Raising Steam

by Peter Rhodan

  She nodded. “I have heard something of your schools and your belief that people should be educated but I have not heard of this University thing. What is that?” She cocked her head slightly to one side like a robin watching its prey.

  “Well eventually schooling will be in three tiers. Junior school will be where children learn the basics of reading, writing and mathematics. Middle school will be where these skills are taught to a level that will enable them to make their way in society plus some basic history and geography. Those going into manual trades will leave at the end of this school level.”

  He paused and she nodded for him to continue. “Senior school will teach even more advanced language, mathematics, history and geography but also introduce science and other more esoteric subjects. This is to give these remaining students a chance to sample all the various activities possible and see if they have an aptitude for any. At the end of Senior school most will go out into society, especially to tasks that require education such as clerks in various types of business, railroad station staff, foremen and so forth. As well as those that wish to join the army as officers or enter the government bureaucracy.”

  Udo piped in here. “I have heard that officers in your army need to be able to read and write.”

  Arturo nodded confirmation. “Yes, that is so. We have adult schooling for those that want it after hours at the school here in Dervent and very soon at the one in Lugowalion as well. Surprisingly the students are not just military types learning to read and write. All sorts of people are making the effort to learn.”

  “You think being able to read and write is important then?” She asked.

  “Certainly. Especially for those in authority. Being able to read orders is important in the military as well as being able to read simple things like rosters of the men available, accounts of the food supplies available and such like. There is a saying in my land. Amateurs study battles, professionals study logistics.”

  Udo looked a little surprised at this and Morghanna looked unsure of what he meant. Udo came to her rescue. “Oh. I understand I think.” He turned to Morghanna.” It’s one of those very Roman things and one reason they are so hard to beat. He means that those that just worry about leading the charge on the battlefield are amateurs whereas those that plan on how to get the army to the battlefield well fed and properly equipped are the ones that are the real professionals. Something the Romans have always managed to do well.”

  “Yes. Just so. A large part of why we beat your father was because my army was well fed and well equipped. The officers knew what their duties were and could keep the men up to date in what was happening. All that meant they were in good shape both mentally and physically when we reached the battlefield. Which went a long way to our men putting up a good fight confident not only in their own martial prowess but also in the competence of those leading them.” He paused considering what else he should say. “Your warriors did not lack courage or skill with their weapons, in fact individually they were probably better than mine, man for man. They were beaten by a better system.”

  Udo nodded and Morghanna looked as if she understood what he meant as well. Udo turned to face her. “There, in a nutshell is why the Romans conquered the Brythons in the first place, as I understand it from the tales of our ancestors. The Roman armies were well trained and well supplied and fought in a well-practised system while our people were brave and ferocious warriors but fought largely as individuals.”

  Morghanna nodded. “Yes. I had gathered that from the stories myself. I have sometimes thought the fact the Romans did not conquer the entire island was more a matter of will than means.” Udo nodded at this, apparently agreeing. She turned back to Arturo. “Yet I think there is more to this than just that. Coel has said things that make me think you are introducing methods that are even better than those the Romans have used in the past. This long distance scouting he told me about. Is it true you have men watching the Comes in Eboracum?”

  Arturo waved his hand in small motion to show both agreement and not agreement. Smiling he said. “Well they are watching his army from a safe distance, not him personally.” Morghanna and Udo both smiled at this. He considered the two Selgovae for a moment then said. “You should understand that my people are not only more advanced in things like industry but also in military capability. After I finished my normal schooling at age eighteen I then spent two years in military school studying war and later, when I was promoted to command my first ship, I spent another year in a more advanced military school learning even more about warfare and how to conduct it.”

  Udo looked surprised at this. “Your people have a school where you learn to make war?”

  Arturo nodded. “Those that are to become officers, yes. I was lucky and was able to get in straight out of regular school because my scores were high enough. Others have to enlist as regular soldiers and work at their education to then get accepted in officer’s school later.”

  The old Selgovae nodded. “And you are planning to introduce this same sort of training and knowledge here?”

  Arturo nodded. “That is the plan. The first step is requiring my officers to be able to read and write. I won’t be able to establish a proper officers training school for a few years yet, I lack the materials and teachers plus I have not had time to draw up what they are to learn, but it will happen.”

  Morghanna nodded. “And your army will get even better as a result. Besides the new weapons you have introduced like these manuballista things. And the bigger ones you had at the battle.”

  Arturo smiled. “If the truth be told, they are not that much better than the manuballistas the Romans already had. It was as much the training and tactical use as anything. The new model is a bit better again which will help against regulars at little. The artillery, well it looks impressive. Again, the performance is not much better than the standard ballista like those they had on the walls of the fort at Lugowalion. A little better range and the shot hits a little harder. The biggest advantage is the large wheels I put on them that enable the team of horses to pull the things around easily thereby giving them much greater mobility so they are always where they are needed.”

