The Emperor's Men 8

by Dirk van den Boom

  It was all speculation, sure. Langenhagen would have to make a decision. So far, however, it was said only that they would keep themselves hidden and that the planned expansion of the fort would be refrained from. It was pointless to build a fortification so close to an impressive settlement center. This could quickly lead to misunderstandings.

  After all, they had found a source of drinking water. Tomorrow the big barrels would be carried over from the flotilla to fill them. And an expedition of scientists was planned as far as they remained in sight of the rowboats. Köhler had successfully campaigned for Terzia. She would be grateful to him.

  That was the point, apart from gaining scientific knowledge.

  “Is there anything like military patrols or guards?”

  The centurion grimaced.

  “Not on this side of the island. The settlement gets denser the more we get to the west coast. But military? My people didn’t identify an armed man. If there are soldiers anywhere, then only in the city itself, and even there I don’t know anything that looked like a castle or fortress. It seems to me that this is a peaceful people.”

  Angelicus said that with a tone that just passed contempt. For the centurion, evident defensiveness seemed to be a central characteristic of a “real” civilization, an attitude that Köhler found not surprising in this man. As long as it did not determine his actions too much and the latter made no move to prove their neighbors’ lack of “defensiveness” through provocation, Angelicus should think whatever he thought was right. Köhler felt that the centurion’s special abilities – and preferences – would be used early enough. It was just a premonition, but if something started so well, something just had to go wrong.

  They lay down to rest in the light of the guard fires. Köhler was pleased that his exalted status freed him from the night watch. The first shore leave after a long crossing had exhausted him more than he wanted to admit and show. No sooner had he closed his eyes than he fell into a deep sleep, from which he was awakened in the morning by the watchman at the agreed time. His first night ashore had been refreshing. Though his body had gotten used to the rocking oft he waves, the quiet and steady camp had been a blessing. Köhler felt more refreshed than in a long time.

  It wasn’t long before two more rowboats were seen to set sail from the flotilla. This time, along with a few other soldiers, the scientists and their material were on board. In addition, the empty water barrels were brought so that they could be filled immediately. When the boats landed, men were ready to deal with the barrels. Köhler expected many crossings today.

  He himself greeted the researchers. The group was small at first: Beside Terzia there was a cartographer, a man named Phoebus, and an elderly gentleman named Domenicus, who introduced himself as a geologist, representative of a new science that was also introduced by the time-wanderers. Köhler had only heard about it in passing, but he knew that Domenicus would look at the landscape, take soil samples, and help with the search for raw materials.

  “We will go on foot,” Köhler informed them. “The forest is relatively dense, the horses are of no use to us here. We will not be far from the camp and will always be with an escort. I estimate a maximum of two hours for our first detour. First we boil fresh water. It will be necessary to drink a lot.”

  There was no opposition. When they had taken care of everything, three legionaries joined the group and stared with undisguised interest at Terzia’s now sweaty robe. She wore pants, also a custom that the time walkers had made common. Before regarded as the clothing of barbarians, their practical use had become clear through the example of the men of the Saarbrücken. The fact that dressing like that was considered “chic” for a while certainly helped. This garment was also granted to women, and Terzia’s legs filled it in an excellent way. Köhler abstained from comment. He couldn’t forbid the staring from the men, for he would have to keep forcing himself to look away.

  Shortly after they left the beach and entered the first forest, at least Terzia was unstoppable. Leaning over every other piece of greenery, chattering names in front of her, she began making drawings in quick and remarkably precise strokes. Köhler soon realized that her expedition would lead to disaster, because both Phoebus and Domenicus were visibly running out of patience. Finally he ordered two of the legionnaires to go on with the two men and climb the rock formations while he himself would play the watchdog for Terzia with the remaining soldier. The researcher herself hardly noticed anything about this development, because she had apparently completely lost her perception of her surroundings, being immersed in the island’s flora. She knelt in the dirt, rummaged in the ground, scratched bark, plucked leaves, threw some quick drawings on the pad she carried, made of paper, another blessing that the time-wanderers had taught the Romans.

  Köhler suppressed a sigh. That would take a while.

  It was by no means uninteresting to watch Terzia at work. Although the conversation was rather limited – Köhler occasionally gave a grunt when the researcher called out “What is that?” Or “We have to look at it!” –, it was always a nice sight, someone watching enthusiastically at work. The fact that Terzia often had to crouch and bend forward or take comparable interesting positions for the purpose of her work added to the appeal of the observation for Köhler, and he was not ashamed to admit it. The legionnaire with him, who introduced himself as Adrianus and otherwise preferred to remain taciturn in the presence of the senior officer, threw interested looks at the woman’s rear end, but then decided to use all his energy to sweat. The later the morning got, the hotter and more humid it became; the breeze blew from the land into the sea and brought little cooling. In the deep forest, more like a jungle, the air felt wet, and the insects that devoted themselves to the unexpected prey didn’t make their life easier. Soon they had run out of water, and Adrianus had to leave twice to refill the hoses they had brought with them. Each time he reported on the progress of filling the barrels and subtly pointed out that a meal was being prepared over the fires on the beach. They had caught fresh fish and everything smelled very appetizing.

