by Geoff Fabron
Silvanus Anemas informed Dikouros of the report from Saxony warning that an attack on the Empire was imminent. As he spoke he watched the colour drain from the generals’ face.
Dikouros was scared. Not by the thought of hordes of Saxons pouring across the frontier or by the natural fear of any soldier facing the uncertainties of battle. Manual Dikouros had no intention of being anywhere near the front lines in a war so the physical dangers did not figure highly on his list of concerns. What worried Dikouros was that he had just told Exanzenus that there was no danger of a Saxon attack and that the transfer of more troops to Britannia had not unduly weakened the Rhine defences. Being wrong and found to be wrong was right at the top of Dikouros's list of things to be avoided.
Dikouros thought quickly. If he alerted the army and recalled troops from Britannia it would look like he did not know what he was doing, but if the Saxons attacked at least he would be ready. On the other hand, if it was not true? What if it was just a wild rumour - or a plan to discredit him? Yes, that could be it!
He looked at Anemas and fixed him with a cold, disdaining look. He had regained his composure and some of the colour had returned to his face.
"Last week," he said using the tone of voice he reserved for berating a junior officer, "your section informed me that there was no evidence of this. Now you tell me I can expect to see the Saxons marching through my headquarters on their way to Hispania! What will you tell me tomorrow tribune - that a fleet of Arab dhows are coming to cut off our troops in Britannia!"
Silvanus Anemas was used to his commanders’ sharp tongue. A professional soldier who had worked his way up from the ranks, Dikouros had dismissed him as being unimportant a long time ago. He kept his own anger under control whilst he answered.
"Sir, as of last week we have not discovered any significant evidence of a pending Saxon invasion," he admitted, "but our resources are limited. The Minden embassy is better placed and has access to ..."
"The Minden embassy!" interrupted Dikouros. "Do you mean that Petronius fellow?"
"Yes sir," confirmed the tribune, "Cornelius Petronius is the acting head of military intelligence. He sent the warning by courier."
Dikouros sensed that he had the corroborating evidence of a conspiracy to humiliate him.
"Does Petronius give the source of his information?" he demanded.
"No sir, but he does say it is highly placed and is utterly reliable."
"Yes," said Dikouros sarcastically, "I'm sure he would say that. Tell me tribune. Have the Saxons mobilised any of their reserves?"
"No sir, not to my knowledge."
"Any large scale transfer of troops from other Saxon border armies?"
"No sir."
"Movement of artillery into firing positions?"
"No sir."
"Increase in air activity?"
"No sir."
"So tribune," said Dikouros summing up, "the only evidence we have of this 'imminent' Saxon attack is this note from a 'junior' diplomat, 'acting' as head of intelligence. And based on this you expect me to act!"
"All the information we have received from Minden in the past has proved to be accurate general," continued Anemas.
"But how often has he predicted a full scale war?"
Silvanus Anemas remained silent. The question was either rhetorical or facetious and did not deserve an answer. Dikouros continued.
"Cornelius Petronius has already made it abundantly clear that he does not support the new polices of the Empire. He has been antagonistic and disrespectful to the chief minister and to me. I'm of the view that this is nothing more than a rumour blown out of all proportions by Petronius to make me look foolish."
Anemas suddenly realised what his commanders’ line of thought had been throughout the meeting. His opinion of Dikouros, which had been low to start with, sunk to new depths.
"We should at least alert the legions," he exclaimed, trying to salvage something. "They are stretched thin on the ground as it is."
"And you would add to their burdens by putting them on a war footing?" snapped back Dikouros. "No, we will disregard this rumour until we have some evidence. I'll not be panicked into taking rash actions just because some insignificant little diplomat cries 'The Saxons are coming!' ".
Silvanus Anemas started to protest but was cut short and dismissed. He returned to his office seething with anger. He looked at the report from Cornelius again and compared it to the meagre data that he had. Although there was no hard supporting evidence his instincts told him that there was trouble coming and old soldiers don't grow old by ignoring their instincts.
