‘Cause of death?’
‘Not formally recorded, but gunshot.’
‘What’s your feel – internal or external?’
‘Too early, but given all the other crap that’s been happening, I’d say internal.’
I walked over to his bookshelf, scanned the leather-backed collections, but didn’t register their titles.
‘Did you track Caius Tellus down after we talked at the council meeting?’
‘Yes and no. I insisted on seeing old Countess Tella, but to be honest and no disrespect, she’s gone a bit gaga. I think Constantia Tella’s sudden death hit her very hard. I was getting nowhere. But I caught the under-steward after I’d asked to use the facilities. She was nervous, but indicated Caius had hopped it abroad. We think we’ve found the flight he went on. The video picture’s fuzzy, but his walk gives him away.’
‘And?’
‘The flight arrived at IAD – Washington in the EUS.’ He grunted. ‘Pity they don’t have cameras there.’
‘You’ve asked the legation to help?’
‘I told them to send a team of ferrets out to find him. They ID’d his hire car, then the apartment where he was staying and guess who owns it?’
‘Plico…’ I scowled at him.
‘Sorry. Langley.’
‘Hades.’
‘Quite. I’ve put out a couple of feelers to find out what the hell the Yanks are doing talking to our chief headache, but I haven’t heard back.’
‘Talk to their head of station here – Farrow, isn’t it?’
He nodded.
‘They know how hard our attitude is towards foreign interference. Give him a gentle reminder, please.’
He tipped his head in acknowledgement, then glanced at his watch.
‘Yes, you must go.’ I looked at the floor for several long seconds. ‘You know something, Plico? This level of surgical brutality is deliberate, planned. And I don’t think it’s unrelated to the recent riots or Caius cosying up to foreign intelligence organisations. I’m calling another Families Council – I feel in my gut we don’t have mere actions by discontents but a threat to our very survival.’
*
Once again, the descendants of the founding families sat in the atrium at Domus Mitelarum facing another struggle to survive. The only one missing was Tella. I’d dispatched each summons by courier with two escorts. I was about to call order when there was a loud rap on the locked door. Quirinia opened it and Quintus Tellus appeared in the doorway.
‘Quintus? Where’s your great-aunt?’
He bowed to the group. ‘I apologise, Aurelia, she’s unwell.’ He took a deep breath. ‘She’s dying.’
‘Pluto!’ muttered Quirinia at my left. I exchanged a glance with her. Ignoring the dead Constantia’s child, Conradus, Caius would have a clear field to become the next Count Tellus.
‘I’m sorry to hear that, Quintus. Please accept the Families Council sympathy. Are you staying to represent the Tellae?’
He hesitated. He must have felt pulled from all angles: his role as an elected public servant, being the brother of a convicted criminal, staying with his dying aunt and head of family and his right and duty to represent his house at the most ancient and powerful forum in Roma Nova.
‘I think I must stay, but please understand if I’m paged and have to leave during the session.’
I waved him to the empty seat on my right.
As he settled in and the others were talking amongst themselves, I leaned over and whispered, ‘What’s happening to the child, Quintus?’
‘I went round yesterday and saw Caius’s steward. He’s a lazy slob, but the cook’s not too bad. She’s looking after Conradus in a rough way – lets him sleep by the kitchen fire instead of that bloody dog kennel Caius put him in.’
‘Gods, it’s like something out of ancient times. Can’t we do anything more?’
Quintus pressed my hand. ‘No, it’s that testament he made Constantia sign. I’m keeping my eye on him, Aurelia. Please don’t worry – you have enough to do.’
I outlined the steps the imperial council had taken, shared the reports from ministries, and asked Quirinia and Quintus to share their knowledge. When I invited questions, nobody asked any. Their shocked faces said it all.
‘My sister’s been working like a contracted worker – all hours – especially now she’s transferred to the PGSF,’ Volusenia the Elder said. ‘I thought I was going to be ordering her bier when she faced those rioters last week.’ She had the same strong features as the colonel, but a fleshier face and a head of white hair instead of grey-brown. She was easily fifteen years older.
‘Well, Severina’s not up to providing leadership in this,’ Livia said bluntly.
‘I’ve never been that impressed by her,’ Cornelia commented, ‘but we owe her our duty to support her.’ She fixed her stare on me, almost challenging.
Quintus fidgeted at my side.
‘As I’ve outlined, the imperial council is attempting to steer a middle course, but I want to be able to give our help and influence to stabilise the situation.’ I panned around the twelve faces. ‘So what can you offer?’
