On the Rocks

by Peter Rhodan

  The priest spluttered. “You are another Julian the Apostate!” He cried. “God will smite you and all your works unless you repent and embrace his love!” He declared.

  Arturo shook his head. “Unlikely Priest. Your god is of little consequence to me I am afraid. I have more important things to undertake this day so be off about your business.”

  “God will not allow you to prevail. His word is the beginning and the end. Repent of your sins now before it is too late!’ He cried.

  “Oh do go away you silly man!” Arturo said forcefully. “I am not in the least interested in your ludicrous ranting. Now be off before I get truly annoyed.” He put his hand on the pommel of the Rufanig style sword he was wearing and made to move towards the priest who muttered something in alarm and backed away.

  “God will smite you and all your works barbarian!” He squeaked still backing up. “You cannot treat his representative like this!”

  “Yes I can. Enough of your babble priest. Save it for those who believe your hokey stories. Now be off and leave us to our business!” And he started to draw his sword. The priest turned and ran.

  Dileen shook his head. “Probably wasn’t wise Arturo. The Church wields almost as much power as the Emperor these days, more in many ways.”

  “One more thing wrong with this broken down Empire of yours.” Arturo said archly while watching the priest disappear towards his small church. “Now, Captain Largwil. Would you be able to carry my Aide here, Oween, down to Deva and return with him and hopefully a passenger?”

  Largwil was smiling in the direction of the priest, apparently not the least upset by Arturo's treatment of the fellow. He turned back to face Arturo and scratched his head “I guess I can do that. Takes me out of my normal routine though. People rely on me turning up regular like you know.”

  Arturo thought it was unlikely that many people relied on this small cargo ship to turn up with any sort of reliability but said nothing critical. “I understand Captain. I will make it worth your while I can assure you. I understand there is a good source of copper down that way?”

  “Aye, that be so. You be wanting some copper then?”

  “As much as you can bring. At a fair price mind.” Arturo added. “I know what the going rate is so don’t think you can fleece me. I could use some tin and any nickel you can find as well.”

  “I’ll see what I can find sir.” Largwil acknowledged. “Who did you say will be the one coming with us?”

  Arturo indicated Oween. “My aide Oween here will be the one you will be transporting.” Oween did not look all that surprised so had probably anticipated it would fall to him. “How long do you think it will take?”

  Largwil peered out at sea for a moment. “Best part of a week barring any serious storms. Maybe a day or two longer if we have to wait for the metal to come along the coast from where the mines are.”

  “Good. When do you sail?”

  “I have a few transactions to undertake. And need some supplies. Tomorrow afternoon on the outgoing tide would seem to be the best. You will be ready Oween?”

  Oween nodded. “Yes. I will come aboard after the midday meal. Do you actually have any cabins on that ship of yours?”

  “Not really. There’s a cubby under the stern deck I use as a cabin, but you will be forward of that with the crew I'm afraid.”

  Oween grimaced at this prospect. “I see. Well it can’t be helped I guess. You sure you don’t want to go in person Arturo?” He smiled winningly. “I’m certain you would be much more persuasive than I will be.”

  Arturo smiled at this attempt to weasel out. “Of course I would, but you have to learn how to be persuasive sooner or later too you know. Otherwise how are you going to get Briffet’s father to allow you to marry her?”

  Dileen chuckled. Oween looked sourly at Arturo but his eyes were crinkling. “That’s not the same.” He managed to get out finally.

  “Looks the same to me.” Arturo said smoothly. “Getting some crusty old bloke to agree to something he is not inclined to. Sounds like good practice to me, don’t you agree Dileen?”

  Dileen looked reluctant to get involved but finally nodded. “Oh aye, Arturo. Should be very good practice.”

  “Hmmph!” Said Oween in response to this but clearly could not think of anything to say in reply.

  The next afternoon the Moarciu sailed south with an unhappy Oween aboard while Arturo headed north to Dervent. once there he attached a different pair of Valerius’s men as bodyguards and headed for Alauna to find Menio the supposed scholar. He decided not to go via Alladraef as they were still holding for Maximus so his party made its way over to the coast north of Wern where they found the old Rufanig coastal road. The road had a fairly clear surface that wound along the windswept almost barren coastal route. Most of the old Rufanig roads were rapidly disappearing under overgrowth, especially where there was little traffic but the forbidding climatic conditions seemed to have slowed the overgrowth on this road despite the lack of regular traffic since Alauna was sacked.

  All in all he found it a rather depressing ride. To the left was the iron sea, which looked cold and uninviting under a generally leaden sky although they were not subjected to excessive amounts of rain thankfully, just a cool onshore wind that brought a whiff of salt laden shoreline smells regularly. The rough coastal scrub, looking terribly windblown, was interspersed with the semi demolished and quickly becoming overgrown mile forts of the former Rufanig garrison with the odd tree or bush poking here and there, usually in pockets protected from the wind. They must have deployed several thousand men along this coast, he thought to himself. What a waste! No wonder the Empire is declining.

