Napoleon

by Stephen Arseneault

  “Where are the others?”

  “Securing the coach. There was a confrontation with four men. Two are deceased. The others fled, but there may be more.”

  “What? I heard no gunfire.”

  “Please, sir. We must hurry.”

  Naffi said, “I took a handful of steps before my mind began to fully evaluate the situation. The protocols I've established never allow a single guard to escort me anywhere unless they are the last alive or I give specific instruction. I should have seen this coming.”

  “Marwal?”

  “It was. I was halfway to the coach when I realized the guard was from my second crew and not the primary. Under no reasonable scenario would he come to escort me from a residence. I could only believe my other guards were dead, which the archives will confirm.”

  Vara asked, “What happened?”

  Naffi returned a half smile. “He pulled a gun and held it to my gut. At that instant I knew it was Marwal. But luck was with me. We hit a patch of ice and both slipped and fell. I struggled for the gun and was shot in the chest. I didn't die immediately, but was instead dragged to the coach where Marwal's clone was waiting. My eye was removed and a bio-link was inserted. However, it was too late. My wound was mortal and the bleeding could not be stopped.”

  Reno scanned the archive. “It says the four bodyguards of Charles Ducat were found slain. Your body was dumped in the town square so your identity and death would be known.”

  “And the progress of our endeavors?”

  “Napoleon ruled for another eighteen years before dying of natural causes. The American Empire grew to rival that of the French with a war breaking out between the two that raged for nearly a hundred years. Both Empires eventually split into multiple kingdoms, some which continued to fight. The result being no significant advances in science beyond what had originally taken place. So the ancestry logs say... no change.”

  Naffi scowled. “I suppose I should just go back and pick up where I left off. I left documentation that my twin brother, Peter Ducat, should take over in the event of my demise.”

  Vara nodded. “Smart. You can go back looking just the same and no one will be the wiser.”

  Reno said, “I think I should make another trip.”

  “Why?”

  “The archives show there were no significant scientific advances beyond what we had put in place. I find that troubling. I should like to seed the science community with more information. We need to be inspiring the discovery and creation of technology that advances our agenda. While trains, steamships, and even trucks and electricity were a boon to their quality of life, they didn't seem to advance our goals. We must move science forward if we are to make a difference.”

  Naffi nodded. “The organizations I have in place are well-run. Perhaps we should be taking turns at our different functions. You go back for two weeks and inspire and educate, I'll go back for two and produce, and Vara goes back for two to try to find Marwal.”

  Vara said, “I'd like to make a suggestion. We know where Marwal is at the time of your death. We know there are dead bodyguards around the scene. Do you think the dead may still have their weapons?”

  “What are you proposing?”

  “I'm proposing a jump back to the moment after your clone died. I will find a weapon, kill the traitor guard, and capture Marwal.”

  “That seems overly simplistic.”

  Reno replied, “I would think it might be a good opportunity. We know where he is and who is with him.”

  “And if there are no weapons available?”

  Vara shrugged. “Then I off myself and one of you goes back.”

  Naffi took in a deep breath. “Making Marwal inert is our highest priority. I think this to be our best move.”

  “I'll ready a clone.” Vara stood and walked to the door and into the hall beyond.

  Naffi yelled after. “Make it three!”

  Reno continued to scan the data. “I think we failed in our education efforts. Everyone seems to be consumed with making new electrical gadgets that either make life easier or focus on entertainment. Our radio communications are now primarily used for personal communications or blasting music over the airwaves. There is a distinct lack of scientific and engineering effort being made toward further understanding the principles we introduced. This has to change.”

  “What would you propose?”

  “Directives from the State. All children should be screened for intelligence and placed on an education path accordingly. Just as we do here.”

  “And how has that worked out for us? Other than your discovery of quantum travel, what has that approach yielded for the Opamari?”

  “It is an obvious first step. Beyond that it is a question of interest. Our brightest minds are obsessed with entertainment, just as our populous.”

  “That sounds like a cultural issue, not necessarily an educational one. How do we inspire young minds to venture into the more difficult fields? Would that not begin with their parents?”

  “It would indeed begin at the family level. From there it transitions to an educational problem where our teachers must properly inspire.”

  Naffi rubbed his chin. “I'll have a chat with Napoleon on my next trip. He is highly respected by the people. Perhaps a wise word or two would direct parents to push their children into the needed fields of study.”

  “And I will focus on the education ministry.” Reno turned, a smile of gratitude showing on his face. “Thank you, Naffi. I believe we have a new direction to take.”

  Vara returned a short while later. Her clone was bio-linked, helped into the pod, and swept back through space and time. The image that appeared on the display was of a white-blanketed lawn beside a large ornate house. A heavy snow was falling.

  Dirk Gunnar, with his jaw dropped and a stunned expression on his face, was staring out his window at the naked woman who had magically appeared on his snow-covered lawn. The woman turned and sprinted, high-stepping through the half-meter depth of white powder.

