hollo$/based minie bullet, ram the paper on top as $ad, a thump/
thump/thump sound& 8ne man fired as soon as his $eapon $as ready, and an underofficer
stepped up behind him and 'noc'ed him do$n $ith a blo$ of a baton to the bac' of his nec'&
-he rest came to the "ready" $ith no more than a tense grin or $iping of hands on tunics& -he
enemy $ere dribbling to a halt, stunned and be$ildered& T"e,'ll need a minute or #o to get t"e
idea, he told himself& And it probably $ouldn't be this easy again&
"Ready," he said& "-a'e aim& !ire&"
1oint/blan' range, less than a hundred yards& -housands of lead pro6ectiles slammed into the
%icilians, all of them traveling at more than a thousand feet per second& 2ust spurted up, and
smo'e drifted a$ay& 5hen it did, the enemy $ere running for the hills, or hobbling or cra$lingE
hundreds of them lay in the dirt, and the noise of their terror $as li'e a huge sounder of pigs
s9uealing&
5al'er laughed& "Reload, fi; bayonets, prepare to advance, one round of canister in the guns and
limber up to follo$&"
About a mile thata$ay $as the head9uarters of the paramount chief of this district, the closest
thing :ron.e Age %icily had to a 'ing3 he traded $ith the ,ree's regularly, or had, before
5al'er tal'ed Agamemnon into this e;pedition& 5hy ma'e $ithdra$als $hen you could steal
the ban'B :esides, if his enterprises $ere to e;pand the $ay they should he $ould need a source
of ra$ materials, labor, and food outside the Achaean system3there $as a limit to $hat he could
commandeer before the nobles revolted&
8oddam lo*-#urlu# econom,, he thought& & need to 3uildu on t"e CT, until &'m too #trong even
i$ t"e, do reali:e &'m undermining t"e #,#tem& Luc'ily, the :ron.e Age ,ree's $ere3no, not
stupider than their classical descendants, 6ust not given to rational, systematic thought&
"5e'll be first $ith the plunder," 8di'$eos said&
5al'er nodded& & li)e t"e#e gu,#, he thought, not for the first time& Straig"t$or*ard&
"And maybe a fe$ girls $orth fuc'ing," he saidE that $as often fun in an athletic sort of $ay if
they fought& ":ut the island itself is the real plunder&"
8di'$eos nodded& "7f $e can hold it," he said&
5ea", t"i# one i# *a, a3ove average 3rain#-*i#e. 8ot to get "im on m, #ide.
-he Achaean lic'ed the s$eat off his lips, loo'ing side$ays at the grinning, laughing riflemen
and gunners& A drumbeat and the $hole mass moved for$ard in step, bayonet points in a
bristling line& "5ith these, $e may be able to&"
"7f the right man is in charge," 5al'er said& And 7 certainl, don't "ave t"e time $or it&
%$indapa daughter of 2hin$arn, of the %tar :lood line of @urlelo, spun on the ball of her foot
and paused, then san' slo$ly bac' do$n $ith both hands raised to the crescent moon in the last
gesture of the dance& 0er long hair floated do$n around her shoulders as she did, sliding over
bare s'in li'e a 'iss&
"a"T4*a) "dimm 'u14tna na*a)a*a0 @ she cried&
-he others in the circle echoed her> Silver #tarlig"t ma)e a at" $or t"e c"ildren o$ Moon
+oman&
-hat $as the end of the most sacred part of the ceremony& -he circle stood silent for a moment,
then gave a soft sigh together and became individuals once more& %he stood $atching the
glimmering trail that stretched out over (antuc'et 0arbor as a singing peace replaced e;ultation&
Coming to herself, she loo'ed up at the slee' curve of the hull that stood on the slip$ay above
them, smelling of cut $ood and fresh paint& -he 4nglish $ord for such a ship $as "clipper&" 7t
$as not a bad name3there $as something of urgent speed in the sound of it3but not a great
one, eitherE it lac'ed the s$an/grace, the eager dancer's leap, needed& -he mind/mother of this
ship had been called %utt, Sar), and that had a better ringD
Marian came for$ard from the shado$s of the slip$ay& %he $asn't a %tar/Moon 2ancer, of
course3you had to be born as $ell as trained for that3but she'd been initiated into the %pear
Mar', and that made her one of Moon 5oman's children, so she could be part of the end of the
ceremony&
"5e must sing her a soul do$n from the stars," %$indapa said&
Marian closed her eyes for a second3she al$ays felt a$'$ard about spea'ing in public, even
more about singingE it $as odd, but an endearing shyness& -hen she began>
See "er 3o* 3rea) $ree o$ our Mot"er'# #ea
&n a #unlit 3ur#t o$ #ra,.
T"at #ting# t"e c"ee) *"ile t"e rigging *ill #ea),
4$ #ea-mile# gone a*a,0
S"e *ill range $ar #out", $rom t"e "ar3or'# mout"
And rejoice in ever, *ave?
"5hat is it, 2ocB" Cofflin as'ed, loo'ing up from his des'&
2r& 0enry Coleman loo'ed graveE but then, the head of the 7sland's medical efforts usually did,
even on a fine fall day li'e this& -he round/faced man beside him $as grave too, although he
loo'ed li'e the type $ho usually $ore a smile&
"Fustin Clemens, isn't itB" Cofflin said& T*ent,-$ive, the filing system in his mind said& &n t"e
medical arentice rogram #ince t"e -vent. (a##ed $or doctor t*o ,ear# ago. 4dd, & "aven't
#een "im around muc"&
"Aes, Chief&"
":een over on the mainland3medical e;tension officer," Coleman said&
Clemens made a slight faceE Cofflin sympathi.ed& -here had been bad problems $ith uptime
diseases in Alba, but nothing compared to $hat happened among the Archaic/phase 7ndians&
4ven Al3an diseases $ere a ma6or problem to the Amerindians& -he 7slanders had been trying to
help, but it $as debatable $hether it did anything more than soothe the -o$n Meeting's
conscience&
"5e've got a problem," Coleman said& "(othing on the mainland& A problem for u#&"
"1roblems, $orry, and grief are my specialty here," Cofflin said, rising and pouring three cups of
cocoa from the pot over the spirit/lamp by the $indo$, then handing them around&
"(o$, $hat's the problemB"
0e sat bac', stirring his cup& -he 'ids $ere all in school, Martha had spent the morning teaching
and $as bac' getting some Council resolutions dra$n up as legislation for the Meeting to vote
on, and he'd finally gotten do$n to the only mildl, urgent stuff& -he doc'/$or'ers union
meetings specifically3he $as giving them some sub/rosa encouragement, and the shipo$ners
and merchants $ere complaining&
"5ell, let them," he muttered&
"5e have co$po;," Coleman said&
Fared sat up straighter, putting aside his cup& "5hat's co$po;B" he said, cudgeling his memory&
2oe#n't #ound good, *"atever it i#&
"Fustin here spotted it, had some Alban immigrants $or'ing on a dairy farm in for their chic'en/
po; shots&" -hey'd $or'ed out a live/virus inoculation that $as usually effective&
Clemens 'neaded his fingers together& "AhD it's a viral disease in co$s, sometimes 6umping to
humans in close contact& Fever, rash of red spots sometimes leaving very faint poc'mar's&"
"%ound li'e anything familiarB" Coleman added grimly&
Cofflin fro$ned& "%ounds li'eD Christ, no<"
Coleman nodded& "%mallpo; is a very close relative& :est guess, bac' in the t$entieth, $as that it
$as a mutation of co$po;, probably started among pastoralists some$here& (obody 'no$s
$here, e;actly& 5hen it hit the Mediterranean basin3thousands of years before the t$entieth/
$ell, call it the Red 2eath& 4very bit as bad as bubonic plague&"
Cofflin ran a hand over his forehead& Chic'en po; had been ghastly among the local 7ndians, and
it had 'illed more than a fe$ Albans here on (antuc'et before they'd gotten it under control& -he
fact that it too' $ee's to cross the Atlantic $as a help too, since the voyage time e;ceeded the
latency period and not many on the 7sland had turned out to have shingles, the chronic form&
-hose $ho did $eren't allo$ed off, either& -he thought of a #mallo7 epidemicD
"5hat can $e doB" he as'ed&
"Luc'ily, there's no evidence at all that smallpo; e;ists here&"
Coleman said& "5hat $e've got is the o##i3ilit, of it lur'ing in some bac'$ater& -hat's the good
ne$s&"
"-he bad ne$s is that $e're po'ing into a lot of bac'$aters," Cofflin said& "Ayup, can't stop,
either&"
Clemens leaned for$ard eagerly, balancing his cup and saucer on his 'nee and gesturing $ith his
free hand&
"5e can do something," the young man said& "Iaccination originally meant simply infecting
everyone $ith co$po; as children, and repeating the process periodically& 7 recommend $e put it
to the Meeting and have a universal program3everyone on the 7sland, everyone $ho touc"e# on
the 7sland, and everyone $e can get to do it over on Alba, too&"
Cofflin glanced over to Coleman for confirmation, then nodded decisively, and pulled a pad of
paper to$ard himself& "Right& Let's get going on thisD6ust a second&"
0e duc'ed into the ne;t room, $here Martha $as dictating a letter to her secretary& "%orry to
interrupt, Martha, but could you handle ,errard ne;tB 2oc Coleman and 7've got a bit of a
crisis&"
"Certainly, dear, but you should see 0ill$ater after that&"
0e nodded& 1aul 0ill$ater $anted this ne$ Conservancy 8ffice set up, to regulate things li'e
$haling and forestry& ,ood long/term idea, and in the shorter term he needed 0ill$ater's friends
2ane %$eet and the other old/line environmentalists&
&'ll ut S*eet in c"arge, he thought& -$o good reasons for thatE one, he'd do a good 6ob of it,
being a conservationist but not cra.y, and t$o, then S*eet $ould be the lightning rod for
complaints& Let "im ta'e the heat from both directions&
Martha smiled at him, the familiar dry, 9uiet curve of the lips& /no*# e7actl, *"at'# going
t"roug" m, mind, he thought& 7t $as a profoundly comforting thing& 2oreen and 7an $ere li'e
that, too& Marian and %$indapa $eren't, and he $ondered ho$ they stood it&
(eole are di$$erent, he decided& Fust because it $as banal didn't ma'e it any less true&
"5ell, you brought that off fairly $ell," Coleman said, as the t$o doctors pulled their bicycles
out of the rac' in front of the Chief's 0ouse&
"-han's, 0enry," Clemens said& "7 felt a mite nervous, bearding the Chief in his den&"
"Fared doesn't bite," Coleman said dryly&
"Aes, but he's the %"ie$&"
"Aou youngsters needn't put the reverential tone into the $ord," Coleman said& "0e's our Chief
4;ecutive, not a 'ing& Ayup& Aou've got a good eye, youngster& 2oubt 7 $ould have spotted
those poc's for $hat they $ere&"
A shy grin& "7'm starting to feel li'e a real doctor&"
Coleman stopped $ith one foot on the pedal& "2ammit, don't let me hear you say that again< Aou
are a real doctor& Real as 7 am&"
"%irD 0enry, you 'no$ 7 don't have everything a medical school up in the t$entieth taught&"
"Aou 'no$ more than a lot of those overspeciali.ed machine tenders," Coleman snapped&
"Aou're a damned fine ,1 and general surgeon, and you 'no$ ho$ to improvise& Aou can do
anything 7 can do, you 'no$ $hat $or's and $hy, and you're 9ualified to teach it& 7'd call that
being a real doctor, all right& 7'm not immortal, FustinE none of us gee.ers are& 7f anyone's going
to 'eep the torch lit, it's going to be ,ou, and the others your age&"
-hey pushed out into the traffic, pedaling easily& 2octors rated the cherished 1re/4vent bicycles,
not the heavier solid/tire model that %eahaven's spin/offs made& ,ay %treet had little afternoon
traffic, only a delivery $agon pulled by a sleepy pony& Fustin Clemens puffed a little as they
$ove among the heavier traffic on upper Main, dodging past a steam/hauler, a fe$ of the $ell/
to/do in one/horse buggies, and a stream of more prosaic $agons and cycles li'e their o$n&
-he Cottage 0ospital had pic'ed up the name before it moved into its present gray/shingle
9uarters on %outh 1rospect %treet forty years before the 4vent& 7t had gro$n since the 4ventE ne$
covered passages sna'ed out to neighboring buildings, tying them into the older bloc'& (ineteen
beds had gro$n to a hundred or so, not counting the out/stations at the mainland bases and in
Alba, and this $as no$ the only teaching hospital in the $orld, and the only center of medical
research& -he gardens $ere still lovely $ith trellised roses, though&
-hose $ere Coleman's hobby, the s$eet/scented, old/fashioned type& A trellised vine $as
blooming under the $hite/painted $indo$s as $ell, shaggy and bee/murmurous& -he head of the
hospital thought the sights and scents $ere good for convalescents and $orth$hile 6ust on
general principles&
Clemens bro'e into a beaming grin as he sa$ Andre$ and @ate (elson helping their eight/year/
old son into a street/tricycle3room for t$o passengers in the bac'3$aving to him&
"Feeling a lot better, sproutB" he as'ed the boy& Smoot"e#t aendectom, & ever did, he thought&
"%ure am, 2octor," the boy said&
-he smile slid a$ay from Fustin's face as the parents completed their than's and another bicycle
dre$ up& -he rider $as a $oman of his o$ns age, a trim figure in green shirt and slac's and
bobbed yello$ hair, $ith a satchel over her bac'&
'"lo, 4llen," he said&
"Fustin," she replied& 0er eyes $ent to Coleman, and she patted the 'napsac'& ":rand had the
poppy e;tract," she said& "7'm off to get it into the safe&"
Coleman nodded& -hey needed that $hite oo.eE it $as the base for morphine& "1roduction's upB"
"Another 9uarter acre, and t$o more ne;t spring, she says&"
All three of the doctors shared a silent moment of than's that opium/poppy seed had been
available on the 7sland after the 4vent, even if it "ad ta'en years to breed up enough for full/
scale gro$ing&
-he elder medical man sighed $hen 4llen Clemens disappeared through the double doors& "7
don't suppose there's any chance of 'eeping you here," he said&
Fustin shoo' his head& "-hatD $ouldn't $or'," he said blea'ly&
Coleman nodded $ith another sigh& A messy divorce $as al$ays bad ne$sE in post/4vent
(antuc'et, $ith no$here to go, it could get very bad indeed&
"7 suppose 7 could try Alba," Clemens said& "(ot as frustrating as the mainland, and they need
e;tension officers&"
"0mmmm," Coleman said& "7 thin' there may be another alternative, if you've the itch for
travel&"
",orgeous damned thing, isn't itB" Marian said 9uietly&
"%he $ill dance $ith the $aves li'e Moon 5oman's light on a $aterfall," %$indapa agreed&
7an nodded& +ell, in t"e a3#tract, & agree&
-he shipyard had started out as a boat/holding shed, $here pleasure craft $ere stac'ed three
layers high for the $inter& -he si.e had made it a natural for 3uilding ships, $hen the 7slanders
got around to itE the overhead cranes alone $ere an enormous convenience& (o$ the huge open/
ended metal building $as filled almost to its limit by the craft that lay in its cradle $ithin&
"-$o hundred and t$elve feet long, beam thirty/si; feet, depth dec'/to/'eel t$enty/one feet,"
Alston said, caressing the $ords& "Forty/si; feet of raised 9uarterdec'& 5hite oa', blac' oa',
beech/$ood, $hite pine& (ine hundred t$enty/seven net tons&"
0e could barely hear the murmured terms of endearment under the rac'et& +ell, ever,one "a#
t"eir o*n 8rail& 0is had al$ays been to )no*& :efore he met 2oreen or held his son, it had been
the strongest thing in his life, and it $asn't the $ea'est even no$, not by many a mile&
%caffolding covered the sides of the great ship, s$arming $ith $or'ers& 8utside, the boathouse
$as flan'ed by ne$ timber sheds almost as large& From them came the sound of blac'smiths
$or'ing, tin)-*"ang-tin), the screeching moan of a drill press, the dentist/chair sound of metal/
cutting lathes& 8ver it all $as the $hining roar of the band sa$sE Leaton had rigged up enormous
e9uivalents of the little machines used to cut 'eys, ones that $ould ta'e a small model and rip an
e9uivalent shape out of bal's of seasoned oa'& %team puffed from boilers and from the big
pressure/coo'er retorts $here timber softened so it could be bent into shape&
-he fall day $as bris', but the heat of forges and hearths and the steam engines that drove the
pneumatic tools 'ept it comfortable in the shed& -he air $as full of the smell of hot metal, the
vanilla odor of oa', sharp pine, and tar bubbling in vats& %unlight fogged through floating
sa$dust&
"-a'e a loo'," %$indapa said& "7t's li'e being inside some great beast, a $hale&"
-he Arnsteins scrambled up a long board stair built into the side of the scaffolding, splintery
$ood rough under their hands& 7t led into the ship through a section not yet plan'ed, and they
stood precariously on a piece of temporary dec'ing&
"7t i# li'e being inside a $hale," 2oreen said into 7an's ear& "And it loo's a lot bigger than you'd
e;pect&"
7an nodded& -his $as a coc'leshell compared to an aircraft carrier or an oil tan'er bac' up in the
t$entieth, but close up it felt 3ig& 0is eyes follo$ed the long, graceful cure of the 'eelson and the
sharp bo$, and the $ay the ribs flo$ed up from them& %he $as right about it being li'e the inside
of a $hale, too3there $as an organic feel to the ship, as if it $ere something that had gro$n
naturally&
"5hat surprises me," he said to Alston, as she stood $ith legs braced and a roll of plans tapping
on her palm, "is that this one is ta'ing so much less time& <incoln too' more than a year3
eighteen months&"
%$indapa said something in her o$n language, then translated, "5e have danced the play of
numbers into $ood&"
7an blin'ed& +ell, ever, once in a *"ile ,ou remem3er #"e'# not an American, he thought& -hen
she $ent on>
"7 thin' you $ould sayD learning curveB"
Alston nodded& "4veryone 'no$s $hat to do& :esides that, $e've got the 6igs and such3$e're
buildin' these li'e cars $ith identical parts&"
"-hat does give us an advantage," 7an said a little smugly& "-$entieth/century concept&"
"(ot really," Alston said, half turning, her eyes sardonic& "-he Ienetian Republic's navy did it
$ith their $ar/galleys in Renaissance times&"
"-hat's ta'en you do$n a peg, mate," 2oreen $hispered in his ear& "Clapped a stopper over your
capers3brought you by the lee&"
"Aou've been reading those damned historical novels she li'es again, haven't youB" 7an said,
grinning& Actuall, t"e,'re not 3ad& And they'd helped him understand Alston better&
8ne of the overhead trolleys that had once shifted sailboats lo$ered a great oa' beam through
the open space over their head and into the interior& An ironic cheer $ent up $hen it $as found
to fit e;actly into the slot prepared, and a man $ith an ad.e stepped ostentatiously bac'& Figures
in overalls and hard hats moved for$ard and there $as a rhythmic slamming as the big dec'
beam $as fastened home, spanning the $hole $idth of the ship $here her main dec' $ould be&
"0eavy scantlings so she can bear a gun dec', but she's not really a specialist $arship," Alston
noted& ",ood deep hold under thereD had to modify the design a little, of course, because the
Sar) $as a composite ship& 5e could do that, but maintenance far abroad $ould be too difficult,
and besides, $e've got more good timber than metal& Altered the sail plan, tooE all those stuns'ls
and studding sails too' a lot of cre$ to $or' them, and $e don't have the sort of competition
they had, no need to s9uee.e out every half 'not& And clippers have too little reserve buoyancy
for my taste, so $e3"
"Commodore," 7an interrupted3this *a# a semiformal occasion, in public3 "as long as it gets
us $here $e're going, 7 should careB"
"Councilor, you're a philistine," she said, $ith a tilt of eyebro$ and a 9uir' of full lips&
"0ebre$, actually&"
"7s either of them around yetB"
"(ot the 1hilistinesE they $ere probably mostly ,ree's, $ith odds and sods from every$here,
part of the %ea 1eoples3due to invade 4gypt and get thro$n bac' in the ne;t couple of
generations& 0ebre$sD" 0e shrugged and flung up his hands& "7f 4;odus records any real
events, the 1haraoh that Moses dealt $ith could be either Ramses 77, $ho's ruling 4gypt no$, or
somebody a century either $ay& 7 doubt that real Fudaism3Aah$ehistic monotheism3e;ists
right no$&"
" Aah$eh probably still has that embarrassing female consort they discovered in those early
inscriptions," 2oreen said& ",ood for her&"
"Another month," Alston said, loo'ing around the ship again& "Finish up, launch her, step her
masts and rigging, get her guns aboard3 and the <incoln'#, too3then $e load up <incoln and
%"am3erlain, plus -agle, of course, and at least one of the schooners, and $e're on our $ay&"
"Aou're going to be commanding personallyB" 7an said, relieved&
"As far as the ,ulf& 7 tal'ed Fared into it& 7 need cadre $ho're used to these ships, $e'll have four
at least by the time $e run the %traits, and a good long voyage is the $ay to train them&"
Marian loo'ed up at the ship and began to spea' softly, under her breath& 7an recogni.ed the
$ordsE he $asn't surprised anymore, either3 there $as more to Marian than she let on& 7n Alba
he'd heard her recite from the same poet on a field $here dead men lay in $indro$s& -his time it
$as happier $ords as her eyes caressed the hull& 0e caught the surge and hiss of the sea in it, and
the longing for places ne$ and strange that he'd al$ays suspected lur'ed under Alston's iron
pragmatism>
A #"i, an i#le, a #ic)le moon3
+it" $e* 3ut *it" "o* #lendid #tar#
T"e mirror# o$ t"e #ea are #tre*n
.et*een t"eir #ilver 3ar#0
An i#le 3e#ide an i#le #"e la,,
T"e ale #"i anc"ored in t"e 3a,,
+"ile in t"e ,oung moon'# ort o$ gold
A #tar-#"i3a# t"e mirror# told3
(ut $ort" it# great and lonel, lig"t
To t"e unre$lecting 4cean, 6ig"t.
And #till, a #"i uon "er #ea#,
T"e i#le and i#land c,re##e#
+ent #ailing on *it"out t"e gale>
And #till t"ere moved t"e moon #o ale,
A cre#cent #"i *it"out a #ail<
C#ATE! S&(
%$vemer, Year 8 A.E.
(%$vemer, Year & A.E.)
(June, Year ' A.E.)
(ecemer, Year 8 A.E.
(June, Year ' A.E.)
"Lordy, but 7 hate giving speeches," Alston muttered under her breath as she stepped do$n from
the podium on the steps of the 1acific (ational :an' at the head of Main %treet&
"-ell me about it," Fared said&
"Maybe that's $hy you al$ays give the same one, Marian," 7an said out of the side of his mouth,
grinning as he applauded $ith the cro$d& "T"an) ,ou $or ,our #uort. +e'll get t"e jo3 done.
8ood-3,e&"
"8h, 7 don't 'no$," 2oreen said, "bac' in Alba, she threatened defaulters $ith having their ice
cream ration reduced&"
"-o hell $ith the lot of you," Marian said, seating herself and loo'ing suitably grave& %he coc'ed
an eye at the s'yE it $as a bright, chilly morning, but there $as a hint of mare's tail cloud in the
north$est, and the $ind $as about seven 'nots, bris' up from the harbor&
1relate ,ome. rose to conduct the blessing service& 0ats $ent off among the dense cro$d that
pac'ed Main %treet %9uare and the streets leading off itE e;peditionary regiment Marines and
to$nsfol' mingled& Alston 'ept her hat on her 'nees and listened respectfully& ,ome. bore the
red robes $ith dignity, despite loo'ing to be e;actly $hat he $as, the stoc'y middle/aged son of
a 1ortuguese fisherman from (e$ :edford& -he %un 1eople among the regiment and ships'
cre$s had had their ritual yesterday, sacrificing a couple of sheep to %'y Father and the 0orned
Man and the Lady of the 0orsesD and at lea#t ,ou get to eat t"e #"ee, she thought&
%$indapa had led the Fieman :ohulugi service last night, she being the senior of the %tar :lood
on the island at present& +"ic" ma)e# "er, tec"nicall,, a 8randmot"er& And $asn't t"at an odd
thought& Alston had attended that, it being in the family and she being an adoptive Fiernan of
sorts3nobody cared if she actually believed in it, they didn't thin' that $ay&
"5ar is an evil," ,ome. $as saying& ":ut in this fallen $orld, $e are often forced to a choice
bet$een a lesser evil and a greater& 8ur citi.ens and their Meeting have determined that the
interests of our Republic demand that 5al'er be brought do$n before his po$er gro$s too great,
and that is a 6ust decision& 0e has sho$n himself to be utterly $ithout scruple&
"-o protect our people, our children, our nation, from such a threat 6ustifies this $ar& :ut there is
another and greater reason for it& 5al'er is one of ours& 5hen he spreads death, suffering,
slavery, among the peoples here in our e;ile home, *e bear part of the responsibility&"
Alston $inced in$ardly& %he'd #u#ected 5al'er had something up his sleeve, but there hadn't
been any proofD and he'd struc' $ithout $arning, ta'ing the 5are and heading out& Cunningly,
too, using 1amela Lis'etter as a decoy to give himself time&
"And since 5al'er is at least partially our sin, so $e must pay the price of his suppression& Let
us pray to Almighty ,od, ,od the Father, ,od the %on, ,od the 0oly ,host, that 0e does not
re9uire a payment more than $e can bear& For $hatever the price may be, bear it $e must&"
And on t"at c"eer$ul note, she thought, bo$ing her head& Alston hadn't prayed since she $as
about fourteen, but $hatever your opinion of his beliefs, ,ome. $as a man to respect& -hey
$eren't e;actly friends3several reasons for that3but they $or'ed together $ell enough&
-he silent moment ended $ith a trumpet and bugle call& -he cro$ds cleared the street, and the
men and $omen of the Marines and the cre$s formed up to march do$n to the doc's&
Alston pic'ed up her cap and dre$ a deep breath& "Let's go," she said&
"Aeah, boss, this is more li'e it," :ill Cuddy said, holding out his $ine cup for a refill&
A slave girl in a filmy 'ilt of 4gyptian linen 'nelt gracefully and poured from a long/stemmed
glass 6ar&
5illiam 5al'er leaned bac' in the great terra/cotta hot tub set in the floor of the bathing suite
and smiled at his machinist, en6oying the sensation of steaming $ater soa'ing the 'nots out of
his muscles&
"5hat did 7 promise you bac' in (antuc'et, Cuddy/my/main/manB" he chuc'led& Ma#ter o$
-ngineer#, tec"nicall,& ",old, girls, all the comforts of home, $ithin reason&"
-he ne$ house3alace, in $act3 $as almost finished& 0e'd built it not far from the site of
classical %parta, on a rise overloo'ing the 4urotas valley& -he basic materials $ere the ones the
locals $ere used to $or'ing in, but he'd made some modifications& 1itched roofs of ba'ed/clay
tile, for instanceE the local flattops lea'ed li'e a bastard in the $inter& Floors of gla.ed tile, the
$ay he had this area set up, or polished marbleE he loo'ed around $ith satisfaction at the mural
frescoes, mostly battle scenes from the con9uest of %icily last year& Running $ater $asn't a
completely un'no$n concept here, but the sort of full/suite setup he'd put in $as, and that $ent
double for the flush toilets $ith %/curve pipes& Central heating, too, $ith underfloor ducts, and
furnaces and tan's for hot $ater on tap in the master's 9uarters&
"Aeah, you came through, all right, boss," Cuddy said& "Funny ho$ much easier this $as than
Alba&"
"Lot more organi.ation to start $ith," 5al'er pointed out&
Alt"oug" t"at "a# it# dra*3ac)#, he thought& 0is glance $ent to the tall French doors& 0e
couldn't see much out of them, the best they could do for $indo$ glass still being sort of $avy
and opa9ue, and it $as raining outside on the terrace any$ay& 7f it had been clear and he'd gone
outside, he could have seen do$n the valley to the palace of the under'ing of %parta, $hose sons
had all conveniently died in the %icilian campaign&
1e reall, #"ouldn't "ave tried to "ave me o$$ed 3ac) in M,cenae, he thought& 8f course, the guy
$as sic' these days himselfD courtesy of dear, dear Alice 0ong& 8od, 3ut it a,# to "ave a
doctor on ,our #ta$$& And once 5anna; Menelaos $as gone, 5al'er 'ne$ e7actl, $ho the high
'ing $as going to appoint in his place& 4dd. & e7ected t"em to 3e 3rot"er#. More li)e t"ird
cou#in# once removed&
:ut on the $hole, operating in civili.ation of a sort $as a hell of a lot easier than cobbling
together a 'ingdom out of the tribes up in Alba& -here $as a lot the Achaeans didn't 'no$, but at
least he didn't have to teach them ever,t"ing& 0e smiled at the vista beyond the $indo$sE he'd
left plenty of room for e;pansion later&
Somet"ing imo#ing, 3ut not o#tentatiou#, he thought& Somet"ing along t"e line# o$ San Simeon&
"4asy to get used to this sort of thing," Cuddy said, raising his cup in toast& 0e loo'ed aside at
the girl, $ho $as 'neeling, sitting bac' on her heels $ith eyes cast do$n& "Li'e, getting laid
$henever you $ant, for e;ample&"
5al'er nodded, although he $asn't the sort of three/ball man that some of his American
follo$ers $ere& Rodrigue., for instance, and even he'd slo$ed do$n a bit no$ that it $as not
longer a big deal&
"Aou deserve it," 5al'er said sincerely& "Aou've got the machine shops $or'ing fine no$&"
Cuddy shrugged and bec'oned& -he girl came over and 'nelt behind him, 'neading his
shoulders&
"-he first part $as the hardest," he said, tilting his head bac' against her breasts& "Li'e, one
ma'es t$o, t$o ma'es four, you 'no$B Lathes ma'e lathes& Loo' though, boss3these guys 7've
trained, they don't really under#tand any of this stuff& 5ell, maybe one or t$o& 7t's all mon'ey/
see, mon'ey/do for the rest&"
"7t's the results that matter&"
"%urprised you sent 2anny Rodrigue. off to %icily all on his lonesome," Cuddy $ent on&
"8h, 7 put the fear of ,od into him $ell enough," 5al'er said& ":esides, 8di'$eos $ill 'eep
him in lineD and 7 can rely on 8di'$eos to see that our great good friend and liege/lord
Agamemnon doesn't hear about e;actly ho$ man, mus'eteers $e're training over there& Christ,
but these people don't have much idea of spoo'/$or'& 8di'$eos, he's the e;ception&"
"Aeah, $ell, you got 8di the viceroy's 6ob," Cuddy said& "0e o$es you3it's a fuc'ing gold
mine&"
",ratitude is strongE the bottom line's even stronger&" 5al'er chuc'led and finished his o$n
$ine& "0e's raising a regiment of mus'eteers himself3most of these $og I71s, you'd thin'
getting out of their chariots $as li'e cutting off their o$n balls& 8di'$eos doesn't thin' that
$ay&"
"0e's 'eeping the sulfur and asphalt coming, too," Cuddy said $ith satisfaction& "And the other
stuff&"
%ulfur for gunpo$der, of course& %icily $as rich in brimstone ores& -he asphalt $ells near
Ragusa/that/$asn't $ere e;tremely handy tooE you could distill something roughly li'e 'erosene
out of it $ithout much trouble, and the residue had a do.en uses, li'e $aterproofing these baths
so the adobe bric' didn't turn to mudpie& -hey $ere even paving some crucial stretches of road
$ith it& 1lus the slaves, timber, and grain that 'ept other pro6ects going&
"Aeah, that's going pretty $ell," 5al'er said& "1retty soon $e'll be ready to start $hipping on the
neighbors again&"
Cuddy loo'ed at him& "5hy bother, bossB %hit, $e're practically running this place3$ill be, in a
couple of years& 5hy bust our ass ta'ing over more territoryB"
"-$o reasons, Cuddy& First, because 7 say so&" 0e met the other man's eyes until they dropped&
"%econd," he $ent on more genially, "$e've got to hit $hile the hitting's easy& 5e're not e;actly
building tan's and helicopter gunships here& Anything $e're doing, the locals can learn, and $e
give them time, they *ill start pic'ing up tric's3 my buddy 7s'eterol already has, of course& %o
$e've got to con9uer as much as $e can $hile $e're ahead& -hat $ay, $e'll have num3er# on our
side too& Huantity has a 9uality all its o$n&"
Cuddy nodded thoughtfully& "Aeah, $hen you put it that $ayD"
":esides, it's fun& :oo.e and coo.e are all right, but you can only party so long&"
"Ah, tr, me on that one, boss<" -hey laughed& "Aeah, 7 see $hat you mean, though& %ort of a
challenge&"
5al'er $ent on> "Any$ay, 7'm off& Alice has something really #ecial planned for those t$o that
came in $ith the last shipment, and 7've got a starring role&"
Cuddy made a slight face& "5hatever, boss&"
5al'er laughed again as he heaved himself out of the tub& 5ater hissed over the indigo and
$hite of the tiles, and the girls hastened over to rub him do$n $ith linen to$els and dress him in
a long embroidered robe imported from the 0ittite country&
"8h, she's a complete nutcase, 7 'no$," 5al'er said& ":ut it can be sort of diverting, for a
change& 1a#ta la vi#ta&"
And t"e #cream# and 3odie# )ee t"e #ta$$ really on t"eir toe#, he thought, glancing bac' over his
shoulder as he left& -$o of the serving/maids $ere sliding into the tub, minus 'ilts, giggling and
s9uealing&
,uards brought their mus'ets to present arms $ith a slap of hands on $ood and crash of
hobnailed heels on stone& 5al'er nodded bac' $ith lordly politeness&
"1hilo$ergos, 4umenes," he said&
0e'd seen a movie once, $hen he $as young3.attle#"i (otem)in, that $as it, about a mutiny
in the Russian navy, sailors given rotten food and such& 0e still remembered his o$n reaction of
contemptE $hat sort of doin' shorted the hired muscleB 1e 'ne$ enough to spread around the vig
generously, and that included 'no$ing names& -he thought $armed him as he $al'ed past into
the main body of the mansion&
,lass $indo$s 'ept it reasonably bright even on an overcast $inter's day, and fires boomed in
proper fireplaces at either endE the floor $as honeycomb yello$ marble from a nearby 9uarry&
0e'd 'ept the traditional high seat on the southern $all, but added tables and chairs to ma'e it
more li'e a formal dining room& A curving staircase led to the second floor and 0ong's 9uarters
34'hnonpa and the children he'd had by her $ere over in the other $ing, and glad to be there&
(o mista'ing 0ong's door, dar' oiled beech$ood $ith silver bolts through it, and the mas' of a
s'ull in a golden setting above it $ith a candle burning behind the empty eyes& 0e $al'ed
through, past a sitting room $ith couches and a couple of beautiful locally $oven rugs in front of
the cheerful fireplace, and into the bedroom&
"Aou're late," 0ong said& ":ut 7 haven't really started& Fust sort of establishing the scenario&"
2e#otnia Algeo#, the locals $ere calling her> the Lady of 1ain, avatar of 0e'ate, $ith po$er
over life and death& %ome of the noble Achaean ladies $ere incorporating her suggestions in their
rites& %he $as dressed in blac' gold/stamped sandals, a silver domino s'ull/mas', and an ivory/
hilted riding crop thonged to one $rist, $ith a fe$ straps and buc'les else$here& 0e had to admit
it all loo'ed 9uite dramatic&
0e didn't thin' the sub6ects today $ere concerned $ith niceties li'e that at the moment& 8ne $as
a thirtysomething %ophia Loren type, spread eagled na'ed to the $all and bound $ith built/in
ties at $rists, an'les, and $aist& 0er mouth $as gagged $ith a leather ball tied $ith a strap
around her head, and tears and spittle ran do$n her face and heavy breasts& -here $ere thin
silver needles through her earlobes, the $ebs bet$een finger and thumb, and a fe$ other parts of
her body, and ivory alligator clips on her nipples& -hread/thin tric'les of blood crept over her
s'in, disturbed by shuddering t$itches&
-he other, on the bed, $as about fourteen, $ith small, pert breasts and a blac' fu.. of hair
bet$een her legs& 0e had a good vie$ of that, because she $as secured to the four/poster $ith a
net of straps and buc'les that held her arms stretched taut above her head and her legs spread
$ide and hauled bac'& -here $as a crea'ing and sobbing as she struggled&
-rays of polished instruments stood on $heeled trays above the gleaming tile of the floorE the
rugs and tapestries $ere rolled up and safely else$here, leaving the half/done murals bareD and
0ong had dra$n those herself& %he $asn't bad, sort of an Alphonse Mucha Art (ouveau style,
but $ith sub6ects the C.ech had never gone for& A bed of glo$ing coals burned in the fireplace,
$here other blades and spi'es heated to cherry/red& 5al'er $ent to a sideboard and poured $ine
into an elegant shallo$ local cup, then sipped it& -oo s$eet, but not bad for all that&
0ong smiled at him sidelong, lic'ed her lips and let the tip of the springy $hip trail do$n from
the bound girl's mouth, slo$ly dra$ing it across s$eat/slic' s'in and do$n to her crotch, tic'ling
$ith the tuft of feathers& -hen her hand moved $ith blurring speed and thin red $elts appeared
on the inside of her victim's thighs&
2r& Alice 0ong gave a long shivering sigh at the s9ueal of helpless pain& "Fust the right reception
for visiting princesses, don't you thin'B" she said& -he $hip flic'ed again, a sharp, e;pert motion
that brought a heaving convulsion& "8h, does that smart, little princessB %hall 7 'iss it betterB"
Actuall, t"e,'re t"e *i$e and daug"ter o$ an imortant re3el c"ie$, 5al'er thought, $atching her
$or' and drin'ing again& An important dead chiefE the rest of his relations $ere digging sulfur,
hauling stone, and building roads in the ne$ Achaean fiefs of %icily3the ones $ho $eren't
hanging on crosses beside the roads& 0e pulled the robe over his head and tossed it aside& Alice
$ould have been 9uite happy to include the chief himself in this little playlet, she $as an e9ual/
opportunity sadist, but he 6ust didn't find that much of a turn/on&
0ong chuc'led as she $atched him& "7mpatient as al$ays, 5ill," she said, reaching out to tic'le
him strategically $ith the feathers& ":ut all right, let's start $ith the traditional deflorationD or
$ould you rather give momma there something to rememberD B"
"2ecisions, decisions," 5al'er laughed thic'ly& "7 thin'D yes, youth should be served first&"
0e $al'ed to$ard the bed&
"Reveille, reveille, heave out, trice up, lash and sto$, lash and sto$< 0ere 7 come, $ith a sharp
'nife and a clear conscience<"
Alston opened her eyes as the brass bell rang& -he big stern cabin of the 9o#"ua %"am3erlain
$as filled $ith light from the $indo$s that formed a curving $all along the rear of the ship& -he
clipper/frigate crea'ed and groaned around her, the endless spea'ing of a big $ood/built shipE
$ater slapped at the hull, and the stiff bree.e hummed through the rigging& -he sound and the
long, rolling pitch of the ship beneath filled her $ith a 9uiet happiness&
%$indapa stirred& -he first voyage together they'd 'ept to the old no/fraterni.ation/on/board rule,
but the ne$ (CMF )(antuc'et Code of Military Fustice* allo$ed married couples and registered
domestic partners to bun' together at sea& Above them they could hear the crisp Sir0 %re*
turned out< of the master/at/arms reporting to the officer of the dec'& -he ship resounded to a
thunder of feet as the cre$ and the hundred/odd Marine troopers aboard raced up the gang$ays
to sto$ their tight/rolled hammoc's along the gun$ales of the ship& -hen another thunder, this
time as $ater gushed from the pumps onto the immaculate dec' plan'ing, and hollystones and
"bears"3heavy bloc's of sandstone3began to gro$l as they $ere pushed over the $ood&
"-ime to be up and doing," Alston said&
"Aou 4agle 1eople3al$ays in a hurry," %$indapa laughed, rolling out of bed and tossing
Alston's uniform to her&
Alston paused for a second to admire the slee', graceful na'edness that smiled at her& -ig"t
,ear# and & #till get t"at catc" in m, t"roat, she thought happily, then sighed and began her
morning stretches& T"o#e got 6ust a little more difficult every year& -he captain's cabin on the
<i3erator class had room enough, at least& 5ith an eye to impressing foreign potentates, it also
had paneling of curly maple, polished and stained to bring out the s$irling grain of the $ood,
and strips of carving along the edges of the yard/$ide plan's& 4ven more li'ely to impress $ere
the t$o long cast/steel t$elve/pounder rifles that served as stern/chasers, bo$sed tight in place
$ith double lashings&
8unner, ractice again toda,, Alston decided, as she buttoned her 6ac'et and ad6usted the billed
cap $ith fouled anchor that $as ,uard regulation& 2rill $as a damned nuisance on a ship
cro$ded $ith passengers, but you had to find #ome time to get the hands used to their lethal
tools&
-hey $al'ed along the central corridor of the poop to the officers' $ardroom, the hollystones
loud on the 9uarterdec' above&
",ood morning, gentlemen, ladies," she said&
-he $ardroom table $as cro$ded, since the t$o 0ollards and some of their Marine officers ate
$ith them as a matter of course& :arely t$o $ee's out of home port and t$o days from the
7slander outpost on :arbados they still had abundant fresh provisions& And coffeeD
%he added a filleted flying fish to her plate, anticipating the smooth buttery tasteE several do.en
had landed on the dec' and made a short trip to the coo's& -he coffee $as harsh/tasting to
anyone $ho could remember the t$entiethE it $as the offspring of ornamental coffee plants, the
only option the 7slanders had had available after the 4vent& .etter t"an no co$$ee at all, 3, a long
#"ot& 5hich $as $hat they'd had to put up $ith for long years after$ard, as those first seedlings
planted out on Caribbean islands struggled to maturity&
"2amn, but 7 missed this, the first fe$ years after the 4vent," she said, sighing, after the first sip&
"7t's li'e che$ing nettles," %$indapa replied& "An ac9uired taste, but $hy bother to ac9uire itB"
"Could be $orse," Alston said, loo'ing through the night/$atch reports presented to her3$ater
consumption, miles traveled, positions, hourly records of speed, barometer readings3all routine&
"-obacco could have survived too&" 2oc Coleman had 9uietly s9uashed any attempt to bring t"at
particular vice bac' to life&
"7 dran' decaf," Colonel 0ollard said, lifting his cup of sassafras&
Alston's mouth 9uir'ed slightly, and she raised an eyebro$& %he'd be handing over to 0ollard's
generation in timeE it $as nice to be reminded that they could remember America, the t$entieth,
as $ell& -here $ere times she $orried that they $ould disappear into this era li'e a drop of in' in
a buc'et of mil'3not enough of them to season it&
A middie approached the table and saluted& ",ood morning, Captain," she said& "-he officer of
the dec' reports the approach of eight bells& 1ermission to stri'e eight bells on time&"
"My compliments to Mr& Fen'ins, and let him ma'e it so," Alston said&
%$indapa stood $ith her, only a slight glance out of the corner of her eyes telling her partner
$hat she thought of the 4agle 1eople rituals of military courtesy& &t'# #till a 3it o$ a game to "er,
Alston mused& %he performed it faultlessly, even ac'no$ledged the reasons for it but& & .dee
do*n, & don't t"in) #"e ta)e# it all t"at #eriou#l,& -he %un 1eople recruits $ere a far more
temperamental and $illful bunch than the Fiernans, but $hen they finally grasped the concept of
discipline they often embraced it $ith a convert's fanaticism&
-here $ere times $hen she thought %$indapa's people $ere 6ust too damned mentally healthy
for their o$n good&
+p the companion$ay to the brightness of the dec', the sun no$ $ell clear of the hori.on&
"Captain on dec'<"
"As you $ere," she replied& %he $as acting as captain/aboard of the %"am3erlain, as $ell as
commodore of the flotillaE the ,uard $as still short of e;perienced ship commanders&
"Fair/$eather sailin'," Alston $ent on&
%he loo'ed upE not a cloud in the s'y& -he dec' of the 9o#"ua %"am3erlain tilted only a little,
and she too' the long blue s$ells $ith a smooth roc'ing/horse motion under all plain sail, three
pyramids of $hite fla; canvas reaching up her masts, a hundred and t$enty feet on the main& -he
sails $ere braced to starboard, and the ship $as moving at nearly right angles to the $ind& +e
#"ould catc" t"e trade# in anot"er $e* da,#, she thought, reaching out to touch the rail& -hen
they could ma'e better speed, $ith the $ind abaft the beam&
-he %"am3erlain $as lead ship in the 7slander flotillaE behind her came the <incolnA then the
-agle, the main transport, and the schooners 1arriet Tu3man and !rederic) 2ougla##& -hey
$ere in line astern, each separated by a thousand yards li'e beads on an arro$/straight line ruled
across the blue of the ocean in cream/$hite $a'es, their fresh canvas sno$/$hite against the
dar' gray/blue of the hulls&
As a training ship, -agle had been built for carrying people, not cargoE there had even been
proposals to brea' up the big eighteen/hundred/tonner for her metal, on the theory that she $as
inefficient compared to $ooden craft $ith proper holds&
-$$icient a# a troo-tran#ort, t"oug", she thought, $atching the long hull $ith the red diagonal
slash of the Coast ,uard&
"%ignal," she said aloud&
%$indapa too' out her padE the ships all had radios salvaged from pleasure craft& %"am3erlain'#
$as in a lo$ dec'house for$ard of the $heels&
"-o -agleA3prepare to drop targets&" -hose $ould be rafts of empty barrels that had held salt
provisions, lashed together $ith poles and flags standing up& "%hips $ill pass at four hundred
yards and then come about," she said& -o the first lieutenant> "Mr& Fen'ins, sound to 9uarters&
Fighting sail only&"
"Aes, ma'am," he said crisply and turned&
8rders flo$ed out and a drum began to beat, a long, hoarse roll of sound& Marines cro$ded out
of the $ay as parties dashed to rig boarding nets along the sides and splinter/netting overhead&
Cre$fol' ran up the ratlines, and the ship came more nearly upright as the topsails $ere cle$ed
up and sea/furled& From belo$ came the sound of partitions being 'noc'ed do$n and struc' into
the hold& Alston stood 9uietly, glancing at her $atch&
.etter, she thought, as the bosun reported to the 9uarterdec', still panting a little& Ten minute#
$ort,-#even #econd#&
-agle had been ma'ing more sail, pulling ahead of the other ships& Alston felt her lips 9uir'ing
in a smile as she passed in a sunlit burst of spray, sharp bo$s slicing the s$ells& 8b6ectively the
ne$ clipper/frigates $ere even prettier ships, $ithout the clutter of dec'houses on the 9uarter
and around the mainmast, butD
& commanded "er #o long, she thought& More than ten years no$, if you counted the time before
the 4vent& &'ve #een and done a lot on t"at dec)& And it $as $here she'd used a pair of bolt
cutters to ta'e the collar off %$indapa&
"Mr& Fen'ins, bring us t$o points to starboard, if you please& And trim, by all means&"
"Aes, ma'am&" A turn> "0elm, t$o points, thus, thus&" -he t$o hands standing on the benchli'e
platforms beside the double $heels heaved at the spo'es $ith a precise, economical motion, their
eyes on the compass binnacle before them&
Fen'ins's spea'ing/trumpet $ent up& "0aul starboard, handsomely starboard, there<"
-he rafts splashed free ahead of them, and -agle ran for$ard a half a mile to be out of harm's
$ay, heaving to broadside/on to the other ships& Alston and %$indapa $al'ed for$ard on the
9uarterdec', do$n the steep $ooden steps to the main dec', and then do$n a level further& -he
main gun dec' of the %"am3erlain $as a single great room no$, an oval space si; times longer
than it $as $ide, tapering to the narro$ shape of the bo$s, lit only by the crosshatched light of
the grating/hatchcovers above& 7t smelled of fresh $ood still, and underlying that, brimstone, salt
$ater, s$eat, and the coo'ing scents of brea'fast& -$elve eight/inch 2ahlgrens crouched on
either side, shaped li'e soda bottles and enmeshed in their cradle of carriage, lines, pulleys, and
tac'le&
(it, *e can't do man, ri$led gun# ,et, Alston thought& Leaton's :essemer steel 6ust didn't have
the consistent 9uality needed for those pressures, thoughE and the thought of a burst gun on these
cro$ded dec's $as enough to ma'e her shudder& -here $ere the chasers, and a fe$ rifled siege
cannon struc' do$n in the holds for the e;peditionary force to use on land, but most of the
Republic's guns $ere smoothbores& ,ood ones, at least, modeled on those of the Civil 5ar era&
-he gun teams $aited, crouching, hands readyE many $ere stripped to the $aist and had
'erchiefs tied around their heads as they prepared for the shattering physical effort of serving the
guns&
4r #tried to t"e *ai#t e7cet $or 3ra#, Alston thoughtE it $asn't quite the same as do$n there as
on the gun dec' of the %on#titution or %"e#aea)e in the 5ar of GM& 8ne young $oman
grinned at her for a second, then turned bac' and spat on her hands as she braced ready&
"-arget's coming on to bear, ma'am," a middie said from his position near one division of the
guns&
"Iery $ell& 8ut tompions<"
-he red/painted $ooden plugs at the mu..les of the guns $ere $hipped out&
"Run out your guns<"
A long drumming, s9uealing thunder of carriages across dec's as the cre$s thre$ themselves on
the ropes and t$elve sets of t$o/ton $eight ground across the oa'en plan'ingE sunlight pierced
the gloom of the gun dec' in rectangular shafts as the gunports rose&
"Fire as you bear<"
Alston too' t$o steps up the companion$ay ladderE that gave her a good vie$ of the target four
hundred/odd yards to starboard as $ell as the gun dec', $ith the heel of the ship pitching the rail
do$n&
"-ime this, 'dapa," she said, and Lieutenant Commander %$indapa Alston/@urlelo put on a grave
official face and too' out her stop$atch&
-he gun captain of (umber 8ne, %tarboard, spun the elevating scre$ and heaved at the
handspi'e that moved the rear of the gun as the cre$ hauled li'e$ise on the tac'le that moved
the mu..le& 0e glared over the barrel of his charge a final instant, then>
"%lear<" he bello$ed, giving the lanyard of the friction primer a s$ift, hard 6er'&
.AAAAMMMM0
A long 6et of flame/shot smo'e lanced out from the %"am3erlain'# side& 0er eye caught the fall
of shot e;actly, a grooved splash in the surface of the $ater ten yards short of the target, and then
another beyond it as the ball ricocheted li'e a flung stone&
6ot 3ad, she thought, smiling a little behind the e;pressionless mas' of her face& T"at *ould
"ave gone a3oard a #"i, rig"t enoug"&
-he gun captain pivoted li'e a matador, arching his body over the massive steel bul' of the gun
as it leaped bac'$ard up the inclined plane of its carriage $ith an angry s9ueal of $ooden bra'e
shoes& As it stopped, the rest of the cre$ $ent into a precisely choreographed dance around it,
readying for the ne;t round&
Mean$hile, the other cannon roared as the rippling broadside $ent do$n the gun dec', and the
cho'ing sulfur/tinted smo'e coiled across the dec' and turned it into a thing of fog and menacing
shapes& More than eight hundred pounds of high/velocity iron lashed the sea around the target
$ith stunning violence, as $ater gouted all around the target, and fragments of plan' $hipped
s'y$ard amid spray and froth as direct hits stove barrels&
-he first gun fired again& "-$o minutes ten seconds<" %$indapa shouted into her ear& A good
many of the cre$ had $ads of cloth stuffed into both of theirsE enough of this could damage your
hearing&
Alston nodded& %eventy seconds to reloadE not bad at all& 0er eye sought the ne;t target&
"%ail trimmers<" she called, standing bac' from the stairs&
-he cre$s shran' as one from each gun ran up the ladders to the dec', ta'ing their place in the
sailing cre$& Another period of shattering sound, the cre$s' bodies running $ith s$eat at the
physical e;ertion and the heat the guns $ere thro$ing off& -he guns $ere 6umping bac' harder
as the steel soa'ed up heat, and she could hear grunts and harsh panting at the brutal labor of
$earing them around& -his time, only half the second broadside could bear on the target, and
there $as a concentrated move for the scuttlebutts3open/topped cas's of $ater secured to the
dec'3in the short interval bet$een the second and third targets&
Alston $aited until the last second before she called> ":oarders< :oarders to their stations<"
-he gun cre$s shran' again as another thirty left them, grabbing $eapons out of the rac's as
they ran for the companion$ays& -he result loo'ed remar'ably piratical, half/na'ed bodies
bristling $ith flintloc's and edged steel&
And $or a *onder, no3od,'# #earing an,one in t"e a##, she thought $ith satisfaction& -hat "ad
happened once or t$ice, earlier& Middies oversa$ four guns each, and they $ere running full tilt
from one to the ne;t, correcting aim and heaving on lines themselves& !or a *onder, no3od, got
t"eir $oot run over, eit"er& -hat could cause really nasty in6uries, but the only $ay to learn to do
this fast $as to do it $a#t, e;haustion or no& Aou had to accept a certain percentage of training
accidents if the training $as realistic&
"8ne minute fifty/si; seconds," %$indapa said&
6ot #o good, Alston thoughtE and the cre$s $ere collapsed around their $eapons, panting li'e
hound dogs on a hot dayE she could hear someone retching dryly&
"Master gunner, house your guns and secure the dec'," she said into a silence that seemed to
echo in the aftermath of the cannon roar& %he lifted her voice a little, $aiting until the sail
trimmers and boarders had returned to their stations& "(ot bad, boys and girls& :ut it could be
better&"
-he cheer that follo$ed had an element of groan in it, but there $ere plenty of smiles as $ell&
First Lieutenant Fen'ins $as grinning as he saluted her return to the 9uarterdec', loo'ing at his
o$n $atch&
"5e beat <incoln by a good ten seconds, ma'am," he said&
Alston nodded, smiling a little herself& Iictor 8rti. had the other frigate, and he'd be fit to be
tiedE she 'ne$ he'd had the cre$ doing $eight training at intervals, trying to beat her time&
"-here's such a thing as overstraining," she said& -he shriller bar' of the eight/pounders and
carronades the schooners carried ended the e;ercise, leaving only a fogban' of po$der smo'e
drifting east$ard as it dispersed&
Marian Alston too' a deep breath of the clean air and loo'ed at her $atch again& "5e'll heave
to," she said& "%ignal 'Captains repair to -agle for a $or'ing lunch at thirteen hundred hours',
Ms& %$indapa& Mr& Fen'ins, $e'll rig pumps, and have the masthead and a ro$ing loo'out chec'
for shar's&"
Lines formed for the salt/$ater sho$ers after the sails $ere struc'E the gun cre$s' hands and
faces $ere smut/dar' $ith blac' po$der residues& Luc'ily Fiernans didn't have a nudity taboo,
and the Americans and even the rather prudish %un 1eople had gotten used to it& :ody modesty
simply didn't go $ith the sort of cramped 9uarters a mi;ed force in the field or at sea had to put
up $ithE they'd learned that shortly after the 4vent& After a $hile it simply $asn't much of a deal&
&n $act, she thought, 3, no* & $eel muc" more #el$-con#ciou# a3out 3eing t"e onl, dar)ie among
t"e bu'ra&
:y an odd 9uir' of fate she'd been stranded in the :ron.e Age along $ith a piece of American
real estate $here blac's $ere rare3 no more than a fe$ hundred in all& Rare, and even more so
proportionately $ith the influ; of Alban immigrantsE language and culture changed, but %un
1eople and 4arth Fol' ali'e loo)ed very much li'e their Anglo/%a;on descendants&
-he $ater felt cold on her bare s'in as she turned under the pumpE she too' the bar of gritty
ration/issue lye soap from Colonel 0ollard $ith a polite nod, lathered herself thoroughly, and
stepped up to the rail, handing the bar over to the ne;t in line&
"All clear<" the loo'out saidE the ones in the longboat ro$ing around the ship carried barbed
harpoons and rifle/mus'ets&
Alston poised, then leaped, ta'ing the fifteen/foot drop in a 'nifing dive& -hat carried her deep
into $ater that closed around her li'e a blue 6e$elE she turned and loo'ed up, $atching as
%$indapa slid do$n to$ard her $ith her long yello$ hair streaming out behind li'e a banner&
-hey touched for a moment fifteen feet do$n, 'issed in the discreet silence of the ocean, then
'ic'ed for the surface that hung over them li'e a rippling mirror& %he tossed her head as she
surfaced, $atching as $hooping cre$fol' follo$ed her off into the $ater&
0ollard scooped up his sister and thre$ her in, then follo$ed in a clean dive& For moments it
rained soapy ,uard cre$s and MarinesE many of them $ere cannonballing and landing $ith
appalling splashes& %he made a mental note to have more s$imming classes&
%$indapa trailed her as she made for the stern at an easy cra$l, matching her stro'e for stro'e&
-he $arm Caribbean $ater caressed her, a feeling of tingling life buoying her& And if there $ere
shar' and barracuda in these $aters, that $as part of life too&
"8n dec', there< %ail ho<"
Alston loo'ed up sharply, catching the hail from the masthead at the second shout&
"2amn," she said mildly, spitting out salt $ater and stro'ing s$iftly to the ship's side& Ropes
hung over the railingE she s$armed up one hand over hand, then directly up the ratlines to the
mainmast top&
"5here a$ayB" she said to the loo'out, dripping on the hot plan's of the triangular platform&
"4ast by south, ma'am," the loo'out said, in a faint but definite %un 1eople accent, harsh and
choppy under the nasal t$ang of 7slander 4nglish& "%hip/rigged or a bar', 7'd guess&"
Alston too' his heavy binoculars and focused them& 5hite shapes of sail, a three/master, bar'/
rigged li'e the -agle but much smaller&
"8n dec', there< 0ands to stations, Mr& Fen'ins, and notify the flotilla<" she called do$n& "And
have my uniform sent up, if you please&"
7t came up, and %$indapa $ith it& -hey shared a to$el and dressed, disregarding the slight
stic'iness of salt on their s'insE that $ent $ith voyaging, since fresh $ater $as never abundant
enough to $aste on $ashing& %he put the sails in her binoculars againE the strange ship $as flying
the %tars and %tripes, but that meant little& 2etails of construction meant more, and she ran
through a mental file of everything the 7slanders had built in the past eight years, and $hat they
'ne$ of the -artessian and Alban yards&
"8ne of ours, 7 thin'," she said after a moment& "Let's get do$n and ready to hail her&"
Aou had to be $ary, in a $orld $ith the li'es of @ing 7s'eterol and 5illiam 5al'er loose in it&
"Aou haven't been letting the grass gro$ under your arse, by the gods," 8di'$eos said&
0e held out his hand and loo'ed around at stone/built $harves, streets, buildings, the ribs of
ships on the slip$ays& (othing here but a fishing village a fe$ years ago, and no$ it $as a city3
6ea,oru), 5al'er had called it& "6e*@ & )no*, 8di'$eos thought& & *onder *"at or *"ere
5oru) *a# or i# B
"A la.y man has no luc'," 5al'er replied, ta'ing the offered palm in the American gesture,
$hich had become 9uite the fashion&
0ammers, hooves, $heels, and voices made a surfli'e roar of noise throughout the little to$n,
full of pungent smells of s$eat and dust and manure ba'ing under the hot Fune sun& Foreign
ships $ere tied up here too, loo'ing tiny beside the craft 5al'er had built& %laves carried
elephant tus's ashore from an 4gyptian merchantman, tapestries from one out of :yblos, purple/
dyed cloth and clay 6ugs of $ine from +garit, o;hide/shaped copper ingots from a Cypriot
trader& %o much $ealth so close to the sea $ould have been an irresistible lure for raiders in the
old days, but a fortress of earth$or' and stone stood at the edge of the harbor, cannon snouting
from embrasures along its thic', sloping $alls& And armed schooners out on patrol had met the
7tha'an's ship half a day's sailing a$ay&
A groom brought a mount for$ard, one of the half/breed sons of the si;teen/hand 9uarter horse
that 5al'er rode himself& -he Achaean put a foot in a stirrup and s$armed aboard, competently,
if not $ith the ease a lifetime's practice had given 5al'er& 0e $ore trousers of fine 'ids'in as
$ell as his tunicE those had become fashionable too, among younger nobles fle;ible enough to
consider a saddle as dignified as a chariot&
-he t$o vassal 'ings rode north up the valley of the 4urotas, $ith their escorts clattering behind
and outriders ahead $ith a harsh, repeated cry of "5ay, ma'e $ay<" 8di'$eos stretched his
eyes, ta'ing everything in, including the $ay 5al'er 'ept an eye on his reactions&
-he road itself $as a novelty& 7nstead of graveled dirt it $as a smoothly beveled curve of %icilian
asphalt mi;ed $ith crushed roc', t$enty feet across, lavishly ditched, $ith young trees planted in
ro$s on either side&
"0o$ far north does this runB" 8di'$eos as'ed&
"All the $ay up the valley, and three/9uarters of the $ay to Mycenae& 5e'll have it through to
there by the fall rains&"
"-hrough the mountain#< 7n only three yearsB"
5al'er nodded& ",unpo$der is a tool as $ell as a $eapon," he said& ":lasting ma'es road
building easier&"
(ot to mention unlimited slave labor& Chain gangs $ere moving up from the port, $hile do$n by
the river more $ere at $or' on an irrigation canal, its star' geometric shape cutting across the
softly patterned fields& 0arvest $as under $ay& 1art of it $as as al$ays, men and some $omen
cutting the yello$ barley and $heat $ith sic'les, others follo$ing behind to bind the sheaves& 7n
other fields horses dre$ a machine that left a neat trail of reaped grain behind it& 8di'$eos
nodded thoughtfully as he $atched it, and he sa$ other fields that had been in grain in years
before no$ planted $ith crops he didn't recogni.e&
"5hat are thoseB'' he as'ed&
"-he bushes are cotton," 5al'er said& "-hey ma'e a fabric li'e fla; but easier to $or' and finer&
-he tall stal's are a grain called cornA it needs $atering in your dry summers, but it yields more
heavily than $heat or barley& -he lo$ vines, those are otatoe#, the last of them& -hey gro$ over
the $inter here& My guest friend @ing 7s'eterol of -artessos brought the seeds and shoots fromD
a land far a$ay and passed some on to me& 5ait until you taste your first tomato, my friend&"
"7 see $hy you've been ta'ing so much of the $heat from %icily," 8di'$eos said& "-housands
more mouths to feed, and fe$er fields in grain&"
0e nodded at a train of huge four/$heeled $agons rumbling along ahead of them, too large to
ma'e $ay for the 'ingsE they guided their horses onto the graveled verge of the road to pass them
by& %i;teen span of o;en dre$ each four/ton load&
"5hat are those calledB" 8di'$eos said, pointing to one $heel& "7've seen the ones in %icily, but
nobody 'ne$ the name or the $hy of them&"
"2ouble/bo$ springs," 5al'er replied& "%ee ho$ they fle;B -hat $ay, a 6olt from the $heels
doesn't harm the $agon's frame as much as it might, and the body is built li'e a boat3it yields
and bends and so doesn't brea'& 5e call them %one#toga#&"
-hey rode north for most of the morning, spea'ing of many things, then turning left onto a
branch of the road that ran to$ard the mountains that to$ered in the $est, dividing the vale of
%parta from Messina& -he traffic $as still heavyE they $ere riding to$ard 5al'eropolis,
5al'er's stronghold& -he American pointed out features3the stone/lined channel that brought
$ater do$n from the mountains, the four furnaces built into the side of a hill so that carts could
bring fuel and ore to their tops& %mo'e belched out of them, trailing a$ay to the southE there $as
a deep rumbling sound from the furnaces, and endless clangor from the forges and $or'shops,
and a clatter and bustle of uncounted fol' in the broad grid$or' of paved streets&
6ot #uc" #mell, 8di'$eos thought, surprised&
-his to$n must be nearly as big as 1ylos by no$, yet there $as little of the shit/and/garbage
stin' you e;pected in a city& -here $ere even slaves s$eeping up dung $ith broom and pan and
$heelbarro$& 4ven no$, it still seemed odd to see so many male slaves together& 7n
5al'eropolis they $ere mar'ed out by the iron collars, and they $ere every$here3hauling and
pushing and carryingE there $ere great lo$/set barrac's for them nearer the manufacturies&
4lse$here there $ere no $ells $ith lines of slave girls carrying 6ugs of $ater on their heads, but
instead public fountains, fed by underground pipes& More pipes ran to the houses of the $ealthy&
-here $ere many other things even stranger3sometimes the little things $ere oddest of all, li'e
$agons each 'eeping to the right side of the street& -hey rode through a great open/air mar'et,
past streets of shops and businesses, past chariots and $agons and carriage# dra$n by high/
stepping 4astern horses&
-ven #"o# $or 3read, the Achaean 'ing thought $ith astonishment, $atching a ba'er load loaves
into the carrying/bas'et of a $oman and ta'e little copper dis's in payment& (e;t door a
leather$or'er bo$ed lo$ as a servant of one of 5al'er's 5olf 1eople lords too' delivery of a
saddleE beyond that a treadle/po$ered lathe $hirred, turning out the spo'es of a $heel&
"8ne thing that does surprise me, my friend," 8di'$eos said as they turned uphill to the palace
through elaborate gardens and the mansions of 5al'er's o$n e)*etai& "7s that you too' no larger
share of the credit for the $ar in the lands north of 8lympus3and no larger share of the gold&
Aou don't seem to me to be a man unconcerned $ith $ealth&"
5al'er laughed&
-he 2ol"in $as less graceful than her nameE three hundred tons, three masts, but much tubbier
than the %"am3erlain or even the ,uard schooners modeled on the .lueno#e& %he bobbed in the
lee of the frigate, and her commander came up the rope ladder $ith a practical s$arming motion&
"1ermission to come aboardB" she called, $ith a $ave of a salute&
"1ermission granted," Alston said& "Captain McReady, isn't itB"
"Candice McReady at your service, Commodore," the merchant s'ipper said, holding out her
hand&
T,ical enoug", Alston thought& (o more than t$enty/one, $hich $ould have made her all of
thirteen at the 4vent, the t$entieth century most li'ely a fading dream& A stoc'y, bro$n/haired
young $oman $ith a $eather/red face and s9uint lines around her eyes that made her loo' older&
%he $ore a floppy canvas hat and a sleeveless 6ac'et of seals'in belted 'round $ith a cutlass,
bo$ie, and flintloc' pistol& -he ironmongery loo'ed as natural on her as the easy, straddled
stance and the gold hoop in one earlobe& -he hand she e;tended felt rough and dry and
competent in Alston's&
-he ste$ard brought up coffee& "-hought 7 $as sailing into a fight, ma'am," McReady said,
sipping appreciatively& "0eard the cannon& -hought some damned -artessian poacher needed his
butt 'ic'ed&"
And ju#t came 3oiling in *it" all $our o$ ,our #i7-ounder 3ra## ogun#, Alston thought,
nodding& !airl, t,ical& -he youngsters coming up since the 4vent $ere di$$erentA not
necessarily braver than their parents but harder/grained& -ntirel, di$$erent attitude to*ard ri#)&
Less li'ely to complain about bad luc', too& 8f course, the attitude had its do$nside as $ellE the
ne$ breed seemed to be a good deal less shoc'able, more case/hardened than Alston $ould have
e;pected or altogether li'ed&
& mu#t 3e getting old, she thought& &'m #tarting to comlain a3out t"e ucoming generation&
"-hey do sho$ up here occasionally," Alston agreed aloud&
-he -o$n Meeting had proclaimed the $hole of the 5estern 0emisphere under the Republic's
6urisdiction3sort of a second/millennium/:&C& Monroe 2octrine3but the @ingdom of
-artessos didn't ac'no$ledge it& 7berian ships slipped in no$ and then, bartering $ith the 8lmec
chiefdoms, $hich had their o$n reasons to resent the 7slandersE besides that little $ar bac' in the
Aear , the Republic fro$ned on human sacrifice& A couple of punitive e;peditions had made
that very clear, via cannon and Marine landing parties&
"(ot this time, though& 5hat cre$, $here from, and $hat loadingB" she $ent on&
"My third trip this year," McReady said, 6er'ing a thumb bac'$ard at her ship& "My first mate's
my mate, my brother and his $ife are 9uartermaster and sailing master"3(ot an uncommon sort
of arrangementE they $aved from the lo$er dec' of the trading ship3"and $e've a cre$ of
t$elve besides& 5e shipped out of (antuc'et -o$n to %an Loren.o first, pic'ed up cocoa and
dye$oods and ra$ cottonE dropped it in 1entagon :ase in Alba, got a cargo of grain, hides,
cheese, and $ool, plus some steerage passengers, bac' to (antuc'et& 8ut to south$est Africa in
ballast and trading trin'ets&"
Alston nodded& "5hat loading no$B"
McReady grinned& "Commodore, right no$ my cargo is absolute shit&" %he grinned more $idely
still at the raised bro$s& ":ird shit& Fertili.er from the islands in %aldhana :ay& 8ne hundred
ninety tons, all of it under contract to :rand Farms&" %he held up a hand, clenched $ith the
thumb and little finger out as if measuring& "And the price i# ju#t right& 8ught to pay off the
-o$n share of our ship& A little other stuff, hides, horn, ivory3ten tus's3traded for it $ith the
locals&"
"Ah, the (amib," Alston said& -he coast of south$est Africa, not far from $here she intended to
ma'e landfall& "Any rumors of -artessian activity thereB"
"Aes, as a matter of factE the locals dre$ pictures of $hat loo'ed li'e a topsail schooner&"
Alston sco$led slightlyE -artessos favored that design, copied from the ship 5al'er had pirated
in the Aear &
"Couldn't be sure, though& -hey are putting in pretty regular further north, from $hat 7 hear&"
-his time the blac' $oman forced her teeth not to grind& %lave trading, among other things&
"-han' you, Captain McReady," she $ent on, calm and polite& "1erhaps you could 6oin the
flotilla's captains aboard the -agle for lunch& 5e could use any observations you have on ho$
the trades are this year&"
",lad to3$e're do$n to salt horse and biscuit," McReady said& "-rades're pretty steady, and
further north than usualE haven't been becalmed yet on this trip& 7'll get my logs&"
Alston clasped her hands behind her bac' and rose slightly on her toes as the merchant s'ipper
climbed bac' do$n into her s'iff and pulled for her ship& -he e;peditionary force $as supposed
to 'eep 5illiam 5al'er off/balance, but it $as a long/term pro6ect& 7s'eterol $as ma'ing her
nervous in the here/and/no$&
8od damn +illiam +al)er to "ell, she thought& &$ it *eren't $or "imD
"-here's al$ays a man li'e 5al'er," %$indapa said 9uietly& Alston started a little& 0er partner
had learned her moods ver, $ell&
"Fortunately, there's al$ays someone li'e us, too," she replied, her head turning northeast$ard&
Right no$ the renegade $as having things all his o$n $ay, off in the lands of Mycenae& %ome
dayD
0er lips sho$ed teeth in $hat $as only notionally a smile&
"-here i# a lot of gold up there," 5illiam 5al'er agreed, loo'ing up at the portico of his house&
A ro$ of pillars marched across it3 fluted marble, rather than the painted $ood the locals used&
8ree) column#, and t"e 8ree)# "ave never "eard o$ t"em, he thought $ith a slight smile&
%ervants $ere coming out to greet their lord&
-he Mycenaeans had already had an outpost up north in $hat he thought of as Macedonia, a
fortified border station& -he locals $ere still at the mud/hut stage, but spo'e something related to
,ree'& More important, he'd remembered $here 1hilip of Macedon, Ale;ander's father, had
gotten his financing3the gold mines of 1angaion, not all that far from the coast& 5ell $orth an
e;pedition&
"About a thousand talents a year $orth," he $ent on& "7'm satisfied $ith my tenth&" A talent $as
si;ty pounds, more or lessE call it t$enty tons for the total output& (obody here had ever seen
precious metals on that scale before& -hey $ere learning about inflation, too, and the benefits and
dra$bac's of coined money&
"5hyB" 8di'$eos said bluntly& "Aou planned the $ar, you found the gold, you built the $or's
that tear it daily from the $omb of 8amater&"
"8ne of the things 7 li'e about you, my friend," 5al'er said, "is that you come right at things&"
-he 7tha'an shrugged& "1aia$on Apollo spea's in $ords li'e a serpent in a reedbed, coil upon
countercoil," he said& ":ut 7've al$ays been a better friend of the ,ray/4yed Lady of 5isdom,
Athana 1otnia&"
"Let's put it this $ay3has all that gold brought peace to MycenaeB"
"As much peace as a piece of fat por' brings to a pac' of hounds," 8di'$eos said& "Mycenae
$as al$ays a 'not of vipers, but no$D"
"4;actly& Also, ta'ing only a tenth, 7'm not e;pected to spend men and goods guarding the mines
3and the natives there don't love us for ta'ing their mountain&"
"8r for ma'ing their men dig in the ground," 8di'$eos said&
"4;actly, again& 5hat's more, gold can't buy more than the land produces& Real $ealth comes
from increasing the yield of men's hands and then gaining command of that yield3gold is
simply a tool& And third and lastD $ell, there's a poem among my birth/fol'& 7n your
languageD" 5al'er closed his eyes in thought for a moment& "7t $ould go something li'e this>
8old $or t"e merc"ant, #ilver $or t"e maidA
%oer $or t"e cra$t#man, cunning at "i# trade.
@8ood0@ laug"ed t"e )ing, #itting in "i# "all.
@.ut iron3cold iron3#"all 3e ma#ter o$ t"em all&"
-hey dre$ rein before the portico $ith its green/$hite stone stairs& A small form burst through
the ran's of guards and servants, follo$ed by another, and then by a $oman in a go$n& 0e
recogni.ed 4ury'leia, the household's chief nursemaid&
"2ad<" the hurtling bundle cried, and leaped $ith a trailing mane of $hite/blond hair& -he
second 6ust leaped&
"5hoops," 5al'er said mildly and caught each under an arm& "Run along, the rest of you, no
need for ceremony&"
"7'm sorry, lord, they got a$ay3"
"(o problem," 5al'er said to the nursemaid& "-hey're eight& Aou'd have to put them in a cage
li'e 4gyptian baboons to 'eep them 9uiet&"
-he boy and girl $iggled delightedlyE they $ere much of an age, the girl his by an Alban slave,
the boy by his $ife 4'hnonpa&
"1lain to see they've got spirit," 8di'$eos said, grinning&
" Althea has been misbehaving again, lord," 4ury'leia bro'e in nervously& "AndD"
5al'er upended the girl& "5hat is it this timeB :othering your Aunt Alice againB (ot safe, little
one&"
"%nea'ing a$ay to $atch the $arriors practice, lord," the nursemaid said&
"7f 0arold can do it, $hy can't 7B" the girl pouted& %he pronounced it "0aaar/alt," li'e the locals&
"5hy not, indeedB" 5al'er said& 0e loo'ed up at the servant& "7f she $ants to train $ith her
brother, $e'll see to it&"
":ut, lord, it isn't seemly<" she burst out, as Althea cro$ed in delight&
5al'er's face $ent cold, and the nursemaid loo'ed do$n, her o$n face gone pale& "%eemly is
$hat 7 say to be seemly, 4ury'leia& & am t"e /ing&"
"Aes, lord," she said 9uietly&
5al'er hoisted his son over a shoulder and set the girl on her feet, delivering a s$ift span'ing
s$at at the same time& "-hat's for not coming and as'ing me first," he said at her yelp, then gave
her another& "And that's for disobeying 4ury'leia& (o$ both of you run along and mind your
manners&"
0e $al'ed up the stairs& "My friend, $e have a good deal to tal' about," he said to 8di'$eos&
"%o that our children may inherit more than $e hold today&
"%icily gro$s dull," the 7tha'an said& "Another man can chase bandits through the hillsD" 0e
paused& "7s that $hy you sent so many troublesome men to ta'e up lands thereB"
"5ell," 5al'er grinned, "it doe# give them something to do, besides causing me problems&"
"Aou are a man $ith a mind of many turns," 8di'$eos said admiringly, a little surprised $hen
5al'er laughed loud and long& "-roy ne;tB"
"-roy, indeed," 5al'er said&
"-hat $ill bring in the 0ittites&"
"-he $orse for them, my friend& -he $orse for them&"
C#ATE! SE'EN
January, Year ) A.E.
"+h/oh," 7an Arnstein said&
"-hunderclouds," 2oreen agreed, loo'ing at the Commodore as she lo$ered her binoculars&
"MomB" 2avid said& "5hy's Aunt Marian loo'ing so madB"
"%hhhhh&"
-he (antuc'et outpost on the uninhabited island of Mauritius $as one of a chain the Republic
$as founding as time and resources permitted, sta'ing out a claim to a global thassalocracy of
trade and influence& 4ventually it $as supposed to be a 6umping/off point for the settlement of
the giant and e9ually human/empty island of Madagascar to the $est and a base for trade
throughout the 7ndian 8cean& -he flotilla $as t$o $ee's out of a similar hamlet at the site of
Cape -o$n, officially 'no$n as Mandela :ase& T"at had met $ith Marian Alston's approvalE
neat little earth/and/turf fort, a $ell/built pier, a bored/log pipe to bring $ater do$n from a
spring on -able Mountain, and half a do.en farms up the Liesbec' River to supply fresh produce&
0ereD
-he 7slander ships stood in on an easting bree.e, only a trace of $hite foam at their bo$s as they
ghosted along at five 'nots& 4ast$ard $as a broad natural harbor $here a river ran do$n to a
silver/sand beach& :eyond rose mountains, densely green in the foreground, fading to blue/green
as they rolled a$ay inland& 8reen $as the over$helming first impression, huge broadleaf trees
gro$ing almost to the $ater's edge, and dar' mangroves $herever a mudflat allo$edE the $hite
of sails, gray of hulls, and the broad red diagonal slash of the ,uard along the ship's flan's $ere
the only man/made color to brea' it& -he settlement had run a pier out into the deep $ater, made
of upright ebony logs and loo'ing massively solid& 8nshoreD
1al$-3uilt, 7an decidedE that $as the best $ay to describe it& A couple of biggish buildings, but
one of them had only the s'eleton of a roof, and tiles $ere missing on the other& A $indmill by
the river loo'ed bro'en, its vanes unmoving& Logs lay in untidy piles, and the patches of cleared
land $ere $eedy& 0ere and there $ere the signs of frantic last/minute effort that served only to
ma'e the rest seem more slovenly&
":y the mar', ten< :y the mar', nine<" the leadsman standing braced in the bo$sprit netting said,
$hirling the lead line around her head and thro$ing it far out to plop into the greening $ater&
":y the mar'D Christ, by the mar', #even. .,e t"e mar), #i7<"
"Captain (guyen, 7 suggest you stri'e all sail," Marian Alston said tightly& "%ignal to the flotilla&
7'm not fully confident in the buoys mar'ing the channel, here&"
-he officer nodded curtly, gave orders& Feet thundered on the -agle'# cro$ded dec', and teams
bent to pull on ropes& Many of them included Marines, but the men and $omen clambering aloft
in the ratlines all $ore the blue sailor suits of the ,uardE that $as specialist $or', hard and
s'illed and a little dangerous even in calm $eather& -hey s$armed out along the yards and bent
over them, gathering up armfuls of sail as the cle$lines hoisted them up&
"1ut your bac's into it<" called a petty officer from the boats to$ing the -agle up to the doc'&
-he dar'/blue $ater $as fading to green as they neared the shore, and $hite foam curled as the
ash $ood oars stro'ed into it&
More thic' ropes fle$ out, and the steel flan' of the big $ind6ammer 'issed the coconut/fiber
baffles& Further out, sails furled and anchors splashed, $histles sounded and the steaming ensigns
came do$n, the national flag brea'ing out at the tops& 0e could see the party that stood ready to
greet them on the doc' bracing& %ome had sic'ly smiles, others e;pressionless mas's& -he
gangplan' s$ung out and thumped do$nE 7an used councilor's ran' shamelessly, cro$ding in
behind the initial 9uartet of Commodore Alston, %$indapa, Colonel 0ollard, Ma6or 0ollard, and
Captain (guyen of the -agle& A bell rang from the 9uarterdec'&
"-agle departing<"
"5elcome, Commodore," the commandant of Mauritius :ase said&
Marian Alston returned his salute& 0e $as a heavyset, balding man in his early forties, dressed in
shorts and sandals and loose shirt and s$eating until his scalp glistened through thinning blac'
hair&
Mig"t 3e t"e "eat ma)ing "im #*eat, 7an thought& Me33e not& 0e put Fared Cofflin's dry,
s'eptical Aan'ee voice to the thought&
"5e've a luncheon laid on," the man3Marvin <oc)le,, he remembered3began&
"Later," Alston snapped& "7 thin' $e need to have a discussion, Mr& Loc'ley&"
6ot u#ing "i# militia ran), 7an noted&
%he turned& "Colonel 0ollard, Captain (guyen, please see to disembar'ing the troops and
passengers," she $ent on in a flat, even tone that anyone $ho 'ne$ her recogni.ed as the danger
signal it $as&
%he turned on one heel and strode a$ay, the luc'less Loc'ley trailing in her $a'e& 7an follo$ed,
loo'ing about& A cat lay in the shade of a thatched hut, nursing 'ittens& For a moment he
accepted the sight, then grunted in shoc'&
T"at litter rere#ent# "al$ a do:en $eral cat# in t"e ma)ing, he thought& 2ane S*eet *ill have
)itten# "im#el$& -he Councilor for Conservation had been nervous about coloni.ing the home of
the dodo any$ay, and he and his faction had insisted on safeguards& 5hich, evidently, Mr&
Loc'ley had let slip& A pregnant Fiernan girl $aved to themE she $as $earing nothing but a
palm/frond hat and driving a so$ ahead of her $ith a stic'& !eral ig#, too& -hey $ere supposed
to be strictly penned& A man in ragged shorts sat propped against a $all, a 6ug beside himD
"7 notice that the $ater/furro$ and the sa$mill are incomplete," Alston said in a conversational
tone&
"AhD $e've had some difficultiesD hard to get partsD"
"7 see& 7 thin' $e should discuss this, Commandant&"
-hey turned into $hat $as evidently the commandant's 9uarters, a series of thatched rondavels&
%$indapa halted outside and made a sign to 7an and 2oreenE they did li'e$ise and shushed their
son& Ioices came from $ithin& 0e couldn't follo$ them for the most part, not until near the end,
$hen Alston's voice rose to a 9uarterdec' bello$>
"T"i# ma, 3e an island, and it ma, 3e a tropical i#land, .=T &T &S6'T ,7LL7,A('% 842-
2AM6-2 &S<A62D54= 1-A; M-, M&ST-;B"
A moment later they came out& Loc'ley $as gray/$hite under his tan, and sha'ing& Alston stood
blin'ing in the sunlight for a second& -he troops from the -agle $ere filing ashore, then being
dismissedE the civilian technicians and specialists and their families follo$ed& 0er eyes came to
rest on Lucy and 0eather, and a little of the stiffness $ent out of her shoulders&
"Mr& (guyen," she said&
-he Iietnamese/American officer came to attention as the commodore $ent on> "Mr& Loc'ley
has decided to resign his position here and ship out on the -agle as a foremast hand& Rate him
'seaman recruit' and see that he's assigned some fatigues&"
"Aes, ma'am&"
"Ms& %tearns&"
-he former commandant's second/in/command s$allo$ed and braced herself& "Ma'amB"
"7n the light of Mr& Loc'ley's resignation, 7'm provisionally appointing you commandant of
Mauritius :ase& 5ith the e;peditionary force and the cre$s, $e have more than a thousand pairs
of hands hereE $e ought to be able to get things shipshape in fairly short order&" A pause&
"%houldn't $eB"
"Aes, ma'am&"
",ood&" %he sighed& "(o$, let's see about that lunch&"
2oreen gave 7an a silent $histle behind the commodore's bac' and $aggled a hand& 0e nodded
agreement& As they $al'ed a$ay, %$indapa dropped bac' beside them for a moment&
"7an," she said, fro$ning slightly, "$ho's ,illiganB"
"Let go, and haul<"
A s9uared ebony log 6er'ed up off the pier, then s$ung out over the dec' of the -agle as the yard
acting as crane pivoted on the mast&
"0eaveD "o< 0eaveD "o<"
"0andsomely there, handsomely<"
Captain (guyen lo$ered his spea'ing/trumpet and turned to Marian Alston&
"-hat's the last of them, Commodore," he said $ith 9uiet pride& 0e bent a critical eye on his ship&
"7'm glad $e finally got around to installing a proper hold& %he trims $ell, even so&"
"-hat she does, although 7'd li'e to see her under $ay," Alston said& "%he's a little by the stern&"
":etter that than dead/level& 7'd been meaning to come at the ballast and shift it a bit any$ay&
Less li'ely to press her forefoot do$n under full sail that $ay&"
"%he's your baby," Alston agreed, suppressing an inner pang& (romoted a*a, $rom #"i
command, goddammit, she thought&
"-hat's the last of the cargo loaded, and $e're $ooded and $atered," (guyen said& 0e nodded
to$ard the other ships of the flotilla& "Ready to sail $ith the evening tide, ma'am&"
"5ell, $e're not in t"at much of a hurry&" -heoretically, the stopover on Mauritius $as supposed
to rest the e;peditionary force's people before the action at the end of it& 7nstead they'd spent an
effortful $ee' getting the base itself shipshape&
"5atch cre$s only," she $ent on& "5e'll give everyone a day or t$o of leave, then get under
$ay& Morning tide on Monday3oh/nine/hundred hours& Lieutenant Commander, pass the
$ord&"
"Aes, ma'am," %$indapa said, conscientiously mar'ing it in the dayboo' to be issued as a
general order&
Cheers and flung hats rose to the s'y as (guyen announced the leave and then e;changed salutes
$ith the commodore& Alston removed her billed cap, sighed, and ran fingers over her damp
forehead and close/cropped hair as they $al'ed bac' up the single street of the little settlement&
"Loo's better," %$indapa said&
Alston nodded& 7t didE the ma6or buildings $ere all completed, the sa$mill in action, livestoc'
neatly penned, and the hollo$/log a9ueduct had filled the cas's and tan's of each ship in turn as
they $ere $arped in to the doc'& ,ood spring $ater too, not li'ely to go bad out in the middle of
no$here& 0ollard's Marines $ere still putting the finishing touches on the fort, adding stone
retaining $alls belo$ the earth ramparts& -he colonel $as lending a hand himself, stripped to the
$aist, s$eat/shining s'in rippling as he heaved an eighty/pound bloc' into position& %he caught
%$indapa's fran' loo' of appreciation and moc'/sco$led&
"9u#t loo'ing," the Fiernan said& "7 loo' at girls, too&"
"As long as it's strictly a visual relationship," Alston chuc'led& %he added, "0e's setting a good
e;ample for his troops&"
Alston's e;pression softened into a smile as they came to the circle of children sitting under a
tall, slender tree $ith a silvery/gray trun'3 a tambalaco9ue& 2oreen Arnstein $as ta'ing the
class, pointing alternately to a live dodo in a $ic'er cage and a diagram on the portable
blac'board& -here $ere around three do.en youngsters, mostly children of the technicians
attached to the e;peditionary force& -his $as a long/term pro6ect, and you couldn't e;pect people
to leave their children behind for an indefinite stay&
-hey $aited for a moment $hile the assistant councilor for foreign affairs finished her rundo$n
on evolutionary biology and younger children continued practicing the alphabet on their slates&
6antuc)et'# #till #mall enoug" to 3e in$ormal, Alston thought& & li)e t"at. &t $as also small
enough that Martha Cofflin had managed to thoroughly revamp the curriculum, and as a parent
she li'ed that even better3they sa$ eye to eye on phonics and drill, and even Lisa ,errard had
come around on most of it&
8errard'# not a bad councilor, Alston thought& 9u#t a 3it #tu33orn& %he'd even shed most of her
pre6udices& A$ter nearl, nine ,ear# o$ *or)ing *it" a real, live, 3reat"ing, caital-< <e#3ian&
-he class bro'e up& 0eather and Lucy came running, and Alston crouched, grabbed the redhead
under her arms and s$ung her up&
"2o Fesus, either you're getting heavy or 7'm getting older<" she said&
"0ey, Mom, did you 'no$ these gon.o birds could fly once but they got too la.yB" 0eather said&
"(o, it $as their 'cestors $ho could fly," Lucy said from %$indapa's shoulders& "-hat's $hy you
get sunburnt and 7 don't, 'cause of your 'cestors& 7t's evolutionary adoption&"
"-hat's adaptation," %$indapa corrected&
"Li'e 7 said, Mom&"
0eather stuc' out her tongue at her sister, and Alston felt her heart turn over inside her& 6ice to
)no* *"at ,ou're $ig"ting $or&
C#ATE! E&G#T
*eruary, Year ) A.E.
@ing comes< 4at dirt before #"ar )i3rat 'ar3aim, the @ing of the Four Huarters of the 4arth<
@ing of %umer and A''ad, @ing of @ar/2uniash, @ing of :abylon, 4nsi of Mardu'D"
-he great audience hall of +r $as tense, dense/pac'ed $ith robed cler's, priests in old/style
$raps that left one shoulder bare, and soldiers $ith their beards freshly oiled and curled& -he hot
still air smelled of that perfumed oil, s$eat, and fear& Light from the small, high $indo$s
stabbed into the gloom hot and bright, brea'ing off the colors of tapestries and murals that
sho$ed the 'ing's ancestors at $ar, at the hunt, ma'ing sacrifice to the gods& %ave for the ever/
$atchful royal guard, all $ent do$n on their bellies as the 'ing entered&
"%hagara'ti/%huriash, son of @udur/4nlil, son of @adashman/4nlil, descendant of the 'ings $ho
$ere before the 'ings, unto $hom the ,ods have given rule< <a #anan, #a ma"ira la i#u< -he
'ing $ho has no rival< 8 @ing, live forever<"
%hagara'ti/%huriash seated himself and made a sign& -he cro$d rose, standing $ith folded hands
and do$ncast eyes, as $as seemly&
"Let the 'ing's servant @idin/(inurta approach< Let the 'ing's servant Arad/%amas approach<"
@idin/(inurta cast a single burning glance at his rival as they prostrated themselves before the
throne& 5hen they rose, he found himself under the 'ing's ga.e&
%hagara'ti/%huriash $as a man in his early middle years, $ith gray in his curled beardE he $as
perhaps a little lighter of s'in and more ha$'ish of feature than his average sub6ect, legacy of the
@assite hill/men and Mitannian princesses among his ancestors& 0is body $as stoc'y and thic'
$ith muscle, beginning to gro$ at the $aist but at ease in the gorgeous embroidered linen of his
robe& ,ray/strea'ed blac' hair $as clubbed at the base of his head $ith gold $ire and confined
around his bro$s $ith a circlet of gold shaped li'e a city $all&
"7 have come a long $ay from :abylon," he said& T"i# "ad 3etter 3e *ort" m, time, came
unspo'en after$ard&
-he bro$n eyes $ere hard and $earyE he had been on the throne for only three years in his o$n
right, but much of the toil of 'ingship had been his during the long reigns of his father and
grandfather, campaigning in the north and east&
"Let the 'ing's overseer of trade $ith 2ilmun and Meluhha spea'&"
"8 @ing, my lord, your servant @idin/(inurta prays that the gods grant you long life and health<
Aour servant has met $ith the strangers from the south& Aour servant has spo'en $ith the
strangers from the south& -hey approach from the south, in great shipsE from the lands of 2ilmun
and Meluhha they approach& From the days of the 'ings your fathers all such affairs have been
the province of my officeE so decreed the 'ings $ho $ere before the 'ing&"
Arad/%amas $as s$elling li'e a frog $ith the need to spea'& 5hen the 'ing granted permission,
he burst out>
"8 @ing, my lord, may the gods, the great gods, the mighty gods ma'e your days many in the
land< From the time of the 'ings your fathers, diplomatic correspondence has gone through m,
office& Letters $ith the 'ings your brothers of Assyria, of 0atti/land, of 4gypt, of 4lam, have
passed through my office& 7t is my tas' for the 'ing to3"
"-he strangers appear from the south, in the direction of 2ilmun and Meluhha< 1recedent3"
"-hey are not of 2ilmun< -hey are not of Meluhha< My office3"
"%ilence<"
-he bureaucrats bent their heads and folded handsE the 'ing made a 9uic' 9uir' of the hand
to$ard his personal secretary& -here $as a s$ift 6uggling of tablets, and the man read>
"From the 'ing's servant Arad/%amas to the 'ing's servant @idin/(inurtaE health, prosperity, life&
Aou $rite once more of rumors of foreigners in great ships at 2ilmun& 5hat is this to meB -he
Assyrians have bro'en the Mitanni and pro$l the northern borders li'e $olves about a sheep
penE 4gypt and 0atti/land have made a peace and spea' not of Asshur's deeds& -he 4lamites are
hungrier than the 6ac'al and more cunning than the serpent& 7 have greater concerns than the
ships of merchants in the %outhern %ea&"
@idin/(inurta smiled $ithin himself and bo$ed his head& T"ere are #ome t"ing# t"at #"ould not
3e *ritten do*n on t"e cla,& 0is father had taught him that& 7t made it so difficult to s$itch
positions later& 0e thought fondly of the ingot of pure silver that rested in the strong room of his
house, the gift of the strangers& -he strangers $ho had come to the Land and sho$n that they
*ere of conse9uence, as he had said and Arad/%amas had denied in $ritingD
"Let @idin/(inurta spea'," the 'ing $ent on& "Let others $ithdra$&"
Amid considerable rustling and clan'ing, most of the cro$d filed out the e;itsE e;cept for the
guard, of course, and some of the 'ing's advisers and $isemen, and the 'ing's heir from the
0ouse of %uccession, his son @ashtiliash&
"8 @ing, your servant spea's& For five years merchants returning from 2ilmun have spo'en of
strange ships&"
"0o$, strangeB"
"0uge, 8 @ing& Larger than any ship seen before, and laden $ith goods so fine that they might
have been made by magic and the arts of demons& 7 thought these tales to be $ild3does not
every sailor returning from 2ilmun spea' of $ondersB Aet the tales are trueE the truth is $ilder
than the tales<"
%huriash nodded thoughtfully& 0e had seen some of those goods& ,lass clearer than $ater, or in
colors impossibly vividE small mirrors better than burnished bron.e or silverE most of all, 'nives
and tools of the northern metal, iron& :etter iron than any he had ever been able to get from his
"brother" -udhaliya in 0attusasE a 'nife of it $as at his $aist no$, $ith the plain bone hilt
replaced $ith gold $ire& %mall things, but beyond price&
"-hese foreigners3do they spea' our tongueB" 5or'ing through interpreters $as al$ays an
annoyance&
"A fe$ spea' it& Also, they have one of the 'ing's sub6ects $ith them, $hom they have trained as
an interpreterE a merchant, %hamash/nasir/'udduru by name, of +r& -hey desire an audience $ith
the 'ing's person&"
-he 'ing stro'ed his beard& "-hey spea' of tradeB" -rade $as a good field for a 'ing to till&
"-hey spea' of trade, and of allianceE they bring the $ord of their 'ing Ahared/@off 'in&" -he
bureaucrat sounded out the uncouth foreign syllables $ith care& "And they send gifts, that the
heart of the 'ing my lord may be made glad&"
%huriash's eyebro$s rose& 0e clapped his hands together& "Let the gifts be brought forth& Let us
see if these foreigners do my house honorE let us see if they are $orthy of speech $ith the 'ing's
person&"
@idin/(inurta bo$ed, smiling behind a grave face& "-he gifts a$ait the attention of the 'ing my
lord," he said& "At the )arum of +r they $aitE by the $aterside they are readied for his vie$&"
%huriash snorted& "Can they not be brought hereB"
-he bureaucrat bo$ed lo$& "8 @ing, they are too many&"
%huriash's bro$s rose again& "-his the 'ing $ill see&"
<i)e #omet"ing out o$ /iling, 7an Arnstein thought& +ell, #ome #ort o$ mutant ver#ion o$
;ud,ard&
-he honor guard of Marines from the e;peditionary force $ere in $arm/season uniform3'ha'i
shorts and shirts, floppy canvas hats, and cotton/drill $ebbing harness& -he flared helmets $ere
strapped to their pac's, bayonets and bo$ies at their $aists, flintloc' rifles by their sides as they
stood at parade rest& -heir officers $ere in breastplate and helmet, )atana# sloped bac' over their
shoulders, s$eating in the damp heat of +r's riverside&
/arum, 7an reminded himself, $hich meant not only doc'side but the association of merchants&
Sometime# & t"in) m, "ead i# going to e7lode *it" all t"e t"ing# & "ave to remem3er&
A huge, chattering cro$d $as held at bay by royal guardsmen, their spears 6abbing a little
occasionally to remind the common fol' to 'eep their distance& -he people loo'ed much li'e
t$entieth/century 7ra9is& %horter, of course3nearly everyone $as, in this century3dar' of hair
and eye, s'in a natural olive that turned a deep bron.e $hen e;posed to this pitiless sun& -he men
$ore 'ilts, or 'nee/length tunics, or longer robesE hats $ere shaped li'e flo$erpots, sometimes
spangled $ith bright metals& 0ere and there a near/na'ed laborer in a loincloth crouched, mouth
open in a$eE $omen $ere less numerous and dressed in long go$ns and head/covering sha$ls, a
fe$ veiled& -he cro$d $as dun/colored, mostly the soft natural bro$ns and grays of undyed
$ool& (oblemen or rich merchants stood out in gorgeous relief, $hite and blue and purple and
saffron/gold, often $ith attendants holding parasols over their heads&
:eyond them rose the $alls of +r33ut not =r o$ t"e %"aldee#, 7an thought& 7t $as half a
millennium before the people the :ible called Chaldeans $ere to enter this land& T"e, call
t"em#elve# Men o$ =r, "ere, or Men o$ /ar-2unia#", or ju#t A))adian#3
8nce this had been a %umerian city, but that $as a thousand years or more ago& -he city $alls
$ere si;ty feet high, surfaced in reddish/gray fired bric', a brooding, looming presence& :ron.e
gleamed on the to$ers that studded the $all every fifty yards or so, or reared on either side of the
city gates, but brighter still $as the .iggurat that soared above those $alls, nearly three hundred
feet of step/pyramid into heaven& T"at $as not dun/coloredE it glittered, it bla.ed under the fierce
Mesopotamian sun, it reared itself in a s'in of paint and colored bric' li'e some fantastic serpent&
"7mpressive," 2oreen said& "4ven more impressive if it didn't smell so bad&"
7an Arnstein $renched his mind a$ay from a historian's dream made flesh and nodded& -he
se$er ree' $as already pretty strongE ,hu alone 'ne$ $hat it $ould be li'e in high summer& 0e
loo'ed bac' at the gates& -hose massive bron.e leaves $ere s$inging open, $ith a s9ueal of
hinges and a thunder of trumpets3ram's horn and brass3a pounding of 'ettledrums and a clash
of cymbals& -he royal party came in style, riding in chariots amid a bla.e of spearheads, behind
high/stepping horses that loo'ed li'e miniature Arabians& -he 'ing's chariot $as positively
encrusted $ith precious metals and lapis la.uli, and the scales of his corselet $ere gildedE a
cro$n of gold encircled his helmet& -he cro$d parted in a $ave, 'neeling and then going to their
bellies in the dust&
& $eel li)e a comlete mounte3an), 7an thought, stepping for$ard gravely&
7n a $ay he $elcomed the hideous embarrassmentE it distracted him from the a$areness that he
$as actually "ere, about to tal' $ith a man $hom the history he'd learned recorded as dead three
thousand years and more& 0e'd gotten over that feeling in the other places the 7slanders touched,
but this $as the ancient $orld he'd spent all his adult life studying& -his city had been inhabited
since men first learned to $rite on clay tablets&
%oncentrate on not triing on t"i# goddam dre##, ,ou $ool, he told himself&
0e $as $earing $hat their research and local informants had concluded $ould be impressive to
:abylonian sensibilities3an an'le/length caftan of crimson sil' embroidered in gold and silver
thread and a hat plumed $ith bird/of/paradise feathersE in his left hand he carried a staff of ivory
and ebony, topped by a golden eagle& 2oreen $as only a degree less gorgeousE even her clip/
board $as of rare honey/colored $ood from the forests in the 'loofs of -able Mountain&
As the @ing of @ar/2uniash dismounted from his chariot, 7an made a sign $ith his hand&
" '-en/1ut0" Colonel 0ollard's voice rang out& "%houlder& & .arm#0 1resentD arm#'&"
-he Marine platoon snapped their heels together, and the rifles came up $ith a single snap and
slap of hands on $ood and metal& -he officers' s$ords s$ept do$n, then up into a salute, $ith
the hilt before the lips& %ome of the 'ing's guards bristled at the sudden movement, but %huriash
chec'ed only a half a pace and came on $ith a regal nod& -he handsome, hard/faced young man
beside him clapped a $ary hand to the hilt of his s$ord, then rela;ed at a murmured $ord from
his father&
",reetings, 8 @ing," 7an said, halting and bo$ing from the $aist&
0ard, cold bro$n eyes flic'ed from him to 2oreen, to the great ships at anchor in the river $ith
the sun bla.ing on their gilt eagle figureheads, to %hamash/nasir/'udduru flat on his belly and
'issing the dirt at the 'ing's feet&
"Aou do not ma'e your obeisance to the 'ing's personB" he as'ed& -he voice $as hard, and the
guttural A''adian tongue sounded menacing at the best of times&
.ut "e'# )eeing it #lo*, 7an reali.ed $ith relief&
"8 @ing, live long and prosper," he said solemnly, holding up his right hand $ith the fingers
spread in a I& & al*a,# $anted to #a, t"at, he thought, then there $as a sharp pain in his an'le as
2oreen 'ic'ed himE she hadn't believed he $ould actually go through $ith it&
"7t is against our custom and the la$ of our god to bend the 'nee to any man," he $ent on $ith
slo$ care& %hams had said his A''adian $as accented but understandableD but then, %hams had
a disconcerting tendency to say $hat he thought $ould please&
%huriash nodded, sho$ing that he understood& 7an sighed relief and continued, "7 greet you as 7
$ould my o$n ruler, Fared Cofflin&" 0e "ad tried it out on the Chief, $ho'd almost ruptured
himself laughing& "7 bring the $ord of my ruler to the ,reat @ing, the @ing of %umer and A''ad,
the @ing of @ar/2uniash, of $hose might and glory $e have long heard&"
1eard $or #everal t"ou#and ,ear#, 3ut let'# not go t"ere ,et.
0e fought do$n giddiness& -he man loo'ing at him $as absolute ruler of several million souls3
probably about as large a share of the $orld's population as the +nited %tates had had in the
t$entieth century3and unless first impressions lied he $as no fool at all& Aou could get yourself
into very serious trouble very 9uic'ly by underestimating the locals&
"Iery $ell," %huriash said& "7 am glad to hear the $ord of my brother, Ahared/@off'in& 2oes he
send the son of his mother, the child of his $ife, to greet meB"
7an bo$ed againE by calling the Republic's ruler "brother" the :abylonian monarch $as ma'ing a
considerable diplomatic concession, granting him e9uality $ith the other great 'ings of the
ancient 4ast& :esides the :abylonians, only the 0ittites, Assyrians, and 4gyptians rated it&
"7 have the honor to be Fared Cofflin's councilor for foreign affairs," 7an said& "7t grieves me to
report that our ruler's sons are not yet of a man's age&" And *e'll leave t"e matter o$ elective
government $or a later date& "7 bear his instructionsE 7 spea' $ith his voice&" 4", and &'m in
contact *it" "im 3, #"ort*ave radio&
%huriash gruntedE ambassadors $ere common here& "And 7 am glad to receive his gifts," he $ent
on, glancing pointedly at the tarpaulin/covered heaps& "7 do not doubt that they $ill ma'e my
heart glad&"
7an made an imperious gesture $ith his staff, and the Marines tas'ed to the 6ob began to uncover
the treasuresE at another gesture the interpreter rose and follo$ed them&
%huriash did an e;cellent 6ob of 'eeping his face impassive, ta'ing only one step bac'$ard and
registering a slight start at the man/high mirror that $as revealed first& :ut a grin of
unselfconscious pleasure sho$ed strong yello$ed teeth as he e;amined the $eapons that lay on
the table beyondE a suit of silvered chain mail, an elaborately $or'ed helmet $ith a tall 9uet.al
plume, a steel long s$ord in a sheath of inlaid leather, $ith a hilt of ivory and a gold pommel set
$ith gems&
0e slid the s$ord free and tested the heft and balance $ith practiced easeE the sun bro'e
blinding/bright off the honed edge, and he gave a hiss of respect as he pressed it $ith a thumb&
"-hese stones shine brightly," he said, turning the $eapon to catch the sunlight on its pommel&
"0o$B"
"5e call it $aceting," 7an saidE local 6e$elers merely polished their gems& 2oreen nudged him
slightlyE the Cro$n 1rince @ashtiliash $as even more delighted $ith the silver/hilted long s$ord
the 7sland's artisans had made for "im&
":ehold," 7an said, moving on& "%pices from the far eastern lands for the 'ing's table&" (utmeg
and cinnamon $ere 'no$n here, but rare and unbelievably e;pensive& "%ilver and gold for the
'ing's treasury&"
%huriash pic'ed up a gold coin the si.e of a dime and s9uinted at it, holding it at arm's length&
"0ard to ma'e such a thing, much less hundreds," he said& "5hy not ingotsB"
"5e call them coin#, 8 @ing," 7an said& "4ach is of a standard $eight and fineness, guaranteed
by the inscription stamped upon them& -rade is eased by these coins, commerce is made more
s$ift by them&"
A small e;clamation escaped the lips of a plump official in the 'ing's train&
":ahdi/Lim, my *a)il of the )arum," %huriash said& "0e trac's a scent of profit more eagerly
than a lion upon the trail of an antelope&"
Mini#ter o$ commerce, 7an thought, bo$ing slightly&
"Copper and tin, for the 'ing's artisans&"
-he 'ing's eyes lit up, imagining spearheads and arro$shead and s$ords& "My brother Ahared/
@off'in is generous<"
"Fe$elry, for the 'ing's $ives and daughters," 7an said& "7vory and rare $oods, that the 'ing may
adorn his palace and the houses of the gods his patrons&"
-his time the murmur reached as far as the cro$d surrounding the landing spot& -he crisscross
stac' of ebony logs $as taller than a man, and surrounded by threescore ivory tus's, all of them
far larger than the Middle 4astern elephant could produce&
"%trange beasts, to ma'e merry the heart of the 'ing<" 7an concluded, $ith a s$eep of his arm&
%huriash burst into delighted laughter, and for a moment his face $as a child's& 8ne of the cages
held a chimpE another a baby giraffeE and the third a moa, staring around $ith blin'ing
$onderment&
"-he 'ing's heart is made glad by the gifts of his brotherE his heart is full of happiness to see
them&" %huriash's voice changed in the middle of the double/barreled formal sentence, suddenly
didn't seem 9uite as delighted as his $ords&
";emem3er, "e "a# to return t"e $avor, or lo#e $ace, @ 2oreen $hispered in 7an's ear& @ings here
didn't do anything so declasse as tradingE instead they e;changed royal gifts that 6ust happened to
be of roughly e9uivalent value&
Mean$hile %huriash $as considering the honor guard& "Aour 'ingdom is not poor," he said
meditatively& "(or are your craftsmen lac'ing in s'ill& 7 am surprised that you cannot afford
armor for all your troops&" 0is ga.e sharpened& "Are those eunuchsB"
"(o, 8 @ing& @no$ that some among us shave their chins, even as some of your priests shave
their heads&"
"Curious&"
"7n all lands custom is 'ing," 7an said tactfully& "7n every land the customs differ&"
"And are those *omenB" @ashtiliash blurted in ama.ement& 4ven $ith cropped hair, the light
summer uniforms made that fairly obvious, once a local started loo)ing&
"Aes, 8 son of %hagara'ti/%huriash," 7an said, bo$ing again& "%uch is our custom&"
-he prince snortedE he 'ept silent under his father's eye, but he fierce young ha$'/features
sno$ed $hat he thought of t"at custom&
%huriash $ent on> "And 7 see they bear fine blades, but no spear nor shield, neither bo$ nor
6avelin nor sling& 8nly those curious maces of $ood and metal&"
7an smiled& "5ould the 'ing my lord $ish a demonstrationB 7 $ill call the officer $ho commands
the troops my ruler Fared Cofflin has sent to guard this e;peditionE the officer $ill satisfy the
'ing's mind& 5e call these $eapons ri$le#A they are li'e a bo$, li'e a sling, yet not li'e a bo$ or
sling&"
-he 'ing nodded eagerlyE so did 1rince @ashtiliash, and a number among the officers $ho
follo$ed behind& Colonel 0ollard strode over and stopped before the :abylonian monarch,
bo$ing his head and saluting&
"8 @ing, may you live forever," he said& 0is A''adian $as nearly as good as 7an's, $ith perhaps
a trifle less of an accent& "2oes the 'ing have an animal that may be 'illedB"
%huriash nodded, intrigued& A moment's relaying of orders, and a don'ey $as led out and
tethered to a sta'e a hundred yards do$nstream& 0ollard pointed to a guardsman's shield, and
too' it $hen %huriash nodded agreement& 0e hung it carefully from the don'ey's harness so that
it covered most of the little beast's side&
"First section, front and center at the double<" he snapped $hen he returned&
4ight Marines trotted up and stopped in unisonE 7an could see %huriash's eyes follo$ing that, as
$ell& Close/order drill and standing to attention hadn't been invented here yetE the 'ing's guards
$ere alert, but there $as little formality to their postures&
"8shins'y, 'ill that don'ey," the Republic's commander said& "And don't miss&"
"%ir, yessir," the Marine replied& %he $as a bro$n/haired young $oman, a native 7slander $ith
corporal's chevrons and a %niper star&
"-here $ill be a loud noise," the 7slander commander said in A''adian&
%he $ent to one 'nee and thumbed bac' the hammer of her 5estley/Richards& 7an could see her
s9uinting thoughtfully as she brought the rifle to her shoulder, e;haled, s9uee.edD
%rac).