  Udo scratched his head. “You see, my lady. This man is more Roman than the Romans. And I will wager there is more to come. One fellow I spoke to said you are building a warship that mounts a large number of these same sort of ballistae on its deck only bigger and with like seven or eight along each side?”

  Arturo nodded. “Yes. The Romulus. She is nearly ready. Given the novel design, I am not entirely sure of the effectiveness of the ballistae, you understand, but I think her armament will come as a nasty shock to any Scotti or Saxoni raiders she comes across.” He carefully did not add that all these weapons were hardly worth the effort or the cost in themselves but were preparing the men for the style of fighting they would be using once he got gunpowder weapons into play. Plus allowing the army to get used to suitable formations and fighting techniques.

  “I think I would like to see these ships of yours. I have heard they are not only bigger but have many sails, not just one big one like the ship I saw as a child.” Morghanna commented.

  “Take the train down to Wern tomorrow. Have lunch there and then return on the afternoon one. Where were you staying tonight?” Arturo asked, smiling.

  Udo waved over at Dervent where the skyline now boasted a partially built new basilica and a two-storey hotel that had been completed for travellers. It was quite close to the station for convenience of travellers. “That impressive hotel over there. I have never heard of a place like that before. Another of your innovations?”

  Arturo mocked bowed. “There are special hospices like that in places along the roads in the Empire, or so I have been told. But this one stemmed from something I said, more in the way of a comment really, then it was taken and run with by an enterprising fellow. There was only one wine shop in the town when I first got here but I happened to mention to Oween one day, I think it w
as Oween, that what the town would need shortly would be a place for people stay when they first arrived in town and had not had time to buy or rent accommodation and thus a convenient place to stay would be handy. On top of that would be all the travellers who would be just passing through the town, especially when the rail line had been built and who just need accommodation for the night before continuing their journey.”

  “Anyway, the owner of the wine shop did not really pay any attention, too busy dealing with the booming trade the growth of the town brought him. One of his employees did pay attention though and managed to get the money to open a new wine bar near the station and put up a shack with a couple of cheap, well stalls is the word I guess, that people could rent to sleep in. These were soon followed by a bigger building with more and better rooms and when that was a success he then gained the finance to build that new building out of brick and tile. There was a loan from the bank plus a good amount of capital investment from one or too local notables.” He didn’t mention one of the notables was himself.

  They both nodded. “Interesting. The rooms we have are all right but cramped. But they are certainly a vast improvement on sleeping in a barn or cramming into a friend or relatives house.” Morghanna’s endorsement meant she obviously appreciated this latest innovation.

  Arturo nodded. “Yes. There is a chap down at Wern who is copying the idea and building a two storey place near the docks for travellers to use. In fact, there is second fellow also building a less grandiose place for the same purpose.” He paused and smiled. “I expect there to be one built or more likely an unused building rebuilt at Lugowalion for the same purpose any time now.”

  Udo nodded. “I have seen all the brick buildings over there.” He said pointing at Dervent. “It sure makes the place look very different from when it was largely round houses and even different to Lugowalion which still looks very Roman in style.”

  “You have been through Dervent before?” Arturo was surprised.

  “Aye. When I was a young lad I came with the big raid we did then. This fort was looted, not that there was much here by then and the town looted but left intact, the Carveti are sort of cousins after all.” He seemed to get lost in his reflections of his earlier self.

  Arturo nodded. He had heard of the great raid from Oween, who had been only too happy to tell Arturo about how much destruction there had been and how his hero Stilicho had sent over troops to stop it. One of the reasons the population density was so small and the economy so feeble was the constant raiding and occasional invasion the border areas like this were subject to. Captain Largwil had told him that the Scotti were slowly occupying whole coastal areas further south. Something else that would to be dealt with in the near future.

  At least the Scotti who had invaded up north and smashed the Novotae and overrun the Selgovae lands were not attacking to the south. According to the what the scout cavalry could discern a lot of them had taken their booty and returned to Hibernia while the others were taking possession of the lands they had conquered as if setting up for the long term although Arturo doubted they would be allowed to retain them.

  “Have you heard from your brother?” He asked Morghanna.

  “No. Nothing since the last short message sent via King Owain. I live in dread of what he will have to offer the other kings in order to build a coalition capable of driving the Scotti out.” She stared off into the distance lost in some thought of her own.

  Udo piped up. “Well it can’a be as bad as your late marriage my Lady.”

  Morghanna jerked back into the present. “Oh, Alayn was not that bad a person, nor unkind in his way. It was more the fact I had to give myself to someone because my father willed it. You would not understand Udo.”

  Udo shook his head, but whether he was doing because he was disagreeing about not understanding or because she was complaining about having to obey her father Arturo was not entirely sure which was the case, maybe it was both!. He was still having enough trouble understanding the more Romanised local people and their mores let alone with the practices of their less civilised northerly brethren. His Federation sensibilities were becoming used to the local inequalities although his intention to gradually overthrow them remained and he could not help himself from saying. “No woman should be made to marry someone she does not wish to. In my land it is simply not allowed.”