  Köhler felt how his mouth watered at the description. Their food during the expedition had been rather meager – ship’s biscuit and some bread, and hard cheese, which had not become more appetizing during the trip.

  But Terzia was adamant. In the end, she had expanded the scope of her research beyond what was originally agreed. For a long time, there was no longer any question of visibility to the beach. In doing so, she showed a level of determination and assertiveness that Köhler never believed she would be capable of. The woman could be almost intimidating if she wanted to, and at least on Adrianus this did not fail to have an effect. Köhler maintained his stance but was also driven ever deeper into the jungle by Terzia’s zeal for research. At least they would always find their way back easily, as they secured their path with markings that could not be missed. This, and the fact that no one got in their way except the tireless insects, prompted Köhler to be lenient.

  When hunger became more pressing and he really did not feel the strength just to be satisfied with the ship’s biscuit he brought with him, he decided to gather his authority as a man and officer, took a deep breath and …

  Terzia raised a hand. “Did you hear that?”

  Köhler paused and listened. The sounds of the forest could still be heard, a background music he had grown used to. “I don’t know …”

  “Footsteps!” Terzia whispered, looking at Köhler, who immediately felt alarmed. His hand went to the sword on his belt. Belted on his back, he also carried a musket with him. He listened again and …

  “And voices,” he whispered back. “From the West.”

  “Yes. What are we doing?”

  Terzia didn’t look too scared, but sound caution had overcome her zeal for research. She might be a fanatical scientist, but she certainly wasn’t tired of life.

  “To the beach,” Köhler sign
aled, relieved when the woman nodded in confirmation.

  They turned, took a few steps toward the next mark, and stopped dead.

  Instead of seeing the tree in front of them, on which they had drawn a strong arrow with thick chalk, there was an older man. He wore a tight loincloth and a skirt-like robe that left his torso free. In his gnarled hands he held an ax with a shimmering black blade made of an unknown material. On his back he carried a tubular backpack in which he could place things without having to put it down.

  He looked at them.

  They looked at him.

  Köhler remained motionless, holding out a hand in the direction of Terzia to warn her of sudden and thoughtless reactions. Needless to say. Terzia was prudent and even managed to put on such a charming smile that the tense stance of the old man, who had half raised the weapon, loosened a trace.

  He said something. Köhler listened to the words with interest and patiently. He didn’t understand a word. The language was completely foreign to him and he hadn’t expected anything else.

  It hadn’t been planned that way.

  But now he had to make the best of it.

  He raised both hands, now without a weapon, to show his will for peace. Fortunately, Adrianus did nothing else. Köhler was glad that Centurion Angelicus was not with them. To be on the safe side, he would have chopped off the arm holding the ax.

  Twigs cracked, and more men appeared, all loaded with tubular rucksacks and all with some kind of weapon, mostly knives, the blades of which shimmered as black as the ax. Still, they didn’t look like armed men. It could be assumed that they only used the blades as tools to collect what they had entered the forest for.

  Köhler relaxed a little.

  Terzia stepped to his side and watched the arrivals carefully. Doing much more than looking at each other was impossible. Some of the younger men, fear and terror in their eyes, had raised their weapons menacingly. But they seemed to be listening to the old man, who addressed them in a few words, apparently preventing them from taking ill-considered actions.

  Then the researcher spoke a few sentences, slowly, clearly, certainly just as incomprehensible to her interlocutors, but in a calm tone, friendly, anything but aggressive. Whether it was her way of expressing herself or the fact that she looked less threatening as a woman without armor and weapons, the old man lowered the weapon and smiled weakly. He replied something, also slowly and kindly, and spread his arms, pointing to his comrades. Köhler suspected that he was trying to explain why they roamed the forest and who they were. Terzia listened attentively, then pointed to herself and the two legionaries and did nothing but speak their names clearly. She repeated this process again, then the old man seemed to understand. He didn’t waste any time introducing each member of his troop, just put both hands on his chest and said something that sounded like “Jatsack.” He repeated it several times, and Köhler was reasonably certain that they had successfully completed the introductory round.

  Terzia now made an inviting gesture toward the beach. She bowed a little, as if she were a housemaid leading a guest into the atrium. Köhler watched the old man’s reaction, then took a small step in the direction indicated, bowed like Terzia to animate the Maya to follow them. They were visibly hesitant, which could hardly be resented. They met very strange-looking people who spoke an incomprehensible language, and although they didn’t seem half as threatening as one might have feared, trusting them so much that they were marched somewhere was quite another matter.

  The old man made the only sensible decision. He gave some commands, as one could quite clearly tell from his tone. Except for one, his companions turned and disappeared into the thicket before Köhler could make a sound. Where and with what order they were going, nobody had to ponder for a long time. The old man apparently wanted the remaining man to disappear, too, but the man resisted, and the leader finally gave in. A hierarchy was recognizable here, but it was not a very strict one, and although the old man was in charge, his authority was not absolute.