Fore$arned, the 'ing and his son only blin'ed& A fe$ of his courtiers made covert signs $ith
their fingers, or clenched small idols that hung from their belts& -he gri..le/bearded officers
clenched their hands as $ell, on the hilts of their s$ords, and screams came from the $atching
cro$d& -he sulfur/stin'ing cloud hid the don'ey from 7an for a momentE he felt a $ordless
prayer drifting up $ith it, to an atheist's ,od& -he problem $as that he 'ne$ that particular deity
delighted in the perverseE other$ise he $ouldn't be here in the thirteenth century :&C&
-he don'ey gave an agoni.ed bray, and seconds later it collapsed, going to its 'nees and then
falling over side$ays to 'ic' a fe$ times&
":y the bra.en pric' of Mardu'," %huriash said 9uietly, $hen a terrified guardsman ran bac'
$ith the shield&
-he men behind him $ere gabbling prayers under their breath, clutching at amuletsE a shaven/
headed priest e;tended his to$ard the strangers, chanting an incantation& -he 'ing held the shield
up and then $iggled a finger through the hole the &=L/caliber bullet had made through sheet
bron.e, tough bull hide and layered strips of poplar $ood&
"Aou can thro$ thunderboltsB" he $ent on& 0is face $as set, but s$eat gleamed on it& "Aou must
be a nation of mighty sorcerers&"
7an nodded to 0ollard& "8 great @ing, the earth lies at your feet," the young colonel said
soothingly& "(ot a thunderbolt& Lead shot, li'e a sling&"
0e too' 8shins'y's rifle and raised the lever& "%ee, 8 @ing, here is the shot&" 0e held up a bullet
in his other hand& ":ehind it is a po$der that burns very fast& -hat creates a3" 0ollard hesitatedE
there $as no $ord for "gas" in A''adian3"a hot s$ift $ind that pushes the lead shot out of the
iron tube, too s$iftly for the eye to see&"
"Li'e a sling bullet," %huriash said& "8nly too s$ift to see& 7t can pierce armorB 0o$ farB"
"A thousand long paces, 8 'ing& %hall 7 demonstrateB"
-he 'ing nodded, a tightly controlled gesture& T"i# i# a 3rave man, 7an thought& %everal of the
courtiers $ere still tremblingE it spo'e volumes of their fear of their monarch that none had run&
Many of the cro$d had, streaming bac' to$ard the city to spread ,hu/'ne$/$hat rumors&
0ollard pointed south$ard along the riverban'& -he 7slanders had planted sta'es there, at fifty/
yard intervals& Atop each $as a local clay pot&
"-hose are full of $ater," 0ollard said& ":ut the 3ullet# $ould stri'e through any armor a man
could carry, and send his spirit to the realm of (ergal&" 0e s$itched to 4nglish> "%9uad,
independent fire& Ma'e it count&"
Corporal 8shins'y snapped> "Aou heard the colonel& Llaundaur, you first, then to the right&"
-he %un 1eople trooper lic'ed his thumb, $et the foresight of his $eapon, and brought it up to
his shoulder in a smooth movement that ended $ith another crac)A the nearest clay 6ar shattered
in a spectacular leaping 6et of $ater& Colonel 0ollard too' out his binoculars and sho$ed
%huriash ho$ to ad6ust themE by the time the last pot bro'e, the 'ing $as loo'ing more at them
than at the firearms& 7an could see $heels spinning in the :abylonian's mind and gave himself a
mental 'ic'&
0ollard rescued the situation& "Let these tubes of far/seeing3these 3inocular#3be my humble
gift to the 'ing's ma6esty," he said&
"8ut< 8ut<" @ing %huriash bello$ed&
-he priests bent over the sheep's liver, the 3aru/diviners, the ma""u/priests $ho foretold in
fren.ies of madness, bac'ed out of the council room $here the 'ing of @ar/2uniash had met
$ith the ambassadors, ta'ing $ith them the smell of blood and incense& -heir lord resumed his
pacing&
"Fools, dolts, $it/rotted tablet/che$ers<" he roared, $ith a lion's guttural menace in his voice&
"-hey can interpret comets and tell me to $ear the same shirt for a month, but 7 as' them a
9uestion37 as' for an ans$er3it should be there in the liver of the sheep, and 7 receive nothing&
(othing of use<"
0is son nodded& %incerely, he thought& -he generals and bureaucrats nodded agreement $ith
their lord, too& 5ith them, $ho 'ne$ $hat their real thoughts $ereB 8ver the years he had come
to suspect that the priests, too, shaded their omens according to $hat he $ished to hear, as $ellE
or $orse, according to ho$ their temples $ished to bend his policy&
" ',reat opportunity, but great danger,' "%huriash 9uoted, "& could have told them that and saved
the $aste of a good sheep&"
"-he priests $ill eat the sheep," @ashtiliash pointed out&
"As 7 said, $asted," %huriash replied&
-here $ere smiles and a fe$ shoc'ed loo's at the delicious blasphemyE only his son dared to
laugh aloud&
"-here are t$o 9uestions here, 8 @ing," @idin/(inurta said& "First, $hat can the 6an-tu ')"t-ar
do for usB And second, $hat do they $ishB 5hat $ill be the price of their aidB"
-he 'ing nodded& "5e 'no$ they are rich," he said&
4mphatic nodsE the gifts they' d given the 'ing amounted to about a year's ta;es from +r and its
district&
"5e 'no$ they are po$erful, $ith their fire/$eapons&" 4ven more emphatic agreementE the
ri$le# $ere bad enough, but the strangers had also demonstrated $hat their cannon could do&
"8 @ing, they are more po$erful than that," @idin/(inurta said thoughtfully& "Consider their
ships& Consider t"o#e&" 0e pointed to the binoculars on the table& "Consider the arts they must
have to ma)e all these things&"
"8 @ing my father," @ashtiliash said& "Consider also the most e;cellent order of their $arriors&
7n their every movement they anticipate commandsE li'e the fingers of a man's hand, they obey&"
0e paused& "Consider also that each one $as e9uipped and dressed e;actly li'e the others3even
to the shade of the cloth they $ore&"
%huriash felt his heart glo$ $ith pride& & "ave 3red me a lion t"at can t"in) a# *ell a# $ig"t, he
thought& 7t $as a good thought& -he (an/tu''ht/ar soldiers $ere li'e the mar's of a cylinder/seal
rolled many times on $et clay& -he implications of that $ereD interesting&
"-his Ahared/@off'in must be a ruler of great po$erE his people must fear him more than the
demons," %huriash said& "-hey must obey as if he $ere a god among them&"
"5omen," @ashtiliash said thoughtfully& "All other things to one side, ho$ can they be useful as
$arriors $hen half the time their bellies bulge $ith childrenB And if they can stop soldiers from
fornicating, they are not sorcerers, but rather gods&"
"1rince of the 0ouse of %uccession," @idin/(inurta said& "8f that 7 as'ed the merchant %hamash/
nasir/'udduruE for a brief time 7 $as able to spea' $ith him& -he (an/tu''ht/ar have a $ay of
preventing conception& 8ne that actually $or's $ithout fail&"
"%trange, even so," the prince said, tugging at his beard and disarranging the careful curls that
hot bron.e rods and oil had put in it& "0o$ can a people gro$ strong if their $omen do not bear
many childrenB"
"-hat also 7 as'ed, 8 my lordE diligently 7 in9uired& -heir medicines ensure that fe$ children die
3less than one in ten, if $hat the merchant said can be believed& -hey can bind Lamashtu, the
demoness of cradle fever<"
-hat brought more e;clamations, some s'eptical, some $ondering& "-his merchant," %huriash
said& "0e 'no$s their languageE he 'no$s their $ays& %uch a man $ould be very valuable to us&"
@idin/(inurta spread his hands& "8 @ing, your servant thought of this& :ut the (an/tu''ht/ar
guard him li'e a lioness $ith a single cub&"
"Aet this %hamash/nasir/'udduru does not $ish to d$ell among them all his daysB" @ashtiliash
murmured&
"(o, 1rince of the 0ouse of %uccession& -hat is not his $ishE it is not the yearning of his liver&
0e $ishes to d$ell in the land of @ar/2uniash as a great man, as a man of $ealth and po$er&"
"For $hich he needs the favor of the 'ing, as $ell as the silver of the (an/tu''ut/ar," %huriash
said& "%omething might be made of that&"
0e paused and leaned t$o palms on the table, loo'ing at the strange maps the (an/tu''ut/ar had
given him on their even stranger papyrus& 0is o$n scribes made maps, but this $as fantastically
detailed, and $ith the round glass on a metal holder3the magni$,ing gla##3he could read the
small legends printed out in A''adian $riting& +"at a tool o$ o*er< he thought, loo'ing at his
land laid out as a god might see itD and the neighboring lands as $ell& 7t $asn't perfectE the
4uphrates $as sho$n too far to the $est& :ut that could be corrected, they said&
0is son $ent on> "5ith all their strengths, $hy do the (antu'htar come here to spea' of treaties,
of agreementsB 5hy do they not brea' do$n the $alls of the cities, sei.e the $ealth of the land
for themselvesB"
"Ah, my lord prince," @idin/(inurta said& "7 have thought on thisE 7 have pondered it& 7 thin' that
the (antu'htar are fe$ in numbers, very fe$& From $hat %hamash/nasir/'udduru let fall, their
city of (antu'htar is smaller than +r, far smaller than @ar/2uniash3rich and strong but not
large& -hither to that city and its lands they bring many of their sub6ect/allies every year to
bolster their o$n strength, to $or' and farm and fight&"
"1erhaps that is $hy they use their $omen for many tas's," @ashtiliash said slo$ly& "1erhaps
they have too fe$ men&"
"1erhaps $e build a great .iggurat from a single bric'," %huriash said dryly& "Also $e circle the
heart of the matter li'e vultures around a dying don'ey& -hese (antu'htar have great po$ers,
yes, but can they foretell the future so much better than our students of the stars, of birds, of
entrailsB"
A long silence fell& "7 pray to Mardu' and 7shtar, to %hamash and %in, the great gods of the land,
that it is not so," @ashtiliash said& "5hat they said lies in our futureD" 0e shuddered&
%huriash nodded again, and his thic' fingers traced over the surface of the map& 0e had read
from the Assyrian chronicle the strangers had brought& 7t had made grisly hearing>
$orced /a#"tilia#", /ing o$ /ar-2unia#", to give 3attleA & 3roug"t a3out t"e de$eat o$ "i# armie#,
"i# *arrior# & overt"re*. &n t"e mid#t o$ t"at 3attle m, "and catured /a#"tilia#", t"e /a##ite
)ing. 1i# ro,al nec) & trod on *it" m, $eet, li)e a galtappu #tool. Stried and 3ound, 3e$ore
A#"ur m, lord & 3roug"t "im. Sumer and A))ad to it# $art"e#t 3order & 3roug"t under m, #*a,&
"And the 4lamites at the $alls of (ippur," %huriash said&
"%urely it is not possible<" @ashtiliash burst out&
"Long ago the 4lamites burned +ru', $hen +ru' $as as :abylon is no$," %huriash said& "My
son, you are a great $arrior and a crafty leader, but 7 fear it is all too possible&"
0e could see the younger man contemplating it, as if an abyss had opened before his feet& 5hen
he spo'e, his voice $as slo$ and thoughtful& "7n the time of your father %halmaneser of Assyria
bro'e @ing %hattuara and the last remnant of Mitanni, of 0angilibat, of 0urriland& -hat frees his
son -u'ulti/(inurta to turn all his po$er south$ard&"
%huriash sighed& "%o, son of my loins, son of my heart, you see that @ar/2uniash is bet$een the
hammer and the anvil& Against Assyria, $e are strongE against 4lam, $e are strong& Against both
togetherD and t"at is $hy 7 believe the (antu'htar& 5hat they say of the years to come agrees
all too $ell $ith my fears, $ith fears that have haunted my nights&"
@ashtiliash had hunted lions and armed men $ith a smile on his lipsE no$ he turned gray beneath
his olive tan& %huriash 'ne$ he $as seeing the vision of himself brought bound and leashed li'e
a dog before the altar of Ashur& 8r of $atching an Assyrian victory feast as a severed head
hanging from a pomegranate tree in the gardens of -u'ulti/(inurta's palace3Assyrians $ere
given to gestures li'e that& :ut fell fighters and grim, and their rulers crafty and $ar/$ise&
"-he (antu'htar are too strange for my liver to feel easy at relying upon them& 5e might ally
$ith the 0ittites instead, or as $ell," the prince said& "-hey 'no$ Asshur's eye lies hungrily on
their holdings $est of the 4uphrates&"
"5e might, if they did not have this ne$ foe on their far $estern border, the 4'$esh," %huriash
said& "(o$ this rebel against the (antu'htar 'ing has risen to po$er thereE he teaches the $ild
4'$esh their artsE he gives them the secret of these fire $eapons&"
"%o $e $ill ma'e alliance $ith the (antu'htar, father and lordB"
"5e $ill ma'e alliance&" 0is fingers traced the map again& "And then, once our enemies have
been beaten, $e $ill $ar against theirs3 this rebel, the 4'$esh3if $e can persuade the 0ittites
to it&
"7t comes to me3perhaps a god $hispers it in my ear3that the strangers bring a ne$ age $ith
them, one in $hich those $ho learn their arts $ill prosper and those $ho do not $ill be ground
li'e grain bet$een millstones and blo$n about by the $ind&"
0is seamed face split in a broad smile&
"And @ar/2uniash," he $ent on, "is perfectly placed to benefit by this ne$ age& @ashtiliash, my
son, my heir, for all my life 7 have fought so that $hen my time comes to descend to the
under$orld 7 might leave to you a realm as strong and rich as that 7 inherited from my fathers&
(o$ 7 see a chance to leave you a realm greater than 7 inheritedE perhaps as great as
0ammurabi's, greater than that of ,ilgamesh& -he (antu'htar $ill need interpretersD as part of
our alliance, 7 $ill suggest to them that a hundred young scribes be set to learning their language
and their $ritingE and those young men $ill learn much of their arts& -hat for a beginning&"
0e raised his $ine cup& "-o the (antu'htar< 5ith them to pull our chariot, $e shall spurn the
four 9uarters of the earth beneath the $heels<"
"D and it's the perfect location as far as controlling technology transfer goes," 7an said3a little
smugly, Marian Alston thought&
-he command group of the e;peditionary force $as gathered in the cabin of the %"am3erlain for
a last conference before the fleet left for home, and 7an $as highly pleased $ith the $ay things
had gone so far& %o $as she, but a contrarian impulse inclined her to loo' for the shado$ side&
"0o$ so, 7anB" %$indapa as'ed& "My birth/people in Alba started $ith less than these
A''adians, and they have learned a great deal of 4agle people lore already&"
"Aes," 7an chuc'led, rubbing his hands together, "but apart from the fact that $e've encouraged
that, t"e, have iron ore, copper, tin, $ood and coal for fuel& -hese :abylonians have nothing but
$ater and mud&"
"And petroleum," Alston pointed out& "5hich $e have to sho$ them ho$ to use, if $e're going
to get any benefit out of it&"
"-rue," 7an said& ":ut they still can't do much in the $ay of metallurgy $ithout ores or fuels&"
"1robably can't," 2oreen corrected& "5e'll see&"
"4;pect the une;pected," Alston agreed&
@enneth 0ollard poured more beer from the 6ug into his tan'ard, then made a face as he tasted it&
"Mebbe $e can teach them to ma'e something better than this gruel," he said&
"7t's safer than the $ater," the chief medical officer of the e;peditionary force saidE Fustin
Clemens shoo' his head& ",od, this place is a living farm of diseases&"
"5hatever $e do, $e have to do it fairly 9uic'ly," Alston said& "7 can't 'eep so many of the
Republic's 'eels and cannon here on the other side of the $orld for long& -oo much could go
$rong bac' home&"
"7'm a diplomat, not a3" 7an said, then hesitated& "0ey, it 6ust hit me37 am a diplomat no$, not
a history professor playing at diplomacy&"
"5ell, duh," 2oreen said affectionately, po'ing him in the ribs& "7t's only been going on a decade
no$&"
7an cleared his throat& "7'm a diplomat, not a magician& 5e'll have to see&"
"2on't underestimate @ing %huriash," @enneth 0ollard said& "0e's one smart coo'ie, if 7' in any
6udge&"
"7 agree," his sister, @athryn, said& "%o's his son&" %he grinned& "And 1rince @ashtiliash is cute as
a bug's ear, too&"
"7 suppose so," 0ollard said dryly& "0e doesn't do a thing for me&"
"-hat's because you're narro$/minded, Colonel, #ir," she replied, to a general chuc'le&
"2oesn't do much for me, either," Alston said&
"-hat's because ,ou're narro$/minded, darling," %$indapa said& At Alston's moc' glo$er she
$ent on> "5ell, 7 promised to be monogamous, not 3lind&"
"7," 2oreen Arnstein said, laying a hand at the base of her throat and loo'ing up$ard, "$ill say
not"ing at all&"
C#ATE! N&NE
March, Year ) A.E.
"Ayup," Fared Cofflin said into the microphone, loo'ing do$n at the te;t of the treaty& %"ri#t, a
treat, *it" .a3,lon& "-hose are good terms& 7an must have them buffaloed&"
"(ot e;actly," Marian Alston's voice said, a little scratchy $ith distance& "7 thin' they $ere
gettin' $orried about their strategic situation all on their o$nsome3it's as bad as $e thought
from the histories, maybe $orse& And this 'ing of theirs, %hagara'ti/%huriash, he's one sharp
manE 7an thin's so too& 5e'll have to $atch him, of course&"
"8f course&"
Cofflin leafed through the terms againE trade, of course3a couple of the ne$ merchant houses
$ere already chomping at the bit3and alliance, first against :abylonia's enemies, then against
5al'er& -hat $as e;cellent, rovided they could get the 0ittites in later& 0e read on& 1mmmm,
An 7slander base near +r, under the Republic's sovereigntyE 6oint courts for any civil or criminal
case involving 7slanders in the 'ingdom of @ar/2uniash&
",ood $or', the lot of you," he muttered& 2amned if he $as going to leave any citi.en, under
any circumstances $hatsoever, to $hat passed for ancient :abylonian 6ustice&
"Let's seeD" Right of passage up the -igris and 4uphrates for 7slander transport, an embassy in
:abylon itself, technical aid, mineral concessionsD
"Crac'er6ac' 6ob, Marian," he said& "7'm not going to have any trouble getting t"i# past the -o$n
Meeting, 7 can tell you& 7t reads pretty much li'e our $ish list& 5e'll post it right a$ay&"
"7an's doingE 7 stayed in the bac'ground&" A chuc'le& "-he locals are having to put up $ith
enough culture shoc' as it is& (o$, if $e can 6ust get past the -artessians ne;t year or the year
after, it'll be 5al'er $ho's caught bet$een t$o fires&"
":ig if&"
"Iery big& 5e've finished disembar'ing and unloading and shipped our return cargoes, so $e'll
sail tomorro$3ta'e a day or t$o to get through those damned reed/s$amps, and then it's 'all
plain sail&' -han' ,od the ships could get this far upstream& %ee you in t$o months or so&"
"Ayup& ,ive our love to 'dapa and the 'ids&"
"%ame to you and Martha and the tribe," Alston said& "8ver&"
"And out&"
Cofflin sighed again and tossed the treaty into his 8ut trayE the short$ave set stood on a side
cabinet& 7t $as a cold, $et, early/March day outside& :ranches $ere still bareE he could see a
rider going past, a blurred vision of a head bo$ed under a rain slic'er and the pony's drooping
de6ection& 0e half envied the e;peditionary force, off in the $arm lands, and the hard$ood fire
crac'ling in the fireplace $as more than $elcome& 0is hands hurt a little, the $ay they'd ta'en to
doing in $eather li'e this&
"Linda<" he called aloud& 0is secretary came in, and he indicated the treaty $ith a lift of his chin&
",et this do$n to the :oo'$or's, $ould you, have them set it and print up, oh, three hundred
copies for the Athenaeum to distribute3 and tell 'em it's going in the ne;t 5arrant as $ell&
-han's&"
"%ure, Chief," she said, leafing though it avidlyE her younger sister $as $ith the e;peditionary
force, he remembered& "7'll run it right over&" %he hurried outE he could hear a clatter as she
grabbed an umbrella from the stand by the front door&
1rinting that many $ould ta'e a $hile $ith a handpressE it $ould also put it on the agenda for the
ne;t Meeting& -here $ere times $hen direct democracy drove him cra.y, but it had one great
merit3$hen a decision $as finally made, ever,one felt they'd had their say& 7n a $ay he'd be
sorry $hen the population got big enough for the 0ouse of 2elegates provision in the ne$
constitution to 'ic' in3that $ould be soon, too, the $ay things $ere going&
"(e;t," he muttered, and loo'ed at his 7n bo;&
A proposal to license and inspect day/care centersD a#) Mart"a& Leaton $anted to import a trial
run of coal from Alba for the forge/$or'sD a#) "im *"et"er it'# reall, nece##ar,& A proposal to
establish a ne$ :ase do$n around the site of :uenos Aires&
1mmm. T"at'# a toug" one& 7t $as a long $ay a$ay, and they $ere already spread out thinner
than he li'ed& 8n t' other hand, that $as the edge of one of the biggest areas of good farmland on
the planetE also, the preliminary survey said the locals $ere ver, thin on the pampas, even by the
standards of the M=M :&C& Americas, $hich meant an 7slander settlement $ouldn't be too
disruptive& 7n the very long run, it $ould mean a big chun' of the $orld modeled on the
Republic's ideals&
(ut it in t"e di#cu##-*it"-t"e-%ouncil $ile, he decided after a moment&
And it loo'ed li'e 1eter ,irenas $as going to get enough votes before the Meeting to finance his
e;pedition& 0e scanned do$n the list of names on the petition form, stopped, and began to laugh&
After a moment Martha stuc' her head in the office door&
"%omething funny, dearB" she said, arching an e;pressive eyebro$&
"Mebbe, or mebbe 7'm laughing so 7 $on't curse& -a'e a loo' at $ho's bac'ing young ,irenas
and Company's petition for a grant&"
%he came over to his des'& "-he usual suspectsD -mma %ar#on B"
"And all her friends&" 0e shoo' his head& "7 guess she thin's his chances of coming out of it alive
are even $orse than 7 doD and 4mma never did forget an in6ury&"
"1lus, she thin's $ith him out of the $ay, the Rangers might not be so hard on her," Martha said
thoughtfully&
"(ot if $e have anything to do $ith it," he replied&
8n impulse, he pulled his $ife do$n into his lap& %he gave a small snort and arched that eyebro$
again, but put an arm around his shoulders and 'issed him&
"Am 7 correct in assuming you $ant to 9uit $or' earlyB" she said, stirring strategically&
"Ayup," he grinned& "5hy notB 5e do have a treaty to celebrate&"
-he door of the 5ild Rose Chance opened, letting in a blast of cold air and a fe$ drops of
stinging March rain& 1eter ,irenas loo'ed up and $aved his friends over& -hey came, after they'd
$iped their boots and hung their rain slic'ers on pegs driven into the $all to drip into the trough
beneath& %everal paused sheepishly $hen one of the $aitresses pointed to a sign stating> no
$eapons allo$ed and handed her their rifles or crossbo$s to be rac'ed behind the bar&
4ddie Iergera;sson $as the first to reach him& 0e $as a chief's son from Alba $ho'd been
brought over as a hostage after the Alban 5ar and decided he li'ed the Republic better and
stayedE about t$enty, bro$n/haired and ha.el/eyed, lean and fast li'e a bundle of $hipcord& 0e
$ore the fringed, camo/patterned Ranger buc's'ins as if he hadn't been brought up to 'ilts, and
the bo$ie at his $aist and tomaha$' thrust into the bac' of his belt as if they'd gro$n there&
"5hy so much ammunitionB" he said, reading over the older ranger's shoulder& ",onna be
heavy&"
1eter ,irenas sighed a little, in the privacy of his head& 4ddie $as a good ranger3perhaps the
best trac'er and $oodsman in the Corps, after 1eter, good at languages, brave as a lion, deadly
$ith any $eapon& A nice guy to sit do$n and have a beer $ith, too& :ut he *a# Alban, and he
had the manana attitude of his tribe deep in his bones& 0is people too' to guns li'e Le''ansu to
fire$ater, though&
"4ddie, $e're going a long $ays from home& 5e can't drop over to the mill and trade some
venison for another hundred rounds& -hat's $hy 7'm ta'ing t$o stallions along as $ell as a do.en
pac' mares& Fust in case everything ta'es longer than $e thought&"
"8h& 8'ay, 1ete, that sounds sensible&"
0e leaned bac' and too' a pull at his beer& -he table they'd ta'en at the 5ild Rose Chance $as
littered $ith notes and letters and files, plus plates and bo$ls and 6ugs& 1eter propped the paper
he $as reading up against a mil' 6ug and pulled his plate closer, for'ing up ham stea' in red
gravy $ith a hearty appetite&
"7 thin' $e're going to ma'e it," he said& "5hat the Meeting voted, it'll 6ust cover $hat $e need&"
(ods $ent up and do$n the table& "Aou did good, 1ete3made those lost gee.ers bac' on the
7sland sit up and ta'e notice," %ue Chau said&
0e felt himself puffing up a little but suppressed it& "(ot too hard," he said& "0ell, 7 even got the
Carsons rooting for me&"
4ddie laughed into his beer& "2ia$as 1ithair, $on't they turn red and blue $hen $e come bac'
richer than 'ingsB And even richer in glory&"
1eter nodded& 0e $ouldn't have put it 9uite that $ay3"glory" $asn't a $ord he $as comfortable
$ith3but there $as no denying that $as part of the reason& 4ven more than the gold or the
cheers, thoughD & *ant to see it. & *ant to 3e t"e $ir#t &#lander to #ee it, *"ile it'# #till?$re#"&
0e loo'ed around the table& -here $ere probably as many reasons as there $ere people in his
groupE more, since each of the si; probably had more than one&
-ddie *ant# to #"ine, and get enoug" gold to 3u, a 3ig $arm "ere and a "or#e-"erd and t"ro*
artie# and ma,3e ta)e a vacation 3ac) in Al3a and imre## t"e "ell out o$ "i# relative#, he
thought&
:eside him $as 0enry Morris, the oldest in the group3over thirty& A big, slo$, strong redhead,
a pupil of 0ill$ater'sE trained by 2oc Coleman too& 1e had a thing about animals and plants and
suchE he $as loo'ing for a long/term career $ith the Conservancy 8ffice& -his $ould ma'e up
for a youthful indiscretionE he'd been involved $ith 1amela Lis'etter, bac' $hen& (ot much, but
enough to ma'e it difficult for him to get a government 6ob& 0e'd be $orth his $eight in goldE no
'no$ing $hen they'd need a sa$bones&
%ueD *ell, ma,3e 1 $latter m,#el$, 3ut Sue *ant# to come along 3ecau#e 7'm going, & t"in)&
1artly, and partly for the sheer fun of it&
2e''omosu the Le''ansu $as 9uiet, do$n at the other end& :eer hit him that $ayE he $as short
and stoc'y and muscular, hair still in a roach, but he $as dressed in a $hite $oods/runner's
buc's'ins rather than his native not/much& 0e and 1eter $ere blood brothers, and there $asn't
much left of the tribesman's familyE they'd been hit heavy in the plagues& !igure "e ju#t *ant# to
get $ar a*a, and $orget t"ing#&
And Fadit$araD #"e'# ju#t #o goddam strange& A tall, slim, blond Fiernan3she had the %pear
Mar'& 0ard to tell *"at her motivations $ereE she'd 6ust said that the stars told her Moon 5oman
$anted her to do it, and as far as she $as concerned that $as that& :ut Fesus, she could dra$< (o
$ay they $ere going to let a 1re/4vent camera and rationed film go along on this, and the 7sland/
made e9uivalents $ere far too heavy and cumbersome&
",ood thing the Meeting $asn't held in Fogarty's Cove," %ue said&
1eter nodded, loo'ing around the $arm, cro$ded room& 0e had friends in Fogarty's Cove3that
and loo'ing at some horses $as $hy he $as here3 but most of the Long 7sland settlers $ere
against anything that distracted from pushing the frontier further $est up/7sland&
-he taproom of the 5ild Rose Chance $as pretty full& -hey'd had a $ee' of mild $eather, but
the March rain outside $as near/as/damn sleet, and people near the door yelled $henever
someone came in, bringing a little of it $ith them& Further in, that $asn't a problemE the big
fireplace along the south $all $as bla.ing& -he air $as thic' $ith the good smells of roasting
meat, ba'ing bread, $oodsmo'e, and leather coats drying on pegs around the $all&
-he staff $ere busy ladling and carving and running in and out of the 'itchens $ith things that
re9uired more coo'ing than the hearth could provideE the bar $as four/deep too&
"0ey, Fudy<" 1eter called& "%ome of that mulled cider<"
"0ere," she said& "And here&" %he unloaded plates for the others& "And 7 hope you all remember
it $hen you're free.ing and che$ing on acorns in the middle of a sno$storm ne;t $inter, ,od/
'no$s/$here&"
"-hat's a promise," 1eter said&
".in'14t#e-)"*on," %$indapa said, putting aside the sheet of daily returns from the flotilla that
she'd finished revie$ing&
2arling, Marian translated mentally&
"Mmm, sugarB" she said, loo'ing up from the cabin table, $here she had been pric'ing the map&
-hey'd been ma'ing good time from Mauritius :ase on their returnE the cre$s $ere $ell sha'en
do$n and the $ind steadyD steady so far, at least& -$o and three hundred miles a day from
noon to noon, and hardly a need to touch the lines&
"5hat $ill $e do, $hen 5al'er has been put do$n and the $ar is overB"
-he Fiernan $as sitting on the semicircular couch that lined the stern $indo$s& -hose $ere
open, slid bac' to let in the mild, sil'y $armth of the sea air above Capricorn, and strands of her
yello$ hair floated free in the bree.e& Alston gave an inner sigh of pleasure at the sight, dra$ing
a deep breath full of sea, salt, tar, and $ood, of morning& +oman, ,ou are dead luc),&
:ehind the frigate ran her $a'e, a curling I of $hite against aching/blue sea& -he sun $as in the
east, adding the slightest tinge of red to the foam of the $a'e, and to the sails of the ships
follo$ing behind& 7t $as very 9uiet, under the continuous crea'/and/groan of a $ooden vessel
spea'ing to itselfE the rush of $ater along the hull, the constant humming song of $ind in the
rigging, an occasional crisp order/and/response from the dec' above, the cry of a seabird& Above
that came the high piping of children's voices through the 9uarterdec' s'ylightE $ith the
e;peditionary regiment's marines and civilians landed at +r, they'd brought 0eather and Lucy on
the %"am3erlain&
Alston glanced up$ard and smiled& "5ell, $atch the children gro$& Loo' after the ,uard, of
course& 2esign some more ships&" 0er grin gre$ $ider& "%pend a lot of time ma'ing out&"
"8h, yes," %$indapa said happily&
"7 $as thin'ing, though," her partner $ent on& "1erhaps $e could get a place in the country, as
$ell as ,uard 0ouseB -hat's the -o$n's, really& 7'd li'e to raise horses, and it $ould be a place
for ourD $hat do you call itD retirement&"
Alston chuc'led a little ruefully& %he $as eighteen years older than her lover, almost to the day&
S"e mean# my retirement, o$ cour#e& Although she didn't e;pect %$indapa to stay in the ,uard
after she herself mustered out& %he $as a fine officer and loved the sea, but being a fighting
sailor $as something she did only because it $as needful& And 7 don't intend to #ta, on a$ter m,
u#e$ulne## end#, she told herself& 8ne part of command $as 'no$ing $hen to let go&
"7 thought you $anted to study more astronomy and mathematicsB" she said& -hat $as big a part
of the Fiernan :ohulugi religion, and in her 9uiet $ay %$indapa $as pious&
"-hat, too& 2oreen $ill be bac' then& %he $ants to start some classes&"
"%ounds good, then& 5e can pic' up a place on Long 7sland, maybe&" (ot a ra$ grantE clearing
temperate/.one climate forest $as full/time $or'& %till, they'd invested their pay $ell, and
developed land did come on the mar'et&
T"at'# actuall, a rett, good idea. & *ouldn't mind "aving a garden to utter in *"en &'m old and
gra, and 3a)ing coo)ie# $or t"e grandc"ildren& "7 $arn you, though, 7'm al$ays going to need
some salt $ater no$ and then<"
"0o$ notB" %$indapa grinned& "5e'll get a place $ith a pier and a boat& And maybe $e should
adopt again& 7'd li'e a little boy, too& Maybe moreB A house lives $ith children in it&"
"Mmmm, let's thin' about that," Alston said& %$indapa's enthusiasm for babies $as a bit
alarming3even more so than her ne$found passion for horses& -here $ouldn't be any real
problem& 4ven though the flood of Alban 5ar orphans had died do$n, there $as still a steady
tric'leE she could probably arrange it through her relatives in Alba&
-he ship's bell struc'& Alston and her partner stood and put on their billed caps before heading
out and up the companion$ay to the fantail&
"Captain on dec'<"
"As you $ere," Alston said, returning the salutes& "Lieutenant Fen'ins has the dec'&"
"7t's freshening, ma'am," the second/in/command of the ship said& "Coming a little more out of
the north, too, and tending east$ard, 7 thin'& 7 don't much li'e it, someho$&"
Alston nodded, loo'ing up and s9uinting a little& 1mmm& %he felt the motion of the ship beneath
her, loo'ed at sea and near/cloudless s'y, tasted the $ind& (ot 9uite asD soothingD as it had
been& %$indapa nodded slightly as their eyes metE they $ent over to the lo$ dec'house for$ard
of the $heels and do$n the three steps into it&
"Carry on," she said to the $atch thereE this $as the radio shac', as $ell as holding map tables,
digital cloc', log readout, the ne$ mechanical chronometer, and the barometer& ",ive me the
hourly readings&"
0er eyebro$s $ent up a little as she read them and then too' a loo' at the current level& -it"er
t"e gla## "a# 3ro)en or t"at'# 3ad ne*#& %he flic'ed the instrument $ith a finger& 6oe. .ad
ne*#&
"%ignal to flotillaE t$o points to the east and ma'e all sail," she said& 8ut on the dec', she
stepped over to the $heels&
"-hus, thus," she said, giving the helm the ne$ course& -o the lieutenant> "Mr& Fen'ins,
topgallants and royals, if you please&"
"Aes, ma'am&"
0e $ent to the rail and relayed the orderE she could hear it echo across the dec' until the mast
captains' voices called, "Lay aloft and loose topgallants and royals<"
-he ship heeled as more canvas blossomed out high above their heads, thuttering and crac'ing,
and the standing rigging funneled the force of the $ind to the hull& At Fen'ins's unspo'en
9uestion, she $ent on>
"7 $ant sea room, Mr& Fen'insE $e're too damned close to the southern end of Madagascar, if it
comes on to blo$&"
"Rig for rough $eather, ma'amB" he said&
":y all means& Lieutenant Commander %$indapa, message to the flotilla> (reare $or "eav,
*eat"er, 3e read, to #tri)e #ail&" -he orders $ent out, and she added, "8h, and get those t$o
imps of satan do$n from the maintop&"
0e grinned a little at that and called to the tops& A dar' head and a red one peered over the railing
of the triangular platform, $ith one of the cre$ hovering behind them, ready to grab&
"Mom<" came a faint callE then, in a treble imitation of the loo'out> "8n dec', there< Can $e
slide do$n a bac'stayB"
"(o, you cannot<"
-he $ind ble$ a$ay the muttered complaints& T"e, ro3a3l, could #lide do*n a 3ac)#ta,, she
thoughtE they $ere nimble as apes after three months at sea& .ut not $or a *"ileA 3e#t to 3e
cautiou#& After a moment, her mouth 9uir'ed& -he definition of "cautious" had undergone some
radical mutations, bac' here in the :ron.e Age&
C#ATE! TEN
April, Year ) A.E.
Lot of $or'," @athryn 0ollard said, loo'ing up at the bul'y three/step shape of the $ater/
purifying $or's&
"5orth it," Clemens said fervently& "Come along3you should see this&"
-he base hospital's priority had been high enough that it $as more or less finished& -he $alls
$ere thic' adobe bric', $hite$ashed inside, $ith a number of bays off a long 7/shaped bloc' and
smooth tile floors& Light came from tall, narro$ $indo$s high in the $alls, under the cross/
timbers that supported the lo$/sloped tile roof& -he $ards $ere airy and coolE adobe made good
insulation& Mostly they smelled of fresh mortar and ne$ $ood, and of disinfectantE but Ma6or
0ollard $rin'led her nose slightly as Clemens led her into one of the bays& An orderly pushed
past $ith a bas'et of soiled cloth pads&
"%orry, but there's only so much you can do $hen diarrhea hits&"
-hey $al'ed do$n the line of bedsE a fe$ near the door $ere MarinesE the others, several do.en
locals& -heir faces $ere ali'e, though, drained and pale& Another orderly $as pushing a $heeled
cart do$n the ro$ of bedsteads, stopping at each to ma'e the occupant do$n a glass of $hat
loo'ed li'e $ater& %everal of the locals $ere alive enough to try and re6ect the dose, s9uirming in
mute terror& -heir hair and beards had been shaved, a dreadful shaming thing to a :abylonian of
this era&
"5hat is itB" 0ollard as'ed&
"7t's the reason $e spent so much time on that slo$/sand filter setup& %pecificallyB 2amned if 7
'no$& 7t's a form of bacterial dysenteryE 7 thin' 7've isolated the causative agent& 7t's not cholera,
but it $or's a lot li'e it& Rehydration $ith sugar/and/salt/laced $ater $or's fine, or by 7I for the
$orst cases& A fair number died before $e reali.ed $hat $as happening& -he locals are afraid of
our magicA 7 had to get a guard detail to bring some of these men in& -hat's $hat 7 thought you
might help me $ith&"
"Aou need a couple of s9uadsB" 0ollard as'ed&
Clemens shoo' his head, frustration turning his naturally sunny e;pression to a sco$l& "(o, $hat
7 need is "el& More hands& 7 need some people $ho can be taught basics3changing bedpans,
giving them the solution, getting them to the 6a'es if they're ambulatory& 7t $ould help if they
could spea' A''adian& 7 thought of using some of the laborers, but they're too frightened3and
the peasantsD $ell, the term 'thic' hic'' might have been invented for them& -hey're even more
ignorant and parochial than an Alban fresh off the boat&"
@athryn nodded& "7'm not surprised& Albans have to loo' after themselves, mostly& -hese
peasants, they're pretty firmly under the thumbs of their bosses, and they don't encourage them to
thin', from $hat 7've seen&" %uddenly she grinned and snapped her fingers& "-ell you $hat37
thin' 7 can do something for you& Come on&"
%he turned and strode decisively a$ay& Clemens follo$ed, $al'ing a little faster than he li'ed to
'eep up $ith the tall $oman's stride, s9uinting under the brim of his floppy canvas campaign hat&
-he tent they came to $as theoretically the officers' messE in practice, a lot of the $or' of the
camp $as done there, especially $ith most of the permanent buildings still under construction&
-ables and benches stood under an a$ning, $ith the sides dra$n up to let $hat bree.e there $as
circulate& Clemens stopped and pointed to several plates of bread, cheese, and cold meat&
"-here<" he said& "-hat's $hat 7 mean<"
Colonel 0ollard and a pair of other officers $ere sitting tal'ing to the councilor for foreign
affairs and his assistant, $ith stac's of papers in front of them& -he commander of the First
Marine Regiment loo'ed up at the doctor's outburst&
"5hat is, LieutenantB" he as'ed mildly&
"-hat sort of thing is $hy $e're having this problem $ith dysentery," he said& "%ir," he added
after a moment, remembering hasty classes in military courtesy&
"7 thought it $as the $aterB"
"7t's u#uall, the $ater& :ut the locals *on't dig the latrines deep enough, or remember to thro$ in
dirt after they use them& Flies to feces to food3it's a $onder $e don't have more than a couple of
do.en do$n as it is&"
"A $onder and your good $or', 2octor," 0ollard said& "5hat's this in aid of, @atB"
@athryn grinned, sat, and tossed her hat do$n, reaching for a pitcher of the $ea', cloudy local
beer and a stra$& -he :abylonians dran' it that $ay, to avoid suc'ing in the sediment&
"(o$ 7 see $hy they avoid the $ater, after $hat Fus has been sho$ing me," she said& "-his rush
of runny guts is overburdening his sic' bay, and he needs some help& 7 thought it might 'ill t$o
birds $ith one stone, so to spea'&"
"Ah, yes, the 'ing's embarrassing generosity," 7an Arnstein said, stro'ing his beard&
Rumor made the councilor an absentminded polymath genius& Clemens hadn't seen much of him,
apart from a fe$ dinings/in $ith the commodore, but he suddenly $ondered ho$ much of that
$as a pose& -he russet/bro$n eyes under the shaggy bro$s $ere disconcertingly shre$d&
",enerosity, CouncilorB" he said&
2oreen Arnstein sighed, in chorus $ith Colonel 0ollardE they loo'ed at each other and chuc'led&
-he Marine commander too' it up> "@ing %huriash decided to be reall, hospitable, so he 6ust
sent us t$o hundred palace servants," he said dryly& "%laves, to be precise&"
"8h," Clemens said&
0e 'ne$ the Republic's policyE they couldn't go crusading against slavery all over the planet3or
a do.en other abominations3but the 7slanders didn't tolerate it $here they had the option& +r
:ase $as sovereign (antuc'et territory, and there $ere severe penalties for any citi.en $ho
dabbled in slavery& 2oing a +al)er, it $as called informally, the name for any sort of unethical
dealings $ith the locals&
"At the same time," 7an said, obviously follo$ing his train of thought, "$e can't 6ust manumit
them and turn them loose& For one thing the 'ing $ould be mortally offendedE for another, they'd
starve or get re/enslaved or something of that nature right a$ay&"
"-hat i# a problem," Clemens said& "AhD sorry 7 hadn't heard about this, Colonel&"
"5e're all busy," 0ollard said tolerantly& "As a matter of fact, $e're all insanely busy& @atB" 0e
loo'ed at the younger 0ollard&
"5ell, $e've got them understanding that they're free," she said& "And they understand *"o doe#
not *or), doe# not eatA this place is run along those lines any$ay& %o $hen Fus e;plained his
problem, it struc' me that he could use fifty or si;ty of them3start them off at fifty cents a day
and 'eep, li'e the construction $or'ers&"
-hat $as about a third of $hat an uns'illed $or'er made bac' on (antuc'et, but e;tremely
generous by the standards of any$here else&
"(ot the singers or dancers or most of theD ahD entertainers," @athryn $ent on& ":ut the coo's
and housemaids, it $ouldn't be a big change for them&"
"-hat $ould be more than 7 need," Clemens said, alarmed&
"7t'd be part/time," @athryn said& "-hey could do the language and literacy classes say, t$o days
a $ee', and $or' four&"
0ollard nodded& ",ood idea, @at, and it'll free up our o$n people& All right $ith you,
LieutenantB"
"AhD yes," Clemens said& "7t'll pay off in the long run& 7'll 'eep an eye out and have the brighter
ones taught real nursing $hen $e get some time&"
"8ood idea," 2oreen Arnstein said& "7f3forbid it, ,od3$e've got a really big $ar on our hands,
that could be crucial&" %he smiled, a hard e;pression& "And it'll give us an advantage over
5al'er& 7 doubt he $astes his precious time on clean $ater&"
7an Arnstein shoo' his head& "7 only $ish that $ere so, 2oreen& More's the pity, 7 thin' he's too
smart not to& And he has Alice 0ong&"
"%he's a monster&"
Clemens cut in> "2octor Coleman says she $as a monster, all right3but a pretty good physician
for all that& %he'll be able to give him good advice, if he ta'es it&"
"5ith our luc', he probably $ill," @athryn said mournfully& -he pitcher made a gurgling sound
as she suc'ed on the stra$& "1ah< -hat last mouthful $as solid ground barley& 5ell, Fus, let's go
3you can loo' over the dancing girls and ma'e a selection, li'e a sultan<"
Clemens cursed the blush that rose to his chee's& At lea#t t"e #un3urn "ide# it, he thought& %mall
compensation for increased li'elihood of melanoma, but you had to count your blessings in this
post/4vent $orld&
And at lea#t & don't "ave to #ee -llen ever, da,.
"%o, $e have to as' ourselves, before $e can 3ecome virtuous, $hat i# virtueB" 2oreen said,
nibbling a pistachio&
-he priest of (inurta began to ans$er, then stopped, suspicious& 0e $as an old man, his beard
$hite and his olive face deeply seamedE the years had left him sun'en and scra$ny in his
flounced, fringed robe, but his eyes $ere snapping $ith intelligent anger&
"Iirtue is the 'no$ledge of $hat the great gods our masters re9uire of us<" -he priest thumped
the inlaid #i##u- $ood of the table for emphasis&
"Ah, than' you," 2oreen said politely& "-hen 'no$ledge is something that can be taughtB"
"8f course, $oman<"
"-hen from $hom should $e learn itB"
"From the priests of the gods, the great gods our masters3they $ho 'no$ the $isdom of old,
that $hich is $ritten on the clay, that $hich is difficult to learn&"
"-he high en priest of Mardu', here in 2ur/@urigal.u, he $ould be a very $ise and virtuous
manB"
-he priest permitted himself a dry, $intry smile& "8f course& Although he is not of my temple,
his piety and learning are $ell 'no$nE all this city 'no$s of it&" 0e $as also a collateral relative
of the 'ing, $hich made the priest's $ords $ise in themselves&
"-han' you again, 8 priest of (inurta," 2oreen said& %he paused for a moment, then $ent on, "7
suppose priests $ould strive to teach virtue to their sons, thenB"
-he priest settled bac' on his stool, arranging his robe& "%urely&"
"-hen, for e;ample, Aasim/%umu, the high priest's son, should be a man of e;ceptional virtueB"
-he priest opened his mouth, closed it again, and flushed dar'ly& :ut he $as an honest man, in
his $ay& "(o," he bit out&
2oreen smiled politely and inclined her head& &'ll #a,& -he relatives of several e;/maidens had
come loo'ing for Aasim/%umu $ith pruning hoo'sE his relatives $ould probably be able to buy
them off, but the sons of a nobleman he'd 'illed in a drun'en bra$l might be less forgiving&
"-hen apparently virtue is not something that can be taught, 8 en priest of (inurtaB"
-he :abylonian stabbed his bron.e stylus into a fresh clay tablet& "5ell, $hat in (ergal's name
i# virtue, then, $omanB"
"8h, 7 don't 'no$ either," 2oreen said cheerfully& "7t seems $e're both e9ually ignorant<"
A fe$ seconds later, 7an Arnstein stuc' his head through the door and caught her still giggling&
"5hat had "im storming out so fastB"
"8h, 7 used the First %ophistic on him," 2oreen said, ta'ing another nut out of the bo$l& "-he
negative elenchos& 0ave a pistachio&"
7an accepted, groaned, and san' do$n on a stool beside the table& -he room $as dim but 9uietly
sumptuousE light came from an opening in the ceiling, that could be closed at need $ith a
mushroomli'e cap of ba'ed clay&
"2oreen, you've got to *atc" that& Remember $hat it got %ocratesB"
"5ell, yes, but he didn't have diplomatic immunity, did heB"
"Fesus, 2oreen, $e're supposed to be ma'ing an alliance here< -hese people believe in omens the
$ay Americans believe3believed3 $ould have believed3in vitamins& 7f $e get the
priesthoods against us& ho$ do you thin' every divination $ill turn outB And no, $e can't bribe
them all& For one thing, some of them are honest&"
2oreen hung her head slightly& "%orryD but old %amsu/7ndash is #uc" a doddering reactionary
t$it< 7'm supposed to be teaching him our math, and he's utterly incapable of believing 7 can add
up to t$enty $ithout loo'ing at my feet, for ,od's sa'e&"
"Aeah, but he's a :abylonian, you can't e7ect him not to be a se;ist pig," 7an said& "Any$ay,
there's ne$s&"
%he sat up at his e;pression, alarm chilling her despite the hard, dry $armth of the air&
"From the fleet& -he broadcast $as incomplete, but they've run into some really bad $eather&"
"7 $ant everyone on a line," Marian Alston said grimly& "%torm canvas, and do it no$& %ignal to
the flotilla&"
-he s$ell had been increasing for hours, and the light had ta'en on a $eird, sulfur/tinged
9uality& -o the north $as only blac'ness, to$ering up to s$allo$ the late/afternoon s'y& And
"eading our *a, very $a#t& %he set her teeth and loo'ed around, trained her binoculars on the
other ships of the flotilla3four of them, since they'd left the schooner !rederic) 2ougla## at
Mauritius& -hey all loo'ed as ready as possible&
0er s'in $as pric'ling all over& T"i# i# 3ad. T"i# i# ver, 3ad&
%he $aited impatiently until the last $or' aloft $as done and ran her eyes over every inch of it,
sails on top of the yards and lashed $ith double gas'etsE the for$ard staysails, the gaff and t$o
close/reefed topsails still up, to 'eep $ay on her once the hurricane hit& A ship $ithout sails
couldn't be steered, and that meant death& -here $as an ominous, na'ed angularity to the masts
$ith only those scraps of storm canvas up&
"Commodore," a petty officer panted, "the 'ids are strapped into their bun's, and Martinelli's
$ith them&"
"-han' you, %eaman -elnatarno," Alston said& -hat $as all they could do& (o$ she had a ship to
sail, and that $ould re9uire all her attention&
%omething $as racing to$ard them across the sea from the north, a mile or more before the
dar'ness& A line of $hite, as if the sea $ere being churned by an invisible laser&
"7t's coming across the s$ell," she said mildly& "2amn&"
Fen'ins shouted a $arning through his spea'ing/trumpet, and those on dec' braced themselves,
clutching at rigging and rail&
-he air $entD lim, she decided& Fust for a moment the single close/reefed topsail sagged flat,
all the roundness out of it& -hen the $ind struc', and tore the tough storm canvas out of its bolt/
tops $ith a single shrie'ing burst, turning it to vanishing scraps and tatters that snapped li'e
$hipcrac's& %he could feel the $hole thousand/ton $eight of the %"am3erlain heeling as the
$all of air and $ater hit3 over, further, further under the fury of the blo$, and she $atched the
port rail go under $ith fascinated horror& Above her a line snapped $ith a crac' li'e cannonshot,
and something $hirred by her& -he scream from the $heels $ould have been deafening
normallyE she could barely hear it, or see through the froth of sea$ater that filled the space
bet$een& %he leaped for the circles of $ood, staggered as a body slammed into her, then fell to
the dec' clutching at its ribs&
Alston plunged on, vaguely conscious of %$indapa at her side& -here had been si; dec'hands at
the $heelE no$ one $as 6ust gone, t$o more do$n, their blood turning to pin' froth in the
(iagara that $as pouring over the side& -he t$o $omen leaped to the platform beside the
$heels, $aited until the spo'es slo$ed, then grabbed them $ith a shoc' that thudded through
arms, shoulders, and legs& Alston bared her teeth in a grunting rictus of effort& -he frigate had
heeled to forty/five degrees, and she had to brace her foot against the mount of the $heels to stop
herself from hanging do$n li'e a loose rope end&
%lo$ly, slo$ly, the %"am3erlain roared upright again, shrugging tons of $ater overside and
through her scuppers as if she $ere a submarine broaching3familiar e;cept for things that
should have been there but $eren't& Lieutenant Fen'ins $as bac' on his feet, yelling orders
through his spea'ing/trumpet& Alston raised her eyes beyond him, s9uinting through the stinging
spray, t$isting to loo' astern&
At lea#t it i#n't $ree:ing, she thoughtE she'd gone through storms in the (orth Atlantic $here the
spray turned to ice three inches thic' on every e;posed surface& -hen she sa$ the si.e of the
$ave that $as bearing do$n on her shipD bearing do$n on the 3road#ide of the ship&
"2o Fesus<" she yelled& "Fen'ins, get the staysails over<"
T"an) 8od& 0e'd heard her and plunged do$n to the $aist to get the da.ed line cre$s hauling&
-he $ind $as trying to force the nose of her ship to$ard the monster $all of $ater that $ould
crush it li'e a cup under a boot&
"0aul< :ring her around<" she shouted and felt %$indapa's long, slender body straining beside
hers& -he other t$o hale steersmen $ere $ith her, she could hear one of them screaming a
prayer, but it $ouldn't be enough& -hen one of the men $hose face had been lashed open by the
bro'en line staggered up onto the platform across from her, his teeth sho$ing in a grisly smile
through a loosened flap of chee'&
"%he's coming 'round<" Alston shouted e;ultantly and heard her lover's long ha$'/shrie' beside
her& -he staysails and gaff $ere 'eeping steerage/$ay on, and it might be enough&
2o 9e#u#, & *i#" & could ut on more canva#& 7mpossibleE nothings $ould hold in this& +"at &'ve
got u ma, 3e enoug". Ma, 3e&
8r might not be& -he light had vanished as if the sun had never risen, and the blac'ness $as lit
only by endless stabbing flashes of lightning& %ome on, #ugar, oint a little $urt"er #out" $or me,
she thought to the ship& %ome on, come onD
-he stern began to climb, slo$ly at first and then faster, as if they $ere climbing bac'$ard up a
cliff of blue/blac' tipped $ith dar'ling $hite foam& Alston sa$ the curl hanging above her and to
the starboard, $aiting, $aitingD no*& -he cliff fell on them, and she could hear the ship's frame
screaming in protest, the rigging humming li'e some great harp in agony& -he $ater cataracted
for$ard, and she too' a deep breath to hold as it bro'e over the 9uarterdec'&,
%ea filled eye and nose and ear, battering at her body $ith huge, heavy hands that tried to tear
her a$ay from the spo'es of the $heel& -he ship heeled again, further this time, over on her
beam/ends, and the sharp bo$ dug deep into the trough of the $ave, as if the %"am3erlain $ere
going to run do$n the side of the $ave and straight to the bottom&
S"e'# 3roac"ed dee, ran through Alston& 1atc"*a,# caved3#"e'll never come u $rom t"i#&
Fear of death $as distantE an immense irritation $as greater3there $as still too much to do3
and grief for %$indapa and 0eather and Lucy harder still& At least her lover $as by her sideE the
children $ere so ,oung, and all alone in the dar'3
Air bro'e around herE sin/dar', full of flying $rac', but the scream of the hurricane through the
%"am3erlain'# rigging $as the s$eetest sound in the universe& -he $heel buc'ed under her
hands, and she felt the ship's living movement flo$ up through her feet& 5aves buffeted her, a
formless savage chop that t$isted the masts, bending them li'e $hip/antennas, and the ghastly
flic'er of lightning sa$ identical stunned grins on the faces of the others at the $heel& Fen'ins
fought his $ay bac' up to the 9uarterdec', $ith a party at his heels to carry off the in6ured3
those $ho $eren't 6ust gone3and relieve them at the $heel&
"7 thought $e $ere sun', s'ipper<" he yelled in her ear&
"%o did 7, Lieutenant<" Alston said, grinning in relief& "@eep her so3if $e get any more big
surges, it'll be from that direction&"
"Aye, aye<"
Lightning flashed again and again, closer, closer& -hen a crac), and a flash that blinded her
through an upflung hand& -he change in the %"am3erlain'# movements beneath her feet and the
crac'ling roar of $hite pine snapping told her their story in the second before sight returned&
0er eyes confirmed it& -he frigate's hundred/and/t$enty/foot foremast had been struc' by
lightning, had leaped in its soc'et li'e a living thing $rithing in pain, and then snapped off three
feet above the dec'& 7t plunged to port, dro$ning its flaming tip in the $ild $ater& Already it $as
s$inging the ship's nose a$ay from the south, into the $ind& Caught in a cradle of rigging, the
great mass of timber pounded on the ship li'e the stic' of a mad drummer as $ind and $ave
s$ept it about&
"Fen'ins, ta'e the helm<" Alston shouted& -here $as no time to thin', only to do& "4veryone else,
follo$ me& A;es< A;es<"
%he led the rush do$n the 9uarterdec' and into the $aist& -hey snatched the tools from the
ready/rac's as they passed3a;es, hatchets, prybars, cutlasses& -hen for$ard, past cre$ do$n
moaning or cra$ling $ith the heave of the ship, in6ured or stunned by the fall of the mast and
yards, the furled sails, and the huge tangle of cordage that $as rigging $hen $hole and a
demon's spider$eb dragging them all to death no$& Crossing the t$o hundred feet $as as much
s$imming as $al'ing, more li'e tumbling in heavy surf on a roc'y shore than either& -he $ild
$ater and tearing $ind $renched at them, flinging bodies into each other and the unyielding
fabric of the ship $ith bruising force& 4ven over the banshee scream of the gale she heard the
slamming drumbeat of the mast against dec' and hull, booming up through her feet $ith the
promise of $rec'&
%he and the others dragged and pushed cre$ to the crucial lines, the remnants that held the
ruined mast to the hull, as $ell as slashing themselves& :lades flashed, thumping into hemp rope
and $ood and more than once into flesh as desperation and the mad heaving of the hull sent them
staggering&
&t'# going, it'# going< she thought, and brought her a; around in a t$o/handed s$ing& T"un)& -he
last of the si;/inch/thic' stayline parted& 8ut of the corner of her eye she could see the ne;t
monster $ave running do$n $ith the cold inevitability of a glacier& -he mast s$ept a$ay, then
bac' one last time li'e a battering ram in the hands of 1oseidon& 8a' shrie'ed under the impact,
but that added its bit to the straining helm and shoved the bo$ a$ay from the oncoming $ater&
Alston thre$ do$n the a;&
"0ang on<" she shouted& %ome of the cre$fol' $ere still hac'ing mechanically at dangling bits
of $rec'age, heedless of everything else& %he staggered to the nearest, looping ends of line
around their bodies, vaguely conscious of %$indapa doing li'e$ise&
-here $as a moment of almost/stillness& %he rose from tying off a line under the armpits of a
cre$man and sa$ the $ave stri'e her ship on the port 9uarter& Feet s'idded out from beneath her
as the %"am3erlain'# stern flung up$ard and the ship pitched on her beam/ends& 5ater poured
to$ard her, driven by $inds building over a thousand miles of ocean& %he felt her body leave the
dec', hurl to$ard the bo$ and the railing, then slam into something unyielding& 1ain lanced
through her chest, and the hands that scrambled at rail and rope $ere strengthless& 4verything
moved $ith the slo$/motion inevitability of dream&
Al*a,# e7ected to dro*n eventuall,, ran through a corner of her mind, even as her $ill
doggedly forced her arms to loc' in an effort she 'ne$ $ould be futile& -he $ave $ould ta'e her
overboard, and that $ould be the end&
%$indapa fell do$n the canted dec' to$ard her, hair li'e a banner of yello$ sil', shoc'ing in the
lightning/shot dar'ness& -he younger $oman's right arm clamped around her $aist $ith
desperate strengthE the left $as $ound into a bight of line&
"2on't you leave me<" the Fiernan screamed in her ear& "2on't you dare0"
+a#n't lanning on it, she thought, suc'ing in a last deep breath and holding it despite the salt
spray that rasped at her lungs& And %"ri#t, 'daa, ,ou'll get ,our#el$ )illed too<
-he $ave struc', lifted them, slashed them bac'$ard and then smashed them do$n again against
the dec'ing $ith casual brutality& Alston let the last of her consciousness drain into her arms,
loc'ed around %$indapa and the rope&
:lac'ness&
C#ATE! ELE'EN
(May, Year 8 A.E.)
March, Year ) A.E.
(May, Year )A.E.)
"Aou 'no$ $hat your problem is, AliceB" 5illiam 5al'er said, leaning bac' on one elbo$&
1icnics had gone over big $ith the locals& 7t $as funny that $ay& %ometimes they loved notions
from the t$entieth, sometimes they $ere horrified, and sometimes 6ust be$ildered& %nac'ing out
in the open air they li'ed& Ma,3e 3ecau#e t"e,'re #o "ot on "unting, he thought la.ily&
Alice loo'ed at him sullenly& "My problem, 8 4nablerB 5ell, if you $ant to get technical, my
problem is that 7'm psychotic3a clinical sadist $ith paranoid tendencies, borderline sociopath,
possible disassociative elements& %o sue me&"
"(o, no, that's your "o33,& 7 as'ed you if you 'ne$ $hat your ro3lem is&"
-he royal party $ere alone on a hilltop in the foothills of the mountains& %ummer $as a little
cooler here, under tall oa'sE the grass crushed under the blan'ets gave off spicy scentsD very
much li'e a spice rac' crossed $ith a sachet, in fact3mar6oram, thyme, lavender& -here $ere a
fe$ bees bu..ing around as $ell, and a lot of birds&
Al*a,# 3ird# around, #ince t"e -vent, he thought idly&
From here he could see do$nslope to the 4urotas valley, but a fold of the ground hid the restless
gro$th of 5al'eropolis& -here $as only the soft palette of the farmlands, green and dun/gold
and reddish/bro$n, the lo$ silver strea' of the river itself bro'en $ith yello$ sandbars, and the
hills rising blue and dreaming on the other side&
A little further bac', 0arold and Althea and a bunch of his retainer's 'ids $ere thro$ing a
Frisbee3boiled/leather variety3$ith a big, shaggy dog loping bet$een them trying for a catch&
4'hnonpa and 4ury'leia $ere standing under an umbrella pine, slo$ly fanning themselves and
$atching& 8ther parties $ere scattered around the hillside, and a little lo$er do$n $as the
business side of things3a company of his ,uards, and the servants, slaves, and $hatever $ith
the horses and carriages&
"8'ay, Fearless 5orld Con9ueror, $hat i# my problemB" Alice said, pic'ing apart a piece of
bread&
"7t's simple," he said, grinning $idely, nibbling at a pastry and ta'ing a sip of lemonade& "Aou
need to stop and smell the flo$ers&"
+n$illingly, Alice's mouth turned up& -here $ere slight lines beside it no$& %he'd aged $ell&
,ood bones to begin $ithE none of her vices $ere bad for you in the physical sense, and li'e
many doctors she $as a bit of a hypochondriac, so she $atched her diet and e;ercise& .ut i$ *e
"ad to3acco #"e'd 3e c"ain-#mo)ing&
"Loo', Alice, querida mia, you've gotten out of balance," he said& "Aour c"i isn't flo$ing
properly&"
"0ey, roundeye, ,ou're giving me the :uddhist shitB"
0e chuc'led& "C'mon, Alice, $e've been together a long time& 8pen up&"
"Aeah&" %he paused, sipped from a flas' of $ine, sighed& "Aou 'no$, 7 never really did much
li'e getting drun'& :u..ed a bit, yesE drun', no3opens too many cupboards, li'e dope& %o, o'ay&
Aeah, 7've had this feeling recently that 7'mD drifting a$ay, someho$& 7 mean, this is great here,
it's my dream setup, but there are times 7 feelD odd& Cold& 8ut of control&" %he rubbed her hands
over her upper arms, and her voice too' on a slightly shrill overtone&
5al'er put a hand over and 'neaded the stiff muscles of her nec'& "All right, Lady of 1ain& Aou
feel li'e you're dro$ning, rightB"
"Right&" %he gave him a glance, half moc'ing and half relieved& "Aou 'no$, 5ill, for a cast/iron
bastard, you can be almost human at times&"
"0ey, that's the oint, my little Madama :utterfly& Aou gotta let it flo$& &ndeed, "e *"o "a#
ac"ieved #atori ma, *it"out #in #teal t"e ea#ant'# o7 or ta)e t"e la#t 3o*l o$ rice $rom a
#tarving manA $or "e "a# 3ecome t"e e,e t"at doe# not #ee) to #ee it#el$, t"e #*ord t"at doe# not
#ee) to cut it#el$, t"e un-#el$-contemlating mind& 8r to put it in American3chill, babe&"
"Aou going moralistic on me, no$ that you're a responsible $amil, man<" she said, $ith a hint of
danger in her voice& 7t dissolved into mere irritation as he shouted laughter&
"Christ, Alice < -here's something you haven't grasped yet&"
"5hat's that, 8 guruB"
"Loo', Alice, $hen it comes to the atrocity division, you're a i)er compared to me& Aou're a
little artisan, a bac'/to/the/land one/off ma'er of small, handcrafted gems& 7'm mass/production
assembly/line industry& Fuc', $oman, 7 'illed every third human being in %icily&
5e crucified t$o t"ou#and slaves up in Macedonia after the revolt in the gold mines& And you
'no$ $hatB 7t didn't mean #"it to me& Fust part of the 6ob, part of the game& And you're letting the
edges of your personality fray because you flay one here or amputate a fe$ organs there and it
gets your roc's or female e9uivalent thereof offB 0ell, and 7 thought you $ere tough, Alice&"
"5hy am 7 getting the feeling 7'm missing somethingB"
5al'er stretched out a hand, prisoning the $oman's 6a$& "Aou are, Alice& Aou see, $e can do
anything $e fuc'ing $ant to here&"
"7 'no$ that<"
"(o, you don't& 5e can torture and 'ill one day, and go roast marshmallo$s $ith the 'iddies the
ne;t36ust as $e goddam $ell please& ;ela7, for Christ's sa'e, Alice< Aou don't have to loo' over
your shoulder anymore, $aiting for :ig 2addy to come and ta'e your toys a$ay& 5ou're ma'ing
the rules no$3after me, of course& Aou can ta'e it or leave it& 5hatever&"
0e held her eyes, until she heaved a sigh and rela;ed& "Aeah, 5ill, 7 thin' 7 see $hat you're
driving at& Aeah&"
",ood& 5ouldn't $ant the Avatar of 0e'ate to go dysfunctional on me&"
Alice hesitated, then $ent on> "Aou 'no$, 5ill, there's somethingD all these people, you 'no$,
the Agamemnon, that creepy daughter of his, 8di'$eosD you 'no$, sometimes 7 feel a little
$eird being around them& Aou 'no$, it's li'e there's this big mountain of $ate hanging over them
and 7'm going to get caught in the avalanche&"
5al'er snorted& "Fate is $hat 7 arrange to happen to other people, babe," he said& -hen his eyes
narro$ed& "0ey, that gives me an idea, thoughD yeahD oh, that *ould be fun& 7 am fate&"
%he shivered a little& "Aou 'no$, 5ill, sometimes 7 thin' you are badder than 7'll ever be&"
0is laughter lifted over the hillside, full/chested, and the children playing belo$ loo'ed up and
$aved, laughing themselves&
& "ate t"i#, Marian Alston thought&
Rousing from unconsciousness $as not li'e getting up in the morning& Aou "urt& 1ounding
headache at least, litterbo; taste in your mouth, nausea, and this time her entire body felt li'e one
great bruise& &'m getting too old $or t"i#&
%he forced her eyes open, made herself breathe deeply and move& 7t $as the stern cabin of the
%"am3erlainA she 'ne$ a moment's relief that they hadn't sun', at least& 4", #tart t"in)ing, ,ou
u#ele## co*. &$ *e'd #un), & *ouldn't 3e *a)ing u at all&
-$o small faces peered solemnly at her& %he smiled3that hurt, too, but it $armed her inside&
"Aou all right, pun'insB"
"5e're o'ay, Mom&" An antiphonal chorus& -hen 0eather plunged on> "Momma %$indapa says
to say she's o'ay too& +e $eren't even scared&"
A 'not of $orry rela;ed&
"Aes $e *ere #o scared," Lucy cut in, pedantic as al$ays& "5e $ere reall, scared&"
"Aou $ere, 7 $asn't&"
"Aes, you $ere, 0eather, you $ere crying and yelling&"
"5as not<"
"5ere too<"
",irls," Alston said, $incing at the rising volume& 0er children stopped at once and brought her
a glass of $ater& %he sat up to ta'e it, hiding her $ince at the sight of their round, $orried eyes,
and hugged them to her& Lucy solemnly handed her a pair of pills in a t$ist of paperE t$o of their
hoarded -ylenol tablets& 4ven after eight years in the bottle they should do #ome good&
A cre$man $ith his arm in a sling and a bandage around his head $as sitting in one corner& 0e
shot to his feet and $inced himself&
"At ease, sailor," Alston gro$led, hiding sympathy& "Aou can tell them 7'm a$a'e& And
apparently $e survived&"
"Aes, ma'am& -he foremast going, that $as the $orst&"
Alston sighed againE she al$ays hated it $hen they got that hero/$orshiping loo' in their eyes,
$hen all she'd done $as her 6ob& As he left she s$ung her feet out of the bun'E someone had put
her in a long -/shirt& -here $as a bandage around her chest, but it didn't feel3 9uite3bad
enough to be crac'ed ribs&
"1lease get my clothes, $ould you, girlsB"
-he -ylenol $as ta'ing effect, and she $as beginning to feel more nearly human, $hen
%$indapa came in $ith an ensign behind her& %he hugged the children and scooted them on their
$ay $ith the in6ured cre$man&
",ood morning, Commodore," she said, salutingE it $as a formal occasion, after all& "%hall 7
reportB"
",ood morning, Lieutenant Commander," Alston replied& "Let's have it& 7'm functional& Mo' or
less&"
"Lieutenant Fen'ins is in sic' bay3bro'en arm, dislocated hip," %$indapa said& "5e have nine
missing and presumed dead, seventeen seriously in6ured, and contusions and sprains for nearly
everyone&" %he moved her right shoulder& "2islocated, but it $or's&"
Alston nodded& 8od damn, she though sadly& 7t could have been $orse, but she al$ays hated
losing any of her people& 5ords ran through her>
+e "ave $ed our #ea $or a t"ou#and ,ear#3
5et #"e call# to u#, un$ed&
%eafaring $as dangerous, that $as all there $as to itE doubly so in these small sailing ships, &
#"ould vi#it #ic) 3a, a# #oon a# & can. %he'd have to visit the families of the dead $hen she got
bac'3she hated that too, but it $as duty& -hey'd earned it&
"%hip statusB" she said&
"5e lost the foremast, of course& -he main's crac'ed 6ust belo$ the lo$er top3$e $oolded it
$ith capstan bars, but it's not going to ta'e much strain& 5hat's really $orrying is the hole
for$ard $here the mast 'ept hitting us before $e cut it clear& 5e 6ust finished fothering it $ith a
sail"3that meant sliding a sail over the hole as a canvas patch3"but a lot of the seams are
sprung, and $e're still ta'ing on $ater& And $ith this cargoD"
Alston $inced again, this time for her ship& -$o hundred tons of dried barley in the bottom of
the hold, $ith dates, $ool, and sesame oil in big 6ugs on top of that& -he rest didn't matter, but
the dried grain didE as it soa'ed up $ater it $ould s$ell, and if they $ere unluc'y the soggy,
s$elling mass could push plan's right off the frames, the $ay e;panding ice did $hen a barrel
fro.e&
"5hat time is itB"
"Fourteen hundred hours, Commodore&"
"5hat ne$s of the flotillaB"
"Radio's out3the dec'house hatch caved in $hen the second $ave came over the 9uarterdec'&
4verything smashed up, and the operator's one of the dead& -he rest of the radio shac' cre$ are
in sic' bay too&"
"2amn<" Alston too' a deep breath& "Let's go ta'e a loo'&"
-he feel of the ship under her feet $as more alarming, do$n by the head and sluggish, $ith a
counter 6er' after each rollE that $as $ater or loose cargo surging in the hold& -eams $ere
$or'ing the pumps, sending solid 6ets of $ater overside&
"5hat's the depthB" she said, $hen the 6unior lieutenant and the chief $arrant officers had
gathered, together $ith a C18 or t$o&
"Four feet in the hold, and $e're 'eeping 6ust ahead of it, ma'am," a $arrant officer said3he $as
ship's carpenter& ":ut ,od help us if the grain bloc's the pumpsE it's chaos and 8ld (ight do$n
there, oil t$o inches thic' on the $ater and bales and 6ars floating around&"
"Carry on, Chips," Alston said, loo'ing aloft and narro$ing her eyes&
-he ship loo'ed na'ed, ugly and lopsided $ithout the foremast, of course& -he mess on dec' had
been policed up, loose line secured and a 6ury/rigged forestay had been erected from the
mainmast to the bo$sprit& 0er eyes traced the mainmastE a deep crac' up at the fifty/foot mar',
$ith a ring of t$elve/foot capstan bars lashed around it& 4ven $ith the tight $oolding of line
around it she could see the crac' fle;& (lu# *e lo#t mo#t o$ t"e 3oat#, she reali.ed&
"5e put the cords on $et $hen $e $oolded the mainmast and it's getting a little tighter as they
dry," %$indapa said& ":ut it still loo's ugly to me&"
"2amn right," Alston said, concealing a rush of pride& %ouldn't "ave done 3etter m,#el$, she
thought&
-he mi..enmast loo'ed all right, and the mi..en topsail $as up as $ell, but $ith all the sail aft
li'e that the ship $ould be a stone bitch to steer& "5e have to get some sail for'ard," she said&
A couple of the faces grimaced& "Ma'am, if $e put too much stress on that mast, it's going
overboard&"
"And if $e don' ma'e shore, $e may founder," Alston said& "7f $e get another blo$ before $e've
had a chance to repair her, $e *ill founder&" %he paused for a moment, thin'ing& "5e'll try
rigging a 6ury staysail up near the bo$sprit&"
(ods all around& "Are $e going to try and ma'e Mauritius :aseB" the 6unior lieutenant3
%herman $as her name3as'ed& "7t's only si; or seven hundred miles&"
Alston shoo' her head& "(ot $ith the $ind out of the north, and at this time of year chances are
it'll stay that $ay& 5e'll try for the mainland, and as far north as $e can reach," she said&
1oe$ull, not too $ar #out"& An iron/bound shore, given to sudden storms and $aves even more
monstrous than the ones that had hit the flotilla yesterday& :ac'3or ahead3in the !=Ls, one
had gone right over a :ritish heavy cruiser, putting the turrets all si; feet under before the ship
resurfaced& 1lenty of other vessels before and after had 6ust vanished there&
"5e're all going to be very busy, ladies, gentleman," she continued& "Ms& Alston/@urlelo, please
dra$ up a ne$ $atch schedule, spelling everyone on the pumps3and 7 do mean everyone
$ithout bro'en bones& (e;t, $e're going to have to get some of that cargo overside&" 7t $as that
or 6ettison the guns, and she $asn't going to get rid of the $eapons if she could help it& "5e'll rig
a boom on the mainmast 6ust belo$ the crac'E Chips, find out $hat suitable spars $e have for
that& (e;tD"
%he finished $ith> "And 7 $ant a careful loo'out 'ept&"
-hat $as all she could do for the rest of the flotilla& 5ith an effort of $ill that got no easier $ith
practice, she forced herself not to thin' about the other ships& 4ither the sea had eaten them, or
not&
Melanterol son of %uaberon stopped to buy a s'e$er from a street vendor do$n (e$ 5hale
%treetE it $as chun's of lobster meat $ith onions, savory and hot, filling his mouth $ith the
$ater of hunger& -he $oman too' his copper and laid the food in a split roll, deftly stripping out
the thin $ooden sliver and adding some of the biting hot peppers the Amurru'an imported from
the 8lmec country& -hose $ere becoming popular in -artessos as $ellE they $ere called c"ill,,
$hich he thought a stro'e of $it&
-he spring $ind from the north really $as chilly3(antuc'et $as usually cool compared to his
native -artessos, and the $inters $ere enough to rot the testicles off an ape& 0e $as in
Amurru'an dress3 trousers, boots, 6ac'et, and 'nitted $ool cap3and that 'ept him $arm&
:esides that, it meant no one $ould ta'e him for a foreigner at first glanceE there $ere enough
Amurru'an $ith his sharp olive/s'inned loo's that a casual glance $ould slide over him& 7t $as
obvious $hen he opened his mouth, thoughE his 4nglish $as good, but not that good& Aet&
"D %till no $ord from the commodoreD" he heard, unobtrusively circling near a party of
dignitaries $ho stood around, $aiting for the ceremony to begin&
A", he thought& -he 7slanders' blac' she/devil $ar/leader $as still lost, then, after that storm on
the other side of the $orld& -he 'ing $ill be interested to hear that& 7f it came to $ar, the
Republic $ould be $ea'ened considerably $ithout her and those ships&
0e s$allo$ed the last of the roll and clapped $ith the others as the 7slander ruler $al'ed up and
cut the ribbon& -his too $as informationE the 'ing $ished to 'no$ every little detail, for it might
bear on the 7sland's strength& -he great building behind him had formerly been the AE(,
$hatever that $as, a merchant's d$elling, from the $ay they spo'e of it& %ince the 4vent the
7slanders had used it as a $hale rendery3he could still smell that3but a ne$ channel had been
dredged east up the harbor for the $hale/catchers and their prey& -he AO1 and its $ooden
e;tension running do$n to 8ld %outh 5harf $ere no$ to be a huge covered mar'et for farm
produce and fishE many of those $atching $ere e;cited at the prospect of renting stalls& All of
them $ere relieved at getting the stin' and greasy smo'e of this trade out of the center of their
city& 0e could understand that, since tanneries and smithies $ere banished outside the $alls of
-artessos by la$&
Melanterol strolled through the cro$d, listening& %ome $ere alarmed over the fate of the flotillaE
others still believed that Alston $ould bring it through& %till others chattered of the fishing and
the crops and e;changed gossip that $ouldn't have been out of place in his native city& 0e loo'ed
north$ardE the harbor $as cro$ded too, a leafless forest of mast and spar, and many of the ships
$ere very largeE he could see barge/loads of beam and plan' being to$ed east$ard to the
shipyards, $here ne$ clier-$rigate# $ere abuilding& -he sound of hammering, of po$er/driven
sa$s, the chuffing of steam engines came over the murmur of the cro$d& 0e shivered a little&
-hat $as the noise of $eapons being forged, a spear that might $ell be pointed at the heart of his
fol'& 1erhaps they should stri'e firstD
-here $ere a do.en steam tugs or $halers in sight as $ell, their paddles churning the cold blue
$atersE a flight of gulls too' $ing at the melancholy ho$l of a steam $histle& & "oe t"e )ing'#
arti$icer# are doing 3etter *it" t"e engine# o$ #team, he thought& -hat $as turning out to be
endlessly frustrating, even no$ that they 'ne$ the principles&
A young $oman in smo'e/grimed overalls applauded ne;t to him as the speech ended& "Lot of
ne$ stuff going up," she said& "4;tension to the casting plant, too& 2ouble shifts&"
"Ah," Melanterol said& "Aou $or' thereB A great thing& 4ven in Alba, $e've heard of it&''
"Aou AlbanB" she said, turning to him& A snub nose $ith a smut of charcoal across it, blue eyes
3and by her accent, not a native spea'er of this tongue either& "7 don't hear $here you're fromE
7'm from the ,limmerfish country, myself&"
0e touched head, breast, and groin in a gesture of Alban formality he'd learned& "7'm from the
%ummer 7sle37reland, the 4agle 1eople call it& 7 trade3cloa's, horses, gold dust& My tribe
$ished to see if it $ould profit us to send here directly, and not go through 1entagon :ase in
Alba&" 0e grinned at her& "And 7 $ished to see its magic and marvels for myself&"
%he smiled bac' a little $ryly& "5onders, yes& 7 $ondered and marveled at ho$ much they
$ould pay for $or', until 7 sa$ ho$ fast the coins flo$ a$ay from you here<"
"-hen let me buy you some of the $onderful bitter ale they serve at the :rotherhood," he said&
-he $oman gave him a considering loo', up and do$n& !iernan .o"ulugi, he thoughtE they $ere
even bolder than Amurru'an $omen, in some $ays& And #"e *or)# $or <eaton. +or)# at t"e
.e##emer ca#ting lant&
-he 'ing $as ver, interested in the place that made cast steel for cannon& -here $as a general
description of the process in one of the boo's the palace had, but e;periments had produced
nothing but disaster and unusable spongy metal& 5al'er had been curiously unhelpful as $ell&
"5hy notB" the $oman said& "Aou get a thirst, pouring steel&"
% % %
Marian A7ston/@urlelo stepped bac' from the pump handle, $or'ing her fingers and then $iping
a forearm across her forehead& 1ell, at lea#t & don't "ave to 3e a$raid o$ #un3urn& 1oor 0eather
had to $atch that carefully in these latitudes, or she peeled li'e an onion&
"Reliefs on," she said aloud&
A ne$ shift of t$elve stepped up to the bars and began $or'ing them, up and do$n li'e the
action on an old/fashioned rail handcar&
"ChipsB" she said, $al'ing for$ard and loo'ing over the side $here cre$fol' $ere fothering
another sail over the hull&
"7t's gaining on us again, ma'am," the $arrant officer said& 1e loo'ed lobster/redE he'd been in the
$ater a good deal& "7t's not 6ust the damaged plan'ing& 5ith that cross/chop during the storm, she
spe$ed oa'um from half the seams& 5e're ta'ing $ater in tric'les over big sections of the hull
and 7 can't get at it $ith the state the hold's in& 4very time the pumps clog $e lose ground&"
"2amn," Alston said, s9uinting up at the s'y&
(o more bad $eather, than' ,hu, as 7an $ould say& -he %"am3erlain $as ma'ing four 'nots
across the $ind, heading $est by southE all the mi..en sails set, the main course, main lo$er
topsail, and a big improvised triangular staysail on the line that led do$n from the mast to the
bo$sprit, through the area $here the foremast should be& 1mmmD $e could u#e t"e uer "al$
o$ t"e mainma#t a# a jur, $orema#t, cut it o$$ rig"t *"ere it'# crac)ed&
A figure emerged from the for$ard companion$ay, na'ed e;cept for a pair of shorts and covered
in oil, $ater, and s$ollen barley& %$indapa $al'ed across the dec', plunged off the $ind$ard
bo$3 there $as a slic' of sesame oil stretching do$n$ind from the ship on the other side3and
came up a line seconds later, glistening and reasonably clean&
"5e've got most of the $hole 6ars out," she said to Alston as she $al'ed up, drying herself& ":ut
there's 6ust too much of the barley and it 'eeps #"i$ting& -he reed bas'ets it $as in are all
ruptured, and it's sludging around the ballast and ever,*"ere&"
Alston nodded soberly& -hey needed to get in to shore, maybe even beach the ship& -hat $ould
be ris'y3this hull $asn't made for it3 but it should be possible if they could get the right
ground, soft sand or, better still, mud& -hen they could recaul', replan' the smashed/in section of
hull on the port bo$, and reall, clean out the hold&
1mmm. &$ *or#t came to *or#t, *e could 3rea) u t"e "ull, u#e t"e material# to 3uild a coule o$
#loo-rigged innace#, and ju#t #ail do*n t"e coa#t to Mandela .a#e& %he hated the thought of
losing the ship, but they could salvage the cannon and come bac' for them later& 5al'ing $as
out of the 9uestionE according to their best estimate, they'd ma'e shore nearly t$o thousand
miles from the Cape&
A belch of air came up the companion$ay, smelling of rancid sesame oil and spoiled barley& 0er
lips thinned&
"Huartermaster, have you finished chec'ing the storesB" she said&
-he $arrant officer nodded& "4ight thousand gallons of fresh $ater in the intact tan's," she said&
-hat sounded li'e a lot, until you considered ho$ much t$o hundred thirsty humans could use in
a day& "-he others are repairable, if $e can $ater some$here& About half the dry provisions are
salvageable, if you don't mind a little mold on the edges&"
"8n dec', there<"
4veryone not doing something that re9uired close attention loo'ed up& -he loo'out continued his
hail> "%hip ho<"
Alston cupped her hands around her mouth& "5here a$ayB"
"-hree points on the starboard bo$& 0ull do$n& (o masts<"
"7'd better ta'e a loo'," Alston said& "Ms& Alston/@urlelo, you have the dec'&"
"-here," 1rince @ashtiliash said softly into the hot stillness of the morning& "-here, seeB 5here
the reeds move against the $ind&"
-he horses sensed it too, snorting a little in the chariot traces, the sound of their hooves on dirt
sharp through the endless rustling murmur of the ten/foot sea of reeds& @ashtiliash shifted
automatically and brought up his bo$ as their stamping hooves shifted the $ar/car& 7t $asn't
rigged for $ar, no$, of course, but hunting lions $asn't all that different& -here $as a 9uiver of
arro$s $ith broad/bladed, barbed heads strapped to the frame, and a buc'et of 6avelins, plus a
long spear and a hunting shield& 0is robe $as plain $ool, 'irted up to let his hairy muscular legs
have full play, $ith a ne$ steel s$ord and dagger at his $aist and leather bracers on his
forearms&
-he @assite prince bared his teeth in sheer happiness& -here $as no better sport than marsh lion,
unless it $as elephant, and hunting lions $as a royal man's duty as $ell as pleasure, so he needn't
even feel guilty at neglecting affairs of state&
5ou *ill deal *it" t"e 6antu)"tar all ,our li$e, his sire had said& T"e#e *arrior# o$ t"eir# are
,oung men, "o*ever eldritc" t"e, ma, 3e and *"atever t"eir o*er#. 2rin) *ine *it" t"em,
"unt *it" t"em3 t"u# ,ou *ill )no* t"em a# men, and t"e, ,ou&
7t had been good advice& 4;cept, of course, that some of them *eren't men& -hey $ere $omen,
something so strange that it slipped out of the grasp of the mind sometimes, li'e a fresh/caught
fish out of a fisherman's hands& +arrior# in trut", not cam-$ollo*er#& 7t $as li'e something out
of a tale, of the ancient days of gods and heroes, of a piece $ith the eerie strangeness of the
ne$comers& 0e felt an e;citement li'e a child's at the (e$ Aear festival $hen the images of the
gods traveled to :abylon, s$aying through the streets amid the throngs, and all things became
possible&
"7 see it, by ,od," one of the (antu'htar said38/Rour'e, he $as called, a man $ith the copper/
colored hair you sa$ sometimes among the northern hill tribes in the Cagros& 7t seemed to be
much more common among the strangers&
+"ic" god doe# "e #*ear 3,B @ashtiliash $ondered&
-he (antu'htar pulled their ri$le#3ho$ he longed to possess one, as he already possessed a pair
of the marvelous far/seeing 3inocular#3 from leather scabbards by the saddles of their horses&
0e glared eagerly across the t$enty yards of damp earth that separated the hunting party from
the first of the reed thic'ets that stretched on south$ard out of sight, but out of the corners of his
eye he $atched the (antu'htar general, 0a$lahard& (o, 0ollardE @enneth/0ollard& 7nstead of
riding bac' to$ard the rump, the (antu'htar rode on the middle of the horse's bac', on a padded,
built/up seat called a #addle& As $ell, they had metal loops3#tirru#3on either side, $here they
could brace their feet& 0e marveled at the cleverness of that, and even more than at the iron
horseshoes on their mounts' feet& :ig horses, too& %houlder/high on him, a good double handspan
taller than the best chariot team he'd ever seen& Much heavier than :abylonian horses, yet long/
limbed and s$ift& @enneth/0ollard had promised him the stallion's services for his mares&
-he reeds moved again, and the horses laid their ears flat& @ashtiliash's attention came bac' to
the matter at hand $ith a snap& 0is nostrils flared, ta'ing in the damp, beer/smelling scent of the
marsh& -hen it faded as the $ind bac'ed and came around into the north&
"-hey come<" he said&
@enneth/0ollard and his officers s$ung do$n from their saddles and handed the reins to soldiers
of theirs, readying their rifles& -hen the roar came, shatteringly loudE the (antu'htar beasts
reared against the hands on their bridles, unaccustomed& -he chariot teams of the prince's party
$ere trained, but their glossy hides $ere damp $ith terror& More of the grunting/moaning sounds
of big/cat anger, and then more roarsD
T"ere.
-$o males first, full/gro$n but young, thic'ly maned3brothers, probably, 6oint lords of the
pride& %even lionessesE some $ith s$ollen dugs, so they $ould have cubs bac' further in3sure
to ma'e them fierce& -here $as a confusion of ta$ny hides and glaring amber eyes, great,
graceful forms eeling among the edges of the reeds, milling among themselves&
@ashtiliash shouted his pleasure and heard it echoed by the nobles behind him& -he animals
roared again, paced, snarled, bristled at the intruders in their territory&
"Mine is the one on the right," he called to the (antu'htar as it suddenly lo$ered its head and
fi;ed un$in'ing eyes upon him, moved its haunches, stiffened the lashing tail to stillness3sure
signs of a charge&
As he spo'e he brought the bo$ up and dre$ smoothly to the ear, until the 'een bron.e of the
arro$head brushed the gloved fingers of his left hand on the grip of the bo$& Muscle bunched in
his arms and shoulders, horn and sine$ and $ood crea'ed, and he gloried in his strength& -he
release $as s$eet, his mind follo$ing the arro$ as it met the lion's bounding rush& 7t too' the
animal behind the right forelegE another $as on its $ay before the first struc', and the nobles in
the other chariots $ere shooting as $ell&
0ollard too' one step for$ard and 'nelt, bringing up his rifle& %rac)&
-he chariot teams surged aside at the unfamiliar noiseE @ashtiliash cursed and grabbed the edge
of the $ar/car $ith a hand as the motion thre$ off his third shot& 5hen he loo'ed up, the other
male lion $as tumbling, its smooth, lunging charge bro'en by the impact of the bullet& 0is eyes
$ent $ide $ith surpriseE an angry lion $as "ard to stop&
0e grabbed the long spear and the hunting shield from the chariot and 6umped do$n $ith a
shoutE his driver follo$ed $ith another spear&
%rac)& 8'Rour'e $hooped as he fired, an e;ultant sound that made @ashtiliash laugh in
admiration& A man o$ #irit, *it" $ire in "i# liver&
-he horses started again, but this time it didn't matter& A lioness $ent do$n, then came up again
and dragged herself aside, moaning, her hind limbs limp3bro'en spine& -hat $as 0ollard's
second/in/command, the $oman @at'rin&
@ashtiliash too' a fractional second to loo' at herE he'd $ondered ho$ a female $ould do in a
lion hunt3that $as as close as you could get to a battle $ithout fighting one& %he seemed calmE
the face beneath the cropped hair $as impassive under the s$eat of a hot day in the marshes, and
the startling blue eyes narro$ed as she scanned for another target and brought the $eapon to her
shoulder& -he smooth motion $as unfamiliar in detail, but his $arrior's eye recogni.ed long
training&
-hen his lion arrived, and he s$ung the shield around& 7t had t$o large, staring eyes painted on
it, sure to dra$ the attention of one of the big cats& -his one $as no e;ception& 7t leaped for him
$ith a roar that seemed to sha'e the earth, but the beast $as slo$ed by the loss of blood and the
pain of the arro$s& -he long, 'een bron.e of the lance too' it in the chest& -he prince let the
impact shove the butt/spi'e of his spear deep into the soft earth, then released it as the lion
'ic'ed, moaned, and died& 0is s$ord came out, the (antu'htar metal balanced and deadly sharp
in his hand&
%rac).
-his time 0ollard's bullet bro'e a charging lioness's hind leg, but she $as up and coming in
s$iftly& @ashtiliash crouched and presented his shield to dra$ her, stumbling bac'$ard as a great
pa$ smashed the $ic'er/and/leather surface bac' against him& -he beast reared, and the
gravemouth ree' of its breath s$ept over him as it snarled& 0e struc' underarm, and the steel
s$ord slid into its belly $ith a soft, heavy resistanceE he t$isted it free and 6umped bac', landing
$ith legs spread and feet at right angles, ready to move him in any direction&
%rac).
-he $oman $arrior fired again, this time at less than five paces, and the lioness died at her feet,
a last savage refle; driving it to bite the dirt&
(er"a# #"e "a# a man'# #oul, he thought& 7t $ould be intriguing to bed such a $omanD
5ith the lions safely dead, the hunting party dre$ aside to a place $here a fe$ $ild palms gave
some shade& %ervants $atered the horses and fed them, set up an a$ning for shade and passed
around the contents of bas'ets and flas's& @ashtiliash too' a glass bottle from the strangers'
stores and sipped, raising his bro$& -o begin $ith, it $as cold3almost ice cold& -hat $as a great
lu;uryE the 'ing had an icehouse in his palace, filled $ith bloc's brought do$n from the
mountains in $inter, and perhaps a fe$ great nobles and rich merchants had li'e$ise&
@at'rin/0ollard leaned on her elbo$ on a blan'et nearby and $iped at her face and nec' $ith a
cloth, resting the cool bottle against her chee' for a second and sighing& @ashtiliash $atched out
of the corner of an eye, fascinated, as she spra$led at ease&
& "ave never #een a *oman *"o moves li)e t"at, he thought& (ot $ith a harlot's bra.enness,
although that $as ho$ it appeared at first& A# i$ #"e move# "er lim3# and 3od, *it"out thin'ing
o$ t"em3a# a man mig"t&
"Aour land of (antu'het is colder than @ar/2uniashB Li'e 0atti/land, or the mountains&"
@enneth/0ollard nodded& "%ome$hat colder, in summer3a $arm night here $ould be a hot day
there& Much colder than your land in the $inter3cold rain that turns to ice, and much sno$&"
@ashtiliash had campaigned along the edges of the Cagros in $inter, and he shivered a little
in$ardly at the memory& ",reat forests, too, 7 hear&"
"(ot (antuc'et on," @athryn said3her A''adian $asn't as good as her commander's3"8n
mainland not far a$ay, yes& -rees half as tall as .iggurat of +r, cover land many thousandD ho$
do you sayD thousand day $al's& 5e cut, cut fuel, cut timber, cut for farms, still al$ays more&"
"All the logs you $ant, for the cutting3it seems unnatural, li'e pic'ing gold up off the ground,"
@ashtiliash said& @ar/2uniash gre$ nothing but poplar and palm and had to buy abroad for
anything that re9uired large, strong timbers, or hard and handsome ones& ":ut doubtless you
need the fuel&"
"5e sho$, you have the blac' oil that burnsB" 0ollard said&
0e pu..led at that for a second, then reali.ed she meant the blac' $aterE he'd never thought to
call it "oil," as if it $ere sesame pressings or pig lard&
"Aes, that $ill burn, but only $ith a stin'ing smo'e," he replied&
"7f you3" she hesitated, frustration on her face, and tal'ed $ith the other t$o (antu'htar& "8ur
$ord is di#tillD distill it, parts burn clean, it $ill& For lamps, for ma'eD for ma'ing bric's& And
for firing our steam boats&"
0e hid a slight shudder& Many had gone on their faces3or screamed and run3$hen the first of
those came $al'ing upstream $ithout oars or sails& 7t still caused uneasiness, fear of ill luc'& Aet
already some of the merchants of the )arum had hired those boats to haul cargo upstream& And3
"-hose could be very useful to us $hen it comes to $ar against the Assyrians," he said&
@athryn and the others nodded& "A road for supplies right into the heart of the enemy's country,"
she said&
"5e have a saying, 8 1rince," @enneth/0ollard said& "-hatD ah, novices tal' of the clash of
arms, and e;perienced $arriors spea' of supplies&"
"-hat is trueE it cannot be denied<" @ashtiliash agreed&
T"e, not onl, "ave *onder$ul *eaon#, 3ut t"e, under#tand "o* *eaon# #"ould 3e u#ed, he
thought $ith relief3he must tell his father of this& -hat $as the difference bet$een a civili.ed
realm li'e :abylon and mountain tribesmen or Aramaean sand/thievesE the scribes and
storehouses and s'illed men to 'eep bread and beer and salt fish, fresh horses and arro$heads,
flo$ing out to the armies in the field& And t"e #ilver to )ee #oldier# longer t"an t"e #mell o$
loot, and t"e engineer# to 3uild $ortre##e# and 3ridge#&
0e had a sudden, daunting thoughtE did the (antu'htar vie$ "im as he might a chief of the
AramaeansB For that matter, his remote forebears "ad been hill/chiefs, hungry strangers $ho
came do$n into these rich lo$lands during the chaos that follo$ed the fall of 0ammurabi's
dynasty&
@ashtiliash follo$ed the conversation, appreciating ho$ s'illfully the (antu'htar pic'ed up
slivers of information in ans$ering "i# 9uestions, and e9ually ho$ they avoided telling him more
than they $ished him to 'no$ $ithout giving offense& 1ere & am, di#cu##ing a$$air# o$ *ar and
#tate *it" a *oman, and it #eem# quite natural, he thought& 2isturbing and intriguing at once&
At last their minds turned from larger matters to the hunt, through discussing $hat the rifles
could do&
"My than's to you," he said& "Aou 'illed five& 1erhaps if $e had many of these rifles, $e could
finally 'ill the vermin faster than they breed, and our stoc' and the peasants' children $ould be
safe&"
-he (antu'htar loo'ed at each other again& "5ell," 0ollard said, "that's one $ay of loo'ing at
it&"
"7 proclaim these men free<" 5illiam 5al'er shouted& "%laves no more<"
0e stepped for$ard and t$isted the metal collar around the first man's nec'& -he soft $rought
iron had been filed nearly through, and it parted easily under the strong, $renching pressure& -he
man fell to his 'nees, tears lea'ing do$n his face, and gripped the 'ing's shins, babbling his
than's& 0e had a thic' accent and pale eyesE he'd probably been bought in trade $ith the
barbarians of the north& -hey $ere al$ays $illing to sell their tribal enemies for silver and $ine&
For steel s$ords, sometimes their relatives&
"7f you $ish to than' me, $or' $ell and faithfully," 5al'er said, restraining an urge to 'ic' the
ne$ freedman loose, smiling and patting him on the shoulder insteadE the guardsman dragged
him bac'& Mu#tn't #oil t"e tone o$ t"e occa#ion&
0e $ent on do$n the line of slaves $ho $aited in the strong sunE there $ere thirty men and
t$enty $omen, about average for a $ee' $hen he hadn't been a$ay& As he too' the collar off
each, a cler' handed the ne$/made freeman or $oman a certificate of manumission on
parchment and a small leather bag of coined silver& 5hen he $as finished, he climbed the steps
from the floor of the stadium and stood once more at the front of the royal bo;&
"Let all men 'no$," he $ent on, "that these royal freedmen are no$ citi.ens of the 'ingdom, for
they have labored hard to ma'e those things $e most need& Let them be paid a $ageE let them be
free to marry and establish their o$n households, to o$n land and to bear arms, to testify on oath
in court& Let any children of theirs be enrolled in the royal schools, and let all men 'no$ that
they have earned the 'ing's favor, and the honored title of Sta)"anovite#0
A long, rolling cheer $ent around the stadium, buffeting his ears& -here $ere about ten thousand
here, nearly all the free population of 5al'eropolis and their families, minus guards and the duty
roster of the garrison, plus the most favored element of the slaves3most favored ne;t to this
crop of ones being manumitted, of course& 7t $as $al'ing distance from to$n, and they'd run out
a spur from the city's $ooden/rail, horse/dra$n trolley system as $ell&
-he public stadium $as a compromise bet$een $hat he remembered of ,ree' 8deums and an
American football stadium& From here everyone could see him $hen he stood and stepped
for$ard to the gilded railing of the marble/and/lapis 'ing's bo; to spea', but a fe$ steps bac'
under the great striped a$ning one could en6oy shade and privacy $ithout sacrificing a good
vie$&
5al'er $al'ed bac'$ard three paces to seat himself on the throne, raising his hand high to
ac'no$ledge the roaring of the cro$d& A fair number of them had been freed themselves in
ceremonies of 6ust this 'ind3less elaborate in earlier years, of course& Around the edge of the
royal bo; stood a platoon from his guard regiment, in their gray chain/mail tunics, helmets, and
cloa's, their bayoneted rifles across their chests& 8n every shoulder $as his $olfshead badge, red
on blac'E in the smooth marble front $all of the bo; the same symbol $as set in orilachrium and
ony;, and it flapped from the flagposts all around the amphitheater&
(it, *e don't "ave good enoug" lig"ting $or nig"t game#, he thought& 4r t"at illar#-o$-ice e$$ect
t"at )raut Seer got *it" #earc"lig"t#. %ool&
-he ne$ freedmen $ere laughing no$3some still $eeping as $ell3and $aving as they $ere
led around the circuit of the sands by a brass band and drum ma6orettes tossing flaming batonsE
that had been Alice's idea and surprisingly popular& Alice $as sitting on his right hand in a big
sil' lounger, occasionally giving the silver chain in her hand a bit of a 6er'E it $as attached to the
cho'e/collar around the nec' of one of her latest toys&
T"at one *on't la#t long, 5al'er thought, loo'ing at the circles beneath the staring eyes $here
she 'nelt on the marble tiles at 0ong's feet& (it,. (rett, little t"ing& %oft, though& -he harder ones
sometimes came through the 0ong Re/education 1rocess alive&
Although they $ere al$aysD changed&
%he had half a do.en of her friends there, too& 5ives and daughters of various Mycenaean
big$igs, mostly3members and prospective members of that cult thing she'd been $or'ing on
for years, the %isterhood of 0e'ate& 7t stro'ed her various t$itches, and it $as useful as $ell&
%ome of the Achaean noble$omen $ere $earing the ne$ fashions that Alice and the $omen of
5al'er's retainers had spread3 a 'nee/length tunic, sash belt, loose trousers, and gold/stamped
san/dais, in various combinations of color and cut, embroidery and 6e$eled additions&
"7 don't 'no$ $hy you ma'e such a big thing of these manumissions," the doctor said sul'ily&
"0ey, do 7 ob6ect to your human sacrificesB" 5al'er said, chuc'ling& 0e considered a date
stuffed $ith minced nuts and too' a handful of popcorn instead, ma'ing a mental note not to
forget his sparring practice later that day&
Aloud he $ent on, "Alice, Alice3you really don't understand personnel management all that
$ell& 5hy do you thin' $e go in for all this slavery to begin $ithB"
"AhD because it's funB" she said&
"-hat's ,our hang/up& Me, 7 6ust $ant to get the $or' done the $ay 7 $ant it done, as cheap and
fast as possible& 7f 7 could, 7'd hire 'em3 less trouble if they find their o$n rations and
flophouses& -hing is, there's no proletariat here& 2amned fe$ people here $or' day to day for
$ages, and those mostly only for the harvest or something li'e that&"
"-he tele#tai s9uee.e the peasants fairly hard," Alice ob6ected&
"Aeah, but the barons don't emlo, them& -he peasants manage their o$n land and hand over a
share of $hat they gro$& -he artisans $ere all contractors, e;cept for the slave $omen $or'ing
the looms& -here 6ust isn't a hired labor force available& -he only $ay to get big groups of people
doing unfamiliar things under supervision in this setup is slavery3only $ay to get them $or'ing
regularly to cloc'/time, tooE they 6ust purely hate that& (ot that 7've got anything again#t slavery,
but mainly it's a management tool& :ut you've got to have a carrot as $ell as the stic'&
Manumission's a safety valve&"
"7 don't understand itE you're the one $ho enslaved them in t"e $ir#t place, 5ill& Aou 'noc'
someone do$n, then give them a hand up, and they're grate$ul<"
"Mostly they are& 0ell, if you $ait for human beings to be rational, babe, it'll be a long, dull
month of %undays& -hese guys are useful&"
5al'er loo'ed over to $here Althea and 0arold $ere sitting $ith their minders& 8od, t"e, gro*
$a#t, he thought& -here $ere a fe$ more coming up behind them, too3for that matter, 4'hnonpa
$as pregnant againE he still slept $ith her occasionally, for old time's sa'e&
"Remember this," he said to them& "7t's part of the art of ruling, 'no$ing $hen to use re$ards
and $hen to use punishments& 7t's not ho$ much you give, but ho$ much it is in relation to $hat
the man had before& 7f he's a slave $ith nothing, a little can get you a lot&"
-he boy and girl both nodded solemnlyE they 'ne$ his teaching tone& -hen e;citement bro'e
through again and they bounced on the cushions, forgetting the bo$ls of ice cream in their hands
and endangering the upholstery&
"5hat's ne;t, FatherB" Althea as'ed&
"0mmmm3Alice, you handle the programmingE $hat is ne;tB"
"5ell, it's on the printed schedule, 5ill3honestly, sometimes 7 don't thin' you appreciate my
$or' at all&"
4", 3ut & do, 3a3e& 1articularly the medical school, and the library pro6ect3getting everything
she 'ne$ do$n in print, $ith multiple copies& And training assistant healers, not up to full doctor
status but able to do e;tension $or' in teaching things li'e sanitation3she'd gotten that idea
from the Chinese Communists, of all people& +it"out ,ou, &'d "ave goddam eidemic# gumming
u t"e rogram all over t"e lace&
-he cheering in the stands had settled do$n to a steady hum as the freedmen $ere led out
through a gate of $rought ironE criers $ere going up and do$n the stair$ays chanting their offers
of cold $atered $ine, sausages in buns, popcorn, and candied fruit and pastries& 5al'er inhaled
$ith a nostalgic pangE it $asn't 9uite the scent of a high school game, but it $asn't entirely unli'e
it, either&
"Let's see, 'ids," he said, unfolding the sheet lying on the table beside his glass&
6ice cri# rinting, and t"e,'re getting t"e engraving# 3etter, he noted&
-hat $as %el.nic''s department& 0e glanced overE the man $as in a lo$er bo; t$o places over in
the nobles' section, $ith one of his concubines $iping grease off his double chin and another
holding a tray of souvla'i ne;t to this thic', ring/bedec'ed fingers& 5al'er felt the detached
contempt he al$ays did for a man $ho couldn't control his appetites& -he information minister's
vices didn't interfere $ith his 6ob, much, so they $ere tolerable, and they did ma'e him easier to
control&
(one of his original American retainers $ere stupid enough to thin' they could get along
$ithout him, and one thing he'd insisted on from the first $as that they trained plenty of
understudies& 0e $as increasingly able to get along $ithout t"em, and they 'ne$ it&
"Footraces first," he said to his son and daughter& "-hen long 6ump and 6avelin& -hen the
iron$or's bo;ing champion versus the road haulers' man, for a pri.e of three hundred dollars to
the $inner&"
"-hat ought to be good, Father," 0arold said eagerly& "-hat's even better than a soccer game&"
5al'er noddedE none of that nonsense $ith gloves or Hueensbury rules here, it $as bare
'nuc'les and last/man/standing&
"-hen it's three $omen $ith spears against a tiger," he concluded& 0is eyebro$s $ent up, and
Althea s9uealed $ith e;citement&
"A tigerB" the blond girl said& "8ooooh<" %he lifted a bored/loo'ing 4gyptian cat from its bas'et
beside her and 'issed its nose& "5ouldn't you li'e to be a tiger, Fluffy FuryB"
5al'er loo'ed over at 0ong& "Maybe 7 don't appreciate you enough, querida mia3$here did
you get a tiger, of all thingsB"
Lions $ere available in ,reeceE you found them all over the :al'ans in this era, though they
$eren't common& :ears, too& -igers, thoughD
"Colchis," Alice said smugly& "7 $anted it to be a surprise, so 7 got the captain of the S"ar) to
pass the $ord there $hen you sent him around the :lac' %ea on the sho$/the/flag cruise, and
then 7 'ept it out at my country place& 7t's big, and it's mean& -he $omen are all recaptured
runa$ays, lots of spirit& -hey loo' very fetching too, all buff and fierce&" %he smiled and patted
the head of her toy& "7 trained them and designed the costumes myself&"
"-hat *ill be interesting," he said&
"-hree gets you t$o on the tiger," Cuddy said& "0ey, tell you $hat37'll bet those litter/bearers
you li'ed againstD $hatever/her/name/is there& -hat's four/to/one&"
"2one," Alice replied, ignoring the sudden $ild flare of hope in the toy's eyes& "%he's sort of
boring, any$ay&"
A cler' came through, $ith a murmur to the guard& 0e bo$ed and handed 5al'er a sealed
message mar'ed $ith the high/priority stamp and $ith 4n'helya$on's sigil in the red $a;&
5al'er split the $a; $ith a flic' of his thumbnail and read 9uic'ly&
"-roubleB" Alice said&
"7ntelligence report&"
0e snapped his fingers, and another servant glided for$ard $ith a silver tray and pen/and/in'
set& %he 'nelt to present the tray as a $riting surface, holding it motionless as he scribbled,
"Received& 5ell done&" 2efinite ne$s of the (antuc'eters' arrival in :abylonia $as $orth
interrupting him for& "5e $ill meet in my sanctum to discuss this after dinner tonight&" -hen he
$ould schedule a cabinet meeting for later in the $ee'& -he cler' bo$ed again and left, moving
$ith the same unobtrusive s$iftness&
2amn, t"e one dra*3ac) *it" 3eing ruler o$ all & #urve, i# t"at & #end #o muc" o$ m, time
reading reort# and "olding meeting#. Sort o$ li)e 3eing a %-4& 8f course, most corporate
e;ecutives couldn't crucify the people $ho really annoyed them&
5al'er stood again& "Let the games begin<" he called&
"Aou have not been idle," @ashtiliash said mildly& -he sun of %hamash $as declining to$ard the
$est as they approached the (antu'htar base&
0is face $as impassive, and only the formal phrasing sho$ed ho$ startled he $as& 0e'd heard
reports that the (antu'htar $ere building on the land his sire had besto$edE the )udurru
e;empting the grant from all ta; and service stood in the courtyard of the great temple in +r&
0e'd even heard that the foreigners had hired many peasants after the harvest, paying $ell and
barging them do$nstream by the thousands&
.ut & e7ected an eart"*or) $ort, not a #mall cit,< 5alls defined a space the si.e of a minor
nobleman's estate, several hundred acresE a broad road ran do$n through cultivated fields to the
$ater's edge, $here stood piers and slip$ays and a cluster of buildings&
-he $alls $ere li'e nothing he'd ever seen either& A lo$ mound, a deep, broad moat, and then
massive lo$/slung ramparts sun' behind the protection of the ditch& -hey formed a s9uare, $ith
triangular bastions at each corner and more before the gates& -he surfaceD
"7s that all ba'ed bric'B" he as'ed, ama:ed&
0ollard nodded& "Loo' there, lord," he said, pointing& 2o$n by the riverside $as a series of lo$
structures, shaped li'e long half/tubes&
"@ilns fired byD di#-till-ed blac' $aterB 7 did not 'no$ there $as a spring of it here,"
@ashtiliash said& 0e $ould have 'no$nE the stuff had many uses, although it $as costly&
"5e drilled a $ell for it& -hat is $hat our #team3oat# burn here, too&"
-he prince nodded, hiding a shiver& 0e'd heard the (antu'htar e;planation, and it $as true3a
sealed vessel of $ater put on the fire did e;plode, so there *a# much force in the vapors of
heated $ater& 7t $as still eerie&
0e glanced at the lavish, manyfold thousands of bric's& +e #"ould loo) into u#ing t"e 3lac)
*ater t"u# our#elve#& :uilding $as one of the primary duties of a 'ing, and the better the
buildings, the greater the mana&
"-he residue is bitumen, also useful," 0ollard $ent on&
"5hat is that other building, then, beside the 'ilnsB"
"-hat is $here $e turn your reeds intoD into a stuff li'e 4gyptian papyrus& 5e call it aer, and
it $as our thought that your merchants could ma'e it and then sell it to ours in return for our
goods& 5e sho$ them ho$, there&"
"4;cellent, @enneth/0ollard," he said& -he scribes sent to the (antu'htar schools $ere sending
good reports, but there $as so much to learn hereD
-he road$ay $as thic' $ith trafficE (antu'htar $agons, one of them pulled by yet another
#team engine, and men of @ar/2uniash as $ell& 0e loo'ed 'eenly about at the land itself& (e$
canals had been cut, and plants $ere gro$ing $hose li'e he did not 'no$& Many peasants $ere
at $or', $eeding and digging& (one $ere occupied in lifting $ater $ith buc'et and shadoof,
though& 7nstead, s'eletal structures of $ood, $ith $hirling vanes at their tops, stood at intervals,
and from their bases $ater gushed as if by sorcery, running out into the furro$s that laced the
fields&
"-hose are some ne$ crops $e thought $ould be useful here," 0ollard said smoothly&
"%ugarcane, cotton, citrus, rice, others& 5e can supply your farmers $ith seeds and slips from
here&"
@ashtiliash rolled the foreign names over in his mind& +ell enoug"& 7n the end, all $ealth came
from the land&
-hey passed under the fro$ning gates, and under the mu..les of cannon& -he @assite prince
loo'ed at those $ith $hat he 'ne$ $as an e;pression of pure lust& +it" cannon, a )ing need $ear
no re3el& -hey could pound do$n city $alls li'e the bull/horn of Mardu'3sieges $ould last
only days instead of army/destroying months in camps $here plague $al'ed&
After a fe$ hours' tour, his mind reeled&
4verything $as alien, and much $as so strange that he could stare at it and not see& %ometimes
$hen he could see, the disorientation became $orse3as $hen 0ollard e;plained the lat"e# as
being li'e a potter's $heel for the shaping of metal& 5hen he heard those $ords there $as a clic)
some$here behind his eyes, and suddenly he could see through the bristling foreignness of the
machine to the principle behind it& %ome things familiar $ere even more disturbingE to learn that
pipes underlay the ne$ streets and too' a$ay $asteD 7t $as not that he didn't 'no$ of se$ers
and baths& %uch things $ere common enough in the greathouses of 'ings and city governors&
&t i# t"at #uc" t"ing# ma, 3e given to common #oldier#, to #ervant#, and la3orer#, he thought&
T"at a$ed him, in a $ay that even outright sorcery li'e the fire/boats did not&
And t"e 6antu)"tar "ave come not $or a da,, or a ,ear, 3ut $or a li$etime, he thought a little
uneasily& (obody $ould go to this much trouble other$ise& M, $at"er )ne* & *ould 3e dealing
*it" t"e -agle (eole all m, da,#, he remembered& A *i#e man&
At last he sei.ed on something his mind could grasp& "-his is a schoolB" he said&
-he t$o/story building had a bron.e dis' over its entrance, $ith a bas/relief of an eagle clutching
a sheaf of arro$s and a $reath of olive branchesE he'd noticed that symbol before among the
(antu'htar, as the gilded figureheads of their ships and the smaller figures that topped their
battle standards& T"e eagle mu#t 3e t"eir guardian god, t"en& -he corridors $ithin rang $ith
chants& 0e smiled, remembering his o$n long tutelage in the 0ouse of %uccession, $ith the sons
of nobles and priests for company& 0o$ the rod had fallen on their bac's<
0o$ they had hated the scribes and scholars $ho beat a little $isdom into their hard heads<
"Aes, lord," 0ollard said& "Many among us brought their families $ith them, and it is our la$
that all children receive such teaching&"
@ashtiliash nodded, $al'ing do$n the corridor that divided the building& -hen he stopped&
"-hose are the $omen my father sent<" he said&
-hey $ere dressed in (antu'htar clothing, mostly, but they recogni.ed him and sprang up from
the benches facing the chal'board to prostrate themselves&
0e signaled them up and turned to glance at 0ollard& "My father $as not $ell pleased to learn
that you had spurned his gift, sending a$ay the servants he besto$ed," he said& "(o$ 7 see them
here& 5hat is thisB"
-he (antu'htar inclined his head& "Lord 1rince," he said, "there has been a misunderstanding3
such is inevitable $hen tongues and customs are so different& (o offense $as meant, and $e did
not spurn your father's gift& 5e did manumit the slaves, for such is our la$, but they labor here
for us nonetheless, as you see& And $e than' the 'ing your father greatly&"
"Aou teach servant $omen to read@<" said @ashtiliash&
Anger a$o'e3he $as not accustomed to spend his time gaping at a ne$ $onder around every
corner, li'e some Aramaean sheep/diddler seeing his first city& 0e fought it do$n& <oo) and
learn, he thought& -he (antu'htar $ere men, $hatever the peasants might believe, and $hat
some men could do, others could as $ell& &$ *e learn "o*&
"5hy notB" 0ollard said& ",ood for them, moreD ho$ you sayD more useful for us&"
@ashtiliash nodded grudgingly& -he scribes his father had sent $ere being trained as
interpretersD but the (antu'htar $ould not $ant all such to be in the service of the 'ing of @ar/
2uniash&
"7 understand," he said after a moment&
8nly a fool $hose alliance $as $orthless trusted an ally completely&
C#ATE! TWEL'E
March+May, Year ) A.E.