  Both of the Selgovae swung round to look at him, the one alarmed and the other surprised. “Really?” Morghanna blurted.

  “That be unnatural.” Udo growled. “Children have not enough sense to be deciding who they will marry for themselves.”

  “Which is why people cannot get married till they are at least eighteen and finished senior school in my land.” He answered.

  “Eighteen!!” They both chorused, looking surprised.

  Arturo smiled. “Aye. By eighteen they will have some idea of who they are and what they are looking for in a wife or husband. But many do not marry till they are in their twenties. My people are very different to yours I am afraid.”

  “I rather like the idea of being free to marry who I wish rather than who I am ordered to.” Morghanna said wistfully, turning to look off into space again.

  Udo jumped on this. “Don’t you be listening to these foreign ideas my Lady. You know you must marry to oblige your brother. Your hand in marriage will be an important bargaining chip for him with the northern kings. You know this is needed my Lady. We have spoken of this several times since coming here.”

  Morghanna did not look happy with this idea but appeared to accept it with a small nod of her head. Arturo found himself drawn to the forlorn look on this rather lovely girl in front of him and very nearly rashly committed his forces to the relief of her land. But it was very bad leadership to be waging war on a personal whim and besides he needed to keep his army intact to face Combrosius in the spring. “Well you are always welcome here Lady Morghanna.” He found himself saying.

  She swung round and studied his face for a bit before a strange expression came over her features, then quickly glanced away appearing to colour slightly. “Thank you Lord Arturo. You have been very kind to me and my people. I will not forget.” She bobbed her head.

  Before anything else could be said they were interrupted by a soldier. “Lord Dux. There is a message from Master Ceri wishing your presence. He has his new steam engine ready apparently.”

  “Very good Llwyarch. My Lady, Udo. Would you care to see the latest steam engine my friend has come up with?” Arturo gestured with his hand in the direction of the iron works.

  Udo appeared to be not all that keen on making the acquaintance yet another smoke belching monster but Morghanna seemed a good deal more interested. “Certainly, Lord Arturo.” She said nodding and smiling at him.

  Arturo bowed slightly and held a hand out sideways indicating she should precede him out the door and the whole party headed down the hill from the fort and across the now quite good bridge that spanned the river. Arturo still thought calling the waterway a river was being overly generous with what was really no more than a stream but everyone else seemed happy with the title. They soon made their way through the bustling, smoky town, headed for the entrance of the iron works.

  Along the way they had to dodge the work being undertaken with the aim of connecting all the buildings to the new main sewer pipeline that ran down the main street underground. Not everybody had been keen on this latest innovation of Arturo’s. They demurred at the idea of having their houses and business connected, some claiming it would allow demons to gain entry to their houses! Arturo had overridden all objections making the sewer connection mandatory for all buildings in the town.

  Being used to the mess Arturo made no comment but Morghanna noticed the open trench of a new pipeline leading from the underground main sewer to a house near the far edge of town and enquired what was happening. Arturo’s explanation of how every house was being connected to the sewer main appeared to surprise her but also give her something else t
o think about. Udo seemed to grasp the concept but showed less understanding. “So, every house is connected to this big sewer under the town. Why?”

  “Health reasons. If the household waste is washed into the sewer it means there are less places for those little devils that cause illness to live. They love human waste, even more than animal waste. Not only that but the pipe helps make the place smell better. Liquid waste that would normally get thrown in the street or wherever now goes down the sewer to a point well away from the town where it will be used for land fill. On top of that we about to introduce a garbage collection service to take away solid material like rotten food and broken rubbish.”

  “You have someone who goes around collecting rubbish?” Morghanna asked in wonder.

  “Yes. He has this cart and people bring out their rubbish and dump it in the back. He then takes it to a place over the hill there to the south west where they quarried the stone for the fort and uses the rubbish to fill in the hollow there.”

  “Amazing.” She breathed. Udo snorted but looked to be giving the matter some serious thought. “And who pays this man?”

  Arturo waved a hand. “Partly the town, partly the Concillium Romanum and partly himself from finding things in the rubbish people throw out that can be repaired or re-purposed and then sold. He is happy with the arrangement and we are about to introduce the same service in all the other main towns, Wern, Maglona and Lugowalion.” Udo shook his head in a way that could be either seen as sad or amazed. Morghanna seemed fascinated by the idea and smiled at him just as they reached the gateway into the ironworks.

  Ceri’s ironworks was an impressive sight. The smoke and occasionally visible flames shooting up from two of the now three blast furnaces accompanied by the sounds of the increasing industrialisation made it hard to talk. They both looked alarmed at the size of the blast furnaces. Arturo smiled, as the furnaces here were tiny things compared to the huge steel furnaces in the Federation, but he was pretty sure that this was already one of the biggest and certainly most advanced iron works in the whole Roman world and maybe on the entire planet.