Taking an official reply form he wrote a formal reply to Cornelius informing him in terse bureaucratic style that there was no evidence to support his warning with the requisite copies for the files. He then took another, blank piece of paper and wrote a personnel note to Cornelius describing the meeting he had just had with Dikouros and asking him to get some solid proof that he could use.
26th July 1920
Minden, Saxony
When Katherine called Cornelius a week later, he asked her to meet him. She picked him up at the side gate again and they drove to another secluded spot where he told her the contents of the two notes sent from Augusta Treverorum.
"What do they need proof for!" said Katherine angrily. "All they need to do is tell the King that the Empire knows what Godisger is up to and that'll be it!"
Cornelius explained that Dikouros would do nothing without evidence.
"Then he's a fool!"
"No argument from me," agreed Cornelius, "but it doesn't help matters. I need something to substantiate what you told me."
Katherine sat quietly and thought for a while. Then she turned to Cornelius and spoke slowly and in earnest. "There's a safe in the study. When I went into the room one evening after Franz and his friends had gone to bed there were no papers or maps lying around. I'm certain that they keep them in the safe. I can get them out and give them to you."
Cornelius was horrified. "No Katherine, that's too dangerous. They would know that it was you. I told you before I'll not put you at risk. We'll have to find another way."
A determined look came over Katherine. "I know where the evidence is and how to get it."
"No!" said Cornelius emphatically.
"Yes," said Katherine quietly but firmly. "It's the only way to stop another war," she took his hands in hers and squeezed them.
Cornelius decided that she was determined to go through with this. The best he could do was to try and limit the danger to her. "All right then," he said, "but I'm coming with you. We'll make it look like a break-in, that way you may not be implicated."
This time Katherine disagreed. "Then you'll be in danger," she said shaking her head. "If my brother suspects you he'll kill you."
"Then he mustn't know that I'm involved," he said quickly improvising a plan, "I'll hide in the woods until dark and then meet you in the study."
Katherine looked at him tight-lipped. He could see that she was trying to find a flaw in his plan, some excuse to prevent him from being involved. "I don't like it," she said finally but without much conviction. "I can do it myself."
"No, we do it together or not at all."
She paused for a moment and then nodded. "Then we had better do it together."
Back at the embassy Cornelius returned to his apartment. He changed into some walking and camping clothes, packed his rucksack and left. If he was discovered in the grounds of the lodge his excuse would be that he had come to surprise Katherine. The flouting of his restriction to the embassy would be a minor infringement compared to that of espionage.
He made his way to the park where he had arranged for Katherine to meet him. During his time in Saxony Cornelius had purchased some local clothing, including an excellent pair of walking boots. Even his rucksack was made in Saxony. After the incident in the Minden museum, Cornelius had become conscious of the disapproving looks that people gave Katherine when he was with h
er, so he had began to dress in local fashion to avoid embarrassing her.
He sat down on a tree stump near the road which ran through the park to wait for her. The atmosphere in the park was very peaceful, with young couples strolling around hand in hand, children running and shouting amongst the trees and bushes or playing in the open areas. Watching the scenes around him he could appreciate Katherine abhorrence of the horrors that a war would bring and it increased his determination to do everything he could to stop it. He spotted a young family a short distance away, proud parents with two young children, happy and content. The husband was of military age thought Cornelius sadly, he would probably be one of the first to be mobilised and sent into battle.
Katherine's motor carriage came to a halt in front of him blocking his view of the young family. He picked up his rucksack, threw it in the back and then got in beside her. "Are you still sure about this?" she asked.
The young family had come into view again and Cornelius watched as the youngest child, barely able to walk, toddled with its arms outstretched from its mother to the father.
"Yes Katherine," he said emphatically, "I'm sure."