"2uc' up<" Marian Alston said crisply, leveling her binoculars& -he cle$lines hauled up the
mainsail& -hrough the space cleared she could see one of the ship's $haleboats beating up to$ard
the %"am3erlain, its small triangular sail bellied taut and the si; sailors of the cre$ sitting on the
$ind$ard rail as she heeled sharp over&
T"e,'ll 3e along#ide in one more tac), she thought, and even as she did the boat came about&
6eatl, done, 3, 8od& -he tiller over, the boom across, and the cre$ paid out, tied off, and
s$itched gun$ales in a single motion, neat as dancers&
As she $atched, the factors $ere running through her head& Fine $eather, a si;/'not bree.e out
of the northeast, and a moderate s$ell under a blue s'y scattered $ith small, fluffy clouds& -he
pumps $ere 'eeping paceD 6ust& A steady hose/stream of $ater $as pouring over the lee$ard
rail&
& could clear t"e land and run do*n along t"e +ild %oa#t, she thought&
-he problem $as that this $as the %outhern 0emisphere's fall season3$eather season, and as
soon as anything 3ut a moderate s$ell came up, the pumps started losing ground& :adly& And she
$as so damned #lo* under this 6ury/rig, not to mention steering li'e an o;& All along that
ironbound coast, roc's, and reefs, $ith sudden s9ualls do$n off the mountains and frea' $aves
rolling up out of the Roaring Forties3
-he dec' cre$ $ere going about their $or' in dogged silence, e;hausted $ith the pumps and the
endless sail trimming needed to 'eep the %"am3erlain slanting across the $ind& Mean$hile, the
$haleboat s'idded into the lee of the frigate, thro$ing a fine plume of spray off her bo$& -he
sail and mast came do$n, the oars unshipped, and she came in under the anchor chains, fending
off as the middie in command came up a line, as matter/of/factly as climbing the stairs in her
o$n home&
"1ermission to come aboardB"
",ranted," the 882 saidE the middie saluted the 9uarterdec' and came up to salute again and
remove her billed cap from short sun/strea'ed bro$n hair&
"Ma'am, it's a bay, all right& (arro$ entrance, headland to the south and a sandspit to the north&"
"A bar, Ms& 0arnishB"
"Aes, ma'am, but deep3t$elve feet at lo$ tide, something li'e t$enty/t$o, t$enty/three at high&
7 thin' it's been scouring lately& 0ere's the dra$ing, ma'am&"
%he handed it over, and at Marian's gesture %$indapa, Fen'ins, and a fe$ others came to peer
over her shoulder as she spread it against the compass binnacle& -he bay $ithin $as liver/
shaped, $ith t$o streams running into its southern portion& -he middie had mar'ed broad areas
of marsh and tidal mudE beyond that, brush and dense forest of tropical hard$oods came do$n
almost to the shore&
"2urban," Marian said& (ot very much li'e $hat the t$entieth/century charts sho$ed, but they
$ere used to that&
"(o lac' of timber, ma'am," the officer/candidate said& "A lot of them a hundred, hundred and
t$enty feet to the first branch& :ut $e $ouldn't be the first there&"
"LocalsB"
"(o, ma'am& Found some mar's of big fires on the beach, piled $ood, and this&"
-he chun' of s9uare/sa$n $ood $as about a foot long, obviously bro'en off from a larger
timber& -hrough it $as a short piece of iron bolt& -hat brought $histles from the spectators&
Alston brought it close and tilted it to catch the sun, brushing off a crust of rust $ith her thumb&
"0ammer/stipples on the bolthead," she said grimly& "(ot (antuc'et %hipyard $or', or any of
the contractors&"
-hey machined their boltsE the only thing formed by lathe on this $as the actual scre$ thread&
@ing 7s'eterol's artificers $ere still short of machine tools, although from the reports of 7an's
agents they $ere ma'ing up the lac' $ith shoc'ing speedE +ell, #cratc" t"at t"oug"t o$ a #ignal
$ire, she decided& -he cannon and gear on the %"am3erlain $ould be a pri.e beyond price in
7s'eterol's 'ingdomE no sense in putting temptation in their $ay&
"-artessian," Lieutenant Fen'ins said, $incing slightly as someone 6ostled his slung and
splintered left arm& "5ell, they've got the ships and the maps37 suppose $e should e;pect
they'd be snooping around the 7ndian 8cean too&"
Marian made a noncommittal sound and closed her eyes in pure concentration for a moment&
"5e'll do it&"
"AhD ma'am, t$enty/t$o feet's chancy, $ith the ship this heavy&"
"5e'll have to lighten outside the bar, of course," she said and coc'ed an eye at the s'y& And
ra, $or good *eat"er *"ile *e do it, $ent unspo'en& 6ot to mention t"at our Tarte##ian $riend#
don't #"o* u *"ile *e're "auled do*n& -he Republic and the @ingdom of -artessos $ere
formally at peaceE that didn't mean that the 7berians $ouldn't do their best to stic' a thumb in the
7slanders' eye if they thought it could be done 9uietly&
"2ispatch," the messenger $hee.ed, obviously having run all the $ay from the communications
ready room& "%ir&"
"%tand easy, Marine," Colonel 0ollard said, loo'ing up from his des' and putting do$n the cup
of coffee&
-he evening $as cool and dar' outside the slit $indo$, an hour before the rise of the moon, the
stars a thic' frosting across the desert s'y& From outside there $as a lo$ murmur of voices, the
neigh of a horse in the distance, the burbling moan of a camel3they $ere finally getting some of
them in from the southern deserts& 0e too' the transcript of the radio message and read 9uic'ly,
$histling silently under his breath&
"-han' you, corporal3and this had better not lea'," he said& "2ismissed&"
0e s$ept aside the duty rosters and stores reports and opened a folder of maps that 7ntelligence
had put together in the t$o months since their arrival& 1mmm&
& need to tal) to /at a3out t"i#, he thought& 0is second/in/command $ould probably be in her
9uartersE she'd been out on a field problem for the last t$o days3forced marches, among other
things, getting the troops used to moving in this heat&
0e left his office, returning the salute of the sentries, and $al'ed bris'ly across the lane behind
the praetorium head9uarters38fficer Country $as a ro$ of cottages behind the central s9uare
$here the routes from the main gates metE the design $as based on a Roman legionary marching
camp&
"@at<" he said, $al'ing into the sitting room& "(e$s from3ooops&"
Ma6or 0ollard couldn't actually shoot to her feetE not $ith the :abylonian $oman on her lap
clinging so hard and facing a$ay from the door& %he did manage to disengage, rise, and brace to
attention, flushing visibly even in the light of the single dim lamp and ma'ing an abortive effort
to button her shirt& -here $as a flas' of the local $ine on the lo$ table beside them, and t$o
cups&
0ollard's eyebro$s shot upE the local $oman $as one of the e;/slaves @ing %huriash had sent as
part of his gift to the 7slanders& -hen further& 5ou )no*, & could "ave #*orn to ,od /at *a#
#traig"t a# a ,ard#tic), he thought, sha'en& 6ot t"at & mind, 3ut it'# a 3it o$ a #"oc). AndD
"7 presume this isn't a violation of Article %even, Ma6or," he said coldly&
A blo$ to his chest startled him& 7t $as the :abylonianE she'd slugged him at eye level to her, she
being about five nothing and $earing neither shoes nor anything else e;cept s$eat and a fe$
hic'ies& -his close, he $as suddenly a$are of her scent, a mus'y smell that made him
momentarily but acutely conscious of ho$ long he'd been celibate& %he had probably hurt her fist
a lot more than she had hurt him, but she $as $inding up to try againE a plumply pretty young
$oman, round/faced and olive/s'inned, her blue/blac' hair falling to the small of her bac'&
"5hoa<" he said, holding up his hands& -his time she punched him in the stomachE her small,
hard 'nuc'les rebounded off the muscle&
"Sto that," he $ent on, remembering to use A''adian& @at cleared her throat and seconded him,
and the $omanD
"5hat's your nameB" he as'ed& -hat seemed to surprise her, at least enough to stop her hitting
him&
"%in/ina/mati, lord," she said automatically&
"%in/ina/mati, do not stri'e me," he said& "7nstead, e;plain $hy you are here $ith this officer&
Aou do understand that you need not lie $ith anyone you $ould notB"
%in/ina/mati loo'ed as if she $as going to hit him again& "7 am here because the good @at'ryn
praised my beauty and my singing, and gave me s$eet $ine to drin', and tal)ed to me< All my
life lords have said, '5oman, come here<' or '%lave, bring me this<' Aou loo'ed upon her $ith the
eyes of $rathE you $ill not harm her& 7 say it, %in/ina/mati<"
+ell, & gue## t"e #el$-e#teem cla##e# aid o$$, 0ollard thought&
"Ah, assuredly, 7 shall not harm her," he $ent on aloud& "Aet $e have business of $ar to attend
to& 1erhaps you should leave&"
-he :abylonian seemed to shrin' a little as her eyes lost the brilliance of e;altation and she
reali.ed $hat she'd done& %he gave a 9uic' bo$, scooped up her robe, and left3into the other
room, he noted, not into the street&
"%orry, @at," 0ollard said& "7 6ust lost my temper3too many goddam Article %evens& AndD ah,
7 $as a bit surprised&"
"5ell, so $as 7," she said fran'ly, buttoning her shirt and tuc'ing it in& "7 6ust got so damned
"orn,, and there i#n't anyone else here of my ran', andD Mati's a s$eetie, though& -his is
business, 7 presumeB"
"Aup&" 0e handed over the note& "From Councilor Arnstein's office in 2ur/@urigal.u& -he
Assyrians have attac'ed, and according to @ing %huriash's spies the 4lamites are mobili.ing&
-here are rumors of strangers from the far north at both courts&"
A grin& "5ell, $e are going to be busy bees tomorro$&"
"(o, sir," Iic'i Cofflin said& "-en days minimum& 7 $on't s$ear to anything under fourteen& 7t's
a big 6ob, and $e don't have the facilities $e did bac' on the 7sland&"
"2amn," @enneth 0ollard said, loo'ing up at the cone/shaped for$ard section of the
-manciator'# frame& -hey'd shipped it in from the 7sland 'noc'ed do$n, since it $as far too
large for a ship's hull, and putting it bac' together $as a long 6ob& 1articularly since building a
landing shed here at +r :ase $ould ta'e even longer&
Most of the rest of it lay scattered in carefully calculated pieces over the vast level fieldE the
engines $ere up on frame$or's, $ith the maintenance cre$s going over them& :undles of oil/
soa'ed reeds burned in metal cups on poles, giving light for round/the/cloc' labor& 7t $as cool,
almost cool enough to be chilly, and despite the lamplight of the (antuc'eter camp, the stars
$ere many and very bright& -$o do.en laborers heaved on ropes under the ungentle direction of
a pair of Marine noncoms, and the bo$ section s$ayed upright&
"2o the best you can, then," he said& "7 thin' $e're going to need it soonest&"
":elay< 'vast heaving<"
A hundred and fifty of the %"am3erlain'# cre$ collapsed into the sand and scrub grass of the
beach or around the capstan on dec'& -he spider$or' of cable that connected the ship to half a
do.en of the bigger trees that gre$ nearly to the high/tide mar' $ent slac'& %tripped to shorts
and singlet, Marian Alston $aded through the thic' mud around her shipE it s9uelched up to her
'nees, smelling of dead fish, mangrove, and sea$eed&
S"e'# #tead,. T"an) ,ou, <ord 9e#u#, she thought, refle; of a :aptist childhood&
-he ship crea'ed, groaned a little, and settled into the improvised cradleE her gunports $ere all
open and the dec' covers off, letting the sun and air in and a $aft that smelled strongly of spoiled
barley out3 rather li'e a bre$ery gone $rong, $ith heavy overtones of badly 'ept Chinese
restaurant 'itchen from the sesame oil&
T"at oug"t to "old "er, Marian said to herself& And *e can u#e t"e ra* *ool $or caul)ing, 3etter
t"an oa)um&
1mmmm? i$ *e $ind a tree o$ #omet"ing li)e t"e rig"t #i:e, *e could u#e it $or a jur,-$orema#t&
-hen they $ouldn't have to stop long at Mandela :ase, 6ust head for (antuc'et and the dry doc'
for full repairs&
"All hands," she said to the second lieutenant& -he cre$ gathered, e;hausted but cheerful, and the
commodore stood on a barrelhead to loo' out over them&
"5ell, gentlemen, ladies," she $ent on, "you've done it& (o$ $e can get her ready and go
home&"
"-hree cheers for the s'ipper<" someone shouted&
Marian duc'ed her head and endured it& %he e;pected discipline and precise obedienceE it al$ays
surprised her $hen she turned out to be popular&
"5e'll spend the rest of today and tomorro$ getting the camp shipshape," she $ent on doggedly&
"Right no$, 7 suggest $e call it eight bells3and splice the mainbrace $ith lunch& 2ismissed<"
-here $as another cheer& %he loo'ed at the sunE about noon& %$indapa came up as she 6umped
do$n from the barrel, herding their children&
"Marian," she said3in informal, family mode then& "Could $e ta'e a minuteB"
"7 thin' so," Marian said& 0er 9uarters $eren't far a$ay, a tent made of sailcloth over spars and
oars, and another smaller one for the children& -hey duc'ed into the hot beige canvas/smelling
gloom&
%$indapa $ent on, "0eather and Lucy $ant to apologi.e&"
& ver, muc" dou3t it, Marian thought, forcing her face to sternness&
"5hat forB" she said&
"+hhhD" 0eather said& "+m, $e $ent for a little $al'&"
"7n the $oods&"
"Fust a little $al'3honest, Mom&"
":ut $e didn't tell %eaman Martinelli& 5e're sorry& ;eal sorry&"
%$indapa cut in& "-hey told him they $ere going to the latrine," she said&
-his time it too' less of an effort to sco$l, despite the frightened, guilty faces& "-his is serious,
both of you& -his isn't a pran'& -here are leopards and lions out thereE you could have been
)illed&"
"Aeah," Lucy said in a small voice& 0eather nodded& "5e heard stuff, so $e came bac' fast as
$e can& 5e remembered to mar' our $ay& And $e' re reall, sorry&"
Marian nodded& "And you lied to %eaman Martinelli& Aou could have gotten him into serious
trouble&"
0eather sniffled, and a tear ran do$n her chee'& "%orry&"
"%orry isn't enough& Come here&"
%$indapa's lips firmed into a thin, furious line& %he glared at her partner and then turned her
bac'& & )no*, & )no*, Marian thought angrily& -he Fiernan :ohulugi thought span'ing $as
stupid and barbaric, the sort of thing the %un 1eople did& Children $ere shamed or tal'ed into
behaving&
T"i# i#n't Al3a. +e don't "ave t"irt, grandmot"er# and aunt# and cou#in# and #i3ling# and
*"atnot around to *atc" ever, 3reat" t"e, ta)e and tal) t"em into t"e ground, she thought&
(either of them needed to say it aloudE they'd been over the same ground too often& Marian's
o$n parents in rural %outh Carolina had thought an occasional clip to the ear or s$at across the
bottom to be as essential as food and love to bringing up a child& -hey'd brought up si;, and
none of them had ended up in 6ail or on $elfare&
%he and %$indapa didn't 9uarrel about it in front of the children, though& Marian turned one
small form over her 'nee and administered si; carefully measured $hac's, stri'ing 6ust hard
enough to sting $ithout bruising& -hen she repeated the process&
"(o$ go and say you're sorry to %eaman Martinelli," she said to the tear/strea'ed faces& "Aou
stay $here he can see you, you don't get lunch, and if you ever do this again, this is the last time
you'll ever get on a ship& 7f you can't be trusted to obey the rules, you'll have to stay home on
(antuc'et $hen your mothers are a$ay& +nderstandB"
"Aes, Mom," they said, their voices trembling and $renching at her heart& 0eather $as feeling
her rear $ith t$o careful hands, but the threat affected her more than the span'ing had&
Lucy $ent on, "MomD do you still love us, MomB"
%he sighed and hugged them both close& "8f course 7 do, pun'in& Aour momma loves you more
than anything& 7 6ust $ant to 'eep you safe, that's all& (o$ give %$indapa a 'iss and scoot&"
%he sighed again after they had left& "7 'no$, love," she said softly to her partner's bac'& ":ut 7'd
rather they had sore bottoms no$ than get dragged off by a leopard3or have to leave them
behind every time $e set foot off the 7sland& 7t's bad enough $hen it's a fighting voyage and $e
"ave to leave them&"
An imperceptible nod& "Let's go have lunch," %$indapa said in a neutral tone&
"5ell, ho$ do $e 'no$ for #ure that Mardu' and 7shtar and all the other ones they tal' about
aren't really running thingsB" 2avid Arnstein said& "Ma'ing stuff li'e the $eather happen, 7
mean& 8r $hat Auntie 'dapa says about Moon 5omanB Aou can't see them, but you can't see
atoms and currents and co/ri/olisD that stuffD either&"
"5e don't 'no$ for sure," his father said&
-he steamboat $as ma'ing good time do$nstream, past the endless ro$s of date palms and the
e9ually endless long, narro$ fields and dun/colored villages of flat/roofed, mud/bric' huts& After
several months, fe$er of the peasants ran screaming at the sight of the little side/$heeler,
although they $ere still flinching& -he Arnsteins $ere sitting under an a$ning, resting their feet
on the trac'/mounted t$elve/pounder gun and sipping herb/flavored barley $ater&
T"i# "a# to 3e t"e 3utt-uglie#t countr, t"e notional god# ever made, he thought& -he palms could
loo' romantic and beautifulD for about fifteen minutes at sunrise and sunset& And it $as "ot,
even in May& At least he didn't have to $ear a robe of state no$E shorts and a -/shirt $ere bad
enough& T"an) 8od ever,one in t"i# $amil, tan#&
"5e don't 'no$ for sure because you can't rove a negative," he $ent on to his son, laying do$n
his pen& 2oreen gave him a smile, as her 9uill $ent scratching on over the paper before her&
"-hat means you can't3"
"Aeah, 7 got that part, 2ad," 2avid said, 'ic'ing his sandals against the legs of his chair& "7t's the
rest 7 don't get&"
"8'ay& 5ell, first, $hen you've got an idea about $hy things are the $ay they are, a ",ot"e#i#
3" -he seven/year/old silently shaped the $ord& "3a ",ot"e#i#, you've got to te#t it& 7f things
in the real $orld, things you can prove, $or' out the $ay your hypothesis says they should, then
chances are your hypothesis is right&"
"Aeah," the boy said, fro$ning in concentration& "Aeah, but $hat about stuff $e can't testB
(egatives, li'e you said&"
"5ell, $e've got t$o rules for that," 7an $ent on patiently& 8od, &'ve got a #"ar one "ere& "-he
first is that the simplest $ay to e;plain something is best, if it e;plains everything you can see&
-hat's called 8ccam's ra.or& 2on't ma'e things more complicated than you have to&"
"0ey, that ma'es a lot of sense<" 2avid said, his face lighting up&
S"ar, indeed& -here $ere a lot of adults $ho didn't get thatE on the other hand, it $ould have
been more flattering still if his son hadn't sounded very slightly surprised& 2avid $as moving
from the parents/are/infallible stage to$ard the parents/'no$/nothing stage earlier than most
'ids, obviously&
"5hat's the other rule& 2adB"
"5ell, this is a little more difficult," he hedged& "7t's called finding out $hether your hypothesis
is $al#i$ia3le or non$al#i$ia3le&"
0e $as still deep in the toils of %ir @arl 1opper's epistemology $hen the $histle beside the tall
smo'estac' tooted& -hey $ere coming in to +r :ase, and it $as time to get bac' to $or'&
"0ey, 7 can e;plain all this staff to the other 'ids<" 2avid said enthusiastically&
7an nodded, $incing in$ardlyE he could see the same e;pression in 2oreen's eyes& -hey'd both
li'ed doing that too, as children& 2avid $ould have to learn for himself e;actly ho$ popular it
made you&
% % %
%$indapa made a gesture $ith her right hand, palm do$n& Marian fro.e, eyes scanning the tangle
of 6ungle ahead& 7nsects bu..ed, some of them pausing to sip at her s$eat or to stingE the thic'
vegetation $as full of rustles, s9uea's, clic's& A brief $ind murmured through the dense green,
bringing a little relief from the humid heat&
"T"ere," the younger $oman murmured, turning her head so the sound $ould not carry&
-he antelope $ere in the clearing ahead, cropping at bush along its fringe& Fa$n/colored $ith
$hitish bellies, t$in spiral horns, big de$laps belo$ their throats, about the si.e of a large o;&
-hey $ere eland, si; of them, a bull and five females& Alston lifted her rifle, careful to ma'e the
movement slo$ and gradual& -he sharp clic) as she pulled the hammer bac' to full coc' $ith her
right thumb made one of the big antelope raise its head, still che$ing but scanning for the
unfamiliar sound& 0er mind closed in, limiting the $orld to a patch of pale bro$n hide behind
the shoulder&
Stro)e the trigger& %rac)< %$indapa's shot follo$ed, so close to hers that the t$o reports might
as $ell have been one&
-he eland gave a t$isting leap and staggered a fe$ steps before collapsing, $ith blood running
bright crimson and frothy from its nostrils& 7ts companions had already left at a plunging trot
through the scrub and vines, heads held high and eyes $ide& %$indapa's $ent do$n even fasterE
$hen they had slung their rifles and advanced to the bodies, Alston sa$ that it had been a nec'
shot, clean through the spine&
"%ho$/off," she said&
%$indapa laughed, then sobered as she cut a branch and dipped it in the blood, sha'ing it to the
four 9uarters of the compass and chanting& Alston remembered that from the first time they'd
hunted together3 on (antuc'et, bac' $hen the 7sland had to shoot out its deer to protect the
first crops& (o$ she could understand the $ords in the 8ld -ongue, apologi.ing and e;plaining
to the spirit of the animal $hy this $as needful, singing the ghost home to the Mother& %he
$aited respectfully until the ceremony $as done, then turned and put thumb and forefinger to her
lips to $histle summons&
"-hese are not as the others," a small bro$n man $hispered to his companion&
"-hey use the stic's that ma'e a noise and 'ill," his companion replied& "Li'e the other :ad
8nes&"
-he men3ali'e enough to be brothers and actually cousins3 crouched easily in the upper
branches of a tree& (either $as more than an inch over five feetE their chee'bones $ere high and
their eyes slanted in yello$/bro$n faces& -he hair of their heads $as naturally t$isted into tight
peppercorns, that on their bodies $as scant& An observer could have seen that easily, since
neither $ore more than a piece of soft leather dra$n up bet$een the legs and over a thong beltE
they carried small bo$s, and 9uivers of arro$s $hose chipped/stone heads $ere carefully
$rapped in leaves to preserve the stic'y vegetable poison that tipped them& -heir language $as
full of sharp tongue clic's and plosives spat from the bac' of the mouth&
"%ee, though, they are $omen," the first man said, pointing to the figures in the clearing
do$nslope& "-he others $ere all men&"
"5ell, they had to have $omen some$here," his cousin replied& "+nless they cra$led out from
under roc's, li'e grubs&"
"And one has yello$ hair, $hile the other has s'in blac' as the roc' that burns," the first man
argued& "(one of the :ad 8nes loo'ed so& -he hides they $rap their bodies in are different, too&"
"1erhaps they are another clan of the :ad 8nes&"
"1erhaps& 5e $ill follo$ them&"
"Carefully," the first man to spea' said& "-hese are not 9uite so clumsy in the bush, either&"
@ing %huriash $as far too proud a man to sho$ emotion before a foreigner, particularly anguish
over so slight a thing as a concubine's li'ely death in childbirth, and that during a $ar as $ell&
:ut Lieutenant )Medical Corps, Republic of (antuc'et Coast ,uard* Fustin Clements recogni.ed
it $ell enough&
"Can you save herB" the :abylonian as'ed abruptly&
"My lord 'ing, that 7 cannot ans$er until 7 have seen the $oman," the doctor said& "7t may be that
7 canE it may be that it is beyond my po$ers or that it is too late&"
%huriash's heavy/featured face sho$ed somber approval& "7t is $ell," he said& "%o many promise
more than they can do, especially to 'ings&" A $ry, difficult smile sho$ed strong yello$ teeth&
":ut 7 have noticed that you (antu'htar are more li'ely to thro$ the truth in my beard than to
dip it in honey& 5ill you tryB"
"7t is an honor to help the household of our host, lord 'ing," he said3or hoped he'd saidE this
archaic/%emitic language $as a$'$ard in his mouth, despite nearly a year's drill&
"Iery $ell," the 'ing said& -o the eunuch guards> "%ho$ him to the $omen's 9uarters, him and
his assistants&"
-he 6ourney $asn't long, although the tall, dim corridors of the palace $ere a labyrinth& And t"e
eunuc"# ma)e m, #)in cra*l, he thought& (oor 3a#tard#& 7t $as mostly the thought of deliberate
mutilation that disgusted him, but part of it $as sheer elemental repulsion& And ma,3e it'#
3ecau#e one rea#on t"e, don't loo) more mutinou# t"an t"e, do i# t"at &'m clean-#"aven3$hich
no man in the land of @ar/2uniash $as3and 3ecau#e, $ace it, &'m a little lum too& 8b6ectively
the eunuchs 'ne$ he $as a $hole man& %ubconsciously, they probably perceived him as one of
their o$n&
-he passages of the palace $ound in$ard, hung $ith bright 'notted or $oven rugs up to head
height $hile the $alls above bore scenes of palm trees, griffins and fabulous beasts, $inged
ha$'/headed men bearing ob6ects that probably meant something if you 'ne$ the symbolism&
-he floor $as terra/cotta, covered in $oven mats of rush or stra$ dyed in pleasing colorsE the
$hole effect should have been gaudy but $asn't, and it lightened the massiveness of the adobe
architecture& At last they crossed an open courtyard, and thence into a last suite of rooms&
+e #"ould #ul, t"em *it" 3ic,cle# or #)ate3oard#, Clemens thought& T"i# lace i# 3lood,
enormou#& Although a palace here $as far more than a 'ing's houseE it held $arehouses,
barrac's, armories, libraries, and office space for most of the civil service as $ell&
"0ere is the birthing chamber," one of the eunuchs said&
Clemens's nose and ears had $arned him& Most of the palace smelled slightly of $ool and
people, $ith an underlying hint of $ood/smo'e and incense& (o$ he could detect sic'room
odors3s$eat, blood, urine& -$o smooth/chee'ed guards brought their spears up, then lo$ered
them uncertainly as the escorting eunuchs $aved them aside&
-he room $ithin $as not very large but cro$ded& Mostly $ith $omen and eunuchs, although he
recogni.ed a fe$ bearded figures in the fringed sha$ls of priests, and others $ho $ere probably
priestesses& -hey flic'ered across his consciousness $ithout much impact& 7t $as the na'ed
figure on the birthing stool that caught and held all his focus&
Too ,oung, he thought at onceE fifteen, possibly a little more& -hin, and slender in the hips, so
that the s$ollen belly sho$ed all the more plainly& A ripple $ent across it as he $atched, but the
girl $as too far gone to scream& :lood dribbling do$n bet$een her legs, but not the arterial
gushing that $ould mean it $as too late3
"4ut0 @ he roared, turning on the small mob of spectators and flushing them out the door, nearly
pushing $hen they 6ammed& "%mith, @elantora"3to his assistants3"get her up on that<"
"-hat" $as a table off to one sideE he grabbed it and dragged it into the center of the room& A
cloth from one of his bags $ent over it, and he glanced around& 6o time to tran#$er "er. +e'll
"ave to do it "ere. 8od "el u#, *"at a germ $arm&
7t $as then that he noticed a third figure helping transfer the panting, s$eat/slic' figure of the
girl to the table& A $oman, gaunt/faced under a plain headdress but young, in her t$entiesE a big
hoo'ed nose and receding chin, huge dar' eyes& 7n a long robe $ith a sha$l pinned over it,
stained $ith blood and fluids that also splashed her strong, long/fingered hands&
"5ho are youB" he snapped& "-he mid$ifeB"
Level blac' eyes loo'ed at him& "(o," she said& "-he #a3#utu@3 mid$ife3"and the a#"iu@3
sorcerer, his mind prompted, or $itch doctor3"have left& 7 am an a#u&"
-hat meant "physician," or as close as A''adian came to having a $ord for it& 4;tremely unusual
for a $oman to claim such a title, but she couldn't be lying, not here in the royal palace& 8f
course, a $itch doctor had higher prestigeE to a :abylonian's $ay of thin'ing, physical
treatments $ere superficial, a mere tending of symptoms& 8nly a supernatural approach got at the
root causes of illness&
"7 am an a#u as $ell, of the (antu'htar, the 4agle 1eople," he said, as he laid out his instruments
on another sterile cloth& "-he 'ing has as'ed me to save this $oman's life&"
"-hat cannot be done," the :abylonian $oman said flatly& "-he child is misaligned and cannot
be turned3the mid$ife tried, and she is s'illed in her craft& -he $oman $ill surely die $ithin
three hours&"
Clemens loo'ed up& 0e found not the cool indifference the tone suggested, but an utter and
burning frustration&
"1erhaps, and perhaps not& 2o you $ish to helpB" he said& %he nodded, a single sharp gesture&
"-hen you must obey my orders $ithout argument&" Another nod& "First, go tell them that 7 need
$ater& 5ater in bron.e vessels, several of them, heated until it boils3have them put more on the
fire and 'eep it boiling until 7 need it& And clean cloth3boil the cloth too, first& And $ash3rub
this on yourself, $ash in the boiled $ater, and dress in this& 1ut this mas' across your mouth&
1urr,.'@
-he operation that follo$ed $as a nightmare that he never remembered very clearly, e;cept for
an occasional 9uestion39uestions that someho$ didn't distract him, that soothed his mind a$ay
from gibbering panic and allo$ed his training to move his fingers&
-apping the hypodermicD
"5hat is thatB"
"An e;tract of poppyseed& 7t banishes pain and ma'es the patient sleepD %mith, is the autoclave
heatingB"
" Aessir&" -he safety valve hissed, and the assistant s$ung it off the charcoal bra.ier $ith tongs
and popped it open&
"Aou $ill use the #iir 3el imtiB@
0is A''adian seemed to improve under stressE "the $ay of cutting $ith sharp bron.e" came
through easily&
"Aes& -he child must be removed from the $omb&"
"-hen the girl must die, as 7 saidB"
"(o& Although it may happen&"
-he first incision, and the s'in peeling bac' from the cut li'e saran $rap under tension& %mith
and @elantora setting up the saline dripD
"5hat is thatB"
"Iery pure $ater $ith salt and a fe$ other things& 7t replaces some of the blood lost during an
operation& :lood is better, but it must be matched or it $ill be poison&" 0e s$itched to 4nglish&
"%mith, type her& 5e might luc' out& And type "er, too& 7 don't li'e the $ay the hemorrhage is
increasing&"
2eeper, through the subcutaneous fat& Clamps, the cut held bac' $ith e;tensors, sutures for the
spurting veins3clamp and tie offD
"5hat is thatB"
"Catgut3thread made from sheep intestine& @elantora, get the e;tensor in here3and move that
lamp closer, 7 need to see $hat 7'm doing&"
-he :abylonian $oman pic'ed up a cloth and imitated %mith, s$abbing off his forehead to 'eep
s$eat from dripping into the $or'ing area&
"5ill such a $ound not rot, even if she does not die at onceB"
"7nfection is caused by very small animals, too small to see $ith the eye3you need instruments
such as $e have& 7f you 'ill the animals $ith di#in$ectant#3cleansing medicines3the $ound
$ill heal cleanly&"
"7nvisible demonsB"
"(o< Animals3no more demons than you or 7& Fust smaller than a mote of dust&" 7n 4nglish,
"A""", got it<"
%"ri#t, he thought, as the flo$ of blood increased& -he muscles $ere still contracting, and they
must have torn one of the veins to$ard the cervi;&
"Clamp, clamp<"
"%ir, she's type 8/positive," %mith said, bending over his 'it& 8od, *"at'll *e do *"en t"o#e run
outB -hey $ere $or'ing on substitutes, bac' on the 7sland& "%o's the local&"
",ood& Aou3$hat's your nameB"
"A..u/ena daughter of Mutu/0ad'i, the a#u of the palace&"
"A..u/ena, $e need blood to transfer to this girl's veins& Aours is of the correct type& 5ill you
give of your bloodB 7t $ill not harm you and it may save her&"
A very slight hesitation, and the :abylonian touched the unconscious girl's forehead& "Aes," she
said&
",ood& ,et up here& :are your right arm& @elantora, get her set up, #tat< A..u/ena, s9uee.e this
$ith your right hand until $e tell you to stop&"
At last he reached in and lifted the small form out, hands clearing the mouth and nose& -hen one
further incisionD
"5hat is thatB"
"-he uterus3the $omb& :etter to remove it& %he can't bear children normally after this, any$ay,
and it's less li'ely to get infected that $ay&"
AndD o", "ell, #ometime# t"ere'# no #u3#titute $or tradition&
A s$ift slap, and a thin, reedy $ail&
"8ut<" he roared again, as heads po'ed through the door$ay& 0e handed the baby over to %mith
and began the long, delicate process of closing the incisions& 5hen the last running stitch $as
done his hands began to sha'eE they al$ays did, and this time $orse than usual& -he assistants
painted the area $ith a surface disinfectant&
"5hat is thatB"
-he :abylonian's voice $as as calm and abstract as it had been that first time as he dre$ another
hypo&
"A cleansing medicine& 7t 'ills the small animals 7 spo'e of, in the blood&"
A crude form of penicillin they'd finally stumbled on in the Aear =& 7t $or'ed3far better than
antibiotics did up in the t$entieth3 although ,od alone 'ne$ ho$ long that $ould last&
%iemens gently covered the girl, then chec'ed pulse and temperature& "%he may ma'e it," he said
in slo$ $onder&
0e $ent to the door& "-ell the 'ing that his concubine lives and that he has a daughter," he said&
"%he cannot be disturbedD quiet, & tell ,ou< %he hangs bet$een life and death and cannot be
disturbed and $ill be $ea' for some timeE nor $ill she bear more children& -a'e my $ord to the
'ing, and leave this place in peace< Aou, you, you3sit 9uietly over there, on that bench, and
$ait in case something is needed&"
-he 7slander doctor turned bac' in, pulled do$n his mas' $ith a $eary sigh& A..u/ena $as
standing and drin'ing the $ater/and/supplements %mith had handed her, loo'ing frail and out of
place in the green surgical go$n and cap& %he put the glass do$n and faced him&
"5hat is your name, a#u of the 4agle 1eopleB"
"Fustin Clemens," he said, and added $ith a $ry smile, "Clemens son of 4dgar&"
%uddenly the :abylonian $oman's reserve bro'e& Clemens blin'ed in astonishment as she fell to
her 'nees at his feet&
"-each me, Fus'hi'in son of 4g/gar<" she said&
"5hatB" he said, bemused&
"-each me<"
5ords poured out of her in a torrent, until he gestured and she slo$ed the stream do$n,
pronouncing each $ord $ith desperate clarity so that the foreigner $ould understand&
"7 am the daughter of an a#u, and because he had no sons he taught me& :ecause 7 am a $oman
and raised in the palace, they give me some $or' here in the harem& My father $as a $ise man, a
good man3and all he taught me is nothing, nothing& 7 have $atched the sorcerers, and the spirits
do not hear them, for those they treat live or die as they $ould if nothing $as done& Sometime# 7
can help the sic', but so often 7 try and try and still they die, and 7 can do nothing but at least 7
)ne* 7 could do nothing and you can and 7 must 'no$3"
%he too' a deep breath& "7 o$n a small house in the 3a3tum, the city/$ard, of Mili/la/4l, near the
4astern ,ate& 7 $ill sell it and give you all 7 have&" %he clutched at his trousers& "7 have no
parents, no brothers to ob6ect37 $ill be your slave, scrub and clean and $eave, if only you $ill
let me learn3if you $ill only let me *atc" $hat you do<"
Clemens opened his mouth on a refusal as 'ind as he could ma'e it, and then closed it again,
remembering&
0e remembered the pain of it, the lost tools, the 'no$ledge useless $ithout technologies that
(antuc'et did not have, facing parents $ho had to be told that their child $as gone, husbands,
$ives, brothers& 7t had been even $orse for his teachers, 2octor Coleman and the others& -hey'd
never despaired, never stopped teaching, never stopped loo)ing for $ays to ma'e up their lac's&
"& *ill imart 3, recet, 3, lecture and 3, ever, mode o$ teac"ing?to di#cile# 3ound 3,
covenant and oat", according to t"e <a* o$ MedicineD"
"5hatB 5hat do you say, lordB"
"-he $ords of an oath," he said in A''adian& "Rise, A..u/ena& 7f you $ould learn, 7 $ill teach
you, as best 7 can&"
C#ATE! T#&!TEEN
June, Year ) A.E.
A camel gave its burbling moan, and that set off the $hole train of seven pair that $ere hauling
the head9uarters $agon& 8od, 3ut 1 "ate t"o#e t"ing#, 7an Arnstein thought& -he :abylonians of
this age 'ne$ little about camels and $ere convinced they $ere possessed by demons& 0e $asn't
altogether sure they $ere $rong& -hey stan', they bit, they spat green mucus at anyone $ho
came near, and they complained every $a'ing hour in voices li'e guttural damned souls& -heir
only merit $as that they could carry or haul three times $hat a horse did, further and faster and
on less $ater and rougher forage&
-he army of @ing %huriash of :abylon spra$led out over the dun/colored flatness of the
landscape in clots and driblets and clusters, half lost in its o$n plumes of beige dust& -he 'ing's
paid men and the retinues of the nobles near the capital had been brave $ith banners and
polished armor $hen they left @ar/2uniash, but no$ everything $as the color of the grit 'ic'ed
up by feet and hooves or the homespun of the tribal contingents and peasant levies hurrying to
6oin them from every side&
%ometimes there $as a hint of hills on the eastern hori.on, the topmost pea's of the Cagros&
%ometimes there $as a hint of a bree.e, li'e something out of the mouth of a smelting furnace
but still $elcome $hen it dried the s$eat& 7an unhitched a canvas $ater bag from the big si;/
$heeled $agon's bed and e;pertly directed a s9uirt into his mouth& 7t tasted of silt and the
chlorine po$der used to sterili.e it, and it $as no more than tepid from the evaporation& 7t $as
still utterly glorious, especially if you 'ept all memory of ice/cold beer firmly out of your mind&
And no$ they $ere approaching a belt of intense green, $here the 2iyala River spilled its
moisture onto the plain& -hat made the air very slightly muggy, hence even more intolerable, and
there $ould be bugs& 4", *ill t"ere ever 3e 3ug#, 7an thought&
"Could be $orse," 2oreen said& Li'e him, she $as $earing 'ha'i shorts and shirt& :eads of
s$eat ran do$n the open nec' and made the cotton fabric cling to her in $ays that $ould have
been more interesting if it $asn't so hot& "5e could be marching and carrying pac's&"
7an nodded& -he Marines' 'ha'i uniforms $ere $et $ith s$eat and stained $here multiple layers
had soa'ed in and then dried to leave a rime of salt& -he faces under the broad/brimmed hats
$ere set, remote, fi;ed in a mas' of endurance& (o$ and then one $ould ha$' and spit, the
saliva colored li'e the earth that lay thic' and gritty on everyone's teethE every hour they bro'e
for a ten/minute rest, and the noncoms $ould chec' to see everyone $as ta'ing their salt tablets
and enough $ater& 8nce every day or so someone $ould 'eel over, s$aying or staggering or 6ust
falling limp as a sac' of riceE the more e;treme cases ended up on the $agons $ith a saline drip
in their arm&
"0up< 0up<"
Colonel 0ollard came riding across the plain on his camel, the beasts' long, s$arming pace
spoo'ing the horses dra$ing a :abylonian noble's chariot into a blue/eyed, flat/eared bolt even
in the heat& 4r ma,3e it'# t"eir #mell. (ro3a3l, t"eir #mell& Another camel paced beside him,
carrying a short, s$arthy man $ith a $ide $hite grin and strea's of gray in his beardE 0assan el/
2urabi, an e;/@u$aiti $hose $ealthy family had raised racing camels and $ho'd been
vacationing on the 7sland $hen the 4vent came&
-he t$o men pulled up their mounts beside the head9uarters $agon, saluting&
",ood beasts, Councilor," 0assan said, stro'ing his camel's nec' and then giving it a flic' on the
nose $ith his 9uirt $hen it tried to turn its long, sna'y nec' and bit him on the 'neecap& "-hose
Aramaean pigs $e bought them from 'no$ nothing of handling them, nothing&"
7an nodded, smiling pleasantlyE the @u$aiti had been gleefully pleased to end up ma'ing $ar in
7ra9, $ith the 'ing of Assyria standing in $ell for %addam 0ussein3they did seem to have a
good deal in common, methods/$ise&
-he nomads to the south$est had ta'en to using camels recently, but they $ere still trying to ride
them sitting on the rump rather than on a proper saddle over the hump itself, and their pac'/
loading arrangements $eren't much better& Most of the Aramaeans herded sheep on foot, $ith
their gear on the bac's of their don'eys and $omen& -he Arabs' turn $ouldn't come until long
after the end of the :ron.e Age&
4r *ould "ave come, i$ *e "adn't #"o*ed u, he thought&
"5hat's the $ordB" 7an as'ed the Marine colonel&
"-he Assyrians $ere supposed to be massing their forces on the middle -igris," 0ollard said,
pointing north and $est$ard $ith his 9uirt& "5e're coming in this $ay to threaten Asshur from
the rear& 1rince @ashtiliash thought they'd be unli'ely to guard it because it's considered too hard
to cross these rivers& 0o$ever, from the latest reports they are there in some force& -he usual
thing3enemy not cooperating $ith our battle plan&"
"7 presume $e can cross the riverB" 2oreen said&
"8h, yes," 0ollard said simply& "A matter of firearms and combat engineering, really&"
-he game path $as narro$, $here it led do$n from the ridge above the bay of 1ort Luthuli&
Marian smiled to herself as she loo'ed aroundE in the t$entieth century she'd been born in, this
had been a very e;clusive3and very *"ite3suburb of 2urban, %outh Africa& 0er party $as
strung out along the slope on a dense/pac'ed trac'$ay of sandy earth, $ith trees to$ering a
hundred feet and more on either side& -he ground $as thic' $ith brush, including a particularly
nasty type $ith hoo'ed thorns that made it impossible to move off the trailE one of the Alban
Marines had named it the $ait/a/bit bush, for $hat you had to do $henever it snagged your
clothing&
%he shifted the rifle sling a little $ith her thumb and loo'ed bac'$ard& %$indapa $as ne;t in line
behind her, then a Marine $ho'd stripped to the $aist in the humid heatE behind him $ere the
ones toting the 'ills of the hunt, carrying the gutted carcasses on poles that $ere thrust under
their bound feet& Marian smiled again, letting it gro$ into a rare public grin&
2amn, 3ut it does loo) a lot li)e a Tar:an-movie #a$ari, she thought&
4;cept, of course, that the one in the lead $ith the rifle and 'ha'is and floppy hat $as blac' as
coal, and the native bearers $ere $hite& (ordics at thatD
8reat 3lac) "unter and $ait"$ul comanion#. 2add, *ould "ave laug"ed "im#el$ #ic).
%$indapa caught her eye and loo'ed a 9uestion& Marian replied $ith a gesture that meant "later"
bet$een themE the Fiernan found uptime racial divisions hilarious&
-he ans$ering smile died a$ay to a fro$n, and %$indapa loo'ed bac' over her shoulder& Marian
thre$ up a hand, for a halt and silence& %he couldn't hear anything, but %$indapa's ears $ere
younger, and better trained&
"1ass," she said, $aving a handE the party filed by her& "5hat do you thin' it is, 'dapaB"
"7 don't 'no$," the blond $oman said& %he too' off her hat and thre$ herself do$n on the
ground, pressing an ear to it& "5hatever it is, it's heavy and coming this $ay&" -he fro$n gre$
deeper& ":ut thoseD those are footfalls, 7 thin'& 1eople&"
"+h/oh," Marian said, unslinging her rifle and scanning the brush&
(othing, e;cept the insects and s$arming colorful birds, and grunts and $histles and screeches
crashing off in the bush&
-he Fiernan came upright, chec'ing the priming on her rifle& Marian raised her voice> "Corporal,
you and the party $ith the game continue&" 7t $as only about a mile and half to base by the
$ater's edge& "Miller, Llancra;sson, get your $eapons ready, but do not fire $ithout orders&" -he
path $as far too narro$ for thatE %$indapa's shoulder $as nearly touching hers& ":e ready to
pass your rifles for$ard, in fact&"
(o$ she could hear the thudding too, or feel it through the soles of her feet& %alt s$eat ran do$n
onto her lips, and she lic'ed it a$ay& -he sight of t$o small human figures a hundred yards a$ay
$as almost painfully anticlimactic& A little closer and she recogni.ed them, the race if not the
individualsE %an, the little yello$/bro$n hunters 4uropeans had3$ould have3met at the Cape
t$enty/five hundred years from no$& 0ere and no$ they $ere the only inhabitants of southern
and eastern AfricaE 7slander ships had met them all the $ay from $hat $ould have been Angola
around up to %omalia/that/$asn't& -hey varied a lot from place to place, but they $eren't usually
hostile if you didn't give them reason to beE the ones near Mandela :ase traded eagerly $ith the
(antuc'eters&
"-hat can't be allD" %$indapa began&
8ne of the %an hunters $as helping the other alongE a sprained or bro'en an'le, from the loo' of
it& -hey $ere loo'ing bac' over their shoulders, tooE so intently that they $eren't a$are of the
7slanders until they $ere barely fifty yards a$ay& -hen the hale one loo'ed up, sa$ the strangers,
gave a cry of despair, and launched himself at a tree by the side of the trail& Agile as a sailor in
the rigging, he disappeared up it in a single s$arming burst of speed&
"Maybe they had a bad e;perience $ith the -artessians," Marian murmured& %he let the rifle fall
bac' on her shoulder, turning the mu..le a$ay from the %an hunter, and held up her left hand&
"1eace," she said, and used the e9uivalent in the tongue of his Cape relatives, or as close as a
tongue reared on 4nglish could&
1e ro3a3l, can't under#tand it, she thought& 7t *a# t$o thousand miles a$ay, after all, and her
accent $as probably terrible& .ut t"e #ound *ill 3e more li)e *"at "e'# u#ed to t"an -ngli#"&
-he small man loo'ed at her, then over his shoulder, then he hobbled to$ard the 7slander party,
using his bo$ as a crutch& As he came he $as shouting something in his sibilant clic'ing tongue,
pointing behind him& 5hen he fell nearly at Alston's feet he s9uee.ed his eyes shut and put his
hands over his head&
"+hD ma'amB" one of the ratings behind her said& "Maybe if something's chasing him, $e ought
to moveB"
"7'd rather see it coming, Miller," she said& "Huiet no$&"
A noise came echoing do$n the trail, a long shrill sound li'eD li)e a trumet. Trumeting?
*"at #ort o$ an animal trumet#? o", shit&
Marian and her partner $ere e;perienced hunters& -he problem $as that neither of them had
hunted elephant&
%lairton, she remembered, at Mandela :ase& 4$ cour#e, %lairton #aid t"at t"e 3e#t *a, *a# to
get 3e"ind t"em and 3rain-#"oot t"em ju#t 3e"ind t"e ear. T"at'# a reall, big "el rig"t no*D
-he ground/sha'ing thudding gre$ louder, and the shrill, enraged s9uealing sounded again, ear/
hurting loud& %an't run, she thought& 4lephants $ere a lot faster than people, and they could
trample through thic' brush that $ould stop a human cold& %$indapa $as chanting under her
breath, a song of the %pear Mar', as'ing the spirits of her 'ills to $itness that she'd never hunted
$ithout need or failed to sing home the ghost of the dead beast&
"Fesus," Marian said, the $ords passing through her mouth $ithout conscious command& "-hat's
3ig&"
-he animal that turned the curve of the trail t$o hundred yards upslope *a# big& T"irteen $eet at
t"e #"oulder, ma,3e $ourteen. 9e#u#& An old male, $ith sun'en chee's and one tus' bro'en off a
fe$ feet from the tip& -here $ere blac' stains dribbled do$n belo$ its eyes, mar'ing them li'e
'ohl3the sign of a beast in mu#t"& 7t slo$ed as it sa$ and scented the ne$comers, tossing its
head from side to side for a better vie$, raising its trun' and letting loose a s9uealing blast of
rage& -hen the absurdly tiny tail came up, the head $ent do$n, and the elephant charged3
s$inging along $ith a steady, 9uic' stride, each pace ta'ing a good ten feet, faster than a
galloping horse&
And me *it"out a eanut on me, some distant part of her gibbered& -hen her mind $as empty,
calm as a still pond, the $ay %ensi 0ishiba had taught& %he $as on the mats again, the )atana
rising above her headD
-hird crease do$n from the top on the trun', the only spot you could get a brain shot frontally&
-here $as a lot of thic' hide and spongy bone in the $ay, but there $asn't any choice& :reathe
out, #quee:e the trigger&
%rac). %rac).
",un<" she shouted, shoving the empty 5estley/Richards behind as %$indapa fired beside her&
-he elephant tossed its head, trumpeting again, staggered& -hen it came on, a moving cliff of
gray/bro$n $rin'led hide, looming taller and taller, tall enough to reach into a second/story
$indo$& 4ighty feet a$ay, si;ty, forty& Long spearcast a$ay, and the si; tons of living
destruction $ould cover it in seconds& -hree heartbeats a$ay from the crushing and the pain&
Cool beech$ood slapped into her palm, and she brought the rifle around $ith careful
smoothness&
Munen mu#o3to stri'e $ithout thought or intention& %$ord or hand or gun, there $as no
difference& -he sights drifted into alignment, and there $as all the time in the $orld& -he rifle,
the trigger $arm beneath her finger, the bullet, the path of the bullet, the target, all $ere her and
not her& Munen mu#o, no/mind&
%rac)& And she could $eel the rightness of the bullet's tra6ectory, a completeness that had nothing
to do $ith its goal, a thing right in itself&
%he stood, dra$ing a deep breath and releasing it, the rifle hanging in her hand, ignoring the
loaded $eapon thrust at her& -he elephant's charge continued, its head do$n, then lo$er, the
tus's plo$ing into the pac'ed sandy dirt, sliding for$ard, thro$ing a cloud of dust and leaves
and a fine spray of blood before& %tillness, the elephant's body slumping side$ays $ith its head
held upright by the tus's, a huge release of steaming dung as the muscles rela;ed in death&
Marian stared into the beast's dar' eye as it $ent blan', feeling an obscure communion that could
never be described&
Another breath, and the $orld returned to its everyday self& "5oof," she said 9uietly&
"My uncles aren't going to 3elieve me," %$indapa said, $ith a slight catch in her voiceE her hand
came over to grip her partner's shoulder&
Marian touched it $ith her o$n, then loo'ed do$n& -he %an $as slo$ly lifting his hands from
his head and loo'ing up, then even more slo$ly loo'ing bac'$ard& -he ridge of earth plo$ed up
by the elephant's last slide touched his in6ured footE he 6er'ed it a$ay sharply and hissed $ith
pain& -he he grinned, a $ide, $hite, triumphant smile, loo'ing up at her&
-he American smiled bac' and $ent to one 'nee beside him, propping the rifle against the
roadside brush& "0ere," she said, uncor'ing her canteen, sipping from it and then offering it to
the local&
0e turned over, $incing, and sat up to accept it& %$indapa slung her rifle and $ent to e;amine
his an'le, $ashing it $ith $ater from her o$n canteen and then manipulating it $ith strong,
s'illed fingers&
"Miller, Llancra;sson," she said& "5e'll cut some poles for stretchers&" For the first time she too'
in their $hite, shoc'ed faces& "MillerB"
-he noncom shoo' himself and lo$ered the loaded rifle he still held outstretched& "AhD"
"Iery $ell done, Miller, you and Llancra;sson," she said gently& "7t $as one of the rifles you
t$o loaded that got him&"
-he man nodded, lic'ing his lips and straightening& "Right, ma'am3 than's& A stretcher, $e'll
get right to it&"
-here $ere t$o red holes precisely &=L in diameter $ithin a finger's breadth of the third
corrugation of the elephant's trun', each $eeping a slo$ red tric'le& Another $as si; inches
higher and to the right, 6ust in from one eye& ,od 'ne$ $here the fourth shot had goneE still, not
bad shooting at all& (o telling $hose shot had drilled the beast's brain, of course&
%$indapa $as standing by the headE it $as nearly as tall as she $as, and she $asn't a short
$oman& -entatively, a$ed, she reached out and touched it&
"7 feel as if $e've 'illed a mountain," she said softly&
"7 'no$ $hat you mean, sugar," Alston ans$ered& "7 surely do&"
!ir#t 3ig 3attle, Clemens thought, s$allo$ing his nervousness& &t can't 3e too di$$erent $rom
#)irmi#"e#, e7cet $or t"e #cale. & "oe& 0e restrained an impulse to $ipe his hands3they $ere
already clean3 and loo'ed over at his :abylonian assistant&
A..u/ena $as big/nosed and scra$ny, and there $as the faintest suggestion of a mustache on her
upper lip& 5hen focused in total concentration, her face $as still beautiful& %he bent over the
bilingual te;t, lips moving slightly as she read do$n the list& 7t $as the same techni9ue the
:abylonians used themselves to teach %umerian, the sacred language of learning and religion
that $as long dead as a spo'en tongue&
"&:i-i:> stand<" she murmured& "<u:i-i:> let me stand& <i:i-i:> let him stand& &:a-a:> he $ill stand&
A:a-a:> 7 shall stand&"
%he loo'ed up to $here Clemens and %mith $ere setting out surgical instruments from the
portable autoclave on the trays, then covering them $ith sheets of sterile gau.e& Reluctantly she
set the folder of reed/pulp paper aside and rose, folding bac' the sleeves of her go$n and
beginning to scrub do$n in the sheet/copper basin of boiled $ater diluted $ith carbolic acid&
-hey all had roughed, reddened hands from itE she seemed to regard it as a mar' of honor& 5ord
had come bac' that the allied forces $ere going to force the crossing of the 2iyala River against
opposition, and that meant business for the Corps&
Fustin gave a 9uic' glance around the for$ard medical tent& 7t had been set up on a slight rise, far
enough bac' that the dust $asn't too bad, far enough for$ard that the $ounded $ouldn't have to
be carried too far3timely treatment $as the great secret of 'eeping mortality lo$& -he tent had
three poles do$n the center and one at each corner of the long rectangleE the canvas of the sides
had been rolled up and tied, leaving only gau.e along the $alls& 0e chec'ed over the contents>
three operating tables, ether, o;ygen cylinders, instruments, the medical cabinets, ro$s of cots,
tubs of plaster of 1aris and bandaging for splints& -he personnel3himself and the three other
doctor/surgeons from +r :ase, their assistants, a do.en of %huriash's palace $omen $ho'd
proved to have some appetite for nursing, corpsmen $aiting $ith stretchers&
-he light $as good, bright but not blinding& -he big tent smelled of hot canvas, steam from the
autoclave, and 'erosene from the burner underneath itE big vats of $ater $ere boiling not far
a$ay outside& Mu#t remem3er to "ave an,one 3roug"t in c"ec)ed $or lice, he thought& Lice $ere
a $onderful thing, from the point of vie$ of bacteria that $anted to spread&
"0eads up<"
8ff to the northeast there $as a distant thudding, and then a long brabbling, crac'ling sound&
At A..u/ena's en9uiring loo', he spo'e> ",uns& Rifles, cannon3 our $eapons&"
%he nodded, thoughtful and $ithout the edge of fear that most locals sho$ed $hen gunpo$der
came up& "5hat are the characteristic $oundsB"
Clemens heard a chuc'le from one of the other doctors& (evins3 she spo'e pretty good
A''adian too& 0e felt a big grin spreading himself& S"e )no*# t"e rig"t que#tion#, at lea#t<
"-issue trauma, of course," he ans$ered& "Long trac's of damaged tissue, $ith foreign matter
carried deep into the body& -reatment is to remove all matter and debride the damaged tissue&"
Aou cut out everything that had been torn, and you eliminated the necrosis that $as the greatest
danger for gangrene& ":ro'en bone3shattered, splintered as $ell as bro'en&"
A t$o/horse ambulance trotted up outside, s$aying on its springs& Corpsmen sprang out and
brought in the stretchers& Clemens ran over, s$allo$ing& & hate doing triage, he thought, and then
pushed the emotion a$ay& 0e'd pay for that later, but later it $ouldn't hurt his patients&
-here $ere five figures on the stretchers, one thrashing and moaning& "Morphia here<" he
snapped, continuing his 9uic' e;amination&
All arro$ $oundsE t$o in the e;tremities, no immediate danger&
"%edate and stabili.e," he said& "7'll ta'e the suc'ing chest $ound& (evins, you're on the gut&
-hurtontan, you're on the one in the face3 7 thin' you can save that eye& Let's go, people<"
%ome distant corner of his mind $ondered ho$ the fighting $as going, but that $asn't his proper
concern& 4veryone $ho came to him had already lost t"eir battle&
C#ATE! $O"!TEEN
June+July, Year ) A.E.
"0ey, "u0@ @enneth 0ollard said, tapping his camel on the 6oint of its foreleg&
At the second tap the beast folded itself li'e an organic leggo set and 'nelt, front legs first& 0e
stepped off, $hac'ed it on the nose $ith his riding crop as it considered biting him3it $as a
s'ill you ac9uired 9uic'ly if you $anted to 'eep a $hole hide3and loo'ed right and left at the
belt of reeds& -hey $ere ten feet high and about the thic'ness of a man's thumb, their tops
feathery and s$aying in a bree.e that couldn't be felt here on the mos9uito/bu..ing edge of the
damp ground& -he air $as heavy $ith their green, papery smell and the mealy odor of mud& A
fe$ paces for$ard, and the ground began to s9uish slightly under his boots& :ubbles of decay
rose and popped in it, li'e porridge boiling very slo$ly&
"Reed marsh, then cultivated land, then the river, and the Assyrians on the other side, the scouts
report," 1rince @ashtiliash said from his chariot& 0is silvered chain mail rippled in the harsh
sunlight, almost too bright to loo' at, but he'd sensibly left the helmet off for no$& "7t is li'ely
that they have crossed the river themselves, to hinder our passage through the marsh&"
"@atB" 0ollard said&
@at $ore the combat engineer hat in this outfit, as $ell as commanding %econd :attalionE the
Corps $asn't big enough for much speciali.ation& %he and half a do.en assistants had been
$or'ing $ith theodolites and laser range finders& Marvelou# little gadget#, 3ut eventuall, t"e,'ll
go 3u#t, he thought&
"-here's a natural levee along the river," she said& "-he land drops off a bit to this belt of s$amp,
then there's another slight rise, and then it's all do$nhill out into the desert&"
@en lifted his hat and used it as a sunshade as he loo'ed around, relishing the tiny moment of
coolness as moving air struc' his saturated scalp& T"an) 8od $or 3ru#" cut#, he thought
abstractedly3everyone had one no$, the medicos had made it regulation here&
"2rain, fascines, then a pontoon bridgeB" he said&
%he nodded& "5e could use some hands for this, though&" A glance up$ard& "5e could use some
air reconnaissance, too&"
"7f $ishes $ere horses, $e $ouldn't have to use se$age for fertili.er," he replied&
-he @assite prince had been $aiting patientlyD although 0ollard suspected he'd pic'ed up more
4nglish than he let on& Certainly the hundred young scribes the 'ing had assigned to learn it had
made remar'able progressE but then, 6ust learning to read in this country re9uired a good
memory, and the literate all learned %umerian as $ell3though nobody had spo'en it in a
thousand years&
@ashtiliash $as also snea'ing an occasional fascinated loo' at Ma6or 0ollard, @enneth 0ollard
noticed& +ell, & can't $ault "i# ta#te, he thought& -he problem $as, he had a horrible suspicion
that @at $as returning the glances& %"ri#t, t"e comlication#0 & li)e t"i# gu,A "e'# a $ig"ter, and
#mart, and rett, decent $or a local? 3ut %"ri#t, Sin-ina-mati *ould rai#e a lot le## in t"e *a,
o$ ro3lem#<
"5e'll cut through this section of ground in t$o parallel trenches," @athryn said in 4nglish&
"-hat $ill drain some of the s$amp& 5e'll push the trenches through to the drier ground by the
river& -hen $hen $e get to the river, $e'll build a bridge of boats&"
@ashtiliash tugged at his beard& "-he 2iyala is $ider than bo$shot here," he said& "-hat meansD
oh, 7 see&"
0is grin $ouldn't have loo'ed out of place on the lions he hunted, and the (antuc'eters
ans$ered $ith an identical baring of teeth& -hey $ere all contemplating $hat $ould happen if
the Assyrians tried to bloc' passage of a river too $ide for bo$s to shoot acrossD but $ell
$ithin range for rifles and cannon&
"2o cross river& 0o$ $ould you do, 1rinceB" @athryn as'ed& 0er A''adian $as much less fluent
than @en's, but it had improved considerably&
",oats'ins," the prince ans$ered& "Men s$imming $ith inflated goats'ins, or rafts of them& A
bridge of riverboats, if they can be brought up by $ater in time& A bridge of bric's, if $e had
much time and no opposition& Round boats of hides over saplings, such as can be carried in the
baggage train&"
-he (antuc'eters nodded&
"7f some soldiers to $or', $e could haveB" @athryn as'ed& "And carts3tools, and three, four
tens of carts& 2ry soil is needful&"
-he prince nodded and turned to give orders& Many of the messengers $ho ran to deliver them
$ere on horsebac' no$, $ith saddles made at +r :ase& :efore long a s$arm of peasant levies
came up, men in linen 'ilts and tunics3some stripped to their loincloths in the heat, as they
$ould have been $hen $or'ing their fields at home& -he better/e9uipped among them had
bron.e/headed spears and $ic'er shieldsE many carried bo$s or slings, and most had 'nives&
,ear ranged on do$n to hoes and clubs, but the men loo'ed strong and $illing& -he chariot/born
noble $ho commanded them, and probably o$ned the land they $or'ed, loo'ed hot3anyone
$ould, in a leather tunic se$n $ith brass scales and a metal helmet, in this heat3and decidedly
less cooperative as he $ent to one 'nee and bo$ed his head&
"Command me, 1rince of the 0ouse of %uccession," he said&
@ashtiliash nodded regally& "Aour men $ill $or' under the direction of this officer of our allies
to force a passage to the river&"
-he nobleman did a 9uic' double ta'e& "+nder a *oman, Lord 1rinceB" he said&
-hunderclouds began to gather on the prince's ha$'/nosed face& "Aou $ill obey a purple/arsed
4gyptian ape if 7 command it<" he snapped&
@athryn cleared her throat& "1rinceB" she said& 0e loo'ed over at her& "5ith granting leave, $ill
handle this&"
@enneth 0ollard nodded& @ashtiliash caught the gesture, shrugged, and signed assent&
"%ettle this 9uic'ly," he said, and to the nobleman> "-he $ar $ill not $ait on your vanity&"
@athryn tapped the :abylonian nobleman on one shoulder& "Aou have problem, $or'ing under
meB" she said mildly&
-he :abylonian sneered& "5omen $or' under me," he said, accompanying it $ith a gesture&
%he smiled, shrugged, and 'ic'ed him in the crotch& 0er brother recogni.ed the techni9ue3
#e))a no atari, to stri'e $ithout $arning&
+ell, t"an) ,ou, Ma#ter Mu#a#"i, a# t"e commodore *ould #a,, he thought& Aloud, he continued
to @ashtiliash, "2oesn't pay to underestimate an opponent&"
-he prince $as grinning openly, and the in6ured noble's personal retainers3the bron.e/armored
spearmen $ho grouped around his chariot3sa$ it and chec'ed their instinctive rush& -he file of
Marines behind @athryn 'ept their rifles at port arms, ready for instant action&
"0arlot<" the :abylonian nobleman $hee.ed, straightening&
From the sharp sound of the blo$, he'd been $earing some sort of cup protector, probably of
boiled leather, but the impact of the (antuc'eter's steel/capped boot must have been painful
nonetheless&
Slo* learner, 0ollard thought, as the man reached out for the $oman $ith a grasping hand&
%he stepped for$ard and to one side $ith a gliding lunge, grabbed the $rist $ith her right hand,
and t$isted it to loc' the arm& -hen she turned $ith a $hipping fle; of the $aist and torso,
smashing the :abylonian's muscular forearm across her left& -here $as an audible crac' of
brea'ing bone, li'e a green stic' snapping, and the man's face $ent gray& 0e gave a small
cho'ing grunt of pain and stood motionless3understandably so, for the point of @athryn's bo$ie
'nife $as resting on his upper lip, 6ust under the base of his nose& 0ollard 6abbed $ith delicate
precision, 6ust enough to raise a bead of blood, then stepped bac' and bent to clean the blade by
stabbing it in the earth before $iping it on the seat of her shorts and sheathing it&
/at'# $eeling good-natured toda,, her brother thought& 9u#t 3ro)e "i# arm& 5ith a little luc', that
$ould heal& %he could have bro'en his elbo$3that stri'e $as usually aimed there& T"at $ould
have crippled him for life&
@ashtiliash's grin had turned into a laughE the generals, aides, and courtiers around him too' it
up& "Aou have displeased me, 5arad/@ubi son of +tul/7star& Aou may $ithdra$ to your lands
until your $ound is healed and the anger of my heart abated& 2o not sho$ your face in the city
until you receive $ord&"
0e loo'ed do$n at @athryn 0ollard&
"-hat is an interesting art of fighting you have," he said& "7 $ould li'e to learn it sometime& A
$ise man never passes up a chance at 'no$ledge&"
-o the elder 0ollard he $ent on> "7 $ill array the host& 7f $e can pass the chariots and infantry
through on your bridge, $e $ill deploy on the riverban'& 7 goE send $ord $hen all is ready&"
And t"ere goe# our re#tige i$ *e #cre* u, 0ollard thought, $atching the prince's chariot trot
a$ay in a cloud of dust and a flash of plumes and bron.e& -hat $as the problem $ith being the
magical strangers from :eyond the Land& Aou had to 'eep delivering&
"%mart coo'ie," @athryn said pensively, hands on her %am :ro$ne and fingers tapping the buff
leather& "%eems a lot more open/minded than most here&"
"7 thin' he's more concerned $ith results than process," Colonel 0ollard said& "8f $hich 7
heartily approve& 8'ay, let's get moving& %couts<"
-hat $as Captain 8'Rour'e& "%irB" he as'ed, in a voice $ith a slight trace of a brogue in itE he'd
been an 7rish student $or'ing on/7sland $hen the 4vent came& About 0ollard's age no$, and his
broad snub/nosed face $as the color of a $ell/done lobster sprin'led $ith frec'les& 7t clashed
horribly $ith bright/blue eyes and carroty hair&
"7 $ant the other side of this marsh under observation," 0ollard said&
"5ell, that's $hat $e're for, Colonel," 8'Rour'e said cheerfully&
-he recon company spread out and $aded into the muc', testing the footing and holding their
rifles, priming horns, and cartridge bo;es high over their heads& 0ollard lifted the handset to his
ear&
"-esting& 0ollard here& 8ver&"
"8'Rour'e here," came the reply& A fe$ of the :abylonians made covert gestures or clasped the
talismans at their $aists at the voice that came from a bo;&
"%ir, the reed belt's about si; hundred yards broad&" A pause& "7'm on the edge, Colonel& 7t's about
a 9uarter mile to the riverban', stubble fields and fallo$, and a big irrigation canal about half$ay
there&" Another pause& "2efinitely movement by the river, on the south ban' as $ell as the north&
7 can see small parties of $hat loo's li'e bo$men retreating to$ard the river3probably $e
flushed them out& %hall 7 investigateB"
"-hat's negative, Captain& Remain in place and prepare to bug out& 5hat's the footing li'eB"
":ad, sir, but it's not impassable if you're careful& -ry running and you'll sin' to your $aist in no
time& 2efinitely not suitable for vehicles, horses or troops in heavy gear, or in any numbers& Aou
can sort of $al' on the roots, but if you trample this muc' it turns into glue&"
"2o you thin' the enemy still has scouts in thereB"
"7mpossible to tell, if they're 9uiet, sir& Aou can't see more than three or four feet through these
reeds&"
",ood $or', 1addy& Let me 'no$ if there's any movement& 8ver&"
+onder$ul t"ing#, "and"eld radio#& Another pre/4vent convenience they might as $ell use $hile
they couldE the batteries $ere already dying one by one& 1mmmm. 6o*, & could ju#t #"ell and
mortar an,one *"o come# clo#e33ut t"at *ouldn't "it t"eir morale t"e *a, a #tand-u $ig"t
*ould. <et'# #eeD
"Aou," he said, indicating one of the departed nobleman's retainers& ",et us reed mats3several
score of them, at least& (o$<"
-he peasant levies might not have been much at a pitched battle, but they certainly 'ne$ ho$ to
$or'3and :abylonian organi.ation $as $ell up to seeing that there $ere plenty of sic'les and
mattoc's&
@athryn's battalion stac'ed arms, stripped to their s'ivvies, and set to& mar'ing out the lines for
the ditches& -he :abylonian peasants $aded into the s$amp as $ell, bron.e sic'les flashingE
they tied the reeds in neat foot/thic' bundles and carried them bac' on their heads& More of them
$ent at the ditches/to/be, cutting through the lo$ rise that bloc'ed off the riverside s$amp& -he
loose columns of the :abylonian army $ere gathering further bac' in the desert plain, gradually
coalescing into clumps and sorting themselves out into lines, $ith much blo$ing of bron.e horns
and $aving of standards&
"-hey're not going to miss that," one of @en's company commanders said& "-hey'll be able to see
the reeds falling from the higher ground along the river& And they must have been $atching our
dust since sunrise&"
"Right," he replied& "5e'll deploy First :attalion in double line, ready to move up in support& C
Company in reserve& Move the field guns and the launchers up3guns loaded $ith canister and
short/fused shrapnel shell& 0mmm& ,et me the local $ho's running this bunch no$ that 5arad/
@ubi's gone&"
4)a,, let'# #ee. (ractical range on t"e 3o*# i# t"ree "undred ,ard# ma7& -he locals used a horn/
and/sine$/reinforced model that had plenty of range& -he best ones $ere e;pensive, though,
hence rare& 4n t"e ot"er "and, t"at cau#e*a,'# going to 3e $airl, narro*&
-he Marines spread out along the edge of the dry land& Carts crea'ed past, carrying dry desert
clay to mi; $ith the layer of mud that $ent over the bundles of reeds, and more mud fle$ from
shovels& (o$ that the endless desert march $as over, he could hear laughing and 6o'ing from the
$or'ing parties, despite their being smeared $ith the thic', glutinous soil of the s$amp&
@athryn came up, grinning through a mas' of mud as dense as that on any of her troopsE the
salute $as a little incongruous coming from someone dressed in a pair of regulation/issue gray
cotton panties under an inch/thic' overall coat of 2iyala oo.e& 0e returned it $ith a snap
any$ayE the cause$ay $as a good 6ob of $or'&
",oing faster than 7 thought," she said& "5e'll be through by midafternoon at this rate&"
",lad to hear it, @at& -hin' the cause$ay $ill bear the trafficB"
"8nce, at least&"
",ood& Ma'e sure your people move their rifles along as it e;tends&"
"2e nada, boss," she said and plunged bac' into the ordered chaos of the construction& -here
$ere about a thousand men and $omen $or'ing on it no$& 0e studied one of the t$o/$heeled
o;carts that $as bringing up soil, loo'ing carefully at the $ay the $heels san'&
"Captain Chong<"
-he artillery officer came up at a trot& "Captain, 7 $ant you to get ready to move t$o of your
field guns for$ard onto the cause$ay&"
"Aessir&" -he face of the artillery officer $as calmly intent as he pulled out his binoculars,
studied the cause$ay, then trotted over to $al' the ground& "7 thin' it'll ta'e it, sir," he said $hen
he came bac'& ":etter to manhandle the pieces and limbers for$ard separately& 7'll need a couple
of platoons to help&" -he guns $eighed t$o tons apiece and $ere usually dra$n by si;/horse
teams&
":y all means&"
"-he mortarsB"
"(ot yet& 5e can't observe the fall of shot $ell enough&"
0ollard forced himself to ta'e a s$ig of $ater, although his stomach $as suddenly sour& %"ri#t,
t"e la#t time & *ent t"roug" t"i# & *a# a grunt& -he Marines had been out on punitive e;peditions
since, teaching 8lmec priest/'ings and restive %un 1eople chiefs to mind their manners, but that
didn't really count beside pitched battles&
Arnstein's informants3and @ing %huriash's3said that mysterious envoys from the north had
been seen in Asshur& Rumor made them sorcerersD envoys from the 0ittitesB &$ t"e,'re $rom
+al)er, t"e, could "ave #"o*n t"e A##,rian# gun#&
-he radio at his $aist beeped, rescuing him from the gna$ing an;iety of speculation $ithout
facts&
"0ollard here&"
"%ir&" -hat $as 8'Rour'e& "4nemy advancing from the riverban'E t$o to three thousand& Light
troops, archers and slingers& 8ver&"
"@eep them under observation as long as you can, Captain& 8ut&"
All at once the strain fell a$ayE he reined himself in& Light/headed overconfidence $as as bad as
$orrying yourself into paralysis&
Aloud> ",et the locals out< 4veryone else, stand to your arms< %et sights for t$o hundred yardsE
rapid fire on the $ord of command&"
Messengers $ent out, and the na'ed mud/spattered peasants poured through the (antuc'eter
ran's, heading bac' to $here their arms/cum/farming/tools $ere piled& -he 7slanders $ho'd been
$or'ing $ith them climbed up onto the cause$ay, scraping off mud and snatching up their rifles,
$eapons, and $ebbing harness3that $ent rather oddly $ith the nudity and $et dirt, but neatness
bought no yams $hen you $ere in a hurry& A dense bristle of rifle barrels pointed into the s$amp
no$, and the more usual line of the rest of the battalion t$o/deep along the edge of the reeds&
"%ir&" 8'Rour'e again& "%ir, they're sending men into the s$amp, daggers and spears&"
"1ull out to the flan's and 'eep me informed," 0ollard replied& "8ver&"
"%ir& 5ithdra$ to flan's, 'eep enemy under observation& 8ver&"
Fairly soon no$D More locals came by, these carrying bundles of reed mats up to the cause$ay,
behind the massed 7slanders& -here $as a crac'le of fire from inside the s$amp itself, yells, the
crum of a grenade& 0ollard strained to see $hat $as happening, but nothing could be seen, only
s$aying reeds and a fe$ drifting puffs of po$der smo'e&
"%ir< -he enemy are massing along the edge of the s$amp< (umbers around t$enty/five
hundred& 5e've disengaged and have them under observation&"
"-han' you, Captain&" A hundred and fifty yards a$ay, or a little lessD 0ollard dre$ the )atana
slung over his shoulder and raised the blade& 1latoon commanders turned to face him, their o$n
s$ords raised, eyes on the curved sliver of bright steel in his hand&
-here $as a massed snapping hum, li'e thousands of out/of/tune guitar strings being pluc'ed,
then a long $histling rush& Light spar'led on the bron.e arro$heads rising in a floc' over the tall
reeds, $in'ing as they reached the top of their arcs and began to descend&
"Fire<" -he s$ord slashed do$n&
.AAAAAMMM& 4ight hundred rifles fired in less than a second, the cannon adding their long
plumes of off/$hite smo'e and thudding detonations to the mi;& -hey recoiled and $ere run
bac' $ith enthusiastic hands $hile the infantry $ere busy $ith breech/lever, cartridge, and
priming horn&
-he humming s$ish of the arro$s turned to a $histling as they fell& Mostly shortE one of the
gunners dropped 'ic'ing $ith a shaft through his throat, and here and there a Marine $as
dragged bac' $ounded& -here $ere shouts of "Corpsman<" and stretcher bearers ran for$ard,
then bac' $ith their burdens, heading for the horse/dra$n ambulances&
-he return fire $as a continuous crac'ling roar, li'e a mi;ture of 4vent 2ay firecrac'ers and
heavy surfE the massive fist/blo$s of the cannon $ere punctuation& %mo'e rose in a heavy ban',
drifting bac' slo$ly $ith the light bree.eE 0ollard coughed and $aved a hand before his face in
futile effort to see better& 5hat he could see $as enough& -he Marines of the First 4;peditionary
Regiment could all fire si; rounds a minute3more here, since all they needed to aim at $as a
$aist/high point in the general direction the arro$ storm $as coming from&
At this range, every bullet $ould be traveling at gut height and a thousand feet per second $hen
it reached the enemy archers& At those velocities, pro6ectiles cut through the giant grass $ith the
neatness of a straight ra.or, but each semicircular cut glo$ed for an instant, precisely li'e a piece
of tissue paper touched $ith a soldering iron& 4ven through the dense fogban' of po$der smo'e
0ollard could see to the other side of the reed marsh no$E it $as patchy, as if some enormous
animal had been gra.ing on it& 5hat $as left thinned as he $atched& 8n the other side $ere the
massed archers the enemy had put for$ard to harass the construction of the cause$ay&
8r $hat $as left of them& 0undreds $ere do$n, still or 'ic'ing or $rithing& 0undreds more $ere
fleeing, despite the efforts of s$ord/armed officers to 'eep them to their duty3often by a 9uic'
thrust to the 'idneys of a man $ho seemed inclined to turn& Less than half of them $ere still
shooting, and the arro$s $ere no$ more of a dangerous nuisance than a threat&
(oor 3a#tard#, 0ollard thought& -hey'd done about as $ell as men could, facing $eapons
entirely outside their e;perienceE that so many of them $ere still trying to fight $as a miracle of
courage and discipline, in its $ay& -he sympathy $as real but distantE right no$ he could be
nothing but a $ill that thought T"e commodore *ill give u# a @*ell done @$or t"i#&
0ollard clic'ed his handset to the company commander's fre9uency& "Aimed fire<" he called&
5ith most of the reeds out of the $ay, the Marine infantry had targets& %o did the guns, and the
rest of the battery that began firing over their heads $ith shrapnel shell, and the three/unit battery
of roc'et launchers& -hey $eren't very accurate, despite all %eahaven could do $ith machined
venturi units and carefully aligned fins& -hey did land in the general area they $ere pointed or,
more often, e;ploded above it, scattering their loads of heavy buc'shot li'e a chain flail in the
hands of a giant& -heir trails of smo'e arched over the battlefield li'e monochromatic rainbo$s,
t$isting as they drifted a$ay, sending men into fresh panic $ith the moaning scream of their
passage&
1ac' mules trotted up bearing panniers full of ammunition& -heir drivers handed out ten/round
cases or cylindrical pac'ets of fine/ground priming po$der& 0ere and there a rifleman s$ore and
stopped for an instant to insert a spare flint in the hammer 6a$s of his $eapon&
Four minutes later 0ollard s$ung his s$ord do$n in another arc and called out, "Cease fire<"
%ilence fell, bro'en by a single shot and the scathing curses of a noncom directed at the luc'less
private $ho'd been too lost in his loading routine to hear the order relayed do$n the ran's& -he
Republic's commander lo$ered his binoculars and $inced slightlyE the only Assyrian archers
surviving $ere the ones $ho had run first or $ho had been very luc'y& 0e $as suddenly
conscious of the thin $hine of a mos9uito near his ear3and that it $as fainter than it had been
earlier in the day& -his much noise probably $asn't good for your hearing, long term& 7f the long
term mattered much, in the circumstances&
"Ma6or 0ollard," he said, as he $al'ed out onto the cause$ay&
-he troopers grinned as he passed, a fe$ of them pumping clenched fists into the air& +ell,
t"e,'re Al3an#, mo#tl,, he thought, nodding bac'&
"%irB"
"1ush t$o companies out past the s$amp3it's only a hundred yards, and if you lay those mats 7
had brought up over the fallen reeds they should hold& -hat should discourage any thoughts the
Assyrians have about trying to interfere $ith us again, and then $e can get this cause$ay
finished&"
%he nodded& "2umb sons of bitches," she said $ith a trace of sadness, loo'ing at the piles of
enemy dead&
"-hey probably $on't be as stupid the second time," 0ollard said grimly& "Certainly not the
third&"
%itting at the edge of the marsh had been about the $orst thing the Assyrians could have doneE
that made it a contest of pure firepo$er, $hich $as no contest at all $hen you stac'ed breech/
loading rifles against bo$s& <et'# not get overcon$ident, he reminded himself& -here $ere no
pri.es for ,allant Last %tands in the Republic of (antuc'et's military&
"-hey'll learn," his sister agreed& "-hey'll try a couple of massed rushes, 7'd say3and pic' up on
tric's li'e using dead ground $here our guns don't bear for shelter&"
"And ambushes, night attac's, all that good guerrilla shit," 0ollard agreed, his long face gloomy&
"7t never stays easy&"
"%till," @athryn said, loo'ing at her virtually unscathed command and then at the ground $here
Assyrian dead lay t$o/deep, "7t'd rather have our problems than t"eir#&"
Marian Alston suppressed a satisfied belch& -he bonfire $as sending spar's trailing up into the
night, $arm against the cooler splendor of the %outhern 0emisphere's stars& %hado$s from this
fire and others flic'ered along the beach, sho$ing the lines of dancers $ho paced and stamped
and turned to the insistent beat of the drums in their finery of ostrich/shell beads and civet/tail
s'irts& -he sound of the bone rattles strapped to their an'les added an almost hissing undertone,
along $ith the rhythmic chant& -he air $as cooler $ith the recent sunset, full of the smells of
roasting elephant and eland and bo$ls of heaped greens gathered by the %an $omen, $ith an oil/
and/vinegar dressing from ship's stores& -he food made a $onderful change from ship's
provisions&
-hey $ere simply enchanted by chocolate, though, and by the $ine and beer3she'd ordered the
stronger li9uor 'ept in the 'egsE pre/agricultural peoples $ere 6ust too vulnerable to it& -hey $ere
li'e their Cape 'insmen in appearance, tooE very similar, in fact, e;cept that the $omen didn't
have the enlarged buttoc's that the desert clans further south did, storing fat li'e camels& 2oreen
had said that $as a sign that the same population had lived in the same environment for a ver,
long time, adapting generation by generation& -he people here $ere a little taller besidesE she
supposed this lush green countryside $as easier to ma'e a living in& Certainly the hunting $as
good, even if the animals did get a little testy at times&
-he %an hunter $ith his an'le in a pressure bandage belched enormously3it $as probably good
manners here, although she couldn't bring herself to follo$& :eing less inhibited, %$indapa did
and $as re$arded $ith a broad $hite grin from the little bro$n man3and giggles from their
daughters& Alston smiled herself and leaned an elbo$ on the log she $as using as a bac'rest& 7t
$as surprising ho$ $ell everything had gone, considering that neither the 7slanders nor the local
tribesfol' spo'e a $ord of each other's language& -reating the in6ured hunter and returning him
$ith gifts had helpedE so had indicating that his clan $as $elcome to help themselves to the
elephant carcass&
;emar)a3le "o* man, o$ t"em #"o*ed u, she thought3and even more remar'able ho$ fast
they'd managed to demolish the great mountain of flesh& +e can ro3a3l, trade *it" t"em $or
$re#" meat and green#tu$$. T"at'll #ave time&
",o'od," the little man said, and hiccupped&
",ood," Alston replied&
8ut in the dar'ness the party $as probably getting a little ro$dier, to 6udge from the s9ueals and
giggles& T"ere are time# not to notice t"ing#, she thought3that $as one of the secrets of
command& -he cre$ deserved a rest, and the locals $ould reduce the three/to/t$o male/female
ratio that sometimes made a shoreside luau a little tense&
%$indapa caught her eye and slo$ly touched her upper lip $ith the tip of her tongue& Alston's
smile gre$ broader&
"4uuu, mushy stuff<" 0eather said, as she and her sister returned from the dance, reading the
signs $ith an eight/year/old's lac' of tact&
"A$, c'mon, moms, don't send us a$ay to sleep yet<" Lucy protested& "-his is $un&"
A faint o from across the harbor interrupted their parents' chuc'le& Alston's face $ent cold and
intent as she follo$ed the arch of the signal roc'et&
":lue burst," she said& -hat meant $oreign #"i in #ig"t& 0er voice rose to the command call> "All
hands, turn to<"
-he %an loo'ed around in be$ildered alarm as the ,uard cre$fol' dashed for their $eapons and
fell in& Alston stood and $aited, $atching the blin'ing Morse of the signal station& 7t $as on the
t$o/hundred/foot bluff that closed the southern arm of the harbor mouth, $hich gave it a $ide
field of vie$, and they had telescopes and night/sight glasses&
"T*o? Tarte##ian? ve##el#," it said& "A large? #c"ooner? and? one? larger? #"i?
rigged? cra$t. <anding?art,? "eading?$or? "ar3or? entrance? in? one? long3oat&"
"Company," she said grimly, as the cabin ste$ard ran up $ith their $eapons belts&
"An attac'B" %$indapa said&
"(o, not in one longboat," Alston said& ":ut 7 don't li'e it&"
& don't li)e an,one el#e in t"e#e *ater#, she thought, slitting her eyes against the dar'& 8od damn
+al)er to "ell, and &#)eterol too&
A lantern sho$ed out on the $aterE the -artessians had probably reali.ed they'd been seen& T*o
#"i#? t"at could 3e an,*"ere u to t"ree "undred men, i$ t"e,'re carr,ing *ar cre*#& And they
$ell might be& -his $ould be a voyage of e;ploration for them, not 6ust a trading run&
%he turned to the in6ured hunter and made signs& ":ad," she said3 they'd gotten that far in the
impromptu language lesson& -hen she made gestures of firing a gun and of a $ide/$inged ship&
0e sco$led dramatically to sho$ he understood&
":a'ad<" he replied, putting an indescribable tongue clic' into the $ord&
-he longboat came into sight, at first a ghostly $hite of $ater frothed by oars, then an outline& A
good/si.ed ship's boat $ith si; oars to a side and several men seated in the stern, and a light mast
$ith no sail bent to itE they'd probably struc' that to stay inconspicuous $hen they reali.ed
someone $as using the harbor& 6ot a 3ad iece o$ *or), she thought& 2ifferences of detail from
anything an 7slander $ould buildE the bird/head carving of the forepiece, for instance, and the
tongue/and/groove fit of the plan's& For all that, it $as modern, as modern $ent in the Aear GE it
had a rudder, for instance, and the mast $as rigged for a fore/and/aft sail&
-he oarsmen bent their bac's and then tossed their ash$ood shafts up as the 'eel grated on sand&
-he cre$ hopped out and shoved the boat further up the beach, and then a man $ho flashed $ith
spots of gold in the firelight vaulted do$n to the sand, his cloa' a dar' billo$ behind him&
Alston $al'ed for$ardE a file of a do.en armed cre$fol' under a petty officer follo$ed behind,
and a pair of lanterns& %o did her childrenD
2amn, #"ould "ave #ent t"em 3ac). Still, let'# )ee it ca#ual.
-he -artessians made a clump on the beach, the small $aves brea'ing $hite behind them, and
the dry scuttering sound of land crabs coming $ith a flic'er of movement from the edge of the
pool of light&
Ma)e t"at @mo#tl, Tarte##ian#," she thought&
From Arnstein's reports, @ing 7s'eterol's fleet $as gro$ing fast enough that -artessos proper and
the 'indred groups the 'ing had incorporated by con9uest and intimidation couldn't supply
enough men& Most of the ones she sa$ $ere 7berian in appearance, olive/s'inned $hites $ith
bo$l/cut dar' hair and linen tunics considerably the $orse for $ear& 8ne or t$o loo'ed li'e
(orth 4uropeans, burly and fair3of course, %pain and Morocco did produce that type no$ and
then& Another $as unmista'ably an 4gyptian, shaved head and sphin; headdress and pleated 'iltE
astonishingly, there $as also a blac', tall and lean and ebony/dar', $ith looping tribal scars on
his face, and an 8riental&
-he leader $ore 6utting chinbeard bound $ith gold $ire, a sea/stained purple cloa', and silver/
and/gold buc'les on belt and sandals&
0e had a short broad/bladed steel s$ord and dagger and a flintloc' pistolE most of his men had
blades at their belts as $ell, and mus'ets in their hands3several of them, she noted $ith
displeasure, copies of the 5estley/Richards breechloader& -he African had a spear $ith a broad,
shovel/shaped head and a long bo$ and 9uiver, and the 8riental $ore a t$o/edged bron.e
broads$ord slung over his bac'&
Chinbeard held up a hand in sign of peace and smiled& Alston told herself that the patent
insincerity $as probably her imagination&
"0ello, 7slander," the man said, then chec'ed as he sa$ her properly& 0e turned a little gray then,
and his men stirred and murmured until he glared at them for an instant over his shoulder&
Alston smiled thinly& 1el# to "ave a reutation& "0ello, -artessian," she said in reply& "2o you
spea' my languageB 5e have interpreters $ho 'no$ yours&"
%$indapa spo'e it fluently, although Alston had never managed more than a fe$ $ordsE
-artessian $as distantly related to the 4arth Fol' tongue, and the 7sland's e;perts thought both
$ere 'in to some :ron.e Age ancestor of :as9ue&
"Alantethol son of Marental is a (e$ Man of the 'ing," the -artessian captain said proudly& A"
3one o$ &#)eterol'# rotege#, she translated mentally& "7 spea' $ell your 4nglits tongue& 7 have
to (antuc'et itself sailed& 5elcome you to our anchorage be<"
"5oda," Marian thought to herself& "5ou #ee) 5oda<"
0e loo'ed around, ta'ing in the hull of the %"am3erlain in its improvised cradle and the gaping
hole $here the smashed plan'ing had been removed& %he could see his eyes ta'ing in much else,
as $ell3 particularly the 7slander camp, $ith its sand/and/palm/tree ramparts, and the snouted
mu..les of the frigate's cannon mounted on them& And the dim ran's of the ,uard cre$fol'
standing behind her&
"-artessos has no claim on these $aters, and the locals are under our protection," Alston said&
-he man made a dismissive gesture& "Let not civili.ed men3ah, civili.ed fol'39uarrel over
savages," he said ingratiatingly&
&$ ,ou onl, )ne*, Alston thought, fighting not to grind her teeth&
"5hat are you doing here<" she said&
"-rading<" the -artessian said, s$elling a little $ith pride& "For 6ade, 6e$els, spices, sil', rare
$oods3$idely trading& Also $e ta'e a $ord of the $orld to our 'ing, and our 'ing's $ord to the
$orld&"
="-o", Marian thought& 5ith that list of ladings, he might $ell have been as far east as
7ndonesia, or even up to the %hang ports&
"7 see you have storm damage," Alantethol said& "0elp sailors should render each other3and my
cre$ has been long at sea, needs shore time, green foods&"
0e scanned the 7slander ran's, chec'ing a bit at the sight of 0eather and Lucy bet$een Alston
and her partnerE especially on Lucy, $ith her pale mil'/chocolate mulatto comple;ion& & can
rett, *ell "ear "im t"in), @1o* t"e "ell did t"e, manage t"atB " Marian thought $ith blea'
humor&
"5e could share a feast," he $ent on&
"7 don't thin' so," Alston said dryly& "And as 7 said, the locals are under our protection&"
Alantethol flushed, dar'ly enough to be visible in the flic'ering firelight& "-he $orld is the
$orld's $orld," he said, his accent thic'ening& "(ot for only your 7sland to say, ',o here,' '2on't
go there'<"
"And 7 suggest you sail on," Alston replied& -he -artessian's face loo'ed ugly& ":ut before you
go, observe this&"
%he too' one of the lamps from a sailor and shone it to$ard the bluff across the harbor, turning it
a$ay and bac' to ma'e the dots and dashes of Morse& Five seconds after the last signal a red
spar' rose through the dar'ness from the observation post, arching half$ay across the distance
bet$een them before the deep t"ud of a cannon's report reached them& -he shell e;ploded an
instant later, thro$ing up a column of shattered $ater& Any ship trying to enter the harbor $ould
have more li'e that dropped right on its dec'&
-he -artessian nodded curtly and turned on his heel, sand rutching under the sandal& -he
longboat surged bac'$ard as the cre$ shoved off, then turned $ith a flash of oars&
"MomB" 0eather said in a small voice& "7s there going to be troubleB"
"7 hope not, pun'in," Alston said gently& "Let's go bac' to the fire&"
& "oe not, 3ut & t"in) t"ere *ill 3e, she thought to herself&
C#ATE! $&$TEEN
July+Septemer, Year ) A.E.
7an Arnstein $atched @ing %huriash's $hite/'nuc'led grip on the hilt of his s$ord as they
$al'ed to$ard the landing field in the cool dimness of preda$n& -he ruler's face might have
been cast in bron.e, but there $ere beads of s$eat on his forehead& -he councilor for foreign
affairs $asn't all that certain about riding in this $ooden balloon himself& 7n fact, he $as
probably more $orried about it than the :abylonian $asE %huriash 'ne$ that the magic of the
4agle 1eople *or)ed& 0e $asn't burdened $ith memories of the 1inden3urg ne$sreel, or the
'no$ledge that hydrogen $as highly flammable&
And & 'no$ t"at ;on <eaton i#n't in$alli3le, 7an thought& 0e'd spent several e;9uisitely
uncomfortable $ee's bending over a sic'le, bac' in the Aear , because %eahaven 4ngineering's
first attempt at a reaping machine had failed& And he'd seen Marian Alston's fury $hen it turned
out that the first percussion primers decayed in humid conditions&
R(A% -manciator loo'ed formidably large, sitting here on the flat clay of the landing field
outside the $alls of +r :ase& Arnstein s$allo$ed and bo$ed the 'ing and his attendants up the
ramp at the rear of the gondola&
"7n only a fe$ hours, $e $ill be outside Asshur," he said&
4ven then there $as a little 6ostling over precedence in the seating& 5hen it $as over, he clipped
on his seat belt, a retread from one of the commuter airlines that had flo$n into (antuc'et& -he
seats $ere $ic'er, broader and far more comfortable than those in the deregulated buses/$ith/
$ings he'd had to ride in up in the t$entieth&
-hey $ere seated 6ust behind the $or'ing 9uarter at the head of the gondola and for$ard of the
first of the engine control stations& Lieutenant Iic'i Cofflin3captain of the vessel by function3
$as in her seat at the for$ard edge of the floor, $ith an intercom set on her head, chec'ing
instruments&
"-hree hundred pounds heavy at ground level," she said, snapping a s$itch& "Feather props&"
"Feathered&"
"8n $ith engines<"
A coughing roar started upE Arnstein sa$ the :abylonians flinch& 8ood ol' internal-com3u#tion
noi#e and #tin), he thought3the si; motors $ere burning 'erosene, distilled right here at +r
:ase, but it $as burnt hydrocarbon nonetheless& 8utside he could see a cro$d of spectators,
many of them surged bac' at the unfamiliar blatting&
"All engines at forty/five positive&"
-he si; cre$fol' spaced on either side of the gondola heaved at the $heels that faced them&
-hrough the big, slanting $indo$ Arnstein could see the sections of $ing and the co$led pods
of the engines tilt, pointing the propellers a$ay from the long a;is of the dirigible and to$ard the
ground&
"8n superheat<"
A clic'ing, hissing roar as hot air rushed into the central gasbag, inflating it& And a soft, mushy
feeling under his bac'side, as if the dirigible $ere sliding on a surface of smooth, oiled metal&
"1ositive buoyancy< 1repare to cast off&"
"Ready to cast off, Captain&"
"%tand by engines& 0ori.ontal controls, forty/five degrees&" -he man at the attitude helm spun
his ship/style $heel& "1repare to releaseD Release mooring<"
-here $as a series of heavy c"un) sounds as the line/grabs along the 'eel of the gondola let go,
and the -manciator bounced up$ard, pushed by the air that out$eighed the volume she
displaced&
"4ngage props, all engines ahead full<"
-he si; converted Cessna engines roared, pushing the lighter/than/air craft north$ard and up,
into the $ind& Acceleration shoved Arnstein bac' into his seat as the nose rose above the
hori.on, a sensation he hadn't felt in nearly a decade& @ing %huriash s$ore by the private parts of
7shtar, then e;claimed again in delight, pointing $ith one calloused s$ordsman's finger&
"Loo'< 5e fly, 7an Arens'hein< 5e fly li'e the birds of the air, li'e the gods themselves<"
%huriash had four attendants $ith him3a great concession, considering ho$ important the 'ing's
dignity $as3and three of them shared the 'ing's childli'e en6oymentE they $ere young
noblemen, follo$ers of his son& -he fourth $as %amsu/7ndash, and the elderly priest $as sitting
rigid in his chair $ith his eyes clamped shut, lips moving in silent prayer& 7an suspected that the
command to attend the 'ing $as something of a royal 6o'e& %huriash $as not a cruel man, for an
ancient 8riental despot, but he $as an absolute ruler, and men forgot that at their peril&
-he figures belo$ shran' to the si.e of dolls, then ants& &t'# li)e riding a 3ic,cle, 7an thought&
5ou don't $orget& At the same time it $asn't li'e ta'ing off in an airliner, either& -here $as a
surging lightness to it, sort of li'e riding 1egasus3if you could imagine 1egasus as one of the
Clydesdales that pulled the :ud$eiser $agon&
"(eutral buoyancy at t$enty/t$o hundred feet," the second/in/command of the -manciator
reported& "5ind is from the north/north$est at three miles per hour&"
"4ngines at .ero inclination," Lieutenant Cofflin commanded& -he $heels spun, and 7an could
feel the airship move for$ard more rapidly as the propellers came level $ith the 'eel&
"All ahead three/9uarters&" Iic'i glanced do$n at the instruments& "Airspeed is si;ty/seven
miles per hour&"
+o*< 7an thought, half ironically& !a#t< Considerably faster than he'd traveled since the 4vent, at
least& 0e translated for %huriash and sa$ the 'ing's $ell/hidden ama.ement&
"(avigator, lay me a course for Asshur," Iic'i $ent on&
@ing %huriash $as loo'ing do$n in fascination as the city of +r slid beneath them, the great
.iggurat reduced to model si.e& -he rising sun silvered it, and for a moment canals great and
small flashed metallic&
"7 see no$ the e;cellence of your (antu'htar maps," the :abylonian ruler murmured& "%trange to
see the lands soD there are no boundaries to mar' the realm of one 'ing from the ne;t&"
0is glance sharpened on Arnstein, and his smile gre$ shar'ish& "(ot that there $ould be, no$,
bet$een @ar/2uniash and the lands of Asshur&"
7an nodded& "-ogether, our armies have been victorious," he said piously&
-o himself> Meaning, *e #"ot t"e A##,rian# u until t"e, ran, and t"en ,our 3o, /a#"tilia#"
c"a#ed t"em until "i# troo# got tired&
8f course, from $hat 0ollard and 0ollard said, it $or'ed both $ays& -he 7slanders could shatter
the Assyrian armies in pitched battle, but there $eren't enough of them to hold ground3$ithout
:abylonian manpo$er, they $ouldn't have controlled more than the land they stood on& Less at
night&
"Aes," %huriash said& "And 7 admit it, $e could not have con9uered $ithout you (antu'htar&
Certainly not $ithout paying more in blood and treasure& 5e are much in your debt, and the debt
shall be repaid& For no$ 7 rule from the northern mountains to the %ea/Land, and the $ay is clear
to the 0ittite country&"
"7ndeed, all these lands are no$ yours to rule as you $ould," Arnstein said&
-he :abylonian loo'ed up from beneath shaggy bro$s& "5hen a man says that, he is about to
tell me ho$ 7 should rule as "e $ould have me do," he said sardonically&
7an spread his hands& "7 $ould offer advice& 5hether the 'ing hear'ens to it shall be as the 'ing
thin's best&" %huriash nodded, and the 7slander $ent on> "7t is one thing to con9uer a land, and
another to hold it&"
%huriash nodded again& "-rue& 0ammurabi ruled $idely, but his sons soon found their thrones
roc'ing beneath them3and if the stories are true, the same held for ,ilgamesh< 5hat is your
thought, councilor of my brother Faered/CofflinB"
"First, 8 @ing, that your enemies are the 'ing and nobles of Assyria, not the people of the land,
or their gods&"
-hat $as enough to bring %amsu/7ndash out of his stupor& "As the men of Asshur bo$ to our
@ing, so must their gods to ours3to Mardu', @ing of the +niverse<"
7an made a soothing gesture& "8h, none could doubt it& Aet the great gods of the land bo$ to
Mardu' in their o$n temples, $here their o$n priests serve them, as men $ere created to serve
the gods&"
"Ah, 7 see," %huriash said& "Aou thin' that the temples of Asshur should remain unplundered,
and $e should not carry off the images to :abylon&"
"+nplundered, but sub6ect to the control of the 'ing," 7an confirmed&
-hat meant a ML percent ta; on temple revenues, and the temples $ere the largest lando$ners
and ban'ers in any Mesopotamian 'ingdom&
%huriash had been polite but $ary at the start, then increasingly ready to consider his allies'
suggestionsD and since 2r& Clemens saved his favorite, do$nright friendly& Mind ,ou, "e'# #till
damned #"re*d and no3od,'# $ool. <eaving t"e conquered temle# #tanding is in "i# o*n
intere#t#, even in t"e #"ort term& -he :abylonians might not 'no$ the negative elenc"o#, but
they $ere fully a$are that you couldn't s'in the co$ and mil' it too&
"%o the hearts of the people $ill not be filled $ith hatred against the 'ing of @ar/2uniash,"
Arnstein finished& "Li'e$ise, if the land is not laid $aste, it $ill pay much more in ta;es than it
$ould if it $ere plundered&"
"-rue3although to tell soldiers not to plunder is to offend against the nature of men& Aou have
other such adviceB"
"Aes, 8h @ing& 7 thin' that it $ould be very useful to you if you $ere to summon the men of
Asshur's lands and ma'e 'no$n to them the la$s by $hich you $ill govern them&"
%huriash fro$ned& "0o$ might that beB 1roclamations in each cityB"
":etter than that& Let a royal decree be sent forth, that in every district all the heads of
households3all the men of conse9uence3 should gather together and select one to be their
delegate& Let these delegates come before the throne, to hear the $ord of the 'ing and ta'e it
bac' to their homes& Aou could do that at regular intervals, so that all the land $ould 'no$ the
decrees of the 'ing and hear of his deeds&"
"0mmmm&" A tug at the gri..led beard& "Much as the u"rum3 the assembly of a city3does&
0mmmm, that might $ell be usefulD useful enough that 7 might summon these delegate# also
from my o$n ancestral lands& And if such men& $ere gathered before me, 7 could consult $ith
one here, another there3learn the mind of the land and $hat could be safely demanded of it&"
0e clapped a hand on Arnstein's shoulder& "Aou are a councilor indeed, and my brother Faered/
Cofflin is fortunate to have your $isdom<"
+ell, t"e .riti#" "i#tor, cour#e "ad #omet"ing to do *it" it, Arnstein thought as he inclined his
head& -he 4nglish parliament had started that $ay, $ith magnates called together to hear $hat
the 'ing had in mind& Arnstein smiled to himself&
-ventuall,, t"oug", it #tarted *or)ing t"e ot"er *a, 'round.