  Vara's clone came to where the first guard body lay. With a short search she had an automatic rifle in her hands. She grimaced and shivered as her icy feet and chilled body began to ache from the frigid temperatures of the snowstorm. As luck was with her, she approached the coach from the rear as the remaining guard was climbing inside. A short burst from her weapon saw him drop to the floor and roll out onto the snow, his blood staining the pure white with crimson.

  An attempt to start the horse-drawn carriage forward ended with a slug ripping into the calf of the Marwal clone.

  An angry, and freezing, naked Human female pulled herself up into the coach. “You have ten seconds to hop out.”

  “And why would I do that?”

  “So I don't have to do this.”

  A rifle butt to the temple had the opposing Human slumped over on the bench where he sat.

  The clone again shivered. “Gah! Does this cold ever hurt!”

  The unconscious Marwal clone was dragged from the coach onto the ground.

  Vara sat up. “Wow. That was painful. But I have Marwal restrained and waiting to be taken and hidden away. I tried to drag him back to the house, but he was too heavy and I was beginning to fade. So I ran to the door and enlisted the help of Mr. Gunnar and his footman. They were of course hesitant to assist the naked woman standing in front of them with a rifle, but they caught on.”

  Naffi grinned, “So we have Marwal?”

  “Not only do we have Marwal, but no one has seen your dead clone. From here I convinced them to give me a blanket to cover myself as they restrained Marwal. When that task was sufficiently complete, I left out the door and hustled back to the coach where your clone's body remained. I then turned the gun on myself. So either one of you is set to go back, collect Marwal, and rid yourself of the bodies.”

  Reno asked, “What of Mr. Gunnar and his servant?”

  Naffi replied, “Gunnar can be bought and the servant will be loyal to his employer. This episo
de could not have worked out any better.”

  A Naffi clone was sent back to clean up the mess. An unconscious Marwal clone was removed from the home of Dirk Gunnar after a radio transmission was made to the office of Charles Ducat. A dozen agents arrived several hours later, whisking away the coach with the bodies before taking a still unconscious Marwal into custody.

  Charles Ducat returned to the home of Dirk Gunnar. “Can I be assured of your total discretion in this matter?”

  “Can you explain the woman? She appeared from nowhere.”

  “She was an agent of mine. She had been stripped of her clothes and left for dead in the snow. She merely woke up and took matters into her own hands. As to the man we have taken away, he will be properly questioned as to his reason for this attempted kidnapping. I can only imagine he sought out a ransom from one of the most powerful businessmen in the Empire, don't you think?”

  “I suppose. I must say, you don't seem shaken by this event. Has this happened before?”

  “Before? Goodness no. I travel with a close-knit security team. The structure of that team will of course have to be reevaluated, but this is not an ongoing problem by any means.”

  “I only ask because I am now concerned for my own safety and the safety of my family.”

  “Mr. Gunnar, aside from the criminal element who seeks fortune from something like this, you should realize there is a rival Empire out there that would like nothing more than to disrupt our progress. While I wish for your focus to remain on production, please take the time to organize a proper security team. If you'd like I can have someone from my office act as an advisor. What steps you take, if any, would of course be your own decisions.”

  Dirk glanced toward his door. “Murder in front of my home is not something I expected when you offered me this responsibility.”

  “Bill any security expense to the company, just keep in mind that excess will be frowned upon.”

  Dirk gave a slight bow. “A gracious offer, Mr. Ducat.”

  “Now. I must be going. There are other factories that require my attention.”

  “In this heavy snow? Do you think that wise? You are more than welcome to stay until this clears.”

  “I have much to do and little time to do it, Mr. Gunnar. And time waits for no one.”

  Naffi's clone was led through the door by the footman and escorted to a new, bloodless carriage. A tip of his hat saw a short wave from his Berlin employee as the horses trudged off through the snow.

  Chapter 24

  _______________________

  Charles Ducat continued his travels until his two weeks had come and gone. He returned to his new home in Paris where he sealed himself into a private section alone. Orders were given that he not be disturbed under any circumstance. Once isolated, the clone was terminated.

  The clone of Reno arrived in Paris the same day. A short meeting with Napoleon saw an edict sent out that all children would be screened for possible schooling in math, science, and engineering, while the remainder would receive a standard education. After a second, longer discussion with Napoleon about the Empire's future needs, a prior emphasis on the arts was removed. Entertainment would now fall well below progress when it came to the direction of the new French Empire.

  On the engineering front, advances were brought forth in electric motors and magnetism. The internal combustion engines used in the tanks during the war with Britain were brought back to the forefront, with machinery such as tractors, frontloaders, dump trucks, and a variety of other earth-moving designs being prepped for manufacturing. Paved roads and highways would be coming to the empire.

  With the Marwal clone in captivity, journeys for Vara were curtailed. Instead, she was sent back into the Opamari Empire to handle the shadow businesses Naffi had retained. On Mentox-I, the clones of Naffi and Reno alternated with two-week stints running for a full Human year.