  His small party camped for the night just back from the coast in a cleared area that must have once been part of a farm. In the growing gloom they were unable to find any farmhouse but the area was clearly not being used at the present. A small copse of bushy trees stood at one corner of the cleared area, all bent and foreshortened from the effects of the wind over their entire lives. They did provide Arturo and his men a small windbreak to pitch their tents under the lee of though for which he was grateful.

  Resuming their travel the next morning they entered an area that was obviously being farmed and were soon moving along a less overgrown part of the Rufanig road as they neared Alauna. Coming over a rise Arturo heard voices and off to the right behind some low bushes he spotted two men struggling with a third smaller person who they had pinned on the ground. Their attention being focused on their victim they did not notice the arrival of Arturo and his two men till the riders were almost upon them.

  One of the two men jumped up and drew a long knife taking up a defensive stance whilst the other struggled with their victim who now made renewed efforts to escape the man’s hold. The first fellow was rather unkempt looking in dull woollen clothes such as a not so well off farmer or hired hand would wear. The other fellow was similarly attired but sported red hair and a small beard. His two guards, seeing the first man pull out a knife immediately drew their own swords and were soon fixing their shields on their left arms.

  “Hold!” Arturo commanded then urged his horse forward slightly. “What goes on here?” He asked severely.

  “None of your business.” The one with the knife said but must have realised that being surly was probably not a smart move against three mounted warriors so he lowered his knife and used it to point to his mate and the struggling girl. “Just having a bit of fun with this runaway slave.” He grinned. “You can join in if you want.” He offered.

  “How do you know she’s a runaway slave?” Arturo asked trying to look unconcerned, leaning forward on the horse’s neck in a casual manner.

  “She be a Pechti sir. And she has the mark of the Selgovae so she must have escaped them and come south.” The man with the knife explained.

  Arturo nodded then turned to the still struggling captor and girl. “You. Girl. You understand us?” He asked in Brythonic.

  The girl stopped s
truggling and nodded. “Aye.” She said looking wary.

  “You are an escaped slave of the Selgovae?”

  She hung her head and nodded.

  Arturo leaned back in his saddle and pulled out his crossbow. While he used the ratchet to pull the cord back he smiled at the three of them. “Well you see I don’t really like the whole slavery thing you understand.” He said calmly and reaching down and back into the quiver strapped to the other side of the saddle he fitted an arrow to the now cocked crossbow. ”And I really, really dislike women being raped by common bullies.” He said bringing the crossbow round to point it straight at the man with the knife. “I am Arturo Sandus, Primarius of the New Republic and I don’t appreciate what I am seeing here so I am going to give you two one chance to get out of my sight. So run! Now!” He said raising his voice.

  The two men looked at each and back to him and then unsurprisingly broke and ran. Arturo gave a quick had signal to his two guards before dismounting and while he walked over to the girl they rode in the direction the two men were headed, just to make sure the two ruffians kept running. As he approached where she lay she cringed back so he lay the crossbow on the ground and opened his hands to her. “I will not hurt you.” He said simply and smiled not coming any closer.

  She hugged herself and watched him without saying anything for a bit. Her face was dirty and it appeared one of the men had hit her given the red mark on one cheek. She was clad in a rough gown of undyed wool and lacked shoes. His two men came back and she turned and backed away from them. Arturo waved to them. “Go back to the track. I’ll be there in a minute.” He ordered and after a quick glance at each other they spurred their horse back towards the old Ruman road they had been following.

  Arturo reached into his pouch and pulled out some coins. He then took the knife he wore at his left hip out and laid both the knife and the coins on the ground in front of him. “Take these.” He said, backing away. “Go to Dervent which is to the south from here.” He pointed in roughly the right direction. “At the iron works is a man named Ceri. Find him and tell him Arturo sent you. He will find you work and somewhere to live and will not harm you.” He smiled, remounted and left the girl without a backward glance. His two men eyed him strangely when he re-joined them, but they said nothing untoward so neither did he. It was only small thing he had just done but he felt immeasurably pleased with himself.

  They finally reached Alauna a little after midday. The former town was largely a mess of overgrown and smoke blackened ruins as a result of the Scotti raid. Dark, sooty timbers and low stone walls were all that were left of most of the houses with grass, weeds and small bushes starting to overwhelm the lower parts of the ruins. Even razed the town had obviously been larger than Wern by a good margin.

  The nearby Ruman fort was largely intact externally but lacked gates and was a burnt-out shell inside the walls. There were only two intact houses immediately apparent in the actual former town area, both obviously rebuilt from material scavenged from the collapsed buildings. One was a nondescript hovel of thatched roof over a wooden frame built on fire blackened stones.

  The other strangely enough was a better built attempt at a proper Ruman style building similar to Arcadius’ main building, if a good deal smaller and less well built. As they rode up a large, unkempt looking man emerged, bearing a long spear, followed by a young man with a shorter spear and a round shield. Both were clad in simple woollen garments, each a dull yellow colour but with rather elaborate patterns sticked into the hem and sleave ends.

  The three mounted men stopped a good three metres from the two and Arturo opened his hands to show they were empty. “I am Arturo Sandus, Primarius of the New Republic. I come seeking one Medio who I am told lives around here.”