-he camel complained, a groan tapering off into a moaning sigh&
T"at'# *"at t"e,'re 3e#t at, @enneth 0ollard thought, and pulled on the rein& %omlaining. &'m
getting u#ed to t"e *a, t"e, #mell, t"oug", and that *orrie# me&
-he rein $as fastened to a bron.e ring in the beast's nose, and it turned $ith a fair sho$ of
obedience& 0ollard $iped a forearm across his face to get rid of some of the grit/laden s$eat and
stood in the stirrups to ta'e a slo$ scan from east to $est& 1mmm. Somet"ing t"ere&
7t $as getting on to$ard noon, any$ay, bleaching the landscape to shades of fierce $hite and
umber& 7n this land you stopped for at least four hours in the heat of day and then traveled on into
the night&
6ot quite de#ert, he thoughtE it sort of reminded him of parts of northern (e$ Me;ico he'd seen
on vacations $ith his family, bac' before the 4vent& 0otter, though3there $as a sparse covering
of grass, an occasional thic'et of lo$, $a;y/green tamaris' in an arroyo, the odd $ater hole& -he
vegetation had been getting thic'er as they came closer to the 6agged blue line of the Febel %in6ar
on the northern hori.on, too& :eyond them $as the heart of the old 'ingdom of Mitanni, the
district the %emites called (aharim, "the Rivers," in the plain bet$een the -aurus range and the
Febel& An Assyrian province no$, although they'd received vague reports that it $as rising in
revolt& 8r, from the sound of things, 6ust dissolving into a chaotic $ar of all against all&
-hree thousand years in a future that had bred him and $asn't going to happen3he tried to avoid
thin'ing about thatE it made his head hurt3these steppes $ould be part of the northern
borderland bet$een 7ra9, %yria, and -ur'ey& Right no$ it $as called, variously, Mitanni,
0anigalibat, the River Country, and ,od/'ne$/$hat, and it had been a marchland bet$een
Assyria and the 0ittite 4mpire& Mostly it seemed to be empty e;cept for $andering bands of
sheep/herding nomads& 0ollard smiled grimly to himself& 4mpty e;cept for the remnants of the
fleeing Assyrian army, the part that $asn't holed up in Asshur over to the east on the -igris& -he
camel/mounted recon company had been traveling through the detritus for daysE dead men and
don'eys, their corpses seething $ith maggots, foundered horses, bro'en chariots, bits of gear3
everything from bedrolls to $eapons and armor&
0e $aited for the :abylonian liaison officer to come up& 7bi/Addad had learned to handle his
camel fairly $ell, and li'e all his countrymen he'd gotten more and more cheerful as the
campaign $ent on, $hich $as understandable& 0e $as even prepared to put up $ith traveling in
the desert, among the $andering Aramaeans3truffle/eating savages, to a man from the settled
lands bet$een the rivers& And he could spea' 0ittite, $hich might be useful in a little $hile&
"5hat do you ma'e of thatB" the 7slander as'ed, pointing to $hat loo'ed li'e a set of lo$ adobe
buildings at the foot of a roc'y ridge&
7bi/Addad stro'ed his beard, $hich had gone from neat blac' curls to a tangled thic'et over the
past couple of $ee's, and raised his o$n binoculars3that gift $ould have made him $illing to
come along even $ithout @ing %huriash's orders&
"7 thin' it is theD " he began, and trailed off into terms 0ollard couldn't follo$&
-he (antuc'eter sighed& 9u#t *"en & t"oug"t m, A))adian *a# getting reall, $luent&
"-he manor of a Mitannian mariannu," 7bi/Addad clarified& "-hey $ere the ruling fol' of
Mitanni, before the Assyrians and the 0ittites bro'e that 'ingdom a hundred years ago& A
fragment of it lived on as a vassal state until my father's time, $hen they revolted and @ing
%hulmanu/asharidu of Asshur destroyed them& 7 do not suppose many of that breed are left&"
"Let's go see," 0ollard said& "7 thin' the Assyrians are paying a visit&" 0e grimacedE they'd seen
the results of that, in villages and nomad camps& "7 thought this $as part of their 'ingdomB
-hey're acting li'e they $ere in enemy territory, though&"
7bi/Addad shrugged elo9uentlyE he $as in Marine 'ha'is, but the gesture $as purely :abylonian&
"-hey are bro'en men fleeing defeat, and these are con9uered provinces& -he people here hate
them& 4;cept for the Assyrian colonists, and those are in the cities&"
0ollard nodded and turned in the saddle& "%pread out and loo' alive<" he called&
-he comple; of buildings came into vie$ as the camels paced north$ard in a long double lineE a
hundred mounted riflemen, and a mortar team $ith the pac' animals& Another thing the
Assyrians $ere having trouble ad6usting to $as ho$ far a camel/borne outfit could s$ing into
the desert and ho$ fast it could move& -he locals used don'eys for carrying cargo, and those had
to be $atered every day or so&
4ooo#& Assyrians, all right3a couple of hundred of them, $ith half a do.en chariots& -hat
meant some fairly high/ran'ing officers, given the shape of $hat remained of their field army&
-he men $ere milling around the adobesE those loo'ed li'e they'd seen better days, $ith more
than half of $hat had been a substantial village in tumbledo$n ruins& 8ne or t$o of the large
buildings seemed to have been occupied until recentlyE they $ere shedding mud plaster but still
largely intact& -here must be a spring of good $ater here, then, and the stubble fields indicated a
hundred acres or so of grain, enough to sustain a big household if not a to$n, together $ith the
gra.ing&
0ollard flung up a hand as the Assyrians bro'e into shouts and pointing, and the company came
to a halt& %arele## 3a#tard#3#"ould "ave #een u# long 3e$ore no*&
"Captain 8'Rour'e<"
-he commander of the recon company $hac'ed his camel on the rump and sped up to the
commander's side&
":usiness, sirB"
"4nemy up ahead& -hey've spotted us, and any minute no$D"
4ooo# again& A rac'et of harsh trumpet sounds and cries came from the cluster of beige/
colored mud/bric' buildings half a mile a$ay&
"5e'll be seeing them off, then, sirB"
"-hat $e $ill, 1addy," 0ollard said& "%i; hundred yards, and set up the mortar& 8pen order& Let's
not get sloppy&"
-he Assyrians $ere pouring out of the open ground, into the protection of the stout t$o/story
building and its courtyard& -he house $as $indo$less on the ground floor, $ith narro$ slits
suitable for archers above, and from the loo's of it the courtyard $all had a proper fighting
platform on the inside& A short, thic' to$er rose from the rear of it, giving another story over the
flat rooftop&
"Loo's li'e a fortress," he said in A''adian& 7bi/Addad had pic'ed up a little functional 4nglish,
but not enough for a real conversation&
"0o$ not, Lord 0ollardB" he said& "-his is the edge of cultivation3 the Aramaeans $ould be all
over anyone not ready to fight li'e flies on a fresh don'ey turd&"
0ollard noddedE they'd seen t"at, too3small bands of Assyrian stragglers overrun by nomads
out for loot and paybac'& -hey seemed to have a 'nac' for s'inning a man alive, from the feet
up& 0e put the image out of his mind $ith an effortE the Assyrian had still been alive $hen they
found him, one huge scab $ith eyes staring out of it, and moving&
"Loo's li'e they've learned better than trying to rush us&" 8' Rour'e chuc'led& "2amned alarmin'
it $as, a fe$ times&"
0ollard nodded again& 5hatever you could say about the Assyrians, they didn't lac' for guts&
"Let's do it by the numbers, then," he said&
A thousand yards from the settlement the 7slanders came across the first bodies& 0ollard's bro$s
roseE they loo'ed li'e standard Mesopotamian peasants, men in loincloths or short tunics and
$omen in long ones and sha$li'e headdresses& -hese had obviously been caught fleeing& 8ne
had a bro'en arro$ stub in the bac' of his head, probably too tightly $edged to be $orth
recovering& %everal others sho$ed gaping $ounds $here shafts had been cut out for reuse, and
the great pools of blac' blood $ere still a little tac'y and s$arming $ith flies&
"-his morning," he said, not loo'ing at a fe$ very small bodies& T"o#e had been tossed on
spears&
"%unrise, or a little after, 7'd say," 8'Rour'e said, crossing himself&
0ollard loo'ed east$ard& -he chariots had probably come in first and caught the $or'ers out in
the fields& A good place to halt, about a thousand years from the big flat/roofed house, and barley
stra$ could be sharp enough to hurt a camel's footpads&
-he camels halted and 'nelt, che$ing and spitting, glad enough of a restE some lifted their long
nec's and flared the flaps over their nostrils in interest at the scent of $ater and green gro$ing
things from the courtyard ahead& Marines dismounted, unslinging their rifles and e;changing
floppy canvas hats for the helmets strapped to their pac's& 8thers hammered iron sta'es into the
ground and tethered the beasts to them& -he mortar team lifted the four/foot barrel of their
$eapon off a pac' camel's bac' $ith a grunt, and there $as a series of clic)# and clun)# as the
$eapon $as clipped into its base and clamped onto the steel bipod that supported the business
end& -he sergeant in charge of the $eapon $as $histling tunelessly bet$een her teeth as she
unbuc'led the leather strapping on the strong $ic'er bo;es that held the finned bombs&
"-hree up, one bac'B" 8'Rour'e as'ed&
@en noddedE he $asn't going to second/guess the man on the spot unless he needed it& 1atric'
Foseph 8'Rour'e $as possibly a little too ready to lean on higher authority3one reason he didn't
have 0ollard's 6ob& (othing $rong $ith his aggressiveness at the company level, though, and he
had the saving grace of a $ic'ed sense of humor&
-he company commander turned and bar'ed> "2 1latoon in reserve, A through C in s'irmish
order& 1repare to advance on the $ord of command3and fi; bayonets<"
-he long blades came out and clattered home, their edges thro$ing painfully bright reflections in
the hot Asian sun& @enneth 0ollard hid a slight grimace of distaste at the sight& 0e )ne* $hat it
felt li'e to run edged metal into a man, the soft, heavy resistance& And the loo' in his eyes as he
reali.ed he $as going to die, and the sounds he made, and the smellD
"2irty 6ob," 8'Rour'e said, catching his thought $ithout the irrelevance of $ords&
":ut somebody's got to do it&"
%ome of the %un 1eople ran'ers $ere grinning at the prospect of a fight& .ut t"en, t"e,'re all
maniac#, an,*a,& ,ood soldiers but $eird& %ometimes he $orried a little about the impact they
$ould have $hen they mustered out and got their citi.enship& +p to no$ most of the immigrants
had been Fiernan& 5ho $ere $eird too, but less aggressive about it&
0e raised his binoculars again& 1lenty of the distinctive ruddy glitter of bron.e along the edges of
$allsD
"%irB"
-hat $as %ergeant 5innifred %mith of the mortar team37mmigration 8ffice name, she $as
obviously Alban by origin3%un 1eople, from the accent&
6o que#tion# a#)ed, 0ollard reminded himself& Aour record started the day you too' the oath, in
the ,uard or the Corps&
8'Rour'e lo$ered his o$n glasses& "Let's start by 'noc'ing do$n the big gate$ay into the
courtyards," he said& "5ith a little luc), they'll rush us&"
"Aessir," the sergeant replied&
A broad grin sho$ed as she $or'ed the elevation and traverse scre$sE the mu..le of the mortar
moved up a bit, and to the right&
"(ine hundred yardsD one ring," she called over her shoulder&
"8ne ring, aye," the man $ith the mortar bomb in his hands said&
-hat $as an elongated iron teardrop $ith fins at its base& A section above the fins $as perforated,
and around that his assistant clipped a linen donut of gunpo$der& -hen he slipped the friction
primer into the base of the bomb, turned the $ooden/ring safety and pulled it out&
(o$ $hen the round $as dropped do$n the mu..le it $ould drive the primer in on itself,
stri'ing a light in e;actly the same $ay as a matchbo; and match& %eahaven s$ore that they'd
have percussion caps available in 9uantity soon, but in the meantime this $or'ed and they could
ma'e more in the field at need& Leaton s$ore he'd have a brass/cartridge rifle available ne;t year
too, but 0ollard $ould believe that $hen it arrived&
"Fire in the hole<" the sergeant bar'ed, and dropped the bomb into the $aiting ma$ of the
mortar& -he team turned a$ay, mouths open and ears plugged $ith their thumbs&
T"uddum0
A 6et of dirty/gray smo'e shot out of the mu..le& -he bomb follo$ed it, landing in the dirt about
fifteen feet in front of the $eathered $ooden gates&
+"uddum< -he bursting/charge e;ploded, thro$ing up a blac' shape of dirt that stood erect for
a moment before drifting $est$ard and falling in a patter of dust and clods& A small crater gaped
in the pac'ed earth of the trac'$ay& %houts and screams could be heard from the men $ithinE the
Assyrians had some e;perience of being under fire from the 7slander artillery by no$, and they
didn't li'e it at all& A fe$ stood up over the parapet, sha'ing fists or $eapons&
6ot enoug" e7erience, t"oug", 0ollard thought coldly, remembering the dead peasants and their
children&
"Mar'smen may fire on movement<" 8'Rour'e called out& "(o need to let the insolence of them
go unre9uited&"
0ere and there along the line Marines $ith the sniper star began to fire, slo$ and deliberate& An
Assyrian pitched for$ard off the parapet over the gates, landing $ith a limp t"um on the
ground& %everal others toppled bac'$ard, some screaming& -he others duc'ed do$n, and duc'ed
further $hen a bullet clipped the top of a bron.e helmet barely sho$ing over the crenelations of
the defense& -he helmet $ent spinning, ringing li'e a crac'ed bell& Fragments of the s'ull and
brain beneath probably follo$ed it&
"Lost his head completely, poor fello$," 8'Rour'e said&
%ergeant %mith gave the elevating scre$ a three/9uarter turn& "Fire in the hole<" she called again
and dropped in the second bomb&
T"uddum0
Another malignant $histle overhead, dropping a$ayD and this time it crashed precisely into the
arch over the gate$ay& 5hen the smo'e cleared the arch had a bite ta'en out of its ape;3more
dropped a$ay as 0ollard $atched3and the $ood of the gates $as splintered, torn and burning&
"Lord @enneth/0ollard," 7bi/Addad said, a fro$n of $orry on his sun/bro$ned face& "5hat if
some of them drop off the $all on the northern side and runB"
"7 hope they do," 0ollard said& At the :abylonian's in9uiring loo'> "All 7 can do is 'ill them&"
"Ah," 7bi/Addad chuc'led& ":ut if the Aramaeans catch themD"
"4;actly&"
"And the tribes $ill be hanging about li'e vultures on a tamaris' above a sic' sheep," @ing
%huriash's man said happily& -hen he fro$ned& "More and more of the sand/thieves roam in these
lands every year, though, and they press into the settled country $henever they get a chance&"
0ollard noddedE according to the Arnsteins' briefings the Aramaeans $ere slated to overrun most
of the Middle 4ast in the dar' age that the pre/4vent histories said $as coming, and their tongue
and $ays $ould stamp themselves on the region for millennia& Aramaic $ould be the state
language of the 1ersian 4mpire, and the native tongue of Fesus& 8r $ould have beenD
T"uddum0 T"uddum0 T"uddum0
0ollard blin'ed and coughed as the harsh sulfur/smelling blac' po$der smo'e ble$ past& -he
mortar $as firing for effect no$, and the thic', soft adobe $alls of the manor house and
courtyard $all $ent up in gouts of dust& %mo'e began to tric'le s'y$ard as the timbers
supporting the roof caught fire& 8ne round landed $ith spectacular3 if accidental3accuracy
s9uare on top of the to$er, sending a sho$er of $ood, mud bric', and bodies in every direction&
"Roast, run into the $ilderness, or come out and get shot," 7bi/Addad laughed&
0ollard nodded& -rue enough, although he still didn't li'e to hear laughter as men died& (one of
the choices available to the Assyrians $ere good&
"0eads up<" one of the snipers called& "0ere they come<"
-he rest of the line thumbed bac' the hammers of their rifles, a long multiple/clic'ing sound, as
the enemy s$armed for$ard over the rubble of courtyard $all and gate&
So, t"e, decided to die $ig"ting, 0ollard thought& 8r trying to fight, any$ay&
"7ndependent fire<" 8'Rour'e called&
-he platoon commanders echoed itE 0ollard heard "ma'e it count" and "Aim lo$&" %pray/and/
pray $as bad enough $ith automatic $eaponsE $ith a single/shot li'e the 5estley/Richards, you
really needed to ta'e some trouble&
-he rifles began to spea' their sharp, spiteful crac's& 0ollard estimated the Assyrians at a
hundred and fifty or so, and they began dying as soon as they left cover, men falling limp or
cra$ling, screams as faint $ith distance as the $ar cries& 8ther bullets 'ic'ed up puffs of dust
around themE he sa$ one Assyrian stop and slam his spear at one, probably thin'ing it $as some
sort of invisible devil&
More fell as they dre$ closer, but none of the enemy turned bac' to$ard the shattered, burning
buildings& -he last one to fall carried a standard $ith a sun dis' in gold on the end of a long poleE
his face $as set and calm, and by some flu'e of ballistics he came $ithin fifty yards of the
7slander line before three of the heavy bullets struc' him simultaneously& 0ollard sa$ his face go
from a set, almost hieratic peace to brief agony and then blan'ness as he toppled for$ard& -he
standard fell in the dirt and lay $ith the steppe $ind flapping the bright cloth against the ground
and raising tiny puffs of dust as it struc'&
%ilence fell, bro'en by a fe$ moans and $himpers and men calling for their mothers30olland
had noted ho$ that al$ays happened on a battlefield, and he al$ays hated it& -hen there $as a
shout from the ruined buildingsE another man emerged, this one $aving a green branch torn from
one of the trees $ithin&
"Cease fire<" 0ollard called&
0e $al'ed out in front of the 7slander line and $aited, one hand resting on the butt of his pistol&
"-hat's far enough," he said, $hen the Assyrian $as about si; feet a$ay& (o sense ta'ing
chances $ith a possible berser'er&
-he man $as obviously not a soldierE he $as dressed in the long go$n and fringed, embroidered
$raparound upper garment that $as a mar' of high ran', and his curled beard $as more gray
than blac'& 0is face $as a pasty gray $ith recent hardship and $ith fear, although you could see
that before that he'd been $ell fed&
"Mercy<" he called& 0e $ent do$n on his 'nees and raised a clod of dirt to his lipsE then do$n on
his belly and cra$led for$ard, 'issing 0ollard's boot and trying to put it on his nec'&
"Mercy<" he bleated&
@enneth 0ollard restrained an impulse to 'ic' the Assyrian nobleman in the face& "%urrender,
and live," he said&
7bi/Addad sighed and rolled his eyes as the cra$ling man began to babble than's and call do$n
benedictions from his gods, his teeth bared in an unconsciously dogli'e grin of submission&
"Aou 4agle 1eople," he said& "Fierce as lions one minute, then li'e lambs& 7t ma'es no sense&"
",et up, get up," the Marine colonel said& ",o bac' there& -ell your countrymen that if they're
not all outside in five minutes, $e'll 'ill you all& 5e'll also 'ill you all if $e find anyone hiding
$ithin, or if there's any resistance& ,o< (o$<"
8'Rour'e $as fro$ning at the enemy dead& "(otice something, sirB" he said&
0ollard did, and heard 7bi/Addad's surprised grunt follo$& "-hey're all armed li'e a noble's
retainers," he said&
Corselets of bron.e scales, or bron.e studs in thic' bull hideE good metal/bossed shields, and
nearly every man had a s$ord as $ell& 0is eye pic'ed out other details> embroidered rosettes
along the edge of a tunic, gold and silver inlay on a belt buc'le or hilt, silver buc'les on a sandal,
a tooled/leather baldric& %ome of the Marines $ere eyeing the same things $ith interest& Albans
$eren't s9ueamish about pic'ing up valuablesE he'd have to tell off a $or'ing party, $hen things
$ere settled&
@.ind not t"e mout"# o$ t"e o7en t"at tread out t"e grain, @ a# t"e .i3le #aid. +ould #a,.
+"atever.
-he remaining Assyrians $ere scrambling out of the $rec'ed building, a score or so of them,
including some badly $ounded enough to re9uire carrying or dragging& -hey $ent to their 'nees
as the (antuc'eters approached, touching clods of earth to their lips or holding out their hands to
touch feet or thighs in to'en of submission, babbling in their rough northern dialect of A''adian&
"%hut up<" 0ollard bar'ed& "Captain 8'Rour'e, give me a s9uadE $e'll chec' the building&"
"AhD $ouldn't it be better if 7 did that, sirB"
0ollard smiled for the first time in several hours& "(o, it $ouldn't, 1addy&" Leading from the
front $ent $ith the 6ob in the Republic's forces& "@eep an eye on the prisoners and have the
medic patch those that need it& And be careful> smo'e dra$s more than vultures, here&"
0ollard made sure that the )atana slung over his bac' $as loose in its sheath& -hen he dre$ his
pistol and used the $eapon to $ave the eight/bayonet section for$ard $ith him& -he house
$asn't e;actly burning, but $ood $as smoldering and sending up blac' smo'e here and there& &$
t"ere'# enoug" le$t $or #"elter, *e can ut it out, he thought& -he shattered adobe $as loose and
treacherous beneath his feet as he climbed through&
-he courtyard enclosed by the L shape of the main building and its o$n $all $as substantial and
had been handsome before it $as shelled& A spring bubbled up in a stone/lined basin in the
centerE that $ould be priceless here& -here $ere the remains of grapevines trained up trellises
along the $alls, and ro$s of fruit trees as $ell as ban's of herbs, vegetables, and flo$ers& 5hat
attracted his attention $as the si; men and $omen impaled on tree trun's that had been cut do$n
and sharpened in lieu of sta'es& 8ne of the privates behind him s$ore softly in Fiernan, another
in 4nglish&
+ell, he thought, s$allo$ing hard himself and loo'ing a$ay from the contorted features of those
$ho'd died in agony, at lea#t it ma)e# ,ou $eel 3etter a3out t"e jo3& 0e $as glad the heavy fog of
dust and burnt po$der $as enough to cover most of the stin'&
-here $eren't any living Assyrians in the courtyard, although the iron scythe of shell fragments
from the mortar had left plenty of dead onesE he forced do$n a chilly satisfaction at that and
$al'ed through to$ard the building& -here $ere t$o big doors standing open, leading into a sort
of hall$ay& 7t had been a handsome space once, $ith painted frescoes on the plastered $all, and
stone benches around the all/around, but the paint $as faded and patched $ith plain mud, and the
tile floor $as crac'ed and $orn&
-he Assyrians had made modifications of their o$n& A table $as draped in an e;pensive/loo'ing
'notted rug, and on it $as a very dead man in armor of gilded scales, a purple/crimson cloa'
spread over him& 0is eyes $ere $ide, and someone had slashed diagonally across his nec', a
deep, ugly $ound& A young man, $ith the heavy hoo'ed nose, dense curled beard, and full lips
common in these landsE deep chested as $ell, and 6udging from the muscular forearms and legs,
very strong in life& -he tanned s'in $as pale $ith blood loss, but seamed $hite scars $ere still
visible&
And at the foot of the improvised bier, a $oman $as hanging from the ceiling, dangling by a
rope looped around her $rists and secured to a notch in one of the e;posed rafters& 0er an'les
$ere bound as $ell, and belo$ her feet $as a neatly prepared tepee of 'indling and stic's ready
to light& %he $ore the diaperli'e undergarment universal here, and dried blood mar'ed a
scattering of $hip mar's on her bac'&
"Catch her<" 0ollard bar'ed, tossing the pistol into his left hand and reaching over that shoulder
$ith his right& "And then get the corpsman&"
-he )atana came out $ith a long #"innnng of steel on leather and $ood& -$o of the Marines
slung their rifles and obeyedE the rope $as plaited leather, and it too' t$o stro'es before the
tough hide parted& -he $oman gave a hoarse grunt as she fell bac' into their arms and opened
her eyes as they lo$ered her to the ground& 0er arms stirred only slightly as 0ollard $ent to one
'nee and held his canteen to her lipsE she dran' eagerly, $ater spilling do$n her face&
5oung, he decided& (ot more than her late teens& (ot 9uite li'e the physical type usual here,
either& 0er long blac' hair $as feathery/fine and straightE it had russet highlights, $hile the eyes
$ere a dar' gray rimmed $ith amber/green& 0er s'in $as a clear olive, features straight/nosed
and regular, and her build more slender than the rather stoc'y local norm& 8n (antuc'et he'd
have said she had 7talian in her bac'ground, or maybe %panish& A memory teased at himD
.ac) 3e$ore t"e -vent. +"o *a# it? ,ea", #"e loo)# a little li)e? t"at *oman *"o *a# rime
mini#ter o$ (a)i#tan? .ena:ir ."utto, ,ea".
-he medic came running in, her red/cross/mar'ed satchel in hand& "2ia$as 1ithair<" she blurted,
in the @eyalt$ar dialect, calling on the s'y father $ho $as overgod of the %un 1eople tribes&
-he young $oman's head came up, her eyes losing the gla.e of pain& %he loo'ed at 0ollard, then
at the medic and a fe$ others $ho $ere cro$ding around, and spo'e&
"2yaush 1itarB" she said, and then an eager string of sentences&
-he medic loo'ed baffled and replied in her o$n tongue as she began her $or', $hich consisted
mainly of ointment and bandages for $rists and an'les and $hip mar's& %he shoo' her head and
loo'ed up at 0ollard as she finished&
"%ir, it's real funny37 sort of feel 7 #"ould be able to understand $hat she's saying, but 7 can't&
+h, she's o'ay3the shoulder 6oints are stressed, but they'll do fine if she rests 'em for a fe$
days&"
-he $oman spo'e again in another language, throaty and agglutinative/sounding, and then in
A''adianE the :abylonian version of it, he noticed&
"5ho are youB" she said&
0ollard sat bac' on his heel, resting his $eight on an elbo$ across his thigh& "Colonel @enneth
0ollard, Republic of (antuc'et Marine Corps," he said and then translated> "@enneth 0ollard,
commander of a thousand in the host of the 4agle 1eople&"
"Ahhh< 7 heard the pigs of Asshur spea' of you3an army of demons $ith $eapons that spat fire
and smashed $alls li'e the fist of -eshub& 7 thought they lied, but 7 am glad that they spo'e the
truth&"
5et anot"er non-admirer o$ t"e A##,rian#, 0ollard thought& T"e, "ave a o#itive gift $or negative
(;&
"And $ho are you, young gentle$omanB" 0ollard said&
Someone *it" a lot o$ gut#, an,*a,, he thought& From the loo's of things she'd been about to be
tortured to death, and no$ she $as surrounded by $eirdly armed strangers, yet she loo'ed cool
as a cucumber, $or'ing her shoulders $ithout even a $ince at $hat must be considerable pain&
(ro3a3l, near colla#e underneat", t"oug", he thought3he could sense the 9uivering intensity
of her control&
"7 am Raupasha daughter of %huttarna&" -he girl's chin lifted& ""5ho $ould have been rightful
'ing of Mitanni, if the gods had not thro$n the realm do$n in the dust&"
+ell, #"it, 0ollard thought& T"at ma, comlicate t"ing#&
"AhD if your father $as hereD"
A blea' e;pressionE she turned her head aside for an instant and dre$ a deep breath& "(o& 0e
died $hile 7 $as yet in the $ombE the Assyrians 'illed him $hen they destroyed the last of the
'ingdom, and my mother died bearing me& 7 sa$ $hat they did out thereE they made me $atch&
-hat $as the lord -ushratta, the mariannu3the $arrior/retainer3$ho bore me south$ard to
this last estate of his and raised me as his o$n&"
"4rD $hat happened hereB"
A shrug, and she turned her face a$ay, blin'ing rapidly&
"-he Assyrians came last night, fleeing defeat& My foster father greeted them as guests& 5hat
could he do, $ith t$enty men only and they peasants, against more than a hundred in full armorB
-hen they demanded that 7 dance for their leader3meaning that he $ould rape me at his
pleasure&"
0er smile gre$ even blea'er& "And dance 7 did, and $hen he sei.ed me3brea'ing the la$ of
hospitality that all the gods hold sacred37 opened his nec' $ith the 'nife in my sleeve& -hen
they slaughtered all here, save me3they gave over thought of ravishing me and after much
argument decided that to flog me to death $ould be too merciful& 7nstead they hung me up as you
sa$& (ot long after, 7 heard the thunder of your $eapons& %o my life $as spared3-eshub, and
0epat, and %haushga, and 7ndara, and Mitra, and Auruna, and the other gods and goddesses must
favor me greatly&"
;emind me not to get t"i# c"ic) mad at me, 0ollard thought&
%he struggled to her feet and made an imperious gestureE one of the Marines hastily pic'ed up a
long sha$l, and she $rapped it around herself& -hen she $al'ed stiffly to the side of the bier and
spat in the dead man's face&
"May dust be his food and salt his drin' in the 0ouse of Arabu& My foster father and mother are
avenged, at least&"
"5ho $as he, any$ayB" 0ollard as'ed& Time to get 3ac) to 3u#ine##&
-he girl smiled& 7t loo'ed as if it hurt her face& "Aou do not 'no$, Lord @enn'etB -hat is3$as3
-u'ulti/(inurta& @ing of the +niverse of %$ine, @ing of the Four Corners of the 1igpen, @ing of
Assyria, last of the seed of %hulmanu/asharidu, $ho sle$ my father and my people& -hus are all
my 'in avenged&"
"8h, #"it&" 7t $as time to call the Arnsteins and pass the buc'& 7n the meantimeD
"Aou $ill be safe $ith us, Lady Raupasha," he said& 7n 4nglish> "%ergeant, see to the young
lady's needs&" 0e dropped bac' into A''adian> "Aour pardon& 7 must see to my troops&"
0e turned and strode out, blin'ing in the bright sunlight& 8'Rour'e had ta'en do$n the impaled
bodies, and $or'ing parties $ere hauling buc'etfuls of $ater to splash and si..le on charring
timbers&
"%o, Colonel, 7 hear it's a princess $e rescued," he said& "A young, beautiful princess at that&"
"1addy, for once rumor does not lie3and there's all sorts of political implications involved&"
":etter you than me, sir& Aou'd best ta'e a loo' at this, too, though&"
-hey $ent up a mud/bric' staircase to a section of the house roof still strong enough to bear their
$eight& "8ver there, south$est&"
-he figures he pointed to $ere ant/tiny in the distance& 0ollard raised his binoculars and turned
the focusing scre$E the ants became men, leaping close in the dry, clear air&
="-o".
A gray/bearded man on a don'ey, in a long striped robe $ith a fringe, a flo$ing headdress, and a
s$ord belted at his $aist& %everal men tal'ing to him, arguing $ith broad, 9uic' gestures& More
don'eys $ith pac'saddles, and men on foot3fifty or si;ty, scattered over the bare steppeland&
0e studied themE a fe$ in plainer robes than the chief, many in simple goats'in 'ilts& (one of
them had s$ords3most of them didn't even have sandals3but they all had long 'nives tuc'ed
through their belts& :o$s, slings, and spears $ere in evidence too, and a fe$ had hide and $ic'er
shields&
-hey $ere lean men $ith vast blac' beards, their bodies loo'ing as if they $ere made out of sun/
dried ra$hide& Leaning on their spears, or laying them across their shoulders and resting their
arms on them, or s9uatting at their ease& 0e could see one spitting thoughtfully on a roc' and
honing a curved bron.e dagger that $ould do 9uite $ell as a s'inning 'nife&
Aramaean#, rig"t enoug", he thought& Aloud> "(o sheep, no goats, and no $omen&"
"5ar party," 8'Rour'e agreed&
"5ell, that solves one problem," 0ollard replied and dre$ his pistol again as he trotted
do$nstairs&
5hen he stood in front of the prisoners he gestured $ith itE they'd learned enough to 'no$ that it
$as one of the fire/$eapons that had bro'en their 'ingdom, and they eyed it fearfully&
"All right, you're free to go," he said&
-he spo'esman $ho'd 'issed his foot loo'ed up from giving a dipper of $ater to a bandaged
countryman& "Free, lordB (o ransomB"
"Free and clear&" 0e pointed to the south& "(o$ get going&"
",oB"
"5hat part of go don't you understand, you son of a bitchB" he roared, the control that had 'ept
his voice level suddenly crac'ing& -he Assyrian flinched as if from a blo$& ",o< -hata$ay< 8r
by ,od, 7'll shoot you do$n li'e a dog here and no$& All of you3go<"
":ut, lord< 5e have no food or $ater or $eapons or3"
@8o0@
":ut $e $ill die<"
0ollard smiledE it felt a little li'e a smile, though the Assyrian flinched again& 5hen he spo'e,
his voice $as calm&
"5e have an old saying3as a man so$s, so shall he reap&"
0e fired into the dirt ne;t to the Assyrian's foot& "March<"
7bi/Addad came out and $atched the departing Assyrians $ith a moment's mild curiosity& -hen
he $aved a leather sac'&
"Loo', Lord 0ollard< 1ac'ed $ith salt, this $ill be perfect for 'eeping the head until you lay it
before @ing %huriash& -hat all men may 'no$ your victory<"
"8h, #"it&"
C#ATE! S&(TEEN
Septemer+(ecemer, Year ) A.E.
"My lord 'ing Agamemnon<" 5illiam 5al'er said, his voice loud and full of concern& "7 $ill
offer a hectacomb of $hite o;en to Ceus the Father in than's that you live<"
-he throne room of Mycenae $as less bright than usual, despite the mirrors and lamps that
5al'er had installed for his hegemon years ago& Many had been shattered by the same grenade
fragments that had flec'ed the $alls& :lasts had scaled off a lot of the painted plaster, and blood
$as splashed across much of $hat $as left of the magnificent murals of lions and griffons and
Minoan/style sea creatures that spra$led in multicolored splendor around the great room&
-he smell of burnt por' came not from a feast but from the body of the guardsman $ho'd fallen
bac'$ard into the great circular marble/rimmed hearth, half/dro$ning the fire $ith his blood&
1arties of 5al'er's guard regiment $ere at $or' carting out the bodies& 0e gestured to ma'e sure
one got the corpse in the hearth before the fire there $ent out3that $ould be e;tremely bad
mo6o, to the $ogs' $ay of thin'ing& -he hearthfire $as the luc' of the house and 'in&
6ot t"at & "ave to a, a# muc" attention to t"at no*, he thought& %till, no reason not to $hen it
didn't cost anything&
":ut the traitors around you have been found out and defeated," 5al'er $ent on, still in a loud
public voice& "5hat a loss for all the lands of the Achaeans if you had been 'illed in the
fighting<"
+"at a monumental ain in t"e a## $or me, he added to himself& Right no$ he could enforce a
claim to being the po$er behind the throne and ma'e it stic' at gunpoint, but he couldn't sit on
the sacred seat himself& (ot yet& -oo many of the Achaean nobles $ould fight to the death if an
outlander's lo$/bred fundament actually touched it& 0e needed them&
For no$&
Agamemnon's face $as still sagging $ith shoc'& A lot gra,er t"an *"en & arrived "ere, 5al'er
thought& <ot $atter, too& 7t made him pleasantly conscious of his o$n trim physi9ue& -he suit of
articulated plate made for him bac' on (antuc'et a fe$ months after the 4vent still fit& %o did
the belt he'd $on at eighteen in the Colorado state rodeo&
0e loo'ed up& 4very Mycenaean palace3e;cept his3had a four/pillar arrangement around the
central hearth, $ith a gallery $here the second story could loo' do$n into the great hall& Alice
0ong $as there, in Mycenaean robes but still loo'ing as alien as the :eretta in her hand& %he
gave him the high sign and pulled a younger $oman a$ay, leading her by the hand&
"0o$D"Agamemnon began, then cleared his throat& 0is glance too' in the ran's of mus'eteers
along the $alls, their bayonets bright3or in some cases, still stic'y/red& "0o$ did you 'no$B"
"0o$ did 7 'no$ that evil councilors3surely men in the pay of the 0ittites<3had attempted to
turn your mind against me, @ing of MenB 0ad tried to persuade you to turn on meB Ah& 5ell,
you seeD you Achaeans are fine people, but you have your blind spots&"
":lind spotsB" the lord of Mycenae as'ed, be$ildered&
"%orry& Literal translations don't al$ays $or'&" And he didn't al$ays reali.e he $as translating,
since he thought in Achaean much of the time no$& ".lind #ot means things you don't see even
though they're there& Li'e $omen& Fust a second&"
8hotolari; saluted and bo$ed his head& "<ord," he said, dropping bac' into 7raiina for security's
sa'e, "$e have the building in our fist& All the men you named are dead or in our hands&"
",ood," 5al'er ans$ered in the same tongue& "(o$ ma'e sure none of their families get a$ay
either&" -hese people $ere blood/feudists, and nits made lice&
"5omenB" Agamemnon said again&
2ude'# 3eginning to #ound li)e a 3ro)en record, 5al'er thought&
0ong came into the hall, still leading the girl by the hand& -here $as a strong family
resemblance bet$een her and the middle/aged $oman $ho trailed behind, strong straight noses
and snapping blac' eyes& -he rich fabric of their layered dresses rustled as they $al'ed, $ith a
hissing li'e sna'es&
"Aeah, $omen& Aou see, the $omen in a palace hear everything3 but you nobles, you act li'e
they $ere doorposts or something&"
0ong spo'e> "And the 2ar' %isterhood of 0e'ate is every$here<"
5al'er spared her a cold glance& "Aeah, $ell, secret societies, they're sort of more useful $hen
they're #ecret, right, babeB"
"5ell, sorry about that, Mr& Montana Maniac at @ing Agamemnon's Court&"
0is eyes flared li'e distant heat/lightning& "(ot no$, Alice<"
"%orry, 5ill&"
%he didn't loo' sorryE she loo'ed li'e she $as lit up, a ma6or glo$ on& 1ell, & $eel li)e &'ve ju#t
#norted "al$ an ounce m,#el$, 5al'er thought& As if he could fight lions bare/handed and ball the
$hole cheerleading s9uad into s9uealing ecstasy and still run the 7ronman triathlon& .ut & )ee it
under control, and dear Alice "ad 3etter do li)e*i#e&
"My $ifeB" the ,ree' croa'ed& "My daug"ter<"
"My lord 'ing should remember that he $as publicly considering sacrificing her for good luc' in
the coming $ar," 5al'er said&
":ut that $as for the good of the realm<" he protested& "-he priests3"
And m, lord )ing #"ould "ave )no*n, 3ut didn't, t"at & *a# t"e one *"o 3ri3ed t"e augur# to #a,
t"at *e couldn't *in unle## ,ou did. 4$ cour#e, t"e idea *a#n't completely mineA Alice #ort o$
#ugge#ted it indirectl,, *"en #"e got t"at "i##, $it a3out $ate. And she got it $rom 1omer&
(o$ the augurs $ould e;plain that the 'ing $as "sacrificing" his daughter by marrying her to the
ne$ commander/in/chief& 7t $as perfect, if he did say so himself&
-here $as an e;change of sign and countersign at the entrance to the hall& 8di'$eos of 7tha'a
came through $ith his hand on his s$ord hilt and a group of his officers behind him&
"Re6oice, shield/brother," he said to 5al'er, after a perfunctory bo$ to Agamemnon&
4ven no$ the Achaean monarch started to s$ell $ith indignation at the discourtesy and opened
his mouth to reprove it, but another glance at the armed men around his throne dissuaded him&
"-he lo$er city is under control," 8di$eos $ent on& "-here $as a little fighting at the barrac's,
but not much&"
5al'er nodded& "%ometimes you can shoot men more effectively $ith gold and silver bullets
than $ith lead," he said& (articularl, i$ ,ou #ee to it t"at t"e, lo#e more t"an t"e, can a$$ord to
*ell-trained dice, he added to himself&
-he 7tha'an $ent on> "7 have field guns commanding all the open spaces and patrols bringing in
all the men on the list&"
A figure in a long robe $aited a pace to the vassal 'ing's rear& "4n'helya$onB" 5al'er
prompted&
0is chief of correspondence cleared his throat& "My lord, the scribes of the palace are in order
and the telegraph office has been secured&" 0e ris'ed a glance at Agamemnon, but the high 'ing
$as still staring in da.ed horror at his $ife and daughter& "-he printed account of your crushing
of the conspiracy and the list of proscribed families is already going out to -iryns, Argos,
Athens, 1ylos, and the other citadels&"
",ood& Carry on3see that normal message traffic continues until $e have guard troops in place
every$here&"
0e turned bac' to the high 'ing& "And $e need some privacy, 8 @ing of Men, to decide ho$ to
safeguard you from future conspiracies&"
<i)e, ,ou marr, me to ,our daug"ter and declare me la*ageta#3 general in c"ie$3o$ all t"e
Ac"aean#, $or #tarter#. And ,ou don't #o muc" a# i## again#t a *all *it"out m, ermi##ion $rom
no* on. 5ou'll ro3a3l, die o$ natural cau#e# 3e$ore ,ou #to 3eing u#e$ul, t"oug", #o don't
#*eat it too muc", dude&
"-reason," Agamemnon $hispered, $hen the onloo'ers $ere gone&
"(ot at all," 5al'er said $ith a charming, boyish grin&
"0o$ notB" the ,ree' said $ith a certain haggard dignity& "Although at least you have not slain
me $ho too' you in $hen you $ere a fugitive and suppliant&"
"8h, 7'd never have you 'illed& Aou're far too useful alive," 5al'er said& "As for the treasonD
$ell, among my birth/people $e have an old saying> 5hy is it that treason never prospersB"
Agamemnon's head $ent bac'& ":ecause the curse of Ceus the Avenger of Right and the $rath
of the @indly 8nes pursues the oath/brea'ing man $ho turns on his lord<" he said, his voice firm
once more&
:ehind 5al'er, 8di'$eos $inced slightly& -he American $ent on cheerfully> "(ot e;actly, 8h
0igh @ing," he said& "5e say that it never prospers, because if it prospersD $hy, none dare call
it treason&"
-he ,ree's stared in appalled silence as his laughter echoed through the great blood/spattered
hall of the 0ouse of Atreus&
1rince @ashtiliash lo$ered his binoculars& "-heir $alls are open," he said eagerly& "As open as
3" he coughedE spea'ing to Ma6or @athryn 0ollard it might not be tactful to say a *oman'#
leg#& "3as the door of an unguarded house&"
Asshur lay on the $est ban' of the -igris& -hat meant something more definite here in northern
Mesopotamia, a$ay from the alluvial plains of @ar/2uniash& 0ere the land $as higher, rolling
steppe $ith copses of scrub oa' in the ravines& 2ust smo'ed off stubble fields, and sunsei $as
thro$ing 1russian blue on the outliers of the Cagros mountains over the river& Ahead, the high
stone $all of the Assyrian capital $as blac' against the first stars on that hori.on, $ith the
triangular crenellations of the $all cutting the s'y li'e 6agged teeth&
More jagged t"an t"e, *ere *"en *e #tarted, @athryn 0ollard thought&
%he loo'ed over from the little hilloc' $here she and the :abylonian commander stood& -he t$o
rifled siege guns $ere further for$ard, on a hill their local allies had fortified $ith earth$or's
under 7slander directionE a couple of the field guns $ere emplaced there too, and a brace of
mortars to command any dead ground $here the Assyrians might mass for an attac'& -he
position $as t$o thousand yards from the $all, nearly ten times the range of any $eapon the
defenders had& As she $atched, a long 6et of reddish fire shot out from the mu..le of one of the
big guns& 7n the gathering dar'ness the shell $as a red dot arching through a long curve of night&
Another vicious red snap mar'ed the spot $here it drove into a section of $all still standing&
-he deep 3oooom of the siege gun merged into the sharper sound the forged/steel pro6ectile
made $hen it struc' stone& 0alf a second later fifteen pounds of gunpo$der e;ploded $ithin the
mortared limestone of the $all, and a section of it collapsed out$ard $ith a roar li'e (iagara& A
man came do$n too, falling out$ard in a tra6ectory that ended on hard, unforgiving ground& %he
$as too far a$ay to hear his scream, but the cheering from the battery came clearly, thin $ith
distance&
Asshur $as a lopsided triangle, $ith a long, curved $all cutting across the base and a sharp bend
of the -igris around the other t$o sides& -hree hundred yards of the middle of the $all $ere
do$n no$, ma'ing a rough ramp that filled the moat and stretched out from the $all li'e a fan&
Assault troops $ouldn't need ladders to $al' into Asshur no$, only sandals and a good sense of
balance& Fires $ere burning here and there $ithin the $alls, and a confused murmur of sound
told of cro$ds in the streets&
-he $alls themselves $ere dar'E if the sentries $ere still there, they'd learned better than to
highlight themselves for bored riflemen& Lamps and bron.e bas'ets of light$ood burned on the
t$o higher hills over to$ard the riverside edge of the city& -he bul'y outlines of .iggurat and
palace sho$ed thereE probably $here @ing -u'ulti/(inurta too' counsel $ith his noblemen and
priests, although 7ntelligence hadn't been able to locate him since the :attle of the 2iyala&
As if to see' him, a red spar' rose into sight from the riverE the flat, distant t"ud came a second
later, and then the crash of impact& -hat $ould be one of the shallo$/draft steamers patrolling
under the river $alls&
&$ Tu)ulti'# t"ere, ro3a3l, no3od, "a# a good *ord to #a, to "im, she thought happily& And &
$eel rett, good a3out t"at&
7n her opinion, @enneth $as a little soft on the enemy& (obody $ho'd seen $hat Assyrians did to
prisoners should $aste much sympathy on them& From $hat she'd heard, they certainly didn't
$hen t"e, $ere top dog&
@ashtiliash's thoughts seemed to be echoing hers, $ith a more personal note&
"7 don't thin' -u'ulti/(inurta $ill press my nec' beneath his foot li'e a galtau-#tool@ he said
happily&
@athryn chuc'led& "(o, 7 thin' he has better uses for his feet right no$," she said&
@ashtiliash's smile gre$ into a laugh& "Aes3he runs $ith them, very 9uic'ly&"
8lad "e'# got a #en#e o$ "umor, she thought, en6oying the prince's $ide $hite smile& -hey'd been
$or'ing very closely since her brother too' off after the $estern remnant of the Assyrian field
army&
"-hat $as a good idea of yours, sending flying columns out to sei.e the royal granaries," she
$ent on& "A lot less strain on our supply lines&"
0e nodded& "A thing one can never remember too often> an army fights rarely but eats every day&
:esides that, $ith more grain than $e need $e can give some out to those displaced by the
fighting3thus they are less li'ely to turn bandit& -hus also, $e have more troops for real fighting
and need detach fe$er to hold do$n the countryside&"
-ven more glad "e'# #mart, she thought& -his divided command could have gotten e;tremely
dicey if @ashtiliash hadn't been both intelligent and fle;ible& Sna# u militar, tid3it# li)e dr,
#and doe# *ater, too& 0e'd been agitating for a copy of %un -.u, after she read him a fe$
passages&
.e#ide#, she mused, /a#" "ere i# ju#t $un to camaign *it"& -he filth, fatigue, and general
disgustingness of life in the field $ere a lot easier if the company $as good&
%he loo'ed over her shoulderE the siege camp $as lighting up there& (ot as many campfires as
there might have been, only about ten thousand of @ashtiliash's :abylonians and four hundred
7slanders3most of the rest $ere strung out of garrison duty, or over $est of the river $ith @en
ma'ing sure the Assyrians up the 4uphrates to$ard Carchemish 'ept running long and hard&
0e noticed the direction of her ga.e& "5ithout your guns, 7 $ould not lay siege $ith so fe$
troops," he said& "5ith them, the Assyrians dare not sortie3they must sit and be pounded&"
%he turned bac', nodding&
As she did, something $ent vvveeee*t through the air her nec' had occupied the instant before&
Refle; sent her diving to the roc'y ground, and a hand around an an'le brought the :abylonian
prince do$n right after herE he didn't have the instinct to hug the dirt as a soldier trained to
firearms did&
(othing $rong $ith his refle;es, though& 0e hit the ground on his forearms and crouched for an
instant& Another flight of arro$s $ent through the spot $here he'd been, and then a do.en
shado$y forms $ere rushing up from the ravine belo$ the hill& -he last fading sunlight glittered
on the bron.e of their $eapons&
"A##ur<" they cried&
"Tu)ulti-6inurta<" using the name of their 'ing for a $ar shout&
@ashtiliash bounced bac' to his feet $ith a springy grace despite forty pounds of armor, his
s$ord flashing red in the firelight as he dre$&
"-o me<" he shouted& "Mardu' con9uers< To me, men o$ /ar-2unia#"<"
-he bodyguards on the rear slope of the hill had been s9uatting, or leaning on their spears& -hey
$asted no time running up to$ard their charges, but the Assyrians $ere closer&
Far too close& @athryn stayed on one 'nee as she dre$ her pistol and coc'ed the hammers by
pushing it against her belt& 2im light, but you could ma'e out the center of mass& 1istol out $ith
left hand under right in the regulation firing position3
%rac)& -he recoil hammered at her $rists despite the leather bracers she $ore& %rac)& A man
dropped abruptlyE another spun and clutched at himself, screaming his agony to the night& (ot
bad shooting in this light, even at ten feet& -he enemy $eren't $earing armor, had probably shed
it for silence and speed&
%he came erect and dre$ the )atana, turning to put her bac' to @ashtiliash's& Mu#t "ave 3een a
#outerrain e7it, she thought3a tunnel under the $all, intended for sieges& %omeone sa$ the
figure in fancy armor, reali.ed they could get $ithin reach, and too' the chance& Fust the sort of
initiative you $anted officers on your o*n side to sho$&
A man came scrambling up the roc'y hill, a narro$ bron.e s$ord in his hand, teeth gleaming in
a face dar'ened by lampblac'& 0e dre$ bac' to chop at her legsE she 'ic'ed him in the face,
hard& -he crunch ran bac' up her leg and clic'ed her o$n teeth together, and she felt the
unpleasant sensation of crumbling bone& -he Assyrian flipped bac'$ard and slid do$n into
dar'ness& A spear probed at her& %he beat it aside $ith the )atana, let the shaft slide up along the
s$ord's circular guard, then slashed at the $ielder's hands& A scream, and something salt and $et
hit her in the face, blinding her for a second&
@athryn tossed her head frantically to clear her eyes& -here $as a 3ang< of metal on metal, and
$hen she could see again @ashtiliash had reached around $ith his shield to give her an instant's
cover, e;posing himself in the process&
"-han's<" she gasped, heaving the suddenly heavy s$ord up into jodan, the overhand position&
-he prince's guard arrived, finally& -here $as a brief, ugly scrimmage in the dar'ness, and then
nobody $as left but the :abylonians&
"Are you $ell, 1rince of the 0ouse of %uccessionB" the commander as'ed an;iously, falling to
his 'nees and pressing his forehead to the ground& "2ismiss me, have me flogged or beheaded,
son of %hagara'ti/%huriash< 7 have failed in my duty<"
"(onsense& 7 commanded you to stay at the bottom of the hill& ,et up, get up3ta'e torches,
search about&"
0e turned to his companion& "Are you $ell, Lady @at'rin/0ollardB" he said&
":lood's not mine," she said, $iping at her faceE it $as turning stic'y& "-han's, by the $ay&"
-he fear hit her then, as it al$ays did3during the action you didn't have time for it& -he thought
of sharp metal sliding into your belly, the feeling of a hamstring being cut, a s$ord blinding you
$ith a stro'e across the eyesD %he s$allo$ed and ignored the cold ripple that turned her s'in to
goose bumps&
"-han' you," he said in 4nglish, startling her a little& -hen he dropped bac' into A''adian&
"(o$ $e have fought side by side&"
-he $ords $ere innocent enough, but something crac'led bet$een them& @athryn's eyes
narro$ed slightly& 9e#u#D she thought, conscious of a tightening belo$ her rib cage& 9e#u#? not
t"e $ir#t time &'ve t"oug"t a3out? o", "ell and damnation, *", notB
"Aes& 7'm for a bath, though& Fighting's messy $or'D perhaps $e could tal' more later&"
0is smile $as $ide and $hite in the dar'ness& "-hat $ould be a good thing&"
Am & 3eing a $oolB @ashtiliash as'ed himself&
0e $ore a hooded cloa', and it had ta'en all his authority to ma'e his guard stay behind $hile he
$al'ed thus in the dar'ened camp&
Am & 3eing a $ool B +omen & "ave in lent,& 4ven a couple along on this campaign, perfectly
satisfactory ones& .ut none *"o ut &#"tar'# $ire in m, 3ell, and loin# #o t"at & cannot #lee even
*"en #ated. 4r *"o tea#e at m, mind even more t"an m, groin&
-he (antu'htar camp $as a little apart from the much larger and more spra$ling :abylonian
one, set up $ith the obsessive neatness that the 1eople of the 4agle brought to all they did&
Approaching it in the dar'ness, he suddenly appreciated ho$ e;posed the cleared field of fire
around its perimeter made him&
"0alt<" called the guards there, bringing up their rifles& From some$here out in the dar'ness he
heard the sound of another being coc'ed, and his blood cooled a little&
"5ho goesB" came the challenge&
"A friend," he ans$ered, conscious of the heavy accent that rode his fe$ $ords of 4nglish&
"Advance and be recogni.ed&"
Recognition $asn't $hat he $anted, but he came close enough to spea' 9uietly& "-he countersign
is 8ett,#3urg," he said&
4ven then, he loo'ed around him as he $al'ed through the campE it $as his first choice to see it
$ithout the pomp and attention that an official visit brought& %ome things $ere the same as he
had seen before, of course& -he orderly layout of streets, al$ays placed the same so that each
camp $as li'e a seal/cylinder stamping of the last, and the absence of stin' and ordure3the
(antu'htar insisted that that caused disease, and certainly they suffered less from it than their
allies, ho$ever much the priests and a#"iur sputtered& -here $ere smells of coo'ing fires, a
$hiff of livestoc'& Ro$s of small 'ha'i/colored tents, some larger ones3officers' 9uarters, on
the other side of a small central s9uare, the infirmary3the pic'et lines for their transport animals
off to one $all& A little don'ey/po$ered mill grinding grainE oh, t"at $ould save on effort3one
reason $hy the (antu'htar didn't need camp/follo$ers&
(one $ere allo$ed in the (antu'htar camp, although he'd heard that some of their troops sought
out harlots among the :abylonians3 there $ere more men than $omen in their ran's& 0e'd
heard that (antu'htar $omen $ere utterly $ithout shame, and glimpses through the tent flaps
sho$ed that to be true enough& %o did his passage past the bathing/placeE that also made him glad
he'd scrubbed $ith e;tra care and anointed himself&
Randy camp rumor also said that (antu'htar $omen $ere as s'illed as night/demons in the arts
of the bedchamber, enough to drive a man to madness or death from sheer pleasure& 0e
s$allo$ed thic'ly& Rumor also said, $ith considerably more evidence, that a man $ho
approached a (antu'htar $oman $rongly and gave offense $as li'ely to be beaten $ithin an
inch of his life or beyond, by her and any of her countryfol' near to hand&
-hat made him pause for half a step& (er"a# & mi#too) /at'rin'# intentB he thought& -hat fro.e
his blood entirelyE he felt himself $ilt& .ut? & am t"e rince< %urely nobody could beat3
& am not #ure o$ t"at& -he (antu'htar $ere insanely oblivious to ran' sometimes&
0e nearly turned on his heel& 6o, he thought, gritting his teeth& 6o. /a#"tilia#" #on o$
S"agara)ti-S"uria#" doe# not #cuttle in $ear& 7f he "ad been $rong, it $ould become obvious
soon enough& %he "ad as'ed him to come and spea' to her& At $orst, they $ould simply spea'&
0e passed more soldiers lying in front of their tents, some $or'ing on leather gear or sharpening
blades, others thro$ing dice or drin'ing $ine and tal'ing& -hat $as almost homeli'eE in some
$ays the (antu'htar $ere indeed men li'e other men&
Around another fire some sat in a circle, playing on flutes and stringed instruments $hile a
$oman danced $ith a motion li'e reeds in the $ind, her face rapt& -he music set the small hairs
along his spine to rippling again& 7t $as the slo$er, 9uieter type of 7slander melodyE some of
their music $as of a hard, snarly sort li'e the pounding of their fire/steam machines, but this $as
even more alien& 0e strained his limited 4nglish and caught $ords>
+"o'll dance *it" t"e Moon t"roug" t"e #"ad, grove#
To #ummon t"e S"ado*# t"ere B
And tie a ri33on on t"eir #"eltering arm#?
:eautiful in its $ay, $ith a plangent sadness& 7t brought to mind $hat little he 'ne$ of the
(antu'htar homeland3a green land of chill rain, fugitive sun, great forests $ithout end, islands
set in icy seas, mystery $ithin mystery&
-he commander's tent $as larger than any others, set in some open ground of its o$n& Lamplight
glo$ed through the canvas, and t$o sentries stood before the entrance, $hich $as shaded by an
e;tended flap that ran to t$o poles and made an a$ning&
",ettysburg," he said to their challenge& And ":ayonet Chamberlain&"
-he rifles lo$ered, and the guards loo'ed at each other& A voice came from $ithin&
"-hat's all right, Corporal& 2ismissed&"
Another e;changed loo', a salute, and the slap of hands on metal as the t$o sentries brought
their rifles to #loe arm#3@ashtiliash had learned the (antu'htar $ords of command $ell, at
least3and marched smartly off&
@ashtiliash s$allo$ed againE his mouth $as dry, and the pulse beat in his nec' until he could
feel it against the edge of his tunic& 0e pushed through and let the flap of the tent fall closed
behind him&
@athryn $as standing by a table that bore papers and documents in the strange flo$ing foreign
script& From the rest of the lamplit gloom his eyes pic'ed out a pallet on the groundsheet of the
tent, hoo's on the central pole of the tent for clothing and $eapons, a chest $ith her name and
ran' stenciled on it in the bloc'ier form of (antu'htar $riting& -hat $as all in an instant, before
his eyes fi;ed on her& %he $as standing grinning at him, dressed in $hat the (antu'htar called a
3at"-ro3e of $hite fabric, her short, sun/faded hair still damp from $ashing& 0er hands $ent to
the cloth tie and unfastened it, letting the robe fall to the floor&
&#"tar, he thought& 7n 0er aspect as the $arrior $ho harried hell to fetch bac' -ammu. from the
realm of the dead& 0er s'in $as pale as ne$ mil' $here the sun had not touched it, her breasts
full and pin'/nippled, and the hair of her body had been shaved3only a dusting of yello$ fu..
across her mound& And in her eyes, something he'd never seen in a $oman's before3a
combination of friendship, a lust to match his o$n, and a total lac' of fear&
%he set hands on her hips and spo'e>
"5ell, $hat are you $aiting for, @ashB Let's see $hat you've got&"
4n'helya$on loo'ed around his office $ith satisfaction& 0e had a s$ivel chair behind a des',
almost li'e a 'ing's throne, and glass $indo$s behind him gave lightE a trio of coal/oil lamps
hung from the ceiling to cast their glo$ in the dar' days of $inter& Filing cabinets around the
$alls held summaries and reports& -here $ere trays and slots for correspondence on the des' and
an abacus set up for the ne$ decimal arithmetic, although he seldom needed to touch it himself
these days3he could hear the clic'ing of many more from the central hall $here cler's sat in
ro$s&
-he Achaean e;/scribe nodded to himself& 0ere $as recorded every estate, its fields and
$or'ers, ho$ much it yielded, $hat its ta;es $ere, $ho held it, and on $hat tenure of service&
0ere $ere mar'ed and listed the roads and bridges and ports3those built and those building and
those planned3the mines and mills and factories, the forests and the floc's and the herds& A
cen#u# told of ho$ many men and $omen and children d$elt in every province of the ,reat
Realm, of $hat class they $ere and $hat property they held, from the 5olf 1eople lords in their
mansions to the ra$est barbarian slave&
"Let any lord or commoner try to evade his duty to the <a*ageta# no*," he said softly, $ith a
deep satisfaction& All his earlier life he had scurried to the commands of tele#tai and e)*etaiA
no$ they moved to "i#, and his 'in's&
A 'noc' at the door, and his cousin's niece came in $ith a stac' of files, each bound $ith a
colored ribbon& %he bent the 'nee and put them on the polished olive $ood of his des', standing
to a$ait his commands&
4n'helya$on fro$ned slightly& 0e $asn't altogether sure that a $oman $or'ing so $as
seemlyD 3ut *"at t"e )ing #a,# i# #eeml, i# #o, he reminded himself&
-here $as another saying abroad in the land, that 5al'er had a captive -itan in his dungeons, a
being $ith a thousand eyes that could see all things and tell its master their secrets&
4n'helya$on's thin lips 9uir'ed, t$itching the pointed salt/and/pepper beard beneath his chin&
& am t"e Titan, he thought& 7t $as as $ell that the ignorant believed so, though& 7t made his $or'
easier&
-he top file $as bound $ith a red ribbon& 0e opened that first3 death sentences, sent to the
palace for approval by 5al'er himself and returned& -hose $ould be for men of some
conse9uence& -$oscore names, and mostly stamped $ith a % for "crucify him&" A fe$ mar'ed ;
for "hold for revie$&" A lesser number still mar'ed ( for "pardon&"
"-hese to the Ministry of 8rder, %ection 8ne," he said, and she curtsied again and hurried a$ay&
-he ne;t $as a report on the e;plosion at the ne$ gunpo$der mill in 1ylos& 0e fro$ned and
dipped his goosefeather pen in the in'$ell, ma'ing a marginal note& -he manager had a thousand
e;cuses for failure, but the smell of incompetence $afted up from the page li'e stale onions from
a slave's dinner pot&
-he Achaean dre$ a fresh sheet of paper& To t"e /ing'# -,e 1ialo#, he began& 5ou are
directed to inve#tigateD
-here $ould be another % stamped by a name soon enough, he decided as he sealed the
document $ith a blob of $a; and a bris' t"um from his personal sigil& 8r if 0is Ma6esty $as
angry enough3and he might be, given the loss of s'illed $or'ers and machines3perhaps the
manager $ould be turned over to the $itch/girls in the blac'/leather mas's, the %isters in $hose
hands $ere the gifts of life and of death3of healing and of agony beyond all mortal 'no$ledge&
-hen at least his blood and pain $ould serve some purpose, appeasing the 2ar' ,oddess and 0er
servant, the Lady of 1ain&
4n'helya$on shuddered slightly, paused until his hand $as steady again, and $rote&
"5hy do you li'e the $oods so much, 1eteB" %ue Chau as'ed&
"5hyB" 1eter ,irenas said& "0mmmD sort of hard to say, %ue&"
%"oon). %"oon)& -he gasping breath of the little steamer echoed bac' from the forest that $alled
the river, $ith a multiply receding slapping sound& 7t $as a cool, bright day, $ith a fresh bree.e
out of the north that made his s'in tingle, li'e fingers caressing his face through the short, dense
ne$ beard& 5aterfo$l lifted thunderously as the steamer's $histle tooted, and an eagle darted
do$n to ta'e one in a thunderclap cloud of feathers&
-hey $ere a fair $ays up the 0udson, Long 7sland and its farms and Fogarty's Cove long behind
them& 4ven the little fueling station on Manhattan $as a fading memory& -he floodplain of the
river here $as fairly narro$, s$amp reeds $ere clamorous $ith duc's and geese& A passenger
pigeon floc' $as flying by, 6ust the tail end of it, li'e blac' clouds drifting past against the sun&
-he trees along the river $ere a blush of ne$ green, the leaves loo'ing sharp/cut against the
t$isted blac' and bro$n and gray of the bar'& -hey $ere also huge, bigger than any he'd seen
around 1rovidence :ase, or even on Long 7sland, some near t$o hundred feet& :eyond them hills
rose, dar' and silent3silent save for the bello$ of an el' or the call of a $olf pac'& A bear stood
$ith its legs in the $aterE it raised its head as the sound of the boat gre$ louder, lips $rin'ling
around a huge flopping fish in its 6a$s&
,irenas loo'ed for$ard& -he side/$heeler $as pushing its load of t$o barges, ma'ing a single
articulated craft $ith the steamer at the rear& 8n the one ahead, 4ddie $as $or'ing $ith their
horses, chec'ing feet, 6o'ing $ith 0enry Miller as he crafted a ne$ bo$& 7n the front barge the
rest of their party $ere napping, or $or'ing on their e9uipment, or 6ust sitting and $atching the
trees go by&
"5hy do 7 li'e the forestB" he said at last& ":ecauseD because it's clean&"
C#ATE! SE'ENTEEN
July, Year ) A.E + April Year ,- A.E.
"5ell, than' you& Aou really 'no$ ho$ to complicate my $or'33ot" of you," 7an Arnstein
muttered as 0ollard and 0ollard finished their reports& "0as your family got a tropism for
pic'ing up royalty, or $hatB"
-he 7slander officers loo'ed slightly guilty& And & $eel li)e &'m 3ac) in San 2iego, ra)ing #ome
"ale## #tudent over t"e coal#, he thought& +ell, not reall,&
2oreen $rin'led her nose and loo'ed at the odorous leather bag lying out by the entrance of the
big tent& 7t no longer held the head of the Assyrian 'ingE t"at $as on a spear in front of @ing
%huriash's tent& -he 7slander mission had settled in, $ith something large enough to be called a
pavilion for the leaders and their office staffE it had started life as a feature of high school sports
days, and the locals found the bright/yello$ nylon impressive as all get/out&
"-hat's not really fair, 7an," she said& "@en didn't a#) to find this Lost 1rincess, or -u'ulti/
(inurta's head either& -hey 6ust sort ofD turned up&"
"Aeah&" @enneth 0ollard ran his hand over his sandy hair, sun/strea'ed no$ after his pursuit up
the 4uphrates valley& "Loo', 7 don't thin' she's 6ust going to fade a$ay, either, one $ay or
another& Raupasha's that sort of girl, if you 'no$ $hat 7 mean&"
Arnstein sighed his e;asperation& "%he's another complicating factor, is $hat she is3particularly
no$ that the ne$s has gotten out that there's a surviving member of the Mitannian royal family
around& And believe me, $e did not $ant another complicating factor at this point& 7t's put some
fire in the belly of the 0urrians and $hat's left of their old aristocracy& More fire is not $hat that
area needs& 4veryone and his uncle has declared independence&"
":adB"
":ad& And the Aramaeans are burning, looting, running off stoc', and generally having a grand
old time& 7f something isn't done about it, the $hole area $ill be trashed and the nomads $ill ta'e
it over by default, andD oh, sit do$n, for ,od's sa'e& And the :abylonians are stretched thin as
it is&"
"-he Assyrian field armies aren't a problem anymore, and $e've got all the cities," @athryn
0ollard pointed out&
2oreen gave her a baleful loo'& "T"e $lie# "ave conquered t"e $l,aer, @ she 9uoted&
7an amplified> "@ing %huriash is en6oying himself, but he's also $orried about getting
overe;tended, and rightly so& 0e can't 'eep his levies under arms past fallE they're needed in the
fields, and $e can't do much about that for a couple of years& 7f his standing army and his nobles'
retainers are tied up holding do$n Assyria, that leaves nothing for anything else& And the $hole
oint of this e;ercise $as to build up :abylon as a base for supporting the 0ittites against
5al'er, you may remember& 7 said #it do*n, Colonel 0ollard&"
0ollard didE he still loo'ed rumpled and stained from his long desert tre'& "Aeah, $ell, tal'ing of
complicating factors, at least 7'm not sleeping $ith Raupasha," he pointed out& "Christ, @at& First
it's $hatshername3"
"%in/ina/mati&"
"%in/ina/mati, and then t"i#&"
@athryn's tanned face flushed& "Loo', Colonel 0ollard, #ir, it isn't an Article %even, so $hat the
hell business is it of anyone but me and @ashB"
2oreen's eyebro$s $ent up further& "@ash, @atB /a#"B"
"0ell, 2oreen, it'd be sort of $eird if 7 $as still calling him Lord 1rince of the 0ouse of
%uccession, $ouldn't itB"
",etting involved $ith a local, and the fuc'ing cro*n rince, for Chrissa'e3" 0ollard began&
@athryn's voice rose& "7 suppose beautiful/local/princess syndrome is supposed to be limited to
men, Colonel, sirB"
0ollard opened his mouth, visibly reconsidered $hat he had been about to say, and $ent on,
"Loo', @at, 7'm not loo'ing for a fight, o'ayB" After a moment she nodded& "7t's 6ustD $ell, hell,
his e;pectations are going to be di$$erent& -his isn't the 7sland, you 'no$& And yeah, there i# a
difference, in aD $hat's the $ordD"
"1atriarchal," 2oreen supplied&
"D patriarchal setup li'e this&"
"7've noticed," @athryn 0ollard said dryly& "7've already turned do$n an offer to be the leading
light of his harem&"
2oreen stifled a chuc'le& "0o$ did he ta'e itB"
"8ffered to ma'e me 9ueen," she said& "Lady of the Land, if you $ant a literal translation&"
0ollard shaped a silent $histle& 7an put an elbo$ on his des' and dropped his face into his hand&
"8h, and $on't that put the cat among the pigeons3don't you reali.e that involves the succession
to the throne, hereB"
@athryn snorted& "7 turned that do$n, too, of course," she said bris'ly& 0er face softened for a
moment& "-hough 7 must admit, 7 hated to do it, he $as trying reall, hardD 7 did come bac'
$ith a counteroffer&"
"5hatB" 7an as'ed&
"5ell, 7 said that if he'd ma'e me 9ueen, co/ruler, and general of his armies, and guarantee the
succession to any children $e had, and have them educated 7slander/style, and a bunch of other
stuff, 7'd seriously consider it& T"at floored him&"
7an cleared his throat& "%o you're brea'ing it offB"
@athryn loo'ed up, her blue eyes narro$ing& "(o, 7 am not, Councilor&" %he gestured helplessly&
"7 really li)e the guy, you see& 7t's not 6ust that he's gorgeous and has enough animal magnetism
to po$er a steamboat& 0e's also smart, and has a sense of humor, andD and it's mutual& 5e've
agreed to see ho$ things turn out&"
9e#u#, 7an $himpered to himself& 0eavily> "Ma6or 0ollard, you're a free citi.en of (antuc'et&"
%he $inced at thatE she $as also an officer of the Republic's armed forces, and a highly placed
one at that& Rights came balanced $ith obligations&
7an loo'ed out the turned/bac' flaps of the tent, past the sentries and the ordered buff/colored
tent to$n of the Marine camp& -he -manciator $as circling over the city of Asshur, loo'ing
fairly large even at this distance& As he $atched, a string of blac' dots tumbled a$ay beneath it
and the dirigible bounced up$ard as the $eight left it& -he bombs fell on their long, arching
tra6ectories, and columns of blac' gouted up$ard& 0e could smell the smo'e of burning from
hereE the gunboats on the -igris $ere 'eeping the defenders limited to $hat $ater they could
dra$ from $ells and cisterns inside the battered $alls, leaving little for fighting the bla.es&
"@ing %huriash has a $hole bunch of delegations from the principal cities and tribes and $hatnot
of Assyria here under safe conduct," he said, changing the sub6ect slightly& "5e're running a
bluff& 7f $e can convince them that they "ave to give up, they $illD and that'll get us out of a
very deep hole& 7f anyone can pull it off here, %huriash can&"
"7f," 2oreen said& "-he Assyrians are pigs, but they're stubborn, too&"
"%pea' of the devil," 0ollard said, as trumpets sounded from the direction of the camp gate&
"8h, he's not a bad sortD of cunning old devil," 2oreen said& "7'm going to go intervie$ our
Flo$er of the 2esert, o'ayB"
":less you, 2oreen," 7an said& ",et me as complete a report as you can, soonest&"
-he huge/voiced herald began bello$ing %hagara'ti/%huriash's titles as the chariots approached&
-he 'ing sprang to the ground, $aved a fly $his' in ans$er to the sentries' present/arms, and
came grinning into the main chamber in a bla.e of embroidery, civet/cat mus', and glittering
gold appli9ue& 1rince @ashtiliash follo$ed him, loo'ing as subdued as his eagle features $ere
capable of, and a trail of generals, priests, and officials follo$ed& A brace of Assyrians came
after them, richly dressed in long go$ns and tasseled $raparound upper garments, but $ith rope
halters around their nec's in symbol of submission&
-he 7slander officers rose and saluted smartlyE 7an came to his feet and bo$ed&
"Mardu' and (inurta and the great gods my masters have blessed our arms," %huriash said,
grinning li'e a $olf& "-he great men of Asshur3the turtanu, the ra3 #"aqe, the nagir e)alli,
even the #u)allu dannu3have come to see that the gods have given victory to the men of @ar/
2uniash&"
%ommander in c"ie$, c"ie$ cu3earer, alace "erald, and great c"ancellor, 7an thought,
impressed behind an impassive face&
"7 have brought them here that you, our ally, may ta'e their surrender as $ell3"
"Aour pardon, 8 @ing," 7an said& "Aour city of Asshur is getting damaged unnecessarily, then&"
0e duc'ed through to the communications room& "Call off the bombing<"
"%trange," Raupasha said&
%he put the cup of date $ine before 2oreen before she $ent to stand in the door$ay of her tent
and loo' do$n on the smoldering city of Asshur& -he Mitannian's eyes $ere red, as if she had
$ept privately, but she 'ept an iron calm before the stranger&
"5hat is strangeB" 2oreen replied slo$lyE they $ere spea'ing A''adian3not the native
language of either3and having a little mutual trouble $ith each other's accents&
"-hat all my life 7 have dreamed of seeing Asshur laid $asteD and no$ that 7 see it, it brings me
less 6oy than 7 had a$aited&"
8ro*ing u, 2oreen thought&
From $hat she'd been able to gather, Raupasha had been raised in a little out/of/the/$ay hamlet,
on tales of vanished glory from her foster parents& 5ell educated, by local standardsE she could
read and $rite in the cuneiform system, and spo'e four languages3her native 0urrian,
A''adian, 0ittite, +garitic3and a bit of $hat seemed to be a very archaic form of %ans'rit& 7an's
scholarly ears had pric'ed up at that& 0e $as $or'ing on a history of the 7ndo/4uropean
languages in his spare time& 0e $ould be $or'ing even harder on it if there $ere some $ay of
publishing in the vanished $orld uptime& (ot many people on the 7sland $ere interested&
"8f course, 7 never dreamed that $i.ard/fol' from beyond the $orld $ould bring Asshur to its
'nees," Raupasha said& "7 am forever grateful to you 1eople of the 4agle, and to the hero/$arrior
@enneth/0ollard3 until 7 sa$ his face, 7 e;pected to die for 'illing the Assyrian pig& 7 $as
$illing, yesE 7 had made my peace $ith it& :ut it is hard to die and 'no$ that your family's blood
dies $ith you&"
"7 hope you've been treated $ell," 2oreen said cautiously& 8oll,, ,ou've got to 3e care$ul *it"
local#& 4specially an unfamiliar breed& 8ot to remem3er t"e,'re a# di$$erent $rom eac" ot"er a#
t"e, are $rom u#&
Raupasha crossed to a canvas folding chair, $al'ing $ith a dancer's stride as the hem of the long
embroidered robe someone had dug up for her flared around her an'les& %he sat, cat/graceful,
and curled her feet up beneath her&
"Iery $ell, than' you," she replied& "Lord @enn'et treated me as his o$n 'ins$oman3not $hat
7 e;pected, traveling alone among foreign soldiers& -hey brought as much as possible from my
home, so 7 have some little store of goods here&"
%he gestured to$ard a bo$l on a table, an elegant burnished shape of blac' ceramic, and her full
red lips moved in a $ry grimace&
8ood t"ing /en'# a gentleman, 2oreen thought& T"at'# quite a mantra. ;emind# me o$
Madonna, a$ter #"e got t"e er#onal trainer&
Raupasha $ent on> "%o 7 have a do$ry, of sorts& 7 may marry some tradesman of @ar/2uniash, 7
suppose, since 7 am still virginD although 7 have no living 'in&"
(oor )id, 2oreen thought& 2oing t"e #ti$$-uer-li 3it, 3ut #"e'# "urting& -he local value system
meant she had to $ant to avenge her blood first and foremost, but the foster parents $ere the
ones $ho'd raised her, and t"e,'d been 'illed in front of her eyes& At some level she had to blame
herself for that, fair or not&
"5ell, you're under the Republic's protection," 2oreen said& &an mig"t not "ave *anted /en to
o$$er it, 3ut it'# irrevoca3le& "5e could find you something different&"
"1erhaps carrying one of yourD rifles, are they calledB" A chuc'le& "My people are $arriors, but
that is something 7 hadn't considered&"
0er eyes $ent unfocused for a moment and she chanted softly& 7t $as definitely poetry, not
rhyming but alliterative& 2oreen's ears pric'ed upE her mother had been Lithuanian, and she'd
found that e;tremely conservative :altic tongue helpful in learning the languages of the 7raiina
and the other charioteer tribes in Alba in this millennium& -his language had a haunting
familiarity from both&
" '8urD family of $arriors'B" she said&
Raupasha's head came up& "7n A''adian it $ould beD" %he paused for a second, her lips moving
silently& "As nearly as 7 can put it3"
4ur race o$ "eroe# t"oug" t"e, 3e Marut#
&# ever victoriou# in reaing o$ men
S*i$t t"eir a##age in 3rig"tne## t"e 3rig"te#t
-qual in 3eaut,, unequaled in mig"t.
%he shrugged& "-hat is in the old tongue, though, the ariamannu& 4ven in the great days of
Mitanni fe$ spo'e it& My foster fatherD" 0er voice cho'ed off for an instant, and she dre$ a
deep breath& "My foster father brought a fe$ things $ritten in it from 5ashshu'anni, our
capital&"
&an *ill 3e in "i#torian'# #event" "eaven, until *e get "im 3ac) to ractical matter#, 2oreen
thought& 1erhaps someday he'd have the opportunity to trace the migrations that brought
Raupasha's ancestors from the steppes of @a.a'hstan to be 'ings among the 0urrians at the
head$aters of the @habur& %pea'ing of $hichD
"5e're actually rather concerned about the Rivers district," 2oreen said&
"(o$ it is free of the yo'e of Asshur," Raupasha said, nodding to$ard the flap of the tent $ith
grim pleasure&
"5ell, yes, but Chaos is 'ing there right no$& And $e need the area secured& 0as anyone told
you about 5illiam 5al'erB"
"-he rebel against your rulerB Aes, a little& 0e seems a dangerous man&"
"-hat's far too mild& 0e ma'es the Assyrians loo' li'eD li'e little lambs& 0e's not all that far
a$ay, either&"
-he Mitannian nodded& "8n the other side of the 0ittite realm, yes," she said& "Lord @enn'et told
me& And his $ay $ill be made easier, no$ that the 0ittites are at $ar among themselves&"
%he rang a small bell, and a maidservant3probably hired locally from among the Assyrian
refugees3brought in a tray $ith bread, cheese, and dried fruits, and the local grape $ine plus a
carafe of $ater& Raupasha poured and mi;ed herself, before she noticed 2oreen's $ide eyes&
"Aou did not 'no$B" she said& "Ah, $ell, in the north$est $e had more traffic from 0atti/land&
Aes, the lord @urunta of -arhuntassa has thro$n off allegiance to ,reat @ing -udhaliya in
0attusas&"
4", 9e#u#, 2oreen thought& %he frantically s'immed through the reference material in her mind&
Tud"ali,a'# #uo#ed to reign $or anot"er t"irt, ,ear#3t"at *a# *ell atte#ted. /urunta,
/urunta? *ait, t"at *a# one o$ Tud"ali,a'# #uorter#3t"ere *a# t"at treat, 3et*een t"em.
+ait a minute. Tar"unta##a i# #out"*e#t o$ 1attu#a#, a3out *"ere /on,a *ould 3e in Tur)e, in
t"e t*entiet", t"at'# nearer to t"e coa#t and t"e 8ree)#, and 3, no* +al)er mu#t "ave made
#ome #u3#tantial *ave# in t"at area, u#etting trade attern# i$ not"ing el#e, ma,3e mi7ing in t"e
olitic#, #o3
"8h, #"it@ she muttered&
-hey'd 'no$n that eventually events here $ould stop follo$ing the history boo's& (ot only
deliberate interventions, but butterfly/$ing chaotic stuffE a glass 6ug $ould get traded hand to
hand from 2enmar' to 1oland and someone $ouldn't be born because 2ad $as s$illing mead
out of his ne$ possession instead of doing the reproductive thing at the precise scheduled
moment& 7t loo'ed li'e that had happened here even if 5al'er hadn't deliberately set out to split
the 0ittite realm& %o no$ they'd lost another edge3the boo's $ere vague and full of gaps this
far bac', and sometimes 6ust plain $rong, but they'd been a great help nonetheless&
5ith a $renching effort she pulled her mind bac' to the matters at hand& &'ll tell &an *"en "e'#
t"roug" *it" /ing S"uria#" $or toda,, and *e'll go over it. Mean*"ile, t"e nort"*e#t i# more
imortant t"an ever.
"-han' you," she $ent on& "-hat's very important ne$s& And $e'd li'e your opinions on $hat to
do about your homeland&"
"MitanniB" Raupasha said& "5ill the 'ing of @ar/2uniash, your ally, not add it to his domains
along $ith the rest of Asshur's realmB"
"5ell, yes, but it's a matter of "o*& ,arrisoning Assyria $ill be hard enough, even $ith our help&
-he (aharim, the Rivers, it's further a$ay but right on the road to the 0ittites& 5e need to get it
pacified, and ideally $e'd li'e it to contribute troops and supplies for the $ar against 5al'erD"
Raupasha brightened& "Aou as' me, a girlB" she said&
"Raupasha, in case you hadn't noticed, &'m a girl," 2oreen said& "5eD 1eople of the 4agle don't
thin' that a $oman is necessarily less than a man& And you are of the old Mitannian royal
family&"
"A fallen house, and myself a fugitive in hiding all my life&"
":ut you must have had contacts3men $ho visited your foster father&"
A long silence& -hen> "7 o$e you a great debt& 5hat 7 'no$, 7 $ill tell& %ome did visitE not every
mariannu family $as slain or deported by the Assyrians3and of those $ho $ere led a$ay
captive to Asshur, some $ill $ish to return&"
",ood," 2oreen said& "5e have a saying> '@no$ledge is po$er&' "
@<udlul 3el nemeqi.@
-he voice of the priest rose in a chant, as the a#"iu prepared his po$ders and bits of bone&
Clemens found himself translating automatically>
<et me rai#e t"e <ord o$ +i#dom
!or a demon "a# ut on m, 3od, $or a garmentA
<i)e a net, #lee "a# #*ooed do*n uon me.
M, e,e# are oen 3ut do not #eeA
M, ear# are oen 3ut do not "earA
6um3ne## "a# overcome m, entire 3od,?
-he 7slander doctor grimaced at the thic' smell of the :abylonian e9uivalent of hospital tents,
the stin' of the li9uid feces that soa'ed the ground under most of the men lying in ro$s in the
scanty shade& Flies bu..ed, clustering thic'ly on the filth, and on eyes and mouths& And carr,ing
t"e 3acteria, *"atever it i#, to t"e $ood and *ater o$ ever,one el#e& %tretcher bearers carried
bodies a$ay, ragged men $illing to incur the pollution of touching a corpse for the sa'e of a
bo$l of barley gruel& -he priest continued his chant>
M, lim3# are #la,ed and lie a*r,.
& #ent t"e nig"t# on m, litter li)e an o7,
& *allo*ed in m, e7crement li)e a #"ee
T"e e7orci#t #"ied a*a, $rom m, #,mtom#.
And t"e "aru#e7 con$u#ed m, omen#.
-hen he bro'e off, seeing the American $atching himE then his eyes $ent $ide at the sight of
1rince @ashtiliash, and he made a prostration& 0is duc' of the head to Clemens after he rose $as
no more than barely polite&
"0onored guest," he said coldly $hen he had arisen& 0is eyes traveled to A..u/ena beside himE
she $as still in :abylonian dress& "Although this is scarcely the place to bring a harlot&"
"-his is my assistant," Clemens said, his voice e9ually chill& 7t $as a natural enough assumption
for a local to ma'e of a $oman unescorted in a $ar camp& (atural enoughD once& "A..u/ena
daughter of Mutu/0ad'i, a#u of the 'ing's household& 5e have come to see the men 7 set aside
yesterday& -he prince comes $ith me&"
"7 see&" -he priest's eyes $ere dar' pools of bitterness& "7t is not $ell that men should be denied
care& :ut comeE the 'ing's $ord cannot be denied&"
A do.en men had been laid off in one corner of the enclosureE Clemens had had a couple of
Marines stationed there, along $ith the local orderlies he'd trained, to see that his instructions
$eren't disregarded as soon as he $as out of sight& -here $ere ten sic' men there no$&
"-he other t$oB"
"2ead," the priest replied& "As might be e;pected, $ith the demons of their fevers allo$ed to
rage unchec'ed&"
An orderly lifted one of the men $ith an arm under his shoulders, 'eeping a glass at his lips until
he had s$allo$ed all of its contentsE then he made a chec' mar' beside a name on a list and $ent
on to the ne;t&
Clemens nodded& "And the t$elve treated according to your customB" he as'ed&
-he priest shrugged& "-he demons are strong& %even have died, and the others $ea'en&"
"Aes," Clemens said& "8f the t$elve treated according to ourD ritesD ten live& 8f those treated
by yours, five live& 7n another day, these ten $ill be alive& 0o$ many of yoursB"
-he priest made as if to spit on the ground& "-hat means nothing< -he demons3"
"-he fever demons seem to fear our rituals more than your gods," Clemens said&
":lasphemer<" the priest began&
@ashtiliash cut in> "%ilence<"
-he priest bo$ed his head& "7 am more ta'en $ith deeds than $ords," the heir said bluntly& "A
man $ho shits himself to death is as much lost to my host as a man $ith a spear through his
belly& 7f you $ill not listen, another $ill& ,o, and thin' on this&"
-o Clemens> "Aou spo'e the truth, and you have sho$n it by your deeds& -he decree shall be
prepared&"
Clemens and A..u/ena bo$ed as @ashtiliash and his guardsmen left& 5hen they had gone, she
spo'e&
"5hat causes this diseaseB" she said& -he corpsmen lifted another man off his fouled pallet and
replaced it $ith a fresh stretch of $oven stra$, cleaning him gently& "More of the 3acteria0@
"Aes," he said& ":ut the actual cause of death is lac' of $aterE too much runs out $ith the
diarrhea and ta'es $ith it salts from the body&"
"As if a man $ere to s$eat in the sun of summer and not drin'," A..u/ena said thoughtfully&
"Aes, that $ill bring on the fever and delirium, as $ell& %uch a man $ill die&"
"Iery good<" Clemens said&
"%o," she said, "the cure is to drin' much $aterB"
"7t isn't a cure," Clemens replied& ":ut it 'eeps him alive until his body can 'ill the agent of the
disease naturally and then heal itself& 7t must be ure $ater3boiled or distilled3$ith salt and
honey or #ugar@3A''adian had no $ord for that3"in certain e;act proportions& -hese replace
$hat the body has lost& 5e don't have enough anti3iotic# to treat so many men, but this $ill
$or'& 4specially if the treatment begins before the disease ta'es strong hold&"
A..u/ena nodded, her big/nosed face somber, hands folded in the sleeves of her robe& "From bad
$aterB" she said softly& "-hat e;plains muchE $hy you (antu'htar so hate the touch of
e;crementD 7t $as so my father died&"
"AhD 7'm sorry&"
%he shoo' her head& "-hat does not matter& 5hat matters is ho$ $e may treat these others&" A
toss of her head indicated the field of groaning victims& "-he priest of 7nnana $ill not aid you,
even if the prince commands3not $illingly, and not 9uic'ly, and he $ill in6ure you by stealth if
he may& 7 see it in his eyes&"
"Right," Clemens said, frustration in his tone& 0e ran a hand through his short bro$n hair& "7
don't 'no$ *"at the hell 7'm going to do& -here aren't enough medics or corpsmen $ith the
regiment, or $ith the $hole e;pedition& And 7 can't train them that fastD"
"Aou can train them for this one thing," A..u/ena said, nodding her head to$ard the fire, $here
a huge pot of $ater boiled& "Aou cannot train them to care for the sic' as $ell as you3$e3
$ould, but that is not essential here, noB"
"(o," Clemens said& "5hat $e need to do is stop this epidemic before it melts the army of @ar/
2uniash li'e sno$ in :abylon&"
"-hen ma'e up the medicine/$ater before, and have them boil it& :oiling $ater is not difficult&
For the rest, nursing is $hat is re9uired, noB 5ashing the men, 'eeping a$ay fliesD" %he
fro$ned& "For that, 7 thin' you should recruit among the $omen $ho follo$ the camp& -hey do
much of the $ashing and repairing of clothing already&"
.rig"t lad,, Clemens thought& Ver, 3rig"t&
-here $ere those, bac' on the 7sland, $ho said that it $ould have been better for the locals if
(antuc'et had stayed isolated, that every action $ould change the people $hose lives they
touched, and in $ays beyond prediction or control&
"Aes, it $ill," Clemens murmured& "And 7 don't mind that at all&"
Ranger 1eter ,irenas $atched the s'y, folding his arms behind his head and smiling at the
clouds& -he e;pedition $as in $hat the maps said $as central Missouri, but this place had never
been mapped& 0e rested his head on a natural pillo$ of dropseed, the clump/grass that gro$s in
the middle of the long s$ales of the tallgrass country& -he grasses rustled and closed over his
head, and he might have been alone save for %ue Chau sitting at his feet3loo'ing, he thought, as
pretty as the $ildflo$ers as she sat in only her deers'in breechclout, combing her long blac' hair
and che$ing on a stra$&
-he dropseed beneath him $as springy and firm, the intervals bet$een the hassoc's heavily
matted $ith dried grass to ma'e a perfect hammoc'& -he soil beneath that $as prairie loam that
$as li'e nothing he'd ever seen before3no clods or stic's or stones at all& 0e slitted his eyes and
en6oyed the feel of the $ind caressing his s$eaty s'in& A day li'e this, you could remember the
crossing of the 8hio3 the horse screaming as the raft overset, and the $hite $ater trying to
topple it3$ithout fear& 8r the time they'd nearly lost 4ddie to a cottonmouth bite, his body
s$elling, his mind raving, the t$o/$ee' hiatus $hen they stopped to nurse him&
Long ago, no$E it seemed long ago and far a$ay& 6o* he could smell el' strips smo'ing over a
slo$ green fire and the liver roasting for dinner& 0e sa$ dragonflies darting off belo$ to the
slough, a s9uadron of monarch butterflies flitting above the tall grassE he could hear a bobolin''s
bubbling song as it hung in the air t$enty feet up, until that red/$inged ha$' silenced it by
floating past far overhead& :ut the ha$' $as too high to be hunting, and too late to be migrating&
"%oaring6ustforthe hell of it," 1ete said& "0e doesn't fool me& 0e loo's busy, but he's loafing
today, 6ust li'e us&"
0igh above the ha$' $ere steady ran's of clouds, coasting on the $esterly $inds, dragging a
shado$ across the earth every no$ and then& 0e stood, only his head and shoulders above the
grass, and $atched the shado$ cross the huge, rolling landscape, the grass rippling beneath it
li'e $aves on the sea&
-ven more t"an t"e #ea, he thought& 7t too' some $ind to move the sea, but the tall grasses
bo$ed and moved to the slightest breath of it, out to the edge of sight& -hey $ere on a slight rise,
$ell into the lo$lands that stretched out to the line of cotton$oods and poplar along the levees of
the Missouri River& From here he could see half a do.en other ha$'s, and a herd of buffalo along
the edge of the $oods, birds misting up from the $ater far a$ay li'e blac' smo'eD
& love t"e $ore#t, he thought& 0e did3the endless silences of it, the multitudinous life from
rotting log to forest cro$n& .ut t"i#, it $eel# li)e t"ere'# no end to t"e *orld&
-he others $ere not far a$ay, lying around a tree3a fire/gnarled oa'3that had rooted itself
$here the ground rose a little more steeply& -hat had provided the fire$ood they needed to
smo'e the el' meat and coo' dinner3el'/hump stea's, liver, 'idneys, marro$ and $ild greens&
0enry Morris had had to bully some of the others to eat enough organ meat, saying it $as the
only $ay to get all their vitamins $hen there $as little green food&
-he fire $as built on pieces of overturned 'nife/cut sodE the rest of their gear rested under
groundsheets or $as stac'ed against the tree& 0obbled, the horses drifted and gra.ed3this $as
certainly horse heaven, although no$ and then one of their three stallions $ould thro$ up its
head and snort, at one of its o$n 'ind or at a scent of predator drifting do$n the $ind& Mostly
they hung around $ith their o$n group of pac'horse mares, most of $hich $ere pregnant by
no$3Alban ponies $ere tough enough to ta'e that sort of treatment& 1er's lay gro$ling softly
in pleasure as he gna$ed at a gristly lump of el' shoulder, $hile the e;pedition's other dogs 'ept
a decent, deferential distance&
"(ot going to be this nice come $inter," %ue said behind him&
0e chuc'led& "5ell, $e're ma'ing reasonable time," he said& "7t isn't a race& 7f $e have to find a
place to $inter over, $e $ill&"
2e''omosu came in out of the grasses, hand in hand $ith Fadit$ara the Fiernan& 0e $as grinned
broadly at 1ete and began to say something3he' d gotten more cheerful as they got further from
home3 $hen his face $ent 9uiet&
"5hat's thatB" he said, pointing&
2amn good e,e#, ,irenas thought, unslinging his binoculars from the stub branch $here the case
hung on& 7t $as 6ust to$nie myth that 7ndians had better visionE they did tend to notice more of
$hat they sa$ than a to$nie, but then, living in to$n you had to pull in your senses or go nuts&
"2amn," he said softly& 4veryone $as up no$, loo'ing along $ith him& "5ell, 7 guess $e 'no$
$here those bodies $ere coming from&"
-he last t$o $ee's, they'd seen five3hard to be absolutely sure, since the parts $ere so
scattered& 7n the binoculars he sa$ the end of a chase that had probably started a good long time
ago& A group of $omen and children, thirty or so, bro'e out of a line of trees and ran up$ard into
the grass& :ehind them $ere men, ten or so if you counted teenagers& -hey $ore leggings and
tunicsE he could see 9uill decorations, and bones and feathers $oven into long braids& -hey
carried spears, or darts set into atlatls, and they $al'ed bac'$ard in a $ide arc bet$een their
$omen and children and $hatever $as pursuing them&
-hen a dart arced out to$ard them, and faint and far came a yelping li'e $olves& -he men $ho
boiled out of the riverside thic'ets in pursuit $ere thirty or more, all in their prime& -heir na'ed
torsos $ere painted $ith bars and circles of yello$ and red, their hair dra$n up in top'nots
through hide rings, their faces covered $ith more slashes of color&
-he 7slanders loo'ed at each other& "5e'd better decide pretty 9uic'," ,irenas said&
"0ell, doesn't loo' li'e a fair fight," 4ddie said&
+ell, & )no* *"at -ddie'# t"in)ing. 1e *ant# to get laid and none o$ t"e girl# *ill o3lige rig"t
no*, and "e $igure# #ome o$ t"o#e tri3e#-*omen *ill 3e grate$ul. (lu# "e li)e# to $ig"t.
Morris hesitated& "5e don't 'no$ the rights or $rongs of it," he said&
1enr, doe#n't li)e to ma)e a deci#ion *it"out t"in)ing it over $or a *ee). And "e'# no co*ard,
3ut "e "ate# to )ill3more t"an t"e re#t o$ u#, t"at i#&
"7 'no$ the $rongs of doing $hat they did to that 'id $e found," %ue said& "0e couldn't have
been more than eight or nine, and he probably lived for days after they left him li'e that&"
8ood oint, Sue, 1ete ,irenas thought and nodded& "7f it happens, it happens," he said& "7f it
happens $here 7 can do something about it, it's my business& 7 say $e go run those guys off& Any
ob6ectionsB"
2e''omosu shrugged& "%houldn't be too hard," he said&
"Mount up, then&"
-heir riding horses $ere $ell enough trained to come to the call by no$& ,irenas paused long
enough to tie his hair bac' and pull on buc's'in trousers, as $ell as snatch up his rifle, po$der
horn, and a bandolier&
"Fadit$ara, you loo' after the camp," he said, and then vaulted into the saddle& "-he rest of you,
spread out and loo' lively&"
-he five of them $ent do$n the slope at a canterE he noticed out of the corner of his eye that
Morris had snatched up bo$ and 9uiver instead of his rifle& 8od damn, he thought& ,ranted,
Morris $as actually pretty good $ith the thing, but it still $asn't a 5estley/Richards& 6o time $or
argument# no*&
-he deadly game belo$ had come near to its endE the hunters stal'ed through the high grass in
bands, the better to s$arm over a single enemy& -he screaming alerted the (antuc'eters to one
suchE t$o of the painted men $ith top'nots $ere holding do$n a third of the braids/and/feathers
people, sa$ing at bits of him $ith flint 'nives&
"2e''omosu," ,irenas said& "Aou and me&"
-he t$o victors heard that and the thud of hoovesE they $heeled around& 8ne snatched for the
stone/headed hatchet in his belt and nearly had it out before the bullet punched into his chest& 0e
$ent bac' on his heels and fell beside his victim, their blood mingling on the thic' sod& -he
other turned and ranE 2e''omosu thumped heels against his horse, riding close before he
dropped reins on its nec', sighted carefully, and fired&
%rac)& -he tall grass s$ayed bac' and mercifully hid $hat fell to the ground&
"Let's go<" ,irenas heeled his mountE the 7slanders galloped upslope, $here the last fe$ of the
braids/and/feathers men had been desperately fighting off their attac'ers&
4veryone fro.e at the crac' of the rifles, and faces $ent slac' $ith fear at the sight of creatures
li'e giant deer, $ith humans gro$ing out of their bac's& ,irenas pushed his horse for$ard,
separating the combatants, then $heeled to face the top'not/and/paint men& -hey gave bac'
before the line of five horses, snarling& 8ne suddenly pointed and spo'e in some fast/rising,
slo$/falling language $hile the t$o 7slanders loaded and primed and pulled bac' the hammers of
their rifles&
"-hin' he figured out $e're not part of the horses," ,irenas said& 0e raised his rifle and s9uee.ed
his 'nees& 0is $ell/trained horse fro.e& "(o$, if 7 crease his top'not, that'll scare 'em& And if 7
blo$ his brains out, that'll scare 'em too&"
:efore he could s9uee.e the trigger, 0enry Morris stood in the stirrups, dre$ his horn/bac'ed
bo$ to the ear and shot& -he arro$ landed at the tal'ative $arrior's feet, $ith a #"un) sound as it
buried half its length in the soft prairie soil&
Another fro.en silenceE ,irenas chanced a loo' over his shoulder, and sa$ the five remaining
men and boys staring at him, or 6ust panting and letting s$eat and the blood of their $ounds run
do$n their bodies&
0e turned bac'E the tal'ative one had pulled the arro$ out of the ground, tested the steel head on
his thumb& 0e spo'e again& An arro$ $as a lot more li'e an atlatl dart than a bullet $as&
8oddammit, 1enr,, t"at *a# a bad idea&
"-hey're going to rush us," ,irenas said flatly, aloud&
-he tal'ative $arrior turned half a$ay, as if to give the e;pedition's leader the lie, then $hirled&
-he hatchet left his hand, $hirred through the air, struc' Morris's horse on the nose& -he beast
$hinnied in shrill pain, put its head do$n, and buc'ed& -he tall redhead $ent flying $ith a
startled yell, and the top'not men attac'ed&
",oddammit, 0enry<" ,irenas shouted& 7t seemed an appropriate $ar cry for this particular fight&
0e shot, and the $arrior folded around his gut $ith an oooo$$& ,irenas ignored him, since he
$ouldn't be getting up again& Another one $as running for$ard to spear Morris on the ground,
and there $as no time to reload& 1ete's horse bounded for$ard3it $as half 9uarter horse and had
great acceleration3and he thre$ himself out of the saddle, landing bet$een the spearman's
shoulder blades& -he impact 'noc'ed the breath out of both of them, but the 7slander $as
e;pecting ft& 0e came up first, slammed the edge of his hand into the bac' of the 7ndian's nec',
grabbed chin and hair and t$isted hard& -here $as a green/stic' crac), and the man $ent limp&
,irenas rose, $hipped out his bo$ie, and loo'ed around& -he fight $as overE the top'not
$arriors $ere running3the t$enty or so left alive3$ith the three mounted 7slanders after them&
1uffs of smo'e rose from their rifles, and no$ and then a man $ould go do$n& ,irenas nodded,
his breathing slo$ing, the diamond focus of combat opening out& -hey couldn't afford to have
the top'not people dogging their trac's in blood/feud mode& ,ood hunters could outrun horses,
over days or $ee's&
0e sheathed the 'nife, found his rifle and loaded, and $histled up his horse, all the time loo'ing
at the braids/and/feathers $arriors& -here $ere five left on their feet> t$o men in their prime, an
older one $ith a $rin'led face and $hite threads in his blac' hair3call him forty or so3and a
teenager& -he $omen and children $ere still up on the rise, but beginning to tal'& -he men laid
do$n their $eapons and held up their hands to$ard the 7slanderE ,irenas nodded, made as many
as he could remember of the peace gestures39uite different3 of the tribes they'd met, and
moved to his in6ured comrade&
Morris $as semiconscious, stirring and moaning a little& ,irenas 'nelt by his side and opened
one eye, then the other& Mild concu##ion, he thought& -he leg $asn't ripped or bleeding, but
Morris stirred and screamed as the ranger's strong hands manipulated it& 4", great, our doctor'#
injured&
A$areness returned to the green eyes& "Aou $ith us, 0enryB" ,irenas as'ed&
"%/s/sure& Ah, Christ&"
"-hat arro$ $as a bad idea, 0enry&"
"AeahD Fesus, my leg<"
":ro'en&"
-he older man slo$ly, cautiously felt it himself& "7'll say," he said& "-$o places& %hould heal if
it's splinted& Loo', 1ete, 7'm sorryE 7 scre$ed up& Aou've got a better sense of these things than 7
do& 5on't happen again&"
"8'ay, man, no problem," ,irenas said, his anger guttering a$ay& "5hat about the legB"
"7t'll heal&" Morris hesitated& "7'm afraid it's going to ta'e a $hile, multiple fracture li'e this&"
"0o$ longB"
"AhD t$o months& 1ossibly three& 8f course, 7 could die," he $ent on, avoiding ,irenas's eyes&
-he ranger came to his feet, snorting disgust& -he others rode bac',
%ue 9uiet, 2e''omosu impassive, 4ddie Iergera;sson $hooping and $aving a couple of bloody
scalps&
,irenas $inced& (ot many 7ndians in this era too' scalps, but the %un 1eople tribes did& -he
locals $ere loo'ing impressed and horrified, in various degrees&
"0o$'s 0enryB" %ue Chau as'ed an;iously& "7'll go rig a travois so $e can get him bac' to the
camp and the aid 'itD but ho$ i# heB"
,irenas sighed& -he travois ride $ould hurt li'e hell, $hich $as 6ust $hat 0enry deserved&
"0o$ is heB" he as'ed, loo'ing around& -rue, it $as a pretty spot& "Let's put it this $ay& 5e've
found the place $e're going to $inter, 7 thin'&"
C#ATE! E&G#TEEN
May, Year ) A.E.
(April, Year ,- A.E.)
"dapaD 8h, 8od& & &"
%$indapa laughed softly in the dar'nessE the breath fluttered cool against the damp s'in of
Alston's nec'& -hey $ound arms and legs around each otherE Marian sighed again $ith
contentment at the closeness, the sheer satisfaction of touching and being touched& %he tasted the
s$eat on %$indapa's nec' and shoulder, nu..ling, hands stro'ing&
"5hy couldn't $e have the lamp onB" the Fiernan chuc'led in her ear& "7 li'e $atching your
face&"
"1ut it do$n to inhibitions," Marian laughed softly& %ilhouettes sho$ed through bac'lit canvas&
":ad enough you're going to yell later&"
,ro$ing up in a Fiernan greathouse, $ith scores of a single intermarried cousinage living from
conception through birth to death under one big circular roof, did not breed an American sense of
privacy& %$indapa had some inhibitions of her o$n, but none of them applied to ma'ing love&
6ice to "ave #ome time to rela7, Marian thought, running her fingers do$n the other's spine&
S"i a3out read, to launc"& (o sign of the -artessians for $ee's, so they'd cleared out& And
right no$, the camp $as good and 9uietE their daughters soundly asleep ne;t door, tomorro$ the
day of rest3ma'e/and/mend, no reason not to sleep in, so3
"Commodore<"
%$indapa groaned, gripped her tighter, and mouthed ",o a$ay" silently& Alston rolled her eyes
and carefully 'ept resentment out of her voice& =nea#, lie# t"e "ead t"at 3ear# $inal
re#on#i3ilit,, $or ever,one $eel# entitled to interrut ,ou, she thought&
%he $ent on aloud> "AesB"
"Commodore, it's the local&" -he voice $as Lieutenant Fen'insE he $as 882 for this $atch&
"-he one $ith the sore an'leB 0e's real upset, trying to tell us something& 7 thought you'd $ant to
'no$&"
"&t'# t*o o'cloc) in t"e goddam morning," Marian $hispered under her breath& 7n a normal tone>
"-han' you, Lieutenant& -hat $as entirely correct& 7'll be right there&"
-hey rose, splashed $ater on themselves from the basin on the table3cabin furniture hadn't been
reshipped yet3to$eled do$n, and dressed& -he air $as cooler on her face after the close, mus'y
heat of the tent and their bed& %he too' a deep breath and pushed her mind to alertness& -he
moon $as do$n and it $as dar' e;cept for a heavy frosting of tropical stars overhead and a fe$
$atch fires along the edge of the camp&
And *e ju#t di#mounted t"e cannon to re#"i t"em, she suddenly remembered& -hey $ere on the
%"am3erlain'# gun dec'E they'd been luc'y $ith the tidal scour in the outer passage, and it $as
deep enough to ta'e the ship fully laden& :ut from the ship, they $ouldn't bear on the shore, and
they couldn't leave until the stores $ere all aboard& ="-o"&
Fen'ins $as $aiting patientlyE his arm $as still in a cast and sling, but he $as $al'ing $ell
again, $ell enough to stand $atch& K'tung'a the hunter $as behind him, $ith a sha'en/loo'ing
sailor behind "im, rifle slung over her shoulder and cutlass at $aist&
"Ma'amD he $as 6ust t"ere, all of a sudden, right beside me on the parapet<"
"At ease, sailor& -hat's their specialty&" And they could trac' a ghost over na'ed roc'E she'd
learned that hunting $ith them these past brace of $ee's&
K'tung'a made an impatient gesture at the conversation in a language he didn't understand, then
composed himself $ith an effort, s9uinting as %$indapa came out of the tent $ith a lantern& -he
pool of yello$ light gre$ as she turned the scre$ that raised the $ic'E for a moment he forgot
everything $ith the mercurial s$iftness Alston had noticed among his fol', smiling $ith a child's
delight at the $onder& -hen he shoo' his head again and signed to her&
Alston crouched as he did, the posture for serious conversation among his people& K'tung'a
pointed south$ard, then $al'ed t$o fingers over his palm& 0e reached out and touched the pistol
at the commodore's belt and made a sco$ling face&
":a'ad<" he said& "Many/many&"
-he $al'ing gesture again, and then he pointed to a particular bright star& 5hen he $as sure
she'd fastened on the right one his pointing finger traced an arc do$n to the hori.on&
@="-o",@ Marian #aid aloud. &$ t"at mean# *"at & t"in) it mean#?
%he mimed the $al'ing movement, then traced the star do$n to the hori.on and pointed around
her& K'tung'a nodded vehemently, then made sco$ling grimaces and dre$ the (antuc'eter bo$ie
'nife at his $aist to ma'e a cutting gesture ne;t to his o$n throat&
"-artessians," Marian said&
K'tung'a nodded againE he couldn't pronounce the $ord in any fashion an 4nglish/spea'ing ear
found meaningful, but he did recogni.e it&
"/a*a)a," %$indapa said softly behind her& "%hit," in Fiernan3 not normally an oath in that
language& %he'd pic'ed the usage up from spea'ing 4nglish so long&
",oddam right there, 'dapa," Marian muttered& T"i# art'# going to 3e tric),& %he pointed
south$ard&
":a'ad many ho$ manyB" she as'ed, and opened and closed her fingers repeatedly&
K'tung'a shrugged and stood, pointing all around to the camp, then opening and closing his
fingers in imitation of her gesture& A3out a# man, a# ,ou, ma,3e more, she translated mentally&
-he problem $as that the %an 6ust didn't count the $ay t$entieth/century 5esterners did, or the
$ay Fiernans did, either& K'tung'a could probably describe every antelope in a herd of do.ens
after a single glance, but as far as she could tell, the concept of a number as an arbitrary symbol
applicable to anything3a hundred men, or .ebras, or trees3$as utterly foreign to him& 4ach
ob6ect in the universe $as uni9ue&
Marian Alston sighed and rose, smiling and gesturing than's& "All right," she said& "As near as 7
can tell, $e've got a serious problem& A group of -artessians3almost certainly the ones $e sa$
3is headed this $ay and they'll be here at da$n or a little before& K'tung'a thin's there are at
least as many of them as there are of us& 7t's suspiciously $ell timedE they're arriving 6ust the day
before $e planned to launch the ship3the cannon are mostly do$n on the beach&"
Fen'ins s$ore& "0o$'d they 'no$ thatB" he said& "-o get that close3"
"5ith a good telescope, they $ouldn't have to get t"at close& -here's high ground all around
here&" %he held up a hand for silence, lost in thought&
-hen she smiled& %$indapa sighed at the carnivore e;pressionE she $as a fighter herself at need,
but she 'ept the Fiernan distaste for it& K'tung'a grinned bac'& 0is people didn't practice $ar, but
they $ere no strangers to feud and vendetta, and the -artessians had managed to pile up $hat she
thought $as a formidable store of bad 'arma in their visits to the region& -he :ad 8nes $ere
about to get a nasty surprise&
"5e can stand them off easily enough, no$ that $e're $arned," Fen'ins said&
%$indapa shoo' her head& "(o, Lieutenant& 7 don't thin' that's $hat the commodore has in
mind&"
"(o, indeed," Marian chuc'led& "And have them hanging about, sniping at the camp, harassing
us $hile $e relaunch the %"am3erlain0@ Sniing at a cam *it" m, daug"ter# in it, she added to
herself&
8rders began to form in her mind& -he hardest part $ould be getting across to K'tung'a e;actly
$hat $as re9uired&
"Lieutenant Commander, Lieutenant Fen'ins, 7 $ant the camp turned out, but quietl,& (o lights,
no alarms& -hen3"
"Mnbununtu< 0o$ much furtherB"
-he man the -artessian captain called Mnbununtu $inced in his mind at the hail, although his
face might have been cut from scarred obsidian&
-here $ere t$o reasons for his discomfort& -he first $as an old, niggling one3Mnbununtu
$asn't his name& 7n the language spo'en si; thousand miles to the north$est, that $ord 6ust
meant "man" or "person&" 7t $as the $ord he'd used $hen the strangers landed on the beach
$here he'd been hunting and made an interrogative noise $hile pointing at his chest& 8f course
he'd said he $as "a man&" 0o$ could he have 'no$n they $ere human beings tooB 0e'd thought
they $ere telo#"o)unne, ghost/spiritsE the tribe name "-artessian" #ounded li'e that& -he $ord
had stuc', though&
-he second reason $as an instinctive anger at the noise his companions $ere ma'ing& .lind, log-
$ooted 3u$$alo, he thought& -hen> 6o. T"at i# an in#ult to all 3u$$alo&
-anche$a3the name meant "leopard" in his tribe's language3 turned and trotted bac' do$n the
trail& -he -artessians had mostly been farmers or fishermen before they became sailors, and they
$ere lost and frightened in this alien $ildernessE many of them flinched at his s$ift, noiseless
passage& 0e considered himself a peaceable man, on the $hole, but he'd demonstrated more than
once to the -artessian cre$men that he $asn't to be trifled $ith& -hat memory remained&
Alantethol $as in the middle of the s$eating huddle of sailors& (ot from fear3-anche$a $ould
never have follo$ed him, no matter $hat the gifts, if he $as a co$ard& 7t $as the best position
from $hich to command if something $ent $rong& 1lans usually did, in his e;perience&
"Huiet, Captain," -anche$a said flatly& 0e obeyed $illingly on the ship, $here Alantethol $as
the s'illed one& -he $oods $ere a different matter& "5e are close& :ut 7 am not easy in my
liver&"
"5hyB -he $ild menB"
"-he mn3uil@ he said& -he little bro$n hunters here $ere not e;actly li'e the pygmies $ho d$elt
near his village far to the north$est, but he thought of them as essentially similar& After all, they
did not gro$ yams or 'eep goats, and those $ere the mar's of civili.ation&
"Aes, them&"
-anche$a shrugged& "1erhaps& -hey are good trac'ers and hide $ell& :ut it isD" 0e stopped&
-artessian $asn't a good language to describe $hat he felt& "D something that ma'es my liver
curl& 5e should go 9uietly, and s$iftly, to fall on the strangers& Let me scout ahead first&"
",o, then& -he Fester hold his hand from you, and the Lady of -artessos protect&"
5ord passed do$n the line of sailors from the Storm*ind and the Sun 2ancer& -hey san'
gratefully to their haunches, silent under the ferocious ga.e of the 9uartermasters and steersmen,
but ta'ing pulls at their $ater bottles and scratching at itches& -anche$a trotted bac' do$n the
trail to the south, landing softly on the balls of his feet as he moved& As he put the head of the
column behind him he slo$ed, drifting into the side of the trail that offered most shelter& -he
long 'illing spear $as ready in his right hand, the small rhino/hide shield held in his left& 8ver
his shoulder $as his $ar bo$, the same one he used to hunt elephant, and a do.en arro$s the
length of his leg&
Alone in the $oods, he could feel the irritation and 6angling of the cro$d dropping a$ay& -hese
$ere not his $oodsE the $oods of home $ere denser, hotter, $ith larger trees and many great
rivers rich in hippo and crocodile, but he $as still -anche$a the Leopard, greatest hunter of all
the 1eople& 0e felt the night $ind and too' a deep breath of its scents, strong and ran' $ith
gro$ing things and their decay& %ounds flo$ed past his earsE he did not consciously attempt to
listen, instead sensing the attern# in the small tic'ings and rustlings, the s9ualls and crea's& 7n a
little clearing he moved through the tall grass in a slo$ crouch, bent nearly double& Aou couldn't
see detail at night, not even if you $ere -anche$a, but al$ays the attern# sho$ed if they $ere
disturbed&
0e stopped, his eyes flaring $ide& -hen he turned and ran bac' north$ard $ith all his speed,
hurdling obstacles $ith a long, ra'ing stride, careless of noise& 0is lungs filled and he shouted, a
long, high, carrying yell&
-he -artessians leaped to their feet& -he $eird yell coming from the south seemed to mean
something to themE Marian Alston could hear officers calling orders& Ma,3e it'# Tar:an, she
thought& Sound# li)e "im& %he bared her teeth in harsh amusement at the thoughtE 6ust the sort of
thing the damned interfering bare/assed 3u)ra of :urroughs's imagination $ould do&
"(o$<" she shouted&
-he mortar team dropped their round into the stubby barrel of the $eapon& S"oon), and a blade
of fire speared man/high into the night&
Alston came up on one 'nee and ra'ed bac' the hammers of her pistol $ith the pin'/palmed heel
of her hand&
+"on)& -he star shell arced up through the leaves and burst& -he bright actinic light fro.e the
-artessians in place for a crucial instant, startled into immobility, blinded by the light they hadn't
been e;pecting& 1er cre$s had been $arned beforehand to loo' a$ay&
(inety 5estley/Richards rifles volleyed at the enemy& Alston trained her $eapon and fired,
letting the $eight bring the heavy pistol bac' into line before she used the second barrel& -he
7slanders $ere spread out along the trail behind fallen logs and folds in the hilly ground, t$enty
to si;ty yards bac'& K'tung'a had pic'ed the ground, and he seemed to 'no$ it the $ay she did
her o$n 9uarterdec'&
.AAAAMMMM.
A do.en or so of the -artessians $ere do$n, some screaming and $rithing& (ot bad, she thought
$ith the part of her mind that $as cold, detached analysis& Rifles $eren't ,uard cre$fol''s
primary tool, and it $as dar'& -he enemy $ere leveling their mus'ets and firing bac'& -hey
probably couldn't see a thing to shoot at, but there $ere a lot of them& Mu..le flashes $in'ed at
her li'e malignant red fireflies, and something $ent crac) past her head, an ugly flat sound&
:ullet/clipped leaves and t$igs fell on her, and her mouth $as a little dry& 7t al$ays $as, times
li'e these&
Most of that $as the 'no$ledge that %$indapa $as $ithin arm's length and very definitely in
harm's $ay& Campaigning $ith your lover had a nerve/rac'ing 9uality all its o$nD
Ain't no $riend# li)e t"e $riend# ,ou ma)e in com3at& 0er father's voice, remembered from the
porch on a spring day $hen she $as barely up to his navel& 1ell, t"e bu'ra in m, latoon, *e
*a# tig"ter 'n 3rot"er#, even t"em '.amm, rednec)# *ent around in *"ite #"eet# 3ac) to "ome.
8oo)# didn't a, no never mind i$ ,ou *a# *"ite, 3lac), or green&
-he 7slanders $ere replying, a steady crac'le of independent fire, and the mortar team s$itched
to e;plosive rounds and began $al'ing them do$n the trail& :eside her %$indapa leveled her
rifle over a log and s9uee.ed carefully, then reloaded $ithout having to loo' do$n and $atch her
hands $or'& A -artessian officer doubled over and fell limp in the midst of $aving his men on&
-hey $ere doing the best thing you could in an ambush3attac'&
8r most $ere& A fe$ turned and shoved their $ay into the brush on the other side of the trac'&
Alston snarled to herself& Fust about no$D
+"udum< A crashing blast and stab of red fire li'e a s$ord blade into the dar', ran' belly of the
6ungle& A Claymore $as a very simple $eapon, reallyE 6ust a curved iron plate $ith the concave
side facing the enemy, a layer of e;plosive, and a layer of lead shot inside a thin tin cover&
Friction primers $eren't as lasting or reliable, but they'd usually $or' $hen somebody's leg hit
the trip $ire3
More screams& Another #c"oon)? *"on)< as the mortar team fired more star shell& -he
-artessians came on rec'lessly, many of them thro$ing aside their guns and dra$ing cold steel,
or carrying the guns by the barrels to use as clubs&
+"udum0 +"udum0 +"udum0
Alston's snarl gre$ $ider as the flashes strobed, and the burnt/sulfur stin' drifted through the hot
night& -here $ere Claymores bet$een t"i# position and the trail, too& -he -artessians fro.e again
as men fell or stumbled bac' screaming and bleedingE they $ent to earth and began firing bac'&
Loading a mus'et li'e theirs $hile lying do$n could be done, but you had to be a contortionist,
and it $as #lo*& 8nly a fe$ of them had breechloaders&
"Ready<" Marian called through the shado$/lit night& "-a'e it slo$ly and do it right& (o$<"
:eside her, %$indapa laid do$n her rifle and pulled an iron egg out of a pouch on her harness& A
metal ring protruded from the topE she hoo'ed her right inde; finger through it, t$isted sharply
and pulled& 7n the dar'ness Marian could hear the #critc" as the friction primer ignited, the
hissing of the fuse& -hen the Fiernan rose and thre$ it $ith a snapping t$ist of arm and torso&
& "ate t"o#e t"ing#, Marian thought& Most of Ron Leaton's $eapons $ere unavoidably less
advanced than their e9uivalents up in the t$entieth& -he grenades $ere unavoidably less reliableE
they #cared her&
More $ere arching out from the 7slander ambushE they began e;ploding crac)crac)crac)crac),
9uic' red spar's among the huddled -artessians&
And there $as a $histling #"un) from behind her& %$indapa's drop bac' to cover behind the
huge rotting fallen log started as gracefully as all her motions& 7t turned into a tumble and a cry of
startled pain& A long blac' arro$ $as through the fleshy part of her thighE she stared at it for an
instant, $ide/eyed&
!rom 3e"ind u#& Marian 'ne$, suddenly and crystal/certain& Someone )no*# *"ere our
leader#"i i# and t"e,'re tr,ing to ta)e it out&
0er body $as reacting $ithout any need for her mind's promptingE she grabbed %$indapa under
the arms and rolled over the log $ith her, ignoring the small shrie' as the rough movement
t$isted at the shaft through the Fiernan's leg& Another arro$ $ent v"***eet through the space
she'd occupied a second earlier, close enough to ma'e a shallo$ cut across one shoulder blade
before she $as belly/do$n to the earth&
'"s not bad," %$indapa said through clenched teeth& "(ot bleeding much& 7 can't use the leg&"
T"un)& Another arro$, this one driven through the top curve of the log& A scream from nearby,
as someone too' a shaft in the bac'&
"8ne man behind us<" Marian called& "-or$nello, Reuters, Fohnson, Aynara;sson, about/face<"
"-or$nello's do$n, ma'am<" a voice called& "5e're $atching<"
More grenades $ere arching out behind her& %he could ignore that for the moment, thoughE the
-artessians $eren't going any$here, and the bullets they $ere putting out $ere essentially a
random factor& Let $hoever it $as come to her& 5hoever it $as $as good&
-anche$a thre$ do$n his bo$& 0is eyes speared the gloom3 t"ere& -he t$o $omen $ere on
the other side of the log and had enough sense to lie tight along it& 7f he could 'ill the dar'/
s'inned $oman chief, the others might $ell flee, or at least be thro$n into enough disorder that
his comrades could escape& 0e too' his shield by the central handgrip and charged, moving li'e
his totem beast, feet landing light and sure among the vines and brush and fallen trees& Rifles
bar'ed at him, tongues of fire, and something scored along his ribs li'e a hot 'nife& -hat made
him miss one stride, until the e;tent of the pain told him it $as only a flesh $ound3time enough
to tend it later, if he lived&
(oise and motion in the fire/lit dar'nessE screams, the shit stin' of death, the iron/copper/salt of
blood, the rotten/egg smell of gunpo$der& Chaos& Marian Alston let it flo$ through her as she
reached over her shoulder and dre$ the )atana& 2istraction $as a state of mindE if you $eren't
distracted, you $ould al$ays see $hat $as necessary and never be surprised& A rushing blac'
shado$ coming to$ard her& %mooth, very 9uiet, very fast3but not hurrying in the least, at full
speed through brush, in near/total dar'ness&
%he came to her feet $ith a long sibilant hiss of e;haled breath, and the s$ord flo$ed up$ard to
jodan no )ame, high and very slightly to the right, hilt level $ith her eyes& (either anger nor fear,
beyond intention and desire& A 'nee rela;ed and she s$ayed out of the line of the thrust& -he
s$ord floated do$n, diagonal cut, elbo$s coming in, $rists loc'ing, gut muscles tensed and
throat open for the )ia as the long curved blade blurred& A sliver of silver as starlight caught the
layer/forged steel&
"2issaaaa<"
A 6arring shoc', flo$ing through her and gone, as the man's buc'ler shed the steel& 0e $as
pivoting, $hirling, stri'ing again in the same motion, one move flo$ing into another, shield,
spearhead, the butt of the shaft& %he parried again, blade do$n, right hand $ith the heel of the
palm braced against the pommel& Scrinnngg as the tough $ood slid along her s$ord& %he felt the
essence of the man she $as fighting in that instant, the long/limbed 9uic'ness, the deadly
balance&
Te)i ni naru, Musashi had called it> to become the enemy&
-hey $ere moving together in a dance, the s$ord an e;tension of her bac' and shoulders, feet at
right angles, $eight centered over her c"i& %he let the rhythm of the combat form in her mind, a
ge#talt that made their interaction a single constructD
6o*.