Katherine dropped him off about a mile from the lodge. She had given him a set of maps for the area and had sketched out a plan of the house and the grounds. Cornelius quickly made his way into the trees as Katherine drove off. He then stopped to get his bearings and set off towards the lodge. It was still light but it would be dark within the hour and Cornelius wanted to be in sight of the buildings before nightfall.
Arriving at the lodge, Katherine noticed that most of the motor carriages that she had seen here last time were absent. She was afraid that Franz and his friends had left and taken all their papers with them, and then she noticed her younger brothers’ vehicle parked at the end of the row of covered garage spaces. Next to it was Frederick's motor carriage.
For the first time Katherine began to have some misgivings, afraid that her actions would bring dishonour upon her older brother. Too late now, she told herself as she parked as close to the exit of the garage as possible. She was committed to trying to stop Franz, and she could only pray that Frederick would not get implicated.
In the lodge she instructed the housekeeper to inform her brothers that she was here for the weekend and would be joining them for dinner. Then she went up to her room to bath and change. As she closed the door behind her she found that her hands were shaking and she could feel her heart beating. She lay down on the bed and willed herself to relax.
Dinner at the lodge was not normally a formal affair, especially when there were only family members present. Katherine selected a plain, dark green dress and after a moment’s hesitation decided to wear the silk scarf that Cornelius had bought her in Constantinople. She attached it with a silver brooch that had belonged to her mother and made her way to the dining room.
Frederick and Franz were standing in front of the fireplace, unlit now that it was summer, pre-dinner drinks in their hands. As she entered, Frederick put down his glass and made his way over to her, a beaming smile animating his face.
"Katherine, what a pleasant surprise!" he said greeting her with a kiss on the cheek, "I was so pleased when I heard that you were here. It's not often that we're all together in one place. You look as beautiful as ever, doesn't she Franz."
Still holding his glass, Franz had slowly followed Frederick. "Yes indeed," he said without interest as he gave his sister a perfunctory kiss. "Nice to see you here again. Didn't bring your pet Roman with you this time?"
Katherine stiffened. Does he know? Has Cornelius been caught? She had not seen any guards when she had arrived, but that did not mean that they were not out there, discretely patrolling the grounds.
Frederick saw the change on Katherine's face and turned on Franz. "That's enough of that!" he barked. "I'll not have you exercise your hatred here!"
Katherine regained her composure and smiled sweetly at Franz.
"Unfortunately, Cornelius is restricted to the immediate vicinity of the embassy at the moment," she said, "but I'll tell him that you asked after him. I'm sure he'll appreciate your concern."
"I would restrict him and his kind to six feet of Saxon soil," snapped back Franz angrily. He had never been able to win a verbal duel with Katherine.
"I said that's enough Franz!" repeated Frederick, his voice an octave louder this time. "If you can't control your tongue you can leave! Now apologise to Katherine!"
Franz glowered at his older brother. He had always taken Katherine's side, but once the Romans had been crushed and humiliated he would tell his siblings what he really thought of them. But he held his feelings in check for now.
He looked away from Frederick to his sister. "I'm sorry," he said woodenly.
"That's all right Franz," she said in a condescending manner. "I'm sure you are under a lot of stress at the moment."
Katherine could see the fury in his eyes and how he was struggling to control himself. She smiled sweetly at him again knowing how much it would annoy him.
They were saved from any more verbal clashes by the announcement of dinner. Frederick led the way to the table, and both brothers waited until Katherine had sat down before taking their seat. Frederick pronounced the grace and they started on the soup course. During the meal Frederick exercised his diplomatic skill by keeping the conversation away from controversial subjects. Katherine found herself describing her research at the university in great detail to a seemingly enthralled Frederick and a politely bored Franz. She was grateful to have something to say to keep her mind off Cornelius waiting outside.
After dinner, they sat in the lounge and talked, although Franz said very little. He was drinking quite heavily but whereas it made some people belligerent, it just made Franz sullen. Katherine hoped it would make him sleep soundly tonight.