  At first hesitantly, as if one wanted to reassure each other of the good intentions, then more resolutely, the newly formed group started to move. Delaying further contact did not make any sense, Köhler decided. It had happened, and now they had to make the best of it, and Langenhagen wouldn’t contradict that either. As long as Angelicus hadn’t come across locals and demonstratively informed them about the superiority of Roman weapons, everything was fine.

  They reached the beach and immediately got the expected attention. It was Köhler’s calm stance that immediately steered any excitement into more disciplined behavior. Angelicus also produced nothing more than a frown and a whispered command. The legionaries went, arms down, spread out across the beach, and apparently without a plan to attack. But if there was a threat from the nearby forest, they would be as ready as possible. In addition, Köhler always saw some men standing next to the rowboats, ready to push them into the water.

  The old man and his companion only looked at the tents and the rowboats without much reaction, both of which were certainly products of human craft that they were already familiar with in one form or another. Even the half-filled water bins on the beach didn’t seem to get their attention. Only when their gaze across the water met the clearly recognizable ships of the expedition did their eyes widen. They spoke softly, gesticulated, and kept staring at the line of powerful ships, which apparently impressed them very much. They got even more excited when a dinghy was dropped into the water by the Gratianus and headed for the beach. The little boat rocked in the waves, and apart from two oarsmen and Navarch Langenhagen, there was no one on board. The beach had been kept under surveillance with binoculars, and the arrival of the Maya must have been reported to the commander immediately.

  Köhler relaxed a little. With the arrival of Langenhagen, responsibility would be somewhat removed from his shoulders. He was still able to pick up any shit at a later time.

  When Langenhagen jumped ashore, the excitement of the two Maya had not yet subsided. But they seemed to suspect that Langenhagen was a leader. The Navarch had put on his breastplate, freshly polished, and the impressive officer’s helmet. He reflected the light of the slowly setting sun, and Köhler had to admit that the sight even impressed him. The two Maya bowed deeply, and Köhler couldn’t help but smile. No matter what these strange visitors were up to, the old man had come to the conclusion that a little reverence couldn’t hurt.

  Names were exchanged again, which took a few moments. Then Köhler briefly reported on what had happened.

  “I don’t know how to act now,” Köhler admitted. “We can hardly communicate.”

  “Of course, but that was to be expected. In addition, we will soon be known in the city over there. We do the following …” He waved Angelicus, and the centurion came up immediately. “Has the other expedition already returned?”

  “Yes, Navarch, the geologist, and the cartographer are back.”

  Langenhagen nodded in satisfaction.

  “We’re going to break camp, except for a tent and a fire. All men back on the ships. A boat stays here. I don’t want us to endanger ourselves unnecessarily. Köhler, you too are returning to the Gratianus. Send me our language genius tomorrow morning, he should prove himself now. I will stay here with him and two legionaries, and we are waiting for the visit that is sure to come. Then prepare the cannons and post the best musket shooters on the railing, as long as we have light.”

  “But –”

  “No buts, Trierarch. Do as I say.”

  “And you?”

  “I’ll do what everyone always does when we don’t know what to talk about.” He stomped to the dinghy, reached inside and took out two objects – a tube of wine and a sack of food –, which he carried slowly to the next fire.

  “We’ll prepare dinner and invite our friends over there,” Langenhagen announced, dropping the containers. “Centurion, which of
your people is the best cook? I see that there is still some fish left.”

  “Diderius is not completely pitiful when it comes to preparation of food. He’s got a knack for fish,” Angelicus said.

  “Then Diderius will be left with me.”

  “Sir, I –”

  “Centurion, you take off as ordered. If something happens, I want an experienced officer to lead a landing operation that may be necessary. Is that clear?”

  Angelicus saluted, although he could see that he would have preferred to follow a different instruction.

  The two Maya attentively watched the conversation. Langenhagen’s determined demeanor, Angelicus’ reservations, then Köhler’s approval. Terzia stuck to her smile, although at least the Trierarch noticed her disappointment at not being allowed to be present for the rest of the procedure. Köhler himself felt this too; he had hoped that Langenhagen would stay with the fleet and that this task would be entrusted to him here. But that was not why he would disagree with his superior. Langenhagen was the chief diplomat, along with the young senator, who, Köhler stated, would also remain on the ship.

  He could only agree to this part of the decision.

  It wasn’t long before the efficient legionaries broke the camp, packed up their materials, and loaded the boats. Köhler was one of the last to leave the beach. Langenhagen had been with the Maya all along, and the two men had proven calm and prudent. When Diderius gestured to set up the cookware over the fire and began to prepare a simple meal, Köhler boarded and was set to sea. He looked back at the beach and watched the Navarch sit down next to the fire and invite the guests to join him. The fact that they did so after a slight hesitation indicated that they had gained a little trust.

  Köhler sat and watched the men row. As soon as he arrived on the Gratianus, some orders had to be carried out. The cannons and riflemen ready, the ships in alarm, the beach under constant surveillance. He himself, he knew, would find little sleep.