  “And what would be wanting with Medio then?” The big man asked gruffly, not relaxing his guard.

  “I have need of a scholar. I was told he is very learned and has his own library so I came north to offer him a position at Dervent.”

  The big man relaxed a little, planted the end of his spear in the ground and leaned up against it. “Medio be getting on in years these days. Wouldn’t be good for him to travel too far I reckon.”

  Arturo nodded in understanding. “Yes. I can understand that. But I have a need for him. And his library. I want to hire him to share his knowledge with the next generation. And besides, if his health is failing he will be better off somewhere civilised rather than up here where things are a trifle, ah, run down shall we say?”

  “And if he says he’d rather stay here are you going to drag him off anyway?”

  Arturo smiled. “No. If he wants to stay here then so be it. I might see if he’ll let me organise the copying some of his library though.”

  The big man considered Arturo for a few moments. “Very well. I am Lewellin and this is my son Dalewyn. We will show you where Medio lives and he can decide whether he will accept your offer or not.” And so saying he and the younger man led Arturo out of the ruins inland along a different but equally overgrown Ruman road.

  About two kilometres out of the town they came to yet another well kept building in the Ruman style set back from the road surrounded by several obviously properly maintained paddocks. There was a rather overgrown small track leading to the house from the road which they turned into but well before they reached the house a voice called from within. “What do you want?”

  The small party reined in an Arturo cupped his mouth with his hand as he replied. “I seek Medio the scholar.”

  “Why?” Came back the short reply.

  “Because I am in need of a man of learning and Medio is the only scholar in the area, or so I've been told.” Arturo replied trying to enunciate clearly while yelling.

  “Why do you need a man of learning?” The voice asked after a moment.

  “Because I wish to reintroduce schools to this area and need both a scholar and books to form a basis to such a program.” Arturo offered, edging forward and then dismounting.

  “That seems a strange plan from a military man.” The voice queried.

  “Perhaps it may seem so to you but not to me. May I approach so we can converse normally? You don’t have to open your door if you don’t wish to.” He asked.

  The voice did not reply for a few moments. “Oh, very well. This yelling is tedious after all.” And the door opened. An old man, probably the oldest Arturo had seen on this backward planet, hobbled out. Behind him came a solid looking man and an even younger girl.

  Arturo dismounted and gave the reins to one of his escorts then came forward and clasped forearms with the man, careful not to be too energetic as he looked so very frail. “I am Arturo Sandus, Primarius of the New Republic.” He said formally.

  Medio looked up at him blankly. “New Republic?” He asked.

  “Yes. I understand the Ruman Empire was originally built as a republic and only became an Empire later when the men with power became too greedy. As the Emperors do not seem to be doing all that well by the Empire I have decided to restore the Republic.” He said boldly. Besides, he thought, a Republic suits my plans better I believe. As Emperor he’d have too much else to do to give enough time to getting back into space. And he didn’t trust any single ruler not try and control things. It was what rulers did after all.

  Medio considered this statement and cocked his head sideways at Arturo. “An interesting if perhaps overly ambitious plan for a foreigner to want to carry out.” He said at last, the fellow obviously picking up on Arturo’s accent, so his hearing could not be too bad!. Arturo winced internally as he realised he still had more work to do on his accent to not stand out. “Would be interesting to see all the citizens of the Empire trying to fit into Roma.“ The old man chuckled.

  Arturo smiled having an answer for that already, which he chose not to explain just then. “Do you know how the old Republic was actually structured?” He asked.

  Medio nodded. “The Republic had two components, the Senate, composed of the Patricians a
nd the Concillium, composed of the plebeians or general populace. They were divided into tribes. The Senate would debate matters and then put a new law or other needed matter to the vote of the Concillium. The Republic was run by two Consuls, voted by the Concillium but normally Patricians. Or at least that is how seems to have worked at first.”

  He paused for a moment obviously collecting his thoughts. “As the Empire grew the Senate became more and more the sole arbiter of power and the rich and powerful became increasingly a law unto themselves. Eventually a series of these powerful men took turns in disagreeing with the rest and turned their armies against the senate and became ruler in their own right. The last was Gaius Julius Caesar. After his death his adopted son Octavius fought a civil war with Caesar's main surviving general and then took supreme rule himself. And although he claimed to have restored the Republic, in practice we have had an Emperor in charge ever since. Oftentimes several concurrent Emperors until one defeated and killed his rivals.”

  “His ostensibly restored Republic run by the Senate seemed fine at the time but he kept the Army under his own command and his successors followed suit, eventually the Senate was reduced to being little more than the town magistrates of Roma and the rank Senator became a meaningless title used as an honorific, awarded by Emperors to those they favoured.”

  “Now we have a huge bureaucracy draining the treasury, an army that is shadow of those of the Republic and barbarians wandering through the Empire at will.” He shook his head sadly as he finished, with the critical tone of his voice clear to all.

  Arturo looked at the frail old man and decided that he probably wouldn’t be up to travel. “I was going to ask you to come to Dervent and teach the teachers for the new schools I intend to create but I think that such a task is beyond you now.” He said quietly.