Alston sensed the rhythm of the attac' and )ne* $here the spearhead $ould come& .ang of steel
on $ood, and they $ere past each other& -he s$ord flic'ing, reversing, stabbing3an iado move,
to stri'e behind $ithout turning& %oft, someho$ thic' sensation as the slanted/chisel point met
s'in& %$ord looping up into the ready position as she turned, cut coming do$n $ith the stamping
fall of her left foot&
@2i##aaaa0 @
Crouched in the follo$/through, blade out and level $ith the ground, she came bac' to herself&
%econds only had passedE %$indapa $as lo$ering her pistol, the firefight $as dying3
"5e surrender<" someone shouted from the -artessian position& "1lease<"
Marian Alston loo'ed do$n at the bro'en body of the tribesman, suddenly conscious of an
enormous sadness& -he face $as contorted, the light painting it ghastly red as blood flo$ed from
his mouth, but the features $ere still 'in to hers3the features of the 2ahomey, the Mandin'a,
the Aoruba, of tribes yet unborn in the tides of time& 8f an ancestor, perhaps&
%trong, long/fingered hands cla$ed into the forest duff as the man tried to form $ords& A
language she did not 'no$, and they $ere gurgled through blood& 0eels drummed for an instant,
and he died in the usual human s9ualor&
Alston turned and shouted to$ard the -artessians> "-hro$ do$n your $eapons< Come for$ard
$ith your hands up<"
%$indapa echoed it in their o$n language& 5hen they obeyed, Marian shouted in her turn, for a
corpsman& -he medic came at a run, 'neeling by the Fiernan and ta'ing out his 'it&
%$indapa $inced and raised herself on her elbo$s& "FastD he $as #o $a#t, 7 couldn't fire&"
Alston 'nelt for a second to close the staring eyes& "Iery fast," she said, $ith a $ry 9uir' of her
full lips& ":ut that's a race $e all lose, in the end&"
"Aou ma'e the bluff," Alantethol said, despite the rough hemp of the noose about his nec' and
the hangman's 'not under his ear& "Aour la$ forbids you to torture prisoners of $ar& 7 $ill tell
nothing you&"
-he eighty surviving -artessians3less the $ounded too in6ured to stand3stood sullen under the
7slander guns in the $aist of the ship& Alantethol and his officers stood on chairs, under the gaff
of the %"am3erlain'# mi..enmast& -he lines from the nooses ran up over that, through bec'ets,
and do$n to be secured to stanchions and belaying pins along the port rail& -he ship roc'ed
slightly at her moorings, and Alston could see eyes $idening and tongues moistening lips as the
men shifted to 'eep themselves balanced& -hat $asn't easy, $ith their hands tied behind their
bac's&
Marian Alston smiled3at least that $as technically the name for her e;pression& %$indapa sat in
a folding chair behind her, one leg thic'ly bandaged& -he corpsman said it $ould heal $ithin a
month or t$o, $ith no loss of function& -$o of the 7slander cre$ $ere dead, and three more
unli'ely to live& -hat the -artessians had suffered more altered Alston's determination not at all&
"Aou're right," she said, loo'ing up at the s$eat/slic' face of the -artessian captain, catching a
$hiff of the ran'ness of it mi;ed $ith the olive/oil/and/garlic odor of his body&
0e $as in fear of his life, but the a9uiline features $ere set, the little gold/bound chinbeard
6utting $ith the determination that firmed his mouth&
Alston set her hands on her hips and $ent on> "-he thing is, -artessos and the Republic are at
peace& 5e have a treaty& Aou bro'e it, of your o$n $ill& %o you're not prisoners& Aou're pirates&
And $e don't torture pirates, either& 5e hang them, 'dapa, repeat that in -artessian, $ould youB"
-he Fiernan sighed and didE her tone $as regretful, but no less determined than her partner's&
Alantethol lifted his chin to$ard the east, $here the first hint of da$n $as paling the stars, lips
moving in a silent prayer&
Alston $ent on> "8n the other hand, if any of you $ere to tell me $hat arrangements you had
$ith your ships, signals, and so forth, 7'd pardon themD and give them sanctuary in (antuc'et
and a thousand dollars in gold& 8h, and 7'd spare the others, tooE 7 have the authority to do that&
%o, $ho'll save his life, and his friends, and be a rich manB"
Alantethol's mouth $or'ed againE she stepped aside smartly to avoid the gobbet of spit& 7t arched
past her to land on the scrubbed boards $ith a tiny #lat& Considering $hat the human body did
$hen it $as strangled, the dec' might $ell be a lot messier before long&
-he translation too' a fe$ momentsE -artessian $as a less compact and economical language
than 4nglish& %"oier t"an !iernan, too, she thought absently, eyes on the faces of the men
standing $ith the nooses around their nec's&
.rave man, she thought, loo'ing at their commander& Sadi#tic 3a#tard3the %an had made clear
ho$ the -artessians had abused their hospitality, and needlessly, too, $hen you considered their
eagerness to please a guest33ut a 3rave #adi#tic 3a#tard& %he $asn't all that impressedE physical
courage $as not a rare commodity, particularly not here in the :ron.e Age, and particularly not
among those pic'ed for a voyage of e;ploration by as good a 6udge of character as 7s'eterol of
-artessos&
8n the other hand, human beings $ere variable& :rave one day and timid the ne;tE or a lion in
the face of storm or battle but unable to contemplate the slo$, cho'ing death that a$aited them&
%ome of the other -artessian officers tried to spit at her as $ell as she $al'ed do$n the lineE
some $ere standing $ith their eyes closed& 8ne, younger than the rest, $as silently $eeping&
And one had a spreading stain on his tunic belo$ the crotch& %he caught the sharp ammonia stin'
of urine as she $al'ed over and put one boot on the stool he $as standing on&
"Aou first," she said, roc'ing it slightly& 0er -artessian $as good enough for that& ",ood/bye,
pirate&"
-he man's lips opened 6ust as the third leg of the stool came off the dec'& 0e began screaming
$ords through thic' sobsE several of the others $ere shouting as $ell3curses and threats, she
thought, directed at the man $ho'd tal'ed&
"Marian<" %$indapa said 9uic'ly& "-$o red roc'ets at da$n3 they'll be standing off the coast&
-hat's the signal for them to come in, that $e've been captured&"
And raed and murdered, mo#t o$ u#, Marian thought, her face a basalt mas' as she let the leg of
the stool thump bac' to the dec'&
",et them do$n," she said to the $aiting master/at/arms& ":elo$, in irons3e;cept for that one&"
Alantethol seemed as much startled as furious as he $as bundled past her& Alston sighed as she
felt the tension ease out of her nec'&
"5hy is it," she said softly, "that cruel bastards li'e that thin' they have a monopoly on
ruthlessnessB"
"7 don't 'no$," %$indapa said& "7 don't li'e to 'ill, myself& -here are many things that 7 don't li'e
but that are necessary any$ay& Moon 5oman orders the stars so&" After a moment> "0o$ many
$ould you have hungB"
"All of them," Marian said, her voice as flat as her eyes& "And then started on the cre$&"
"5ho's Mr& Me/0eap/:ig/Chief/,ottum/Chic'en/8n/My/0atB" Alice as'ed& "0onestly, the
people you bring home to dinner sometimes, 5ill&"
5illiam 5al'er hid his smile& -he northern chieftain did loo' a little absurd, in his high, conical
helmet $ith a $ood/and/boiled/leather raven on itE the $ay the $ings flapped $hen he moved
didn't help, either&
0ong came stepping daintily do$n the middle of the bric' path$ayE the horses in the stalls on
either side raised their heads and snorted a little, as if they could smell the blood and madness in
her eyes& 0er riding crop tapped against her high, glossy boots and 'id/s'in 6odhpurs as she
loo'ed the visiting barbarian up and do$n&
"0ello, big fellah," she said in 4nglish& "7f 7 pull on those long droopy mustaches, $ill the $ings
flapB"
-autorun $as a son of the high chief of a considerable confederation of proto/demi/,od/'ne$/
$hat in the 2anube valley, in $hat $ould have become 0ungary in the original history& -hey
reminded 5al'er of his first follo$ers, among the 7raiina of Alba& -he language $as similar too,
sort of li'e the difference bet$een %panish and 1ortuguese up in the t$entieth& Most people from
Russia to Alba spo'e similar dialects in this period, from $hat he'd been able to gather&
"-his is 0igh Chief -autorun son of Arimanu, lord among the Ringapi," 5al'er said slo$ly in
7raiina, trying to ma'e the sounds more li'e his guest's language3dropping initial " before e $as
one, he'd noticed& "Lord -autorun, my $ife the $ise$oman Alice 0ong&"
-autorun bo$ed, smiling and e;changing a fe$ $ords $ith Alice before she sauntered off& 7f he
thought her appearance strange3and he'd certainly never seen an 8riental $oman before, much
less one in pants3he gave no sign of it& (o sign of being afraid of her reputation, either& -hey
s$itched bac' to Achaean after that, $hich the visitor spo'e 9uite fluently, albeit $ith a strong
accent&
Smoot"er t"an t"e &raiina ever *ere, 5al'er thought&
Rather advanced barbarians, in factE they made his former father/in/la$ 2aurthunnicar's bunch
in the 5hite 7sle loo' li'e hillbillies from the deep hollo$s& -autorun didn't $ear a leather 'ilt,
but instead trousers of $ell/$oven cloth in a chec' patternE his coat $as $olfs'in, but beautifully
tanned and se$n, as $ere his bull/hide shoes& -he long leaf/shaped bron.e s$ord at his side $as
as good as anything Agamemnon's smiths had turned out, the sheath tooled leather $ith chased/
gold bands, and his 6e$elry $as splendid in a lavish sort of $ay, arm/rings li'e coiled sna'es and
a nec'lace of gold, amber, and carnelian&
-he visiting chief ran a thoughtful hand over his chinE the Ringapi even shaved there, although
they $ere fond of long, s$eeping mustaches& -autorun's hung half$ay to his collar, ta$ny li'e
the hair that spilled out from under his ceremonial helmet& 7t $as a considerably closer shave
than he'd had before he $as introduced to steel ra.ors and lathering soap, of course, about $hich
he'd been $ildly enthusiastic3 those and a number of other things&
As far as 5al'er could tell, the Ringapi $ere interested in more than trade3sniffing for
opportunities, and feeling him out for an alliance& -here had been na'ed greed in the barbarian's
gray eyes for most of his tour through Mycenae and 5al'eropolis, too&
(ot least about the horses& ":y the Lady 4ponha," he said, vie$ing 5al'er's 9uarter horse
stallion :astard over the bar rails of the bo;& "7 don't 'no$ $hy you've been buying horses from
us, if you have many li'e "im&"
:astard $as getting a little long in the tooth, no$3fifteen or so, and 5al'er had retired him
from anything but stud duties years before& 0e $as still a fine figure of a horse, though, a fast,
slee' giant by the standards of M=M :&C&, and $ith luc' he'd be siring colts for another decade&
&'m getting $ond o$ "or#e# again, he thought, ta'ing a deep breath of the smells of a $ell/'ept
stable& &t'# a lot more $un *it" #ome #lave# to #"ovel t"e #"it, o$ cour#e& And maybe the local
attitudes $ere rubbing off on him& Certainly his 'ids old enough to $al' $ere all horse/mad&
"5e don't have all that many more li'e him," 5al'er $ent on aloud& "%everal hundred three/
9uarter, half, and 9uarter breeds from him, though& 7 could give you one of his sons, for your
return&"
"-hat is a chief's gift indeed<" -autorun said, hiding his eagerness as best he could& "7 shall tell
all at home of the riches and generosity of the Achaean lands&"
5al'er nodded& And &'m #melling "or#e #"it $rom more t"an t"e #tall#, dude, he thought&
-autorun's people had al$ays traded a little $ith Mycenae, through a long chain of middlemenE
5al'er had set up a base at the mouth of the 2anube to speed things up, although that still meant
paying protection money to the -ro6ans on the $ay& -he ne$ flood of trade had brought more
information as $ell, both $ays& -he Ringapi lived on the Middle 2anube, their lords charioteers
d$elling in fortress/to$ns and ta'ing tribute from scores of villages& -hey themselves $ere
horse breeders and herdsmen as much as farmers, their trade stretching from the Adriatic to the
:altic along the ancient amber routesE they had more/tenuous contacts further still, east and $est
among distant 'in from the 4nglish Channel to Central Asia&
-hey $ere also $arriors, $ho 'ept an ever/more/greedy eye on the $ealth of the Aegean
countries, and they $ere being pressed by their neighbors3the tribes $ere on the move across
much of 4urope, to a rumble of chariot $heels and crac'le of torched hill forts& According to the
references he had )and than' 8od he'd managed to get a copy of the 47$ord &llu#trated
(re"i#tor, o$ -uroe among the 5are'# cargo, $hen he hi6ac'ed her* a big vol)er*anderung $as
due in another couple of generations& A bit li'e the fall of Rome $ith Attila the -heodoric and
their horsey/set bi'er gangs of Iandals and ,oths and 0uns and $hatnot&
@ingdoms $ould fall and cities burn all across these seas and far into Anatolia and the Canaanite
countryE from hints in the boo's and $hat he'd learned of the Ringapi and their neighbors,
5al'er suspected that that horde of :ron.e Age Ii'ings that Ramses 777 fought $ould include a
lot of Central and (orth 4uropeans as $ell as Achaeans, %ardinians, and odds/and/sods from
every$here& -here $as no reason $hy notE you could $al' from 2enmar' to ,reece in a month
or t$o& An army or migrating horde could do it bet$een spring and $inter, provided they could
threaten or muscle their $ay through and didn't mind leaving famine/desert in their $a'e&
8r all that *ould have happened, $ithout him& 0e certainly didn't intend to have barbarian
hordes $andering around territory he planned to con9uer himself and pass on to his heirs&
:ut on the other hand, they could be useful& 5al'er sat on a bench that loo'ed out over an
e;ercise yard $here handlers $ere leading t$o/ and three/year/olds around, and -autorun sat
beside him& 7t $as a little chill and damp, but the horses in the building gave $armth, and
southern ,reece never got really cold by his standards, or by those of the man beside him& A
slave came up $ith $ine in gold/rimmed glass goblets, and the northerner dran' deep3they
$ere $ildly enthusiastic about $ine too, an e;pensive lu;ury up in the $oods& 5al'er sipped
and schooled his face to charm&
"7'm glad you've en6oyed my hospitality," he said mildly& "@eep the glass$are, by the $ayE no, 7
insistD 7 hope you do tell of Mycenae's $ealth and generosity $hen you return&"
"-o ma'e trade gro$ fasterB" -autorun said shre$dly&
A little $ay from them, a brace of his retainers s9uatted on their hams, leaning their arms on
their grounded spears& A s9uad of 5al'er's Royal ,uards stood at parade rest near them, in their
gray uniforms and armor, $ith their ne$ breechloaders slung at their shoulders3Cuddy finally
had acceptable copies of the (antuc'eter 5estley/Richards coming out of the $or'shops in
some numbers&
"-rade, yes," 5al'er said& "5e can use more horses&"
:est not to go into too much detail about $hat they $ere using them for3mostly to pull reaping
machines, although artillery teams $ere also a ma6or user& Agamemnon's nobles, $hose
ancestors had been northern horse/barbarians, hadn't been happy about it, either& All that breed
felt that putting horses to farming $or' $as some sort of obscure social demotion for
themselves, too&
5al'er $ent on> "And $e need metals, tin particularly& Ra$ $ool, too, and hides, more than $e
can raise ourselves& 7f $e can pacify the river route $ell, possibly other goods&"
"And $e your tools and $eapons of #teel," -autorun said& "5ine and oil, this fire/$ine, glass,
fine clothD there is no end to $hat $e need&"
6o end to *"at ,ou'd li)e to addle ,our a*# in, ,ou mean, 5al'er thought and $inced
mentally at the thought of these goons rampaging through $hat he'd built up& -hey might be
sophisticated barbarians, but they still had all that breed's love of destruction for its o$n $ild
sa'e, and they $ould smash even more through sheer ignorance&
"5ell, $e al$ays need more slaves as $ell," 5al'er said& "Aou tell me you're often at $ar $ith
your enemies3$e'll buy all you can catch&"
"-hat $ould be easier if $e had better $eapons&"
4", *ouldn't it ju#t, 5al'er thought& -hey'd do anything to get their hands on guns& T"oug"?
"mmmD
"8f course& Aet $e could scarcely hand over the secrets of our po$er, unlessD"
0e let his voice trail off&
"+nless3" -autorun said eagerly, his voice a little slurred and his e;pression less guarded& 7t
$as ama.ing $hat spi'ing the $ine $ith a little brandy did to those not used to it&
"5e might be able to use fighting men soon," he said& "5e've al$ays hired mercenaries, but $e
need more& 1ossiblyD possibly $e could use allie# as $ell& 7n the lands to the east of here&"
-he Ringapi chieftain's eyes gre$ bright $ith interest& "Ah, 0atti/land," he breathed&
&$ t"ere'# a $ol)-migration 3uilding u, & mig"t a# *ell ut it to u#e. <et 'em #ma#" t"ing# u in
t"e rig"t lace#, )ee t"e oo#ition di#tracted, and #oa) u 3ullet#. +e can al*a,# )ill t"em all
later. Ma,3e even civili:e t"em, i$ t"e,'re good little doo3ie# and u#e$ul to t"e +al)erian
2,na#t,.
-he tal' $ent on for some hours, until a chill nightfall& -autorun too' off the raven/crested
helmet that mar'ed him as a feeder of the Cro$ ,oddess3%he $hom the 7raiina called the
:lood 0ag of :attles3and ran a hand through his barley/colored mane&
"%trong tal'," he said& "%ome $ould say $ild3but this is a time of $olf and raven, of a; and
spear, $hen ne$ things $al' the earth& 1erhaps it's the time of the great 5ar of the ,ods that the
songs foretell< 7'll bear a $ord from you to the other chiefs of the Rangapi, and maybe a $ord
from them to you in turn&"
"And then men might go from here to there3s'illed men," 5al'er said& "Men and goods, and
oaths bet$een us and the Ringapi lords&"
"Aes, yesD"
"5e'll tal' further of this tomorro$," 5al'er replied& "(o$ let's feast&"
0e noddedE across the fencing of the paddoc' rose terraced gardens, and above those the $hite
marble and bright $indo$s of 5al'er's palace& -autorun's eyes rested on it $ith a mi; of envy,
a$e, and greed& 0e nodded&
"Aou set a noble table, too," he said, grinning& "My hand on it&"
-hey stood and grasped $rists, s9uee.ing a littleE they $ere both strong men& "Aou've guested
$ith meE perhaps $e'll fight together someday," 5al'er said&
"-hat $ould be a fight to feed 0er ravens and ma'e the long/speared %un Lord smile," -autorun
said, sha'ing his right hand a little& 0e hesitated slightly& "-hat must have been a fight to
remember too, the one that too' your eye&"
5al'er's smile turned chill& "7t $as," he said& "7 lost the battle, but got something better than one
victory&"
"7t must have been a mighty booty, that you thin' it $as fair e;change for such a $ound&"
5al'er nodded& "7 don't miss the eye& Aou see, 7 sacrificed it for $isdom&"
-autorun too' a step bac' and shuddered slightly in his $olfs'in 6ac'et&
"5ave and smile, you son of a bitch, or 7'll spit you here and no$&" Marian Alston smiled, a
some$hat grim e;pression, as she heard the bosun's mate hissing to the -artessian standing by
the rail and sa$ the light 6ab of the bo$ie 'nife resting over the prisoner's 'idney& A thic'
scattering of the enemy prisoners stood there at the bul$ar', and the officer $ho'd agreed to fin'
on his compatriots $as standing on the rail $ith a hand on the ratlines& More 7slanders $ere
mi;ed in $ith them, in the clothes of the -artessians, $ho sat in their loincloths under guard on
the shore& -hey'd run the -artessian flag up to the top too&
-here $as a slight hint of rose/pin' over the 6ungled hills to the east and a layer of mist lying in
the blue/green valleys& Already the air $as $arming, and s$eat ran do$n her flan's under the
uniform& Alston stood on the third rung of the rope ladder that lay along the starboard, land$ard
side of the %"am3erlain& -hat put her above the level of the dec' and gave her a good vie$ of
the -artessian vessels standing in through the narro$ channel into 1ort Luthuli's roadstead&
6ice-loo)ing #"i#, she thought for a moment& %he could see ho$ the hull form $as derived from
the 5are, the (ova %cotia/built topsail schooner that 7s'eterol and 5al'er had stolen, '3out a
$ive-to-one "ull ratio, she decided& Long and lo$ and blac' $ith pitch, the sharp/pro$ed hulls
$ere thro$ing a chuc'le of bo$ $ave under the dying bree.e& Fast ships, then, although they
$ere doing no more than three 'nots in these sheltered $aters& -he masts $ere tall and ra'ed
$ell bac'E t$o on the schooner coming in first, the Sun 2ancer, three on the Storm*ind
follo$ing3that $as about half the si.e of the %"am3erlain, and brig/rigged, s9uare sails on the
fore and main, fore and aft on the mi..en&
+i#" & *a# a# certain a# 1eat"er and <uc, are t"at t"i# i# going to *or), she thought $ryly& -he
girls had given them a rousing send/off, although they'd been shoc'ed underneath at %$indapa's
$ound& -he Fiernan sat by the $heel on the 9uarterdec', a 'erchief hiding her bright hair and a
cheese of gun $ads supporting the in6ured leg& Alston felt na'ed, going into a fight $ithout her
partner by her side& 7t had been long years, since that first time do$n in the 8lmec country&
-he hyacinth eyes met hers, $arm and fond& Alston nodded, and returned all her attention to the
oncomingD
Target#, she told herself& T"in) o$ t"em a# target# and not"ing el#e& (o boarding netting rigged,
and their dec's $ere cro$ded $ith men& Ma,3e &#)eterol "ad t"em #ni$$ing around Au#tralia,
she thought& 1e )no*# a3out t"e gold t"ere $rom t"e 3oo)# +al)er too)& -hat $ould e;plain
stuffing men in that $ay&
-he enemy ships $ere gliding closer& 8n each stern $as a small platform $ith a statue on it, a
grotes9ue 6u6u $ith three legs, si; arms, and a single staring eye3Arucuttag of the %ea, Lord of
5aves, Master of the %torm, to $hom the captains gave gold and man's/blood&
Closer, closer& 0o$ close before they could see through the fictionB And even $hen the
schooner $as $ell $ithin range, the brig $ould be further out3it $as the harder target& (lu#, &
*ant to cature t"e #"i#, i$ & can& For one thing, they and the prisoners $ould be valuable
counters in $hatever diplomatic game the Republic ended up playing $ith -artessos& And ,od
alone 'ne$ ho$ she'd get the men bac' $ithout another couple of hulls& 7t $as tempting 6ust to
maroon them here, but that $as either a sentence of slo$ death or a trip bac' home if other
-artessian ships called, both unacceptable&
%$indapa loo'ed over at her, a 9uestion on her face& Alston shoo' her head, $aiting& %he raised
her binoculars and focused on the man by the schooner's $heel, standing $ith his hands on his
belt and a saffron/dyed cloa' fluttering in the $ind&
0e had a spyglassE 7s'eterol's artisans $ere beginning to turn them out& %he ignored the eerie
conviction that he $as loo'ing at "er and $aited yet again, until she sa$ him lo$er the glass and
open his mouth to spea'& 7t might be some harmless order, butD and the distance $as about
right&
"6o*<" she shouted&
2ec' cre$ snatched up a line and heaved& 7t ran to a spring on the anchor cable, and the long hull
of the clipper/frigate pivoted smoothly under that leverage, presenting her full broadside to the
-artessian ships&
A rumbling thunder as the bosun's pipe relayed the order and the $aiting cre$s heaved on the
gun tac'le& %he couldn't see the port side, but she 'ne$ e;actly $hat the -artessians $ere seeing,
and it 6ustified the gaping horror on their faces& -he frigate's main battery $as running out, the
portlids s$inging up to reveal the blac' ma$s of the eight/inch 2ahlgrens& 8n dec', cre$fol'
$ere shoving and hustling the prisoners do$n the hatch$ays $ith savage enthusiasm& And3
.444444MMMMMMD
8ne long, rolling crash as the gun captains 6er'ed their lanyards and the t$elve heavy cannon
fired $ithin a second of each other, at point/blan' range&
"All yours, 'dapa<" Marian shouted and dropped do$n the rope ladder $ith rec'less speed&
"%tretch out<" the middie shouted at the tiller of the longboat she landed in, her voice crac'ling
$ith stress&
-hey heaved at their oars $ith panting, grunting effort that made the slender boats s$eep
for$ard, despite the $eight of the ,uard sailors $ho pac'ed them to the gun$ales, armed and
cheering&
Four boats $ere pulling for the Storm*ind, t$o for the smaller schooner& -hat loo'ed to be out
of actionE she could see blood running in thin strea's through the ship's scuppers& %"ri#t, and &
t"oug"t t"at *a# a $igure o$ #eec"&
Storm*ind had ta'en bad hits too& Alston $as relying on speed and surprise and the stunning
effect of those first broadsides to 'eep them a$ay from their cannon& -he ne;t thirty seconds
$ould tell if it $as enough&
"-hus, thus<" Alston shouted& %uddenly it $as t"ere, looming huge from the lo$/riding longboat&
" = and at t"em0 @
"+1 A(2 A- '4M<" roared the laden boats&
A -artessian cannon did fire, but too late3the ball $ent overhead, close enough for her to feel
the ugly $ind and 'no$ that fifteen seconds earlier it might have decapitated her as cleanly as a
guillotine& -hen they $ere up against the forepea' of the Storm*ind, $ood grinding on $ood&
Marian leaped up and s$armed up one of the ropes $ith a shout of "Follo$ me<"
0er head came level $ith the rail, to see a -artessian bleeding from half a do.en superficial
$ounds rushing at her $ith a boarding pi'e& %he dre$ her pistol one/handed, ra'ed the hammers
bac' against her thigh and fired& -he long steel head of the pi'e scored across her side li'e a line
of cold fire&
A flip put the barrels of the pistol in her hand& %he smashed it into the man's face, and his nose
$ent flat in a spurt of blood& 0e roared and reeled bac'$ard& -hat let her get her legs do$n on
the Storm*ind'# dec' and ta'e a full/armed s$ing& :one crumpledE she thre$ the pistol in the
ne;t -artessian's face and s$ept out her )atana& -hat dra$ turned into a cut, diagonally do$n
from the left $ith her foot stamping for$ard& -he ugly 6ar of steel in meat and bone hit her
$rists, and she ripped the blade through its arc $ith a $hipping t$ist of arms, shoulders, gut&
@2i##aaa0@
%omething slapped her head around, stinging painE the sensory data $ere distant, nothing to pay
attention to unless it crippled her3she felt calm and utterly alive at the same time, information
pouring in through ears and eyes and s'in and out in the movements of her s$ord and orders& For
a moment the t$o forces $ere loc'ed together, blo$s given and received chest to chest& 0er
)atana 6ammed in bone, and someone 'ic'ed her feet out from underneath her $hile it $as stuc',
by accident or design&
-raining saved her, ma'ing muscle go limp as she fell to the blood/slic' boards& %he dre$ the
shorter *a:i)a#"i and her tanto/'nife, but there $as no $ay to parry the clubbed mus'et that a
short, thic', heavy/bodied -artessian sailor $as raising to beat out her brains& -hen the
-artessian screamed and fell bac', his face half sliced off by a boarding a; in the hands of a
Chamberlain& -he cre$man $as a %un 1eople tribesman, and the battle madness of his fol' $as
on him, eyes sho$ing $hite all around the iris, moving $ith a lethal, inhuman furyD
Alston flipped herself bac' to her feet& "Aou<" she shouted, grabbing the bosun& -he fighting had
surged past her a little& ",et that<"
%he pointed to a small stubby carronade standing to port of the enemy ship's $heel, a flintloc'
piece $ith the hammer coc'ed3 ready, but the enemy had been surprised before they could use
it& -he bosun nodded, understanding her gesture if not her voice in the over$helming noise& 0e
and she and half a do.en others grabbed the little cannon and ran it for$ard&
"5ay, there<" they called&
-he ,uard fighters parted, and there $as a single moment to see the appalled faces of the
-artessians before she 6er'ed the lanyard& 7t leaped bac'$ard, right up the 9uarterdec' and
through the stern rail, but it had done its $or'D and it $as loaded $ith grape&
-he enemy gave $ay, turning and running do$n into the $aist of the ship& Marian paused an
instant to recover her s$ord, a$are in some distant corner of her mind that the sensation of her
feet sliding greasily in a pool of blood and body fluids $ould come bac' to her later& And the
stin', the stin'D
-he Marines among the boarders fell out, reloaded their rifles, and volley/fired from fo'c'sle and
9uarterdec', effective beyond their numbers in their crisp discipline and the ordered glitter of
their bayonets& A -artessian thre$ do$n his cutlass and fell to his 'nees, holding out his hand for
9uarter& -here $as an instant's $avering, and then the enemy's morale bro'e li'e a glass 6ar
dropped on a granite paving stone&
"Cease fire<" Marian called as the rest of the enemy 6oined the first& ":elay fighting, there3
cease fire<"
%he stood, suddenly conscious of pain and of blood pouring in a $et sheet do$n her nec' and
her side& 0er fingers $ent to one ear as a -artessian in an officer's gaudy tunic came and 'nelt,
offering his s$ord& %he too' it, $incing at the same time&
+ell, t"ere goe# t"e earlo3e, she thought, as the boarders began cheering, loud even after the
memory of combat& 8ne ran cat/nimble up the Storm*ind'# rigging, slashed the cro$ned
mountain of -artessos do$n from the mast and ran up the %tars and %tripes&
-he cheering spread across the $ater, and the Republic's flag $as flying from Sun 2ancer too&
Alston felt her 'nees begin to buc'le and clamped her fingers on the $ound despite a sensation
li'e a red/glo$ing steel spi'e thrust through the side of her head& 0ead $ounds al$ays made you
bleed li'e a pig for some reasonE the one in her side $as deeper but not lea'ing as badly&
&$ t"i# )ee# u, eventuall, &'m going to 3e "eld toget"er entirel, 3, #car ti##ue, she thought, then
called aloud>
"4nsign< ,et the first aid going for the $ounded and signal for the medics& :osun, 7 $ant these
prisoners disarmed and under hatches& Aou, there3"
2espite fatigue, despite the grief of losses and the pain of $ounds, she felt a surge of sheer
6oyous relief& -hey $ere going home&
1ome. Mo#t 3eauti$ul *ord in t"e language.
C#ATE! N&NETEEN
(*eruary, Year ,- A.E.)
March, Year ,- A.E.
T"um&
5illiam 5al'er 6ac''nifed bac'$ard as the padded foot slammed into his leather/armored
midriff& 8o-*it", he thought, and thre$ himself bac'$ard into a tumbling roll that brought him
upright again in time to bloc' a follo$/up spinning bac'/'ic'& 8hotolari; closed in, moving
lightly on the stra$ mats of the practice arena, grinning through the bars of his boiled/leather
helmet, gloved hands up&
A roar $ent up from seats around the practice circle $here the audience3officers and senior
noncoms of his Royal ,uard3cheered and yelled, shouting advice and comments& -he 7raiina
$as a big man by the standards of this era, eight years younger than his overlord and a natural
athlete& 0e bored in $ith a flurry of punches, bac'/fist stri'es, then a s$eeping ta'edo$n $ith
his shin&
5al'er grinned himself as he leaped over it, nearly chest/high, and his o$n foot lashed out3the
sho$y 6umping side/'ic', rarely practical& 5al'er spun, then hoo'ed a foot in under the short
ribs& -hey $ent into a grapple, falling and rolling, hands finding and brea'ing leverage/holds& At
last 5al'er caught his guard/captain in a scissors loc' and mimed slamming the heel of his palm
into his face, the 'illing blo$ up under the nose& 0e rose and offered the 7raiina a hand, pulling
him up&
"Aou've gotten pretty good at the %$ord 0and," he said&
"7ndeed, lord," his ,uard commander replied& 0e pulled off his helmet, sha'ing his thatch of
sun/faded to$&
"7t seemed li'e magic to me, that first time 7 sa$ it3you remember, 7'd 6ust lost a $restling
match to 0lo'ora; 5innahtaur's sonB For that girl, $hat $as her nameD and you too' him on
and beat him in t$enty seconds& And gave the girl bac' to me, and 0lo'ora;'s 'nife& 7t $as then 7
'ne$ you $ere the *e"a7ot"i# 7 must follo$&"
5al'er laughed and nodded, slapping the other man on the bac'& 0e did remember that, 9uite
vividlyE it had been on the -agle'# first visit to Alba, before he 'ne$ the language, but he'd still
sensed something significant about the happening&
T"at'# *"en & #toed da,dreaming and 3egan lanning, he thought& -he moment $hen the
4vent became really real to him& T"at moment *"en 4"otolari7 )nelt and ut "i# "and# 3et*een
mine&
-he t$o combatants $al'ed out of the practice circle and headed do$n the corridor to the
officers' bathhouse& 7t $as as $ell e9uipped as the palace, if slightly less sumptuous, tile and
brass rather than marble and gold&
+or) 'em "ard in t"e $ield, treat 'em li)e $ig"ting coc)# t"e re#t o$ t"e time, 5al'er thought& -hat
$as the formula&
0e made sure a lot of the officers $ere men $ho o$ed everything to him, tooE younger sons of
Achaean nobles $ithout prospects, a lot of them, and promotions from the ran's3luc'ily,
service in a 'ing's guard $as high/status $or' here& %ome Albans he' d brought $ith him as $ell,
and a fe$ more $ho'd come along in the intervening years, ones $ho couldn't stomach the peace
the 7slanders had imposed in Alba& -he odd foreign mercenary tooE he made a mental note to
chec' if there $ere any Ringapi in the ran's&
%lave girls too' their s$eat/sodden clothing, lathered them up, and turned on the hot $ater& After
they scrubbed and soa'ed in the tub, they lay on massage tables $hile the attendants pummeled
and thumped as they sipped fruit 6uice& 7t $as hot and steamy here, the scent of steam and clean
stone bro'en by the sharp medicinal odor of the massage oil&
8hotolari; laughed& "7've even gotten used to being $ashed by $omen," he said&
5al'ed noddedE the 7raiina $ere a pretty prudish bunch, in some respects& After a silence bro'en
only by the slap of the girls' hands on hard, taut muscle, he spo'e> "0ave you ever regretted
follo$ing me hereB"
-he 7raiian shrugged, muscle rippling in his thic' shoulders& -o his $ay of thin'ing, that hadn't
been a choice& 0e had put his hands bet$een 5al'er's, and an honorable $arrior follo$ed his
chief $herever he led, even into the Cold Lands beyond the grave&
:y no$ he $as used to the conditional/hypothetical $ay of thin'ing, though&
"(ot often, lord& 7 confess, sometimes the summers here are too hot, and the people al$ays too
sly and tric'sy, and they use too much garlic, and sometimes 7 long to see beech trees and sno$
and heather again, and smell a north $ind $histling off the fens& :ut bac' in the northlands 7'd
never have been more than a *irto*ona7@3an ordinary freeman of the tribe& "0ere 7'm great
chief held in high honor, many men 'no$ my name, bards sing my deeds, and 7 have $omen and
land, cattle and horses and gold of my o$n, $ith the best of lords to follo$& And strong sons to
sacrifice at my graveE four, not counting by/blo$s, and all of them alive<"
"-han's to 0ong," 5al'er noted&
1o* man, )id# m,#el$B he thought& T*elve t"at &'ve ac)no*ledged. And &"igenia i# regger#,
a# Alice ut# it& Most of the Achaeans assumed that child $ould be his heir, but in fact he
intended to pic' $hoever turned out best& A good *a, to )ee t"e )id# ver,, ver, attentive and
eager to lea#e t"e old man, too&
8hotolari; made a slight grimace at 0ong's nameE he didn't li'e the Lady of 1ain&
+ell, thought 5al'er tolerantly, not man, eole do li)e Alice, e7cet t"e one# #"e'#
3rain*a#"ed& 0er Little %hop of 4;perimental 0orrors out in the country had produced some
strange results, & do li)e "er, 3ut t"en, not man, are a# 3roadminded a# & am&
"5hat did you thin' of the RingapiB" he said&
"Much li'e my fol', lord3richer, though& -hey'll fight $ell, in the old fashion& -heir horses
$ere good, of their 'ind, and they 'ne$ ho$ to handle a chariot&"
"7 agree&" 0e $as silent for a $hile& "7'm thin'ing of sending a mission to their country, to
establish a stronghold& 7 might $ant you to command that&"
"Lord<" 8hotolari; $as alarmed& "7'd miss the fighting<"
5al'er shoo' his head& "(o, 6ust fight in a different area& And 7 need a man 7 can trust absolutely
there&"
-hat mollified the 7raiinaE he thought the Achaeans $ere treacherous faithless dogs to a man, and
by his standards he $as right& "5hat's their land li'eB" he said&
",reat plains of grass, surrounded by mountains $ith thic' forest& -imber and mines in the
mountains, $ith the to$ns and villages on the flats, and great rivers running through it& Marshes
$ith reeds and a lot of game, $ildfo$l, boar, aurochs& Colder $inters than here, too cold for
olives, but vines $ill gro$ there&"
"7t sounds a goodly land, lord&" A laugh& "5hy didn't $e go thereB"
"7 considered it," 5al'er said& ":ut there are so many advantages to being by the sea&" A pause&
"2isadvantages too, of course&"
-he 7raiina's bro$s 'nottedE he $asn't a stupid man by any means, and he'd learned a good deal
since his days as a simple $arrior/herdsman&
"Aou don't thin' $e'll have the victory in this $ar, lordB"
"7 thin' $e $ill have the victory, but 7'm not certain& -he Ringapi could be useful either $ay&"
-hey tal'ed until the ne;t fe$ contestants came into the baths3 one $as carried through limp,
off to the medic3and the conversation became more general& -here $ere a fe$ halfhearted
attempts to pump him for the inside s'inny on the coming $ar, but he fro$ned those into silence
3the need/to/'no$ principle $as something he $or'ed hard at getting into their heads&
0e did hint at promotions, $hich $as true enoughE he used the guard as a training ground for his
officer cadre& 5hen the men ad6ourned to their mess for a little further partying, 5al'er headed
instead for the stables& 0e caroused $ith the guard officers fairly oftenE they $ere a pretty good
set of guys, the hero $orship didn't hurt and there $as no loss of face3in this country even gods
$ere supposed to come do$n and 'ic' up their heels no$ and then& :ut today he felt thoughtful&
7t $as a bright $inter's afternoon outside, 6ust bris' enough to ma'e him glad of the cloa' as he
$al'ed across the parade ground and through the sere gardens at the base of the hill that held his
palace& A hound $aiting for him at the door sprang up and gamboled about as he came out,
6umping up and lic'ing at his hands until he cuffed it affectionately aside&
"2o$n, Rover, goddammit< 7s there anything 7 miss about the t$entiethB" he mused aloud3in
4nglish, $hich made it private& "Let's see3movies, deep/dish pi..a, good barbecue sauce, air
conditioning, C2sD and that's about it& 2on't thin' you'd have li'ed it there& Rover& 2o$n<
,ood dog<"
T"an) 8od $or 4"otolari7, *"o'# a good dog too, he thought& -he lunatic $arrior code of his
fol' $as deep in the 7raiina's bonesE 5al'er understood the motivations thoroughly, $ithout
sharing them in the least& %o long as 5al'er fulfilled the obligations of a chief, the 7raiina $ould
be loyal unto death& 7t $as good to have a fe$ completely honest men around&
(articularl, i$ ,ou're? $le7i3le and reali#tic ,our#el$, 5al'er thought $ith a chuc'le, s$inging
his arms& &mortant to remem3er t"at eole are di$$erentA ,ou can't al*a,# judge ot"er eole'#
motivation# 3, ,our o*n&
0e felt loose and rela;ed, alert and strong all at once from the hard e;ercise and the hot $ater
and massage&
8n impulse he $al'ed through to the stable comple;& 0e 'ept some dried apricots on him and
no$ fed them to a fe$ of his favorite mounts& -hey came eagerly at the sound of his step,
snorting, ears coc'ed for$ard&
& under#tand your motivation#, too, he thought& 0orses and dogs $ere more honest than human
beingsE they didn't retend to love you because you fed them, they actually did&
Rover had been sniffing aroundE no$ he raised his head, coc'ed his o$n hairy ears, $hined, and
then gro$led slightly& 5al'er heard the noise a little later, and then a stablehand $as bac'ing
into the hall$ay& Althea came after him, in riding clothes, slashing at him $ith her riding cropE at
nine she $as only a couple of inches shorter than the slave, sho$ing promise of her father's
height& -he stable $or'er bac'ed up, babbling e;cuses and sheltering his face $ith crossed arms
that sho$ed bleeding $elts from the steel/cored leatherE he 'ne$ better than to try and touch the
girl, of course&
"0ey, $hat's upB" 5al'er said&
Cuite a temer on t"at c"ic), he thought, loo'ing at his daughter ob6ectively& &n a coule o$
,ear#, #"e'# going to 3e quite a #ig"t, too& Long buttercup/colored hair fell do$n her bac',
shining from careful attentionE her face $as oval and regular, the eyes large and cornflo$er blue&
"-hisD thisD this $ool had %tamper ta'en over to the farriers to be shod today<" Althea said& "7
$anted to ride him, and no$ 7 can't<"
-he slave $as from some tribe in the northern mountains and had most of his face covered $ith
$oad/blue tattoosE it didn't hide the depth of his fear as he turned and thre$ himself at 5al'er's
feet&
"Lord, it $asn't my fault< (obody said he'd be needed today, 7 s$ear by Rheasos the Rider<"
",et out," 5al'er said, nudging him $ith a toe&
5hen the man had scurried a$ay, he reached out and gripped his daughter by the bac' of the
nec' in an iron grip that brought a s9uea' of surprise& -hen he effortlessly pluc'ed the 9uirt out
of her grasp and gave her three stro'es $ith it, across the seat of her tight riding pants, hard
enough to ma'e her 6ump&
"Huiet<" he said, $hen she s9ualled&
"Aes, Father," she said, stepping bac' and rubbing her bac'side refle;ively& 0er blue eyes
narro$edE not a hint of tears, he sa$ $ith approval& "5hy did you do thatB"
":ecause you lost your temper," 5al'er said&
"Father< 0e's 6ust a #lave&"
"8h, it's not the slave," 5al'er said& "1lenty more $here he came from& 5ou're the one $ho
scre$ed up& 5hat do 7 say about angerB"
"8h&" %he fro$ned in thought& "7 see, Father& Aes, that it's a good servant but a poor master&"
"Right on, infant& Aou can't master anything unless you master yourself& 7f you ate s$eets
$henever you felt li'e it and didn't bother to e;ercise, $ho $ould you beB"
%he giggled& "A big fat ugly sausage3Minister %el.nic'&"
"And if you started hitting and 'illing every time you felt angryB"
"7'd be Auntie 0ong<"
5al'er shouted laughter, and the girl grinned& "-hat's funny but not true, Althea& Aour Aunt
0ong isD ah, sort of strange&"
"2ad," Althea said, dropping into 4nglish for a moment, "she's a #ic)o&"
"5ell, yes, actuallyD $ho did you get that $ord fromB"
":ill3Mr& Cuddy&"
"Ah, yesD and don't try to distract me, young lady& 7f you didn't control your anger, you'd be no
better than all these $og lordlets& -hin' about it for a moment& 7t's good to have people $ear you,
but they shouldn't be afraid you'll start $hipping them the moment some little thing goes $rong,
or 'illing them for telling you something you don't $ant to hear& 7f you do, they'll lie to you3
more than they $ould other$ise3and al$ays tell you $hat they thin' you do $ant to hear&
-hat's li'e being fuc'ing 3lind, girl& And they may fear your temper, but they'll lac' respect for
,ou&"
0e bent over and caught her eye, his voice going cold& "And you $ill never, never do anything
that might ma'e people lose respect for us& +nderstandB"
%he flushed and loo'ed do$n at her booted toes& "8'ay, 2ad," she said in a small voice&
"8'ay, then& (o$ go get yourself another horse&"
5al'er ruffled the dog's ears as his daughter trotted a$ay& ",ood 'id," he said, sighing $ith
contentment&
"5ell, that's that," Marian Alston said& %he loo'ed do$n at the paper and the totals of her pri.e
money and %$indapa's, neatly summed up and deposited to their account at the 1acific :an'& "7t
seems a little e;cessive&"
Fared Cofflin 9uir'ed the corner of his mouth& "%o $ere the cargoes on those boats you captured
e;cessive& -he government's share is enough to pay the repairs on the %"am3erlain and a good
chun' of the e;pedition's costs as $ell& And $here they found the gold dust and nuggets ,od
alone 'no$s&"
"%he isn't tal'ing, but 7 suspect Australia, then bac' via the %unda %trait," Marian said& "And
they $ere ships, not boats& 5ell, a schooner and a brig, if you $ant to get technical&"
"(o$ you're sounding li'e Leaton," Cofflin said&
"(o," %$indapa said, loo'ing up from her seat by the fire across the room& "(ot 9uite li'e
Ronald&"
0er goddaughter Marian Cofflin and 0eather and Lucy $ere curled up on the settee $ith her,
and the rest of the Cofflins' children sat on the rug at her feet as she read from a big leather/
bound boo'& -he rain had canceled the high school football game they'd originally planned to
attend today& %he mar'ed her place $ith her thumb and $ent on>
"Marian 6ust sounds li'e she loves ships& Leaton sounds li'e he $ants to3" %he visibly
remembered 4agle 1eople taboos about $hat could be said in front of children3"become very
intimate $ith the machinery he loves&"
Martha chuc'led from the other side of the dining/room table, and there $as a chorus of giggles
from the children&
"7t loo's li'e $e'll be getting that place in the country, sugar," Marian said& Martha raised a bro$
and the commodore $ent on> "5e $ere tal'ing it over3retirement place, and 'dapa $ould li'e
to raise horses& %ome$here $ith a pier for a boat&"
"5e're going to "ave onie#'&" 0eather saidE Lucy nodded vigorously, and the Cofflins' children
loo'ed at them $ith envy&
"-hat sounds nice& -he 9uestion right no$, though, is are $e at $ar $ith -artessosB" Martha
said&
"7 don't thin' so," Cofflin said& "7 had 7an on the radio this morning, and he doesn't thin' so
either, and neither does Christa :eale, and she's holding the fort as far as the -artessos des' is
concerned& -heir assessment is that 7s'eterol $ants to stay neutral for no$ and $ill claim3$hat
did 7an say3plausible deniability and pay us a $hon'ing great fine to get the men and ships
bac'& Ayup, no $ar&"
"(ot ,et," Alston said grimly& "7t's coming, though& %o 7'd advise you to 'eep the ships, at least3
$e have to give the cre$s bac', of course, but 7 thin' 7s'eterol can afford losing silver more than
he can t$o good hulls&"
"Aou thin' soB" Cofflin said& "0mmm& Aou 'no$, 7'm not altogether sure that 6ust having an
alliance $ith 5al'er $ill push 7s'eterol into fighting us&"
"7t $ouldn't, but there's more than that& 5al'er is pushing 7s'eterol, but it's a direction he $ants
to be pushed& 5ithout us, -artessos $ould be one of the t$o great po$ers3and the only one
$ith access to the $orld ocean& 5ith us, they're frustrated every$here they turn, and $e're
helping the Albans catch up 9uic'ly& 5al'er $ill give him all the help he canE he's probably
reali.ed $hat $e're doing in :abylonia by no$&"
Cofflin sco$led& "7 don't li'e fighting t$o $ars at once&"
"7 don't li'e fighting any at all, but 7 also don't thin' $e're going to have any choice," Alston
said, sipping at her lu'e$arm cocoa& -he late/autumn rain $as beating outside the $indo$s of
the Chief's 0ouse, cold and on the verge of being slush&
8ood old 8ra, <ad, o$ t"e 6ort"ern Sea, Alston thought& <iving u to "er 5an)ee *a,#& %he
loved her adopted home, but there $as no denying that the climate $as lousy si; to eight months
a year& -ig"t mont"# o$ *inter, $our mont"# o$ 3ad #)iing&
"5e'll have to consider $hat $e're going to do to convince 7s'eterol of the error of his $ays,"
Cofflin said&
8ff on the other side of the big room %$indapa's voice rose and fell musically> "&t *a# #even
o'cloc) o$ a ver, *arm evening in t"e Seeconee "ill# *"en !at"er +ol$ *o)e u $rom "i# da,'#
re#t, #cratc"ed "im#el$, ,a*ned, and #read out "i# a*# one a$ter t"e ot"er to get rid o$ t"e
#lee, $eeling in t"eir ti#. Mot"er +ol$ la, *it" "er 3ig gra, no#e droed acro## $our
tum3ling, #quealing cu3#3li'e you little ones3and t"e moon #"one into t"e mout" o$ t"e cave
*"ere t"e, all lived&"
-he children yipped and gro$led, pretending to be $olf cubs, and then settled do$n for the rest
of the story& Fared loo'ed at his $atch&
"%pea'ing of Ron, $e ought to duc' over to %eahavenE he $ants to sho$ us some of his ne$est
toys," the Chief said& "%$indapaB MarthaB"
%$indapa shoo' her head& "7'm not bac' on duty until tomorro$, 2oc Coleman says," she said,
loo'ing up and holding her place $ith a finger $hile the children tugged at her& "7 $ant to find
out $hat happens in this story too&"
"And 7'm going to go over these ta; proposals for the 5arrant," Martha said& "%ee you t$o at
dinner&"
"%ee you then," Alston replied, "and ne;t Friday it's our turn to have y'all over&"
-hey too' their sou'$esters and slic'ers from pegs in the front hall and duc'ed out into the
steady dri..le& -he streets $ere fairly busyE (antuc'et $as a $or'ing to$n no$ and didn't let a
little $ater slo$ things do$n on a $ee'day afternoon& A hauler $ent by as they turned onto
Center %treet, and a string of horse/dra$n $agons passed in the opposite direction& Cofflin
nodded at them&
"(e$ business," he said& "-a'ing do$n spare houses, then shipping 'em out to Long 7sland or
1rovidence :ase and putting 'em bac' up&"
"%ensible," Marian said&
(antuc'et's year/round population had increased, over ten thousand no$, but there $ere still
empty houses, and everything had to be built from scratch in the outports, as they $ere coming
to be called&
-hey turned onto Main and $aved to Foseph %tarbuc', $ho $as going into the 1acific :an' at
the head of the street& Cofflin shoo' his head as they eeled through the dense cro$ds amid an
odor of damp $ool and fish from carts delivering to the eateries&
"4very time 7 see that place, 7 remember my first speech, up on the ban' steps," he said& "-he
night of the 4vent, $hen $e had all those lights in the s'y and everyone $as panic'ing& 7 might
have myself, if 7 hadn't had to calm t"em do$n& And then the stars came bac', and 7 thought
everything $as all rightD until 7 noticed $here the moon $as&"
"%ame $ith me," Alston said& "7t $as the stars did it&"
-hey turned right at Candle %treet $here it led into 5ashington, running southeast parallel to the
line of the harbor and bac' from the ne$ dredged channels and solid/fill piers& A leafless forest
of mast and spar and an occasional smo'estac' sho$ed over the tops of the buildings to their
leftE pre/4vent bouti9ues converted to sail/lofts and chandlers' shops and $arehouses, $ith a
cro$d dressed mostly in seagoing oils'ins, $ith s$eaters and rough pants and seaboots belo$
that& -hey stopped for a moment $hile a do.en people manhandled a huge sausage of canvas
onto a cart, and listened to a 9uartermaster dic'ering over the price of t$enty/five barrels of salt
beef&
"%alt $hale, more li'e," the 9uartermaster said, her face going red& "%ell it to the fuc'ing
Marines, Andy< Four/fifty is piracy, nothing but& -hree seventy/five a cas', and 7 $ant a $ritten
$arranty&"
"-hree seventy/fiveB -he #tave# are $orth more than that& 0ave a heart, McAndre$s, have 7 ever
stiffed you beforeB Loo', let's3"
Cofflin grinned as they $al'ed on& "Aou 'no$, that's something 7 don't regret," he said& "-hat
$e're ma'ing our o$n history again, instead of living off selling the image of it& -he $ay this
to$n $as put under glass for the tourists al$ays sort of got me, before&"
"(ot anymore," Alston said& "%melling's believing&"
-he Chief gave a small snort& 7t *a# a little thic' do$n here, especially since the rendery and
tanneries had been moved out to this part of to$n& Fish, the collecting tan's for the offal3useful
for fertili.er3 and half a do.en crafts added to the aroma&
-he buildings on their right $ere mostly post/4vent, factories and $or'ships in big timber/built
shingled bo;es, many $ith tall bric' smo'estac's, their plumes of $oodsmo'e adding a thic'
tang to the air& -hey passed signs> 5ashington mills sailcloth and cordage and .ero main se$ing
machinesE that one had a cart at the loading bay, $ith crates of its treadle/po$ered $onders
being moved onto it3they $ere turning into a ma6or e;port& -hrough the open bay doors they
caught a glimpse of belts and shafting and $hirring, clattering lathes and drill presses&
4A,L4 4A4 @(7--7(,, 28('% MAR7(4 %-4AM 4(,7(4% A(2 ,4AR7(,, smiths and
carpenters and plumbers and moreE merchants' offices, %+( 7%LA(2 %07117(,, C0A1MA(
A(2 C0AR(4%, -4L4(A-R8 A(2 F4L2MA(D then the turnoff to the ne$ shipyards on
their left& -hat $as $here the %"am3erlain $as under repair in the span'ing/ne$ dry doc', and a
second $as being constructed&
Cofflin's face reflected a sober satisfaction at $hat his people had accomplishedE this $as
prosperity, as the Aear ! defined it& 0ard, demanding $or', although ,od 'ne$ any sort of in/
to$n labor $as safer and softer than the fisheries& 7t all put food on the table and clothes on the
bac'& 1lus paying to 'eep civili.ation alive3schools and police and national defenseD
"7'm $orried about having 7an out so far," he said& "Missed him more than 7 anticipatedE the
man's right smart&"
Alston nodded& ":ut he's doing a fine 6ob $here he is," she said& "7 couldn't have negotiated that
treaty $ith :abylon, and from the reports"3she'd spent several days reading the bac'log as soon
as the %"am3erlain limped into (antuc'et 0arbor $ith her pri.es at her heels3"he's building
something solid there&"
A spell of thoughtful silence, and then Cofflin spo'e> "5hat are our chances, if it does come to
an all/out fightB"
"1retty good, but they'd be better in a fe$ years," Marian said& "5al'er and 7s'eterol both have
less technological depth than $e do, but they've got more breadth3much bigger populations to
dra$ on, $hich compensates for the lo$er productivity& 5e're starting to pull ahead, though, and
soon $e'll have stuff that $ill ta'e them a lot longer to match& %pea'ing of $hich, here $e are3
the magician's lair&"
Cofflin snorted& "Let's see $hat rabbit Ron's pulled out of the hat for us this time&"
%eahaven 4ngineering had started out its post/4vent career in a big boat shed do$n by the end of
5ashington %treet, near the shipyard& Much of the production had moved to a big ne$ plant out
by the :essemer casting plant, but there $as still a ceaseless bustle here& 7t smelled of hot metal,
and $hale/oil lubricant, and a little of the tingle of o.one from electric $elders po$ered by the
$ind generators around to$n&
Fared Cofflin and Marian Alston created a bit of a stir $hen they $al'ed in together and hung
their dripping oils'ins on pegs over a trough& A cler' sho$ed them through the long sho$room
$here 7slanders and foreign merchants placed ordersE through the great, hot, echoing brightness
of the main machine shop, lit by sputtering, popping arc lamps high above&
-he cler' opened a door, letting the noise of the shop floor into the $ooden cubicle $here
Leaton had his office, and yelled their names over it& Cofflin hid a smileE he'd al$ays li'ed Ron's
management style, too&
-he office $as as cluttered as ever but bigger3an e;tension had been added for more boo'shelf
space, a draftsman's table $ith the rarity of an electric light& 8n a des' stood an even greater one
3a $or'ing computer, under special license from the -o$n& 7t $ould be generations, if ever,
before the 7slanders could replace any of its components beyond the casing and the on/off
s$itch, but %eahaven had need of it no$&
-he head of the firm $as using the mouse to rotate a $ire/dra$ing outline of some machine partE
he clic'ed on %ave and turned, sprang up from the littered table and advanced $ith outstretched
hand&
"Fared, Marian<" he said eagerly& ",ood to see you<"
"From the smile, 7 gather it must $or', Ron," Fared replied as he shoo' his handE then his o$n
lips 9uir'ed& Leaton's enthusiasm $as as infectious as a puppy's&
"Aes, indeed<" Leaton said& "5e've got it in :ay (umber -$o& 7t $as the ammunition problem
that $as toughest, but $e're setting up a production/scale plant out of to$n by Casting (umber
8ne3closer to the po$der mill, any$ay&"
Cofflin nodded $hile Leaton rummaged in a dra$erE gunpo$der manufacture $as one thing
they'd .oned right out in the countryside by ,ibbs 1ond from the beginning, and convenience be
damned& -he thought of a couple of tons of the stuff going off around hereD
"0ere it is," the machinist/turned/industrialist said, handing over a brass cartridge&
Fared Cofflin too' it and turned it over in his hands& "%till &=LB"
"Mmmm/hmmm& (o reason to change it, and that $ay $e don't have to do up ne$ 6igs and bits
for the rifling benches and boring machines& 1riorities, againD $e' re still short of tool steel, the
high/carbon cutters $or', but they $ear out so damn fast& 8'ay, sorry& 7'll stop complaining& -he
bullet's virtually the same as the 5estley/Richards model too3a little more antimony and tin for
hardening&"
"5hat's thisB" Cofflin said, flic'ing his thumbnail against the rim& :et$een it and the body of the
shell $as a thin rounded section&
"Miniature brass tube3$e fabricate the base separately and then 6oin it to the shell body $ith
this& Ma'es it a hell of a lot easier to3 $ell, not to get technicalD"
Cofflin and Alston loo'ed at each other and shared a dry chuc'le& Leaton grinned and patted the
air $ith his hands, ac'no$ledging the hit& 0e $as notorious all over the Republic for his
readiness to shove technical detail into the ear of anyone $ho'd listen&
"All right, not to get too technical, it ma'es it a hell of a lot easier to fabricate& 0ere&" 0e pulled a
blac' cylinder out of the dra$er& "-old you about this, didn't 7, MarianB"
"Mmmm/hmmm&" %he turned it over in her fingers, a blac' tube $ith a thin hole do$n the
center& "Compressed gunpo$der," she said to Fared&
"5hat's the pointB" Fared as'ed& "7'd thin' that $ould ma'e it harder to fill the shell, since it's
bottlenec'ed&"
"7t's the shape," Marian e;plained& "8rdinary blac' po$der blo$s up as the grains burn from the
outside in& -his burns from the inside out, faster and faster 'till it's all gone&"
Leaton nodded enthusiastically& "(ineteen hundred feet per second, as opposed to fourteen
hundred for the old 5estley/Richards," he said& ":y the $ay, 7'm $or'ing on a ,atling gun
using the same cartridge3very promising&"
"(ice $or', Ron," Cofflin said&
"%tole the idea for the compressed po$der> Lee/Metford, GGG& Metford rifling, too&"
"Aou did the research&"
-hey follo$ed the engineer out into the shop, and then into one of the long timber bays& A stoc'y
$oman in a leather apron studded $ith poc'ets and loops for tools loo'ed up and smiled greeting
to Leaton, nodded to the Chief and Alston&
",ot 'em right here," she said, handing a rifle to Cofflin and another to the commodore& "First
batch3all the colly$obbles out, as far as $e can tell&"
"7nteresting," Cofflin said, turning the $eapon over in his hands& Most of it loo'ed li'e the
5estley/Richards, but instead of a side/mounted hammer there $as a small rounded lever
protruding from a curved slot on the right& Flush $ith the upper side of the $eapon $as a
rectangular steel bloc' that had a milled groove in the top and pivoted in a steel bo; set into the
$ood of the stoc'&
"%ingle/shotB" he said& Leaton nodded& "5hy not a maga.ine gunB"
Marian replied for him& "@7%% principle," she said& /ee &t Simle, StuidA the Republic had
learned that early on& "-his has gotD ho$ manyB"
"-$elve moving parts," Leaton said& "%ee the scre$ at the bac'B"
"Ayup," Cofflin said&
"+ndo that, and then you can strip it do$n for cleaning and repair by hand, li'e this"3he
demonstrated3"no tools re9uired& A blac'smith $ho's a good hand $ith a metal file could repair
any of the parts, or duplicate them at need&"
-he engineer snapped the $eapon bac' together again& "0ere's ho$ it $or's& Aou push do$n on
the grooved bloc' li'e this for the first round&"
Cofflin obeyedE there $as a soft, yielding resistance and a slight clic)& -he bloc' pivoted do$n
from a pin at the rear, and no$ it made a ramp that led straight into the chamber&
"%lide a round into the breech&" Cofflin pushed it do$n $ith his thumb& "(o$ put your right
hand on the stoc' and pull the little lever bac' and do$n& -hat's half/coc'3the $eapon's on
safety no$& 1ull it bac' all the $ay, and $hen you hear the ne;t clic' it's ready to fire&"
Cofflin too' the rifle over to the $aist/high bench that separated the $or'room from the firing
range& 7t $as about a hundred yards long, $ith thic' timber to either side and a $all of sandbags
at the end to hold the man/shaped target& (antuc'et's Chief put the $eapon to his shoulder,
giving a grunt of satisfaction at the smooth, $ell/balanced feel& %9uee.e the trigger gentlyD
7t bro'e clean, $ith a crisp action& %rac), and the butt 'ic'ed his shoulderE he lo$ered it again&
"0o$ do 7 get the spent shell out and reloadB" he as'ed&
Leaton chuc'led li'e a child $ith a Christmas surprise to besto$& "Fust pull the trigger all the
$ay bac' so it hits that little trip/release stud behind it," he said&
Cofflin did, and started slightly as the breechbloc' snapped do$n and the spent cartridge $as
e6ected to the rear and slightly to the rightE he blin'ed as it $ent ing on the asphalt floor and
rolled a$ay& -he technician scooped it up and dropped it into one of the capacious poc'ets that
studded her leather apron, $here it 6ingled $ith a good many others&
"-$o springs, inside, 7 guessB" he said& "5ell, that'll ma'e it easier to use&"
Marian slung a bandolier over her shoulder& "4asier and faster," she said, buc'ling bac' the
cover flap& :rass cartridges sho$ed in neat ro$s, nestling in their canvas loops& "5atch&"
%he brought the rifle to her shoulder and fired& %rac), and a puff of off/$hite smo'e $as added
to the one he'd made& Ting, and the breech $ent do$n and the shell e6ected&
!a#ter, all rig"t, he noted& -he old rifles $ent 3angD beatD beatD beatD beatD 3ang $hen
you $ere firing as fast as you could& -his $as more li'e 3angD beatD beatD 3ang&
%he repeated the process once more in slo$ motion& "%ee, there are only four movements to
reload3ta'e your hand off the stoc', reach do$n for a cartridge, thumb it home, then thumb
bac' the coc'ing lever and aim& -hat's about the same as for a bolt/action rifle&"
Cofflin $histled, $or'ing his 6a$ to help his abused ears& "Fast is right," he said& "Four, mebbe
five seconds bet$een roundsB"
"-$elve aimed rounds a minute," Leaton agreed proudly, rubbing his hands together& "5ith a
little practice& -hat's t$ice $hat the 5estley/Richards can do, and this one's got more range and
accuracy, as $ell&"
"And it's $aterproof, unli'e the flintloc's, the rifle and the ammunition both," Alston said&
"Iirtually soldier/proof, too& %imple, rugged, easy to use and maintain& +ntil $e can go to
smo'eless po$der and a semi/auto, this is our best bet, 7 thin'&"
"Ron," Cofflin said sincerely, "you've done it again& Congratulations<"
"AhD" Leaton shuffled his feet& "Actually, it's the fruit of a $eird taste in reading matter& 7t's
,erman, originally3:avarian, from the G#Ls, 7 6ust modified the design a bit here and there&
,uy named 5erder from Munich developed it, one of those all/round Iictorian inventors and
machinists& 8bscure, but probably the best single/shot rifle ever made&"
"8'ay, tell me the bad ne$s3productionB"
Leaton grinned& "-his time, the bad ne$s is good, Chief& 5e can turn out t$o hundred a $ee',
and the ammunition $ill be ample&"
A thought struc' Cofflin& "5ait a minute," he said, loo'ing do$n at the rifle in his hands& &
certainl, *ant our 3o,# and girl# to "ave t"e 3e#t, 3utD
"Couldn't 5al'er duplicate thisB 0e's copying our 5estley/Richards no$&"
Marian nodded $ith a shar''s amusement, and Leaton guffa$ed& "5e hope he tries, Chief," the
engineer said& "Aeah, he could duplicate the ri$le $ithout much of a problem&"
-he commodore too' up the e;planation> ":ut getting reliable dra$n/brass cartridges and
primers, t"at $on't be nearly so easy& ,od/damned difficult, as a matter of fact&"
Leaton made a gesture& "0e'll be able to do it, eventually," he said& ":ill Cuddy's a first/rate
machinist, $hatever else is $rong $ith him, and from the reports you've been sending me they've
got a fair little machine/tool business going there& %till behind ours because they started out
$ithout our po$er sources or stoc' of materials, but gro$ing fast& %o, yes, he could duplicate the
5erder and eventuall, the ammo if he gets a copy to reverse/engineer& 8f course, 5al'er hasn't
got our scale and most of his $or'ers are rote/trained, not all/rounders& :ottom line, it'll $aste
his resources for a good year, maybe three, if he tries to s$itch over3cutting into his 5estley/
Richards production pretty bad, $e thin'&"
"And if 7 'no$ 5al'er," Marian Alston said $ith satisfaction in her tone, "he $on't be able to
resist trying to match anything $e do, if it's remotely possible& An ego as big as the Montana
s'ies&"
-he three 7slanders shared a long, $olfish chuc'le& Leaton turned to a cabinet, opened it, and
handed Alston a revolver and belt& "-his is by $ay of a belated coming/home present," he said&
"Modeled on the Colt 1ython, but in L mm3&=L& :lac'/po$der, of course, but you'll find it an
improvement over the double/barreled flintloc's, 7 thin'&"
"5hy, than' you, Ron," Marian said, giving the $eapon a 9uic' chec'& "(o$, $e have to tal'
priorities&"
"Ayup," Cofflin said& "Aou $ant the e;peditionary force to get first crac'B"
Alston surprised him by sha'ing her head& "(ot until they can ma'e their o$n ammunition& 7'm
not going to put a thousand of my people seven thousand miles of irregular sailing/ship passage
a$ay from their sole and only ammunition supply& -hat's a point/failure source&"
"Couple of months minimum for that," Leaton said& "-he people you sent can handle the
e9uipment, but some of it's fairly comple;& -a'e a $hile to run up another set&"
"Right," Alston said& "First $e'll re/e9uip the Ready Force"3the 7slander citi.ens doing their
initial training3"the first/line militia battalions, and the ships'/company Marines& 5e can ship
the surplus 5estley/Richards to @ar/2uniash to e9uip local forces, and the Marines there can
hand over theirs too $hen $e get them 5erders&"
"Mmmm, sounds sensible," Cofflin said& 0e usually left specialists to handle their o$n areas of
e;pertise3that $as half the secret of doing the Chief's 6ob right, remembering not to 6oggle
elbo$s& -he other half $as pic'ing the right e;perts to begin $ith, of course&
C#ATE! TWENTY
*eruary+March, Year ,- A.E.
(April, Year ,- A.E.)
+r :ase's main communications room held several short$ave sets& -hey $ere tal'ing in the
clearE one of the fe$ things they definitely did 'no$ $as that 5al'er's radio had stayed behind
in Alba $hen he left& 0e might be able to intercept a spar'/gap Morse signal, but nobody in
Mycenaean ,reece $as going to duplicate a voice set&
Colonel 0ollard sat in the $oven/reed chair and put the headset on, ad6usting the mi'e&
"+r :ase," the radio technician said& "-his is +r :ase& Come in, 2ur/@urigal.u& Come in,
please&"
"-his is Councilor Arnstein's office in 2ur/@urigal.u& Receiving you loud and clear& 8ver&"
"Roger that, 2ur/@urigal.u& 7'm handing over to the colonel&"
"0ello, 7an& 5hat's upB"
"0i, @en& 7'm calling about your lost princessE thought 7'd chec' up on her& And there's some
other ne$s& 0o$'s she doingB"
"(ot badly," Colonel 0ollard said& "5e gave her a guesthouse and hired those t$o Assyrian girls
to do the coo'ing and suchli'e& %he's studying 4nglish, but pretty 9uiet other$ise& (ot
surprising, considering the trauma she $ent through& -he 'id's got guts&"
"5hat about brainsB 2oreen thought she $as very bright&"
"Iery is the $ord& Lot of culture shoc', of course, but she's adaptable as $ell&"
"0mmmm&"
"%irB"
"5hy so formal, @enB"
"5ell, 7 $as $ondering $hat you have in mind for her," @enneth 0ollard said& "5e've gotten
about all the intelligence data $e can, and she's got no real place here& 7 $as thin'ing about
sponsoring her bac' on/7sland3sending her to stay at my brother's place, maybe&"
Arnstein chuc'led& "Aes, she's a li'able sort too, in that 7/am/a/princess $ay, isn't sheB (o, 7
don't thin' $e'll ta'e her off the board 6ust yet, Colonel& 2oreen and 7 have been tal'ing it over,
and there must be #ome sort of use $e can ma'e of the last of the Mitannian royal line&"
"%irD" 0ollard fought do$n annoyanceE Arnstein $as 6ust doing his 6ob& "%ir, she's already gone
through a lot&"
"7'm a$are of that, @en," Arnstein soothed& "And believe me, $e're not going to do anything
against her interests& :ut *e're here for the interests of the Republic, not as a find/a/place/for/
strays agency&"
" Aessir& 7'm going to be dropping in on her in a minute, any$ay, as a matter of fact&"
",ood," Arnstein said& "7t $ould be best if she has positive feelings to$ard the Republic&"
"7 don't thin' she thin's in those categories, sir," 0ollard said& "7t's giri, hereE personal
obligations&"
"0mmmmm, you have a point& Mitanni $as more of a feudal state than most of these ancient
8riental despotisms, as far as $e can tell3 $hich isn't very far& 2amn, but 7 $ish 7 had more
staff 9ualified to do research in the archives here<"
"%ir, learning that script is a nightmare&"
"Aou're telling me," Arnstein said& "0o$ are the scribes comingB"
"Huite $ell&"
",ood& 7'll hire a couple and set them going on transliterations," he said& A''adian could be
$ritten 9uite $ell in the Roman alphabet& ",ood long/term pro6ect, any$ay& 7 doubt cuneiform
$ill be used for more than another century or so, and then anything that hasn't been $ritten do$n
in the ne$ medium $ill be lost&"
0ollard's bro$s $ent up& "Aou really thin' soB"
"8h, yes& (ot a certainty, of course, but highly probable, once paper and printing catch on3you
can't print cuneiform, not really& Aou 'no$, one reason 7 regret not being immortal is that 7 $on't
find out $hat's going to "aen here&"
"Councilor, 7'd settle for 'no$ing $hat's happening in ,reece&"
"-hat 7 can help you $ith&"
0ollard leaned for$ard eagerly& "5hatB"
"5e've finally gotten some informants into coastal Anatolia3your lost princess did help us
there, the names of some merchants $ho trade through 0angilibat, and for a $onder they're
alive& -he latest intelligence is that this 0ittite chief $ho's rebelled against @ing -udhaliya3 the
one Raupasha told us about3has gone to Milla$anda to confer $ith a 'chief of the Ahhiya$a&' "
0ollard made an interrogative noise, and Arnstein sighed& "Milla$andaD Miletus& 1ort on the
Aegean& Ahhiya$aD Achaea& ,reece&"
"+h/oh&"
"+h/oh, is right& -hat damned $ar $ith Assyria too' too long for comfortE the passes over the
-aurus into Anatolia $ill be closed soon& 5e've got to get in contact $ith 0attusas, and then
$e've got to hit the enemy ne;t spring&"
"Aes, sir<"
"5hich brings us bac' to 1rincess RaupashaD"
Colonel @enneth 0ollard $as still mulling over the conversation $hen he $al'ed into his
9uarters and heard a $hine& 0e loo'ed do$n& -he $ic'er bas'et $as overset and the hound
puppy no$here in sight& +ntil he loo'ed in his footloc'er, slightly open&
"0ell," he said, loo'ing do$n& "8h, $ell, 7 didn't li'e that belt any$ay, or those slippers& Come
here, you damned set of teeth and pa$s&"
0e clamped the puppy firmly in his arms, avoiding most of the attempts to lic' his face, and too'
it bac' to the office& -he beast $as from the royal hunting pac''s 'ennelsE nobles here 'ept
hunting animals, despite the general :abylonian disli'e of dogs&
4$ cour#e, t"e )ing i#n't a .a3,lonian, #trictl, #ea)ing, he thought&
-he royal family and a lot of the nobility here $ere @assites $ho'd come do$n from the
mountains during the brea'up of 0ammurabi's empire centuries before and sei.ed po$er& -hey'd
been pretty $ell assimilated by no$, but they 'ept up some contact $ith the old homelandE
1rince @ashtiliash had been fostered there for a couple of years, for instance&
"C'mon, pooch," he muttered to it, and the puppy $ent into $iggling ecstasy at the attention&
",ot a nice girl 7'd li'e to set you up $ith&"
"-hat ma'es no sense<" Raupasha daughter of %huttarna said&
-he physician's apprentice A..u/ena sighed& "7 agree," she said, tapping the paper on the table
bet$een them& ":ut it is the $ay the (antu'htar language is&"
Raupasha loo'ed do$n& %he'd learned the al"a3et 9uic'lyE it $as childishly simple compared to
the A''adian cuneiform& -he language it $as designed to $rite $as another matter& A..u/ena
'ne$ more of it than sheE of course, she $as a learned $oman, and old3perhaps even thirty& 7t
$as good to have her come and help $ith the studiesE it made the house less of a silent prison&
And it gave her someone to complain to $hen the irritation gre$ too much to bear&
":ut the form of the $ords is e;actly the same<" the Mitannian girl said& "1ou#e dog and dog
"ou#e& %houldn't it be dog'# "ou#e, $ith that possessive endingB"
A..u/ena fro$ned herself, scratching her big hoo'ed nose& "Aou $ould thin' soD but in the
4nglish, most of the time, it is the order of the $ords that determines their meaning, not the
declension and inflection as it is in A''adian& 7s it so in 0urrianB"
"Aes, and any other language 7've ever heard of," Raupasha said& %he sighed, and her lips firmed
$ith determination& "7 *ill learn this tongue< Huic'ly<"
"5hy are you in such a hurryB" A..u/ena as'ed& "7 have been, because the 'no$ledge 7 see' is
in this tongue& 5hy do ,ou drive yourself soB"
":ecauseD" Raupasha hesitated& .ut t"ere i# no rea#on #"e #"ould not )no*& And it $as good to
have someone to tal' to& ":ecause 7 must understand them, too& 7 $ould not al$ays be their
client and pensioner, $ell though they have treated me&"
-he maid padded in $ith a tray of the small round s$eet ca'es and a pot of cocoa& %oo)ie#, she
reminded herself& 8r 3i#cuit#& Cocoa had a flavor li'e nothing on earth, soft and rich and dar'
and s$eet all at onceE she found herself craving it often and restrained herself sternly& %he $as
not going to disgrace her blood before these strangers&
"And to have someone to tal' to," she $ent on aloud& "Aou are not here at +r :ase all of the
time, and the house slaves are so stupid<"
"(ot stupid3they're peasants and far from home and ignorant," A..u/ena corrected her, a smile
ta'ing any sting out of her $ords& "And please< 2o not call them slaves& -hey are emlo,ee# $ho
receive a $age& -he 4agle 1eople hate the very $ord 'slave'E they are strange in that manner&"
"-hey are strange in all manners," Raupasha said, pouring a little date syrup into the cups of
cocoa and stirring them $ith a $his'& "%o many $eird taboos and la$s of ritual purity3the $ay
all e;crement must be carried a$ay out of sight, for instance, and all rubbish buried or burned,
and even laborers made to *a#" every day as if for a ritual in a 0ouse of 4;clusion&"
"-hey have reason for thatE they thin' that filth causes disease, and they may $ell be right&
Li'e$ise their hatred of insects&"
"8h<" Raupasha said& "%till, they are very strange indeed& 7 as'ed Lord @enn'et the other day
$hat his ran' $as in (an/tuc'/et, and he said he $as a citi:en& 5hat means this $ordB"
"7 am not sure," A..u/ena said thoughtfully& "7 t"in) it means something li'e an a*elum, a free
man of a city&"
":ut he said something about the citi:en# choosing the 'ing," Raupasha said& "%urely that means
high nobles, generals, ministers, chief priestsB"
"7 haven't as'ed much of ho$ they are governed," A..u/ena said&
"-hough of course you $ould, coming of a high family&" %he loo'ed around& "And so they treat
you, 7 see&"
Raupasha nodded& -he house here in the (antu'htar base $as smaller than her foster father's
manor, but more comfortable than anything she had ever 'no$n& -here $ere no frescoes on the
$alls, but there $ere framed pictures unbelievably lifeli'e, and $indo$s of glass clear as solid
air& -hose $ere open no$, and slatted screens of $oven reed let in air $ithout the glare of the
afternoon sun& -he tile floors $ere covered in fine rugs, for the (antu'htar put them on the floor,
rather than hanging them on the $alls3an e;travagance that gave her a guilty pleasure every
time her toes $or'ed into them& -he furniture $as beautifully made, much of it :abylonian3and
that of the finest& And there $as a 'itchen and a 3itrim)i, a bathhouse, as fine as those of a 'ing's
palace in a great city li'e (ineveh or 2ur/@urigal.u&
"-hat is partly the lord Arnstein and his lady," Raupasha said shre$dly& "-hey thin' 7 may be of
some use to themD 7 do not 'no$ $hat& 7f my family $ere still rulers, they might see' to ma'e
an advantageous marriage/alliance through me, but 7 have neither gold nor po$er to bring& 7sn't it
so odd that Lord Arnstein's $ife is also his right/hand manD ah, you 'no$ $hat 7 mean<"
"Aes&" A smile, turning the homely face of the female physician almost comely for an instant&
"-hat is a strange custom to $hich 7 have no ob6ection at all& (or do you ob6ect that you are
treated as suits your birth, rather than your $ealth<"
Raupasha nodded& ":ut part of it is Lord @enn'et, 7 thin'& 0e is an odd man3a great $arrior, a
slaughterer of Assyrians, yet his heart is moved to compassion, as if 7 $ere his 'in&" %he sco$led
slightly& "As if 7 $ere a small child of his o$n 'in, sometimes&"
"-hat is the $ay of the 4agle 1eople," A..u/ena replied& "7t isD contradictory& -heir $eapons
slay li'e the hand of the plague/gods, and then they bind up the $ounds of those they thre$
do$n&" %he paused and smiled slyly& "7 have seen Lord @enn'et only a fe$ times& As you say, a
great $arriorD a man of great beauty, too& -all as a palm tree and ruddy, strong and sturdy&"
"Aes&" Raupasha flushed, then coughed& "-here is a thing 7 $ould as' you, Lady A..u/ena&"
"As'&" -he :abylonian's face changed from happy gossiper to the impersonal attentiveness of a
professional&
"7 am troubled by my dreams& Aou are a person of learning, and 7 thought perhapsD"
"7 am sorry, 7 am a physician, not a 3aru/diviner," A..u/ena said sympathetically& "7 can
recommend a good one&"
"(oD it is not that my dreams are an omen, 7 thin'& 7t is onlyD 7 a$a'en, and before 7 am fully
a$a'e 7 see again the faces of my foster father and foster mother& -hey are smiling, and 7 am a
child again and happy, but thenD they change& 7 do not 'no$ $hy they should trouble meE their
blood is avenged< Aet sometimes 7 fear to sleep because of it&"
"-hat i# perhaps an omen, or a fate laid on youD"
A 'noc' came at the door& -he maid $ent to it and then opened it 9uic'ly, falling to her 'nees&
"2on't do that," Colonel @enneth 0ollard snapped& -he maid bounced up again, flustered&
"0ello, 1rincess& Ms& A..u/ena& May 7 come inB"
"My house is yours," Raupasha said& &$ it i# mine, reall,, she thought&
0ollard $as carrying a dog in his armsE a puppy, rather, flop/eared and spotted& A..u/ena loo'ed
at it and raised her bro$s&
"Lord @enn'et," she said& "7 thought your people had a horror of touching dogs, even more than
ours&"
"8nly unclean dogs," he said&
"+ncleanB" she as'ed, baffled&
"2ogs that are left to run around to$ns and villages, untended and eating filth&"
"8h& Aou mean that dogs such as nobles 'eep for hunting, or shepherds, are not unclean&"
"AhD appro;imately, yes&" 0e turned to the Mitannian girl, smiling& "7 thin' you told me that
dogs are not a pollution to your fol', eitherB"
"(o," Raupasha said, sha'ing her head and stifling a giggle& -he puppy $as ma'ing a
determined effort to lic' the (antu'htar commander's face, and then che$ing at the leather strap
across his chest that supported his belt and s$ord& 1e i# #o grave and digni$ied, and it i#
*orr,ing "im li)e a iece o$ ra*"ide, she thought&
"5e honor them," she $ent on solemnly aloud, "For $e say that they neither brea' faith nor lie&
My foster father 'ept a 'ennel of hunting hounds, and $e had mastiffs to protect the sheep&"
"5ell, this one's from @ing %huriash's 'ennels," he said& "7 thought you might li'e to have it&"
Raupasha nodded and reached out eagerly& -he puppy came to her $ith the indiscriminate love
of its 'ind, and she did giggle $hen it lic'ed her chin&
"7 shall call him %abala," Raupasha said& At his loo', "7t means '%potted 8ne,' " she said, and
loo'ed a little baffled $hen he laughed&
%he put the $iggling bundle of young dog do$n, pushing it a$ay gently $ith a foot $hen it tried
to che$ on her an'le& 7t che$ed the table leg for a $hile instead and then collapsed into sleep
$ith its head on her foot&
A..u/ena rose& "7 must go," she said& "-he time of my studies at the house of healing is come&"
%he loo'ed at her $rist, $hich bore one of the tiny time'eepersE Raupasha shoo' off a certain
unease at seeing time divided soD relentlessly&
"5ill you stay, Lord @enn'et, and drin' the cocoa $ith meB" Raupasha said, and then caught
herself& 2o not 3e $or*ard& 0er foster parents had $arned her that the outer $orld $as not so
rela;ed as their o$n manor&
-he (antu'htar hesitated& "For a short $hile," he said, loo'ing at the mass of papers on the table&
"7 brought you a boo'&"
"AhD than' you, but 7 do not read your language $ell enough yet," Raupasha said $ith a sigh&
"-his is something our rinting #"o made up for localsD for the people of the land," he said&
& do not t"in) local mean# e7actl, t"at, Raupasha thought $ith a little resentment& & t"in) it
mean# @3ac)*ard, @ a# one mig"t #ea) o$ a "ill tri3e or t"e Aramaean#&
%he too' the boo' eagerly any$ay& -he first page held a $onder that made her gasp, a dra$ing
of a don'ey so lifeli'e that she had to laugh3it $as planting its feet and braying, pulling bac'
against the hands that hauled on its bridle&
" 'A' i# $or Ass," she read3there $as an e;planation in A''adian in the upper right corner& A
fro$n& "7 thought that meantD" %he tapped her rump&
"AhD $ell, the $ord has t$o meanings3soldier's tal' is sometimes a littleD uncouth," Lord
@enn'et said& "7 hope you li'e the boo'&"
"8h, yes< 8nlyD"
"8nlyB"
"5ell, 7 have been reading much& 7n my home, 7 had $or'3seeing to the spinners and $eavers,
and sometimes $e $ould hunt ga.elle& 7 hope you don't thin' that $as unseemlyE my foster
father sometimes treated me li'e the son my father hoped to have&"
0ollard laughed, and she blushed, remembering their customs& 4$ cour#e "e doe#n't t"in) it'#
un#eeml,< Raupasha scolded herself&
"5ell, perhaps you could get out more here," he said&
"7s it allo$edB" she said, her eyes drifting to the door& A $arrior armed $ith a thunder/thro$erD
a ri$leD $as stationed there&
"5ell, of course<" 0ollard shoo' his head& "Aes, you can travel around& -he guard's for your
protection&" 0e paused, 'nitting his bro$s in thought&
+"at a #trange man, Raupasha thought& 1e #ea)# to me a# i$ & *ere "i# $avorite #i#ter, or
#ometime# a# i$ & *a# a man& 7t $as strange, yes, but not unpleasing, most of the time& %ometimes
it feltD insulting&
"0o$'s thisB" he said& "5ould you li'e to learn to ride horses, as $e doB"
"4", ,e#<"
",od damn it<" 5al'er shouted& ",od damn it to fuc'ing "ell, 7 $anted them both alive<"
-he officers $ere uneasyE they al$ays $ere $hen their lord spo'e in his birth/tongue& Most of
them3the Achaeans among them, any$ay3 tried to forget that he had not been born among
them& 4nglish $as the tongue of sorcery, too&
-he horses stamped and curvetted, blo$ingE they $eren't tired by the gallop, only e;cited by the
run and the belling of the hounds& -he dogs milled about, uncertain, loo'ing at the bloodied body
on the ground and the man $ho stood at bay beyond it, his bac' to the crag& -his pac' $as not
used to hunting men&
5al'er s$ung out of the saddle& -he mountain soil crunched beneath his boots, and he $as
acutely conscious of the nervousness of the men confronting Agamemnon& -he 'ing's face $as
nearly purpleE he'd run far and fast for a man his age and $eight, after the chariot crashed& 7t $as
a $arm late/spring day, but they $ere high enough no$ that it $as a little coolerE 5al'er felt the
mountain $ind cuffing at his s$eat/damp hair& %ome$here not too far a$ay a goat bell tin'led&
-he high 'ing of Mycenae had turned at bay against a vertical rise of roc' that bro'e out of the
steep slope& -o either side it gave to almost/vertical cliffs $here a fe$ straggly pines found root&
0e straightened as his breath came bac' to him, tears running do$n his chee's into his $hite/
shot gray beard&
"My son," he $hispered, loo'ing at the body before him& A s$ord lay not far from the dead
man's handE his face $as young, beard a mere blac' do$n on his chee's& "My son&"
"7 $anted that one alive<" 5al'er snarled to the guardsmen, and they paled&
"Lord, he attac'ed us," one of them said&
"%hut u& 0e $as a stripling, and 7 needed him&"
2amn. & could "ave married "im o$$ to one o$ m, daug"ter#, and t"at *ould "ave 3een er$ect. &
*i#" 4di)*eo# "adn't 3een "ere and come along& -he 7tha'an $as pale and silent in the rear
ran's, a cluster of his o$n men around him&
"Lord @ing," 5al'er said, forcing unction into his voice& "7t's a great pity your son $as 'illed by
accident3doubtless the gods re9uired the sacrifice&"
Agamemnon s9uared his shoulders, and suddenly he $as no longer a fat old man $eeping before
a triumphant enemy& ":etter he should die in battle than live as your slave, outlander&"
"My father/in/la$ is distraught in his grief," 5al'er said loudly& M, $at"er-in-la* *a# ma)ing a
3rea) $or it to rai#e a revolt again#t "i# la$agetas, he thought, but the dynastic reminder $ould
ma'e the Achaeans happier&
0e sa$ a fe$ nods at thatE 5al'er's infant son by 7phigenia $ould have as good a claim to the
throne as anyone, no$& 0e $ent on>
"8r he $ould not spea' so of the father of his grandson& Come, my lord3$e must return to
Mycenae and arrange the funeral games&"
"-he gods' curse is upon the land," Agamemnon said hoarsely& "-hat 7 listened to you and
brought evil $itchcraft $ithin the 'ingdom&"
"Lord @ing3"
-he older man ignored him& 0e reached up and touched his forehead, $here a gra.e $as
bleeding& "-his is the blood that is shed for the land," he said, holding the hand out for all to see&
"-he blood of Ceus the Father, the blood of 1oseidaion, the blood of the 'ings& -he gods 'no$
the value of the given sacrifice&"
5al'er 'ne$ suddenly $hat the older man intended& ",rab him< (o$<"
A half/do.en men lunged for$ard, 8hotolari; first among them& Agamemnon too' t$o steps to
his right, spreading his arms to the sun&
"&t i# accomli#"ed<" he shouted and leaped&
",od damn it to "ell'&" 5illiam 5al'er raved as the body struc', then bounced limp further
do$n& 8ot to ma)e t"e 3e#t o$ it, he told himself, ta'ing control by sheer force of $ill& 0e $al'ed
three steps for$ard and turned, hand on s$ord hilt, eyes ra'ing the score or so of men $ho stood
before him&
"(o$ 7 come into my o$n," he said& "5ho stands against me, dies&" 4veryone's eyes flic'ed to
the body of Agamemnon, lying caught on the bushes a hundred feet do$n, and his heir, bro'en
on the stone&
"5ho is $ith meB 5hoB +"oB"
A dynastic coup $as nothing very ne$ in Mycenae, and most of these men o$ed everything to
him& 8ne stepped for$ard, blade aloft> "0ail 5al'er, @ing of Men<"
-he cro$d too' it up> "1ail0 1ail0 1ail0 @
"5onderful," @ing %huriash said sincerely&
0e beamed at the canal& 7t $as a ma6or one, or had been before it started to silt irrevocably,
ma'ing its name of Libil/0igalla3"May 7t :ring Abundance"3a bitter 6est&
7n a fe$ more years the ban's $ould enclose only a stretch of shallo$ reed/gro$n $ater, and
then the dry $alls $ould 6oin the hundreds of others that ran in futility across the flat plain of the
Land& -he villages on its ban's $ere dying too& 5hen a canal reached this state, there $as no
option but to abandon it and dig another& -he fields $ould go bac' to desert3or, $ithout a fresh
$ashing and plo$ing every year, salt up, $hich $as $orse3and there $ould be hunger for the
peasants until they $ere safely relocated& 0unger for them, lost rents for their landlords, lost
revenue and strength for the 'ing& And losing a canal $as a bad omen&
(o$ t$oD "mac"ine#,@ t"at *a# t"e *ordD $ere che$ing their $ay do$n the canal& 8n each
barge $as one of the (antu'htar #team engine#, $ith its tall iron stac' puffing smo'e, its
mysterious $heels and belts driving an endless chain of sa$/edged buc'ets& -hey splashed do$n
into the $ater and gouged into the soft silt belo$, came up running $ith dar'/bro$n mud,
clan'ed and rattled bac' to dump their loads onto an endless belt that thre$ it to the side3left
for the first dredge, right for the second& 5aiting cre$s of peasants shoveled the rich muc' into
bas'ets and o;carts, to spread on their fields before the fall so$ing&
7f a 'ing's dignity had not forbidden it, %huriash $ould have shouted his glee aloud and clapped
hands& As it $as, he grinned broadly and loo'ed over at the (antu'htar emissaries&
"Aou $ere right," he said to Councilor Arnstein& "5ith machines li'e this, 7 have no need to
confiscate estates in Assyria, beyond $hat falls to me as 'ing there&"
5ith machines li'e this, he could reclaim land by the thousands of i)u3tens of thousands,
hundreds even& 0e $as almost di..y at the thoughtE his o$n engineers $ere dusting off tablets
$ith plans stretching bac' centuries, even for the great -igris/4uphrates canal that 'ing after
'ing had re6ected as far too e;pensive&
Land $as a 'ing's strength, not only for $hat it yielded him in rents but as $ealth to hand out to
favored supporters and servants& %ometimes you almost $ished for revolt, so that the estates of
traitors could be escheated to the 'ing& Reclaiming land $as best of allE it could be granted
$ithout harm to any vested interest3that al$ays produced anger3and by turning $ilderness to
productive fields the 'ing sho$ed that the great gods of the land favored his reign&
-he royal party and its allies dre$ off into the shade of a grove3a grove that $ould live, no$3
and servants spread the meal& -he 'ing $as merry today, and his attendants $ith him& From the
(antu'htar party came a ne$ foodE the 6antu)"tar a#a#u, the fo$l of the 7sland country3
c"ic)en, in their tongue& & mu#t #ecure #ome $or t"e ro,al garden#& 0e could give out the live
eggs to men he $ished to favor, to enrich their estates&
-he 'ing $ashed the food do$n $ith cool $ine and $iped his mouth on a cloth, belching his
contentment&
"Come," he said to his son& "5al' $ith me&"
-hey $al'ed together under the rustling leaves of the date palms& -he guardsmen hung bac',
close enough to dash for$ard if anything should happen, but too far to hear a lo$/voiced
conversation&
"7t is a good thing, my father," @ashtiliash said, nodding to the puffing, clan'ing dredge in the
distance& "And the price is reasonable&"
"A tenth of the harvest of the fields $atered for ten yearsB -hat is not reasonable, that is a to'en,"
%huriash said genially& "-he (antu'htar $ill see' their advantage from this else$here& Mainly,
they $ill call in the debt $hen it comes time to fight in the 0ittite country, ne;t spring after the
harvest& Although first $e must settle the matter of 0angilibat&"
"-hat is no more than they as'ed&" -he 'ing nodded, and his son $ent on, "And this $inter $e
$ill train the first five hundred men $ith ri$le#&"
"Aes," %huriash said, nodding 6udiciously& "%o far the (antu'htar have fulfilled all their
promises&" 0e coc'ed an eye at his heir& "-hat does not mean that our interest and theirs $ill
al*a,# run li'e a $ell/matched chariot team&" A 6er' of his chin to$ard the canal& "5onderful,
but $e cannot ma'e its li'eE and if $e come to depend on the ma'ers, if $e cannot so much as
$ater our fields $ithout their machines, $e need them&"
@ashtiliash nodded un$illingly& "5e cannot ma'e its li'e, ,et," he said&
"A point, and a sharp one," %huriash said& "Fear not, my sonE 7 $ill not tear you from the arms of
your $arrior maid in anger at the (antu'htar&"
0e bello$ed laughter at the prince's stumble and flush& "Are you so besottedB" he as'ed& "2id
you thin' 7 $ould not 'no$B -he eyes and ears of the 'ing miss nothing, my son& 4specially
$here the heir of the 0ouse of %uccession is concerned&"
"5eD $e did not $ant to set tongues $agging&"
-he 'ing laughed again, a bantering note in it, but also a male companionship& "4;cept each
other's, noB 7'll not as' you if the rumors are true&"
"%he isD" @ashtiliash flushed still more dar'ly& "7 than' you, Father&"
"7ndeedD as a second or third $ife, she $ould be a good choice, to bind the alliance& And the
sister of a man of high ran'D 4ven if she's not a virginE $ell, customs differ, and 7 suppose you
could 'eep her in line, ehB And she loo's able to bear strong sons&"
@ashtiliash loo'ed as if he had been che$ing a bitter 9uince& "Father and lord, 7 do not thin' it
$ould be that simple& :est thin' of other matters&"
"%uch as the rumblings among the priesthoods, ehB" %huriash shrugged& "7 am pleased that you
are not so preoccupied $ith $riting poems and eating lettuce"3he laughed againE old tales said
that strengthened a man's member3"that you haven't noticed they call me blasphemer, and the
(antu'htar they call $i.ards $ho summon demons&"
"Are you concernedB"
"(ot greatly& 5e have made alliance $ith the (antu'htar, and the great gods of the land have
smiled on us3have $e not humbled Asshur, do the 4lamites not tremble in fear, offering tribute
and their 'ing's daughter for my bedB 5hat none of the 'ings my fathers could do, 7 have done,
$ith the help of our allies& And there has been neither famine nor plague to mar' the gods' anger&
%o long as it is so, $e need not fear the temples& -hey are 6ealous because they no longer hold
the only $isdom in the realm&"
0e clapped a hand on the shoulder of his tall son& "And you learn $hat the (antu'htar have to
teach, and mi; it $ith our o$n $isdom," he said& "7 am greatly pleased $ith your campaign in
the north, my son& %oon it $ill be time for me to ta'e the hand of Mardu' at the (e$ Aear
festival once more& Let the colleges of the temples concern themselves $ith that, and leave
public matters to the 'ing&"
"7 )ne* those $ould be $orth$hile," 7an Arnstein said, tossing aside a $ell/gna$ed drumstic'&
"Mmmm& 2amned sight better than Colonel %anders ever made&"
@athryn 0ollard loo'ed out at the dredgers& "-hey're a modification of the type Leaton designed
for harbor $or' bac' in (antuc'et -o$n," she said& "@ash $as all over 'em $hile $e $ere
setting up37 thin' he really under#tood the principle&"
7an nodded& -here $ere things that a very intelligent local could pic' up onE steam engines, for
instance, or even the internal combustion type& 7t $as other things, li'e disease theory or
anything involving electricity, that pushed their this/is/magic buttons&
"Aou 'no$," @athryn $ent on, "@ash really i# smart& 7'm pretty surprised the Assyrians beat
him, in the first history&"
7an leaned bac' on a cushion, feeling benevolently full& "7'm not," he said& "5hat $ould you say
is his strong pointB"
"0e's mentally fle;ible," @athryn said immediately& ",ood at grasping ne$ concepts& 1ositively
enthusiastic about them, in fact&"
7an nodded& ":ut this isn't an environment $here that's much of an advantage, before $e came,"
he pointed out gently& "7n fact, it might be a di#advantage& 7n a really stable society li'e this,
conservatism often $or's very $ell& All the best $ays to use the things that they have have
already been tried&"
Colonel 0ollard paused $ith a glass of pomegranate 6uice half$ay to his lips& "Aou 'no$, that's
actuallyD rather brilliant, Councilor," he said slo$ly&
2oreen hit him $ith a pillo$& "2on't inflate the Arnstein s'ull more than necessary, $ould youB
7t is a good point though& 7've notice they're generally better at recording and systemati.ing than
at innovation&"
@athryn tapped a thoughtful thumb on her chin& "Applies to military matters too, 7 suppose," she
said& "-he last big innovation here $as $hen Raupasha's ancestors invented the $ar chariot, and
that $as, $henD a thousand years agoB"
Arnstein nodded& "More or less& (ot many big changes, and they have generations, centuries, to
adapt to each one&"
-he t$o 0ollards loo'ed out at the dredge& "And no$ $e're dumping the $hole three millennia
of changes on their heads all at once," @enneth said& "1oor bastards&"
"Anyone $ant the rest of these dried figsB" 2oreen said& "(oB Aou're right, @en& -he thing is, it's
not even li'e the last couple of centuries in our history, the eighteenth and nineteenth and
t$entieth&"
"5ell, faster," @athryn said&
"(o, not 6ust that& -he locals are getting them $ithout the long lead/in that 5estern civili.ation
hadE everything from the ,ree's and then Christianity and A9uinian philosophy on through the
Renaissance&"
@athryn narro$ed her eyes in pu..lement& "5hat's religion got to do $ith itB"
5oung, and a ragmati#t, and a #eciali#t, too, 7an Arnstein thought& 0e $ent on, "Huite a lot,
actually& Fudaism and its Christian heresy $ere important in implanting the idea that the universe
$as an orderly place, obedient to a single omnipresent, omnipotent system of la$s $ith no
e;ceptions3it leached the sacred out of the $orld, putting all the supernatural in one remote
place& Call it preparation for the scientific $orldvie$&"
2oreen nodded and began repac'ing the picnic hamper, ignoring the scandali.ed loo's of the
royal servants& -heir eyes gre$ even $ider as the others pitched in to help&
"-hat's going to be more e;plosive here than 6ust learning techni9ues, in the long run," she said&
"7've been tal'ing $ith their scholars a lot, and $ith some of them it's li'e $atching a lightbulb
go on inside $hen you give 'em the define/your/terms and $hy/does/that/follo$ routines&"
7an Arnstein loo'ed over at the dredgers as they che$ed their $ay through the soil of @ar/
2uniash& S,m3olic, he thought& =ndermining $oundation# i# turning out to 3e our #toc)-in-trade&
% % %
"7 don't understand, man," the blac'smith said&
0is shop $as cluttered $ith $or', mostly the finer ornamental type of $rought iron in various
stages of completion& 5al'er lounged bac' against the doorpostE it $as "ot in there, $ith t$o big
hearths and three smaller ones& All of them $ere glo$ing $ith co'e fires, made from 7strian coal&
+or)'# )et "im in good #"ae, t"oug", 5al'er thought& 4specially for a man in his fifties, no$&
0is son $as a nine/year/old miniature of his father, $ithout the little granny glassesE he'd been
proudly pounding on a miniature anvil until the 'ing and his guardsmen arrived&
"7'm retiring you, Fohn," 5al'er said patiently& 0e smiled li'e a $olf at the spurt of fear in the
blac'smith's sad russet/colored eyes& +ell, "e'# learned "i# le##on&
"(o, no, nothing nasty," 5al'er laughed& "7'm 6ust letting you retire& Aou've taught my people
everything you 'no$, and 7 don't trust you enough to put you in an e;ecutive 6ob& %o you're
history here&"
"Aou're letting us go, manB" the Californian said incredulously&
"(ot bac' to (antuc'et, of course& Aou 'no$ too much& 8ther$ise, yes, any$here in the
'ingdom3provided you let me 'no$& 0ell, 7'll thro$ in a land grant up in the hills if you $antE
you al$ays $ere into that organic gardening horseshit, $eren't youB And a pension&"
Martins put the hammer do$n on his t$ister anvil and dran' a dipperful of $ater from a buc'et&
"Aeah& 5ell, than's, man& 7'd li'e to get out of to$n, yeah& 7t ain't the best place in the $orld to
bring up 'ids&"
"Afraid they'll get contaminated, ehB" 5al'er laughed& 0e pushed himself upright& "7f you get
tired of rusticating, you can move bac' here& 7'll even reserve a place in the guard regiment for
your little %am here, if he $ants it&"
Martins's face tightened in mulish stubbornness& 5al'er $as still laughing as he $al'ed out to
the $aiting carriage& Fohn/taunting $as an old sport& (ot his favorite, but he'd miss it, in a $ay&
"Lord," 8hotolari; said in the bright sun outside& "A runner from the palace& ,la has fallen&"
",ood ne$s<" 5al'er said& -hat $as the last rebel stronghold in :oetia, up by La'e Copais&
"-hat leaves -hessaly, and once $e've sho$n them the error of their $ays, $e're recovered from
my late lamented father/in/la$'s flying leap&"
8hotolari; shuddered slightly& 5al'er could see his thoughts> T"e #acri$ice o$ a c"ie$ i#
o*er$ul magic& -oo many others had thought so too, and it had set his plans bac' a year or
more& %till, he $asn't in t"at much of a hurry&
0e climbed into the open/sided carriage and signaled the driver& 7ron/shod hooves clattered on
the stone pavement, and the vehicle pulled a$ay, $ith si; mounted guards on either side& 5al'er
lin'ed his hands behind his head, blin'ing up into the cloud/spec'led s'y, humming&
"8h, Fesus<" @enneth 0ollard said, feeling an almost irresistible impulse to cover his eyes and
scream&
Raupasha $as riding a horse around the e;ercise circle of +r :aseE she loo'ed up and $aved at
him, smiling brightly& 0e had e;pected to see her in the saddle, since he'd given orders that she
be allo$ed to train in riding& 0e hadn't e;pected to see her ta'ing her retrained chariot pony over
the obstacle course& %he $as laughing as she cantered, collecting the horse $ith rein and 'nees& 7t
leaped, and she shifted her $eight easily as it came do$n, leaning bac' slightly to steady it&
4", t"an) ,ou, 9e#u#, 0ollard thought, breathing again, as visions of falls and bro'en nec's fled&
At least she hadn't tried it $ith her reins 'notted and arms crossed, the $ay officers and scouts
had to&
"Lord @enn'et<" she said, guiding her mount over to the adobe $all that surrounded the practice
yard&
A grinning noncom too' her bridle& "(ot bad, 1rincess," he said&
-he troops $ere ma'ing something of a mascot of her3the ne$s of $ho'd 'illed the 'ing of
Assyria had spread 9uic'ly, and the story of her rescue $as suitably romantic& 1er loo)# don't
"urt eit"er, he thought& %he $as $earing Marine 'ha'is, her long blac' hair $as tied bac' in a
ponytail, and her chee's $ere flushed $ith fresh air and e;ercise&
"0o$ is the princess doingB" he as'ed the Marine instructor&
"(ot bad, sir& ,ood sense of balance, and she 'ne$ horses already&"
Raupasha nodded as she s$ung do$n from the saddle& "0orsesD" A pause $hile she searched
for 4nglish $ords& "0orses part ofD family&"
0er accent $as thic', but he $as impressed $ith the progress she'd made in languages, too&
%abala $as t$ining around her an'les, loo'ing up $ith notice-me-lea#e body language and
$iggling even harder $hen she reached do$n to pat him& 7n the A''adian they shared she $ent
on>
"5e had a fe$ old chariot ponies on the estate3as old as me, or almostE the Assyrians didn't
$ant any of the old mariannu families to have teams& %ometimes $e'd hitch them up and 7'd
drive, $ith my foster father teaching me&" A smile& "5hile 7 $as in the chariot, 7 $as a ,reat
@ing li'e -ushratta, in the days $hen 4gypt itself feared Mitanni&"
A cloud passed over her face for a moment, the gray eyes dar'ening& "My foster father $as a
good manE perhaps he indulged me too much3treating me li'e the son his lord had $ished and
hoped for&" -hen she smiled again& "7t is good to see you again, Lord @enn'et& -he gods send you
good fortune&"
"And you, 1rincess& -hey "ave sent us good fortune, as a matter of fact& 8urD" & don't t"in)
@commodore @ "a# a reci#e equivalent, he thought& "8ur $ar commander has arrived safely
bac' in (antuc'et&"
%he put a hand on his sleeve& "-hat is good to hear, Lord @enn'et& 5e have never met, but 7 o$e
this Marian/Alston also a great debtE and yourD %"ie$3she used the 4nglish term3"Fared/
Cofflin also&"
And ,ou can ronounce t"eir name# 3etter t"an mine, 0ollard noted absentlyE nobody in this
area could handle the t" at the end of "@enneth&"
-hey turned and $al'ed bac' from the stable comple; along one $all of the base to$ard the
central s9uare and the command buildings& +r :ase $as less cro$ded no$, $ith most of the
troops up north and most of the basic construction finished& 0o$ever, there $ere still plenty of
locals around, hired to $or' or sent to learn, and the streets $ere thic' $ith $agons and carts&
-he guards at the entrance to the praetorium brought their rifles up to present arms as he passed,
and he returned their salutes&
"%hall $e play the chess again, Lord @enn'etB" Raupasha as'ed gently&
Cuic) at ic)ing u mood#, t"i# girl, 0ollard thought& -hey $ent to his office and set out the
boardE there $ere plenty of board games here, but no others 9uite li'e this one&
"Aou are troubled," she said after a $hile&
0e started out of his concentration and loo'ed at the board& & *in in $ive move#, he thought& 0e
$as a fair/to/middling playerE the Arnsteins beat him li'e a drum, but he'd improved a good deal
since he started playing $ith them& Raupasha had natural talentE she thought ahead and didn't
have trouble holding different alternatives in her head&
"Aes," he said&
"5hy are you troubled, Lord @enn'etB" she said&
"7'm a littleD uneasy," he said& "7 promised you protection3"
"And you have given it," she said&
0ollard sighed& "5ell, they're tal'ing about as'ing you to do something for us," he said& "7'm not
sure ho$ compatible it is $ith $hat 7 promised you&"
"Aou are a man of honor," she said firmly& "5hat is it that they3 the lord Arnstein and his ladyB
3planB"
"-hey $ant to put you on the throne of Mitanni," he said bluntly after a long pause& -here $as
no $ay to sugarcoat it&
-he olive face $ent pale, and her hands gripped the table until moons of $hite and pin' sho$ed
in her nails& 0er voice $as calm $hen she $ent on> "-ell me more, Lord @enn'et&"
"Aou' d be a tributary of :abylon&" -hat meant more or less a client state, in local terms&
%he nodded& "7 understand, Lord @enn'et& @ing %huriash must see to his o$n land's $elfare& 0e
could not afford to see Mitanni rise as it once $as, or $e too $ould be a threat&"
%he loo'ed do$n at the table& "7 am notD not sure if such a thing can be& 5e do not3did not3
shut $omen of ran' a$ay li'e animals, as the Assyrians do& Aet $e have no tradition of ruling
9ueens& 2o you 4agle 1eopleB"
"5e don't have 'ings," he said&
%he noddedE he'd e;plained ho$ the Republic $or'ed, although she'd found it stranger than
atoms or germs& 0e continued> ":ut $e don't bar any post to a $oman& -he 9uestion is, though,
ho$ ,our people $ould regard it& -he $hole ob6ect of this3from our point of vie$3is to find
some $ay of bringing peace to the river district& -he Arnsteins thin' that your people, the
0urrians there, $ould accept anyone connected $ith your old royal house, because they hated
the Assyrians so&"
Raupasha leaned her chin on a palm, her feathery/blac' bro$s coming together in a fro$n of
thought& "-hat may be so& :ut the $alls of the 'ingdom"3he pu..led at that and then reali.ed
she meant something li'e "structure of the state"3"$ere beaten into dust& Rebuilding them
$ould be a long $or'&"
"5e'd help," 0ollard said& "5hat $e need most right a$ay is an end to internal fighting and help
$ith our $ar on 5al'er&"
Abruptly Raupasha smiled, then laughed& 7t $as an infectious urchin grin& "Right no$, Lord
@enn'et, my sovereign ma6esty is such that 7 can't even stop %abala from piddling on your floor&"
",oddam<" 0ollard said& 0e $as laughing himself as he pic'ed the puppy up and headed for the
door&
-he third man staggered off $ith a small shrie'E he'd have been screaming louder if he'd had the
breath for it& 0is t$o predecessors $ere lying on the ground, one vomiting $ea'ly, the other
spluttering and beginning to regain consciousness as one of his friends flipped $ater in his face
from a canteen&
-he gathered :abylonians she $as supposed to train in modern infantry tactics $ere $atching
her $ith round eyesE not many had seen one of the 4agle 1eople before at close range& %he'd
offered a thousand pieces of silver and a chariot to anyone $ho could pin her shoulders to the
ground& 4;perience had sho$n it $as best to get the bull/baboon macho nonsense out of the $ay
right off&
And none o$ t"em "ave #een t"e -mt, 1and in action 3e$ore, @athryn 0ollard thought grimly,
$iping the blood off her s'inned 'nuc'les& & am getting so tired o$ "aving to 3eat trut"# into
t"e#e 3rainle## dic)"ead# 3e$ore t"e,'ll listen to me&
-here $ere about a hundred of them, and they $ere supposed to function as cadre for the First
@ar/2uniash 7nfantry& -hey $ere dressed in a local version of 7slander uniform, pants and shirt
and 6ac'et, although the color $as earth/bro$n rather than 'ha'i proper& All of them $ere young
and fit, $hich $as helpful, and all of "good family," $hich $as something of a dra$bac'&
+e #"ould "ave #tarted *it" ea#ant#A at lea#t t"e,'re u#ed to doing *"at t"e,'re told, she
thought&
"-hat should settle the 9uestion of $hether it hurts your honor to serve under a $oman," she said
dryly& "Any more volunteersB"
A vigorous sha'ing of heads& "(o$ your prince $ill address you&"
@ashtiliash's chariot dre$ upE he $as in the same uniform, $ith a fe$ additional touches3gold
scales on the shoulders, for instance& -heir eyes met for an instant, and one of the @assite's
eyelids drooped in a suspicion of a $in' as he inclined his head to$ard the in6ured men&
+ell, he )no*# *"at &'m t"in)ing& @athryn fought do$n her grin& & t"in) &'m $alling in love.