  The calendar had turned to 1813, with trains now making stops in every major city in Europe. New factories were springing up everywhere, all driven by a government form of consumerism that rewarded hard work with better pay and discounted goods. A radio receiver could now be found in most homes.

  In the Russian province, daily trains ran to both St. Petersburg and Moscow, and a new line was set to open, taking passengers and cargo from the province of Mysore, up through Iran all the way to Constantinople, which was linked by ferry to the rest of the European cities.

  Back in Paris, Charles Ducat stood beside Napoleon as they gazed out a large window onto the gardens of his palace.

  Napoleon's hands were clasped behind his back. “Such an Empire the world has never seen, Mr. Ducat. And I am standing in power over it. And yet I feel as trapped as a lion in a cage. There are those who would see me dead.”

  “You no doubt heard of the attempt on my life last year,” Charles replied. “The purpose of that attempt and the powers behind it were never found. Have there been attempts on your person?”

  “I've heard rumors, but nothing my staff will confirm. They believe I am better off not knowing, but Humans have tongues and they often wag.”

  Charles glanced down and then out the window again. “I've been thinking you might be in need of new scenery. A trip east could be arranged.”

  “East? To where?”

  “To the Orient. Our forces are currently crossing the mountains into the southern reaches of the kingdoms of China. Your staff said they expect that to be added as a new province within the year.”

  “And why would I be going there?”

  “To command your troops. Or at least to observe your commanders at a minimum. It might do your mind good to be away from Paris for a bit. And your people would love and respect your work to further the Empire.”

  “I was unconvinced we should make an effort in the Orient until you let it be known the Americans were working at an alliance. That is a confrontation I sincerely want to avoid. They grow powerful just as we do. And I would think we would both benefit from trade and not war.”

  “Speaking of confrontation, have you made a decision on the Botany Bay province?”

  “The rebellion of those colonies is disconcerting, but we have yet to find a reason to reclaim it. They are a tax on resources, unable to fully support themselves. By pulling our support they will find out what a desolate place that is. We have so much going on at the moment with trying to consolidate what we have. The Botany Bay colonies can wait.”

  “We run the risk of American influence there as well.”

  “Mr. Ducat, a classic mistake in warfare is opening up too many fronts at once. When the China affair has concluded, we can divert resources for the purpose of bringing Botony Bay back into the Empire. As of now they are of little concern and a non-threat.”

  “I'm only bringing these up out of concern for the Americans. They will want to absorb any territories we don't. And the more they absorb the more of a threat they become.”

  “I have a large delegation of diplomats working out a deal as we speak. Both Empires have goods to sell each other. We will make ourselves strong through trade, while maintaining a powerful military. You have spoken to me at length about progress in science and engineering. I believe the potential for progress through amicable trade to far outweigh any gains from military force.”

  “Then why make the effort to bring in the Chinese?”

  “As you stated before, the Americans forced our hand. Had we had the time to expand our rail systems to their cities the trade influence we could have exerted would have been more than enough to keep the American influence at bay.”

  Charles Ducat continued his work at increasing production while the clone of Reno, Marc Lamonde, pushed forward the achievements in math, science, and engineering. The heavy earth-moving machines were beginning to come off the production lines in volume and the initial system of superhighways were in the works. A massive tunnel going under the English Channel was also under construction as well as a second tunnel that would be crossing under the
straights at Constantinople.

  In the Americas, without the guidance of Marwal's clone, their efforts were focused on rail alone. Already, lines were running from New York to the Midwest and as far south as the town of St. Augustine and then over to New Orleans. Work was plentiful, making trade that much more valuable to each Empire.

  Naffi awoke from a journey. “I wish there was a way to accelerate our growth, but I just don't see how it is possible. Factories continue to expand, but not fast enough for my taste. The people are working hard. Crop production is booming. And we are now stuck waiting for whole generations of students to mature so research and engineering can continue to grow.”

  Reno said, “I'm seeing a widening gap in those who are educated and those who are not. The second group, those who are currently doing most of the work, are becoming disgruntled.”

  “Nonsense. They have more now than ever in their lives. Homes, electricity, and food is plentiful, their families are being taken care of. Why would prosperity be an issue?”

  “It's not a question of prosperity. It's a question of understanding. The world is closing in on them. Some of these advancements are difficult for them to comprehend. I'm seeing a growing belief in magic. The traditional faiths are struggling to explain many of these technologies. I believe we are headed for a two-class system where the workers may become difficult to manage.”

  “Are you referring to unions?”

  “I'm referring to organizations where wholesale strikes can be brought together over the communications we have placed in every home. Imagine all our rail workers going on strike at once. They could cripple our progress.”

  Naffi waved a hand. “This is nothing every growing and prospering civilization doesn't face. Earth's history, those archives, are replete with union and other worker activities. Our own history talks of entire colonies on strike.”

  Reno crossed his arms. “We can't afford such production setbacks.”

  “What would you propose?”

  “The outlawing of unions and perhaps the spreading around of a bit more wealth.”