About twenty minutes past eleven, Katherine excused herself, saying that she was tired and went up to her room. As she climbed the stairs she hoped that her brothers would follow her to their own beds, but she could still hear them talking as she made her way along the corridor to her bedroom.
In her room Katherine went to the drawer of her dressing table and took out her jewellery box. She opened it. The box had belonged to her mother and it contained all her jewellery. Frederick had given it to her many years before, unopened since their mothers’ death. She removed the trays of gold and silver ornaments and glittering stones. In the bottom was a heavy key with a faded label tied to it and marked 'study safe'.
When her mother had been managing the estates after the last war she would often come to the Lodge during the summer months and work. Important financial and legal document would have been stored in the study safe and she had her own key. Katherine had never had any reason to make use of it and had forgotten all about it until she had overheard Franz and his friends. She took the key and carefully placed it in the pocket of her dress. She then sat down on the bed to wait.
She began to shake but willed herself to relax. Her dinner lay heavy on her stomach and a wave of nausea swept over her, but she fought it off. She looked at the clock. Twenty minutes to twelve. Another fifteen minutes before she had to make her way downstairs to meet Cornelius. It seemed like an eternity.
About fifty yards from the lodge Cornelius lay under some bushes. According to the map that Katherine had given him the study was in the corner of the lodge, directly opposite him. He could see the light on in Katherine's room above it and waited for it to go out. That would be his signal to move over to the study windows. He was still worried about Katherine being caught and labelled a traitor. He had even eaten her map bit by bit like in a cheap spy novel. He took out his pocket watch and held it so that he could read it in the moonlight. Ten minutes to twelve. Soon, he told himself, soon.
As the clock hand moved towards the five to twelve mark, Katherine turned out her light and slowly opened her bedroom door. She looked down the corridor and listened for a few moments. Nothing. She moved quietly to the doo
r which opened onto the servants’ staircase, turned the handle and checked both up and down the stair well. All was clear and she carefully descended the stairs. The old wood creaked with each step that she took and she paused to listen for the sound of someone coming to investigate. Only when she was certain that she had not been heard did she take another step. It took her longer than expected and she began to fear that she would be late.
Outside the glass doors from the garden into the study, Cornelius crouched in the shadows. Throughout his wait he had not seen any sign of guards, but he was still worried that he would be seen and the alarm raised. There was a metallic click which, even though he was expecting it, caused his heart to miss a beat. The glass door opened slightly and Cornelius slipped into the house.
Once inside they held each other tightly, neither of them speaking, both of them tense. Cornelius could smell Katherine's distinctive perfume. He felt very self conscious about the way he looked and smelt after hours of walking in the woods and lying in the undergrowth.
Katherine closed the window door and drew the heavy curtains before switching on a table lamp on the desk. The large study looked crowded with the huge, but barren table in the middle. There was still the lingering smell of tobacco and stale beer, but otherwise there was nothing to suggest that a war had been planned in this room.
"My brothers are still up," whispered Katherine. "We must be as quiet as possible."
"Brothers?" said Cornelius. "You mean Frederick's here as well?"
Katherine nodded and moved over to the safe. It was an old, solid looking cast iron model, and sat in one corner of the study next to the drinks cabinet. Taking the key from her pocket she knelt down, inserted the key, and turned it. The mechanism was well oiled but still gave a dull 'clunk' that seemed deafening in the stillness of the room, and they froze momentarily to listen for the sound of footsteps coming to investigate.
Katherine stood up and stepped back from the safe. She looked at Cornelius and without a word he took her place, lifting the lever and swinging the heavy door open. Ever since they had left Minden, Cornelius had feared that the safe would be empty, that the plans had been taken away. Part of him had hoped that the plans were gone, then Katherine would not be in any danger, but the safe was full of papers, maps and folders. Carefully he lifted them all out and took them over to the table with the light where he laid out each group of documents. He began to skim through them, identifying those that were important and those that were not.