%"ri#t, &'m an idiot. And & don't give a damn&
"Men of @ar/2uniash," he said& "Aou have been chosen to be first to receive the fire/$eapons of
our allies& -his is a great honor to you and your 'indred&" -he young men per'ed up at that&
0onor meant fame, not to mention estates and gifts& "7n your hands $ill be the fire/$eapons that
s$ept the hosts of Asshur aside li'e sheep and ground the $alls of their cities into dust&"
A cheer bro'e out, and @ashtiliash raised a hand& "Cheer not< 0ere you $ill $or', under the
orders of the great $arrior @at'ryn/0ollard, $ho fought $ith me against the Assyrians and cut
do$n assassins as they strove to end my life& 0e $ho does not obey, does not toil, on him $ill
the $rath of the 'ing descend& 0ear and obey<"
-he recruits $ent on their bellies, and @ashtiliash continued in the same vein for a $hile& %he
grimaced slightlyE it $ould ta'e something li'e this to get the scions of the 'ingdom's noble
families doing $hat they $ere told, but generations of Aan'ees rose up in her blood at the sight&
"8n your feet<" she commanded, $hen the prince's chariot $as dust do$n the path to$ard the
$alls of +r :ase&
"(o$ $e start the training," she began&
A voice from the ran's interrupted her& "5hen do $e get the $eapons of fireB"
"Aou& %tep for$ard&" A young man did, an eager grin on his face& "-he $eapons are called
ri$le#," 0ollard said&
"5hen do $e receive the ri$le#B" he as'ed&
"First lesson& %ergeant @inney<"
-he noncom trotted for$ard, a large sac' of $et sand in her hands&
"Front and centerD $hat's your nameB"
"Addad/2an, 8 Commander&"
"-he first lesson, 2an, is that you #ea) *"en ,ou're #o)en to<"
-he boy flinched& %ergeant @inney $al'ed behind him, opened the pac' laced to his $ebbing
harness, and dropped the sac' inside& Addad/2an staggered and grunted as the $eight slammed
onto his shoulders and gut&
"-$enty/five circuits of the parade ground<" @athryn bar'ed& "At the run, recruit< %ee to it,
%ergeant&"
"Ma'am, yes ma'am<"
@inney $as grinning, and she had a rifle sling $ith a loop $ound around her right hand& "All
right, hero, let's go for a stroll&" +"ac) of the flat leather across the legs& "Move it<"
@athryn 0ollard set her hands on her hips and loo'ed out over the shoc'ed faces& "0ere, there is
no ran'," she said& "(one of you has earned any ran'& 0ere, you are not the sons of great menE
here, all you maggots are e9ually $orthless< Aour highest hope is to become a soldier3then,
maybe, you may thin' of becoming officers& -here are three things a soldier must do> he must
obey, he must value his mission before his comrades, and he must value his comrades before
himself&
"-here are three s'ills a soldier must command> he must be able to march, to shoot, and to dig&
5e'll start $ith marching&" %he pointed off across the fields to a lo$ ruin mound, a shapeless hill
of $eathered mudbric' $here a settlement had once been& 7t $as 6ust visible on the edge of sight&
"Aou see thatB 5e're all going there& Form up<"
%he sighed at the shambling chaos that resulted& T"i# i# going to ta)e a lot o$ *or)&
%he suspected that her brother/commander had given her this assignment as something bet$een
a 6o'e and a punishmentE if she li'ed the locals, she $as going to get a bellyful of them&
+ell, at lea#t &'ll get to #ee /a#" $airl, o$ten. Stic) t"at in ,our ie and #mo)e it, %olonel
.rot"er 8odalmig"t, /ennet" 1ollard.
":eautiful $or'," @enneth 0ollard said&
0e s$ung the 5erder to his shoulder and sighted& A s9uee.e of the trigger andD crac)& -here
$as a slight tin) sound as the spent shell hit the pac'ed clay behind him& -he target at the other
end of the range flipped bac'$ard, then up $ith a $hite board pointer sho$ing $here his round
had hit3a couple of inches left of the center of mass, or $hat $ould be the center of mass if that
$as a man and not a human/shaped cutout&
0ollard felt a slight glo$ of prideE that $ould have put a man out of the fight for good and all,
and at si; hundred yards, too&
"Let me try, Lord @enn'et< Let me try<"
"AhD $ell, no reason $hy not, 1rincess," 0ollard said& 0e ran her through the firing drill,
$hich $as simple enough&
T"e, reall, did come u *it" #omet"ing t"at'# simpler to u#e t"an t"e reviou# model, he
thought& From his reading of military history, that $as a small miracle in itself& 8f course, $ith
Commodore Alston in chargeD
Raupasha brought the $eapon up to her shoulder eagerly, but she too' the time to aim, and
s9uee.ed carefully& %he $as $earing Marine 'ha'is $ithout insignia and a floppy/brimmed
campaign hat $ith the right side pinned upE $isps of fine blac' hair had escaped from the thong
that held her long mane in a ponytail& 0ollard smiled at that, and at her fro$n of total
concentration&
%rac).
-he target flic'ed upE the bullet had gone s9uarely through the head& 1mmm. 6ot 3ad at all, at
t"ree "undred ,ard#&
"(o, no, no<" he said aloud& "2on't sho$ off& -hrough the center of the body, al$ays& 0eads are
too easy to miss&"
%he gave him an urchin grin& -he noncom $ho brought her more ammunition $as grinning too&
0ollard sighed and turned to the ,uard commander $ho'd brought in the cargo and
reinforcementsE Iictor 8rti. had the shield and four gold stripes on his cuffs and epaulettes that
meant captain's ran' in the ,uard, e9uivalent to 0ollard's Marine colonelcy& -hey moved a fe$
paces a$ay& -he firing range $as too far from the riverside $all of +r :ase to see the masts of
the three/ship flotilla, but he 'ne$ the cre$s and the base's laborers $ere hard at $or'& Another
battalion of Marine infantry, heavy $eapons to matchD and a lot of long flat crates $ith 5erder
rifles in their coats of grease for his command, surplus 5estley/Richards from the Republic's
militia for their allies& More crates as $ell, 5erder ammunition, and machinery for the
ammunition shop&
"1raise the -o$n Meeting, from $hom all blessings flo$," 0ollard said, his voice a moc'/pious
drone for a second&
"1raise the Chief and the commodore, $ho 'ic'eth the Meeting's la.y butt and getteth them to
move," 8rti. said, and raised his bro$s in a 9uestion&
"Aes, Ms& Raupasha does spea' some 4nglish no$," 0ollard replied&
"7 seeD 7've been briefed, of course&"
",ood& -hat $as a fast passage you made&"
8rti. preened a little, $hich $as pardonable& "%i;ty/three days, t$o of those stranded on the
goddam mudban's in this miserable river& 5e did over four hundred miles a day three days in a
ro$, do$n in the forties, running our casting do$n&"
"5hat ne$s from homeB"
"(ot much& -he fall harvest $as goodE the ,irenas e;pedition is still alive, $onder of $onders&
@ing 7s'eterol made a fulsome apology and paid a heavy fine to get his people bac' after that
incident in %outh Africa3less thirty $ho applied for asylum, and got it3 but he $as a lot less
happy $hen $e 'ept the ships& -hat's it so far, but ,od 'no$s ho$ long it $ill last& 8h, and on a
personal note, 7'm the father of t$in boys&"
"Congratulations<" @enneth 0ollard said, pumping his hand& -here $as a trace of $istfulness in
his voiceE he'd been thin'ing that it might be nice to have a family of his o$n& 6ot until t"i# *ar
i# #ettled, & gue##, he thought& "0o$ long do you thin' it $ill lastB"
",od alone 'no$s, amigo& +ntil that "ijo 7s'eterol thin's he has a chance of 6umping us37'm
an;ious to get my ships loaded and bac' home, 7 can tell you&"
"Me too," 0ollard said, loo'ing through the letters 8rti. had hand/delivered3some for security's
sa'e, and t$o fat ones from his brother&
0e loo'ed for$ard to reading those& 7t $asD tranquil, t"at'# t"e *ordD listening to him tell of
the goings/on around the farm& (ot that farm life $as any bed of rosesE he'd helped out on his
brother's grant often enough to 'no$ that& 0is mind's eye sa$ him, $riting in the big log 'itchen
$ith a cup of sassafras tea by his elbo$, sno$ falling outside the $indo$, -anas$ada nursing
the babyD and homesic'ness stabbed him $ith a moment's bitter pain&
"5ell, 7 don't envy you sailing bac' into $inter," 0ollard said& 0e $al'ed a fe$ steps bac'
to$ard Raupasha& "1rincess< 7f you're going to shoot that many rounds, $ear the earplugs&"
%he pouted, then obeyed& "%ergeant, see that the $eapon is returned to stores $hen the princess
is finished $ith it&" -o 8rti.> "5e've actually got the locals producing a half$ay decent beer&
Care for a glass, IictorB"
"Lead on<"
"5ait a minute<" Raupasha called&
-he 7slander officers turned bac'& "5atch," she said&
Raupasha had a round of rifle ammunition pushed through the buttonhole of the left breast
poc'et of her 'ha'i 6ac'et& %he fired, then slipped the bullet out of the hole and into the breech of
her 5erder in a single 9uic' grab and push&
"-hatD ho$ do you sayD slices upB -he loading time&"
"-hat's cut# do*n," 0ollard said&
"%ut# do*n, o'ay&" %he dropped bac' into A''adian& "5ouldn't that be usefulB"
"Mmmmm3sort of ris'y, leaving a bullet through a buttonhole li'e that&"
"(o, no," she said impatiently, giving him an e;asperated loo'& "7f you put aD a ro* of, not
holes, but3$hat are these things in the bandolier called, that hold the bulletsB"
"Loops," 0ollard said automatically& -hen his eyes $ent $ide& "Loops3a strip of leather, say&"
"Aes< Li'e this&" -he girl's finger traced a line from near her left shoulder nearly to her
breastbone&
"5ell, 7'll be damned," 0ollard said slo$ly& "Aes, say si;3that $ould speed loading up
considerablyD no trouble to have the strip attached to the troops' 6ac'etsD"
8rti. made an interrogative sound, having no A''adian& 0ollard e;plained, and the ,uard
officer's eyebro$s $ent up in turn&
"Aou 'no$, @en, that's actually a pretty damn good idea," he said& "%mart girl&"
-hey loo'ed up at the Mitannian, $ho $as cleaning the rifle under the noncom's direction $ith
an air of total concentration spoiled by an occasional glance up under her bro$s&
"Ms& Raupasha," 8rti. said, bo$ing& "5ould you care to 6oin us in that beerB"
C#ATE! TWENTY)ONE
May, Year ,- A.E.
.a3-ilimA ,ate of the ,odsE :abylon the ,reat& @athryn 0ollard still felt a pric'le of a$e as she
rode to$ard the northern gate& -urning in the saddle, she called out> "All right, let's sho$ them
$hat real soldiers loo' li'e<"
After four months, the :abylonians that she and the training cadre had been $or'ing $ith could
march, at least& Rifles over their shoulders, arms s$inging, booted feet stri'ing the earth of the
road$ay in unison, the si; hundred troops marched li'e a single organism to$ard the 7shtar ,ate&
A banner $ent at their headE bla.oned $ith the gold sun dis' of %hamash and the spade of
Mardu'& 8utriders traveled before them, crying for the cro$ds to ma'e $ay3and enforcing the
order $ith their $hips $hen necessary, through the horde pouring into the city for the springtime
(e$ Aear festival&
-he city she approached $as not yet the :abylon of the :ible, the city rebuilt by (ebuchadre..ar
and the site of the captivity of the Fe$s, that $ould not be3$ould not have been3for another
si; centuries& -he current :abylon $as mostly the city of 0ammurabi the La$giver, sac'ed by
the 0ittites and refurbished by @ing %huriash's ancestors& -he @assite 'ings d$elt more in their
citadel of 2ur/@urigal.u a little to the $est, but :abylon remained the greatest of their cities and
the symbol of holiness and 'ingship in the land&
8n this March morning it $as $arm but not hot, and for once the countryside of the Land
bet$een the Rivers loo'ed half$ay appealing $ith its leafy orchards and green/gold barley& 0er
command had been on a route march and field e;ercise for the last $ee'E her body itched $ith
dried salt and crusted al'aline dust&
(o$ and then she sa$ figures standing on the flat, flo$er/planted roofs of a nobleman's mansion
loo'ing to$ard the road and the novel sight of the First 7nfantry& -ravelers cro$ded to the side of
the road to let them pass, staring and ga$'ing, and peasants stopped their $or' to loo'& Children
ran alongside shouting& @athryn smiled at them, and no$ and then thre$ a fe$ copper pennies
$hen the press gre$ too great& 4ven if they'd never heard of coined money, metal $as valuable
here3her action generally resulted in a s9uirming heap of na'ed youngsters, yelling and
grabbing for the coins at the bottom of the pile&
A mile out from the real defenses of :ab/ilim $as the $all that enclosed the suburbs proper& 7t
$as impressive enough, t$enty feet high, studded $ith to$ers t$ice that& 5ithin $ere clustered
gardens, groves, here and there the colorful, bloc'y form of a temple, once an enormous $alled
enclosure around the A'itu shrine, $here much of the (e$ Aear ceremony $ould ta'e place&
5hat she principally noticed $ere the trades considered too noisome to allo$ in the city proper>
huge tanneries, ro$s of dye/vats, and the city's e;ecution ground& 7t $as small compensation that
the road$ay turned from pac'ed clay to a broad avenue of ba'ed bric'&
And there $as the gro$ing stin' of the city itself, probably the greatest in the $orld in this age,
t$o hundred thousand souls or more3and all their livestoc'&
&'ll get u#ed to t"e #tenc" again, @athryn told herself& 8f course, in a $ay that made it *or#e&
And it $as so 3ig& Aes, any of the mainland cities she'd visited up in the t$entieth d$arfed it, but
those $ere fading memories& -his $as here, no$, real& -he continual clamor of $heels, feet,
hooves, voices, $as li'e a vibration in her flesh&
-hen the city itself appeared, raised above the floodplain over centuries by the decay and
rebuilding of the mud/bric' buildings of $hich it $as made3the living city raised on the bones
of its ancestors, since time out of mind& -he city $all proper rose li'e a mountain range that ran
from right to left beyond sight, ba'ed/bric' ramparts si;ty feet high and thirty feet thic' and
studded $ith to$ers every hundred yards or so& Another $all of e9ual proportions stood thirty
feet $ithin, and the gap bet$een them $as filled to the very top $ith pounded rubble and then
paved $ith a road$ay broad enough for three chariots to pass abreast& A moat dra$n from the
4uphrates ran at the foot of those man/made cliffs, a hundred feet across and t$enty deep, the
$ater green and foul&
@athryn 0ollard gave a silent $histle at the sight, impressed despite herself& 4", *e could )noc)
it do*n, she thought& ,iven enough shells and enough time, of course& -rying to ta'e or hold the
city beyondD
-he road itself rose on an emban'ment to$ard the cityE crenellated fortress $alls rose to flan' it
on either side, until they $ere marching through an artificial canyon& ,reat $inged man/headed
bulls marched in high relief along those $alls, t$ice her height and made of molded bric', their
bodies painted red, $ings blue, stern hoo'/nosed faces $ith blue/blac' beards and golden
cro$ns&
A lot li)e /a#"'# $at"er, she thought, suppressing a grin& %he shivered slightly and gripped the
horse more tightly $ith her 'nees& 8od, & mi## /a#"&
-he gate itself $as a massive fortress $ith the road running over the moat on piers and then
through itE a hundred/foot to$er of reddish bric' at each of the four corners, $ith an arched
passage$ay si;ty feet high bet$een, s'y/blue rosettes in molded bric' covered by polished sheet
copper, flan'ed by bron.e lions t$elve feet tall& -he gate doors $ere made of huge cedar trun's
thic'er than her body and taller than a four/story house, brought from Lebanon in centuries past
$ith incredible labor and trouble& -hey $ere sheathed in bron.e, and the bron.e $as $or'ed in
lo$ relief $ith gods, demons, dragonli'e creatures, heroes slaying lions&
-he Marine officer loo'ed up& -here in the dim heights of the gate tunnel $ere bron.e grilles,
and she could hear the crac'ling of flames& 7f anyone smashed those gates and tried to rush
through this enormous tunnelli'e passage$ay they'd get a very $arm $elcome3boiling oil,
boiling $ater, red/hot sand&
Royal guardsmen in crested helmets and bron.e scale armor or (antuc'et/made chain mail stood
to either side3mostly $ith their bac's to her, holding bac' the cro$d $ith their round shields
and spear held hori.ontally li'e a fence $ith living posts& -hree more sets of gates divided the
passage$ay before the travelers came out blin'ing into the brightness beyond&
More guards cleared a $ay through the street, named Aibur/%habu, (o 4nemy %hall 1ass, the
broad processional street that ran north and south parallel to the 4uphrates&
-he cro$ds behind the leveled spears gaped and shouted and pointed, or rested $ith aloof
patience and pretended detachmentE she sa$ a noble standing in his chariot $hile his leather/clad
driver $restled the team into obedienceE a priest robed and spangled $ith silver astrological
symbols $aited $ith folded hands, surrounded by his acolytesE a scribe pridefully held his
6ointed, $a;/covered boards and stylusE $hat $as probably an e;pensive courtesan glittering
$ith 6e$els lolled voluptuously in her slave/borne litter, robes filmy and colorful, eyes painted
into huge dar' circles, peering $ith interest over an ostrich/plume fan&
4ne t"ing & regret, @athryn thought, as she saluted the guardsmen's bo$ing captain, i# t"at &
can't go incognito "ere& 7t $ould be interesting to see the city $hen everyone $asn't gaping at
"er& (ot possible3her height and features $ould mar' her out& (it,&
-he iron horseshoes of her mount rang on stone, hard $hite limestone thirty feet $ide, flan'ed
by ten/foot strips of red breccia veined $ith $hite on either side3unimaginable e;travagance in
this stone/less land& More soldiers $ere holding a passage$ay open through a tall gate in the
$all, $ith inset bric' pillars candy/cane/striped in red and blue& -hat $as the entrance to the
(orth 1alace, $here the 7slanders $ould be 9uartered and the First @ar/2uniash $ould have
their barrac's&
":y the rightD right *"eel," %ergeant @inney shouted behind her&
-he battalion turned li'e a sna'e, men on the inside of the turn chec'ing their pace and those on
the outside striding longer $ith the smoothness of endless practice& -hey passed through another
fortress gate and into the outer courtyard of the 0ouse -hat 5as the Marvel of Man'ind, the
Center of the Land, the %hining Residence 3in other $ords, the palace of @ing %hagara'ti/
%huriash& -here $ere times $hen A''adian grandilo9uence got on her nerves&
.ut ,ou're t"in)ing o$ living "ere ermanentl,, she reminded herself& And it doe# "ave it# oint#&
-his $as the outermost of five successive courtyards, paved $ith the same $hite limestone as the
processional $ay and surrounded by three/story buildings on all sides&
"0alt<" Five hundred boots crashed do$n&
":y the rightD right& & .$ace0&"
Another crash, and she rode her horse out in front of the assembled ran's, reining in and turning
to face them&
"1resent& & .arm#'&"
-he rifles came do$n off the shoulders $ith a slap and rattle of hands on $ood and iron& @athryn
returned the salute crisplyE they'd $or'ed hard and earned it&
"8rder& & .arm#<"
%teel/shod butt plates rang on the stone paving& 0er horse pa$ed the paving as $ell, curious at
the unfamiliar surface& @athryn controlled it $ith 'nees and her left hand on the reins, her right
resting on her hip&
"%tand easy<" A rustle of rela;ation& "%oldiers of the First @ar/2uniash, you've made a good
beginning," she said, pitching her voice to carry& "Aou've also $or'ed very hard& 2ismiss to
9uarters<"
-hey gave a brief cheer and the formation dissolved as men slung their $eapons, turned,
chattered, hailed friends& %ergeant @inney came up and too' the bridle of her horse&
"7'll settle them in and see to the baggage train, ma'am," she said& ",ood to have a rest&"
",od's truth& 7've got to go chec' in $ith the 'ing&"
%he and her officers, including the provisional promotions from among the locals& %he s$ung
do$n, loo'ing around as they fell in behind her and an usher led them on& Molded/bric' shapes
covered the $alls up to the second story, all painted in yello$, $hite, red, and blueE after the
predominant dun/mud/bric' color of the land, it $as a pleasant change& Above and on either side
of the gates that lin'ed the courtyards $ere huge terra/cotta faces, leering or smiling3protective
spirits to frighten a$ay demons&
A cro$d of people $ere about, courtiers and smooth/chee'ed eunuchs, soldiers s$inging by $ith
a clan' and clatter, messengers, servants, scribes $ith their $a;/covered boards and palm/si.e
damp clay tablets for ta'ing notes, officials, a flutter of girls from the 'ing's harem3they $eren't
shut in there, although they $ere supervised fairly closely& All of them dre$ aside and
murmuredE she caught curiosity, a$e, fear, the odd flat hostile glare&
-he last gate$ay $as flan'ed by granite lions tearing at recumbent enemies& 8n their bac's $ere
artificial palm trees of bron.e and gold& -all carved doors opened into the main throne room, a
huge vaulted chamber fifty yards by fifteen& 0ere the bright light $as muted to a glo$ through
the high clerestory $indo$s& :eams stabbed do$n through a mist of incense, a strong hieratic
smell& -he $alls $ere hung $ith softly vivid tapestry rugs of 'ings past at $ar or sacrifice or the
hunt, interspersed $ith heroes battling monsters, protective genies, flo$ered mountains&
,uardsmen stood at a parade rest copied from the 7slanders, ma'ing a lane$ay do$n the center
of the hall& -he heads of their spears $ere steel no$, reflecting more brightly than bron.e $ould
haveE $hen sunlight caught one of the motionless blades it seemed to bla.e $ith light& %o too did
the figure of the 'ing on his throne, inlaid $ith lapis and goldE his cro$n $as gold as $ell,
shaped li'e a city $all& @athryn's party came to a haltE the :abylonian officers prostrated
themselves, the (antuc'eters clic'ed heels, saluted, and bo$ed their heads slightly3citi.ens of
the Republic groveled before no man&
%huriash smiled& ",reetings, my valiant ones, and officers of my allies," he said& 0e loo'ed at
@athryn& "My son, the prince of the 0ouse of %uccession, declares that you have done $ellE that
my soldiers learn the art of the fire/$eapons&"
"8h @ing, your men have labored long and hard and have learned very $ell," she said& True
enoug"& (ot up to Corps standards by a long shot, but they'd started from a lo$er base&
"@no$ that you have the favor of the 'ing," %huriash said, beaming&
0e signaled, and an official glided for$ard to put a chain around her nec'& 7t $as fairly heavy,
solid/gold lin's and a beautifully $or'ed pectoral in the shape of the :ull of Mardu', $ith eyes
of lapis la.uli and chinbeard of ony;&
"My than's to the 'ing," @athryn said, flushing in embarrassment&
"Many of your countrymen are here for the celebration of the (e$ Aear festival," %huriash said&
"Aou $ill feast $ith the @ing's Ma6estyE may the celebrations ma'e your heart glad& (o$ you
have traveled far and $ill $ish to refresh yourselves&"
-he :abylonians $ent on their bellies again, and the (antuc'eters bo$ed and $al'ed bac'$ard
until it $as possible to turn $ithout lese/ma6este&
"Christ, 7 could use a bath," @athryn muttered&
And @ash $ould be here& -ied up in ceremonial to the armpits, but they "ad to find some time&
"-rachoma," Fustin Clemens said, holding bac' the child's eyelids& "%ee, the redness and
s$elling, and it loo's li'e grains of sand are stuc' in the soft tissueB"
"7 am familiar $ith this disease," A..u/ena said, nodding& "Iery common3usually the clear part
of the eye is distorted and opa9ue, at the end, bringing blindness $ith no cure& 7s it contagiou#<"
%he repeated the $hole phrase in 4nglish, for the sa'e of practice& -he sounds $ere hard for
someone brought up to the %emitic gutturals of A''adian, but she $as slo$ly overcoming it&
"Iery," Clemens said& "%pread by touching, by contact $ith cloth that has touched the eyes, and
by flies& A disease of cro$ding and not enough $ashing&"
-he :abylonian's mouth 9uir'ed& "Li'e mostB"
"Li'e most," Clemens said& 7t had become a bit of a running 6o'e bet$een them&
0e $as handling this clinic in an out/of/the/$ay chamber of the palaceE an autoclave and $ater
purifier $ere running in the ne;t room, and an outer chamber $as cro$ded $ith those $aiting&
0e $rin'led his nose a bit at the ran' smell of old s$eat soa'ed into $ool& (o $ay around it,
they hadn't invented soap here, and the palace bathing facilities $ere lu;uries for the eliteE so
$ere enough clothes to change and do laundry fre9uently& And $hat $ater these people could get
$ould be dangerous any$ay&
-he patients $ere mostly palace laborers and their familiesE he reserved this day for them& And
let t"e no3le# $ume and *ait, he thought& Loo'ing after the locals $asn't his responsibility, but it
bred good$illD and the demand $as over$helming&
%ome of the people $aiting $ere from out of the city, 'infol' of the palace $or'ersE that $asn't
supposed to happen, but he $asn't going to turn them a$ay, particularly the children& & $eel li)e
#omeone tr,ing to #*ee 3ac) t"e ocean *it" a 3room, he thought helplessly, then forced himself
to optimism& A::u-ena i# learningD%"ri#t, i# #"e learning0 And #"e i#n't t"e onl, one&
-he :abylonian $as ta'ing notes, too, preparing a handboo' in her native tongue3diagnosis
and treatment of the most common ills, especially the ones that could be handled $ith local
resources&
"5hat treatmentB" she said&
"5ell, penicillin, if $e had enough," he said, $hich they didn't& "Antiseptic drops are the
alternative&"
0e told the mother, and she gripped the boy child's head and tilted it bac' despite his s9ualls&
2amn, "ave to get delou#ed again a$ter t"i#, Clemens thought, loo'ing at the tousled blac' hair&
"2o you see $hat 7 doB" he as'ed the $oman& %he $as thin, dar', loo'ed about fifty and $as
probably in her third decade, $ith a $eaver's calloused hands&
"Aes, great one&"
0e ran the dipper into the bottle, sealing the top $ith his inde; finger& :oth $ere plain clayE if
you handed out glass ones the recipients $ould sell them3food came first, and glass $as an
e;pensive rarity here& -he solution inside $as their all/purpose disinfectant, and it stung& -he
toddler $ailed and struggled, but his mother gave him a tremulous smile& 8ood teet", at lea#t,
Clemens thought abstractedly& Most people here did have them, at least until middle ageE no
sugars in the diet&
"-hree times each day," Clemens said& "7f you do this faithfully, it $ill be cured& :ring the child
bac' to me $hen the medicine is gone& 2o you understandB"
"Aes, holy one," the $oman said, and suddenly she gripped his hand and 'issed itE her o$n eyes
filled and tears ran do$n her chee's& "-han' you for saving my son's sight, holy one< 0e is our
last child left alive, no$ he may live and father children of his o$n< -han' you37 have little,
but $hat 7 have is yours&"
",o, go," Clemens said roughly, embarrassed& 0e $ent over to the table he'd set up and scrubbed
his hands again& &'m going to *ear m, #)in o$$ in t"i# $ilt", countr,, he thought&
"Lord," the palace usher said, loo'ing about him $ith contempt& "Aou $ill miss the ceremony<"
"Fust one more," he said& "-hen $e'll clean up and go&"
7t $as another child, although barely so by local standards, a girl of t$elve or thirteen& -o 7sland/
raised eyes she $ould have passed for nine3barefoot, dressed in a ragged gray shift $ith a
sha$l over her braids&
"5hat is the child's illnessB" he as'ed the mother& Another s'inny underfed $eaver&
"A demon of fever, holy one," the $oman said, bringing her sha$l up under her chin in modestyE
an upper/class $oman might have covered her mouth as $ell& "For a night and a day no$& %he
cannot eat the good bread&"
!ever& 5ell, that $as the all/purpose term here& 0e $iped do$n a thermometer and stuc' it in
the girl's mouth&
"2on't biteE 6ust hold that under your ton3"
A desperate grab saved the instrument, and he loo'ed into the ha.ed, defiant blac' eyes& 0er
mother raised a hand, but stopped at a gesture&
"0ere is a date stuffed $ith pistachios," Clemens said& -hat $as a treat rare enough to tempt
someone $ith no appetite& "7f you hold this thing in your mouth as 7 say, you may have it&"
-he girl considered, then nodded&
",ive me the date," she said&
"0ere& :ut don't eat it yet&"
-his time the thermometer stayed in& Clemens got out his stethoscope and the blood/pressure
apparatus and began his e;amination, thro$ing comments over his shoulder to A..u/ena as she
handed him the e9uipment he re9uired&
1mmm. A "undred and one degree#3no *onder #"e'# cran), and o$$ "er $eed, he thought& <et'#
#eeD -here $ere so many diseases here, and many of them $ere 6ust that3diseases, $ith no
names in the boo's he'd studied&
A..u/ena $as craning over his shoulder& "-hat loo's li'e a rash," she said& "Reddish patch&"
"Mmmm/hmmmm&" 0e pulled up the girl's shiftE she pulled it do$n again and slapped his hand&
Clemens sighed& "7 am a physician& 4at your date&"
More of the red patches, $ith little flec's of dried blood, as from a fleabiteD
Clemens felt the color leave his faceE for a moment the room s$am, and he made a cho'ed noise&
A..u/enu stepped for$ard, alarmed&
"(o<" he said, his voice crisp& ",et bac'3don't touch me, don't touch her& ,et into the other
room&" %he hesitated, loo'ing at him $ith astonishment& "8o<" %he fled&
"Aou," he said to the usher& "Fetch soldiers& 0ave this part of the palace sealed3completely
sealed, no one to enter or leave& ,o, do it, then come bac' here&" -he usher dre$ himself up,
tapping his staff&
Clemens caught his eye and spo'e, his $ords slo$ and cold& "7 am the one $ho saved the 'ing's
favorite& 7f you do not obey me in every particular, man of @ar/2uniash, the 'ing $ill have you
impaled& 2o you understand meB For 7 spea' the truth and 7 do not lie&"
-he usher's olive face $ent pastyE he bac'ed a$ay, bo$ing, hand before his mouth in the gesture
of submission&
"5hat is itB" A..u/ena called sharply through the door of the room that held the autoclave&
"1ossibly the end of the $orld," Clemens said, his mind racing&
T"e dirigi3le'# at =r .a#e, he thought& T"e, can get "ere 3, tomorro* morning. All rig"t, t"at'#
$ive "undred do#e#. Ma,3e, o", 8od, ma,3e3
0e turned to the $oman, 'ept his voice gentle as he loo'ed into the enormous dar' pools of fear
that $ere her eyes& "5ho is your manB" he said 9uietly& "0o$ many other children do you have,
and $here do they d$ellB"
"Ahhhh," @athryn 0ollard said, sin'ing into the tub until only her nose $as above $ater,
scratching vigorously at her scalp and the short/cropped sandy hair, reveling in the animal
comfort&
0er 9uarters in the section of the palace turned over to the Americans $eren't large, but they did
run to the :abylonian e9uivalent of a bathroomE a big ceramic tub, $ith a drainpipe and a bra.ier
in a corner to heat $ater& %in/ina/mati had managed to $angle an appointment as her batman and
had the $hole thing ready for her, for $hich she $as profoundly grateful& 7t $as ama.ing ho$
you could soa' up dirt and dust and sand, and even if you 'ept your scalp stubbled and shaved
everything else, the $ar against lice and fleas $as never completely $on& %till, she moved the
gently e;ploring hand aside&
"(ot no$, Mattie," she said& "(ot in the mood&"
%in/ina/mati pouted slightly and then grinned and tossed her the sponge&
"Ah, the handsome 1rince @ashtiliash fills your thoughts," she said& "And you $ish he $ould fill
your3ai<"
Laughing, @athryn held up her hand, ready to scoop more of the $ater at her& "Common
'no$ledge no$, is itB" she said, as %in/ina/mati pretended to co$er, laughing herself& "0ell, you
can still scrub my bac', Mattie&"
"(ot very common, but there's little secret here in the palace," the :abylonian $oman said,
bringing up a stool and sitting on it to use the sponge& "And 7 hear everything there is to hear&"
"0appy to be bac'B" @athryn said, ta'ing the sponge before slipping do$n to soa' again& %he
dropped bac' into 4nglish for an instant> "%"ri#t on a crutc", t"i# countr, i# ara#ite "eaven. @
"7 am happy to be bac' as a free $oman, $ith silver of my o$n," %in/ina/mati said& %erious for a
moment> "7 have paid my family's debts, and soon they $ill buy bac' their land that no$ they
rent& %everal families have as'ed me to tutor their children in the (antu'htar letters, $ith
generous fees& -han' you&"
@athryn nodded, slightly embarrassed& -hat $as ho$ the girl had ended up as a palace slave in
the first place& 0er peasant family had sold her off as the only alternative to starving for the
$hole bunch, from grandmother to nursing infants& -hat could happen here, if you $ere up
against it, borro$ed against the ne;t harvest, and got seriously unluc'y&
-he gratitude made her uneasy, though& %in/ina/mati's ne$ status $asn't "er doingE it $as the
Republic's policy& 8n the other hand, she'd learned firsthand that :abylonians didn't thin' that
$ay& 4verything $as personal obligation or enmity to them, not personified abstractions li'e
nations or governments& And she "ad gotten her a better 6ob than carrying bedpans&
4n #till anot"er "and, &'m al#o grate$ul t"at Mattie didn't get too? attac"ed& %he sighed& &t'#
certainl, $un, once ,ou get over t"e o"-ic)-,u)-t"at'#-#trange 3it, 3ut no* t"at &'ve tried it & can
de$initel, #a, t"at it i#n't 7t, $or me. .eat# t"e "ell out o$ #olitar, vice, 3ut no caital 1 (a##ion&
7t $as al$ays valuable to ma'e a discovery about yourself, but this one $as a pity, in a $ay&
-here $ould have been some advantages if it "ad been 7t, if she $anted to be career military, and
so far she hadn't found anything that better suited her talents& Alt"oug" & li)e 3uilding t"ing#, too&
%he $iped soapy $ater out of her eyes and groped for her $atch on the $ic'er table beside the
bath& "8h, hell," she said& ",ot to get going3there's that thing over at the temple& 0and me that
to$el, $ould youB"
-he occasion $as full/dress& Luc'ily that $asn't very fancy for the 7sland military& -he polished
calf/boots, tailored 'ha'i pants and 6ac'et, scarf, and beret $ith the Republic's eagle/and/shield
badge all loo'ed fairly sharp $ithout being too elaborate or labor/intensive& %he buffed the badge
until the gold of the arro$s and olive $reath shone against the silver eagle, ad6usted it, too' a
9uic' loo' in the mirror and buc'led on her %am :ro$ne&
%oming u in t"e *orld, she thought, snapping out the cylinder of the ne$ 1ython revolver that
had come in $ith the 5erders& And not onl, 3etter equiment& A smile moved her lips as she
flic'ed a fingernail at the silver lieutenant colonel's oa' leaves on the collar of her uniform
6ac'et&
"5hat is thisB" A..u/ena as'ed steadily& 0e could see the fear in her eyes, thoughE it $as but a
reflection of his o$n&
"Life," Fustin Clemens said&
0e s$abbed the s'in of her shoulder $ith alcohol, $iped it dry $ith the gau.e, roughened it $ith
the instrument and applied the vaccine, then taped another piece of gau.e across it& 5hen it $as
done he slumped in relief& -he luc'less laborers $ho'd been trapped in the $aiting room $ere
ne;t, all si; of them&
"5hy have you isolated the mother along $ith the childB" A..u/ena as'ed as he stood in
thought&
":ecause she's almost certainly infected by no$3prolonged body contact," he said&
"5hat is the treatment for this diseaseB"
"-here is no treatment&"
"(ot even theD penicillinB"
"-hat's useless against this& -he vaccine prevents infection, but once the disease is establishedD
among people li'e yours, $ho've never been e;posed, as many as nine in every ten may die&"
According to his medical history te;ts, Me;ico had gone from t$enty million people to one and
a half million $ithin a couple of generations after Corte.'s men had arrived, bringing smallpo;
along $ith them& After $hat he'd seen on the post/4vent mainland $ith influen.a, mumps, and
chic'en po;, he believed every $ord of it& "Iirgin field epidemic" had gone from a historical
curiosity to a recipe for na'ed horror&
-he $oman's eyes $ent $ideE these cities might not have 'no$n smallpo; before, but they did
have epidemics to give a basis for imagination&
"7s there nothing that can be doneB"
"7 don't have much of the vaccine, and 7 can't ma'e any more here, and you don't3" 1o* do &
e7lain a3out co*o7B 5hich :abylonian co$s did not haveE he'd chec'ed $hen he first arrived&
6o time& "7 don't have the things 7'd need& (antuc'et is t$o months' sailing from here, and they
could only send me a fe$ thousand doses&"
"Aou 'no$ this disease $ellB"
"From boo's& 5e $iped it out in our o$n land by vaccination&"
"(ine in ten< ,ods of plague have mercy<" %he suddenly loo'ed do$n at her arm& "-his
preserves, you sayB"
"Aes, unless you're already infected, and 7 very much doubt it&"
"-hen $hy meB" 0er ga.e sharpened on him& "5ill you not $ish to preserve the 'ing and his
householdB"
"7 suppose $e'll have to," he said $earily& "%ince $e can't preserve everybody& :ut 7'll be
damned if it's all going to go out for political reasons&"
%uddenly she smiled and rested a hand on his shoulder for a moment& "Aou are a great healer,"
she said& "Aou $ill find something you can do&"
0e nodded $earily& "Apart from praying that $e can isolate all the cases in time, there's only one
thing 7 can do& 7t's far better than nothing, but 7 don't thin' it's going to go over very $ell&"
% % %
"Lady @at'ryn/0ollard," @ashtiliash said& "Aou have been promoted3finding favor $ith you
o$n ruler, as $ell as ours< -hat is very $ell&"
@athryn felt herself flushing& 0e'd learned 7slander military insignia, and he noticed& !or a 3ig
3ad .ron:e Age t,e, /a#" is a #*eetie, she thought&
-hey turned casually do$n a side corridor, out onto a section of flat roof that turned into a
balcony& From there they could see night descending on :abylon, a huge serried dar'ness against
the hori.on& -he stars $ere still bright aboveE she 'ne$ that the streets do$n there3e;cept for a
very fe$ broad, straight ones such as the 1rocessional 5ay3$ould be canyons of blac'ness
$here nobody ventured $ithout a light&
@ashtiliash $as loo'ing up at the stars& "7 am thin'ing," he said after a moment, "of $hat you
told me, of your island's voyage through the tide of years to this time, and ho$ the very stars
$ere different&" 0e shoo' his head& "Aet al$ays 7 had thought of my life as the no*, from $hich
all the future flo$ed& 7t ma'es the liver curl, to thin' of it instead as dry tablets tumbled in a ruin
mound, aD fable&"
%he moved closer, and they laid arms around $aist and shoulderE she $as only an inch or so
shorter than he, to$ering by this age's standards&
"5e have a saying on (antuc'et," she said& "2on't t"in) a3out t"e -vent too muc"A it'# 3ad
enoug" *it"out in#anit, #tirred in. @
"Aet in the 0ouse of %uccession 7 read the tablets of the ancients, the %umeriansD and they also
sa$ stars different from these $e see& 7t is curious, to thin' of the depths of time3curious and
di..ying&"
@athryn nodded& 6ot ju#t a "and#ome $ace, she thought, acutely conscious of the scent of him, a
strong masculine mus'&
"And 7 $as thin'ing of you, my @at'ryn/0ollard, and $hether you have laid a $itch's spell on
me&" 0e laughed softly& "Aou are nothing of $hat $e thin' a $oman should be, yet you are ever
in my thoughts& My father thin's you the diversion of an hourE 7 dread his $rath if 7 tell him
differently, yet 7 must37 have no choice&"
"And everyone of m, people thin's you're a disaster for me," she replied& -hey turned to each
other and suddenly they $ere 'issing hungrily&
"7 strive to stay a$ay, and 7 cannot stay a$ay," he groaned after a long moment&
"5hat, all the $omen of your harem cannot console youB" she said&
"(o more than the little servant maid can you," he said and laughed at the slight 6er' of surprise&
"2o you thin' 7 $ould not see' to 'no$ everything about you, @at'ryn/0ollardB"
"(o," she said3she'd rummaged shamelessly through the Arnsteins' files on "im, certainly&
-hey 'issed again, and he chuc'led into her ear& "And 7 $as raised in a harem, @at'ryn3a
hundred $omen to one man may flatter the vanity of a 'ing and uphold his reputation, butD"
-here $as a long silence& "-his is dangerous," she said, holding bac' for a second and loo'ing
into his eyes&
"7 'no$," @ashtiliash said, nodding& "7 could not be else$here& Could youB"
%he felt her throat tighten as she shoo' her head& -he room they entered $as probably a cler''s in
the daylight hoursE there $ere bas'ets of clay tablets and $a;ed boards, and a table&
0er $hole body tightenedE her s'in felt as if it $ere a si.e too small and $as being pric'ed all
over $ith miniature pins& 5hen his hands closed on her shoulders and slid do$n to cup her
breasts, there $as a 6olt beneath her diaphragm, almost li'e a blo$, and she sagged strengthless
against the table&
"-here is no time," he groaned&
"-hen $e'll ma'e time," she said, her voice lo$ and throaty&
.oring i#n't t"e $ord $or it, @enneth 0ollard thought&
-he 7slander officers $ere 6ust behind the ArnsteinsE they $ere behind a ran' of @ing %huriash's
relativesE behind 0ollard and the others $ere dignitaries, officials, priests, and ,od/'ne$/$hat&
7n the great courtyard of 4/sag/ila, the -emple that Raises 7ts 0ead, the 1alace of 0eaven and
4arth, the %eat of @ingship& 7t $as impressive, in its $ay, although not as much as the .iggurat
that raised its head across the street to the north34/temen/an/'i, the -emple Foundation of
0eaven and 4arth, soaring in seven steps three hundred and t$enty feet into the dar'ening
evening s'y& A great staircase ascended the southern side, and from there ramps spiraled around
each s9uare step, up to the blue/enameled shrine at the top& -here, he'd heard, $as a table of gold
and a large bedD and a $oman 'no$n as the :ride of Mardu'&
0e glanced ahead& @ing %hagara'ti/%huriash $ould play the part of Mardu' later in the
festivities, enacting the %acred Marriage that brought fertility to the land& <uc), 3a#tard, he
thought3it had been a long timeD
Right no$ the 'ing $as pacing for$ard, loo'ing li'e an image himself in cro$n and robes, the
mace of sovereignty in his hands& 0e $as reciting a hymn to Mardu', seemingly a verse for
every step across the huge stone/paved courtyard to$ard the temple gates&
Li'e parts of the 'ing's palace, the -emple of Mardu' had artificial palm trees before the
to$ering si;ty/foot gates& +nli'e the ones in the palace, these $ere of solid silver and leafed $ith
gold& -he cedar$ood of the gates $as covered in silver as $ell, and the $alls themselves $ere
colored bric' and bone/$hite gypsum& 5ithin, the #"e#"gallu, the high priest, $ould have risen
before da$n to cleanse himself $ith -igris $ater and then spent all day before the image of the
god, reciting from the -numa -li#", the epic depicted on the gates&
8ut here, the acres of courtyard $ere cro$ded $ith an orderly throng& ,reat ban's of )alu3
ritual singers3bro'e into choral song every time the 'ing's recitation stopped, amid the tin'le
and rattle of cistrum and cimbalomli'e instruments& 7ncense smo'ed into the s'y from censers of
golden fret$or' s$ung by the priests&
7t $as all stately beyond $ordsE the problem $as that $ith chants, songs, ritual gestures, it $as
going to ta'e the rest of the afternoon to reach the temple, at $hich point the ceremony $ould
actually begin& -he dignitaries honored $ith an invitation had to go at the same pace& Colonel
0ollard glanced aside at the cro$d filling the open spaces of the courtyard and shivered slightly&
-heir faces $ere rapt, open, an abandonment of self beyond anything he could imagine&
4ventually they crossed the temenos, the sacred enclosure& -he gates s$ung $ide, and @enneth
0ollard missed his stride& 9e#u#<
Most of these :abylonian buildings $ere dim/lit insideE it made the bigger ones impressive, in a
mysterious, smo'y $ay& 4sagila $asn't& -he inside of the great hall glo*ed, light caught and
reflected bac' and forth by the gold leaf that covered $alls and the giant beams of the ceiling,
spar'ling from emerald and nacre and lapis& 0ollard blin'ed, stunned for an instant& -hen they
$ere through the hall and into the sanctum itself, only the 'ing and his most trusted guests there
as $itnesses& 0ollard's eyes $ent up and up, past the man/high golden footstool, past the colossal
foot and robe, to the golden, bearded face of the god that seemed to hover beneath the lofty roof,
full/lipped and bea'/nosed, the embodiment of po$er, telling all beholders to ma'e peace $ith
their mortality&
0e shoo' himself mentally& %ome o$$ it, t"at'# ju#t a #tatue& Fust a goddam big solid/gold statue&
6o *onder t"e local# $ind it imre##ive, t"oug"&
@ing %huriash halted before the image of the god, one hand before his face and the other raised&
-he elderly #"e#"gallu came for$ard in his archaic $rap and relieved him of the symbols of his
sovereignty3 the tall cro$n of gold and 6e$els, the mace, the circle, all placed on a smaller
chair before Mardu''s& -hen the high priest too' him by the ear and made as if to force him to his
'nees& As a man rather than a 'ing, %huriash prostrated himself before Mardu' and then rose
only to his 'nees to proclaim>
& did not #in,
<ord o$ t"e countrie#.
did not de#tro, .a3,lonA
& did not command it# overt"ro*.
T"e temle -#agila,
& did not $or#a)e it# rite#.
& did not rain 3lo*# uon t"e *ea),
& did not "umiliate t"e lo*l,.
& *a# vigilant $or t"e )ingdom.
0ollard found himself nodding& %huriash actually meant itE for a monarch of the ancient 8rient,
he really $as a pretty good sort& -he priest slapped him sharply on both chee's as the rite
re9uired, until tears came to his eyesE the 'ing $ent on his belly once more, and then $as lifted
up, the high priest intoning>
1ave no $earA
T"e 8od .el-Mardu) *ill li#ten to ,our ra,er
1e *ill magni$, ,our lord#"i
1e *ill e7alt ,our )ing#"i
T"e 8od .el-Mardu) *ill 3le## ,ou $oreverA
1e *ill de#tro, ,our adver#ar,A
1e *ill $ell ,our enem,.
8ne by one, the symbols he had laid do$n $ere returned to %huriash& -he chorus of singing
priests burst out again, and $ithin the confines of the temple their song $as a $ave of pure
sound&
0ollard glanced aside at Raupasha, $atching the intent spar'le of her dar'/gray eyes& %he $as
$earing $hat 2oreen had dreamed up as the ne$ Mitannian national costume, an open 6ac'et of
crimson sil' embroidered $ith dragons in gold thread over a long, simple go$n of indigo blue
set $ith bullion medallions along the hem&
<oo)# damn $ine, he thought& S"e'# $illed out a little *it" roer $ood and e7erci#e. 2o*n 3o,<
-hen her eyes $ent $ide, and her hand darted inside the 6ac'et& -ime seemed to slo$ as the slim
hand came out $ith the bul' of a brand/ne$ &=L 1ython in it, pointing aheadD to$ard @ing
%huriash& -o$ard his undefended bac', bare to the allies he trusted&
9e#u#, #"e'# gone nut#< he thought& 0is hand lifted3and halted&
7nstead, he pivoted himself, his o$n right hand cla$ing at the holster on his $aist& -he shot $as
not far from his ear, deafeningly loud& -here $ere screams, cries of anger and rageE %huriash $as
pivoting, features slac' $ith ama.ement as he sa$ the priest leaping to$ard him $ith upraised
'nife& Raupasha's shot clipped a fingernail's $idth of s'in from the man's nose& -he priest's face
$as t$isted in an ecstasy of hatred, amo' $ith fanaticism& -he $ound snapped his head around
for an instant, and slo$ed his rush&
"2ie, blasphemer<" he screamed&
1rince @ashtiliash's actions had the smooth economy of an e;pert& 0is s$ord slashed out and up,
through the assassin's $rist& -he priest did shrie' then, although @enneth couldn't tell if it $as
$ith pain or frustration& -he sound cut offD literally, as the prince's second stro'e chopped
half$ay through his nec'&
-hen the t$o 0ollards, the prince, and some of the nobles $ere cro$ding around %huriash,
$eapons poised and eyes glaring, putting their bodies bet$een him and any further danger, $hile
priests and onloo'ers scattered in terror& 0ollard noticed that one of the fe$ e;ceptions $as 7an
Arnstein, $ho'd sei.ed his $ife in a crouching hug that put "i# body bet$een her and danger&
-ime fro.e, for long instants& -he priest/assassin gave a final bubbling rattle, 'ic'ed heels,
voided, then died& 0is blood flo$ed out impossibly red in the light of the shrine, creeping around
the feet of those surrounding the 'ing&
"Let me by," %huriash snapped&
Reluctantly, his protectors spread apart, moving out$ard to ma'e their circle $ider& %huriash
loo'ed do$n at the priest&
"My than's," he said to @ashtiliash, and nudged the body& ":ut it $ould have been good to as'
this one 9uestions3hard 9uestions, in a hard $ay&"
0e caught Raupasha's eye and inclined his head& "My lady of Mitanni, 7 seem to o$e you a life& 7
shall not forget&"
-hen he loo'ed around& "5here is the #"e#"gallu of Mardu'B"
-he chief priest came for$ard, loo'ing shrun'en and old in his gorgeous robe and .iggurat hat&
"My lord 'ing, may you live forever3"
"7f 7 do, it $ill be no than's to your incompetence<" %huriash snapped&
"8 4nsi of Mardu', there are so many priests in :abylon for the a)ituD"
%huriash nodded& "-hat is true& Aou, you3" he pointed to guardsmen& "-a'e the corpse of this
dead dog and put it $here it may be e;amined later& Aou, go spea' to the people in the temenosE
tell them that the 'ing has been spared by the grace of Mardu' and the other great gods
assembled here in :abylon& (o$, #"e#"gallu, it is time for me to ta'e the hand of the great god
my lord, :el/Mardu'&"
-he high priest gaped at him& "AouD you $ish to go on $ith the ceremony, @ing of the Four
HuartersB"
%huriash snorted& "8f course< 7f there $as any aim to this plot besides 'illing me, it $as to
interrupt the a)itu, that doubt might be thro$n on my right to rule as vice/regent of the great :el/
Mardu'& -his shall not be< -he ceremony shall continue<"
-here $as a slight commotion at the door$ayE it $as a breach of decorum for anyone to enter the
feasting/hall after the monarch& @ing %huriash turned, his shaggy bro$s rising $hen Fustin
Clemens pushed past the guards& 0e smiled, though, despite the breach of protocol& -he guards
had 'no$n he $ouldE the man $ho had saved the 'ing's darling $ould not be denied audience
even if his reasons $ere frivolous& (ot for the first fe$ times, at least&
(obody thought his reasons $ere, once they sa$ his face& 0e came up to the table at the 'ing's
side and bo$ed&
"8 @ing," he said& "7 have grave ne$s&" 0e glanced around& "For your ears, and your heir's, and
these officers of my people&"
%huriash loo'ed at him 'eenly for a moment, then nodded& "Leave us," he said& -here $ere
murmurs from some of the ministers and generals& "Leave us, 7 said<" 5hen the audience
chamber $as empty save for himself and his son and the 7slander commanders, he $ent on> "7
have given offense to po$erful men& -here had better be a good reason for this&"
"8 @ing, there is& -here is mutanu in your city&"
%huriash's tanned s'in $ent grayE so did his son's& Mutanu translated literally as "certain death&"
A better rendering into 4nglish $ould have been "plague&"
"Are you sureB" the 'ing said, grasping at a small image of %hamash that hung at his belt, a rare
gesture for him&
"7 am sure& 7t isD" 0e paused, groping for a $ord& "7 do not 'no$ if you have a $ord for this
mutanu& 7t starts $ith fever and a reddish rash, and then red sores erupt upon the body& 7f the
victims live, they may be scarred& 5e call it #mallo7&"
%huriash shoo' his head& "(o, 7 do not 'no$ of this mutanu&" 0is ga.e sharpened& "Aou doB
0ave you brought this thing to the land of @ar/2uniashB"
Clemens lic'ed his lips& 8od, & *i#" & *a# #ure, he thought& "7 do not thin' so," he said& "5e
have not suffered from this disease for a very long time& 5e have a means of ma'ing a person
safe from it&"
"Ah," %huriash said& "-hat is $ellE that is very $ell&"
Clemens shoo' his head& "Lord @ing, $e have such a means at home in (antuc'et, not here& (ot
our best means&" 7n 4nglish, to the appalled faces of @enneth 0ollard and the other 7slanders>
"5e've got enough vaccine on hand to immuni.e a couple of hundred people, no more&"
"7s there another $ay, thenB" %huriash as'ed&
"Aes&" Clemens hesitated, and the :abylonian made an imperious gesture& -he doctor lic'ed his
lips again, tasting the salt of fear&
"Lord @ing, $e can protect you and your family by the best method, for $e have some of that
medicine&"
0e $inced internally& %till, there $as no choice3they couldn't vaccinate the population at large,
and if they $ere going to pic' a fe$ hundred, then it $ould have to be3coldly3based on $ho
$as most essential to the Republic's purposes&
"And my peopleB" %huriash as'ed 9uietly&
"-here is another $ay& 7t, too, protects against the disease, butD there are dra$bac's&"
Colonel 0ollard snorted& "%pit it out, Lieutenant," he said&
"Lord @ing, the other method involves3" 1o* t"e "ell do & #a, @attenuated viru#@ in A))adian,
goddammitB 0e too' another breath and began again& "7t involves giving the healthy a $ea'
form of the disease& 7n most cases, they recover $ith little harm and are henceforth immune&"
@ashtiliash leaned for$ard, his bro$n eyes narro$ed& "MostB -hat is a $ord as slippery as a fish
dipped in sesame oil," he said&
Clemens nodded& "8f every fifty so treated, one $ill develop the strong form of the disease& 8f
those, one in t$o $ill die&"
%huriash seemed to s$ell $here he sat& "Aou $ould 'ill"3he paused to calculateE :abylonian
arithmetic used an eight/base system3"one in every hundred of my peopleB"
"@ing, if $e do not, at least t$o in every ten $ill die< And that isD to rely on the favor of the
gods&" 7t $asn't easy to say "probability" in A''adian either& "7f this is truly the first time that
this mutanu has visited your lands, then as many as nine in ten or more may die& And 7 thin' it is
the first timeE your a#u A..u/ena 'no$s nothing of it, and her 'no$ledge of your healing arts is
very complete&"
"8h, #"it," 0ollard said, into the echoing silence that follo$ed Clemens' $ords& "5hy didn't 7
stay on (antuc'et, $here they don't "ave emergenciesB"
C#ATE! TWENTY)TWO
May, Year ,- A.E.
"2ull duty," ,uard Recruit Mandy @ayle said&
"%'y Father give me 'dull' anytime," 1etty 8fficer %amuel -aunarsson said& "7 mean, ,od the
Father and 0is %on," he continued, crossing himself& "And 0is Mother& 5hether or not %he is
Moon 5oman, too," he added for safety's sa'e&
Above them the fabric of the balloon crea'ed in the preda$n chill& %he could see a fe$ intact
aircraft3they'd probably never fly again3 pegged do$n under shelters at the little airport, and
the big blimp/construction shed3empty right no$& 2espite that addition there $as a forlorn air
to (antuc'et Airport, boarded $indo$s and bind$eed slithering out over the run$aysD as if the
4vent had left it stranded in its o$n little bubble of time& @ayle shivered slightly at the thoughtE
she'd been nine years old the night of the 4vent, but she $as never going to forget it& -he $orld
before, yes3there $ere times $hen she $asn't sure if her memories $ere real or dreams&
"1ressureB" -aunarsson said&
"Full, 1etty 8fficer," @ayle said& -he t$o/hundred/foot/long balloon $as tugging at its
moorings, roc'ing a little in a fresh $esterly bree.e& "At present $eight, neutral buoyancy at five
hundred feet&"
"2rop stationary ballast," he said, and $ent to one side of the gondola& @ayle $ent to the other,
her hand on the slip'not of a burlap sac' of sand&
"8ne<"
-$o fifty/pound bags hit the asphalt in unison $ith dull thuds&
"-$o< -hree<"
Ropes crea'ed sharply& -he noncom nodded and stepped up to the head of the open oval
gondola, pic'ing up the handset& "-his is -agle'# -,e& Communications chec'&"
4vidently that $ent smoothly too, since he clic'ed the 'nob to a different channel and spo'e
again> "Ready, aye, ready&"
From the gray/shot dar'ness over the side came the rare brilliance of an electric lightE nobody
$as going to use an open flame near this much hydrogen&
"1aying up<" came the voice of the line team&
"%tand by to let go fore and aft<" -aunarsson called&
"Ready<"
"8n the mar'D loo#e<"
-here $as a hobbling heave, a sharp tung sound, and a steady %lin)aclin)aclin)a as the
mechanism let the cable run in a smooth, controlled surge& -he Coast ,uard fi;ed observation
balloon -agle'# -,e rose and turned its nose into the $ind as the fins caught the bree.e& @ayle
ya$ned and settled bac' on the bench by her duty station, 'eeping an eye on the pressure and
altitude gauges&
.oring, she thought&
7n the Aear M the @ayles had ta'en up a si;ty/four/acre -o$n grant farm out Milestone Road,
about half$ay to %conset, a little south of ,ibbs 1ond& %i;ty/four acres and forty crossbred
Alban/Fersey dairy cattle, all of 'em needing to be mil'ed t$ice a day, rain or shine, $inter or
summer&
Mandy @ayle $as 6ust old enough to remember times $hen the school year ended $ith a
vacation& 4ven though her younger siblings, t$o blood and t$o adopted, got old enough to help,
she'd been glad to sha'e the dust of the farm off her feet on her eighteenth birthday&
S"a)e t"e du#tB Scrae t"e #"it o$$ m, $eet0 1ell, t"i# certainl, 3eat# *or)ing $or a living& %he'd
probably get shipboard duty in si; months or so& Maybe ma'e petty officer and get into one of
the middie slots, a commission in a couple of years& %tanding on her o$n 9uarterdec' some
dayD
4r & could ut in $or $lig"t training& %cuttlebutt had it that more ultralights $ere being sent far
foreign, $ith the e;peditionary force and possibly $ith ships for scouting&
%he stood up to put on her seals'in 6ac'et as they hit a thousand feet3it got bris' up here3and
clipped on her safety line before -aunarsson could get on her case about it& 0e had a serious hair
up the ass about regsE but then, he'd sailed $ith %ommodore Al#ton, the luc'y bastard&
"Ient $ater ballast, establish neutral buoyancy at five thousand feet," he said&
"Aye, aye," she replied&
-hat control $as a $heel at the end of a pole in the middle of the gondola& %he gave it three
9uic' turns, then $aited $hile the rumbling hiss started belo$ and the -agle'# -,e surged
up$ard again, her eye fi;ed on the altimeter and the converted fuel gauge that sho$ed the level
of ballast&
"Forty/five hundred feet," she said as her ears popped again&
":allast valve off&"
":allast valve off, aye&"
%ilence fell, bro'en only by the clean, cold $histle of the $ind around the balloon& -he cable
stretched a$ay in a diminishing curve belo$ them to the toy/small recovery gear, and (antuc'et
7sland spread out, gradually rising from shado$ to light as the sun heaved itself above the eastern
hori.on& -he 7sland $as a lopsided triangle, gray/green set in blue and edged $ith $hite surf&
%he could see other land3Martha's Iineyard to the north$est, the mainland to the north3 but
her homeland $as laid out belo$ her li'e a map&
"Let's get to $or'," -aunarsson said& "Aou've got first $atch&"
"Aye, aye, Mr& -aunarsson," she said&
-here $as a thermos of hot cocoa in a bo; bolted to the side of the gondola that also held their
bo;ed lunchesE she poured for both of them, automatically ad6usting for the continuous dip and
s$ay of the tethered balloon& %he'd been miserably sic' the first couple of times, and she still
remembered the petty officer's cheerful command3 4ver#ide, and #"o* t"e civvie# *"at ,ou
t"in) o$ 'em, ;ecruit&
-hen she bro'e out her binoculars, resting her elbo$s on the chest/high rail, careful to chec' that
the strap $as hitched around her nec' and through the brass loop at the rear of her leather 6ac'et
before she too' them any$here near the edge of the little craft& 5hat the lieutenant3hell, $hat
the commodore3$ould say if she lost the irreplaceable pre/4vent instrument 6ust didn't bear
thin'ing about&
,reen/blue $ater shading out into dar' blue, edged $ith $hite/caps, stretching out all around to
the edge of the $orld3bac' to greenish again over the sandban's that dotted (antuc'et %ound
li'e silent hands $aiting to grab ships' 'eels& -he lo$ shorelines of Cape Cod and Martha's
Iineyard easily in vie$ from here3there $ere threads of smo'e coming up from both, probably
from charcoal 'ilns and turpentine $or's, and a bigger one from the glass$or's at 0yannis :ase&
5hat she and -aunarsson $ere #uo#ed to loo' for $ere ships, and $hales spouting, and
schools of fish3so the ,uard could pass the information on to $halers and fishers and tug
captains3or people in trouble& -hose $ere the things the ,uard $as for, along $ith e;ploring
and fighting&
-he scan $as automatic by no$& %he could ignore the $ind that brought red to her chee's and
ears, the almost inaudible murmur of the petty officer reading to himself as he $ent over a
te;tboo'3 studying for a move up, of course& Mandy had a copy of that navigation manual
herself& %he could read it $ithout moving her lips, but then, she hadn't learned to read as an adult
3and in a second language at that&
%loud# in t"e nort", she thought& Might be $eather building up there& .it o$ a "a:e to t"e ea#t&
8ut there the ocean stretched to Alba, to the %ummer 7sle, to the $eird places along the :altic
that the 2ougla## had found3she sa$ herself standing in the pro$ of a $haleboat as it grounded
on a sandy shore edged $ith pineE she sa$ painted men leaning on their spears, holding up
strings of amber, drums beating in the dar' forestsD
4dd& -here $ere #ail# out thereE she could s$ear it& %he flipped through the arrivals and
departures chec'list& -$o brigs and a clipper $ere due in from far foreign this $ee', from the
penal settlement on 7nagua, -rinidad, and the 1acific, respectively& 1ell, t"ere are already more
t"an t"ree t"ere. 2amn t"at "a:e& And ships bearing up from the Caribbean usually ran in $est
of Mada'et and pic'ed up a tug there&
"8h, shit," she $hispered a second later&
"7'd forgotten ho$ much 7 hated those things," Marian mumbled, then forced herself to full
alertness and reached over %$indapa's sleepy murmur of protest to pic' up the telephone& 0er
partner clung to her li'e a $arm, dro$sy octopus, sighing and stretching as Marian's hand
fumbled in the dar' through the clutter on the side table&
Matc"e#, "and)erc"ie$, *ater gla##. 8reate#t %"ine#e &nvention o$ All time, rig"t, t"ere it i#,
tele"one, she thought, ya$ning&
"Alston heah," she said& 7t had to be fairly important to use the still/limited telephone service&
"+"atB @
%$indapa sat up in midstretch, eyes sharp and alert&
"Aes, of course notify the Chief, %andy," Marian snapped& "At once& And sound the ,eneral
Alarm and -urn 8ut& Aes, 7'm authori.ing it, goddamnit& ,et to it<"
"5hat's happeningB" %$indapa said steadily as they rolled out of bed and began to dress&
",reat minds thin' ali'e," Marian said, loo'ing out the $indo$&
-he spring da$n $as 6ust brea'ing in the east, gilding the $hite pillars of the -$o ,ree's across
Main %treet from ,uard 0ouse&
"7t loo's li'e @ing 7s'eterol decided not to $ait for us to hit him first&"
"7t's "anging in t"e air@ %haudris'ol of -artessos said, loo'ing up at the tiny dot la.ing in the
morning s'y& Light flashed off something beneath it, metal or glass&
"5e 'ne$ they could do that," his uncle Ceur'enol said 9uietly& -he 'ingdom had hot/air
balloons as $ell, this last year& "@eep it do$n, don't startle the men& 5hen $e've ta'en the
island, $e too $ill command the s'ies&"
7t $as a clear, fresh morning, and the $hole fleet $as cutting across the $ind3pointing up from
the southeast& -he loo'outs had cried out that the Fester had relented and Arucuttag of the %ea
had brought them to landfall some time agoE small fires in metal bo$ls burned than'/offerings
before the little model shrines on every 9uarterdec'& 4ven no$, $hen -artessian ships had
spanned the oceans of 4arth, it still felt a little unnatural to see nothing but sea for $ee's&
0e raised the far/seeing glasses to his eye, e;amined the coast, then loo'ed do$n at the map
carefully secured to a board, holding aside the oiled leather that protected it $hen it $as not in
use& -he spy had stolen them a fine map indeedE T"e %omlete Ma o$ 6antuc)et, by something
that the 4agle 1eople called a %"am3er o$ %ommerce3li'e most men of ran', Ceur'enol had
learned a smattering of 4n/gil/ish along $ith the ne$ script&
0is s'in pric'led a little at the sight of the lo$, sandy shore aheadE it $as li'e sailing to the
8ther$orld3(antuc'et, the home of everything mysterious, magical, eldritchD
"And the richest pri.e in all the $orld," he murmured&
"5ith the fate of the 'ingdom riding on our shoulders," his nephe$ added proudly&
"2on't flatter yourself, son of my brother," Ceur'enol said dryly& "2id you notice $hich
regiments the 'ing sentB"
"5iseant, :oar, 5olf, 8tter, and :ear," his nephe$/aide said automatically& "-hey'reD oh&"
A substantial proportion of the ne$ #tanding arm,3he used the 4ng/il/its $ord $hen he
thought, there being no close -artessian e9uivalentE the closest you could come $as "ou#e"old
guard#& First/rate troops armed $ith the ne$ breechloaders, and $ith many other cunning ne$
$eapons& :ut all recruited from the ne$ sub6ect peoples in the lands south of the 1illars, tribal
mercenaries from the mountains of the Riff& Fierce fighters and loyal to their salt, but there
$ould be no politically destabili.ing grief in the capital if they $ere lost&
":ut the officers are of the best families in the City<"
"Aes," Ceur'enol said& "(ot many unmarried men among them, either&"
0is nephe$ $as young, no more than eighteen $inters, but no fool& 0is eyes $idened& All of
them $ith hostages $ithin the city $alls& (one of the (e$ Men among them, either, none of the
'ing's strongest supporters&
"Aou don't meanD the 'ing *ant# us to failB -o die hereB"
"8h, no, never thin' it& -he 'ing stri'es boldly here, and if $e con9uer, our re$ards $ill be
greatD bac' in -artessos, under his eye&"
7s'eterol $as no fool, either, nor did he love blood for its o$n sa'e& -here $as not much to say
against ho$ the 'ing u#ed his ne$ po$er, e;cept that he "ad it&
& *ould 3e ea#ier in m, mind i$ & *ere #ure "i# #on *ould u#e it li)e*i#e, the nobleman thought&
-he 'ing in -artessos might as $ell be a living god no$, li'e 1haraoh& -hat $as $ell for the city
$hen the 'ing $as a very able man, although even the ablest made mista'es& -he ne7t 'ing,
thoughD
0e pushed the thought out of his mind& -here $as a $ar to fight, and if he $on it -artessos
$ould bestride the $orld&
"A general message," he said& 7t $ould be a repetition, but all the better for that3the troops $ere
good fighting men but inclined to be a bit $ild& "-o all $arriors ashore& Remember that the 'ing
has commanded that all nonfighters or those $ho surrender be treated $ell, as his sub6ects& -here
is to be no burning, no plunder, no forcing of $omen3any man found brea'ing these orders $ill
be castrated and burned alive before the altar of Arucuttag<"
%o the 'ing had said, and li'e most of his orders there $as $isdom in it& -he loot of (antuc'et
$ould be beyond the dreams of avarice, even a 'ing's dreams, but the s'ills and 'no$ledge it
held $ere a treasure far greater& :est to destroy as little as possible in ta'ing them&
-here $as a cro$d around the table in the map roomE that $as in the Middle :ric', the nearly
identical building 6ust south of ,uard 0ouse& Marian loo'ed do$n at the big relief map again, as
more counters $ent into the clump hovering off the eastern end of the island& A cup of coffee
$as thrust into her hand, and she sipped automatically&
"0o$ could they get this close undetectedB" someone complained&
-he Republic's military commander loo'ed up, and the councilor flinched& ":ecause it's a very
big ocean and $e have only about forty deep/ocean ships and they're all over the $orld," she
said& "And because the Meeting re6ected my re9uest that $e 'eep a standing air patrol&"
Fuel $as scarce and hideously e;pensive, granted/3so $ere spare parts& .ut not a# e7en#ive a#
a #urri#e attac)&
"5e don't have time for bic'ering," Fared Cofflin said&
Marian nodded& T"oug" $rom no* on ma,3e *e'll get le## *"ining a3out "o* militia drill i# a
*a#te o$ time, she thought coldly&
"From the reports, they may have something on the order of five or si; thousand men," she said&
"7'm ordering aircraft up, but 7 don't e;pect to find another fleet& At a guess, they slipped the
ships out a fe$ at a time to avoid attention from our people in -artessos, and then pic'ed up the
troops in Morocco&" 5hat $ould have become MoroccoE it $as barbarian country in this milieu,
and the -artessians had overrun it& "-hen they cut along the northern edge of the -rades,
sacrificing speed for secrecy& :old&"
%$indapa came inE Marian returned her salute& "Commodore, the militia's assembling3$e
caught most people before they'd left for $or'&"
Marian noddedE she could hear the noise in the streets, voices, $heels, hooves, teenagers on
bicycles shouting Turn out0 Turn out< as they pedaled& -he Church bells had stopped their
rhythmic pulsing call some time ago& :y la$ all adult citi.ens and resident aliens $ere in the
militia, $ith arms and e9uipment 'ept ready at hand in their homesE and they'd 6ust had a
monthly muster/and/drill day last $ee'&
"First :attalion is about ready to move out," %$indapa $ent on& "Less than an hour&" Marian
nodded $ith chill satisfactionE that $as good time&
"5hat do $e doB" Cofflin as'ed& "Meet them on the beachB"
Marian shoo' her head& "(ot enough time," she said& "And they'll have the cover of their ship's
guns on the landing .one& 5e can't get enough troops or cannon there in time, and they're going
to outnumber us badly as it is&"
-here $ere about t$elve thousand people on the 7sland these days, but a large proportion of
those $ere children or old people& -hey $ould all do $hat they could, from oldsters manning the
aid stations and minding infants to Funior Militia carrying messages by bicycle& :ut of actual
troops, the 7sland had barely three thousand&
"5e have to 'eep Fort :randt manned," she said, tapping the map&
-hat $as the fortress on the site of the old Coast ,uard station, near the lighthouse and the
mouth of the harbor& Ron Leaton's best rifled cannon $ere thereE nobody $as going to ta'e a
ship in past t"o#e, and it $as safe against any ground assault as $ell& -hat meant nobody $as
going to sail into the harbor and assault the doc'sE the noncombatants $ould gather there&
"-hat's a hundred and fifty people do$n," she said& "5e have to cre$ the $arships in harbor and
get them to sea for our counterattac'&" -hree frigates, the ne$ steam ram !arragut, and some
smaller craft& "%ay t$o thousand troops available all up to meet their landing force, and they'll be
ashore before $e're completely mobili.edD ho$'s the evacuation goingB"
"4veryone's out of %conset and half$ay bac' to to$n," Fared said& "7 chec'ed myself& 5e used
the mothballed school buses, most of them $or'ed& -he farmers and such are all coming in tooE
say another t$o hours for the last ones&" A $intry smile& "0ad some complaints 'bout leaving
livestoc' and such& 2ealt $ith it&"
-hat $as a massive reliefE she needed the roads clear, and herds of co$s and sheep bloc'ing
movement $ould be a nightmare&
"Captain -rudeauB -he !arragutB"
-he slender young man gulped air& "Ma'am, $e're still fitting out& -he guns aren't on board, $e
haven't shipped the mastsD"
Alston's eyes speared him& "Aour engines are installedB" A nod& "Aou have the protective plating
for the paddle $heels in placeB" Another& "-hen my single 9uestion is, Captain -rudeau, can ,ou
ma)e #teamB@
0e straightened& "Aes, ma'am&"
",ood& -hen go do it& Fast&" 0e $ent out at a bris' $al'&
4)a,. +e "ave t"ree o$ t"e $rigate#, t"e Farragut, and a 3unc" o$ #maller #tu$$. !ir#t *e "ave to
get t"em $ull, committed on#"ore& 1ac'ed $ith soldiers, even the -artessian transports $ould be
dangerous&
8et t"em to emt, t"o#e #"i#A t"en *e "it 'em $rom t"e #ea.
"-han' ,od for the -agle'# -,e and good $eather," she said& 0er finger traced a line out from
(antuc'et -o$n, heading east along Milestone Road& "8ut here south of ,ibbs 1ond, $here
there's room for the Chero'ee :rigade to ma'e themselves useful& 5e'll stop them there&"
"Ma'am<"
%he loo'ed upE the communications tech $as scribbling& "7t's the -agle'# -,e& Large numbers of
small boats landing, and several -artessian ships have beached themselves and are disembar'ing
troops over the sideD troops and artillery, ma'am&"
-he room dre$ a long breath $ith her& "All right, people, let's do it," she said& "%andy, you've got
the dec' here&"
"-here go the air corps," Mandy @ayle said&
%he'd $atched the pilots arrive, by steam/hauler and bicycle, horse carriage and a single
unprecedented school bus& (o$ the ultralights $ere lifting off in $aves from the run$ays, ten
and then ten more and then four& 4nl, t*o do*n $or reair#, she thought& 8ood maintenance&
-he little ply$ood teardrops on their tricycle carriages hopped into the air almost immediatelyE
they needed only thirty feet or so of rolling room even $ith their load of roc'ets and bombs& -he
motori.ed hang gliders circled li'e birds in a floc', building altitude until she could see the eagle
$ings painted onto the fabric of the arro$head $ings, the bea's and cla$s on the fuselages& 8ne
bu..ed close enough that she could see a gloved hand come up to give her a thumbs/up signal,
and then the little craft ban'ed a$ay and 6oined its comrades as they plodded at forty miles an
hour to$ard the eastern end of the 7sland&
"Luc' go $ith them," -aunarsson said& ",rant them victory<"
"Aeah," Mandy @ayle said&
.ecau#e i$ t"e, aren't luc),, *e're going to 3e needing luc) our#elve# rett, damn #oon& 0er
family's land $as right in the path of the invasion&
"All right," Marian Alston said, loo'ing do$n from the steps of the 1acific :an'&
7t $as the traditional3post/4vent traditional, at least3place for public spea'ing in (antuc'et&
From here she could see the bul' of the Ready Force and the First :attalion, Republic of
(antuc'et Militia3 eight hundred of them, all standing by their bicycles& Many of the faces
turned up to$ard hers $ere still pale $ith shoc'D 3ut t"e,'re read,& Rifles slung over their
bac's, e;tra ammunition and basic supplies on the carrying rac's over the rear $heels, and heavy
$eapons on t$o/person tricycles&
%he felt a moment's somber prideE building up the reserve force had been her $or' as much as
anyone's&
"5e're in a hurry, so 7'll 'eep it simple," she said& "5e're fighting for our homes, our families,
our lives, and our freedom3in the most literal sense of the $ord&" A lo$ murmuring snarl ran
through them, and she held up a hand& "Remember your training< 5e're going to $in this as an
organi.ed force, not a mob& -rading your life one/for/one $ith a -artessian is a bad bargain for
the Republic& Listen to your officers and do your bestE $e all $ill, and that's ho$ $e'll come
through this&"
A short, bar'ing cheer, and the long column began to move out, mounting up and pedaling up
Main %treet& -hey'd turn left on 8range and then out to Milestone RoadE that ran all the $ay to
%conset& %he turned to their commander, a Marine regular usually in the training cadre out at Fort
,rant& 0e $as a middle/aged man, from (orth Carolina originally, a sergeant in the corps before
the 4vent, short and barrel/chested, $ith s'in the color of old oiled tea'& 0is vehicle $ould be
one of the hoarded motor scooters, to give him mobility enough to oversee the operation&
"Ma6or McClintoc', push straight up Milestone and then fi; them in place," she said, her finger
tracing the folded map in his hand& "-he rest of the militia $ill mass here and then move out in
support&" -hat $ould be the second through fourth classes, older and less fit& "Aou've got air
reconnaissance and they don't, but they're going to outnumber you badly&"
+nfortunately, (antuc'et got $ider as you $ent eastE it $as shaped li'e a lopsided triangle
pointing $est$ardD $hich $as undoubtedly $hy the -artessians had landed there& 7t gave them
the ma;imum possible freedom of maneuver&
"-hey may try to flan' you either north"3through the former moorland around ,ibbs 1ond,
containing the vital po$der mill3"or south, to$ard the airport& 7f you have to choose, hold on
the northE it's hillier and easier to defend, but $e need to 'eep them a$ay from the -agle -,e'#
anchor rope if at all possible& Any 9uestionsB"
"(o, ma'am," he said stolidly& A smile and a salute& "%ee you later&"
"-a'e care&"
-he man hopped onto his scooter and his staff onto theirsE the ut-ut-ut of their motors echoed
as they sped a$ay& -he sun shone cruelly bright, scudding formations of $hite cloud from north
to south above them& Alston loo'ed up&
;ain, she thought& Flintloc's $ouldn't shoot if they $ere $et, and the ne$ $eapons the 7slanders
$ere using $ould& (lea#e, 8od, #end me #ome rain&
A gro$l of engines came from lo$er do$n on Main %treet, as the Chero'ee :rigade approachedE
she smelled the not/unpleasant scent of burned alcohol, and crossed mental fingers&
All t"e#e car# "ave to do i# *or) toda,, she thought& And tomorro* i$ *e're unluc),&
(ot all of them $ere Feep Chero'ees, in fact, although most $ere3 that had been the most
popular pre/4vent model& All "ad been modified, usually $ith sheet/metal armor besides
$eapons& %$indapa's blond head sho$ed beside the ,atling mounted on one& %he saluted
smartly, and Alston returned the gesture, silently than'ing a ,od she didn't believe in that they
$ere together& And t"at 1eat"er and <uc, are out *it" t"e ot"er )id# at !ort .randt&
%he $al'ed do$n the steps, chec'ed to see that the strap on her 1ython revolver $as secure, and
s$ung herself do$n into the body of the car& -he front held the driver and radio operatorE she
handed the second headset up to Alston, $ho settled it on beneath her helmet& 5hich reminded
herD
"0elmet, 'dapa&" -hen into the microphone> "Alston to Rapc.e$ic.&"
"Loud and clear, Commodore&"
"%tatus report, %andy&"
"-artessians are still disembar'ing, but they've moved a holding force up to the top of the bluffs
overloo'ing the beach&"
Alston nodded& -hat $as e;actly as she e;pected, and3she loo'ed at her $atch3far too early
for any 7slander forces of note to have arrived there&
"-rudeau reports that he's 6ury/rigging some valving and $arming his boilersE he'll be ready for
sea in not less than t$o hours forty/five minutes& All the other ships $ill be by that time, too&"
",ood&" Alston nodded grimly to herself& About the best you could e;pect, from a cold start&
"-agle'# -,e has the First :attalion under observationE they're ma'ing good time& McClintoc'
reports no contact as yet& And the air corps are beginning their attac' run on the enemy ships&"
Alston dre$ a deep breath& "All right, %andy, 'eep me informed& 2river, move out<"
1rivate )First :attalion, Republic of (antuc'et Militia Reserve* ,arrett 0op'ins chopped
frantically at the oats and the sandy dirt beneath them $ith his entrenching tool& -o either side of
him the rest of his section $ere doing li'e$ise, and dirt fle$ into the air as if a pac' of giant
gophers had moved onto this farm& 0e felt himself s$eating, but it $asn't the e;ertion& 0e
$or'ed harder than this every day, on a loading team at the :essemer $or's&
7t $as the 'no$ledge that pretty soon people $ould be coming up through the fields ahead,
trying to )ill him& @ill "im& -his morning's toast and ham and eggs and porridge lay li'e a lump
in his stomach, belching bac' up in gusts of gas, eaten in another $orld&
Tr,ing to )ill u# all, or ma)e u# #lave#, he thought, baring his teeth& 0is elder brother $as a
seaman, and he'd told the family about $hat he'd seen far foreign, in -artessos and else$here&
0o$ the locals treated people there&
-nem, a"ead o$ me, $amil, 3e"ind me, the young man thoughtE his parents, his younger sisters,
his brother's 'ids&
-he oats $ere spring/planted and had a s$eetish scent as his spade cut them, turning them to
green mush on the steelE it $as stronger than his o$n ran' fear/s$eat& -he soil beneath $as dar'
for four inches, then lighter sand& 0e 6umped in $hen he couldn't reach do$n far enough, turning
a$'$ardly as he dug beneath his feetE he stopped $hen the hole $as chest/deep and tossed the
spade up onto the piled earth in front of him& -he blade and his hands pac'ed it do$nE he
chec'ed as he'd been taught, ma'ing sure that he could see clearly in all directions but had room
to duc' do$n as $ell&
A glance over his shoulder3a board fence, then do$nslope their bicycles, and the road far
behind and to the right, $ith a strip of scrub and trees along it& Ahead $as the rest of this field of
oats& More fences east$ard to$ard the enemy, but he could see over them, and it struc' him ho$
pretty this part of the 7sland loo'ed& -he steel plant $here he $or'ed $as useful, good honest
$or', but nobody could call it good/loo'ing&
-he sergeant3foreman at the :essemer $or's3and a corporal $ent by, dropping board cartons
of fifty rounds by each rifle pit& As he stopped by 0op'ins's, he left a canvas bandolier of
grenades as $ell, the ne$ 'ind $ith spoon/and/ring detonators& 0op'ins felt an instant's
gratitudeE the older type $ith friction primers gave him the $illies&
"Ma'e it count, ,arry," the sergeant said, $ith a taut smileE his face $as s$eat/beaded too& "5e
need your right arm $hen baseball season starts again&"
":est outfielder on %eahaven 4ngineering's team," he agreed&
A voice came from the ne;t hole& "A hero in your o$n mind& 5ith a bat you couldn't hit your
o$n feet&"
0e loo'ed over and grinned at 4velyn ,rant& 6ever noticed #"e "a# a cute #mile 3e$ore, he
thought& A$ter t"i# i# over, "ave to do #omet"ing a3out it& -hat moment seemed infinitely far
a$ay and suddenly more desirable than anything in the $orld&
Longing turned to rage as he sa$ something tiny moving at the edge of sight, over to$ard
%conset& :lac' ant/figures in a strung/out line, trampling the barley planted there, then more
distinct& 4nemy& 8n "i# ground, "i# land&
A voice behind shouted> "Lieutenant says open fire at seven hundred yards3si;th fence out<
%i;th fence3count it<"
0e did, and chec'ed the range estimate himself& Chec'ed that his 5erder rifle $as loaded,
chec'ed that there $ere t$o grenades firmly planted in the sand near his right hand, chec'ed that
the si; rounds in the strip of loops se$n to the left breast of his 'ha'i tunic $ere in place,
chec'ed that the cover of the bandolier at his right hip $as buc'led bac' to sho$ the staggered
ro$s of shells& -hen he noticed ho$ dry his mouth $as and too' a sip from his canteen&
T"ou#and ,ard#, he thought, $hen he put it do$n& -hey $ere only a thousand yards a$ay, and
he could see the flapping of a banner in their midst& -he enemy $ere advancing in t$o lines
t$enty yards apart, $ith a spacing of t$elve feet or so bet$een each man& (ot too different from
the formation he'd been taught&
0is head $hipped around at the crac) of a shot off to his right, and he heard someone reaming
someone out for firing too soon& 6o* t"e,'ll )no* *e're "ere, he thought&
-he -artessians chec'ed a second at the sound, then a trumpet sounded, t$o rising and three
falling notes& -hey came on at a trot no$, and the spring sunlight blin'ed on their fi;ed bayonets&
0is mouth $as dry again, and there $as a tremor in his hands& 0e too' a deep breath and forced
it out, another, and felt a little better&
.ut & really "ave to i##, he thought& %uddenly it rammed home that not only $ere those men
going to 'ill him if they couldD 3ut & "ave to )ill t"em to #to t"em. & have to&
-o 9uiet the thought he brought the rifle to his shoulder and chec'ed again, this time that the
sights $ere set at seven hundred yards& -hey $eren'tE the little arro$ at the side had 200 under
the pointer, the lo$est setting3point/blan' range& 0e shifted his thumb to it and clic'ed it up to
700&
-he sergeant came by again, stooping as he ran this time& "Chec' your sights, chec' your sights,"
he said& 0is Fiernan accent $as thic'er& "And for Moon 5oman's loving sa'e, don't forget to
ad6ust them as they get closer& 2oesn't do any good to shoot unless you "it&"
"0ope they don't get any closer," 0op'ins muttered&
0is tongue felt thic' and dry despite the $ater he'd drun', as he brought the rifle to his shoulder,
leaning for$ard against the cool, damp surface of the firing pit& 7t soa'ed through the 'ha'i
6ac'et in spots3hung up fresh/smelling and spotless after his mother too' it do$n to %9uea'y
%team Cleaning $hen he came bac' from 2rill 5ee'end last month&
Mom *ill 3e *it" "er unit, he thought3she $as in the last/ditch outfit, the over/fifties& 9e#u#. &
reall, "oe #"e doe#n't "ave to do t"i#&
-he bright morning narro$ed do$n to the little notch at the top of the rear sight, and the pip of
the foresight through that& 0e could see the fence, gray $eathered oa' plan's nailed to s9uare
posts& 0e'd earned a little e;tra money one summer over on Long 7sland, putting up fences li'e
that& -hat had been the summer he'd lost his cherry $ith a Fiernan girl $or'ing on that farm, in a
pile of clover that smelled li'e honey, li'e her&
A man $as climbing over the fenceE a$'$ardly, holding his rifle out in one hand for balance&
0op'ins ad6usted his rifle's aim automatically, and noticed things3the green tunic and bare
hairy legs and strap sandals, dar' bearded face $ith a round iron helmet, a heavy pac'&
@!ire0@
0is finger s9uee.ed, as if the $ord had pulled a $ire in his brain that ran do$n his arm to his
hand& -he 5erder 'ic'ed against his shoulder and a puff of smo'e rose from the mu..le, $afting
a$ay to the right as the $ind caught it& .am3am3am3am3am3am as the rest of his platoon fired
as $ell, and the hot shell e6ected and bounced off his chee', burning a little&
-he slight pain 6arred him out of the da.e of seeing the foreigner pitch bac'$ard and lie still, one
leg caught in the middle plan' of the fence, tunic falling up to sho$ a soiled loincloth&
0op'ins s$allo$ed something that tasted li'e his brea'fast ten days dead and reached do$n to
reload& -he voice in his head sounded li'e the Marine regular $ho'd taught him during his basic
camp3harshly accented, $ith the staccato choppiness of someone born spea'ing one of the %un
1eople dialects, bored, slightly contemptuous&
Aim at "i# 3elt 3uc)le and a little do*n, t"at'# 3e#t $or a c"e#t #"ot. 2on't get $anc,. 5ou u#uall,
*on't 3e a3le to tell i$ ,ou "it "im. S"oot, reload, loo) $or anot"er target, #"oot. 2on't t"in), ,ou
&#land-3orn t"in) *a, too $uc)ing muc". T"in)ing rot# ,our gut#. 9u#t #"oot.
0e shot, reloaded, shot& -he -artessians $ere much closer no$, coming for$ard at a slo$ run&
Another pitched for$ard 6ust as 0op'ins $as about to fire at him& 9e#u#& Limp, gone, dead, thud
facedo$n and lie there& 0op'ins s$allo$ed, trac'ed the man ne;t to him, fired&
%rac). (ing& Reload, and the chamber $as hot enough to scorch his thumb a little $hen he
pushed the round home& -he first line of -artessians $ent to one 'nee, thumbing bac' the
hammers of their rifles3 6ust li'e the 5estley/Richards he'd trained on first before they got the
ne$ 5erders& 5hich meant3
"Christ<" 0e dropped the rifle onto the pile of dirt he'd been leaning against and duc'ed&
-he volley, and ugly flat $hi..ing craaa) sounds above him3 $hipcrac' sounds, meant for
"im& %creams from nearby, louder screams than he could believe possible, someone he 'ne$&
-he -artessian $ar shouts $ere much closerE he forced his body to stand again, snatched up the
rifle& -he ones $ho'd fired $ere reloading, and the second ran' of the -artessian formation had
run through them, sprinting for$ard& 0e could see a thic' scatter behind them, all the $ay to the
fifth fence3do.ens, maybe hundreds, lying in the oats, spra$led still or thrashing or cra$ling
bac' to$ard $here they'd come from&
" 5ou $uc)er# can all go 3ac) *"ere ,ou came $rom<" he shouted, firing again& -he numbness
that had gripped him since he shot the man climbing the fence $as gone, replaced by a $ild
anger&
-he man he fired at dropped his rifle, staggered, and stumbled a$ay& -he others around him
thre$ themselves to the ground and a ripple of fire ran do$n their suddenly hidden ran's, only
puffs of smo'e sho$ing $here they $ere& 0op'ins suddenly loo'ed at the sightsE they $ere
read6usted to "=LL," and he couldn't remember doing it& -hen he fired again, as the line that had
fired first finished reloading and charged through their prone comrades& More fell, and the rest
$ent to ground in their turn and opened up& -his time the men behind them cra$led for$ardE that
$ould have given them better protection if the ground hadn't sloped gently up$ard, putting the
7slanders above them&
0op'ins aimed at a trail of oats that $as moving the $rong $ay, fired, fired again& T"e,'re
getting too clo#e3
-hen a -artessian rose and dashed3bac'$ard this time, a$ay from the continuous crac'le of
rifle fireE he thre$ a$ay his o$n $eapon to run faster, and made perhaps ten yards before
something slapped him bet$een the shoulder blades li'e the hand of an angry invisible giant& 0e
fell, lay still& More -artessians ranE others cra$led bac'$ard& -hen there $ere shouts among
them, and $hole groups got up and ran bac', $hile others covered their retreat as best they
could, the same leapfrog drill they'd used in the attac', only reversed&
"-hey're running<" 0op'ins $hispered, as the last of them dashed past the torn/do$n fence
$here their attac' had started and "Cease fire<" ran do$n the 7slander firing line&
-hen he stood, cheering, sha'ing the rifle over his head as the same savage ho$l $ent up from
all his comrades&
"%ilence in the ran's<" someone called, and he coughed and reached for his canteen& 7t $as
nearly empty, and he made himself ta'e a small s$allo$& A corporal he recogni.ed3she $or'ed
in the compressor/engine shed3came by&
"5here's %ergeant FolendaroB" he as'ed&
"2ead," she said and 6er'ed a thumb&
0op'ins loo'ed to the rear& -here $as a ro$ of bodies there, $ith their 'ha'i groundsheets
spread over themE the lieutenant $as standing nearby, loo'ing at a map and tal'ing to someone&
0e s$allo$ed again&
"Any$ay, Lieutenant says to chec' your bandoliers and sing out if you're short& :loc's do$n to
cool& ,imme your canteen&"
"5here's the latrineB" he as'ed, handing it over& %he laughed&
"Aou're the fifth person's as'ed me that& (o time& 1iss in your hole if you have to&"
%he $al'ed on& 0op'ins found that he did have toE at least the sandy soil absorbed the stream
9uic'ly& 0e chec'ed his bandolier as $ell after he'd buttoned his fly, and found to his
astonishment that there $ere only forty rounds left&
& $ired #i7t, round#B he thought, incredulous& 6o *onder t"e c"am3er'# "ot&
0e pressed the bloc' do$n until it clic'ed into the open loading position and set the rifle on the
mound of dirt in front of himE that $ay air could flo$ do$n the barrel and carry off some of the
heat& -hen he dre$ his bayonet and slid it under the ra$hide bindings of the ammunition bo; that
Folendaro3"e'# dead, 9e#u#3had dropped off earlier& -$o s$ift 6er's and it slit openE he pulled
off the lid and began transferring the brass shells to the loops in his bandolier&
"-han' ,od for Ron Leaton," he called over to 4velyn ,rant, $ho $as doing the same&
"Aeah, that $ould have been a lot harder $ith the old 5estley/R," she said, her voice hoarse& "7
thin' $e could have done it, but they'd have gotten closer and 7 didn't li'e the loo' of those
bayonets, no sir&"
"%ay, 4velynD"
"AeahB"
"Aou $ant to catch dinner at the :rotherhood on Friday, then do the concertB"
%he loo'ed up at him, a cartridge poised bet$een thumb and finger of her right hand&
"Fesus, ,arry, you're as'ing me for a date no*B"
"Aou 'no$ a better timeB 0ell, $e could be dead&"
"AeahD o'ay, provided $e're alive on Friday and they don't cancel the concert," she said,
sha'ing her head& "7 $onder $hat's going on every$here else&"
"5e sure 'ic'ed their butts here," he said&
T"at'# one *a, to ut it& 0e could hear some of the enemy $ounded calling out and could see a
lot more bodies3he carefully didn't loo' too closely at the ones nearest, about a hundred yards
out&
Further east$ard $as confused movement, and there $ere columns of smo'e over to$ard
%conset& %omething $as coming do$n Milestone Road from that direction too&
"+h/oh,"' he said&
"7 'no$ $hat 'uh/oh' means," 4velyn said, and duc'ed bac' into her fo;hole, hun'ering do$n&
-he corporal came along the line, hurrying, dropping off canteens& "Lieutenant says $atch out,"
she said unnecessarily&
"="-o"@ mean# *e're in t"e #"it again, 0op'ins thought& 0e loaded his rifle and thumbed bac'
the coc'ing lever&
%lic)?clic).
"Fesus, 7'm starting to hate that sound," he muttered&
"Man/birds<"
Ceur'enol loo'ed up sharply& -iny shapes $ere rising into the air off to the south$est3right
$here the map said the airort $ould be&
"%ound the alarm<" he said&
7t snarled among the confusion of ships pac'ed near the beach, and among the $arcraft anchored
further out& Ceur'enol loo'ed up at the tops of his o$n shipE men there $ere unlimbering an
antiair rifle, the same as the 5estley/Richards but t$ice the si.e and mounted on a ring that ran
around the mast& More of them $ould be on shore, and cre$men $ere scurrying for their
personal $eapons& -here $as nothing he could do but $ait&
8n shore the first of the antiair rifles spo'e, from the lo$ ridge above the beach& -he engineers
had built a road$ay of plan's to the 4agle 1eople's asphalt road, and soldiers $ere marching up
it& A do.en ships $ere beached, and t$ice as many more $ere s$inging loads overside to rafts
and boats, or pushing horses over the side3a fe$ of the gods/abandoned beasts started
s$imming out to sea, but most of them had enough $it to follo$ the boats shore$ard&
"Message to ,eneral (audri'ol," he said& "Remind him that $e must secure the airport&"
-he signaler began to clac', turning its mirrored surface to flash the orders ashore& -he dots gre$
closer, until they $ere giant painted birds, eyes and bea's fierce& -he hunting ha$'s of the gods,
of the 4agleD
Men do t"i#, he told himself& 6ot god#, 3ut men li)e u#. +e too *ill ride t"e *ind, *"en *e "ave
*on t"e #ecret# t"e, #trive to )ee $or t"em#elve#&
8ne $as coming to$ard him on the flagship& 7t s$ooped do$n$ard, out over the crested blue
$ater at scarcely more than bul$ar' height& -he antiair rifles in the tops $ere bar'ing at it, as
rapid as a rifle $ith four hands to help load& 8rdinary rifles began to crac'le along the rail as
$ell, and it $as closer, closer, only a fe$ hundred yardsD
;aaaaa*i##"#"""0
Roc'ets fired from the stumpy second $ings on either side of the bullet/shaped bodyE t$o, four,
spraying for$ard in paths of red fire and gray smo'e& -he cre$s shouted $ith fear and anger3
many of the mercenaries had laid under -artessian roc'et barrages $hen their homelands $ere
overrun&
At lea#t t"e, *on't #iml, c"o)e *it" $ear, Ceur'enol thought&
And then3marvelous, his heart sang<3the attac'ing aircraft nosed over and hit the $ater,
became sin'ing debris& A savage cheer $ent up from the cre$, in the instant before the roc'ets
arrived&
8ne of the roc'ets t$isted a$ay, struc' the $ater and burst in a club shape of spray& Another
cor'scre$ed through the air, running through the rigging of the flagship, but by a $him of the
Fester not stri'ing anything& -$o hit the ship, up near the bo$s, in a blast of fire and lethal
splinters& -here $as a crash, and Ceur'enol heard the high screaming of $ounded men as he
pic'ed himself up and loo'ed about&
-he flagship's s'ipper $as an able man& 5ell drilled, the cre$ responded to the fire $ith $ater
and sand& As he $atched, smo'e billo$ed up, and then steam&
0e genuflected to$ard the idol of Arucuttag of the %ea that stood by the compass binnacleE the
damage/control teams had caught the fires before they spread to sails and rigging, $hich $ould
have been certain death for the ship& -hen he called out praise to themE they cheered him bac'&
A 9uic' glance around sho$ed yet more of the craft of the s'y attac'ing his fleetE the air $as full
of smo'e from the counterfire, loud $ith the crac'le of guns, screams, and e;plosions& 8ne $ent
do$n burning as he $atched, ignited by its o$n roc'etsE he sent up a silent promise of a sacrifice
to Arucuttag& Another 6er'ed and $obbled in the airE he $as close enough to see the man steering
it start and slump& :y some frea' of chance3he felt li'e beating Arucuttag's edolion $ith a
stic', or cursing the Fester )neither advisable*3it fle$ straight on, rising slightly, until it crashed
right into the rigging of a ship and e;ploded in a globe of flame&
<ad,, #are u#< -hat $as the T"under +al)er, the main ammunition ship for the fleet<
Ceur'enol dove for the dec'&
"Alston heah," she said, noting $ith a corner of her mind that the ,ullah accent $as creeping
bac'& "5e're at Huidnet&"
-he Chero'ee :attalion dre$ up on the beach& All t*elve jee#, not counting t"i# command car,
Alston thought& About a platoon's $orth of people in the cre$s& (retentiou# damned name&
4verything $as silence here, save for the tic'ing of enginesE $aves crashed gray/blue on the
beach, gulls fle$, curle$s piped& T"i# *ould "ave 3een illegal 3e$ore t"e -vent, driving on t"e
3eac"& %outh$ard from here $as %conset, $here the invaders laired no$& At this distance all she
could see $as smo'e, and all she could hear $as the distant o-o of firearms&
"Roger that, Commodore& Ma6or McClintoc' reports he's pinned the main enemy advance along
Milestone Road east of ,ibbs, but they're feeling for his flan's3so far he's managed to bloc'
them, $ith -agle -,e'# help& 4nemy numbers are $ell over four thousand and they're putting
more men into the fight, plus he reports mortars and light field artillery& 0e's going to try an
attac' no$& 8h, and he says $e need more ,atling guns&"
Alston nodded& "Roger& -ell him 7'm going to try and ease some of the pressure on him, and 7'll
tell Mr& Leaton about the ,atlings tomorro$&" %he loo'ed upE the clouds $ere thic'ening&
(lea#e. &t rain# "ere "al$ t"e time an,*a,, *", not toda,B "5hat about the !arragut0@
"8n schedule so far, Commodore& -he other ships $ill be ready to sail as per&"
"@eep it coming, %andy& 8ver&"
"8ver, and good luc', Commodore&"
%$indapa $as chanting softly as she stood at the grips of the ,atlingE there $as a curious
serenity to her face, a calm that helped Marian control the griping feeling in her stomach&
"Let's go&"
5ith the tide going out, the sand $as mostly hard/pac'ed, good enough going for four/$heel/
drive vehicles, even $ith the e;tra $eight& Alston let the commander of the Chero'ees ta'e the
lead in the first gun/carE he $as a tall, lan'y e;/ranger of some sort from 8'lahoma, $ho
actually *a# part Chero'ee and had been over on the mainland for most of the time since the
4vent& 0e $hooped and $aved a hat $ith a feather stuc' in the band as he passed, sho$ing his
teeth in $hat her daddy $ould have called a shit/eating grin&
"5atch it, co$boy," she muttered, as her driver fell in behind himE there $ere si; other gun/6eeps
behind "er, and the others pulling the heavy mortars behind them in turn&
%$indapa's eyes stayed on the bluff to their rightE much of it $as covered $ith scrub, or t$isted
little Fapanese pine stunted by the eternal $inds and salt spray& 5isps of her hair escaped the
braid and helmet lining, flaring bright $hen the sun bro'e through the cloud&
Alston $atched her map and the odometer&
All rig"t, *e've got Se#ac"ac"a (ond to our rig"t, no* i$ *e can ju#t get clo#e enoug" 3e$ore
t"e, notice u#3
"-here<" %$indapa shouted&
%he t$isted the ,atling to the right, s9uee.ing the trigger& -he little electric engine $hined, and
smo'e and flame spurted as %$indapa $al'ed the burst to$ard $hat she had seen&
-he fire $as only a second too late& A line of fire lanced out from the brush fifty yards a$ay,
ending on the side of Captain %ander's 6eep& A hollo$ 3oom follo$ed, and the vehicle ble$ up in
a spectacular globe of fire& -he driver of Alston's car shouted and $renched the $heel& Alston
thre$ up an arm to shield her faceE heat slammed across her li'e a soft, heavy club, and then they
$ere through& -he $heels on the right side thumped do$n on the $et sand, and more sand
rooster/tailed for$ard as the driver slammed on the bra'es&
.raaaa. .raaaaaaa& More blac'/po$der smo'e, and a shining stream of &=L cartridge cases
fountained across her& -he other gun/6eeps had opened up as $ell, mu..le flashes li'e red 'nives
through the smo'e& Alston sa$ a man 6ump upright and run, a stream of bullets lic'ing at his
heels& 0e $as $earing a pac'/frame on his bac', loaded $ith bullet/shaped roc'ets that had
multiple fins at their rearE $hen the bullets hit him they e;ploded in a red flash that left a shallo$
crater in the sand $here he had stood&
Another man came up to his 'nees, a green/bron.e cylinder $ith flared ends over his shoulder&
0e pointed it at Alston's gun/6eepE he $as only fifteen yards a$ay, close enough for her to see
his snarl of concentration& A man behind him flic'ed an alcohol/$ic' lighter, touched it to the
dangling fuse of a roc'et in the tube&
A 3a:oo)a, Alston thought, feeling her mouth start to drop open& &'m a3out to 3e )illed 3, a 8od-
damned #"eet-3ron:e 3a:oo)a&
-he 3raaaaa, and a burst $al'ed its $ay up the sand and into his torso& -he tube 'ic'ed
up$ard as he convulsedE it fired, and the bac'$ash turned the loader into a shrie'ing torch that
dashed sea$ard and collapsed in the $aves& -he roc'et soared up$ard in a long arc and crashed
into the $ater t$enty yards offshore&
Riflemen $ere firing at her& After the roc'et launchers, they didn't seem particularly dangerous
3an illusion, but a comforting one& -he gun/6eeps ra'ed the inland slope $ith bursts, shredding
the lo$ scrub until the fire stopped, and then some, but no more of the -artessians appeared&
"For$ard," Alston said& -hen she s$itched fre9uencies& "Ma6or McClintoc', come in&
Commodore Alston here&"
-he headphones clic'ed& "McClintoc' here, over&"
"Ma6or, the enemy have some form of portable roc'et launcher& 5e 6ust ran into an ambush
party using them&"
"%o did $e, ma'am, 6ust no$," McClintoc' said grimly& "-hey're pushing us hard, Commodore&"
"7'm moving for$ard to ta'e some of the pressure off, Ma6or," she said& %omething cold struc'
the bac' of her hand3a raindrop& 0er smile $as e9ually cold& "And 7 thin' the ,ray Lady is
giving us some help at last&"
"Fallbac'<"
%rac).
,arrett 0op'ins ignored the rifle butt stri'ing his bruised shoulder& -he -artessians $ere close
no$&
"And they're not stopping for shit," he said aloud& 0is voice sounded a little tinny and faint in his
ears after the battering they'd ta'en&
-he enemy $ent to ground againE the one/time field of oats $as all trampled no$, sodden to the
point of being muc' $ith the blood that had poured out on it& 0e'd never reali.ed ho$ muc"
blood a human body had in it before&
"Fallbac'<"
-his time the $ords penetrated the fog of methodical purpose that filled 0op'ins's brain& 0e
loaded once more and loo'ed around& 8ff to his right 4velyn fired a last shot, reloaded, braced
her shoulders against the rear of her fo;hole, and began $al'ing her feet up the side in front of
her so that she could $iggle out on her bac' and then roll over to cra$l until the ridge slope
protected her&
6o* t"at'# #mart, 0op'ins thought& 5ou don't "ave to *ave ,our a## in t"e air cra*ling out t"at
*a,& 0e began to do li'e$ise but then heard a distant #"ooon) sound, repeated over and over
again&
"8h, s$eet 9e#u#," he $himpered and collapsed into the hole, hands holding his helmet do$n&
0e'd learned $hat t"at meant today&
-he first mortar shell landed ten yards a$ay& %omeone screamed on a single high note for a fe$
seconds, then stopped as if the sound had been cut off by a 'nife& 0e heard the $histle of the
ne;t coming, coming right for his fo;hole&
"8h, shi3"
:lac'ness&
5hen he a$o'e, the pain $as there, strong but someho$ distant& 0e blin'ed for a moment
before he reali.ed that it $as rain that $as stri'ing his face and that he $as lying half out of the
collapsed fo;hole, his legs buried to the 'nee& A fe$ seconds later he reali.ed that $hat $as
soa'ing him belo$ the $aist $as blood/his o$n&
&'m d,ing, he thought, loo'ing do$n at $hat $as left of himself& %ome$here he 'ne$ he should
be screaming, or fainting, but at that instant it 6ust seemed another fact& &t'# raining. &'m d,ing& 0e
'ne$, in the same abstracted $ay, that he $as very luc'y that the shoc' had hit him this $ay,
and that it $asn't li'ely to last&
-here $as a noise to his right& 0e rolled his headE that too' considerable effort, but he $as
curious&
-hree -artessians3one had a bandage around his head3$ere pulling 4velyn ,rant out of her
fo;hole& %he $as alive, but her face $as bloodied and her eyes $ere $andering $ith concussion
from the near miss& 8ne of the mercenaries raised his head and loo'ed around, then said
something in a fast/sounding language&
7f 0op'ins had been able to understand that remote ancestor of the :erber tongue, he $ould have
heard the mercenary say, "(o officers here3the -artessian s$ine is dead&"
-he enemy soldiers pulled curved 'nives out of their belts and began cutting off the 7slander's
clothes& & #"ould do #omet"ing, 0op'ins thought and moved a hand around& 0is rifle $as gone&
4$ cour#e, he thought& T"e, overran our o#ition. T"e, too) t"e ri$le#& 4velyn had $a'ed up
enough to struggle a little, and a -artessian hit her on the side of the head& -hen t$o of them
grabbed her legs and pulled them bac' until her 'nees $ere nearly by her shoulders& -he other
laughed, 'neeling and lifting the hem of his tunic&
"Ah," 0op'ins muttered& ",ot this&"
-he grenade seemed very heavy, and getting the pin out $as difficult& 0e couldn't thro$ it&
0e could let it roll out of his hand, onto the canvas bandolier of grenades the sergeant had given
him this morning& -here $ere still si; of them leftD
.lac)ne##.
Alston leveled her binoculars, scanning the -artessian position and then out to sea& -ig"t
*ar#"i#, she decidedE visibility had closed in a little, gray s'y over gray ocean& 8ne $as out of
commission, masts do$n and firefighters abandoning the ship as she $atched& -he rest $ere
'eeping station, $earing into the strengthening north $indE they'd have to drop anchor or move
off, if it got any stronger& -here $ere t$enty/five or so transports, some beached& -he rest *ere
anchored, and ma'ing heavy $eather of it as the $ind pic'ed up&
AshoreD hundreds of men, on the beach or moving inlandE some tents set up, probably
head9uarters, stores, and hospital, and a couple of temporary plan' roads laid over the sand and
up into %conset itself, $ith traffic heavy& An artillery par', s$arming $ith effort no$, trying to
bring some of the guns there to bear on her&
"0ere," she said, and the gun/6eeps ahead of her fanned out, 6ouncing up the lo$ slope to her
right until a line of them commanded the ground bet$een the ocean and %esachacha 1ond $ith
interloc'ing fields of fire& :ehind them the mortar haulers and unmodified models pulling tire/
$heeled carts full of ammunition halted as $ell&
-heir commander3commander of this $hole force no$ that %anders $as toast3trotted up to
the side of Alston's vehicle& Marian offered him a hand, and Captain %tavrand climbed up to
stand beside her3a pale young man $ith large post/4vent glasses in $ire frames secured by a
strap behind his close/cropped $hite/blond head&
"5hat a target, ma'am<" he said&
"5ell, that's $hy $e're here," Alston said $ith cold satisfaction& "Aour heavy mortars outrange
anything they've got on shore, and the ,atlings should be able to 'eep their infantry off& -hey
can't beat up north$ard in this $ind, so you're safe from their $arshipsE and unless they can $al'
on $ater, they can't get over %esachacha 1ond& 7f they try to embar' men in launches and ro$ up
to flan' youD $ell, the mortars $ill $or' in that direction too&"
"5e can handle it from here, ma'am," he said confidently&
Alston might have smiled at the unspo'en subte;t> So *ill ,ou go a*a, and let me do m, jo3B
+nder other circumstances, of course& Right no$ she simply nodded and loo'ed over the
-artessian ships once more&
"(othing heavier than five, si; hundred tons," she murmured& "0eavy cre$s, though& %ay a
hundred, hundred and fifteen guns on seven 'eels, and some of the transports, add in another
t$entyD fairly light guns, butD 5hatever that god/a$ful e;plosion out on the $ater $as, it
didn't sin' too many of them&"
Alston cased the binoculars and loo'ed behind her& -he thic' tubes of the si;/inch mortars $ere
going up on their support bipodsE the loaders $ere setting up on the beds of the to$ing vehicles&
-hat $ould put them high enough to drop the si;ty/pound finned bombs do$n the $aiting
mu..les&
"5ith your permissionB"
Marina nodded, and %tavrand vaulted over the side of her gun/6eep, bac' to$ard his $eapons&
-he motion $ould have loo'ed more impressive if his )atana hadn't caught on the armored
coaming, nearly tripping him&
"7 hope the -artessians give up no$,'" %$indapa said thoughtfully&
0er eyes had narro$ed, $atching the bu..ing confusion of the enemy base area sha'e itself outE
several hundred men $ere forming lines and trotting to$ard them&
"7t's going to be very & & . a'1iguina5A'na:)a if they try to come at us here&"
Marian recogni.ed the termE it $as untranslatable, meaning something bet$een "repugnant" and
"perverted&" -hat $as true enoughE the only $ay the -artessians could storm the gun/6eeps $as
head/on into automatic $eapons fire&
"-hey probably $ill try," she said clinically& "-hey're remar'ably stubborn& -hey're also trying
to 'ill 0eather and Lucy&"
%$indapa nodded& "-hat's true," she said, and slapped the ,atling as if to say, &'m "ere, aren't &B
"7t's still a '1iguina5A'na:)a&"
"Aou're right," Alston said, and 'eyed the headset&
"Rapc.e$ic. here," %andy's voice said& "!arragut and the rest of the flotilla nearly ready,
Commodore&"
Meaning, are ,ou going to get ,our 3lac) a## 3ac) *"ere it 3elong#, or am & going to "ave to
"andle it $or ,ouB Marian thought, her mouth turning up at one corner&
"7've gotten a good firsthand on the enemy fleet," Alston said, in half/apology& "5hat $ord from
McClintoc'B"
"-he enemy are pressing him very hard, but they're not getting throughD yet," Rapc.e$ic. said&
",ood&" Ver, good& "7'm3"
.=2=M(!!!!.
-he first of the heavy mortars behind her fired, a slap of pressure and hot air at her nec'& -he
shell arched into the s'y and moaned a$ay, a falling note, then e;ploded a mile and three/
9uarters south$ard, not far from a stac' of bo;es under a tarpaulin& :lac' smo'e gouted into the
s'y&
"Fire for effect<" %tavrand shouted&
"Let's go," Alston said to her driver& %he felt a chill satisfaction as the sand erupted among the
enemy& From here they could pound the enemy beachhead into ruin, and there $as no $ay they
could stri'e bac'& ":ac' to to$n&"
&#)eterol undere#timated u#, she thought&
0e'd seen (antuc'et, but only in the immediate aftermath of the 4vent, $hen they $ere still
reeling& %ince then the Republic had had a decade to find its feet and find out $hat it could do&
1robably 5al'er could have told his 7berian friend better, but 5al'er had his o$n reasons to
encourage the enmity&
-he gun/6eep s$ayed as the driver bac'ed, turned, and accelerated smoothly do$n the beach,
ta'ing the firmest sand, 6ust up from the $aterline& -he rhythmic hammer of the big mortars
slapped at her bac' again, and over that the ra$ sound of the ,atlings, as if a big sail $ere
ripping under the stress of $ind& 8nly this sound did not stopD
-he !arragut loo'ed unfinished& "0ell, she i# unfinished," Marian Alston said softly to herself&
(evertheless, the $ar/steamer moved& 0er hull form $as similar to Marian's o$n %"am3erlain'#,
long and slender although not 9uite so large& -he sna'y lo$/lying menace of her $as emphasi.ed
by the lac' of mastsE she $ould have three eventually, but those rested in the shipyard still& A tall
blac' stac' fumed from 6ust for$ard of $here the mainmast $ould stand, sending scuts of
$oodsmo'e bac'$ard to her stern, the harsh smell thic' in the air on %"am3erlain'# dec'&
-he main difference $as one hard to see from here> the !arragut'# bo$s didn't have the elegant
clipper ra'e of the %"am3erlain'#& 7nstead they $ere a single scimitar curve from $aterline to
forepea', and lo$ domed s$ellings sho$ed $here the heads of massive bolts held steel plates to
beams&
More blac'/painted steel sho$ed for$ard of the paddle $heels, sheltering them from fire $hen
the ram $as attac'ing a target& -he $heels churned $ater into $hite foam that frothed out the
rear of the bo;es, as she to$ed the %"am3erlain& 8ther steamers li'e$ise to$ed the Republic's
$ar fleet out past :randt 1oint and through the brea'$aters& -he north $ind $ould other$ise
have pinned them in harbor, perhaps for $ee's&
%omromi#e, Alston thought& 7t $ould be a long time before the Republic could build real
oceangoing steamers and the $orld$ide infrastructure to sustain them& -$o, perhaps three
generations& 7n her official capacity she regretted that& 1ersonally, she loved the tall $hite/
$inged ships she'd built and $as glad that there $ould be another great age of sail&
-oday there could be nothing but a blea' practicality& -he $eather suited her mood, a steady $et
rain cutting visibility and blo$ing chill into her face& -he cro$d on the battlements of Fort
:randt $ere anonymous in rain slic'ers, but she $aved any$ay at their cheers& 7t $as due them,
and 0eather and Lucy $ould be there to see their mothers off&
-he sea $as rougher as they passed beyond the brea'$atersE the ocean bet$een (antuc'et and
the mainland $as shallo$, $hich made for a harder chop in this sort of $ind&
",ood," she said, coc'ing an eye at the s'y and estimating $ith the speed of a lifetime at sea&
"7'd say it $on't come on to a blo$ for a $hile3not today, maybe tomorro$&"
Lieutenant Fen'ins shoo' his head& "5ouldn't a storm be a help, ma'amB" he as'ed& "-hose ships
the -artessians have beached $ould be pounded to pieces, and the rest $ould have to slip their
cables and run&"
7t $as part of her duty to see that 6unior officers learned& Fen'ins $as a fine sailor, but not 9uite
enough of a fighter yet&
"-rue enough, Lieutenant," she said& ":ut $e're not beating off a pirate raid& -his is $ar& 7 don't
$ant to drive the -artessian fleet a$ay, 7 $ant to cru#" them, to $ipe this force off the
gameboard and then concentrate on doing the same in their home $aters&"
"Aes, ma'am," he said, nodding thoughtfully&
-he ship had an odd, choppy roll under to$ and pitched even more as !arragut turned east of
north, to round ,reat 1oint and move south& %he lic'ed salt spindrift off her lips and thought>
-ver,t"ing'# read,& Full cre$s3enough to fight both sides on the %"am3erlain, the <incoln, and
the S"eridan, plus the smaller ships and schooners& Most of them 'ne$ $hat to do, as $ell&
"Message to the flotilla," she said, loo'ing out over a sea of gray/blue, infinitely dappled $ith the
rain& "-he Republic e;pects every citi.en to do his or her duty& Cast off, ma'e sail, and ta'e
stations&"
"Cast off<" Fen'ins echoed her call through his spea'ing/trumpet&
"%ail stations, sail stations, on the fore, on the main, all hands to stations< Lay aloft and loose all
sail<"
0ands too' up the lines on dec', and cre$fol' s$armed aloft on the $et, s$aying ratlines& A
sudden thought struc' herE $hen she'd been s'ipper of the -agle, before the 4vent, she'd have
been gut/an;ious right no$, afraid that someone $ould #li& -he thought brought a slight smile&
1o* time# c"ange *"en t"e time c"ange#&
"Let fall<"
%he loo'ed up, s9uinting against the rain& -he yards $ere studded $ith figures in yello$ oils'ins,
putting the sails in gear& -hat had to be done in perfect synchroni.ation $ith a follo$ing $ind
li'e thisE other$ise the sail could hang up on an unloosed gas'et, half on and half off, possibly
ripping& Fla; canvas 6ust $asn't as strong as 2acron, no t$o $ays about it& -here $as a thump
above as the sails $ere pushed for$ard to hang belo$ the yards&
",ear manned and ready<" came the call from the dec's&
"%heet home the lo$er topsail< :elay<"
8rder and response across the s$imming dec', $ith the $ind blo$ing streamers of $ater off the
$aves and over the rail behind her& Fen'ins loo'ed at the $ind, and to the starboard at the ships
nearer the distant $hite line of brea'ers on the beaches&
"0aul around on the $eather tac' and lee sheet< -end the lee tac' and $eather sheet<"
%he nodded approval as sail blossomed from the bottoms of the masts to$ard the tops& -he
%"am3erlain heeled sharply to starboard as the $ind too' her, and her motion became a
purposeful s$oop diagonally across the $aves marching out of the north&
"8n dec', there<" -he commodore loo'ed up sharply at the loo'out's hail& "4nemy in sight off
the starboard bo$3many sail<"
"7'm ta'ing a loo'," she said& "Lieutenant Commander %$indapa has the dec'&"
"Ms& %$indapa has the dec', aye<"
%he too' the stairs to the main dec' in three bounds, then 6umped to the rail and grasped the $et,
tarred rope of the ratlines in her hands& A 9uic' s$arming climb, and she $as past the tops, up to
the s$aying 6unction of mast and topsail yard& -here she braced herself and too' out her
binoculars one/handed, ignoring the long s$oopD s$oop motion of the mast as it traced a great
oval in the s'y, putting her over rushing gray $ater more often than the narro$ dec'&
-he -artessians& And they $ere ma'ing sail too, putting distance bet$een themselves and the
beach& 4ven $ith the rain there $ere fires thereE she could see mortar shells bursting amid the
$rec'age of the beachhead, and further north the bright stab of ,atling fire through the gloom&
%he cased the binoculars and leaned out, gripped a bac'stay and braced her feet against the
ribbed surface of the line to control her descent, then slid do$n to the 9uarterdec' in a long
gliding flight&
%he landed and caught %$indapa's 9uir'ed eyebro$& All rig"t, #o & enjo, 3eing a3le to do t"at,
Alston thought&
"Lieutenant Commander, message to the fleet& 4nemy bearing"3 she gave the direction and
number& "All ships $ill follo$ flagship's lead en echelonE 7 intend to force a general
engagement&" 5hich she could, $ith the $eather gauge and the !arragut&
Alston stepped over to the $heels and gave the course as %$indapa duc'ed into the radio shac'&
-he four cre$fol' heaved at the double $heels, and the %"am3erlain lay further over, shipping
foam on her starboard rail& 2o$n belo$, the gun cre$s $ould be hanging on in the s$aying
dar', lit only by the dim glo$ of the battle lanterns, $aiting&
6ot long no*, she thought, as the enemy's sails loomed higher and (antuc'et san' astern& 6ot
long at all&
-he %"am3erlain $as leading the flotilla, heading south and east to put herself bet$een the $ind
and the -artessians and trap them against a lee shore& -he enemy $eren't cooperating, of course,
cutting at right angles across the $ind and nearly due east& -hat put the t$o fleets on an
intersecting course, li'e the t$o sides of a triangle about to come to a point& As al$ays at sea,
after the long $aiting the closing came $ith a sudden rush&
"%ignal to the !arragut," she said& "%ignal is 5ou ma, roceed&"
-he steamer turned out of line, giving a long, melancholy scream from its $histle that cut
through the crea' and thrum of a sailing ship under $ay& 7ts a;e/bo$ butted a huge spray into the
air, steel gray and ice $hite&
&t '# $airl, roug", she thought& T"eir gun dec)# are clo#er to t"e #ur$ace t"an t"e one# in t"e#e
$rigate#. T"at *ill give t"em ro3lem#&
-he ram dre$ a$ay $ith shoc'ing speed, lunging across the $aves& 7t had pic'ed the fourth in
line of the -artessian vessels, to cut that one and the ships behind off from the foremost division&
Alston $atched the gunports on the port side of the -artessian vessel fly open and the mu..les
run out& Almost immediately the deep booming of cannon fire cut through the hiss of the rain&
"-oo soon," she said& "-hey should have $aited another minute&"
Flying iron thre$ gouts of spray into the air a hundred yards in front of the !arragutA fe$ of the
balls s'ipped along the surface in today's $eather& -hunder rumbled across the $aves as $ell,
li'e a huge series of doors thudding shut& Ten gun#, she thought& T*elve-ounder#& %he and
%$indapa and Fen'ins $ere all loo'ing at their $atches& 8ne minute ten seconds later the first
cannon of the second broadside fired, and the rest $ithin fifteen seconds more& 6ot 3ad. 6ot a#
good a# our#, t"oug"& 7f you limited "ours" to the ,uard frigates and schoonersE ,od alone 'ne$
about the do.en civilian Reserve rag/tag/and/bobtail follo$ing behind&
:lac' smo'e $as pouring up from the !arragut'# stac'& 8ne more broadside landedE then the
paddle $heels thrashed into reverse, 6ust before the steel/plated bo$ struc'& 7t hit at a slight angle
to the perpendicular, $ith the momentum of t$o si;/hundred/ton bul's moving together at a
combined speed of nearly thirty miles an hour&
-he -artessian ship shivered and pitched, stopping as if it had hit a reef& -he foremast $hipped
for$ard and then snapped& %ails and mast fell do$n across the bo$s of the ship, and the rest of
her rigging 9uivered and shoo'& And all that $as nothing beside the brief glimpse of the damage
to her hull as the !arragut reversed& Ribs had been smashed and the oa' stringers stripped off the
side of the ship in a s$ath fifteen feet long& -he -artessian $ar craft rolled bac' to port as the
ram released her, and the sea poured in at once& -he remaining t$o masts developed a list, and
the open gunports $ere pointing do$n to$ard the sea&
-he !arragut bac'ed off& -he ne;t in line of the -artessian fleet had ya$ed, turning further from
the $ind to bring her guns to bear&
-hey lashed the steamship and the $ater around it, but that necessarily presented her flan' to the
ram& 5ith a dolorous $histle of steam, the !arragut began to pic' up speed&
Alston turned her attention bac' to the four ships ahead& -he %"am3erlain $as closing in on the
first, no more than fifteen hundred yards no$, less every second&
"Fen'ins," she said, "$e'll range up and give the leader a couple of broadsides atD mmmm, nine
hundred yards&" Fairly long range for the -artessians&
"-hen $e'll touch up, cut across his stern, ra'e him3and give the ship follo$ing our starboard a
broadside at the same time3range alongside, hit him another time or t$o, and board& Lieutenant
Commander, convey my intentions to the rest of the flotilla& Marine sharpshooters to the fighting
tops, action stations all&"
-he drum began to beat, a long, hoarse, rolling call& -here $as little to do, though, e;cept for the
Marines to scramble up the ratlines and ta'e their places in the triangular platforms from $hich
they $ould ra'e the enemy dec'& :elo$, all $as in readiness as it had been since they'd left port,
dec's clear, fearnought screens rigged and damped, corpsmen standing by for the casualties& -he
t$o ,atling guns clamped to the rails s$ung, loaders ready $ith more cylindrical drums of
ammunition, gunners' hands on the cran's&
-he enemy ship3ro3a3l, t"e $lag#"i3gre$ closer& 7t $as a three/masted bar'/rigged vesselE
she counted t$elve gunports and lighter $eapons on dec'& -he same number of mu..les as her
vessel, but surely a lighter $eight of metal& -he dec's $ere blac' $ith men, though, and the
rigging thic' $ith them too3heavy cre$&
Closer& Closer& :elo$> "4ut tamion#0 ;un out ,our gun#0 @
2rumming thunder belo$, s9ueal of carriages, and to her right the blac' port lids flipping up to
sho$ thic' mu..les&
"ReadyD"
"Fire as you bear<"
-he t$o ships $ere running parallel, 6ust under a thousand yards apart, their sails braced hard to
starboard and the $ind on their port& .4444MMMMM, a roaring $orld of sound as the t$elve
heavy cannon spo'e as one, the %"am3erlain heeling under their thrust, long blades of flame and
clouds of smo'e& Fen'ins cast a 9uic' loo' and then turned his eyes bac' to sail and helmE Alston
noticed and felt a 9uic' stab of approval&
"-hus, thus," he said to the helmsmen& "2on't close her3 Cenarusson, 'eep your eye on your
$or'< -hus<"
0er o$n attention $as focused on the results& 8ne ball raised a geyser of foam in the enemy's
$a'e& -he others all struc', solid smashing impacts on dec' or hull& -hen the -artessian's
cannon ran out, each mu..le seeming to point straight at her& %he forced herself to ob6ective
appraisalE eighteen/pounders, probably&
.A2=MM(!.
8ne gunport $asn't firing, the cannon dismounted, perhaps& -he others snarled flame and
disappeared bac'$ard, recoil hurling the great $eights of metal bac' against the lines and tac'le&
-hree paces in front of her, an iron cannonball cut a seaman in half, blood and matter spraying
out in all directions& Alston $iped stic'y $etness from her face, 'no$ing that she'd feel it again,
in her sleep& 0er mind $as a calculating machine right no$& -$o solid hits, from the thumping
beneath her feetE a couple of misses, from the splashes in bet$een&
5ounded cre$fol' being hurried do$n the companion$ays, headed for the surgeon's station& A
rattle of lines and bloc's on the splinter nets overhead, cut by the passing shot& :osun and petty
officers and riggers s$arming up$ard, 'notting and splicingE no ma6or sails do$n or
uncontrollable, a 9uic' flurry of hauling on dec' to correct the ya$ing produced by a severed
buntline&
As the guns spo'e again, individually this time, the cre$s completed their leaping dance of
reloading and ran them out again& A glance at her $atchE ninety seconds, very fast& A slo$
crac'le of rifle fire came from the tops above, snipers $ith scope/sighted $eapons trying their
luc'& A staysail $ent flying loose, flapping and entangling& -he -artessian's head started to turn
a$ay from the $ind, then came bac'&
T"umed t"em "ard, Alston thought, as the enemy's guns ans$ered& -his time there $as a
screaming from the gun dec', dying a$ay 9uic'ly& An eighteen/pounder ball clipped the
mainmast, gouging a bite out of the $hite pine as neatly as a giant's teeth&
Again and again& 0er eyes combed the -artessian vessel, loo'ing for hintsD
":rennan," she said to a middie& "-o the gun captainsE $e're going to ra'e her&"
A 9uic' glance bac'$ard> the <incoln $as lying in the %"am3erlain'# $a'e, trading broadsides
$ith the ne;t -artessian in line& :ac' at her o$n opponent> outer and flying 6ibs do$n and a thin
stream of blood flo$ing out of her scuppers&
"And the one behind herE $e'll fire both broadsides& -hen port guns reload $ith canisterE $e'll
range in, s$eep her dec's, then board& :oarders and starbolins ready&"
-he youngster sprang off& %he turned to Fen'ins& "(o$, Mr& Fen'ins, if you please&"
"-hus, thus<" he said& And "0aul all port, handsomely port<"
-he bosun's calls and pipes repeated the call across the dec'& -he %"am3erlain spun on her heel,
ta'ing the $ind on her port 9uarter no$, running before it to cut the -artessian's $a'e& %he held
her breathD
"Aes<"
-he enemy $ere too badly damaged to react 9uic'ly& -he 7slander frigate closed the distance
$ith a lunging s$iftness, thro$ing rooster/tails of salt $ater from her sharp bo$s& An almighty
roar from astern distracted her for an instantE her head $hipped around& Fire and a blac' s$elling
rising, bits and pieces of timber and probably of peopleD one of the -artessian ships had blo$n
up&
:ac' to her o$n $or'& Another grumble/rumble, as the portside guns ran out as $ell&
"Fire as you bear<"
-hudding reports ran bac' along both sides of the ship from the bo$s, smo'e over$helming
sight for an instant, then blo$ing on in a mass ahead south$ard& -he %"am3erlain'# broadside
had s$ept do$n the -artessian's gun dec' unopposed for a hundred and t$enty feet& 4ven from
here she could hear the screaming and could $ell imagine $hat damage had been done in those
cro$ded 9uarters&
"Ready about<" she called&
"ReadyD come about<" Fen'in's voice replied&
-he $heels spun, and the dec' teams heaved again at their lines& -he %"am3erlain turned,
running east once more& Alston's legs moved automatically to meet the changing slope of the
dec', going from hori.ontal to starboard/do$n& Close enough to the enemy to toss a ship's
biscuit onto their bloody dec's3still cro$ded $ith men, fighting for$ard to$ard the rails, a fe$
even s$inging grapnels& (o$ the ,atling teams spun the clamp/$heels that held their $eapons
to the starboard rail, lifted the heavy $eapons free and rushed them across the dec', set up in a
dance of trained hands, and opened fire in a stream that cut men do$n and sliced lines li'e a
giant's sic'le& -he port guns ran out again, fired a point/blan' $ave of grapeshot, cre$s cheering&
":oarders<" Alston roared through the smo'e& ":oarders<"
-he sides of the ships slammed togetherE grapnels fle$, and cre$/fol' ran out along the spars to
lash them together& Armed ,uard cre$ $ere spilling out of the gun dec', and a column of
Marines $ith their bayonets glittering&
":oarders a$ay<" Alston shouted& "!ollo* me<" -hen she $as on the rail, leaping, the slamming
punch of impact through her boot soles as she came do$n on the lo$er dec' of the -artessian& A
shambles, running $ith blood, dead and $ounded every$here, but more live ones coming at her&
Another thud beside her3%$indapa, stumbling slightly on the slippery plan's and going do$n
to one 'nee& A -artessian sailor lunged at her $ith a boarding pi'e, its long steel head a cold
glitter in the rain&
Alston pulled the &=L 1ython from her right hip and shot him in the face at three pace's distanceE
he fell bac'$ard $ith a round red hole in the bridge of his nose, the bac' blo$n out of his s'ull&
8ne man do$n, t$o, another, a miss, and the $eapon clic'ed empty& %he thre$ it into the face of
the ne;t and her hands $ent over her left shoulder and s$ept out her )atana, cutting do$n $ith
the same motion& Ruin flopped at her feet&
%$indapa had done li'e$ise, lunging $ith a shrie'& More Chamberlains $ere all around her, a
tangled, tumbling melee for an instant, and then the enemy $ere do$n& %he $al'ed over to the
shattered $heel, cut the line that held the -artessian colors, and a cre$man ran the %tars and
%tripes up to the mi..en& A -artessian lying $ith one hand pressed over a seeping redness on his
stomach $as holding out his s$ord to her in the other&
"%ur/r/ender," he gasped& "(ot 'illD any moreD my peopleD"
Alston noddedE their eyes met, and for a moment she felt a 'indred grief touch hers&
"%urrender<" she called, and the $ounded man added his croa', calling loud enough to bring a
grimace of pain&
Fighting died do$n and ceased& Middies and petty officers got the enemy rounded up and belo$,
sent parties to secure the maga.ine& Alston loo'ed $est$ard, to $here the sun $as inclining
behind the gray scudding $rac' of cloud& -he ne;t -artessian ship had struc' as $ell, the flag of
the Republic fluttering from the maintop and the <incoln fast alongside& -he one behind $as
rolling mastless as the S"eridan fired another broadside into her at point/blan' range&
%he too' a deep breath& "Let's go finish this mess up," she said&
"7n the name of the Council and 1eople of the Republic of (antuc'et, this -o$n Meeting $ill
no$ come to order&"
Fared Cofflin cleared his throat& 7an and 2oreen had tal'ed him into that one, then laughed every
time they heard it& %o had Martha, and so had Marian& S*indaa and & *ere t"e onl, one# le$t out
o$ t"e jo)e& 4ventually they'd loo'ed it up& Senatu# (oulu#quae ;oma3S(C;, the letters on the
standards of the Roman Republic, "the %enate and the 1eople of Rome&" Ver, $unn,&
-he ne$ -o$n Meeting hall $as a lot bigger than the high school auditorium $here they'd met
for the first fe$ years after the 4vent& 7t needed to be& :esides the increase in the population,
attendance $as $ay up& -he issues decided here $ere a lot more important these days&
-he ne$ hall $as out Mada'et Road, $est of to$n, not far from the old animal hospital, $hich
given the occasionally .oo/li'e features of a Meeting, $asn't entirely out of place& 7t $as a huge,
timber/framed, barnli'e structure, oa' and $hite pine on a poured/slab foundationE the interior
$as unadorned save for the lovely curly maple of the bleacher/type seating that surrounded the
semicircular stage on three sides&
:ehind the spea'er's podium $ere more benches, $here councilors and their staffs satE behind
them, covering the $all and as large as a medium/si.ed topsail, $as 8ld ,lory& Martha $as
sitting beside him on the foremost bench, and Marian Alston on the other, stiffly, $ith her billed
cap on her 'nees&
%otto voce she muttered, "5e could have had another frigate for the price of this place&"
0e nodded, more an ac'no$ledgment of $hat she'd said than agreement& -hey'd needed a ne$
place for the -o$n Meeting, too&
4specially today& -here $ere going on three thousand cro$ded in here, 6ammed onto benches
that normally seated around t$o/thirds that, and sitting in the aisles as $ell& -he rustle and
murmur filled the shado$s under the great beams of the roof, and there $as a faint tang of
animal rage in their scent&
1relate ,ome. $al'ed to the podium and said a brief prayer& -hat got them 9uiet, and he $ent
on, "(o$ $e $ill have a minute of silence for those $ho fell defending their homes, families,
and children&"
%ilence absolute and complete, e;cept for a 9uic'ly hushed baby or t$o& (inety/seven people
had died during the long day of invasion, heavy losses for a community their si.e& -hat over a
thousand -artessians and their mercenaries had also died $as very little consolation&
"8 Lord ,od, let -hy $isdom descend on this gathering today, as Aour 0oly %pirit descended
upon the apostles& Let us deliberate $ith that $isdom, and $ith humility and loving 'indnessE
banish fear and hatred from our hearts, that $e may see' only $hat is best and pleasing in -hy
sight& 7n the name of the Father, and the %on, and the 0oly %pirit, Amen&"
Amen, Cofflin thought, as the same murmur ran through the citi.ens pac'ed on the benches& .ut
&'d 3et *e're going to "ave a $air 3it o$ "ate and $ear "ere toda,&
0e gave the stout little 1ortuguese American cleric a nod as they passed& 4ven if he hadn't li'ed
the man, he'd have made an effort to be polite& 7n theory the constitution mandated a strict
separation of church and state& 7n practice, $ith about nine/tenths of the believers in a single
denomination, its head necessarily had substantial influence& :elievers in ,od, that $as, and not
counting follo$ers of Moon 5oman and 2ia$as 1ithair&
"Citi.ens of the Republic," he began& "-he first item on the 5arrant is a declaration of $ar
against the @ingdoms of -artessos and Mycenae and any allies they may have& 7s the $ish of the
%overeign 1eople that a state of $ar e;ist bet$een those t$o 'ingdoms and the Republic of
(antuc'etB"
-he ans$er $as a storming $all of sound that made him $ish he could flatten his ears li'e a
horse, or at least ta'e a step bac'$ard& 0e let it run its course, $aiting until it $as dying of its
o$n accord before raising a hand&
"1assed by acclamation," he said&
And t"at'll ma)e a num3er o$ t"ing# #imler, he thought& -he constitution also gave the chief
e;ecutive officer a good deal more authority in $artimeE he could mobili.e the militia, for
instanceE commandeer ships and other property for another&
"(e;t item> disposition of the enemy prisoners of $ar&"
A lo$ savage gro$l $ent through the Meeting& Cofflin stepped aside for a moment and made a
gesture $ith his hand& Marian Alston $al'ed up to the podium& -here $as a cheer for her, and
Cofflin reflected again ho$ luc'y the Republic $as that Alston had not an iota of political
ambition& (o$ she stared balefully at the cro$d until the noise died&
"All those enemy personnel guilty of violations of the la$s of $ar have been punished," she said
flatly& "All remaining prisoners of $ar $ill be treated according to the la$s of $ar or 7 $ill
resign my commission&"
-hat stopped the mutters of "0ang 'em all<" dead in their trac'sE Cofflin grinned behind the bony
Aan'ee dolor of his usual e;pression& Marian $ent on>
"And morality aside, mistreating prisoners is very stupid& 7t discourages people from
surrendering& (o$& 5e came through this as $ell as $e did because $e too' precautions&"
-here $as an uneasy shifting on the benchesE Cofflin 'ne$ that $as memories of ho$ he and
Marian and the others had had to beg and plead and $heedle to get the necessary money and
supplies voted&
"-hose precautions $ere ade9uate3but only 6ust ade9uate& 7f it hadn't rained"3Cofflin noddedE
flintloc's didn't li'e rain3"it might have ta'en several days and substantially higher casualties
to mop up the enemy forces& (o$ $e're in a $ar, and it's a big, serious $ar, and 7 can tell you
that half measures are a reall, bad idea& 7 suggest that $e all reflect on that&"
-he murmur that $ent through the cro$d $as slo$ and thoughtful, and Marian nodded3much
better pleased $ith that, he guessed, than $ith the earlier cheers& Cofflin $ent bac' to the
podium&
"Most of the prisoners aren't really -artessians," he said& "-hey're from tribes the -artessians
have con9uered& -hey're also trained fighting men, and fairly $ell e9uipped& 8ur military doesn't
$ant them but they'd be very useful to our allies in the Middle 4ast, and most of them seem to be
ready to volunteer&"
As Marian said, they $ere mercenaries3and the Republic's gold $as as good as 7s'eterol's&
"-he rest $ill be sent to a prisoner/of/$ar camp on Long 7sland, $here they can gro$ their o$n
food and meditate on their sins& 4;cept for some $ho've re9uested political asylum in the
RepublicE the councilor for foreign affairs"3by radio3"strongly recommends that it be granted&
Any ob6ectionsB"
-he meeting churned on& Cofflin sighed to himselfE he might have far greater po$ers to act alone
during $artime, but he still $anted to have a solid vote behind him& -he -o$n Meeting system
could drive him nuts at times, but $hen the %overeign 1eople finally made up their minds, nearly
everyone got behind $hat had to be done&
0e needed that, because there $ere going to be some very unpleasant necessities in the ne;t fe$
years& 7t $as time to deal $ith 5al'er, before he dealt $ith them&
"7 'eep my promises, %am," 5illiam 5al'er said&
-he blac' e;/cadet nodded, blin'ing in the bright sun that reflected off the nearby ocean& 8n the
doc's of (eayoru', t$o tall men stood face/to/faceE McAndre$s about the same height as the
Montanan, $ith the same broad/shouldered, slim/hipped build, perhaps a little more heavily
muscled& :y no$ he $ore )atana and pistol as naturally as anyE he'd been one of 5al'er's
troubleshooters for years, commanding troops and helping out Cuddy and others on the
organi.ational side&
And "e doe#n't arove o$ me at all, 5al'er thought& 0e never had, and leaving behind that girl
of his in Alba, in the middle of a probably fatal childbirth, had cemented it&
5al'er indicated the ship tied up to the stone pier& 7t $as the type he'd started building in his
second year in ,reece, a copy of a gullet, t$o/masted, about a hundred and fifty tons burden,
$ith a smooth oval outline and curved/chee' bo$s& -he design $as eighteenth/nineteenth/
century Levantine, and they $ere handy little ships& -his one carried eight guns and $as loaded
$ith $eapons, po$der, tools, boo's3none of them the very best Mycenae had to offer )the rifles
$ere all mu..le/loaders, for instance* but a priceless load nevertheless&
-he 4gyptian in a linen robe standing nearby certainly thought soE he $as nearly 6iggling from
foot to foot in his eagerness to be off, li'e a 'id $aiting for the $ashroom&
"-ell 1haraoh that Mycenae is an;ious for alliance," 5al'er said, dropping bac' into AchaeanD
$hich, unli'e 4nglish, the 4gyptian envoy did spea'&
McAndre$s nodded again& 5al'er hid a grin& Meeting actual ancient 4gyptians had been a
shoc' for poor McAndre$s& As anyone not besotted $ith radical Afrocentric horseshit $ould
have 'no$n, they loo'ed very much li'e 4gyptians in the t$entieth, e;cept a little paler on
average because three thousand years of (ubian and %udanese genes hadn't arrived yet via the
slave trade south do$n the (ile from above As$an& Meri/%e'hmet, the emissary of Ramses 77,
$as a sort of light toast color, $ith straight features and bro$n eyes& 0is body slave, on the other
hand, $as unambiguously 3lac), $hich had been another shoc' to McAndre$s&
& t"in) "e $igure#, no*, t"at "e can a## t"e tec"nolog, on to t"e -g,tian# and t"en t"roug"
t"em to t"e 6u3ian#. 8ood luc), ,ou dum3 3a#tard&
McAndre$s shoo' hands, a bit reluctantly, then $al'ed up the gangplan' to oversee the cre$,
$hich included a number of specialists 5al'er had let him recruit3again, not the best but
passable&
Meri/%e'hmet bo$ed and e;changed the usual endless pleasantries in atrocious Achaean ,ree'
before he follo$ed& -he gangplan' s$ung bac' and the ropes cast offE the t$enty slaves in the
tug grunted as they bent to their oars, s$eat glistening on their na'ed, $hip/scarred bac's&
5al'er $atched in silence as they to$ed the ship out beyond the stone brea'$aters, out into the
endless blue of the Laconian ,ulf&
0elmut Mittler spo'e, his voice still bearing the rough vo$els of a (orth ,erman& "7 still say $e
should have li9uidated him, sir&"
5al'er shoo' his head& "Remember Machiavelli&"
"%irB"
"8r Frederic' the ,reat, for Christ's sa'e," 5al'er said, a little impatient& T,ical /raut, he
thought& All @"o* @ and no @*",. @ 6o *onder t"e, got 3eat t*ice running&
"Ah&" Mittler's face cleared& "A prince should only brea' his $ord $hen it's greatly to his
advantage3and to do that, he must haff a reputation for great probity&"
"4;actly," 5al'er laughed& "McAndre$s $ill tell 1haraoh that 7'm a bastard, but an "one#t
bastard, $hich $ill come in useful someday& %o $ill 4gypt, 7 thin'D if the damned (antuc'eters
succeed in lin'ing up $ith the 0ittites& And if the 4gyptians are moderni.ed enough to be a
significant factorD"
":ut not enough to be a threat," Mittler said, obviously running over the limitations of the cargo
that McAndre$s carried&
"4;actly," 5al'er chuc'led&
C#ATE! TWENTY)T#!EE
May+August, Year ,- A.E.
(May, Year ,- A.E.)
%$indapa smiled as she stepped ashore at 1entagon :ase, $ith the spring $ind $hipping her hair
about her ears& %he bent, touching her fingertips to the dust of the 5hite 7sle, then to lips, heart,
and groin in the gesture of reverence&
&t i#n't "ome, not an,more, she thought& 0ome $as the red/bric' house on Main, the sea, her
daughters, and Marian& -ears pric'led behind her eyelids, unshed, and she smiled $ith a sad 6oy&
.ut it i# t"e 3irt"lace o$ m, #irit. T"oug" & ma, never return "ere *"ole-"earted, ,et & cannot
ever altoget"er leave eit"er&
7n the history that bore Marian she had died a captive of the 7raiina, and her fol' had gone do$n
into a starless dar', overrun by the %un 1eople and remade in their image&
+e #aved t"em $rom t"at. 4 Moon +oman, great i# 5our )indne## to u#. Smile on 5our c"ildrenA
#end u# a $ortunate #tar to guide our $eet& -here $as confidence behind the prayerE hadn't Moon
5oman t$isted time itself to give the d$ellers/on/4arth a chance to ma'e a better pathB
"5hen do $e get to see ,randma again, MomB" 0eather $hispered up to her&
%$indapa stro'ed her head& "7n a day or t$o, my child," she replied in Fiernan& 0er daughters
spo'e it $ellE ho$ not, $hen she'd sung to them in their cradlesB "%he's at the ,reat 5isdom, or
coming to meet us&"
-here $as the ritual of disembar'ing to go through, salutes, greetings& %he loo'ed curiously
about her at the baseE it had been nearly t$o years since she'd seen it, and it had gro$n li'e a
lusty infant, seeming to change every time she turned around& -he five/sided, earth/and/timber
fort from $hen this $as the 7slander base for the $ar against 5al'er and the %un 1eople $as still
there, cannon snouting out from its ramparts& -$o flags fle$ there, the %tars and %tripes and the
crescent Moon on green that the 4arth Fol' had chosen&
%pra$ling around it $as the to$n that had gro$n up under its $alls& %ome called it 5esthaven,
some :ristol for the name of the place in the other future the 4agle 1eople had come from&
7t roared and bustled around them, full of e;citement over the 7slander fleet that had sailed in out
of the da$n& -he to$n had s$allo$ed up the little 4arth Fol' hamlet that had stood here, but
1elana/torn son of @addapal stood there to greet them, grayer but still hale and loo'ing stout and
prosperous& 0is sister 4nde$arten spo'e for Moon 5oman here no$, since their mother,
@addapal, had ta'en the s$an's road beyond the Moon3died, as the short/spo'en 4nglish
tongue put it& Four or five thousand others d$elt here no$E mostly her birth/people, but perhaps
one in four $ere 7slanders, and there $ere hundreds of others from any$here on this side of the
$ater $ithin reach of 7slander ships&
-he air smelled of their doings, of $oodsmo'e and coal smo'e, of fresh/cut timber and bric'/
'ilns and mortar, of hot iron and brassE it $as filled $ith the clamor of hooves and hammers, the
$hirring of machines, the c"u$$? c"u$$D of steam&
-hey $al'ed up to$ard the fortress in company $ith Commander 0endri'sson, the base
commandantE the to$n itself $as under (antuc'et la$, mainly because 4arth Fol' custom had
no $ay to deal $ith such a huddling of people $ithout lineage ties& Lucy and 0eather dropped
bac' to $al' $ith the commandant's children, their initial shyness dissolving in chatter& A
policeman $atched them go byE another thing the 4arth Fol' had not had before, or need for it&
.ut no3od, need carr, a #ear *"en t"e, drive t"eir cattle to *ater, eit"er, %$indapa thought&
Aloud, she said> "Many more buildings&"
"Mmmm/hmmm," the blac' $oman replied, brought out of her thoughts& "All sorts, too&"
-he streets $ere mostly paved $ith bric', and over them traffic bra$led and bustled& More
manufacturies had opened on the outs'irts, $here roads gna$ed into field and forest, and the
doc's $ere thronged $ith ships& %$indapa smiled to see that some of them $ere captained as
$ell as cre$ed by her fol'& -hose $ho studied the %tars made good navigators&
Many of the shops3carpenters, smiths, $ain$rights, saddlers3 had signs out advertising for
apprentices, $ho $ould also be mostly 4arth Fol'& %o $ere the $or'ers in the ne$ industries,
the healer/helpers studying in the ne$ hospital, and many of the students in the 7slander school&
+e learn, she thought& A haildom of Moon 5oman stood near a Christian church& And t"e -agle
(eole learn $rom u#, a# *ell. +"at come# o$ it *ill "ave t"e 3one and 3lood o$ 3ot" o$ u# in it&
%he smiled more broadly yet to see a charioteer chieftain of the %un 1eople drive by, ga$'ing in
a$e& 0e carried a steel s$ord at his $aist, and his horses $ere shod in the same iron that rimmed
the $heels of his $ar/car& :ut a %pear Chosen of the Fiernan :ohulugi rode past him on
horsebac', feet in the stirrups, a mus'et at his saddlebo$, ignoring him $ith lordly contempt&
-he charioteer flushed, but the peace of the Alliance held his hand&
"7'd really better go on to the ,reat 5isdom first," she said to Marian& "-he ,randmothers $ill
be more ready to listen to you after 7've listened to them& 7'll ta'e the children on, and they can
visit $ith Mother and their cousins&"
A smile replied, the same rare beautiful thing that had captured her heart&
"7'll miss you, sugar& A fe$ days, then&"
-he road up from 1entagon :ase $as less of a rutted trac' no$& More o$ a rutted road, %$indapa
thought, as a $arm spring sho$er cleared and she pulled off her oils'ins and tossed them across
the saddlebo$, then loo'ed around $ith delight on the mello$ evening that brought them up
onto the do$nland country, her oldest home&
5ind chased cloud/shado$ over the great open roll of the countryside, fluttering the grasses and
the leaves of the beech trees in patches of forest on hilltops& 7t $as intensely green and fresh, and
even $hen the scents3cut grass, horse, damp earth3$ere the same as in (antuc'et, they $ere
different in a subtle $ay her nose 'ne$ even if she had no $ord for it& 0ere and there she sa$ a
barro$/grave of the ancients rising as an island of green turf, perhaps spec'led $ith the gray/
bro$n or $hite of sheep& -he $hite$ashed $attle/and/daub $alls of the round houses, great or
small, $ere mar'ed $ith intricate patterns of soot, ochre and saffron that told stories her eyes
could read& Clumps of green$eed starred the pasture $ith yello$ gold, and there $ere crimson
tormentil, betony, ha$'bit, the blue of clustered bellflo$ersE butterflies e;ploded up$ard at the
clop of horses' hooves, meado$ bro$ns, marbled $hites&
4very no$ and then she reached out to touch the shoulder or arm of her motherE strange to have
her riding a horse, $onderful that it $as, beside her& And the horse itself had come $est/over/sea
from $hat the %un 1eople called Futland, brought by Fiernan traders no$ that the beasts had so
many more uses than $ar&
"Are you still happy, child of my $ombB" 2hin$arn said&
"8h, very," %$indapa replied& "7nto $hat star/path/through/shado$ )life, living* isn't rough/
going/storm/cold )$eeping/laughing* $ovenB Mostly, very happy&"
7t $as good to spea' Fiernan again& 4nough to begin thin'ing in it, even if that meant groping for
a $ord no$ and then $hen she used an 7slander concept&
0er mother grinned at her& "4ven $ithout3" she made a gesture $ith one finger&
%$indapa chuc'led, held up her hand in the same gesture, added the other fingers together, and
moved the hand rhythmically&
"5ithout nothing, and it's never tired at that<" she added, and they shared a ba$dy laugh&
Marian *ould 3e so em3arra##ed, she thought, smiling fondly&
"7 see you are happyE Moon 5oman has set stars at your birth that called you to a strange $ay,
but not a bad one," 2hin$arn said& %he shoo' her head& "7t's strange and frightening, this love-
3et*een-onl,-t*o eole the 4agle 1eople have& Aet not a starless thing or a turned/bac' path&"
"(o, $onderful and terrifying," %$indapa agreed& 7t had scared her at first, that her $hole life
should be so $rapped up in only one other& "-here's nothing so $armE it's li'e being in#ide the
fire, $ithout being burned&"
0eather and Lucy raced by on their ponies, $aving and shouting to their motherE an uncle
pursued them, s$earing and laughing at the same time&
"-hose t$o are fine girls," 2hin$arn said& "Aou should bring them here more often&"
"As often as the stars set a path for it," %$indapa said&
%he loo'ed around at the countryside& (ot everything $as as she remembered, even from her last
visit& -here $ere ne$ crops amid the familiar $heat and barley and scrubby grass of fallo$
fields& Machines $ere at $or', cultivators and disc/plo$s pulled by o;en3or sometimes by
shaggy ponies that had once dra$n only chariots& -he $hir of a hay/mo$er's cutting bar made a
ne$ thing in the long 9uiet of the 5hite 7sle&
More #toc), she thought& More $odder to over*inter it. 6e* 3,re# and #"ee$old#, too. .igger
3ea#t#, #ome o$ t"em& %omething teased at her eye, until she reali.ed itE she'd seen scarcely a
single $oman spinning a distaff as she $al'ed or sat& T"read come# $rom t"e mac"ine# no*&
%ome of the small s9uare fields had been thro$n together for the convenience of the animal/
dra$n reapers the 4agle 1eople had brought, too, changing the very loo' of the land& 7f you
loo'ed closely, there $ere other changesE iron tools in the hands of the cultivators, more and
more colorful clothes and cobbled shoes on the d$ellers, bric'/$alled $ells, the little outhouses
that the 7slander medical missionaries had advised and the ,randmothers agreed to ma'e part of
the purity rituals, here and there a chimney, or a $agon $ith a load of small cast/iron stoves, or a
$ind pump&
"More changes than you $ould thin', and more every year3li'e a roc' rolling do$nhill,"
2hin$arn told her, sensing her thought& "%ome are discontented, thin'ing they brea' old
harmonies& 8thers say no, best of all so many more of our children live and gro$ healthy&"
0er smile gre$ slightly savage& "And because $e listened first, $e gro$ faster than the %un
1eople in all $ays, $ealth and 'no$ledge and numbers& Many of them come $est no$3not to
raid, but as'ing for $or' or learning&"
%$indapa nodded& "5e had to become other than $e $ere, or cease to be at all," she agreed&
-hey spo'e more, but her voice $as cho'ed off $hen the ,reat 5isdom itself rose above the
hori.on on the east, looming over the bare pasture as it had been made to do so many centuries
before& %he had seen the pictures on (antuc'et, of the great stones shattered and abandoned,
their true purpose lost& -here $ere times $hen that image seemed to over$helm her memories,
but here the 5isdom stood $hole and complete, the great triathlons and the bluestone
semicircleD
%he began to sing under her breath, the (aming Chant that called each stone by its title, and
listed the %tar/Moon/%un con6unctions that could be sighted from it3not only the great ones, the
Mid$inter Moon that chased the flighty %un bac' to 7ts $or' of $arming the 4arth d$ellers, but
the small friendly stars that governed the hearth or the best time to ta'e a rabbit s'in&
Marian never could #in) "er mind into t"i#, she thought& 4dd, $or #"e )no*# t"e -agle (eole'#
counting #o *ell. (er"a# it'# t"at #"e can't #ee t"at a *ord can 3e a num3er too&
:eside her 0eather and Lucy gre$ 9uiet until she finished, their lips silently follo$ing along on
some of the simpler bits& 5hen she $as done and $aved them ahead they clapped heels to the
ponies and rode off to the north, to$ard the @urlelo greathouse, shouting greetings to cousins
they hadn't seen for a 9uarter of their short lives& %$indapa stood in the stirrups and shaded her
eyes $ith a hand&
-he huge round, half/timbered shape of the greathouse, $ith its conical roof of thatched $heat/
stra$, loo'ed subtly different& A metal tube at the ape;D
"Aou put in a copper smo'e/hood<" she said, delighted&
0er mother nodded and too' off her conical stra$ hat& "7t's much easier on the eyes no$," she
said& "And $armer in $inter& :etter for the girls doing the Chants, too&" %he smiled& "5e've so
much more time for that< More time for songs and stories, for ma'ing bright/please/eye/$arm/
heart/6oy/in/hands things&"
%$indapa's smile died as she remembered that this $as not only a visit& 7t $as a meeting, and the
ne$s $as of $ar& -he ,randmothers didn't decide such mattersE that $asn't their business, save
$here the %acred -ruce $as concerned& :ut those $ho did decide such matters $ould listen
carefully to their opinions&
"="ot-na. &n14ja, &n,ete, a3al'na," the elder of the ,randmothers in the circle began, as the last
of those $ho felt they should be here drifted into the smaller round hut and ranged themselves
about its hearth& 0er o$l/headed staff nodded in her hand&
-here $ere a score and one in all, a luc'y number, although nobody had arranged it thus&
%$indapa breathed in the scent of $oodsmo'e and thatch and cloth and s$eatD yet even this
$asn't as it al$ays had been& -he smells included soap, the bitter scent of hops, and one of those
sitting around the $hite$ashed $all $as $earing glasses&
"A good star shine on this meeting& Moon 5oman gather it to her breast& 5e're here to tal', let's
tal'," the 4ldest said&
%he pic'ed up the stic's in her hands, tapping lightly along their colored, notched lengths& 4ach
notch and inset in the yard/long $ands mar'ed some happening, or feeling, or shade of meaning&
-hey s9uatted on their hams around the fire, shado$s flic'ering on their faces3 $rin'led crone,
stout matron $hose drooping breasts $ere proud sign of the children she had borne, %$indapa
the youngest of them but the one $hose path had $andered beyond -ime along the Moon/trail&
8thers, star/students, Rememberers, %ee'ers&
-he ,randmothers of the ,reat 5isdom&
-he 4ldest spo'e, $ith her voice and $ith the flashing stic's> "5ould that the 4ldest/:efore $as
$ith us, $ho first greeted the 4agle 1eople, $as here&"
S"e #a* #o $ar, #o muc". &'m lo#t *it"out "er.
Another set of stic's too' up the tapping rhythm& "Aou sat by her feet a long time& 5e'll listen to
youE there are many here, $e'll find out $hat Moon 5oman $ants& 4verybody rides the %$an
sometime&"
<ove, tru#t.
,reatly daring, %$indapa too' up her rods& %he'd made them herself, on the voyage over& -hey
loo'ed differentE more angular, in parts, $ith strange colors& -hat sho$ed her spiritD
"7've seen the changes here& Most of them are happy&"
2ou3t, uncertaint,, a tremulou# jo,, c"ildren laug"ing, cattle lo*ing, eace.
More tic'/tapping, $eaving in and out& An older $oman spo'e> "0appy for no$& 7n the many/
cycles to come, $ho 'no$s&"
2ou3t, nagging *orr,3concern&
-he eldest> "4ldest/:efore sa$ only a dar'ness $ithout stars before the feet of the 4arth Fol',
before the 4agle 1eople came from out of time&"
;elie$, jo,, an ac"ing not noticed until it *ent a*a,.
Another> "5e thought $e'd have peace, but no$ the 4agle 1eople are tal'ing of a $ar, far a$ay,
$ith people $ho never harmed us& 7s that the path Moon 5oman's stars reflect, no$B"
2i#ta#te, *arine##, dou3t, dou3t.
"Moon 5oman shines in all the lands3$ho aren't 0er childrenB -he 4agle 1eople came from
very far to help us, shouldn't $e do the same for othersB"
;e#olution, re#ignation.
"4arth Fol' have never carried spears so far& :ad enough to fight for our o$n hearths&"
.lood, mot"er# 3ur,ing c"ildren, 3urning, grie$, *rongne##.
%$indapa too' up the e;change& 0er people $ere great rememberers& %o>
"8nce the 4arth Fol' lived from the 0ot Lands to Fog/and/7ce place& 5e didn't carry spears
beyond our o$n neighborhoods, but the d,au# ar#i, the %un 1eople, they carried them
every$here& 8ne fight, another, everyone hoped each $ould be the last& And $hen the 4agle
1eople came, $e'd gone bac' so far our heels $ere $et in the ocean at our bac's& (ot everything
is good, 6ust because $e al$ays did it&"
;e#olution, $iercene##, #adne##.
Another voice> "-here's too much of the d,au# ar#i in the 4agle 1eople, for my taste& -hey are a
restless breedE even in their 5isdom 5or'ing they cut everything up, then stic' the bits together
to suit them& :ossy, rude, turn/up/the/nose/$e/'no$/best& 7 don't li'e this Father/%on/%pirit
teaching they bring, either&"
&rritation, di#quiet, longing $or eace, $or t"e endle## turning-in-"armon,-gro*ing.
%$indapa> "Aes, they descend from the %un 1eople, but $ith some of us in them, too& And an
acorn doesn't loo' much li'e an oa'E you can't eat an apple until it's ripe&"
(atience, *aiting-3ecoming, atience.
Another> "-here's more than one road to the same place& Call an apple an ash, it's still an apple3
the Father/%on/%pirit/Mother doesn't teach as 2ia$as 1ithair did& 7f the 4agle 1eople are greedy
and fierce, they don't ta'e it out and stro'e it the $ay the charioteers do&"
+onder, accetance.
2hin$arn> "-hey gave my daughter bac' to me, $hen she $as ta'en from the %hining 5orld&
-hey beat bac' the :urning %na'e for her, that had eaten all her dreams&"
<ove, *armt", "eartac"e-a##uaged, jo,.
-he $ords $ent bac' and forth, until the $ords faded out of it and there $as a tapping chorus of
agreement, $oven in and among the humming song& After a $hile they began to s$ay, and then
they rose, dancing in a spiral& -he spiral $ove out of the hut, and an o$l hooted and fle$ above
them as they s$ayed and hummed to$ard the ,reat 5isdom&
"-his is more 7an and 2oreen's 'ind of $or' than ours," %$indapa said, dra$ing her horse a little
aside&
Marian coc'ed an eye at her and chuc'led& "First you grumble about ho$ $e're al$ays fighting,"
she said& "(o$ $e're playing at diplomats, and you complain about t"at&"
%$indapa smiled herself, then sighed and shrugged& "7 don't li'e going among the %un 1eople
much," she said&
Marian nodded sympathy& "2on't let them ma'e you il'lun1- e)o 'u14tna, then," she said&
-hat meant something li'e gloom,A or perhaps dar)-#irited or Moon-derived& 4ven after these
years, she still found the 4arth Fol' language a tangleE she suspected that you had to gro$ up
spea'ing it to truly understand it $ell& %till more the dialect of %$indapa's home, $here they
piled pun upon allusion upon myth in a riot of metaphors&
"Aou're right, my .in'14t#e-)"*on," %$indapa said& ":ut 7 miss the children&"
"%o do 7, sugar, but they're happy enough at your mother's place for a $hile&"
-he 7slander party dre$ rein at the edge of the $oodland trail, loo'ing do$n$ard& -he sun of the
summer evening cast long shado$s across them, and over the landscape that stretched a$ay to
the marshes by the -hames3the Ah$un'ra;, the ,reat Chief River& 7n one course of the tides of
time, this $as the border of southern :uc'inghamshire, not far from 5indsor& 0ere it $as the
tribal lands of the -haurinii fol', the teuat"a of the :ull&
-he stoc'aded ruat"auri)a: of their chieftains stood atop a lo$ chal' cliff above the river& Faint
and far, a horn droned& :elo$, at the foot of the heights, lay that $hich made this clan more
important than most& -he river split around a long oval/shaped islandE from the south ban' a
bridge of great timbers reached to the isle, and another from there to the north shore& :oats lay at
anchor do$nstream of themE even from here Marian could see that some of them $ere 9uite
large, one a modern design, probably out of 1ortsmouth :ase or 5esthaven&
Around the fortlet lay open pastureland $here shaggy little cattle and horses and goatli'e sheep
gra.ed& Fields $ere smaller than the gra.ing, $heat and barley 6ust beginning to sho$ golden
among the greenE ha$thorn hedges mar'ed them out, or hurdles of $oven $illo$ $ithes&
Farmsteads lay stre$n about, d$ellings topped $ith gray thatch cut from river reeds& Men at
$or' in the fields, $omen hoeing in gardens, all stopped and pointed and stared, the rac'et of
their voices fainter than the bu..ing of insects& (ot far a$ay a girl in a long dress and sha$l
s9uea'ed as she heard the thud of hooves and rattle of metal& %he almost dropped the $ic'er
bas'et of $ild stra$berries in her hands, then too' to her heels, yelling&
Apart from that there $as no sign of alarm, no signal fires or glints from a gathering of
spearheadsE instead the fol' gathered to stare and point, some crying greetings& -he peace of the
Alliance lay on the land of the -haurinii, $ith not so much as a cattle raid to brea' it& -here had
al$ays been more trade here than in most steadingsE the boats mar'ed it, and the sign of many
$agons on the road$ay&
2ust smo'ed $hite under hooves and $heels as they rode do$n the gentle slope& -he sun $as
hot for Alba, and s$eat pric'led her body under the $ool and linen of her uniform& :ehind her
the Marine guard dre$ into a neat double ran' of riders, $ith the %tars and %tripes of the
Republic at their head& :ehind them $ere the t$o/$heeled baggage carts and the attendants that
%un 1eople respectability re9uired&
-he horn dunted again from the chieftain's steading, and the narro$ gate s$ung open& (o chariot
came out of itE the reports $ere accurate, then3this particular tribal hegemon $as progressive,
as such things $ent in the Aear !& 7nstead of the traditional $ar/cart, he and his rode horsebac',
$ith saddles and stirrups made to (antuc'eter models& -hey did carry $eapons, but that $as to
sho$ respect to $arrior guests, s$ords slapping at sides in chased bron.e scabbards or the more
common a;es across saddlebo$s, painted shields across their bac's&
Li'e$ise their finery, bright cloa's and tunics in gaudy patterns, 'ilts pyrographed in elaborate
designs3or, for some, 7slander trousers& -he leader $ore a tall bron.e helmet $ith great o;
horns mounted on it, the totem of his tribe& :eside him $as a younger man $hose helm $as
mounted $ith a metal raven, its $ings flapping as his horse canteredE that $as bravado, a
declaration that he claimed the favor of the Cro$ ,oddess, the :lood 0ag of :attles& :ehind the
chieftain and his retainers $al'ed trumpeters blo$ing on long, upright horns& -heir bello$ing
echoed bac' from trees and river and palisade and a storm of $ildfo$l too' $ing from the $ater&
Marian flung up her hand& -he trumpeter behind her ble$ his bugle, and the little column came
to a halt& A $ind from the river flapped out the red/$hite/and/blue sil' of 8ld ,lory, and the gilt
eagle above it seemed to flap its $ings as $ell&
"7 am Commodore Marian Alston/@urlelo," she said in the local tongue& "2aughter of Martin,
5ar Chief of the 4agle 1eople&"
-hat harsh machine/gun/rapid speech came easily enough to her no$E the comple; inflections
and declensions $ere simple, compared to her partner's language&
"5e come in peace," she $ent on, "to spea' for the Republic to the chieftains of %'y Father's
children&" -hey'd undoubtedly heard of the mission and its message by no$, but the forms had to
be observed&
-he older man nodded& 0e $as tall for this era, an inch or t$o more than Marian& 0is bro$n
beard $as in t$in braids and his hair in a ponytail do$n his bac', the traditional %un 1eople
styles& -he face $as handsome in a battered $ayE in his mid/thirties, early middle age by
contemporary standards& -he little finger of his left hand $as missing, and his tanned s'in $as
seamed $ith thin $hite scarsE all in all he loo'ed tough enough to che$ logs, but the green/ha.el
eyes $ere friendly enough& +nli'e those of some of his follo$ersD
"7 am 5innuthra; 0otorar's son," he replied& "Raha; of the -haurinii fol'& :e you guests and
peace/holy beneath my roof and among my people& May the long/speared %'y Father hear me,
and the 0orned Man, and the Lady of the 0orses& May your crops stand thic' and your herds
bear fruitfullyE may your $i3" 0e coughed, paused, and ammended the traditional "May your
$ives bear many sons&"
"May your household prosper&"
"Long life and fruitful fields, $eather/luc' and victory/luc' and undying fame be yours,
5innuthra; son of 0otorar," Marian said ceremoniously& "May many descendants ma'e sacrifice
at your grave in times to come& May the ,od of my people guard you and all yours&"
5innuthra; smiled, nodded, and dismounted& "Aour ,od is a po$erful ,od," he said, as Marian
6oined him& A youth came up $ith a platter of bread and salt, and a cup of mead& "As $e learned
on the 2o$ns&"
"Aou $ere thereB" she said, sprin'ling the bread and ta'ing a bite& -he t$o leaders pric'ed their
thumbs and s9uee.ed a drop of blood into the mead, then shared the cup&
"7ndeed, 7 led my tribe's $ar band to the battle on the 2o$ns, follo$ing the $i.ard," he said
casually& "Li'ely 7'd have laid my bones there if 7 hadn't ta'en an arro$ through my shoulder&
Aour 4agle 1eople healers found me after our host fled, and it healed clean& 8ther$ise you'd be
dealing $ith my son here& 4h, 0eponlosB"
-he young man $ith the raven/dec'ed helmet nodded& 5hen he removed the helm, she sa$ he
$as short/haired and that his beard $as cropped close to his 6a$34agle 1eople styles&
"%o 7 'no$ your ,od is strong to give victory," 5innuthra; said& 0e inclined his head politely to
%$indapa& "And so is Moon 5oman, of course, ladyD %ome of my people here have ta'en the
$ater/blessing of your 4agle 1eople s'ylord, 0e of the Cross, and the crops haven't suffered, so
the land/spirits don't mind& 7'd ma'e 0im sacrifice too, but 0is priests and priestesses say 0e
$on't have those $ho don't forsa'e others&"
Marian nodded and $al'ed by the -haurinii chieftain's side as they led their horses up the slope
to the stoc'ade& %he $asn't surprised at the chief's lac' of resentmentE the %un 1eople tribes
didn't feel any lasting grudge at being beaten in a straight/up battle, and the Americans hadn't
ravaged their homes or harmed their families39uite the contrary3they'd prevented reprisals by
the Fiernan :ohulugi, $ho did carry grudges& -here $ere plenty of the easterners $ho resented
the Alliance, but it $as for other things&
"Aou've prospered, chieftain," Marian observed as they $al'ed&
-he broad shoulders shrugged& "5e've al$ays been traders here as $ell as fighters3there's
blood of Moon 5oman's people in us, for all that $e're %'y Father's children no$& More trade of
late, yesE and some of our young men have ta'en $or' on your ships, or in your $ar bands& -he
gold they $in buys us ne$ things, and those $ho return bring ne$ 'no$ledge and seemly $ays&"
0is son tossed off a creditable salute and smiled $hen Marian returned it in refle;&
"0ard Corps, fuc'in' A," he said in 4nglish that $as heavily accented, but fluent& "Corporal
0eponlos 5innuthra;sson, Marine rifleman aboard !rederic) 2ougla## on the :altic e;pedition,
ma'am&"
"-han' you, but $e've s$orn an oath to the 4agle 1eople ,od to lie $ith none but each other,"
Marian said politely&
"As you $ish, of course," 5innuthra; said, raising his mead/horn& 0e loo'ed a little relievedE
the obligations of -haurinii hospitality hadn't been designed $ith this sort of cross/cultural
contact in mind& -he servant girl he'd summoned loo'ed relieved as $ellD or possibly that $as a
loo' of disappointed curiosity rather than an;ious relief&
"& t"in) it'# 'di#aointed curio#it,' t"i# time," %$indapa $hispered in her ear, grinning&
Marian snorted& "Aou're much prettier," she murmured bac'& "And you don't have nearly as
many fleas&"
%omething li'e this happened every time they guested overnight at a %un 1eople chieftain's
steading, but her partner still found it endlessly entertaining& -hen again, the Fiernan language
didn't even have a *ord for monogamyE it $as something %$indapa did out of love, because her
partner cared about it& Marian loo'ed at the servant girl's nec'E no scars, although she'd probably
been $earing a collar until a fe$ years ago& -he prohibition on slavery in the Alliance treaty
hadn't been as hard to enforce as she'd once feared, but she suspected from the reports and her
o$n observations that the abolition $as often more a matter of form than fact, particularly in the
bac'$oods&
4", *ell, ;ome *a#n't 3uilt in a da,& (ot everyone $ho $or'ed in the Republic or served in its
ships and regiments stayed onE plenty $ent bac' home, li'e her host's son& -hat brought its o$n
problems, but it carried the seeds of progress&
-he hall of the -haurinii chiefs reminded her strongly of the others they'd guested in over the
past month, a sameness that underlay differences of detail& -he $alls $ere $ic'er$or' thic'ly
daubed $ith clay, bet$een a frame$or' of in$ard/sloping timbers that turned into the crutch/
rafters that carried the thatch of the roof& -he chief's seat $as in the middle of the southern $all,
a tall chair of oa' and beech, its rear pillars carved in the shape of the -$in 0orsemen, their
most notable feature their erect luc'/bringing philli& A second chair $as for the most honored
guestsE everyone else sat on stools, or on benches, or the floor, $ith sheeps'ins and blan'ets
beneath them if they $ere luc'y&
%he noticed one difference thereE the floor $as mortared flagstones, rather than dirt covered by
reeds& -here $ere still fire pits do$n the center of the floor, but there $as also an iron heating
stove $ith a sheet/iron chimney, both probably turned out here in Alba at 7slander/o$ned plants&
-he feast had been mostly traditional3roast por', mutton, beef, and horsemeat $ith bread3but
there had been potatoes and chic'en as $ell&
-he -haurinii differed from the more easterly tribes in some other respects tooE the $omen of the
chief's family had eaten $ith them, although they $ere $ithdra$ing to the other end of the hall
no$ that the serious drin'ing $as supposed to begin& 1robably residual Fiernan influence& %he
and %$indapa $ere being treated essentially as $arrior/class men, of course, but she $as used to
that& 7rritating, but not unbearably so&
(rogre##, she thought& <onge#t journe,, #ingle #te, and all t"at&
Leaping shado$s from the fire pits gleamed on the gold or copper that rimmed $hole/co$horn
cups, on bright cloth and gold tor9ues around hairy nec's, on the $eapons and shields hung on
the $alls bet$een bright crude $oolen hangings3she hid a smile at the printed 7slander dish
to$els that held pride of place& %un 1eople art $as often 9uite good of its 'ind, but $hen they
fell for (antuc'eter stuff they tended to nose/dive into the $orst 'itsch available& -he air smelled
of $oodsmo'e, coo'ing, a little of s$eat and damp dog, but not very unclean3there had been a
bathhouse here before the 4vent, although 5innuthra; had improved it $ith soap and a real tub
since&
T"e,'re reall, not #uc" 3ad #ort#, Alston told herself& 4$ cour#e, t"e,'re *arli)e and mac"o to
t"e oint o$ in#anit,, and cruel a# cat# to an,one *"o i#n't a 3lood relative or an oat"-#*orn
all,, and t"e,'d a t"ou#and time# rat"er #teal #omet"ing t"an ma)e it t"em#elve#, 3ut t"e, "ave
t"eir oint#& -hey $ere brave, and many of them $ere even honestD
5innuthra; leaned over to refill her horn& Marian sighedE headache tomorro$, but at least they
$eren't brea'ing out distilled li9uor3 $hen that met a tradition of heroic imbibing, the results
could be gruesome&
"%o, this is the same $ar as the one in the distant hot lands, closing in on the $i.ard 0$al'er's
landsB %ome of my fol' enlisted $ith your Marine $ar band for that3t$o young men outla$ed
for 'ine/reaving outside the bans, 2elauntara;'s daughter $ho ran a$ay3but she $as, ah,
strange3and half a do.en $ho $ere 6ust restless or poor or all together& -he Cross/,od priest at
%even %treams mission brings their letters to us sometimes and reads them& Much good fighting
there, gold, good feasting, strange foreign lands to see& 7f 7 $ere younger, 7'd be tempted myself&"
"7 am younger, and 7 am tempted," his son 0eponlos said&
"(o, and again, no," his father said, e;asperated& "Aou are my heir&"
"Aou could pic' one of my uncle's sons and as' the Fol' to hail him&"
"(o<"
5innuthra; sighed, and then shrugged& "5ell, you can see there's no shortage of young men
an;ious to blood their spears&"
Marian nodded& "Aes, this is the same $ar3but a different part of it& 7s'eterol of -artessos is an
ally of 5al'er's, and he attac'ed us this spring& 5e slaughtered them then, and no$ $e ta'e the
fight to their homeland& 5e don't re9uire your aid under the Alliance, but $e as' it as oath/
friends&"
"0mmm&" 5innuthra; rubbed at his beard and then crac'ed something bet$een thumb and
forefinger& "5ellD yes, that's $hat 7've heard&"
A feral light gleamed in his son's eyes& "-artessos s$ims in gold, they sayE $ine and silver and
oil and cloth, many fine things&"
Marian felt %$indapa's faint snort beside her& 5e#, & )no*, she thought& T"e, are a 3unc" o$
3andit#. .ut $or no*, t"e,'re our 3unc" o$ 3andit#&
"7t'll be a serious $ar," she said&
":ut you'll be supplying $eaponsB"
%he nodded, a trifle reluctant& -he charioteer tribes $ould do anything to get their hands on
firearmsE the Republic 'ept modern ones3 as "modern" $as defined in the Aear !, meaning
breechloaders3out of their hands as far as possible&
"0mmm& 5ell, 7'll spea' to the fol', tal' to the heads of household, and hear their $ord,"
5innuthra; said&
0e $as a long $ay from an autocratE $ar/leader, yes, but there $as an element of anarchic
democracy to these tribes, at least as far as free adult males $ere concerned&
"Let it never be bandied about that the -haurinii don't stand by their oaths and their friends, and
you've dealt $ell $ith us, that's beyond dispute&" 0e sighed again& "And enough of business3
tomorro$, 7 can sho$ you some boar $orth the trouble of carrying a spear<"
-his time it $as Marian $ho sighed& %$indapa had ta'en the %pear Mar' as a teenager,
uncommon but not rare for a Fiernan girlE she actually li)ed hunting big dangerous pigs $ith a
spear& Marian Alston li'ed hunting, but sensibly, $ith a gun& %till, you had to 'eep face& %un
people hospitality $as li'e thatE sacrifice, chanting and blood and fire, to put the guest in right
$ith the tribal godsE sonorous ancestral epicE gluttonous feasting, drin'ing, boastingD
All ver, 1omeric, 3ut a mont" i# a3out all & can ta)e, she thought& (early over, than' ,od, and
then she could get bac' to the sort of rational preparation she felt comfortable $ith&
"(o, boss, 7 can't do that," :ill Cuddy said& "(ot a straight copy&"
0e $as s$eating, a little& +sually 5al'er $as sensible enough, but his temper $as more
uncertain than usual after the reverses in the 4ast& 7t $as times li'e these you remembered that he
only had to shout, and the guards $ould come in and 'ill you3or even $orse, hand you over to
0ong&
T"ere are time# & reall, *i#" & "adn't li#tened to +ill, Cuddy thought, forcing himself to meet the
cold green eyes and shrug& 5ea", &'ve got a man#ion and a "arem and &'m ric"er t"an god, and
t"e *or)'# intere#ting, 3ut #ometime#D
-he $indo$s of the private audience room $ere openE outside, the blue/and/$hite/chec'ed/
marble veranda had an almost luminous glo$ under the afternoon sun, and the trails of hot/pin'
bougainvillea that fountained do$n the sides of man/high vases $ere an e;plosion of color& -he
$arm herbal scents of a ,ree' summer drifted in, and the sound of cicadas, almost as loud as the
city/clamor of 5al'eropolis beyond& A servant entered and removed the remains of a pi..a3
5al'er had eaten at his des' today, things $ere moving fast3and another 'nelt and arranged a
tray of hot herbal tea, cold fruit 6uice, $atered $ine, and munchies& :ill Cuddy didn't feel at all
li'e eating, even those little pic'led tuna things on crac'ers $ith capers, $hich he $as usually
pretty fond of&
5al'er indicated the rifle that lay on his des', ac9uired at enormous e;pense via the -artessian
intelligence service in (antuc'et&
"-hat doesn't loo' too complicated&"
"(o, boss, it ain't& 7t's a fuc'ing masterpiece of simplicityE Martins could ma'e one of these by
hand, filing it3parts $ouldn't be interchangeable, but it'd $or'& %o, yeah, 7 can ma'e the rifle,
no s$eat& 7t'll cut into our 5estley/Richards output, total production'll go do$n for si; months,
maybe a year3but not all that bad& :esides the loading mechanism and ammo, it's pretty much
the same gun3bit better ballistic performance, is all&"
"Aou're telling me you can, and then you can'tB" %uddenly 5al'er smiled, an open, friendly grin,
and thumped his forehead $ith the heel of his hand& "8h, $ait a minute3it's the ammo, rightB"
0e spun a brass cartridge on the table ne;t to the rifleE the polished metal caught the sun that
came through the French doors and spilled flic'ering shado$s across furniture inlaid in ivory,
silver, and lapis la.uli&
"Aeah, boss& Loo', 7 could turn out small 9uantities, yessir& Machining rounds from solid bar
stoc', maybe3but that'll eat materials, and Christ, it'll tie up an entire lathe all day to turn out a
couple of hundred< -he dra$ing and annealing plant to turn out million# of those fuc'ers3no
$ay& (ot in less than three, four years3and to do that, 7'd have to pull all my best people off
other stuff, and off teaching& 7 mean, Fesus fuc'ing Christ, boss, 7 6ust don't have the range of
machine tools that Leaton does, or electric po$er sources or3and he doesn't have to teach all his
trainees to goddam read first<"
"8'ay," 5al'er said grudgingly& ",od damn& -his is going to hurt morale3the men aren't used
to the other side having more firepo$er&" A $ry smile& "And 7'm used to having you pull
miracles out of your hat&"
-he smile didn't reach all the $ay to the eyesE Cuddy felt himself beginning to s$eat again&
"5ell, yeah, $e can't do t"at ammo yet, but 7've had an idea&"
"8hB" Cool interest this time, complete focus&
"Aeah& Actually 7 $as busting my ass trying to figure out ho$ $e $ere going to do $hat Leaton
did, and it occurred to me3$hy not do an end run insteadB %o 7 loo'ed up some stuff 7
remembered from that boo' you've got, the one by the dude called Myatt, some Limey Ma6or or
somethingD"
"-he &llu#trated 1i#tor, o$ 6ineteent"-%entur, !irearm#<" 5al'er said, nodding unsurprised&
-hey'd already gotten a lot of use out of that one&
"Aup& %o 7 thought, they must have had a lot of problems $ith dra$n/brass stuff to begin $ith,
maybe they had something elseB %omething that didn't $or' 9uite as smooth but that still did the
6obB"
5al'er nodded againE that $as also something they had a lot of e;perience $ith&
"%o here it is&"
0e reached do$n into the leather briefcase at his side and handed over a round of ammunition&
5al'er too' it and turned it over in his hands& 7t $as made a little li'e a shotgun shell, built up of
iron and brass and cardboard&
"-he thing li'e the iron top hat, that's the base," Cuddy said& "1rimer $e can do37've been
dic'ing around $ith mercury fulminate for nine years no$E you should crucify me if 7 hadn't
made #ome progress& 1ercussion cap in the base, then you *ra a strip of thin brass around that,
and then that holds the cardboard tube $ith the bullet and po$der&"
-he lyn; eyes speared him& "-ell me the disadvantages&"
"7t's not as strong as the regular type& (ot completely $aterproof, either& And the brass, $hen the
chamber's real hot, it may glue itself to the $alls and 6am, or tear apart $hen the e;tractor hits&
:ut it'll *or), boss& 7 can duplicate this rifle, all it needs changed is the shape of the chamber,
and 7 can turn out this ammo in 9uantity3simple stamping and rolling, and then hand$or'
assembly/line style&"
"Cuddy, you're a fuc'ing genius<" 5al'er leaned bac' in his s$ivel chair, a dreamy smile on his
face& "Aou say it $ould have scre$ed us if 7'd ordered you to go ahead on duplicating the
ammoB"
"+p the a##, boss, totally& (ot 6ust losing production, but it $ould have dic'ed up our e;pansion
program by tying up my people&"
A harsh chuc'le from his overlord& "8ne gets you ten, that's e7actl, $hat they planned<" 0is
hand struc' the des'top $ith a gunshot crac'& "-hat bitch Alston thin's she has me typed3and
she's smart, 7 nearl, did that&"
Cuddy s$allo$ed and loo'ed a$ay& Alston $as the only thing that could ma'e 5al'er's eyes
loo', for a moment, entirely too much li'e Alice 0ong's for comfort&
5al'er $ent on, "5hat about the ,atlingsB"
Cuddy shoo' his head again& "(o $ay, bossman& -he ammo isn't strong enough to be hopper/ or
clip/fed&" 0is grin $ent $ider& ":ut&"
":utB"
":ut the same boo' had an idea the Frogs used, bac' around ,atling's time& Aou ta'e a $hole
bundle of rifle barrels, say seventy/five of them, and clamp them together& Aou load them $ith
plates in a frame3the plates hold the ammo& Load a plate in, $ham, hit the trigger, ta'e the plate
out, put in another one&" 0e held up a hand& "Aeah, heavier and slo$er than a ,atling, but it'll
$or'&"
"Cuddy, you are my main man0 ,et right onto both of them& -op priority&"
Cuddy rose, noddingE he paused to greet 0elmuth Mittler on the $ay out& 0e and the head of
%ection 8ne $eren't all that close3the e;/%tasi agent reminded him too much of cops $ho'd
busted him in the past, those pale eyes $ith the 7've/got/the/goods/on/you loo'& %till, the former
4ast ,erman did good $or'D and it $as 6ust as $ell to 'eep on the good side of him, he $as
important at court too&
Ma,3e &'m not #orr, & li#tened to +ill a$ter all, Cuddy thought& 0is bodyguard fell in around him
as he $al'ed do$n the corridor& Tonig"t &'ll cele3rate. Su#ie. 5ea", Su#ie&
%usie3her o$n name $as unpronounceable3$as the most enthusiastic girl he'd pic'ed up hereE
li'e a demented anaconda in bed and she $orshiped him li'e a god&
4$ cour#e, & did *in "er o$$ 1ong, he thought& (ro3a3l, quite a contra#t&
7t $as all a matter of contrasts& 0e'd felt hard/done by, that first si; months after the 4ventE no$
things $ere fine& %usie felt her life had ta'en a turn for the better $hen he $on her from 0ongD
all a matter of contrasts, and of being adaptable&
",uys, this is cra.y," 1eter ,irenas said&
-he tall redheaded man shrugged, smiling& "1ete, crossing (orth America in the Aear G3!, no$
3that's cra.y& %taying $here $e li'e it, that's sensible&"
-he bluff $here the 7slanders and their ne$found friends had $intered loo'ed better no$ that
spring had melted the last of the sno$ and green grass covered the mud in fresh gro$th& -he ro$
of log cabins had their doors and $indo$s open to airE they' d been cro$ded but not impossibly
so& (o$ most of the Cloud %hado$ 1eople $ere bac' in hide tentsE there $ere plenty of hides,
$ith more pinned to the logs to dry&
0enry Morris $as still limping, very slightlyE he probably $ould for the rest of his life& 0is $ife,
Raven Feather, stood beside him, smiling, $ith their baby in her arms& 0enry $as dressed for the
hunt in leggings and long leather shirtE so $ere the t$o young men beside him, but they carried
bo$s, rather than atlatls and darts& :o$s they'd made themselves, under Morris's s'illed
direction&
"2e''omosuD" ,iernas began&
-he Le''ansu3$ormer <e))an#u, no* a %loud S"ado* *arrior, ,irenas thought3smiled and
shoo' his head&
"My heart's full of love for you, brother," he said softly& ":ut not for your people& 7'll stay here,
$here 7 don't have to meet them soon& And $here 7 can help these people $ho've ta'en me in&"
"Loo', 0enry, it's o'ay no$D but $hat if you decide you've made a mista'eB 5hat if you get
sic'B"
"7f 7 get sic', 7'll heal or 7'll die," Morris said& "And if 7 decide 7'm ma'ing a mista'e, $ell, 7'm
closer to the 7sland than you are, aren't 7B"
"8'ay, o'ay," ,irenas said& "%o, that's fairE $e leave you your share of the gear and all the mares
in foal, and one of the stallions& ,ood enoughB"
",ood enough," Morris said& 0e advanced and shoo' ,irenas's hand, embraced %ue Chau,
thumped 4ddie Iergera;sson on the shoulder&
,irenas s$ung into the saddle& -heir si; pac'horses and remounts $ere ready& %o $as 4ddie, of
course, and %ue& :eside her %pring 7ndigo rode, their child across the saddlebo$ in a carrying
cradle he'd made over$inter himself& ,irenas turned his horse's head to the $est& Ahead the
spring prairie $aved in a rippling immensity of green, starred $ith flo$ers, loud $ith birdsong&
"Let's get going," he said to his party& "Long $ay to California& 0ell3" he turned in the saddle
and loo'ed bac' at Morris& "Aou'll never find out $hat happens<"
Morris $aved, laughing& "7'll 'no$ $hat happens here," he called& "And that's as much as any
man can 'no$<"
C#ATE! TWENTY)$O"!
May+August, Year ,- A.E.
"0e should have called off the ceremony," Clemens said desperately&
"0e could not," A..u/ena said& "A 'ing $ho does not celebrate the (e$ Aear is no 'ing, or so
the people thin'&"
0e turned a$ay from the beds& -here $ere t$enty in this room, but only ten $ere occupied3the
only patients he $as absolutely sure $ere going to recover& -here $ere over a hundred in the
$ards no$, and the guardsmen $ere bringing in do.ens more every day& -$enty deat"# a day,
that he $as sure of3he $as also sure that more victims $ere being hidden by their relatives&
0e bent over one and drained a pustule into the little ceramic dish& -hen he scrubbed do$n, shed
go$n and mas', and moved into another chamber, $here a long line of palace servitors and royal
guardsmen $aited& A couple of @athryn 0ollard's (e$ -roops $ere there too, to 'eep order and
ma'e sure nobody bolted&
":are your arms," he said to those $aiting, ignoring the fear and the hopeless resignation&
8oddamn t"i# inoculation, he thought as the first of them shuffled for$ard& Apart from the small
percentage $ho $ould develop the fullblo$n disease, everyone he inoculated $ould be
contagious for at least a $ee', $hich meant they had to be 'ept in strict isolation& 5hich meant
they'd be useless until then, and he needed immune people for a hundred different tas's&
"At least the 'ing agreed to detain all the people from other cities," A..u/ena pointed out, ta'ing
up a roughening scraper and small scalpel beside him& "And ma'e them ta'e the inoculation
before they are allo$ed to depart&"
"-hat's something," he said grudgingly&
=nle## #ome o$ t"em are a#,mtomatic carrier#, he thought& %"ri#t, "ave merc,&
-he line shuffled for$ard, and Fustin Clemens forced himself to remember that he $as saving
ninety/nine lives for each human being he 'illed&
"Release<" the ground/cre$ officer bar'ed&
-he hundred and fifty of the (e$ -roops detailed to the landing cre$ let go of the ropes, and the
-manciator bounded up from the temenos of the great temple3the only open space in :abylon
big enough to moor it& -he cro$d gathered to $atch $as small, for fear and illness 'ept most
a$ay& -he dirigible rose, a cloud of dust $hipping across the stone pavementE @enneth 0ollard
thre$ up a hand and s9uinted to save his eyes& 7t circled as it fought for altitude, and artificial
raindrops fell as some hand released ballast& -hen it $as up and rising, its silvery/gray hull
catching the light and ma'ing the red ,uard slash stand out even more vividly&
0e turned a$ay, sha'ing his head& "Must be really heavily laden," he said& "Iic'i Cofflin told
me she hates to valve ballast li'e that&"
"5ell, they've got a long $ay to go3it's nearly si; hundred miles to 0attusas," his sister said in
turn&
@ashtiliash shoo' his head& "And all that distance in an afternoon and a night," he said softly&
",reat gods, to command such po$er<" 0e moved a hand through the air& "%trange, for air to
carry such $eight&"
-hey $atched for a fe$ minutes, until the -manciator had d$indled to a dot in the
north$estern s'y&
"5hat's the ne$s on the smallpo;B" 0ollard as'ed&
"(ot good," @at said grimly, and the prince nodded& "Clemens says the isolation policy isn't
$or'ing, or it's 6ust slo$ing the spread from prairie/fire to forest/fire speed&"
"-he only good thing is that $e have no ne$s of outbrea's else$here, $hich there $ould be if
the contagion@3@ashtiliash used the 4nglish term3"had escaped from the city& (obody is
allo$ed out of the city $ithout fourteen days in the quarantine cam#&"
"At $hich people are not happy," @at added&
@ashtiliash nodded& "1lague is a sign of the anger of the gods," he said, rubbing a hand over the
bac' of his head& "7 t"in) that 7 understand $hat your a#u says of the small animals that cause
disease& 7 have seen them through the micro#coe $ith my o$n eyes3and 7 trust you
(antu'htar&
"-hat is, my thoughts believe& My liver trembles and yearns to appease the gods& 7 fear that there
are only a handful $ho are convinced even in their thoughts& More $ho fear your magic $orse
than the plague, or are loyal to the throne despite their terror& :ut the priesthoods, many of them
3"
@ashtiliash loo'ed up and fro$ned, then continued in a different tone& "5hat is thisB"
-he cro$d hadn't dispersed& 7nstead they $ere gathering into clumps, staring and muttering& -he
prince turned to command an aide and $aited impatiently $hile the man trotted a$ayE he 'ept a
hand clenched on the hilt of his s$ord, the other resting on the butt of the revolver that he' d been
presented as part of the (e$ Aear ceremonies&
"Lord 1rince," the aide said, panting3moving fast in bron.e scale armor $as never easy, and the
day $as gro$ing $arm3"there is unrest&"
"5hat sortB"
"Lord 1rince, there are agitators amongst the cro$d3priests of (ergal and 4nna& -hey claim
that the sic'ness is brought by our brave allies"3his sidelong glance $asn't as friendly as his
$ords3"and spread by their magical ships of the air&"
"2isperse them," the prince commanded tersely& "Arrest any man $ho spea's so& %pread the
command& ,o<"
-he aide $entE a minute later the guardsmen spread out and advanced $ith leveled spears, shafts
reversed to sho$ the small bron.e 'nobs on the butt ends& -heir officer shouted the royal
command to disperse& (ormally that $ould have been enough3more than enough& -his time it
$asn't& -he cro$d eddied and milled, and then things began flying through the air3lumps of
don'ey dung first, then bric's& A soldier $obbled out of line, dropping spear and shield and
clapping his hands to his face, blood lea'ing out bet$een his fingers&
-he others $ere cursing and shouting, plying the spearshafts $ith a $ill& More bric's fle$, and a
fe$ of the cro$d tried to $restle the $eapons a$ay from the troopers& Another command from
their officers, and the si;/foot shafts flipped around, sho$ing sharp bron.e or 7sland steel& %till
the cro$d did not disperse3not until another order rapped out and the guardsmen advanced
shield to shield, their points 6abbing in earnest this time& :odies lay on the pavement after they
passed, and the to$nspeople turned and ran&
-he 0ollards and the prince loo'ed at each other, and at the rioters lying still or moaning and
curling around their $ounds&
"8h, #"it," @enneth 0ollard said and pulled the hand/held radio from his $ebbing& 8utside the
$all of the great open yard, a gro$ing clamor came from the streets&
"7an& 5a'e up&"
7an Arnstein did, blin'ing gummy eyes and s$inging his feet do$n from the bun'& -he sleeping
arrangements of the dirigible $ere pull/man style, bun's that $ere strapped up against the
ceiling $hen not in use&
Right no$ they $ere in use, and only the night $atch $as a$a'e& -he interior of the
-manciator'# big gondola $as 9uiet under the drone of the engines3they $ere running on four,
to save fuel& %oft light blin'ed from the instruments for$ard and from bulbs overhead& For a
moment he simply stared at them, his mind $hirling bac' through the years to days $hen electric
bulbs $ere a commonplace, not a $onder& -hen he rubbed his face and ya$ned& 2oreen $as
sleep/rumpled too, but on her it loo'ed fairly good&
Chill air seeped through the permeable sides of the craft& 0e shivered a little, pulled a blan'et
around his shoulders, and accepted the cup of hot cocoa that his $ife put in his hand&
"5hat's going onB" he as'ed&
"@en's on the radio from :abylon," she said& "7t doesn't loo' good&"
"8h, Lord," he muttered& "7'm coming, 7'm coming&"
0e pulled on his clothing3$ool pants and sheeps'in 6ac'et and cap3then made his $ay up the
central corridor& 8utside, the moon $as shining on the pea's of the Anti/-aurus range, north of
$hat $ould have been the -ur'ish border in the t$entieth century& 0e stopped for a moment to
loo' and shiver& -he -manciator $as rising only gradually, threading her $ay bet$een the
mountains rather than soaring over them, and they $ere close enough to loo' 3ig& %no$
glistened salt/$hite on the higher pea's, and he could see a long streamer of it blo$ing off one
only a fe$ thousand yards to his left& :elo$ that $ere dense forests, deep blac'/on/blac' in the
moonlight&
.rrrr, he thought3it $as spring, but nobody had told that high mountain country belo$& &'ll 3e
glad *"en *e get into t"e lateau& 0e $ent on to the for$ard control area of the gondola& -he
same vie$ $as spread out on three sides there, but it loo'ed less intimidating $ith the ordered
activity of the flight cre$& Iic'i Cofflin and her second/in/command $ere bent over the
navigation table&
"5here are $eB" he as'ed&
"0i, Councilor," she said& "Right here3north of $hat $ould be 2iyarba'ir, heading north$est
to$ard 0attusas& 8n course& %hould get there about an hour before da$n, another three hours or
so&"
"8'ay, then," 7an said, feeling the last tendrils of sleep leaving him& "Let me at the radio and
$e'll find out $hat's gone $rong no$&"
0e sat in the chair ne;t to the communications officer and accepted the headset from her&
"Arnstein here," he said, conscious of a very slight grumpiness in his tone&
"Colonel 0ollard here," came the voice in his earphones& "7'm afraid $e have aD bit of a
situation&"
"5hat do you meanB" Arnstein snapped& 7t $asn't li'e @en to be slo$ coming to the point&
"5e've got a full/blo$n revolt here in :abylon&"
2amn& 0e $asn't altogether surprised, though& -hese people didn't believe in accidents& 7f
something $ent $rong, it $as gods or demons responsible, offended by some lapse of piety or
let in by the brea'ing of a taboo&
"-hat isn't the $orst of it, of course," 0ollard $ent on&
"5hat could be $orse than3$ait a minute, do 7 $ant you to tell meB"
"(o, but 7'm afraid you need to hear it&"
&ronic, @athryn 0ollard thought& -his $as the rooftop/cum/balcony $here she and @ash had met
the $ee' before& (o$ it $as their command post&
From here she could see the flame/shot dar'ness of :abylon the ,reat& -his northern district by
the river and the 7shtar ,ate $asn't too badE the Royal ,uard had it under firm control, and the
Marine battalions $ere marching in do$n the 1rocessional 5ay, along $ith the rest of her (e$
-roops& 4lse$here fires $ere burningE she could see one three/story building about a 9uarter of a
mile a$ay clearly, bac'lit by flames& Flames shot out of the slit $indo$s, and then the flat roof
collapsed, the heavy adobe tumbling do$n on anyone still left $ithin& Faint in the distance came
the surf/roar of the cro$ds, screams, the clash of metalD and no$ and then the faint popping
crac'le of firearms&
-he smell of it came too, carried on the cool night $ind, the ran' scent of things not meant to
burn& Fire $as a terror in these densely pac'ed cities $ithout running $ater& Let it get out of
hand, and a firestorm could consume everything $ithin the $alls&
@ing %huriash lay on a bed in one corner, his breath slo$ and heaving& Fustin Clemens rose and
tuc'ed a$ay his stethoscope& 1riests and a#"iu came closer to the bedside, their chants a soft,
$ailing falsetto under the distant mutter of conflict&
"2efinitely a stro'e," he said as he came over to the high commanders& "And a bad one& 7've
made him as comfortable as 7 can, but there's nothing 7 can do& 7t $ould be a mercy if he didn't
regain consciousnessE there's e;tensive brain damage, 7 suspect&"
1rince @ashtiliash's face $as li'e one of the carvings of protective genii outside the palace as he
$ent to bend over his father, but there $as gentleness in the touch of his hand on the gri..led
blac' hair&
"-he 'ing is fallen," he said grimly to the generals and courtiers gathered around him $hen he
returned& "7 rule in his place, until he a$a'ens3and if he does not, 7 am the 'ing& 2oes any
doubt itB"
A fe$ glanced at each other, but nobody spo'e& 7nstead, one by one, they $ent to their 'nees and
then to their belliesE there $as a rustle of stiff embroidered fabric, clin'ing from the officers in
their scale corselets& 8ne by one they muttered, "<a #anan, #a ma"ira la i#u< -he 'ing $ho has
no rival<"
5hen they rose, he nodded and $ent on, "5e must put do$n this rebellion, and $e must do it
s$iftly&"
"7ndeed, 8 1rince&" -hat $as @idin/(inurta, his diplomat face carefully blan'& "Cannot our
friends, our ne$ allies, assist in thisB"
@enneth 0ollard nodded& "5e $ill give $hat aid our ally re9uests&"
"7 $ill re9uest as little as 7 may," @ashtiliash said& @athryn caught the slight rela;ation from
several of the nobles and military men& "7 $ould not have it said that my reign rests on foreign
blades, no matter ho$ close and friendly the alliance& Aet to bring troops into this city is to ris'
their lives from the disease&"
%ervants came in carrying a large table, a map unrolled upon it& @ashtiliash grunted as he
recogni.ed the vie$, dra$n from above the city&
A general stepped for$ard& "-he $est ban' is mostly 9uiet& -he main trouble is in the older parts
of the city3here, here, here& Around the temples of 4nna and (ergal particularly&" 0e hesitated&
"%pea'& 7 do not blame the bearer for the ne$s," @ashtiliash said&
"Lord 1rince, $e have found many bodies dead of the ne$ plague as $e push for$ard in those
areas& -he menD they are brave men, Lord 1rince, in the face of spear and s$ord&"
":ut they fear the plague demons3as $ould any men $ith sense&"
0e $al'ed to the edge of the rooftop and rested his hands on the balcony& "Cordon off those
areas," he said& ":arricade the streetsE tear do$n buildings $here necessary, to create gaps&"
-here $ere substantial areas of :abylon $here you could go from roof to roof almost as easily as
$al'ing at ground level&
"+se the troops $ho have been through the inoculation& Let no one into these areas& 5omen,
children, and men surrendering may come out3provided they submit to the inoculation
themselves& %end them then to the quarantine cam#& %hout these terms over the barricades&"
0e used a good many 4nglish terms in those sentences, but they $ere ones most people in the
palace had pic'ed up perforce over the last $ee'&
"And there shall be no more foolishness in the rest of the city& All the troops shall be inoculated,
one company at a time& 5hile they $ait, the others shall cordon off the city #o@3his finger
slashed across the map, dividing the mass of :abylon into segments&
"5e shall ta'e one area at a time, and in that area the soldiers shall go from house to house& Any
sic' shall be sent at once to the "o#ital& All others shall be inoculatedD that $ord is too
cumbersome& 5e shall call it the 'scratch of safeguard&' Aes& All shall receive the scratch of
safety and be isolated after& %o the -hrone commands<"
"5e obey," the nobles and high priests of the temples not in rebellion murmured& "<a #anan, #a
ma"ira la i#u<"
@enneth 0ollard dre$ himself to attention and snapped a salute& @athryn did li'e$ise, and from
@ashtiliash's nod, from something about his eyes, she thought he sensed the difference in the
gesture&
"Lord 1rince," the elder 0ollard said& "-he troops you have to cordon off the rebel areas are very
fe$ and $ill remain so until more are inoculatedD have received the scratch of safeguarding&"
@ashtiliash nodded& "-hat, my ally, is $here you and your men3 your troops3shall assist&" 0e
paused& "And if you $ould, your boats of steam could also be of help& 5e $ill need the
blac'$ater, a great deal of it&"
Colonel 0ollard inclined his head& "8f course, Lord 1rinceD but $hyB"
@asthiliash turned to Lieutenant Clemens& "Aou say that the bodies of the dead are dangerousB"
"Iery, Lord 1rince&"
"-hen $e $ill need the blac'$ater oil for funeral pyres& A great many&"
7an Arnstein $histled as the Marine commander finished& "5ell, you're right, 7 did need to hear
that," he said&
"Aour orders, sirB" 0ollard said&
"8rdersB"
"2o you $ant the -manciator to turn bac'B 8ur base here is inD $ell, considerable danger&"
"2o you need the airship to control :abylonB"
"AhD no, sir& :ombing from the air is sort of a blunt instrument for cro$d control&"
"-hen $e'll continue to 0attusas&"
"%irD the plan $as to have a secure base in :abylonia and overland supply lines& As it is, 7 have
to divert virtually all our forces to helping 1rince @ashtiliash reestablish order here&"
"Colonel 0ollard, 5al'er isn't going to $ait, so $e'll 6ust have to do the best $e can $ith $hat
$e have& 7'll lay the ground$or' $ith the 0ittites, and you $or' on getting things bac' on trac'
do$n south there&"
A pause& "Aes, sir, Councilor&"
Arnstein nodded, then cleared his throat as he remembered that the other man couldn't see him&
"Loo's li'e 1rince @ashtiliash is ta'ing charge decisively&"
"2amn right, Councilor& 7 'ne$ he $as capable, but this is the first time $e've seen him out of
his father's shado$D and to tell you the truth, he's starting to loo' better as a possible brother/in/
la$&"
",od forfend, @en& -he Meeting's sort of sensitive about citi.ens of the Republic as monarchs
abroad, you 'no$&"
"7 do 'no$, oh, yes, indeed& 7'd better let you get some sleep, then& 7've got a busy night ahead of
me&"
"-a'e careE 7 can't spare you&"
"-hat's mutual, Councilor& ,ood night to you and 2oreen, then&"
Arnstein clic'ed off and removed the headset, ya$ning again& "(ot really much point in going
bac' to sleep," he said& 0is mouth 9uir'ed as he loo'ed at his $ife& "%orry, darling& Loo's li'e
7've gotten us out onto the end of a long limb, here&"
"2o you thin' @en $as serious about the prince and his sisterB"
"7 have a horrible suspicion he $as& After all, @ashtiliash is going to be )ing, no$&"
",reat @ing, @ing of %umer and A''ad, @ing of the Four Corners of the 5orld, @ing 5ho 2oes
As 0e 2amned 5ell 1leases&"
"+nless he 18's so many important people that they 'ill him," 7an agreed& ":ut he's already
getting the rebellion, and $e're helping him put it do$n& %o he's going to be in a very strong
position indeed&"
",evalt&"
"-ruer $ords $ere never spo'en," 7an said& "8'ay, $e might as $ell go over this speech in
0ittite& -han' ,od they've got a lot of A''adian/spea'ing scribes up there<"
"%trange to see him so helpless," @ashtiliash murmured, so softly that only the $oman by his
side could hear him& "0e al$ays seemed a to$er, or a mountain himself, eternal and strong3a
$all of safety for me&"
@athryn nodded& "1erhaps you should stay here," she said& "Aou could be close by if he a$a'ens
and still direct the operations3 messengers $ill find you more easily than if you're moving
about&"
"(o, @at'ryn, 7 must sho$ myself to the troops& -hey are sha'en3 the arro$s of the plague gods
frighten them as the chariots and spearmen of Assyria did not&"
"Aou're concerned $ith their loyaltyB" she said, alarmed&
"(ot the troops $ho fought under me in the north, no," he said, sha'ing his head& "-he city
militia, yesE and if this trouble lasts, perhaps some nobles and their follo$ers& 7 am guarding my
younger half brothers most carefully, lest one be spirited a$ay to use as a rallying point for
rebels& :ut the men 7 lead to Asshur's $alls are $ith meE and they $ill stand by you (antu'htar
too3they remember ho$ many of their lives you saved, $ith your guns and $ith your a#u
Clemens' arts& 7t is their fear 7 must put do$n, not rebellion&"
%he nodded reluctantly& "And 7'll have to lead the first @ar/2uniash," she said& "-hey're not
trained for street fighting and they're not used to operating as a unit, yetD" %he hesitated& "7t
doesn't hurt you $ith your men, that you and 7 areD togetherB"
0e grinned $ider& "(o, never& -hey say that @ashtiliash is the very :ull of Mardu'E not only
does he slay the lioness of the marshes $ith his spear of bron.e, he brings the lioness $ho came
from the sea to his bed $ith the spear of his manhood<"
@athryn snorted& T"at is t"e *a, t"e #e7i#t 3a#tard# *ould loo) at it, she thought&
"Let's get to $or', then," she said bris'ly&
"Aes," he said& 0is voice turned gentle for a moment& ",ood/bye, Father&"
"-hey come<" the royal officer said, clutching at his upper arm $here an arro$ had gone through
6ust belo$ the short sleeve of his scale/mail shirt& "5e could not hold them3too many& 1eople
of the city and temple guardsmen&"
4ven in the dar' 0ollard could see that there $ere fe$er than the hundred/odd follo$ers that the
:abylonian should have had& %ome $ere limping, some bleeding, and a number had their arms
over the shoulders of comrades $ho bore their $eight& -heir $hee.ing breath $as loud in the
shuttered 9uiet of the street, but he could hear the snarling brabble of voices not far off and the
thudding sound of feet&
"Fall in behind us, then," he said& "8ur healers $ill see to your $ounded& 0old yourself ready if 7
have need of you&"
-he :abylonian nodded, panting still, and staggered off for the rear&
-his $as one of the $ider streets in this section of to$n3all of t$enty feet across, $ith t$o/ and
three/story adobe buildings rearing up on either side& 7t stan', li'e a blac' open/topped se$er&
-here $as no light but the crescent moonE he could hear a Fiernan/born Marine muttering an
invocation&
"8'Rour'e<" he said&
"%irB" the company commander said&
"-a'e parties"3he tapped the first t$o fingers of each hand to either side3"evacuate those
buildings, then blo$ them& 1ut the charges on interior $alls so they'll fall in&"
8'Rour'e loo'ed up thoughtfully& "7 thin' 7 should put some snipers on the roofs further bac' as
$ell, Colonel, sir," he said& "7f 7 $as a hell/born rioter $ith sedition and mischief on my mind,
7'd have people on these roofs on either side $hen 7 tried to storm a barricade, so 7 $ould&"
"2o it&"
8'Rour'e nodded, snapping off a salute and grinning $hitely in the shado$s, then $al'ed off
shouting orders& Marines raced bac' to the supply $agon and came out of it carrying small,
heavy barrels, $ith lengths of fuse cord over their shoulders& More hammered in the doors, and
the householders poured into the street, cursing or crying or clutching children and some
snatched/up treasured possession& 0ollard $inced slightly3these people $ere about to lose
everything they o$ned3but needs must $hen the devil drove, as the commodore said&
8'Rour'e came dashing out, laughing again& -here $as a multiple massive :+2+M1F from
both sides of the street, and the buildings collapsed in$ard $ith a long rumble that shoo' the
ground&
"1ut up those snipersD $ait&" 0ollard stopped, thought, loo'ing over the gap the e;plosions had
created& -oo far to thro$, butD "5e've got some of the ne$ rifle grenades, don't $eB"
"-hat $e do," 8'Rour'e said and grinned $ider& "%plendid thought, Colonel, sir& -$o s9uadsB"
"2o it& Let's get moving here< Lieutenant Mlec'.o, get us some light&"
And & "oe to 8od t"e ot"er coman, commander# are doing t"e rig"t t"ing.
0e loo'ed over his position& -he infantry $ere deployed in front of him, shoulder to shoulder
across the road$ay in three ro$s& -hey $ere buc'ling bac' the flaps of their bandoliers, some
lic'ing a thumb and $etting the foresights of their rifles& 8thers under Mlec'.o's direction $ere
hammering the handles of torches3bundles of oil/soa'ed reeds $rapped around stic's3into
$alls and setting them alight& A ruddy glo$ spread over the road$ay, catching on the cold glitter
of fi;ed bayonets and the yello$ brass of cartridges&
"Colonel, sir, aren't $e supposed to get a ,atlingB" 8'Rour'e said, coming up beside him and
dusting off his tunic&
"Aes, $e $ere," 0ollard said&
",ood," 8'Rour'e said& "-he more one/sided, the better&"
"7'm not loo'ing for$ard to firing on these people," 0ollard said softlyE there $ere things you
didn't say in front of the troops& "5e're supposed to be here to help them, as $ell as the
Republic&"
8'Rour'e loo'ed at him $ith surprise in his eyes& "5ell, $e are helping them, sir," he said, his
voice e9ually lo$& "5e finished off the Assyrians for them, $e're doing our best to stop this
epidemic, and the fools $ould be fighting us&"
"-hey're scared, 1addy," 0ollard said& "%cared people don't thin' very straight& (o$ the
smallpo; has hit them, and some of the priests told them $e $ere to blame& 5hy shouldn't they
believe itB -hey've seen us fly and thro$ thunderbolts, $hy shouldn't they believe $e can cause
a pestilenceB"
8'Rour'e put a hand on his shoulder& "%irD @enD if you're going to be in this line of $or', it's
best not to thin' about some things too much& 5e can handle it here&"
"-han's, but if 7 can order it, 7 can $atch it," 0ollard said 9uietly& "Carry on&"
0ooves rattled behind them& 0ollard turned 9uic'ly, but it $as the ,atling coming up, $ith an
outrider in front of it& 0e let out a sigh of reliefE it $as e;tremely unli'ely that any mob could
storm this position, but the ,atling made it a lot less li'ely still&
-he si;/barreled $eapon $as mounted behind a sheet/steel shield, dra$n by a t$o/horse team,
$ith another dra$ing an ammunition limber behind it& 4ach team $as guided by a Marine riding
the left horse, and the mounted cre$s trotted behind& 0e recogni.ed %ergeant %mith, transferred
from mortars to the ne$ly arrived $eapons, and she grinned at him as she s$ung do$n from the
saddle and saluted&
"%orry $e're late, sir," she said& "0ad a little brush $ith some rioters $ho got through&"
"Iery $ell," he said& ",et set up3$e left a gap in the middle of the line for you&"
"%ir, yessir&"
-he noncom bar'ed orders of her o$n, and the cre$s unhitched the teams, then ran the $eapon
for$ard, hands pushing on the $heels&
"Feed me<" %mith snapped, $hen the iron/and/brass machine $as level $ith the front line of
prone infantry& %he sat on the little bi'e/saddle mounted on the trail and traversed the $eapon
e;perimentally&
-he cre$ lifted one of the drum/shaped maga.ines and fitted it into the loading slot on top of the
,atling's breech& %mith s$ung the cran' at the side bac' a half turn and then for$ardE there $as
a clun'/clan)< sound, and the barrels turned t$o spaces&
"Ready, sir<"
0ollard nodded& -he mob sound $as much closer no$E they'd stopped $hen they heard the
blasting charges bring do$n the houses, but they $ere coming on again& ;un a*a,, ,ou idiot#<
he pleaded $ithin himself& -hen his eyes panned across a slight figure helping run the limber
for$ard& 8ddly, there $ere no mar'ings on the plain uniform, and the Marine $as $earing a hat
rather than a helmet& AndD $as that a dog $ith herB
"Can't be<" he muttered and stepped closer& "Fesus Christ3 Raupasha< 5hat the "ell are you
doing hereB"
%he loo'ed up at him, pushing up the brim of the campaign hat&
"7 am starting payment on a debt, Lord @enn 'et," she said, meeting his eyes $ithout $avering&
"And you cannot send me bac' to the palace, because that $ould be more dangerous than staying
here<"
0ollard opened his mouth& A voice rang out> "0eads up< 0ere they come<"
"2id you have to bring the dog<" he heard himself say, and a part of him marveled at the banal
absurdity&
Raupasha smiled& "7 had to& 0e 'ept bar'ingE someone $ould have heard&"
"5ell, stay out of the bloody $ay, then," 0ollard snarled, turning bac' to his $or', surprised at
the furious heat of his o$n anger&
Figures $ere moving do$n the road, shado$s in the dar'ness& 0e raised his eyes and brought up
his binoculars& A,u& Figures flitting from rooftop to rooftop as $ellE it $as as if there $ere t$o
sets of streets, one on the ground and one at roof level&
& *onder "o* t"e, control 3urglar, "ere, he thought, and $ent on in a calm, carrying voice>
"%econd and -hird 1latoons $ill fire and reload& Iolley fire on the $ord of command only&
%ergeant %mith, you $ill fire three three/second bursts at the command for volley fire&
+nderstoodB"
"%ir, yessir<"
A 'not gripped the pit of his stomach as he sa$ the cro$d milling, thic'ening as more and more
pushed up, the sound of their voices gro$ing& 0e could hear men shouting, probably haranguing
the others and $hipping them up to attac'&
"Christ, 7 hate this," he muttered, then laughed harshly& 8'Rour'e made an interrogative sound,
and 0ollard $ent on, "7 $as 6ust thin'ing ho$ much 7 hate shooting people $ho can't shoot bac'
3but $hen $e finally get at 5al'er, 7'm going to hate it even more, because his goons *ill be
able to shoot bac'&"
A long, baying snarl, and the mob $as running at him, filling the street& -here $as a slight 9uiver
along the line of bayonets ahead of him3pic'ing targets& 8'Rour'e loo'ed at him, and 0ollard
nodded&
-he company commander filled his lungs& "!ire0 @
.AAAMMM0
-he rifles fired a lacing of red needles into the gloom& ;un a*a,, 0ollard pled silently& (lea#e,
run a*a,. 2on't ma)e u# do t"i#&
-he ,atling opened up, the operator turning the cran' three timesE 3raaaaaaa, li'e a giant
tearing canvas bet$een his hands, and a stream of brass cartridges poured out of the bottom of
the $eapon& .raaaaaaa. .raaaaaaa&
9e#u#, &'m glad it'# dar).
-hen there $as a long *"""tt from one of the buildings ahead, and an arro$ $ent by him, more
sensed than seen in the flic'ering light of the torches& A Marine stumbled bac' from the firing
line, fumbling at the shaft stuc' in his hip, moaning& More arro$s flitted past, a fe$ hitting the
timber of door frames and 9uivering li'e angry bees&
"Corpsman< Corpsman<"
%tretcher bearers trotted for$ard& As they did, the s9uads stationed on the rooftops opened up& A
distinctive muffled 3ada$$ mar'ed the rifle grenades, and then vicious red crac'ing sounds as
they burst on the rooftops& %omething caught fire from one, and then mu..le flashes stabbed out
at the figures outlined against the flames, slo$, deliberate, aimed fire&
(ot all of them $ere deadE something arched do$n from a rooftop, trailing red spar's, and burst
in a puddle of flames on the road$ay& -he fire $as slo$ and red/sullen, not the 9uic' rush of
'erosene3 sesame oil& 7t still burned, and a Marine's uniform started to burn, until comrades
rolled him and beat out the flames& Another call for corpsmen $ent up, and @enneth 0ollard
ground his teeth in rage&
"%mith< Ra'e that side of the street<" 0ollard snapped& "8'Rour'e, 'eep an eye on the mob&"
-he cro$d had stopped as the torrent of lead plo$ed into itE scores $ere do$n, dead or
screaming or moaning and t$itching& -he rest $avered and eddied& -he ,atling cre$ ran their
$eapon bac' out of the infantry formation and $heeled it around to the left, the noncom in
charge spinning the elevation $heel& -hen the harsh tearing sound of the machine gun began
again, long bursts this time as she $or'ed the cran'& -he stream of bullets $or'ed do$n the
length of the rooftops on that side of the street, tearing through the soft adobe bric's and sending
spatters of it bac' do$n into the road$ay& More than a fe$ bodies follo$ed, tumbling do$n to
thump into the pac'ed clay&
And at last they *ere running, bac' the $ay they had come3 e;cept for the piled dead and
$ounded&
"Captain 8'Rour'e, $e'll move for$ard no$," he said& "Let's get them pinned bac' in the
9uarantine area&"
+"ere t"e,'ll all die unle## t"e, come out and accet inoculation, he thought, then pushed the
'no$ledge a$ay&
"7 thin' $e should have parties moving for$ard on the roofs to either side, sir," 8'Rour'e said&
"%ee to it, 1addy& 0ave a couple of $or'ing parties bring out some ladders, too&"
:abylonians 'ept those for accessing their roofs, ta'ing them do$n at night $hen they $eren't
sleeping on their roofs to escape the heat&
"Aes, sir& ,ood idea&"
-he Marines moved for$ard in a line of bayonets, the ,atling cre$ dragging the bodies aside so
their $eapon could pass&
0ollard pic'ed his $ay through the bodies& & #"ould get #ome o$ /a#"'# eole "ere to ic) u
t"e *ounded rioter#? 1o* long to get t"e #ituation "ere under controlB %oule o$ *ee)#, i$
/a#"tilia#" doe# t"e rig"t t"ing#. T"en3
A rifle fired not ten feet behind him& 0e spun, to see a :abylonian falling bac' onto the pile of
dead $here he'd lain concealed& -$o more $ere up and charging, bron.e 'nives in their hands,
faces contorted and screaming& And they $ere clo#e& 0ollard cla$ed at his holster, the 1ython
coming free $ith glacial slo$ness& An attac'er's head e;ploded, close enough to spatter across
his arm and torso& 0e shot the third at point/blan' range, the mu..le blast of three 9uic' shots
burning the $ool of the man's tunic, his body 6er'ing under the impacts&
Raupasha $as standing, lo$ering the 5erder from her shoulder& 4ven in the dar'ness, he could
see the smo'e rising from the mu..le& 0er dog crouched at her feet, gro$ling&
"AhD it seems you've paid off your debt, 1rincess," he said slo$ly, $aving a$ay the concerned
faces that turned to$ard him&
"(o," Raupasha said, her face pale and eyes $ide& "7've 6ust begun&"
"5ell, no$ that $e're here, $e have a slight problem3ho$ do $e 'eep the locals from spearing
us or running a$ay before $e can tal'B" 2oreen Arnstein said& "%ort of hard to get them into the
Anti/5al'er League if they stic' sharp pointies into us first&"
-he Anatolian plateau lay t$o thousand feet belo$ them, da$n's long shado$s stretching across
it, stretches of green cropland and dun pasture amid a roc'y, rolling landscape $ith high forested
mountains to the north& 7t $as blea' enough, but less so than the arid barrens 7an remembered
from visits to -ur'ey in the t$entiethE the ra$ bones of the earth less e;posed by millennia of
plo$s and a;es and hungry goats&
7an shrugged against his heavy sheeps'in 6ac'et& "7'm thin'ing, 7'm thin'ing," he said&
-he city of 0attusas, capital of the 0ittite 4mpire, lay belo$& 7t $as smaller than :abylon3he
estimated its total area at around four hundred acres3and it lac'ed the gargantuan .iggurats that
mar'ed the cities of the Land :et$een the Rivers& Aet it had a brooding ma6esty of its o$n,
surrounded by cyclopean $alls of huge irregular bloc's in the shape of a rough figure eight& 8n a
roc'y height at the eastern edge of the city $as a great comple; of palaces, some $ith
ornamental gardens on the flat roofs and trees planted about them& 4lse$here $ere t$isted
streets of buildingsE castleli'e fortresses and temples, scores of them& -he smo'e of sacrifice rose
up from them, and cro$ds $ere pac'ed densely into the sacred precincts&
0e suspected that they $ere pac'ed every$here in the city that had any associations of
sacredness, $ith the -manciator cruising overhead& -hey'd opened some of the slanting
$indo$s, and he could hear the turmoil as $ell as see it& -he gates $ere open, and people on
foot $ere streaming out of the city, follo$ed by laden $agons and preceded by a fe$ chariots
$hose o$ners lashed their teams to rec'less speed&
"5e don't have time to be subtle," he said& "5hat $e've got to do is put a messenger in, someone
they'll listen to, and then open negotiations&"
4veryone on board turned to loo' at the :abylonian emissary, 7bi/Addad, $ho turned gray and
began to raise protesting hands&
-here $as panic in the streets of 0attusas& -udhaliyas, ,reat @ing of 0atti, Living %un, stood on
the battlements of his palace and listened to the screams and cries belo$& %$eat ran do$n his
o$n long, s$arthy face, running into his trimmed beard&
-here $as reason enough for fearE years of evil ne$s, as if the gods had deserted the land of
0atti& -hree years ago he'd suffered his great defeat at the hands of -u'ulti/(inurta of Assyria&
5ell before that, rumors of blac' sorcery and menace came from beyond the 5estern 8cean,
among the Ahhiya$a& -hen the rebellion of @urunta, possibly in league $ith themE 6ust a $ee'
before rumors had come of ho$ an army sent to bring him to obedience had been annihilated by
evil magic3and on its heels, ne$s of a barbarian invasion in the north$est& :ut that $as nothing
beside this& -he t"ing floated over the city of the 'ing li'e some great fish of the air, needing not
even $ings to hold it up, though it $as as long as a temple s9uare3five hundred paces, at least&
-he rising sun shone on its gray covering, on the blood/red slash across it, on cryptic symbols
that seemed to breath menace& A sound drifted do$n from it, a great bu..ing as of a monstrous
bee&
"7t is coming this $ay, My %un," one of the courtiers said& "1erhaps you shouldD"
"Flee in terrorB" -udhaliyas said ironically&
0e $as a man of middle years, dressed no$ in garb for hunting or $ar3'nee/length tunic
covered by a cloa' thro$n over one shoulder, tall pointed hat, curl/toed boots, $ool leggings,
$ith a s$ord at his belt and the mace of sovereignty in his hands& 0is hair $as long and blac',
his s9uare, hard face shaven close and much tanned and $eathered&
"7f this is evil spirits, then -eshub and the %un ,oddess Arinna and 0ebat and the other gods and
goddesses of the land $ill protect us," the 'ing said&
"+nless our sin is too heavy, unless $e have incurred pollution," someone $himpered&
"7f our sin is heavy, if $e have incurred pollution, then running $ill not help us," he said& "7f this
is a miracle of the gods, running may bring their anger& %tand fast<"
Most did, his guards among them, even $hen the t"ing came closer and closer still amid a great
hissing and bu..ing& 0is s$eat turned cold as the monster shape cut off the sun, and his eyes
blurred $ith fear& -hen they sharpened& 5ere those the shapes of men behind $indo$s li'e those
of a houseB 0e'd assumed that $hatever it $as, it $as alive3did anything else besides living
things move $ith intelligent direction, of its o$n accordB
5e#, he thought& A #"i, a cart, a c"ariot3all t"e#e move. .utD
A voice bello$ed out, ma'ing him ta'e a step bac'$ard&
"$e come in peace< have no fear< $e come in peace<"
"-he gods have condemned us<" someone screamed, groveling and beating his head on the
flagstones& -he bron.e/scale armor of the $arriors rattled, eyes rolled, tongues moistened lips&
-udhaliyas raised his voice in cold command>
"-he gods do not spea' our (esite tongue $ith a :abylonian accent," the 'ing said& "7 am the
8ne %un, and 7 $ill ans$er&"
0e stepped for$ard, parting the ran's of his guards until he stood alone in an open stretch of
rooftopE that $ould have been impossible, $ere they not so sha'en& -here he had to grab at his
hatE a great $ind $as coming do$n$ard from the t"ing, as if a mighty storm ble$& Closer, he
could see that belo$ the slee' gray shape $as another, this shaped li'e a boat $ith $indo$s cut
into its hullD and it $as made of $ic'er& -hat reassured him, despite the alienness of every
detail&
0e cupped his hands and shouted up$ard> "7f you come in peace, from $hom do you comeB" 0e
spo'e A''adian, $hich all educated men learned&
"$e send an emissary< greet him in peace, according to the la$s of gods and men<"
Another door opened in the boatli'e structure, this one in the bottom, and he could see the shapes
of men there& %uddenly the t"ing snapped into perspective& A man came out of the hole, dangling
in a canvas chair at the end of a ropeE another rope uncoiled beneath it, stri'ing the pavement
near the 'ing&
"1lease ta'e the rope and steady it<"
-he bello$ing made it hard to distinguish voices, but if that $as a man's voice, it $as another
man than the first& And it spo'e A''adian& 0e loo'ed behind him and signaled t$o guardsmen
for$ard& -hey laid do$n their spears and shields gingerly and came for$ard to ta'e the rope& 7t
$as perfectly ordinary cord, thumb/thic', $oven of fiberE perhaps that reassured them& -hey
grasped it firmly and pulled in lengths hand over hand as the man in the canvas seat $as lo$ered
do$n&
A", thought -udhaliyas da.edly& T"at i# to revent "im #*a,ing 3ac) and $ort" li)e a lum3 3o3&
-he canvas seat came $ithin a fe$ feet of the rooftop, and -udhaliyas sa$ a man li'e other men
3he felt disconcerted and obscurely angry, a part of his fear flo$ing a$ay& -he man hopped out,
and the t$o guardsmen released the rope $ith a yell as it burned through their fingers& Loo'ing
up, the 'ing sa$ that the t"ing had bounced up$ard a little, bobbing in the air li'e a feather&
-he man $as of medium height, dressed in a ceremonial robe and hat of the type men $ore in
@ar/2uniash or Assyria& 0is accent $as of :abylon, though, as he advanced t$o steps and $ent
do$n in a smooth prostration&
"8 @ing, My %un, live forever<" he cried&
-udhaliyas' eyebro$s shot up of their o$n accord& -hat $as the accent of the ,od/voice that had
bello$ed do$n over the city&
"5ho are youB" he blurted& "Aou may rise," he added automatically&
"8 ,reat @ing, your slave is 7bi/Addad, son of La'ti/Mardu', a servant of your brother ,reat
@ing @ashtiliash of @ar/2uniash, @ing of %umer and A''ad, @ing of the +niverse, to $hom
there is no rival&"
T"i# i# madne##, thought -udhaliyas& (othing soD so real could have come out of that t"ing&
AndD
"@ing @ashtiliashB" he blurted& "5hat of his father, %hagara'ti/%huriashB"
"Alas, 8 @ing, the father of @ing @ashtiliash has been gathered to his fathers&"
-he sun fell across their faces& -he t"ing $as soaring up$ard once again, turning and droning
a$ay to the south& -udhaliyas felt some self/possession return as it departed&
"Aou $ill e;plain this to me, servant of the 'ing my brother," be said sharply&
7bi/Addad sighed& "8 @ing, may the gods ma'e your days many, t"at is going to be a difficult
tas'&"
-he cannon still ree'ed a little of sulfur and death& @athryn 0ollard stood by it $ith one hand on
a barrel, the metal still $arm from discharge, $atching as the long line of captives shuffled out
of the area beyond the barricade& %he felt sandy/eyed and e;hausted after the night's fighting, but
still far too 'eyed up to thin' of food or sleep& Columns of smo'e still rose, but they $ere under
control no$, and none $ere too near& -he ree' of burning lay across the city, mingling $ith the
usual stench&
%he did ta'e a s$ig from her canteen and handed it to 1rinceD
6o, she thought& 1e'# t"e )ing no*&
D @ing @ashtiliash $here he stood at her side& A fe$ of his entourage $ere shoc'ed at the
informalityE she could hear them gasp&
%he $ould have laughed, if it hadn't been for the endless chain of civilians shuffling for$ard to
surrender& 4ach one passed through a corridor of spearmen, stopping at the end to bare an arm
for the inoculation3this station $as manned by one of Clemens's retrained dancing girls3many
moaning or sobbing as they did so, still convinced that it $as a device of demons& 8thers came
from the riot/torn districts on stretchers, the po; pustules clear on their faces&
@athryn s$allo$ed slightlyE she'd gotten used to the butcher/shop horrors of the battlefield,
some$hat, but this $as something completely different&
@ashtiliash caught her loo' and $al'ed a little aside, signaling her to follo$ $ith a slight
movement of his head&
"Aou did very good $or' last night," he said& "7f 7 had had to use only my o$n forces, many
more $ould have died&"
%he shrugged, $ith a $eary smile& "-he First @ar/2uniash is your o$n, Lord @ing," she said&
"-hey are as you made them, and they did $ell," @ashtiliash said, sighing and rubbing his
fingers across his bro$& "5ould that this had not been necessary&"
"Amen," she said&
"7t is strange," he said meditatively& "7f 7 thought of it at all, before you3your people3came to
the Land, 7 thought of @ar/2uniash as the center of the $orld&"
"4veryone does that," @athryn 0ollard said&
@ashtiliash shoo' his head& "(o, but $e had reason& (o realm $e 'ne$ $as more ancient than
the land of %umer and A''ad, or richer, or more learned, or more s'illed in all the arts and
'no$ledge& 8h, perhaps 4gypt, yesD Mitanni $as a thing of a day, the 0ittites rude hillmen
$ho learned from us, the Assyrians our onetime vassals& 8f the $orld $e 'ne$, $e $ere the
center&"
0e sighed& "And no$ 7 must see us as you (antu'htar see us3 poor, ignorant, dirty, diseased& 7
have more of the 4nglish than you might thin', and 7 have heard your brother and the a#u
@lemn's spea', and heard reports of $hat your soldiers and $isemen say& <ocal#, is that not the
$ordB As $e might term a hill/tribe, or a band of the truffle/eating Aramaeans&"
"Lord 1rinceD @ashD"
"(o, my @at 'ryn, 7 do not say ,ou regard me so3although they say that 7shtar gives blindness
along $ith love& :ut it is not only that you (antu'htar thin' of us so, but that it i# so, $hich
'ar's me& 7 have listenedE your physicians can cure so many illnesses that $e sufferE in your land
no man goes hungry, and even peasants live li'e noblesE you have arts that ma'e ours loo' li'e
some child's fumbling, $hen he pinches out a little clay o; from the dirt of the fieldsE and you
command a po$er that can 'ic' apart our proudest cities li'e a hut of reeds&"
"@ashD $e 6ust have a longer history& 7f $e see further, it's because $e stand on the shoulders
of giants3your peoples' not least among them&"
-he :abylonian $as silent for a long moment, then he nodded& "7 have thought this alsoE it 'eeps
my heart from bitterness&"
"And $e gro$ and beget and suffer and die too," she said&
"-hat also&" 0is hand clenched on the hilt of his s$ord& "7 s$ear by my father, and by the gods of
the land, that 7 $ill not leave my 'ingdom and people poor and ignorant and po$erless, not $hile
there is strength in my hands&"
@athryn 0ollard felt a sudden cold chill& 7t $as only a little $ay from that oath to resentful
hatred for the Republic and all its $or'sD
"7'll help," she heard herself say& "All that 7 can&"
0e smiled& "-hat is very good& And no$ that 7 am 'ingD many things may be arranged more as
$e desire them&"
C#ATE! TWENTY)$&'E
May+August, Year ,- A.E.
"Aes, sir& 5e're ready to move out from the bridgeheads on the upper 4uphrates& 8nce
0angalibat is secured3it's still pretty chaotic up here, Chief3$e can get in direct contact $ith
the 0ittites& From $hat Councilor Arnstein's saying, things are going pretty $ell there&"
"-here's nothing li'e having your bac' to the $all to ma'e people reasonable, and they $ere
pretty impressed $ith the -manciator& 1ropaganda value alone is going to ma'e that a cost/
effective pro6ectD no$ spit it out&"
"%irB"
"5hatever it is that you're reluctant to tal' about, Colonel 0ollard& 8h, by the $ay, for the
duration of this $ar, you're a brigadier general&"
Fared Cofflin lo$ered the microphone of the short$ave set& 7t $as a pleasant late/spring day on
(antuc'et, not long before 2affodil 5ee'end& From the second/story radio room he could see
some, nodding in yello$ glory li'e a promise of peace&
.ut t"ere i# no eace, he thought to himself&
Martha loo'ed up from her 'nitting& "7 suspect it's about @ing @ashtiliash," she said&
"AhD" 0ollard's voice came through again& "7t's @ing @ashtiliash, sir& 0e $ants to marry my
sis/, ah, Lieutenant Colonel 0ollard&"
4", Fared Cofflin thought& 4", #"it&
"-here's no la$ against marrying nonciti.ens, dear," Martha pointed out& "7n fact, it generally
confers automatic resident alien status on the spouse3and there are hundreds of cases&"
"Aes, but usually the spouse moves "ere& And @ashtiliash is a head of state&"
"%$indapa is aD $ell, a @urlelo ,randmother&"
"-hat's different& And there's a la$ against citi.ens sei.ing po$er or aiding foreign
governments&"
"Aes, but @athryn 0ollard isn't proposing to do either& -he legitimate government of an ally is
proposing to give her a position, and she's not proposing to use it in a $ay contrary to the
interests of the Republic&"
"Aou caught that, :rigadierB"
"Aessir& All right, 7've got the te;t of a goddam proposed marriage contract the t$o of them dre$
up& Aou $ant me to read itB"
",o ahead," Cofflin said& After he'd listened, he $histled softly& "5ell, 7'm surprised he agreed
to all that&"
-here $as a slight smile in @enneth 0ollard's voice& "0e's got it bad, sir& And it's mostly to his
advantage, too3this bit about a (antuc'et tutor for any 'ids they have, and sending them to the
7sland for schooling as $ell& -hat's not unusual here3fostering, that is&"
"Marian," Cofflin said, "you've been listeningB"
"Mmmm/hmmm," another voice said& "Aou getting this, 0ollardB"
"Aes, ma'am& A bit scratchy but clear&"
%$indapa's voice came in> "7 thin' it's s$eet&"
0ollard chuc'led& "Lieutenant Commander, 7 don't thin' eit"er of the people concerned is $hat
you could call 's$eet&' "
"7anB" Cofflin said& "Aou're not saying anythingB"
"7 $asn't surprised, and the rest of you are 6ust tal'ing yourselves around to accepting it,"
Arnstein replied, infuriatingly reasonable& "Could $e do that, and get on to things that still aren't
settledB -udhaliyas is dithering, and this barbarian invasion is loo'ing more and more serious&"
"And 7'm 6ust about ready to go," Marian Alston cut in& "7f $hat 7'm planning comes off, the
e9uations in the Middle 4ast all change, too&"
Fared Cofflin sighed& & *onder "o* eole li)e %"urc"ill and !2; )et all t"eir 3all# in t"e air
at t"e #ame time&
"Ala'sandrus of 5iulusiya is the 'ey," -udhaliyas said&
7an Arnstein nodded, shivering slightly& 0is scholar's ear loo'ed past the Anatolian
pronunciations and supplied 0ellenic alternatives3 or Achaean, the archaic Mycenaean ,ree'
he'd learned after the 4vent& Ale7andro# o$ Vilio#. <ater ,ree' $ould drop the I sound
altogetherE it $ould be 7lios3-roy, as it $as also 'no$n& 7n9uiring, he'd learned that the
'ingdom in 9uestion $as on the north$estern coast, 6ust south of the 2ardanelles& -he people
$ere closely related to the A""i,a*aA and yes, that $as a po$erful 'ingdom $est across the
Aegean&
2oreen leaned over and $hispered in his ear, "-his is getting too creepy for $ords&"
7an nodded& %o far the 0ittites had been vastly impressed3e;cept for @ing -udhaliyas, $ho 7an
thought $asn't impressed by much of anything& 0e'd supplied mooring for the -manciator,
comfortable 9uarters, lavish giftsD and an endless tale of $oe& -udhaliyas had brains and guts,
but he $as a complainer& 7n fact, it $ould be fair to say he $hined&
Still, & get to #ee t"e caital o$ t"e 1ittite )ing#, he thought& -he great stone $alls, the pointed/
arch gates $ith monoliths of fro$ning gods carved beside themD And t"en & get #uc)ed into t"e
Trojan +ar, or a rea#ona3le $ac#imile t"ereo$&
"Ala'sandrus is your vassal, isn't heB"
"0e is supposed to be," the 'ing nodded&
-hey $ere sitting in an audience room flooded $ith lightE unli'e :abylonian architecture, 0ittite
ran to big s9uare e;ternal $indo$s, although they didn't have $indo$/glass, of course& (or did
they have chairs, e;cept for royalty&
+",, 4 <ord, do #o man, countrie# 3ac) "ere "ave t"i# ridiculou# rule B T"e, )no* ho$ to
ma)e c"air#, and c"air# aren't articularl, difficult to ma)e, #o *", don't t"e,B 0e $as sitting
on a stool, and his bac' $asn't en6oying it&
8ther$ise it $as 9uite pleasant, stuccoed inside and done in geometric designs in ocher and
cinnabar, $ith carpets that loo'ed astonishingly -ur'ish draped over built/in benches& 4ven more
pleasant, nobody had made any ob6ections to 2oreen's being present& -he 'ing's $ife $as too&
Cuduhepa $as Ta*annanna#, a title in its o$n rightE the ne;t 'ing's $ife $ouldn't inherit it until
Cuduhepa died herself&
Arnstein unrolled his map& "-roy is hereB"
After the e;clamations and e;planations, the royal couple nodded& "And that is $here theD
barbarians have invadedB"
"-o the north of it, but they come closer every day& As 7 said, Ala'sandrus is the problem& For
years he has been scanting his tribute and sending e;cuses $hen 7 summon his men and chariots
for $ar3 perhaps that $as $hy the Assyrians beat me, three years ago&"
"8 @ing," 2oreen said, "you need not fear Asshur again& 5ith my o$n eyes 7 sa$ their cities
burn&"
"5ould that 7 had been there to see it<" Cuduhepa said, clenching a fist&
%he $as a slight $oman about ten years younger than the 'ing, $ith huge, dar' eyes and a
to$ering headdress on her abundant blac' hairE the rest of her $as invisible under layers of
embroidered go$n& -he hand that clenched on the table bore rings set $ith tur9uoise and un/
faceted emeralds&
"5ould that 7 could have seen -u'ulti/(inurta flayed, castrated, and impaled<" she $ent on& "8r
brought bound before my lord, beaten $ith rods3"
-he 'ing cleared his throat& "5e heard of his death and overthro$ and 9uestioned refugees, but
the tales seemedD e;aggerated&"
0e glanced out the $indo$E the -manciator had made more than one 6ourney, ferrying
personnel and supplies up from :abylon& 7t had also ta'en -udhaliyas's o$n envoys south and
bac'& 0e nodded&
7an smiled, reading the 0ittite monarch's thoughts> 6ot onl, do & need t"e#e 6antu)"tar to *ard
o$$ t"e menace to t"e +e#t, 3ut i$ & do not learn #ome o$ t"eir art#, /a#"tilia#" *ill over#"ado*
me a# an oa)-tree doe# a radi#"& -udhaliyas had been dropping broad hints as to $hether Fared/
Cofflin had a marriageable daughter he $ould care to $ed to his son, Arunu$andas&
&t'# nice to 3e loved, 3ut ju#t a3out a# lea#ant to 3e needed.
"And Ala'sandrus's faithlessness hurts the realm," -udhaliyas $ent on& "For the 5iulusiya are
very s'illed horse breeders and tamers&"
5e#, Arnstein thought as he too' a fig out of a bo$l to hide his shiver& 0omer had called them the
"horse/taming -ro6ans&"
-he -a$annannas cut in> "Ala'sandrus son of 1irusia is a hothead3 no better than a pirate,
carrying off plunder and $omen from foreign parts&"
T"at $it# t"e legend# too, 7an thought& And three thousand years from no$ a younger 7an Arnstein
$ould read 0omer's immortal $ords, and no$3
"(o$ the Man of -roy screams for help," the 'ing said& ":ut the 9uestion is, 5ill he obeyB 5ill
he cooperateB 0as he even no$ begun to put out feelers to the enemy, as 7 suspectB And as 7
)no* my traitor cousin Lord @urunta of -arhuntassa has doneB"
7an loo'ed at the map again& :esides controlling the :osporus, the -ro6an 'ingdom also
controlled a couple of the best land routes up onto the Anatolian plateau&
"-hat $ill be a$'$ard," he said& "-hese barbarians $ho're invading35hat are they li'eB 5here
do they come fromB"
-udhaliyas shrugged& "5e're not sure& (one of them spea' any language that $e can
comprehendE none of the ones $e've captured, at least&"
0e clapped hands, and one of the guards by the door duc'ed out& A fe$ minutes later t$o more
entered the room, pushing a prisoner before them& -he man $as tall, taller than either of the
burly 0ittite guards, and had his hands tied behind his bac'3his elbo$s, rather, $hich loo'ed
e;tremely uncomfortable& 0is chin had been shaved at some point and $as no$ sprouting oa'/
bro$n stubbleE his long hair and droopy mustaches $ere much the same color, and his eyes $ere
dar' blue& -he remnants of his clothes $ere plaid, in garish colors& -rousers and shirt and 6ac'et,
7an noted $ith interest& 0e also carried a po$erful stench, but that $as probably the result of
imprisonment& A partially healed $ound crusted one side of his head, and his eyes $ere a little
bright $ith fever&
Another trooper lugged along a sampling of e9uipment& -he Arnsteins' eyes narro$ed& A bro'en/
off spearhead, $ith a flame/shaped head and short soc'etE round/tipped bron.e s$ord $ith
flared/$ing hilts cast onE a conical helmet $ith a model of a raven attached&
8n a suspicion, 7an addressed him in the 7raiina language> "5ho are you, $arrior, and $hat is
your clan and tribeB"
-he man started violently and spo'e in machine/gun/rapid language& 7an strained and could
almo#t follo$ himE it $as li'e the haunting pseudo/familiarity of 7talian to someone $ho could
spea' %panish&
"Aou 'no$ themB" -udhaliyas said&
"(ot them," 2oreen ans$ered& "Relatives of theirs, very far to the north and $estD 7an, 7'd say
this guy $as some sort of Central 4uropean, by his loo's& 1robably, and if he's typical&"
7an nodded thoughtfully, tugging at his beard& 1hysical appearance tended to follo$ the same
geographical lines here as in the t$entieth, roughly3but only roughly, of course&
"-hese also $e too', but they don't seem to belong $ith the rest," -u'dhaliyas said hopefully&
"7'll say they don't," 7an said thoughtfully, as a carpet $as laid on the table and the plunder set
forth&
Steel )ni$e, he thought& A bo$ie, to be e;act& %teel spearheads& And resting in the center, a
double/barreled shotgun, flintloc' variety& -he prisoner stirred uneasily as 2oreen too' it up,
then shouted and tried to dive for the floor $hen she pulled bac' the hammers, pointed it at him
and pulled the trigger&
Clic'ing, and a sho$er of spar's from the right/side panE the flint $as missing from the hammer
on the left& -he prisoner raised his head cautiously, opening his eyes&
"5ell, that tells us something," 7an said as the man $as led a$ay again& 6amel,, t"at t"i# man
"a# #een $irearm# in action 3ut doe#n't )no* enoug" to )no* t"at one *a#n't loaded&
-udhaliyas and his 9ueen had tensed as $ell& "(o thunder," he said sha'ily&
"5ell, there goes the gunpo$der monopoly $e thought $e'd have, once," 2oreen muttered in
4nglish, putting the $eapon do$n& "2amn 5al'er, any$ay&"
"(o, it needsD food," 7an said& -hey $ere spea'ing A''adian, and A''adian didn't have a $ord
for gunpo$der& Aet&
"5ell, that settles it," he said to the 0ittite monarchs& "Aour barbarian invasion is definitely
lin'ed to 5al'er35al'heear&"
-udhaliyas shuddered& "-he 5olf Lord," he muttered& "5e've heard a good deal of "im& (ot
least from Ahhiya$a refugees, since he 'illed their 'ing and too' his throne& 7t's said he has a
$itch/9ueen $ho sacrifices men to a 2ar' Lady in abominable rites and from their blood bre$s
3ah, that she practices magic&"
7an and 2oreen e;changed a glance& %he'd 'ic'ed him under the table more than once in their
6oint diplomatic career, and probably Cuduhepa had 6ust given her husband the same service,
reminding him that the ne$comers probably practiced similar sorcery, only this loo'ed to be on
t"eir side&
7an cleared his throat& 0ong did practice all manner of abominations $hen she got the chance,
and from her file and her record in Alba, she probably did dress them up in cultic garb& 5al'er
$ould cheerfully turn that to use, of course&
"5al'er is a rebel against our rulers, 6ust as @urunta of -arhuntassa is against you," he said&
"%o here $e have Lord @urunta of -arhuntassa in rebellion against the ,reat -hrone, probably
$ith the 5olf Lord's aidE and these barbarians invading us from the north$est, also $ith the
5olf Lord's aid," -udhaliyas said& "And $e have 5iulusiya, $hich may not be a loyal vassalD
and -arhuntassa $ill ma'e it difficult to receive aid from your people in :abylon, since the best
road3Carchemish3 runs on the edge of his territory&"
7an sighed& 7t $as becoming increasingly obvious $hat they'd have to do& T"e ;eu3lic call#, he
thought, and surprised himself at ho$ little irony there $as in it& &'m getting atriotic in m, old
age&
"5ell, al$ays interesting to see a ne$ to$n," 2oreen said in 4nglish, reading his e;pression&
"(o," 7an said& "7 need someone here to coordinateD and besides, my dear, if things go $rongD
$ell, it $ould be a hard day for 2avid if $e $ere 3ot" there, $ouldn't itB"
2oreen sco$led& "Aou fight dirty," she said&
"8f course," he replied& "7 fight to *in&"
-he 0ittites $ere beginning to loo' uncomfortable $ith this consultation in a language they
could not spea'& "My %un," 7an said to -udhaliyas, "$e have a means ofD flying overD
difficulties& And soon $e should 'nit all the strands of our strength together, testing our
opponents as $e do&"
"%orry to interrupt your honeymoon, %is," :rigadier 0ollard said, reining his camel in beside
hers& 0e lifted his hat and $iped at the s$eat on his face and nec' $ith an already sodden
bandanna&
@athryn, Lady of the Land, Commander of Chariots, grinned bac' at him& "5ouldn't $ant to
$ear things out so soon," she said $ith a chuc'le&
-he Marine column $as singing as they s$ung along the dusty dirt trac'>
4", *e're marc"ing on relie$ t"roug" &raq'# 3urning #and#
A t"ou#and $ig"ting &#lander#, t"e 8eneral, and t"e 3andA
1o0 8et a*a,, ,ou 3ulloc)-man, ,ou've "eard t"e 3ugle 3lo*ed0
T"e 6e* %or# i# a 'comin', do*n t"e 1ittite road0
":urning sands is a bit much for 0angilibat," @athryn said 6udiciously& "More li'e 'dry semi/
arid&' "
0ollard loo'ed around& !air enoug", he thought& Moderately rolling plains, cut by tributaries
running do$n from the Anti/-aurus far to the north to feed the @habur and then the 4uphratesE
that $as $hy it $as also called the Rivers& -here $as actual grass on the ground even hereE
sparse, clumpy, beginning to fri..le up to$ard summer, but grass nonetheless& 4ven a fe$ fields
plo$ed into it, and the odd lo$ thic'et of $a;y/leaved scrub oa'&
8r there "ad been fields plo$ed into itE a lot of the land $as deserted, and they'd seen precious
little livestoc'& %upply $ould be a real problem if the force got any biggerE they had t$o
battalions of (antuc'et Marines, si; hundred of :abylon's (e$ -roops, some specialists, a
contingent of the Royal ,uard3also retrained on 5estley/Richards breechloaders3andD
"Lord @enn'et<"
Raupasha's chariot dre$ up beside themE the girl leaned bac', the reins in one e;pert hand, her
grin brilliant through s$eat/ca'ed dust, the gray eyes shining& -he horses snorted and shied a bit
at the smell of camel, but a $ord and pressure on the reins controlled them& %he $as escorted by
Marines, a section of mounted infantry $ith their rifles at their 'nees& -hey $ere mostly young
tooE half of them $ere grinning in sync $ith the girl's infectious enthusiasm&
%he $as $earing Marine 'ha'is herself3rather incongruous $ith the golden fillet of royalty3a
1ython revolver at her belt and a 5erder in a scabbard attached to the frame of the $ar/car, and
he suspected that the gangling spotted hound standing $ith its forepa$s on the front of the
chariot and its ears flapping in the bree.e $as unorthodo; too&
"0ello, 1rincess," he said& "5hat's ne$B"
"More men rally to us," she said $ith delight& "-he 0urri/fol' do accept me<" %he flushed a
little, and he s9uirmed at the loo' in her eyes& "7 $asn't altogether sure they $ould, Lord @enn'et,
but you $ere right&"
"0o$ many does that ma'e no$B" he as'ed, then ans$ered himself& "About three thousand&"
-hey came and $ent, but the total 'ept going up&
"-hese brought seven chariots," Raupasha said& "And a hundred footmen< Aou must meet their
leaders $hen $e camp tonight, Lord @enn'et, and Lady @at'ryn& 5hen $e reach 2ur/@atlimmu,
they $ill hear the $ord of the ,reat @ing concerning Mitanni, and 7 thin' they $ill hail it $ell& 7
go<"
%he turned the chariot in a curve tight enough to bring one $heel off the ground and dashed bac'
do$n the dusty column, her Marine escort s$earing and thumping their heels against the ribs of
their horses&
@athryn leaned over and po'ed him in the ribs&
"Foan of Arc syndrome, ayupB"
"5ell, she's living her daydreams," 0ollard said& "5hat $orries me is ho$ $e're going to feed
all the let's/restore/the/good/old/days/of/Mitanni types she's gathering in& 4ven $ith those
camel/dra$n heavy $agons, $e're getting a long $ay from $here our steamboats can reach& :ut
yeah, it'll be convenientE most of the non/Assyrian notables $ill be there and $e can plug them
into the ne$ order& 5ith luc' $e can install her at 2ur/@atlimmu"3the largest approach to a
city the area had, and the former seat of the Assyrian governor3"install a garrison, and then
press on& 5e're getting real close to areas $here this rebel against the 0ittite 'ing is operating,
and he's in cahoots $ith 5al'er&"
@athryn nodded grimly& "Real $or'," she said& "@ash $ishes he could be here, but he's got to
consolidate bac' in :abylon& 0e said he's going to build a temple in than's that $e (antu'htar
aren't all li'e 5al'er&"
"0e should," her brother agreed&
A clic' and bu.. came from the radio on the bac' of the tech riding ne;t to him& 0e edged his
camel closer, ignoring its complaints, and too' the handset&
"0ollard here," he said& @athryn $atched his e;pression, and her o$n $ent blan'&
",reat minds thin' ali'e," he said $hen he replaced the instrument& "%eems the 5olf Lord $ants
to steal a march on us& -hose barbarian allies of his are moving on -roy&"
"-roy I7, right enough," 7an muttered to himself&
"CouncilorB" Iic'i Cofflin as'ed&
-he -manciator $as $allo$ing as she came in to$ard the city& A hundred or more hands $ere
ready to ta'e the released lines and guide the huge, light craft into the lee of the city's $alls3the
past three $ee's had made them accustomed to it, even if they still tended to ma'e $arding signs
and spit& 0e could see the harvesters at $or' among the fields, orchards and silvery/green olive
groves among them, and tracts of bright pasture $here the city's famous horses $ere raised& Most
of the villages and all the manors of the surrounding lords $ere empty, though, and a last tric'le
of refugees $as ma'ing its $ay into the si; great gates& -he grain $as coming in too, as fast as it
could be cut& -he courtyards of houses and the rooftops had been turned into threshing floors&
"Archaeological reference, Ms& Cofflin," 7an said& "4veryone $ondered $hich layer of the site of
-roy $as t"e -roy, of the -ro6an 5ar&"
"Aes, but $e still aren't #ure that there *ould have been a -ro6an 5ar if $e hadn't sho$ed up,
are $e, CouncilorB Maybe it $as all 6ust a story, the first time 'roundB"
0e snorted, and loo'ed do$n& 5u& -he 'ing $as $aiting for him, an;ious as ever&
"%orry, Lieutenant& 2on't $ant to bore you $ith this sort of thing&"
"8h, hell, no, Councilor& 7t's a lot more interesting than, say, listening to L,'s tal' about
1resident Clinton&"
0e gave her bland smile a loo' of suspicion3"L," stood for "Lost ,ee.er," a not/very/
complimentary term the younger generation used for elders $ho couldn't get over the 4vent3
and then chuc'led before he turned and $al'ed bac' to$ard the e;it ramp $ith $hat he hoped
$as appropriate dignity for meeting a 'ing&
Ala'sandrus of -roy had been a surprise& 0e $as a long/nosed, sandy/blond man $ho reminded
7an of Ma; von %ydo$, as far as loo's $ent& -he language he spo'e $as close enough to
Mycenaean ,ree' that he could understand it $ithout much difficultyE and he spo'e the Achaean
dialect as $ell&
5hat $as really surprising about him $as his eagerness to cooperate, once he'd gotten over the
terror of the dirigible& 0e cut an imposing figure in his polished bron.e breastplate, boar's/tus'
helmet $ith a tall horsehair plume nodding behind, and a metal/reinforced 'ilt& A fe$ brushes
$ith the invading host from the north3the Ringapi, they called themselves3and their thunder/
$eapons had 'noc'ed most of the s$agger out of him& -here $as something slightly touching
about the eagerness $ith $hich he'd greeted a chance at salvation&
And #omet"ing guilt-inducing, a# *ell, 7an thought& & "oe &'m not giving "im too man, false
"oe#, ju#t to get "im to 3u, u# time& -he $ay the ordinary people of the city cheered him
through the streets $as even harder to ta'e& Refugees from the north had described all too vividly
$hat happened in to$ns and farms the Ringapi too'& 4ven more feared $as 5al'er the 5olf
Lord&
-he airship's oa' landing rails touched the ground, and the rear ramp $ent do$n& 7an $al'ed
do$n it, than'ful that he didn't have to $ear the elaborate caftan that an ambassador's dignity
re9uired in :abylonia& A force of Marines directed the unloading of the cargo, $ith a host of
-ro6ans $or'ing li'eD
2on't #a, it, don't #a, it, #ave it $or ,our ne7t c"at *it" 2oreen< 7an told himself, bo$ing to the
'ing&
"5hen $ill your troops arriveB" Ala'sandrus as'ed&
7an sighed internally, 'eeping a bland smile on his face& "As soon as possible," he said& "5e've
brought in a good many by air&"
7t $as a sign of ho$ $orried Ala'sandrus $as that he no longer marveled at that but simply
accepted it3and railed against its limitations&
"4ach trip brings so fe$," he fretted& -he horses of his chariot team seemed to catch the infection
and stamped and tossed their heads against the e;pert touch of the young driver&
"7t brings po$erful $eapons," Arnstein soothed& And me, more o$ten t"an & li)e, 3ecau#e *e
"ave to )ee ,ou #*eet, ,ou old lad, in a 3ra## 3rea#tlate, he thought, and pointed&
A heavy seven/foot tube $as being lo$ered onto a $aiting timber cradle $ith o;cart $heels
mounted at either end& -he dirigible crea'ed and groaned as it $as relieved of the $eight,
straining up$ard against the mooring ropes& -he cradle groaned as $ell, and the t$elve yo'e of
o;en bello$ed as they $ere goaded into the traces& -he si;/inch mortar began to crea' its $ay
across the plain of 7lion and to$ard the %outh ,ate $ith its great s9uare bastion& -he $alls of
-roy didn't enclose as much ground as 0attusas or :abylon, but they $ere impressive in their
o$n right, stone/built and better than four stories high, $ith to$ers higher& +nli'e most he'd
seen, they sloped in$ard slightly&
Captain Chong trotted over, gave the 'ing a bob of the head and 7an a salute& "-hat's the second
battery complete, sir," he said in 4nglish& "7f these trained pigs of locals don't bog it do$n, in an
hour or so $e'll have it mounted&"
7an noddedE he $as no e;pert, but he'd been impressed by the speed and competence of the
Marine effort&
"-ell your captain of $arriors that my o$n are $orried about the earth ramp," Ala'sandrus said&
0e pointed to$ard -roy& "-hey feel it is a scaling ladder that $e are building for an enemy&"
All around the city, thousands $ere laboring to build an earth berm up against the stonesE
thousands more piled earth and rubble from demolished homes against the interior $all, as $ell&
Chong shrugged $hen 7an interpreted& "%ir, tell him that $ithout bac'ing and something to
absorb the shot, that curtain/$all $ill get converted into rubble if anyone brings some guns
$ithin range of it&" 0e smiled, a savage e;pression& "8f course, that'll put them $ithin range of
my guns& Mortars, any$ay&"
& do *i#" Ala)#andru# *ould ma)e u "i# mind *"at "e'# more *orried a3out, 7an thought
several hours later $hen he sat do$n $ith the short$ave set in his 9uarters& -he Marine operator
loo'ed at him and handed over the earpieces and microphone&
"0ard day $ith the 'ing, sirB"
"7s it that obviousB" he as'ed3rhetorically&
"0atussas, 0atussas, come in," he said& "0atussas3"
"0atussas here," his $ife replied& "0i, 7an& 0o$'s 0is ,ibbering Ma6estyB 7 $as e;pecting the
:asil Rathbone of the :ron.e Age, from -udhaliyas's description&"
"7t's not really funny, 2oreen," 7an said& "7 thin' he $as at least a self/confident pirate until he
led his troops to try and stop the Ringapi crossing into Anatolia& 0e still can't give me a coherent
e;planation of $hat happened, e;cept that it involved a lot of e;plosions and then the Ringapi
chariot corps hunting his li'e hounds after fo;es&" 0e paused& "5hat happens $hen they $in
isn't funny at all&"
"Aeah," 2oreen said 9uietly& "Any$ay, the latest from Colonel3 pardon me, :rigadier3
0ollard is that3"
"%ir<" A Marine burst into the room& "%ir, the enemy's in sight&"
"8h, shit," Arnstein muttered&
-he horde that poured do$n the flat coastal plain from the north to$ard -roy $as enormous3
more people than the $hole Republic of (antuc'et, the 7sland, and outports put together&
&'ve #een a# man, eole at a $oot3all game in <.A&, 7an tried to tell himself&
-hat memory paled to nothing before this vision of $arriors in gaudy armor in chariots, $arriors
on foot in plain gray undyed $ool $ith their spears over their shoulders and shields slung at their
bac's, dusty $omen trudging beside big o;/dra$n carts $ith their babies on their bac's,
chieftains' $omen riding in carts $ith leather a$nings, children running about shouting or
crying, herds of cattle and herds of sheep and herds of horsesD and prisoners trudging behind
the $agons, yo'ed nec' to nec' $ith A/shaped $ooden poles&
-he noise $as li'e distant surf mi;ed $ith a grumble of thunder& -he smell of the horde came
before it, dust and manure and massed s$eat, $ith someho$ a scent of burning& -he sound
changed but didn't diminish as they settled in, ringing the small hilltop city $ith a $all of
campsites and brush corrals&
"-hey can't stay," Ala'sandrus said, standing beside Arnstein& "-hey can't& -here's no food out
there< 5e brought almost everything in and burned $hat $e didn't&"
7an nodded& -roy stan' of the beasts driven inside it, and of the peasants $ho camped in every
open space, including on some of the roads&
"7'm sorry, Lord @ing," he said, "but there comes their supply line&"
0e pointed at the ships that $ere sailing in out of the $est, their sails gilded by the setting sun&
"-he 5olf Lord's ships," Ala'sandrus said desolately& 7an brought up his binoculars and loo'ed&
-hey $ere medium/si.e sailing vessels, not enormously different from the ones (antuc'et or
-artessos turned outE a little lo$er in the freeboard, perhaps, and he sa$ differences in the sails
that he couldn't name& 5hat all of them had in common $as the $olfshead banner at their
mastheads, red on blac'&
A curious change came over the -ro6an 'ingE he sighed, and a $eight seemed to lift from his
shoulders& "A man $ithout hope is a man $ithout fear," he said& "Let's see $hat his herald has to
say&"
"Aou thin' they'll send a heraldB"
"7t's usually done&" A small 9uir' of the melancholy lips& "7 al$ays did& %urrender is cheaper, if
you can get it&"
"5hat are your intentions, Lord @ingB" Arnstein as'ed&
Ala'sandrus's lips 9uir'ed again& "Fight," he said& "Aour men may get here before $e have to
give up3the city's $ell provisioned, and one can al$ays hope for plague in the besieger's
camp&"
-hings moved $ith glacial slo$nessE every so often 7an $ould loo' up at the -manciator& 0e
could goD
-he herald had brass lungs and spo'e the -ro6an dialect $ellE he $as also dressed in a uniform of
gray tunic and trousers, blac' boots and belt3definitely not one of the horde&
"My lord summons you to parlay," he said& "8utside the $alls&"
"2oes your lord ta'e me for a suc'ling babeB" Ala'sandrus yelled bac'&
"2o you distrust his $ord of honorB"
A derisive laugh arose from those cro$ded near the s9uare to$ers that mar'ed the gate bastions&
-he herald nearly $heeled his borro$ed Ringapi chariot about to leave, then visibly controlled
himself&
"4ach party may bring si; men& -he meeting shall be there3" he pointed to a small hilloc' in
plain vie$& "-hus neither side may gain unfair advantage&"
Ala'sandrus nodded slo$ assent& 7an felt himself doing li'e$ise& 7t $as the old curseE he had to
)no*&
-he sun $as almost to the $estern hori.on, bac'lighting the masts of the ships anchored offshore
$ith boats going to and fro to unload barrels and sac's& 7an noted other developments $ith
interestE from this ground level position he could see that the prisoners of the horde, and many of
its members, $ere digging a trench and earth$or' all around the city&
&t *ould ma)e li$e muc" ea#ier, he thought, i$ villain# *ere #tuid oltroon#. =n$ortunatel,,
+al)er i#n't. Mean a# a #na)e, ,e#. Stuid, no, and nerve enoug" $or t"ree&
-he -ro6an party $al'ed for$ardE three of the guards $ere Marines $ith rifles& -he group
standing to meet them seemed to be mi;ed, barbarian Ringapi flamboyance and 5al'er's men in
their grimly plain outfits in about e9ual numbers3and t$o e;tra figures $hom he too' for
midgets and then reali.ed $ith astonishment $ere children, to$/headed and about ten years old&
7t $asn't until he $as $ithin tal'ing distance that the tall figure in the center thre$ bac' the hood
of his cloa' and 7an Arnstein sa$ again that boyish, s9uare/6a$ed, hated face&
6ot #o 3o,i#" an,more, he thought savagely& -he left eye $as gone, courtesy of Marian's )atana,
and a I of scar ran up under the eye/patch& %ome lines there, too, and a $eathered outdoors loo'&
<oo)# "ealt",, dammit&
-he $oman beside him hadn't aged too much either, but the changes in her face37an shivered
slightly& 8b6ectively spea'ing, she $as a petite, pretty, $ell/'ept 8riental $oman in her thirties&
:ut someho$ it $as if the s'ull beneath the s'in $as far more visible no$&
"5ell, if it isn't the 1rofessor<" 5al'er laughed delightedly&
7an replied $ith a curt nod, ma'ing sure that the 1ython $as there under his 6ac'et& For a
moment he considered pulling it out and using it35al'er's death $as, he decided coldly, $orth
his o$n3but it $ould be foolish& 5illiam 5al'er $as far more e;perienced and deadly at
personal violence than 7an Arnstein $as ever going to be&
4ven the commodore had ta'en only his eye, the last time they $ere $ithin arm's reach of each
other&
5al'er shrugged at his silent glare& "8'ay," he said, then dropped into Achaean& A scholar's
corner of 7an's mind noted that it $as virtually devoid of accent no$&
"0ere are my terms," he said& "7f the city surrenders and admits my troops, 7'll 'eep the Ringapi
out3they'll be content to move east, provided the city gives them half its gold and silver3and
the lives, personal freedom, and remaining property of the inhabitants $ill be safeE they can have
the status of freemen in the 'ingdom of Mycenae& 7f you resist, 7'll turn my allies loose to sac' it
$hen 7 ta'e it& And 7 $ill ta'e it&"
@ing Ala'sandrus follo$ed the man's $ords $ell enough, but 7an could see that their lac' of the
formal phrasing annoyed him, even no$&
"5hat of the 'ing, and the noblesB" he said&
"2eportation to %icily, or other places of my choice," 5al'er said& "7'll grant them fiefs
e9uivalent to their lands here, $hich are forfeit to the cro$nE they can ta'e a moderate amount of
their personal property& And never, never return, under pain of death& -he Royal ,uard to be
split up and enlisted in m, regiments&"
7an noddedE that $ould disperse the -ro6an notables, and in a generation or t$o they'd merge and
vanish $ith the gentry $herever 5al'er settled them& Assuming that 5al'er intended to 'eep his
$ord&
"And if you don't surrender, 7 $on't have the 'ing"35al'er's eye speared Ala'sandrus, $ith a
slight smile at the plain armor that $as supposed to disguise him3"or his family and nobles
'illed& 7'll turn them over to the 2espotnia Algeos, and she $on't have them 'illed either& %ho$
them your masterpiece, Alice&"
Alice 0ong's smile $asn't a snarl& 7t $as bright and cheery, and far, far $orse for that& %he pulled
the concealing cloa' and mas' off the figure standing beside her& 7an Arnstein too' one loo', and
'ne$ that ho$ever long he lived he $ould $ish he hadn't& 0e 9uic'ly turned his eyes above
0ong's head, concentrating on not humiliating himself by vomiting or fainting&
T"e,'re tr,ing to #"a)e ,ou, Arn#tein. 5ou *ill 3e calm& 8r at least loo) calm, if that $as the best
he could do& Far and faint he heard a child's voice mutter in accented 4nglish, "8h, ,u)-o, Auntie
0ong<" %omeho$ that made him feel even more furious, but it also made him more able to
ignore 0ong's cheerful e;planations>
"3problem of preventing infection $ith the e;posed bone here and here, but3"
"-a'e thatD t"ing a$ay," Ala'sandrus said& 0e spat, and then spo'e one $ord> "(o&"
"(oB" 5al'er said& "Last chance& 8r3" he indicated the vaguely humanoid figure that didn't
move e;cept to breathe, as if each breath $ere fresh torment&
"(o& And the gods my ancestors $ill receive me if 7 fallE 7 $ill not be ta'en alive& Aour threat is
empty&"
5al'er shrugged and made a sign $ith his handE 0ong stooped and draped the cloa' about the
unmoving figure $ith an obscene tenderness&
"7'm 6ust as glad," he said casually& "-he troops need a little blooding&" 0e loo'ed at the city&
"%omebody's been giving you advice, 7 see& :ut being able to ta'e it doesn't help if you can't dish
it out as $ell&" 0e loo'ed at 7an& "%pecial offer for you, 1rofessor& 7 could use a man li'e you3
and 7 'no$ ho$ to re$ard service, too& 5ho 'no$sB
Aou might li'e $or'ing for me more than that old fossil Cofflin& 5e might turn out to be
#imatico, you and 7&"
"(o$ you're getting na#t,," 7an said 9uietly& "7'll $ait, than' you very much&"
"For $hat, the Riders of Fuc'ing Rohan to come galloping to the rescue $ith their horns blo$ing
and slaughter us insensitive oresB" he 6eered and $aved an arm in an e;pansive gesture& "%orry,
1rofessor, no -I cameras& -his is :ig/1eople Land3out here, things don't $or' that $ay&"
Arnstein met his eyes& "Aour father," he said flatly, "$as a hamster& Aour mother smelled of
elderberries& (o$ go a$ay, you silly ,ree' 'nigget, or 7 $ill taunt you once again&"
5al'er's face $as e9ually cold for an instant& -hen he smiled again& "2on't catapult any co$s at
us," he said& "Aou're probably going to need them all, if you're luc'y&"
C#ATE! TWENTY)S&(
August+Septemer, Year ,- A.E.
"Command us, Lord @enn'et<"
1ell, @enneth 0ollard thought, loo'ing at the motley cro$d assembled behind Raushapa's
chariot& And & t"oug"t t"e .a3,lonian# *ere ragged&
Many of the men gathered under the flag of Mitanni3suggested by the Arnsteins, and consisting
of a $hite chariot $heel on a blue bac'ground, $ith crossed thunderbolts behind3$ere literall,
raggedE peasants in rags armed $ith anything at all, do$n to and including roc's snatched up a
fe$ minutes ago&
%ome had better e9uipment, $hich loo'ed as if it had spent the past t$enty years or so buried
under the stable floor or hidden in caves& 5heels on chariots $ere actually $obbling, the horses
$ere mostly elderly cro$ bait, and the bron.e helmets and armor $ere green $ith verdigris
$here recent polishing hadn't revealed dents, nic's, and ominous/loo'ing holes& -heir smell $as
formidable, too, although there he had to grant that everyone $as getting a bit gamey, $ith $ater
short and a lot of $or' in the hot sun&
-here $ere better than three thousand men and nearly a hundred chariots all up, though, and
from their roaring cheers $hen Raushapa harangued them in 0urrian they seemed enthusiastic
enough&
"-ranslate for me," he said $hen she'd finished, stepping up into the chariot beside her& %abala's
leash $as tied to the railing, and the hound bar'ed hysterically until Raupasha called him sharply
to heel&
"Men of Mitanni," he began& -hat brought another long cheer& "Men of Mitanni, your 'ingdom
has been restored, no$ that Asshur is thro$n do$n&"
-his time he $as afraid the cheers $ould ma'e somebody pop a blood vesselE a couple "ad
fainted, although that might be the heat&
"5e $ere traveling to 2ur/@atlimmu to enthrone your 9ueen&" 7mpatient, he held up a hand&
T"e, can certainl, c"eerA can t"e, $ig"tB "(o$ a force of the 0ittite rebel @urunta of
-arhuntassa approaches, to deny you that&"
-his time the sound $as a lo$ gro$l& -he Assyrians $ere hated bitterly, but the 0ittites had left
plenty of grudges as $ell&
"5ith him march men of the 5olf Lord of Ahhiya$a," he said, $atching their unease& Rumors
had penetrated this far, at least& "0e has strong $eapons and po$erful magic, but so do your
allies& 5atch, and see&"
A shiver of anticipation ran over themE they'd all heard $hat happened to the Assyrians& 0ollard
6umped do$n and $al'ed over to the baggage train& -he 7slander section of it $as mostly huge
$agons pulled by t$enty pair of camelsE the beasts $ere groaning and complaining, as usual&
A s9uad of Marine technicians had stac'ed their rifles and $ere hard at $or' assembling the
ultralight that had come in $ith the latest shipment from the 7sland& As he $atched they gave a
unified "u-"o< and heaved the arro$head/shaped $ing up on top of the three aluminum struts
above the little teardrop/shaped fuselage& -hat crea'ed on its tricycle undercarriage and crea'ed
again as they busied themselves $ith the bolts& -he pilot $as going over the engine that drove
the prop behind her seat, but came to her feet as he dre$ near&
"%ir<"
"At ease, @ayle," he said& 8od, #"e loo)# at"eticall, ,oung& "0o$ does it loo'B"
"7t's a nice simple little engine, sir," the ,uard pilot said& "7 double/chec'ed the filters to ma'e
sure no sand had gotten into it& And, ah, sirD"
"Aes, @ayleB"
"%ir, $e're not fitting the bomb rac'sB"
"@ayle, this is a scouting mission& 7 $ant information, caic"eB"
"%ir, yessir&"
@ayle pushed her goggles bac' up on her forehead, thre$ her scarf over her shoulder, and
climbed into the tiny coc'pit& %he tested the controls3essentially a set of $ires that $arped the
$ing3and chopped her hand for$ard& -he cre$ bent and pushed the $ing onto a stretch of open
ground $ith no large roc's and turned the nose of the ultralight into the $ind& -he engine
coughed, sputtered, then began its insectile drone&
-he cre$ 'ept hold of the $ingtips until the pilot shouted to them to release, and the little aircraft
bounced for$ard& Faster, $ith dirt and dust trailing bac' in a broad plume, and then on the fourth
bounce it $as airborne, ban'ing up into the cloudless aching/blue s'y&
A long soft sigh of $onder came from the Mitannians as the eagle/painted $ings ban'ed and
headed north$est to $here the camel scouts had brushed the enemy patrols& Raupasha sighed
herself as she stood beside him&
"-o fly li'e that<" she said& "-he -manciator is a $onder, but t"at $ould be li'e having the
$ings of your 4agle god, Lord @enn'et&"
"7t is fun&" 0e found himself grinning at the girl's eagerness, and then a thought struc' him li'e
ice $ater in6ected directly into the stomach&
"7t $ill ma'e me feel much safer, $hen 7 lead my people into the fight," she said sunnily&
4", #"it.
Captain Chong smiled behind the slit of the sandbagged observation bun'er, one of do.ens built
along -roy's $all& -he rising sun $as behind them, giving a good vie$ of the shoreline a half
mile a$ayE the city $ould be only a 6agged blac' outline against a ball of fire to observers there&
-he Ringapi camp spra$led bet$een, its campfires ha.ing heaven $ith their smo'e& 0e cran'ed
the field telephone sharply and pressed the %end button&
"+p t$o," the Marine said& "Ranging round, fire<"
-here $as a *"um from the Citadel, a long droning $histle, and then a slamming crum from
the beach& 2irt and sand gouted s'y$ard&
7an Arnstein raised his glasses& -he cannon $ere still being to$ed shore$ard on rafts from the
Achaean ships anchored offshore& 6ot man, 3lac) "ull# ulled u on t"e 3eac", he thought,
$atching the doll/tiny men straining at their oars& -he ships 5al'er had built $ere too big to do
thatE many of them $ere three/masters& -here $ere a fe$ of the traditional long, lo$
penteconters, and he sa$ one that loo'ed li'e a late/medieval Ienetian galley, huge oars pulled
by four men each and a brace of big guns pointing for$ard& -hat chilled him a littleE it $as 6ust
li'e 5al'er to commission a vessel of the sort that had made galley slaves common& :efore then
ro$ers $ere almost al$ays free men&
"-he ships are 6ust out of reach," Chong said& "-hree rounds, for effect<" And then "Cease fire<"
regretfully, as the boats to$ing the rafts turned around and began thrashing the $ater to$ard the
ships they'd 6ust disembar'ed from&
"-hen they can't get their guns close to the $allsB" 7an said hopefully&
"7 didn't say that, sir," Chong said& "-hey 6ust can't land them "ere& 5e're on the highest ground
around, so $e can hammer them as they come ashore& -hey'll have to ta'e them out of range and
then bring them $ithin range of the $alls by night one at a time& 7t'll cost them heavily, but 7've
got only four tubes and my ammunition is limited& 4ventually they'll get the guns in protected
positions close enough to hit us&"
"5hat thenB" Arnstein as'ed, lic'ing dry lips&
-he Chinese/born officer buc'led his binocular case $ith a snap& "-hen they pound us into dust,"
he said 9uietly&
Arnstein nodded& .ut *e're 3u,ing time, he thought& 7t $as a little comfortE not much, but a little&
+al)er doe#n't deal *it" $ru#tration *ell. &$ *e #tand "im o$$, "e'll get mad and #ta, longer t"an
"e #"ould. (ro3a3l, "e ju#t #"o*ed u to get t"ing# #tarted&
-he bul' of the renegade's troops $ere obviously else$here, 6udging by the numbers he could
see& 2oing *"atB he $ondered3and then $ished he hadn't&
5ou *anted adventure and travel, Mandy @ayle thought, lic'ing lips dried by the airstream& All
rig"t, M#. 1ot#"ot (ilot, ,ou've got it. -ndle## de#ert# $ull o$ "omicidal local#&
-he ta$ny landscape rolled a$ay beneath her, $ith here and there a line of greener vegetation to
mar' a $atercourse or arroyo& -he $ind ble$ past at forty/five miles an hour, barely a cra$l up
here at t$o thousand feet& %he could see the dust plumes no$&
"-agle -,e && here," she saidE it $as a pilot's privilege to pic' her o$n call sign& "-agle -,e &&& 7
have the enemy under observation&"
"Aou're coming through loud and clear, -$o&"
"4nemy are three miles to your north$est, proceeding in t$o columns of une9ual si.e& 4stimate
the larger column to consist of"3 she 6uggled control stic' and binoculars, tipping the -,e to the
right to improve her vie$3"local troops, chariots one/fifty, repeat one/fifty, infantry three
thousand, archers and spearmen, $ith o;carts and pac' don'eys to match& 8ver&"
"4;cellent $or', -,e& 8ver&"
2etails sprang out at her> a charioteer's long blac' hair spilling from under his helmet, a;
flashing as he gestured $ith itE the plodding pace of infantry, breathing their o$n dustE a ripple of
light on spearheads through the dust& -he other columnD
"1roceeding to close on second column&"
%he pushed the stic' for$ard and to the side, $or'ing the pedals $ith her feet& -here $as the
familiar lovely s$ooping sensation, the rattle and hum of air through the rigging, the snap of her
scarf behind her& More grit at this level, but she 'ept the goggles up for a better vie$&
"%econd column is troops $ith firearms< Repeat, troops $ith firearms<"
Men marching in order, in a column of fours behind a standard/bearerE mounted officers in
modern saddles& :ig $agons pulled by horses as $ell& AndD one, t$oD #i7 cannon& %omething
else too, something she couldn't 9uite identify&
And they'd seen her, right enough, men pointing, their mouths moving silently through the lenses
of her binoculars& Moving to order, their pac's thro$n do$n, bloc's thro$ing up their rifles in
unison& Mu..le flashes $in'ed up at herD
0er mouth $ent drier, and she could feel her stomach trying to cra$l up into her lungs for safety&
-here $ere an almighty lot of bullets coming her $ayE she suc'ed the stic' bac' and reached up
to push the throttles all the $ay to their not/very/po$erful ma;imum&
"%ir, they've got breechloaders& A$ful damned good ones, too&"
%he ban'ed sharply, 6in'ed, thre$ the responsive little craft around the s'y& %he $as standing it
nearly on edge $hen the enemy pulled a tarpaulin off a $agon bed and s$ung a thic'/barreled
#omet"ing on a yo'e mount that let them point it rapidly to any portion of the s'y& As she hung at
the top of the curve, she $as miserably certain that it $as pointing directly at the part of the s'y
she occupied right then and there& 7t firedE she $as e;pecting some sort of shell, but instead there
$as a mu..le flash li'e a rifle's, only many times repeated, and a torrent of smo'e, enough for a
$hole company volley&
"5hat i# that3"
0er speculation $as cut short by the arrival of the malignant lead bee s$arm& Rounds $ent
tun)< through the taut fabric of --1'# $ings, and crac'ed into the ply$ood of the fuselage li'e
nails driven by a mad carpenter& 0er s'in $ent cold for a secondE any one of those could hit "er
and go through her the long $ay& -hen her heart stuttered as a bullet inged off metalE let one of
them hit the $rong part of the engine, and she'd have no choice but a gliding landing3and
saving the last bullet in the 1ython at her $aist for herself&
"Automatic $eapon, 7 say again, the enemy have3"
-he dead tone in her earphones $hen she pressed the s$itch alerted her& %he 6oggled the s$itch,
and nothing happened but a faint frying sound& Mu#t "ave 3een "it& -here $ent another of their
precious pre/4vent radiosE more important, she'd have to deliver the ne$s herself& -hat provided
a perfect and honorable e;cuse to stop flying this very unfriendly patch of s'y&
-he --&& $as at e;treme rifle range no$E she turned the nose bac' to the southeast, aiming the
point at the distant column of dust that meant home and the Republic's protecting arm&
+i:t-*i:t-*i:t-*i:t?
-his time she felt the little craft shudder as it $as hit& -he engine coughed and stuttered, and then
too' up its bu..ing $ith a ragged edge, li'e her heartbeat& %omething struc' li'e fire and ice in
her lo$er bac', and her foot fell off the rudder bar& %he reached behind her and felt a $arm
$etness&
And, she reali.ed, sensation in her foot and toes as $ell& A $ave of irrational than'fulness hit
her& (ot a spinal in6ury& And a lot o$ good t"at doe# me i$ & 3leed to deat"<
Marines $ere running past outside the aid tent as Fustin Clemens reached behind his bac' to tie
on his surgical go$n& 0e glanced upE the ultralight $as returningD but $obbling in the air and
trailing smo'e&
":usiness in the shop, people<" he said and felt hands touch hisE A..u/ena finishing the ties $ith
neat bo$'nots&
0e turned to do hers as $ell, his mas' still do$n around his nec'& 4verything loo'ed ready, the
doctors and assistants $ere running in and scrubbing do$n, and the little 'erosene burners under
the autoclaves $ere hissing& 8od damn t"i# "eat and all t"i# grit, he thought& +e'll need lent,
o$ gau:e covering# to )ee it out o$ t"e *or)ing area#&
"7 should have stayed in :abylon," he grumbled&
"5hyB" A..u/ena said, chec'ing instruments on a tray beside their table, her fingers flic'ing
rapidly& "-he epidemic is over, and you are a figure of fear& @ing @ashtiliash is building the
$ater to$ers you re9uested, but you $ould do him no favor by staying there& Let memories
cool&"
Clemens nodded& -he system $ould purify even 4uphrates $ater, and it $ould run to public
fountains& And the ne;t shipment from (antuc'et $as supposed to include a complete
vaccination/preparation setup for +r :ase& -hen, by ,od, he $ould vaccinate the $hole of @ar/
2uniash, if he had to chase them do$n and do a flying tac'le on each and every, one&
-he stretcher bearers came in, $ith the bloodied form of the pilot lying facedo$n& -he bac' of
her uniform tunic $as soppingE A..u/ena too' a pair of scissors and cut it a$ay as he leaned
for$ard, pulling up his mas'& 0is hands probed the area bet$een pelvis and spine&
":ullet, no e;it $ound, internal bleeding too, $e'll have to open her up<" And "oe it didn't
de#tro, "er liver& "%aline, ether, stat, get someone her type in here, let's get a move on here,
people<" he snapped, then turned and sa$ :rigadier 0ollard crouched by her headE she $as still
conscious, but her eyes $ere $andering&
"5hat the hell are you doing here<" Clemens roared& "Aou're not sterile, you're endangering the
patient, get the hell out<"
"%hut up," 0ollard hissed, his voice flat and deadly enough to stop even Fustin Clemens in
midphrase&
"D Auto, #ome #ort o$ automatic, mounted on a *agon3 "
"7've got it, @ayle," 0ollard said gently& "Rest no$& -hey'll patch you up&"
-hen he $as gone from the tent in four long strides&
"Remember Lord @enn'et's $ords<" Raupasha shouted& "Against the 0ittites, fight li'e lions3
against the $i.ard's men, chariots are to flee and footmen to fall flat&" -here $as an unhappy
murmur, and she put metal into her voice& "-here is no honor in putting yourself in the $ay of a
3ullet&"
-he emergency demonstration $ith a couple of sic' don'eys had been impressiveE she 6ust hoped
it hadn't 'illed the men's spirit&
"Follo$ me, men of Mitanni<" she said& "8nce again you are called to $ar, you descendants of
men $ho bestrode the universe& -eshub and 7ndara -hunderer are $ith us<"
%he signaled to the driver and he pulled the heads of the horses around, clic'ing to them&
"(ot too fast," she said, putting the thought of %abala's pleading eyes out of her mindE strange
that it should stri'e her no$& "5e have a better team and a better chariotE $e are to lead, not lose
them in our dust&"
As she spo'e she pulled the rifle from its scabbard that her friend Fusaro had made for her bac'
at +r :ase& Strange, to "ave a leat"er-*or)er a# a $riend, 3ut t"at i# t"e -agle (eole *a,& -he
$eapon $as balanced and deadly in her hands, and she'd al$ays been a good shot3first $ith the
bo$ and then $ith rifles& And $ith this rifle, all she needed $as to be deft and have a 'een eye,
and to be as formidable as any& 7t $as a heady feeling&
-he coat of light chain mail @enn'et had insisted on3Mitara, <ord o$ 9u#tice, re#erve "im<3
$as only enough $eight to anchor her securelyE the chariot bounced far less than the ones she
had gro$n up $ith, ma'ing more of a s$ay than a blo$ against her feet& %he s9uinted under the
brim of her helmet and sa$ the 0ittite host approaching&
;e3el 1ittite "o#t, she reminded herself& -udhaliyas $as an ally of (antuc'et, therefore of hers&
-hen> & am a$raid, 3ut & can ma#ter it& -he con9uering of fear $as as heady as the #oama of the
ancient stories, the drin' that made her ancestors as one $ith the gods&
(o$ they $ere close enough that she could see men through the dust and flash of movement&
-hree/man 0ittite carts, driver and $arrior and shield bearer, heavier than hers, horses' sides
covered by leather blan'ets se$n $ith scales, the cre$s armored as $ell& All that $eight might
$ell slo$ them enough that her poor follo$ers $ith their 'nac'ers/yard horses $ouldn't be at too
much of a disadvantage& -he footmen $ould beE those follo$ing the rebel lord's chariots $ere
fully e9uipped, nearly every man $ith helmet and good shield, long spear, s$ord, leather tunic
boiled in vinegar or $a;& 5hen the infantry met, it $ould go hard for her fol'& -hat grieved her,
but the battle $as to be $onE so her foster father had taught her, and the 4agle 1eople& %he 'ne$
the price of defeat too $ell&
%he brought her rifle up, loo'ed bac' at the $edge of chariots that follo$ed her& %ome $ere out
of the fight already, tumbled $ith $heels off or a;les bro'en& Most follo$ed, and she $aved
them to her right& -hey s$ung after her, and she brought the $eapon up and aimed, 'nees
fle;ing&
%rac)& A miss, and an arro$ $ent *"irrrt through the chariotE they $ere $ithin a hundred yards&
:ut 0ittites $eren't archers of note, they preferred the 6avelin and thrusting spear& %he pulled a
bullet from the bandolier looped around her body and thumbed it home&
%rac)& A man flung up his arms and fell bac'$ard out of his chariot, tumbling as the speed of
the galloping horses thre$ his body against the ground& -hat $ould have bro'en bones even if
his $ound $as slight&
Raupasha daughter of %huttarna shouted in e;ultation&
"-hey're behind the locals, all right, behind and to the right," 8'Rour'e said& "5e stung 'em&"
"5hat armsB" @enneth 0ollard as'ed, handing up his canteen& -he camel/mounted commander
of the %cout company leaned do$n and too' it, drin'ing $ith appreciation& -he day $as gro$ing
hotter as the sun rose to$ard noon&
":reechloaders for certain& Most of them 5estley/Richards li'e $e $ere using last year," he
said& ":ut they've got something very nasty as $ell, not a ,atling but something of the sort&
%everal of them& Cost us&"
0e inclined his head& 5ounded Marines $ere being lifted off camels and onto stretchersE some
$ere being laid out $ith blan'ets over their faces&
"And a battery of fieldpieces3t$elve/pounder (apoleons $ould be my guess3and something
else, further bac', that they didn't use&"
"(umbersB"
"Around a thousand, 7'd say3not counting teamsters and such& -hey moved from column into
line very fast indeed, :rigadier, sir& Fire and movement, e;tended order&"
"-han's, 1addy& 1ull your people out, get them something to eat"3he'd had the field 'itchens
set up along $ith the hospitalE you needed both3"and then dig in, and $e'll see $hat happens&
5ith luc', they thin' this force is simply locals, an ultralight, and you&"
"5ith luc' indeed&"
0ollard loo'ed along the line $here his Marines $ere digging in, and the man/tall hilloc's over
to his left $here the (e$ -roops of :abylon $aited& 4ne good t"ing i# t"at #oil doe#n't #"o* u
ver, *ell "ere, he thought& Anot"er i# t"at )"a)i 3lend# in ver, *ell indeed&
0e $al'ed for$ard to the spot $here part of the heavy/$eapons company $as setting up& 0e'd
pushed the ,atlings $ell for$ard, giving them interloc'ing fields of fire along his front and open
ones to the flan's& -he sergeant in charge paused $ith a roc' the si.e of a loaf of bread in her
hands&
":it different from :abylon, nae, sirB"
0e nodded, and she hesitated& "%ir, as' you a favorB %ir, it's a letter& 7n case %'yfather calls me&"
0e too' it> 2elauntara7 o$ t"e T"aurinii, in Al3a $as $ritten in a sha'y hand& Iague, but the
1ostal %ervice $as used to thatE things got through eventually&
"@eep mas'ed until the $ord comes do$n, and it'll be the other side $ho go to feast in the s'y,"
he said, tuc'ing it into a poc'et&
%he nodded& -he cre$ thre$ a 'ha'i/colored groundsheet over the ,atling on its t$o/$heel
mount and scattered handfuls of dirt over that& 0aving dug their o$n holes, the infantry $ere
doing li'e$ise&
0ollard $al'ed out in front of his o$n line and e;amined it carefully& -he ma#)irov)a $as good
3a useful Russian $ord much emphasi.ed in the tactical manual put together by a committee of
retired types $ith several centuries of combat e;perience bet$een them& 7t $as another
advantage the 7slanders had& 0e'd met plenty of :ron.e Age hunters $ho $ere e7tremel, good at
hiding out, but fe$ of the $arrior types thought that $ay& Most of them had styles that
deliberately dre$ the enemy's attention, and by their codes trying to hide $as shameful&
&ncon#icuou#, he thought, loo'ing at his o$n position& <oo)# e7actl, li)e a3out one coman,,
"a#til, dug in&
:esides the ma#)irov)a, they'd used the irregularities of the ground $ellE the supplies and
hospital tent $ere out of sight altogether, behind s$ellings that turned them into dead ground&
0e loo'ed bac' and forth& -roops dug in, reserves at hand, $eapons placed by the boo'D no$
all he could do $as pray&
"-hey come," Raupasha said, 6umping do$n from her chariot before the hilloc' that held the
e;peditionary force's command personnel& -hat $asn't much> @enneth 0ollard, his si;/person
staff, and a clump of communications technicians and runners&
-he horses $ere flaring their nostrils to dra$ breath, foam splattered their nec's and shoulders,
and several arro$s stood in the frame of the vehicle& @enneth 0ollard sa$ $ith a sudden stab of
alarm that she $as holding one hand to her side, $ith blood on her fingers&
"Aou're hitB" he said&
"7t is nothing, @enn'et," she said& "A gra.e& 8ne of the 0ittite charioteers had a gun3the type
$ith t$o barrels, that shoots many bulletsD"
"%hotgun," he said automatically&
"A shotgun& :ut he aimed badly, and 7 did not&" %he pointed behind her& "-hey come&"
0e nodded& -he 0ittites $ere $hooping for$ard about half a mile a$ay, and the Mitannians
retreating fast and to the right& -han' ,od they'd 'ept enough $its to remember $hat he'd saidE
he didn't $ant friendly forces mas'ing his fire $hen the fecal matter hit the air/circulating
device& And from the dust3bless the dust here, you couldn't move troops $ithout raising it, and
it $as a boon to the man standing still35al'er's men $ere coming in on t"eir right a mile
further bac', ready to support their local allies&
"Aou should get bac' to the hospital tent and have that seen to," 0ollard said sternly, then
smiled& "7 don't $ant it festering&"
"(o, it $ould spoil the coronation if 7 smelled li'e a corpse three days dead," Raupasha laughed&
"-eshub and 7ndara be $ith you, @enn'et, and hold their hand over you&"
"Amen," 0ollard muttered&
%he saluted and gave him an urchin grin as he returned the gesture3 she had earned it, today and
in :abylon& -hen she $al'ed a$ayE the driver handed off his team and $ent after her, carrying
the scabbarded 5erder and the ammunition, and follo$ing the princess $ith an e;pression about
as dogli'e as %abala's&
1ave to $ind "er a "u#3and, & #uo#e, 0ollard thought& -houghD most of the local aristocrats
and princelings $ouldn't be very happy $ith a $oman $ho had been contaminated $ith 7slander
ideas of independence& 6ot nece##aril, or all t"e time, he thought& <oo) at m, ne* 3rot"er-in-
la*. So *e #"ould 3e a3le to dig #omeone u $or "er& -he thought $as obscurely irritating, and
he pushed it aside& :usiness to attend to&
(o$ to see if his plan $or'ed& +sually they didn't, in combat& -he e;ceptions $ere $here you'd
completely suc'ered the other side, a successful ambush or flan' attac'& -hat $as $hen you $on
big&
-he 0ittites $ere coming full/tilt for his position& 0e leveled his binocularsE chariots in front at
the trot, footmen running behind3 standard formation, for the (ear 4ast in the thirteenth century
:&C& -he 0ittites $ould be more prone to try and ram right in than most, using the chariot for
shoc'& 0e caught one man $ith a sun dis' on the top of his conical helmet, shouting orders and
$aving a s$ordE not @urunta of -arhuntassa himself, but probably a relative3the 0ittite 4mpire
$as a family business, cemented by a stream of daughters from 0attusas sent out to marry vassal
'ings, and vice versa& -he snipers had been briefed to loo' for that insignia&
Closer, closer& 0ollard's lips s'inned bac' as he scanned to his left& 5al'er's men $ere coming
on bris'ly, advancing in company columns at the double, $ith their rifles across their chests&
-rotting along $ere $hat loo'ed li'e fieldpieces, si;/horse teams, and light gleaming off iron
and brass&
T"e,'re u#ing t"e 1ittite'# to unma#) and develo our o#ition, he thought, plus using them to
simply soa' up bullets& Reasonably $ell/trained men and a commander $ith some grasp of
tactics, then& 1ossibly one of 5al'er's 7slander renegades& 0e hoped soE it $ould be a positive
pleasure to string one of t"em up& -hey'd all been sentenced to death for treason in absentia years
ago, too&
0ollard 6udged distancesE you $ent by $hich features of a man's body you could see easily,
$hen legs became separate from the generali.ed antli'e blob, $hen you could see arms s$ing or
a face& -he 0ittites $ere closing rapidly, but the 5al'erites $ere hanging bac'3 over t$o
thousand yards, e;treme rifle range but $ell $ithin that of heavy/$eapons fire&
0e reached for the radio at his belt and clic'ed& "Captain 8' Rour'e&"
"0ere, sir&"
"Let them have it, 1addy&"
"5ith a $ill, :rigadier, sir, $ith a $ill&"
.AAAAMMM0
A hundred rifles volleyed from the %couts' deliberately badly camouflaged rifle pits& Ma#)irov)a
$as more than 6ust hidingE it $as decetion, disinformation& 7t $asn't $hat you didn't 'no$ that
'illed you, it $as $hat you thought you 'ne$ that $asn't so& A do.en 0ittite chariots $ent do$nE
a fe$ of them flipped completely over, pitching for$ard and s9uashing the screaming cre$s li'e
bugs beneath a frying pan&
Sc"ooon)? *"on)0
-he %couts' mortar opened up as $ell& A shell landed in the middle of the dense/pac'ed 0ittite
infantry, and men fell, opening out in a circle around the e;plosion li'e an evil flo$er $ith a
crimson blossom& -he riflemen $ere firing independent/rapid as $ell and at less than four
hundred yards mostly hitting& Men and chariots $ere going do$n all across the 0ittite frontE he
sa$ arro$s fly out, fe$ covering even half the distance, and there $ere puffs of smo'e from
some of the chariots3smoothbores firing shot, even more futile than the bo$s& -he charge
$avered, $hich $as e;actly the $rong thing to do, li'e most half measures& -hey should either
run as fast as they could, ta'e cover, or 'eep charging& A running man could cover four hundred
yards in a disconcertingly short time, if you $ere on the receiving end&
0orns and trumpets sounded& 0ollard brought up his binocularsE the man $ith the sun dis' on his
helmet had survived and $as going into a fren.y of signaling& 7n bet$een he fired shotguns,
handing them off to a loader as he did so3a ne$ use for the three/man 0ittite chariot cre$, and
9uite ingenious& -he chariots reversed themselves and galloped a$ay, and the infantry flattened
themselves to the ground&
Sc"ooon)? *"on)< More mortar shells falling among the prostrate men& 0e sympathi.ed, in a
$ayE that $as the most unpleasant part, having to $ait helplessly and hope you $ere luc'y&
Mostly he felt detached& 2o$n underneath he could feel fear, not so much fear of death as of
certain mutilating $ounds, and more fear for the lives that depended on his decisions&
"0ere they come," he said aloud, and his staff nodded soberly&
-he 5al'erites $ere deploying, going from column into a t$o/line formation, $ell spread out,
s$inging in to envelop the little 7slander position&
"Right, about si; hundred up, say three hundred in reserve," he said&
-hrough the binoculars he could see men manhandling $eapons for$ard& -hey $ere on field/
gun carriages $ith shields, li'e the 7slander ,atlings but not 9uite the same& Fairly light, or they
couldn't be brought for$ard that fast3'eeping up $ell $ith the infantry& A battery of si; real
field guns galloped for$ard and then deployed, the teams turning and then being unhitched and
led to the rear, cre$s leaping do$n and running the ammunition limbers for$ard, ready to form a
chain to hand rounds up to the loading teams&
.udumm& A sound li'e a heavy door closing and a long puff of smo'e from one of the enemy
cannonE it ran bac' under the recoil& (o surpriseE the Republic couldn't ma'e a mobile gun $ith a
recoil/absorbing carriage yet either& -hen a savage snapping crac) of red fire in the air not far
behind 1addy's position, and a $ide oval of dust as the casing fragments and lead balls hit the
ground&
Mu::le-loader#, t*elve-ounder #moot"3ore#, he thought, $atching the s$ab/ram/fire loading
drill& !iring #"ranel, time-$u#ed #"ell#& -hey $ere getting off more then t$o rounds a minute&
,ood practice&
%ome$here his soul $incedE he'd put 1addy's unit out there as bait, and they $ere going to pay
again, the $ay they had this morning& -he rifle fire dropped off as the %couts hugged the bottoms
of their holesE the area around their position $as turning into a ha.e of dust and smo'e as the
enemy fell into a regular rhythm of load/run/up/s$ab/ram/fire, rounds coming for$ard from the
limbers li'e a buc'et chain at a bla.e&
(rice o$ doing 3u#ine##, he told himself, as the cry of "corpsman<" $ent up and the stretcher
teams $ent for$ard& 0e'd authori.ed enlisting local volunteers to carry $ounded, to free his o$n
troops for the fighting, and they $ere going in as bravely as men could be as'ed to do&
"Captain Lautens," he said into the radio& 0e $ished Chong $ere here3he 'ne$ the man's $or'
3but Lautens hadn't scre$ed up so far& -he artillery commander's voice replied crisply>
"5hen you unmas', go for those $hatever/they/ares brought for$ard $ith the infantryE they're
your first priority&"
"%ir, yessir& 5e're ready&"
",ood man&"
Closer, closerD 8ne of the mystery $eapons stopped, turned& -he shield hid $hatever it $as the
cre$ did at the breech, but he could see rifle rounds spar'ing off it in snapping $hite flic's of
light, leaving lead smears across the metal& 1a# to 3e #teel $or t"at, he thoughtE a $rought/iron
shield $ould be too soft& -hen the mu..le flashes, and a distant 3raaaaa of sound& -he bullets
struc' spar's all around the %cout company's mortar position, off roc's and the barrel of the
$eapon& -he cre$ had gone to earth in their slit trench, as he'd ordered in advance3they $ere
there to lure the enemy, not hurt him&
"-a'e a note of that shield," he said to the lieutenant $ho $as in charge of 7ntel& "Multiple
barrels, 7'd say&" 0adn't there been some French $eaponB "Rate of fire's not as high as a ,atling,
but it's definitely useful&"
Fairly close no$, the long line of men 6ogging for$ard, their artillery firing over their heads&
-hose heads $ent up, an apprehensive movement3valuable clue to the reliability of their fuses&
(o$ they $ent do$n on one 'nee, bringing their rifles to their shouldersD
"1addy, your people are out of it3have them cease fire and ta'e cover& All company
commanders," he said into the radio& "6o*0 @
Canvas covers fle$ off, and the $hole of the 7slander position erupted in smo'e and red strobing
flashes& -he Marine riflemen $ere firing at ma;imum speed, mad/minute snatch/and/shootE the
,atling gunners turning the cran's and grinding out a storm of lead li'e $ater from a high/
pressure hose& An endless string of firecrac'ers might have sounded something li'e that, if they'd
been thro$n by the hundreds& -he steady, heavy thuds of the artillery came through it, and he
sa$ one of the enemy rapid/fire $eapons disintegrate, $heel and barrel and shield flying in
separate directionsD probably $ith pieces of the cre$ mi;ed in&
% % %
"Clamp< Clamp and tie off&"
Clemens hated spouting $ounds& A..u/ena's hand came do$n into the cavity $ith the long
scissorsli'e instrumentE the blunt tips found the vein and pinched it closed& An assistant slid her
fingers in $ith the loop of catgut ready& -hey stayed out of his $ay $ith practiced s'ill&
"(umber four<" he called, and someone put it into his hand& 7t $as a small silvered mirror on the
end of a thin curved handle& 0e slid it in carefullyD
",ot it< 4;tractor&"
-he number four $ent into his left hand, and he used the tiny smeared picture to guide the
needle/nosed instrument in his right& 4ase it closed, and the feel of metal under the heads& Figgle&
5e#0 A surge of triumph as he eased it out, brought the bent, distorted lump of metal up before his
eyes& 8ood. 2idn't 3rea) u& 0e e;amined the trac' of the $ound again, chec'ing for bits of
cloth and 'illed tissue that $ould rot if left in&
"7rrigate and s$ab," he said $hen he $as sure& "Close him up&"
-he final running stitch, the assistants painting $ith disinfectant and bandaging& 0e chec'ed the
blood pressureE no real need for a transfusion, although he'd have ordered one bac' on the 7sland,
6ust in case& 0ere there $ere too many $ho reall, needed it, and no refrigerated $hole blood on
hand3you had to do it live&
"(e;t<"
"-hat's it, 2octor," the orderly said&
Clemens staggered slightly, li'e a man $ho'd run do$n stairs in the dar' and e;pected a fe$
more at the bottom than there $ere& 0e loo'ed aroundE four of the other surgeons $ere busy, but
no fresh cases $ere coming in3nothing but routine bandaging, at least&
"-a'e a brea'," he said, then $al'ed out of the tent and into an area shaded by an a$ning,
scrubbed and dried off, and collapsed onto a bench and pulled do$n his mas'& A..u/ena sat
beside him and handed him an enameled mug of $ater& 0e too' it, relishing the slightly chlorine/
tasting lu'e$armness of it&
"Aou're getting good," he said&
%he blushed slightly and rubbed at her big hoo'ed nose& "7've had a good teacher&"
0e hesitated and opened his mouth to spea'& 7nstead he fro.e, loo'ing up& -here $as a screaming
in the air, and an arching trail of smo'e from the north, $here the burble of small/arms fire
continued& -he screaming gre$ louder, and he found himself acting $ithout ma'ing a decision at
all, s$eeping the :abylonian into his arms and diving for the ground, his body covering hers&
% % %
"2amn," @enneth 0ollard said mildly& "Moral courage&"
"%irB" one of the staff officers said& %he had a slight Fiernan accent, so he amplified&
"-he enemy commander has moral courage& 0e's not afraid to admit he got suc'ered and cut his
losses and retreat&"
-he smo'e obscured his vie$, but through the gaps the $ind made he could see the enemy
infantry pulling bac'3one line lying prone and firing, the other turning and dashing to the rear
for fifty yards, then falling to the earth and giving covering fire $hile their comrades did the
same, or dragged bac' the not/too/badly $ounded& -he rapid/fire $eapons did the same, the
three that $ere leftE the field guns $ere still firing, the cre$s snatching up the trails as they
recoiled and running them bac' $ith the momentum, stopping and firing again, repeating the
process& And the enemy commander had uncommitted reserves&
"8rder our people for$ard, sirB" the staffer as'ed& 0ollard shoo' his head again&
"5e'd ta'e a heavy butcher's bill doing that," he said& "And they can move bac'$ard 6ust as fast
as $e can move for$ard&" 0e loo'ed upE it $as $ell past noon& "-hey'd brea' contact in the
dar'E $e don't have the numbers to overrun them&"
0e loo'ed over to his left, to the range of roc'y hills& A little further a$ay than he'd li'e, but
ground $as ground3you couldn't rearrange it to suit& 0e might not have the numbers re9uired to
simply over$helm the enemy, but he did have a card up his sleeve&
T"at *a# ,our one reall, 3ad mi#ta)e, he thought at the enemy commander& Too eager& -oo
convinced that he had to move for$ard $ith ma;imum speed to snap up the tempting target of an
isolated (antuc'eter force& 5ou #"ould "ave #couted t"e *"ole area t"oroug"l,3 u#ed ,our
1ittite# $or it&
@enneth 0ollard reached for the radioE the :abylonian (e$ -roops had only one, their
commander's& Fust then a moaning $histle brought his head up sharply& A trail of fire and smo'e
rose up from the rear of the enemy position& 7t moaned across the s'yE he turned to $atch it
overshoot his command post, heading for the rear area&
&'m not t"e onl, one *"o "ad a #urri#e u "i# #leeve, he 'ne$ $ith angry self/reproach&
"All units, go to ground and ta'e cover," he bar'ed into the handset& "Roc'et bombardment
incoming<"
-he staff and runners 6umped for the slit trenches& 0ollard vaulted into one too, but braced
himself for$ard on one 'nee to observe& -he roc'et launchers had loo'ed li'e $agons $ith their
canvas covers on& -hose $ere bac', the bo;y frames that held the si; tubes elevated by a cran'&
As he $atched, a man snapped a lighter under a dangling fuse and then turned and ran, diving to
the ground a hundred feet a$ay& -he roc'ets lit $ith a dragon's hiss, firing one by one in no
particular order as the combined fuse split into individual ones and reached the po$der 3ut $a#t&
0e dropped into the bottom of the narro$ trench and brought 'nees to chin, letting his flared
helmet cover as much of him as possible& (o$ it $as simply luc'& -he s'y overhead shrie'ed as
if in torment, and then the multiple %rac)%rac)%rac)%rac) and surf/roar of impact began&
"First @ar/2uniash<" he shouted into the receiver&
"0ere&" @athryn 0ollard's voice, calm but $ith an underlying tension&
",o for it, %is& -hose things can reload fast3he can punish us and pull out behind it&"
"5ill do&"
-he doctor and the a#u came to their feet, brushing themselves off& Fustin Clemens loo'ed
aroundE there $as a crater in the empty land t$o hundred yards a$ay, but nobody seemed to be
hurt& (ot hereE up north the s'y $as $oven $ith a $eb of smo'e trails and a continuous rippling
roar of e;plosions&
-hey $ould be very busy soon& Fustin Clemens felt his hands begin to tremble and his breath
gro$ short& -levated 3lood re##ure and #tre##, he told himself, $hich helped very little&
"Ms& A..u/ena," he croa'ed&
%he loo'ed at him, dar' eyes alertE she 'ne$ that meant formality, in 4nglish&
"5$$$D 5ould you please marry meB"
0er eyes flared $ideE $hatever she'd been e;pecting, it $asn't t"at& -hen they filled $ith tears,
and she opened her mouth to reply&
@1ere t"e, come0 @
-he cry brought their heads up& 0orse/dra$n ambulances $ere 6ouncing do$n the rough ground
from the north, to$ard the laagered $agons and the tents& -hey turned and dashed bac' into the
operating theater, heading for the vats of disinfectant&
"7 have no do$ry<" she hissed, as they ran their arms under the stream&
"7 $ouldn't say that," he said& "7 $ouldn't say that at all&"
+e're nearl, 3e"ind t"em, @athryn 0ollard thought&
-he enemy advance had s$ept past the hiding place of her force& :ut they had three/9uarters of a
mile to cover before they reached the position $here roc'et launchers $ere vomiting fire bac' at
the 7slanders& 8ne had blo$n up in a spectacular globe of red/gold flame as it $as being
reloaded, but that left five& -he $ind s$ept smo'e to$ard them, smelling of burnt sulfur and
death&
"Men of the First @ar/2uniash<" she said, loo'ing do$n the line&
4ight hundred of them, crouching $ith their bearded faces turned first to$ard the sounds of
battle and then to$ard her& 8od )no*#, t"ere are time# *"en & *anted ,ou all droed into "ell
and t"e door loc)ed and t"e )e, in 2r. 1ong'# oc)et, she thought& %he "ad hung four in
:abylon for rape and looting during the street fighting, and then she'd had to pistol the brother of
one of the convicted $hen he tried to murder her&
"For your 'ing and your salt and given oaths," she said& "-he battle cry is /a#"tilia#"0 (o$
follo$ me<"
%he scrambled for$ard, and there $as a multiple clatter and scrape of hobnails on roc'E they
$ere follo$ing& @athryn felt her breath releaseE after :abylon she'd been fairly sure3but there
they $ere under the eye of their prince& 8n either side the line shoo' itself out, t$o/deep and
spread out3nothing fancy, but it $ound over the irregularities of the ground li'e a living serpent
tipped $ith a glittering line of steel points& -he months in the desert hadn't been $asted, then&
-hey $ere do$n onto the flat, and all she could see $as the smo'e and distant figures, all she
could hear $as the crac'le of rifles, the thudding bar' of artillery, the hiss of the roc'ets li'e an
angry cat larger than $orlds&
"-rumpeter, sound 2ou3le time," she said& -he notes rang out, brassy and s$eet in the hot, dry
air& +e're coming, 3ig 3rot"er&
A gun suddenly s$iveled around and turned to$ard herE despite the distance, the mu..le loo'ed
big enough to s$allo$ her head& A flash of flame/shot smo'e, the rising $histle sound, and it
burst over the ran's to her left& Men tumbled and fell, still or $rithing li'e bro'en/bac'ed li.ards
in a cat's 6a$s&
"-rumpeter, sound !ire and advance&"
-he first ran' $ent to one 'nee, and their rifles came up& A staccato ripple of fire and smo'e ran
do$n the line as four hundred rifles fired, and then their $ielders $ere going through their
loading drill& %he trotted through the rotten/egg/smelling fogban' of their discharge and sa$ the
second ran' dash through the first and run ten yards ahead, going to one 'nee in their turn& Men
$ere turning their $ay in the enemy ahead, pulling bac' li'e a door s$inging& -he enemy
commander $as refusing his flan', turning his formation into an L as he pulled bac', $ith the
short end facing her& Facing her, the men in it prone and shooting bac'&
A $eapon li'e a fat cannon pointed at the First @ar/2uniash and a $hole file of men $ent do$n,
bullets slapping into flesh, spar'ing and raising puffs of dust around their feet, going tinnnn) into
helmets li'e a smith's punch&
"-rumpeter, sound %"arge'& @ashtiliash< @ashtiliash<"
@/AS1T&<&AS10@
%he s$ept out her 1ython pistol and coc'ed it $ith her thumb&
@%"arge0 %"arge0@
@enneth 0ollard loo'ed do$n as the stretcher $as carried up the rear ramp of the -manciator&
0e recogni.ed %ergeant %mith, despite the mass of bandages that covered her torso, and bent
over her& 0er eyes $ere $andering $ith morphine, but they recogni.ed himD or at least focused
on his face&
",ood $or'," he said, and then s$itched to the %un 1eople tongue of Alba& "Aou fought $ell,
$arrior&"
"1ithair," she murmured, smiling faintly& -hat meant "father," and he didn't thin' she $as
invo'ing her god& 0e $as certain $hen she $ent on, "&# it *ell, at la#t, !at"erB @
"2a"ig 'tair, @ he began& 8ue## #"e'# #eeing #omeone el#e, he thought, laying a hand on the
clammy coldness of her forehead& "2aughter, it is very $ell&"
%he sighed and closed her eyes, and the bearers carried her up the ramp and into the long
gondola, fitting her stretcher into the rac's and transferring her 7I to the holder& Lieutenant
Iic'i Cofflin came bac' from the control stations in the bo$, turning side$ays to pass a corps/
man doing something to one of the $ounded& A sharp smell drifted bac'$ard under the e;haust
fumes of the idling enginesE it $as the odor of disinfectant, and someho$ of pain&
8od, & "ate vi#iting t"e *ounded& Aou had to, of courseE men and $omen in pain needed to 'no$
that they $ere valued for $hat they'd done&
"5e're ready to go, sir," the commander of the -manciator said, saluting& "5e'll have them in
the hospital at +r :ase in a fe$ hours, and then $e'll be bac' $ith the loads you specified&"
%he nodded do$n and for$ardE $ater $agons $ere on either side of the gondola's underbelly,
$ith hoses running from the dirigible's 'eel ballast tan's& "-hought $e could spare the $ater,
seeing as $e're heavily laden and heading right bac' into home base," she said&
0e returned the salute and shoo' her hand& "-his thing is damned useful," he said& "7 might $ant
you to do some high/level reconnaissance $hen you get bac'& 7n the meantime, 7 need a
temporary lift and the use of your radio3need to tal' to your uncle&"
-he -manciator'# po$erful generator and altitude gave its short$ave set as much range as the
one at +r :ase, or Republic 0ome at (antuc'et Airport, for that matter&
"Aye, aye, sir& 5elcome aboard&"
0e climbed the ramp behind her, s9uee.ed past the corpsmen, and held on to a stanchion as the
mooring ropes $ere released& -he -manciator turned and circled up$ard s$iftly, s$aying a
little, and he sa$ the huge orca/shaped shado$ d$indle as the mooring cre$s $ent stumbling
bac'$ard from the bli..ard of dust and grit&
0ollard's ears poppedE he loo'ed north$est, straining his eyes for a sight of the retreating enemy&
All he sa$ $as smo'e from the grass fires the battle had started& Iic'i Cofflin bro'e his
concentration&
"%ir&"
0e started a little&
"%ir, $e're neutral at thirty/five hundred& -hat's as high as 7'd care to go, $ith the $ounded
aboard&"
0ollard nodded and turned bac', sliding into the communications officer's chair and slipping the
earphones onto his head& %he $as turning dials for him, and a crac'le of static foretold success&
"-hat should do it, sir, if you $ant to try&"
"0ollard here," he said& "0ollard here& 8ver&"
"Republic 0ome here, receiving loud and clear& Fust a moment, :rigadier 0ollardD"
"1ortsmouth :ase here& Commodore Alston is monitoring this fre9uencyD coming in loud and
clear&"
"-his is the Chief&" -he familiar dry t$ang sounded in his ears& "0ear you had a bit of a dustup&"
"Aes, sir," 0ollard replied& "7'll be ma'ing a full report soonest& :ottom line, $e ran into a force
of 5al'er's Achaeans& 5e $on, but $e didn't brea' them, and they're better e9uipped than $e
anticipated& 5e suffered thirty/t$o fatals, our local irregulars about three times that, and the First
@ar/2uniash about t$ice&"
0e loo'ed off to the north$est, $here the enemy force $as $ithdra$ing, li'e a $ounded lion
into a thic'et, sullen and hurt but not seriously $ea'ened&
"1reliminary prisoner interrogations indicate this $as one regiment of a brigade that's been
operating in support of @urunta of -ar/huntassa, out of Miletus, for the past couple of months&"
0e pulled a pad out of his thigh poc'et& "0ere are some specs on the e9uipment&"
5hen he finished, Alston's soft %ea 7sland accent came on the circuit& "2amn," she said& "0e
found a $ay around the ammunition problem $e thought he'd $aste time on& 5e outsmaahted
ourselves theah&"
"Ayup," Fared Cofflin said& "(ot the first time3$e'll 6ust try to ma'e it the last& 5hat's your
appraisal, sonB"
"%ir, $e're in for a harder $ar than $e thought& 5e're going to need more of everything, and
$e'll have to raise and e9uip more local troops& -he First @ar/2uniash did very $ellD in fact, 7
thin' no$ that my sister's, ah, Lieutenant Colonel 0ollard's3
"(o need to get formal, son&"
"3marriage $as e;tremely fortunate& -his $as probably a probing attac' to see if they could
ta'e over in Mitanni& :ut $e need to lin' up $ith the 0ittites, $e need to raise the siege of -roy
and get Councilor Arnstein out, and $e need to field a substantial force here to counter the
Achaeans&"
"MarianB" Cofflin's steady voice as'ed&
"4ssentially correct," she said& "-hough 7'd add that it's a very high priority to brea' the
-artessian bloc'ade in the %traits of ,ibraltar, so $e can get some sea po$er out there, cut
5al'er off from Anatolia&"
0ollard felt himself nodding& "-hat's ,od's truth, Chief&"
Cofflin sighed& "7f only $e'd 'illed 5al'erD"
"5e $ill," Alston said flatly& "7n the meantime, :rigadier 0ollard, 7 suggest that you proceed as
you outlined& 7'm preparing for the naval $ing of our strategy, but that's going to ta'e time, too&
For one thing, if $e do $in in the %traits, $e'll need basing facilities3Alba's too far a$ay&"
"Ma'am, yes ma'am&"
"Consult $ith Councilor Arnstein and Ms& Arnstein on the political side," Cofflin said& "5e have
to 'eep those alliances as tight as $e can and build all the influence $e can&"
"Roger on that, sir& 7'll be getting the Mitannian situation organi.ed over the ne;t couple of
$ee's3it's crucial&" 0e loo'ed at his $atch& "As a matter of fact, there's a meeting $ith Ms&
Raushapa's supporters scheduled 9uite soon& 7'll have a full report to you and the commodore
$hen 7 get bac' to +r :ase ne;t $ee'&"
",ood $or', son, and ,odspeed& -ell your people that from me and all of us, as $ell3our
thoughts are $ith them, the $hole Republic's are&"
"-han' you, sir&"
"Aou're doing reasonably $ell so far," the commodore added& "Fust don't lose sight of the forest
for the trees&"
"-han' you, ma'am&"
And don't #cre* u, he added to himself& ;ig"t, let'# get t"e little rince## #ecure on "er t"roneD
"-han' you, Lieutenant," he said, relin9uishing the comm seat to its usual o$ner& "Let's get me
bac' on the ground&"
"Aessir&" 7n a commander's tone, smooth and firm for someone so young> "8ff superheat, valve
the maneuvering cell&"
A hissing in the bac'ground that he'd scarcely noticed $ent a$ay, and hot air ceased to flo$ into
the big central cell in the airship's fuselage& -he -manciator'# circling began to ta'e her
do$n$ard, li'e running along a huge, smooth invisible ramp in the s'y& -he orderly layout of
the e;peditionary force camp belo$ s$elled&
"4ngines negative ninety&"
Cre$fol' heaved at the $heelsE the dirigible's motion changed as the engine pods s$ung to point
their fans at the s'y, and the descent accelerated as they pushed it do$n$ard&
"Maintain& Altitude nine hundredD seven hundredD throttles bac' half& All right, sir, time for
you to drop out on us&"
0ollard nodded and $al'ed bac' to the center of the gondola& -$o of the cre$ helped him into a
harness much li'e a parachute's& Another dropped a long coil of rope to$ard the groundE it
seemed to shrin' as it fell a$ay, turning from $rist/thic' hemp to a gossamer thread by the time
it raised a puff of dust belo$, at the edge of the airship's shado$& Marines sprang to hold it&
"Rope through here, sir"3a clic) as the mechanism engaged3 "and you s9uee.e this to slo$
do$n& %9uee.e to slo$, let go to go faster, sir&"
"-han' you, sailor," he said, and stepped out over the hole& ",ungho<"
A long, s$ooping fall, e;hilarating and frightening at the same time, li'e roc' climbing or
rappelling on an obstacle course& 0e s9uee.ed at the handgrip as the faces belo$ him s$elled,
then hit the 9uic'/release catch in the center of his chest as the earth hit his boots& -he Marines
holding the line let go $ith a rush, and the dirigible climbed, turning for the southeast and
accelerating as the engines pivoted do$n to the hori.ontal&
"Magnificent<"
:rigadier @enneth 0ollard turned and stepped into the chariotE Raupasha $as driving herself
no$, and moving easily3it "ad been a gra.e, along her side&
"Magnificent," she said again& "7 $ould love to do that myself someday, @enn'et&"
"-hat might be arranged," he said, laughing and ruffling %abala's ears and then shoving the dog
firmly a$ay3the hound $as a dedicated crotch/sniffer, li'e most of his breed& "Aour people are
going to hail you here, thenB'
"Aes," she said, her mood turning serious& "-oday $e shed our blood together, as the true
mariannu of old didE today $e3and you3 $on a victory over an ancient enemy&"
-he Mitannians $ere gathered in the lee of a lo$, smooth hillE it cast some shade, no$ that the
sun $as inclining to$ard the $est& -hey had lit campfires, a surprisingly orderly array, and they
rose $ith a crashing cheer as the chariot s$ept up the hill& 0is bro$ raised $hen some of them
brandished flintloc' shotguns as $ell as spears and looted 0ittite $eapons& +ell, he thought, *e
$ere going to tr, and tal) /a#"tilia#" into aut"ori:ing #ome Mitannian 6e* Troo# a# *ell&
1robably it could be doneD
Raupasha dre$ rein $ith a flourish and raised her free hand to silence the roaring $aves of
sound& %he $aited until the 9uiet $as tense $ith e;pectation and then bro'e into impassioned
speech& 7n 0urrian, of course, of $hich comple; agglutinative language he spo'e perhaps three
phrases, including "princess&"
"please," and "than' you&"
%pears thrust up into the gro$ing dar' as men leaped and danced $ith 6oyE another paro;ysm of
sound struc' $hen she grabbed 0ollard's $rist and raised it high, then $rapped his hand around
hers& -he contact $as very pleasant, and he beat do$n a touch of guilt as she let go again, giving
his palm a s9uee.e&
-hen the heads of the $ar bands began to come for$ard, to 'neel before Raupasha and place
their hands bet$een hersE he $as a little uneasy as they too' his right hand and pressed it to their
foreheads after$ard& -hat too' most of an hour, and Raupasha spo'e again, raising his hand $ith
hers once more&
"-hey seem really pleased," he said to her& %he nodded, raising shining eyes to his& "5hat $as
that last part aboutB"
"-hey $ere more than pleased, Lord @enn'et," she said solemnly, "$hen they heard that you
$ould be my consort, to father a ne$ line of 'ings for Mitanni, sons $ho $ould ma'e us
glorious as of old&"
For a moment the $orld seemed to stop& 0ollard closed his eyes& 4", #*eet 9e#u#, and in u3lic,
"o* 'm & going to get out o$ t"i#, /a#"tilia#" *ill go 3alli#tic, /at"r,n *ill cut m, te#ticle# o$$,
and %ouncilor Arn#tein *ill $la, me, and *"at t"e %"ie$ and t"e commodore *ill #a,3
-here $ere no ade9uate $ords& :ut he had to try&
"8h, #"it<"
E&LOG"E
Augu#t, 5ear 10 A.-.
"Ma'am, she sails li'e a cast/iron pig," Captain -rudeau said&
"-he !arragut'# my ship, she's the most formidable thing on the 5orld 8cean and 7 love her
dearly, but she's cran', she's $et, she's not fit to be let out on the Atlantic on a dar' night&"
Commodore Alston clasped her hands behind her bac' and rose slightly on her toesE she'd al$ays
done that $hen she needed to thin'& Right no$ the bright surface of the %outhhampton 5ater
$as full of shipsE her o$n %"am3erlain, all si; of the Republic's frigates, and brigs, schooners,
things less nameable, score upon score of them, $ith s$arms of small craft crisscrossing the
$aters bet$een the anchored ships and the doc's& All the naval po$er of the Republic and its
Alliance gathered to ma'e an end to the -artessian pest, $ith thousands of $arriors ashore ready
to embar' on the troop ships along $ith the First (antuc'et Militia and the %econd Marines&
(ot far a$ay, the -agle lay at a single anchor, $aiting to unfurl her $ings and ta'e the string
$est$ard for home, $ith a light cargo and returning passengersE even $hen most of an
e;peditionary force $as going one $ay, some duty or necessity al$ays called in the other&
7t $as a bright August day, the sort that pre/4vent travel posters of 4ngland al$ays sho$ed and
nature rarely did, $ith a bree.e out of the north that ruffled the intensely blue $ater into a rippled
s'in ridged $ith $hite, pitching the ships at their anchors and bringing a smell of salt, silt, and
$oodsmo'e from the great volunteer camp around 1ortsmouth :ase& %outhbound $ings made
the s'y overhead clamorous, almost enough to mas' the noise of the encampment&
%he narro$ed her eyes against the brightness and considered the !arragut& 5ith her masts
shipped and $ithout the protective plating she loo'ed more normalE and still menacing, $ith the
t$o four/inch rifled guns on fo'c'sle and 9uarterdec' on their trac' mountings and the canvas/
shrouded ,atlings clamped to her rails, and the high bridge across her paddle bo;es&
"-hat's even $ithout the ram plating fittedB" she as'ed&
"-hat helps, but not all that much," -rudeau said, his eyes bright blue in a s$arthy face&
"(othing short of ripping out her engines and completely rebuilding the bo$ *ould help, as far
as her deep/$ater performance is concerned& %he ships $ater over the bo$ li'e a submarine if
there's any sort of sea, even under steam3,od only 'no$s $hat she'd do in a real blo$&"
"And %he's not tal'ing," Alston said& "0mmm& Reserve buoyancy's lo$, too3hard to recover
from being pooped&"
-rudeau came to the defense of his ship& "Apart from shipping $ater over the bo$, she's a honey
$ith her paddles going& Iery maneuverable&"
Alston nodded& +nfortunately, that didn't solve their problem& 4ven burning coal, $hich could be
gotten here in Alba, her engines $ere and $ould remain fuel hogs3reliable, and they gave her a
good t$elve 'nots, but useless for oceanic voyages& -here $as little point in having a steam ram/
gunboat that arrived at the scene of action $ith her fuel bun'ers dry, particularly $hen, for all
her three masts and ship/rig, she $asn't too handy under sail&
"5ell, 7'm afraid you'll have to nurse her along," Alston said& T"e de#ign "ad to 3e a
comromi#eA t"e c"aracteri#tic# o$ a ram and a 3lue-*ater #ailor ju#t aren't all t"at comati3le&
"Aou got her heah across the (orth Atlantic& 7've every confidence you'll be able to get her do$n
the :ay of :iscay and to ,ibraltar $ith us, ,od, Moon 5oman, and the $eather $illing&"
-he t$o American/born touched $oodE %$indapa made the Fiernan triple/touch gesture of
reverence&
"And the doc'yard's ready to help $ith the installation of the bo$ plating, Captain -rudeau,"
Alston $ent on&
-rudeau saluted& "Aes, ma'am3although that ma'es her even $orse&"
%$indapa sighed as he departed, then said, "7t's time, love&"
-hey $ent belo$, through the t$itter of pipes and the ritual calls of an officer leaving the ship,
into the great stern cabin& 2hin$arn sat on the big bun', her daughter's adopted children on
either side, loo'ing up as she told a story $ith an arm around either shoulder& -hey loo'ed
slightly incongruous in sailor suits ne;t to her Fiernan string s'irt, $hich $as $hat they'd been
$earing for the past couple of months at the ,reat 5isdom3or less& -he girls bounced to their
feet as their mothers came in&
"MomD"
"MomD"
0eather and Lucy loo'ed at each other, and visibly decided to give it one more try&
"2o $e "ave to goB"
"Aes, you do," Marian said, forcing a gentle smile& %ome on, *oman, ,ou're a commodore.
5ou're not allo$ed to 3a*l. &t'd #care t"e troo#. &t'll onl, 3e $or a $e* mont"#&
"Come on, no$, you don't $ant to miss the tide," she said&
"Aes $e do< 5e $ant to go $ith you<"
"5e could stay belo$ if there's trouble<"
"5e could carry po$der up from the maga.ine<"
%$indapa crouched and hugged 0eather as the child ran to her, stro'ing the red head and its
braids& "5e $ant you safe," she said&
Marian nodded, cupping a hand under Lucy's chin& "5e're going into action," she said& "Aou
$ouldn't $ant us $orrying about you, no$, $ould youB"
"Can't $e stay $ith ,randma, thenB" Lucy said, her great bro$n eyes filling $ith tears& "5e'd be
closer to you&"
2hin$arn laughed& "-hat $ould be dancing/rightly $ith me," she said in FiernanE she
understood 4nglish a lot better than she spo'e it&
"(o, s$eetlin', because you'll have to be at school again soon," Marian said& "Aou'll be staying
$ith +ncle Fared and Aunt Martha until $e get home& -hat $on't be too long, surelyE perhaps $e
can be bac' for Christmas&"
"1romiseB" 0eather said&
Marian 'issed her bro$& "(o, because 7 can't be sure& (o$ come on, honey, sugar& Ma'e us
proud&"
-hey too' the girls' handsE both bravely stifled tears as they led them bac' to the 9uarterdec'&
-heir sea chests $ere there3sources of immense pride, $ith their names neatly stenciled on the
sides, ,uard/fashion> 04A-04R AL%-8(/@+RL4L8 and L+CA AL%-8(/@+RL4L8, and
guard house, nantuc'et to$n underneath& %o $as the other luggage, souvenirs, bo;ed presents
from their @urlelo relatives, their favorite stuffed animals&
Captain (guyen of the -agle $as there as $ell, saluting and then repeating the gesture smartly
do$n at the t$o nine/year/olds& "Ready to go aboardB" he said&
-he Alston/@urlelo daughters loo'ed at each other and shed a little of their solemnness& ="-o",
Marian thought& &t ju#t occurred to t"em t"at t"e, get a vo,age *it"out t"eir mot"er# to #qua#"
t"e t"ing# t"e, reall, li)e to do a# too dangerou#3and t"e, t"in) t"e, can ull t"eir c"armer act
on 6gu,en&
"Aou might $ant to 'eep them in irons belo$ until you ma'e the :randt 1oint Light," she said&
"-hey're as mischievous as apes, the both of them, and $hat one doesn't thin' of to get into
trouble the other $ill&"
"Mom<" A $ail of indignation&
,rinning sailors hoisted the luggage and $ent over the side and do$n the rope ladder to the
-agle'# captain's gig& After a final e;change of hugs and 'isses, so did 0eather and Lucy&
(guyen shoo' their mothers' hands after his salute&
"2on't $orry, Commodore, Ms& %$indapa& 7'll see them and -agle both home safely&"
"7'm sure you $ill, Mr& (guyen," Alston said&
%$indapa nodded silently, a single tear trac' running do$n the honey/tan of her chee'& 7t too'
more than rings on the cuffs to convince a Fiernan that they shouldn't cry $hen they $ere sad&
-he bosun's pipe t$ittered (guyen over the side, and Marian stood $ith a hand shading her eyes&
%he smiled croo'edly as her daughters s$armed up the side3they *ere agile as apes, and a
summer spent rambling the countryside $ith their Fiernan cousins hadn't hurt a bit3and stood
by the rail, $aving again and again&
8rders echoed over the $ater, crisp and precise>
"+p and do$n<"
"Avast heaving<"
"Anchor at short stay<" -here $as a clatter of steel on steel, and the capstan cre$ paused&
-hen> ":rea' out the anchor<" and they heaved again, slo$ly at first, and then suddenly no
longer straining against the flu'es' hold on the bottom&
"Anchors a$eigh<"
%ail bro'e out from the bottom of the masts to$ard the top, and the ebbing tide and freshening
offshore bree.e too' -agle and heeled her slightly, a $ave appearing at her bo$&
"%hift colors<" came faint but clear, and the 6ac' and ensign came on smartlyE then the steaming
ensign bro'e out on the gaff&
"Mr& Fen'ins," Marian said&
0e saluted, smiling, and turned to bar' orders& -he bosun's pipe t$ittered, and a team bent to the
9uarterdec' carronade&
.oom<, softer and deeper than a long gun, and the puff of smo'e ble$ a$ay to the south and
lee$ard& -he t$o girls 6umped up and do$n as the signal gun saluted their departure, $aving
both arms from -agle'# fantail railing until all sight $as lost&
"Fair voyaging," %$indapa said softly& "Al$ays fair voyaging, and a fortunate star, and may
partings never hurt them $orse than this& And may they never have to sail to $ar&"
"Amen," Marian Alston said, and settled her billed cap firmly on her head& %he $ished that $ith
all her heart, but she suspected it $asn't very li'ely& "Final dining/in for the fleet captains
tonight," she said&
%$indapa nodded& -he Republic's fleet $ould sail to $ar as soon as the !arragut'# final 'illing
tool $as installed, and there $as a moa pit/roasting ashore for the last gathering of the
commanders&
"%o much has happened here," she said, loo'ing ashore to $here she'd been roped from her collar
to a sta'e, na'ed and filthy and shivering, $hen the -agle first arrived in these $aters&
"5e'll be bac'," Marian said& "And $e'll be home, and this $ill be memories, too&"
"-he $ar isn't over yet," %$indapa said& "%o much at sta'e&"
":ut $e haven't lost yet either," Alston smiled& "And $e're not going to&"
!or it i# not t"e 3rig"t arrival lanned
.ut in t"e journe,ing along t"e *a,
+e $ind t"e 8olden ;oad to Samar)and.