‘It looks as if we should check for any Roman National Movement people within our own households and spheres of influence, and try to dampen down this irrational rhetoric,’ Cornelia added. She waved vaguely. ‘I have to admit I hadn’t taken too much notice of them before.’
‘Oh, come on,’ I replied, ‘it’s been all over the news.’
‘I have better things to do than check what the rabble are up to.’
‘You know something, Cornelia, that’s exactly the attitude that’s firing them up. And it’s well beyond a few discontents.’ I felt anger at her dismissive attitude. This kind of wilful blindness was dangerous.
‘Aurelia,’ asked Calavia, ‘when will you get Plico’s report about the killings at the border post?’
‘Within a day or so. Why?’
‘My son and granddaughter are both serving officers. I’ll ask them what the feeling is in their units.’
The others followed with offers to contribute information and we agreed to meet up in five days’ time to coordinate our findings and produce a proposal to submit to the imperatrix.
‘Two final things,’ I said. ‘First, you may think I’m being paranoid but as a precaution, I suggest you secure your family archives and treasure somewhere deep, and spread your investments. Obviously unobtrusively or it may unnerve people.’
‘Is it that bad?’ Cornelia asked. She didn’t quite scoff, but her look was full of doubt.
‘If it isn’t, then you can censure me formally. If it is, then you will have taken a wise step.’
‘And the other?’ asked Calavia. She may have been ninety, but with her eyes shining and her chin forward, she looked ready for anything.
I glanced at Quirinia, who nodded. I cleared my throat.
‘Caius Tellus failed to appear at the imperial council meeting before last as well as the last one. My intelligence department reports he’s in the EUS. Our local agents have tracked him down to a building owned by the CIA. He’s been there for two weeks and has had several visitors identified as employees of the CIA. What this signifies, I don’t know, but we’re monitoring it closely.’ I glanced around the table. ‘Personally, so many alarm bells are going off in my head, I can’t think. Caius’s support of the Roman National Movement and his absence at a time when the Families should be rallying round in the crisis are bad indications. If he’s conspiring with overseas intelligence agencies who are not particular friends of Roma Nova, then I think the danger is more than grave.’
XVI
‘He’s back.’
I didn’t need Plico to elaborate who. ‘When?’
‘Flew in last night.’
‘Follow every move. I want to know when he tak
es a breath.’
‘I’ll use some of your PGSF people. They’re turning out to be quite good.’
‘Careful, Plico, you said something nice.’
He snorted. I almost heard him grin. Which made a change. His investigation of the border troops massacre hadn’t led anywhere. Forensics had shown the weapons used to fire the bullets, and the bullets themselves, were standard military issue which made the whole thing even more depressing.
But the demonstrations and parades had stopped, thank the gods, and the interior minister’s new deputy had sent a full inspection team into the vigiles with a reform programme in their pockets. Apparently, the reaction had been sullen but they complied.
‘By the way, did you have a word with the American head of station here about non-interference?’
‘He just looked at me surprised and hurt, and denied any interference, so they’re definitely involved.’
Merda. We’d refused to take part in the EUS superpower politics struggle with the eastern Reds. A policy of mostly non-alignment had saved us for the past fifteen hundred years and we would not compromise our neutrality. I wouldn’t call in their ambassador yet, but I’d keep it in reserve.
‘Well, check for an increase in their embassy staff or an unusual number of tourists.’
‘Oh, I’d never have thought of doing that.’ His voice was tight and sarcastic.
‘Sorry, Plico, that was tactless. Just a bit tense here.’
‘Stop trying to micro-manage everything and toddle off to your meeting.’
Bastard. But a tough and ultra-loyal one.
*
‘Well, I do seem to have missed some excitement while I’ve been away.’
Caius sat opposite me at the imperial council table playing with his pen and doodling on his paper pad. Plico’s report had shown that Caius went to see Severina the day after his return, and had taken her gifts. Apparently, he’d been all humility but coated his words with a patronising tone.
‘How do you know that?’ I’d asked Plico.
‘Need to know,’ he’d replied and tapped the side of his nose. So Plico was listening in to the imperatrix again. I pretended I hadn’t made that connection. Whatever he’d said, Caius had cajoled or manipulated Severina into letting him keep his seat on the council.
‘With the vigiles in disarray and the military incapable of even defending themselves,’ Caius said, before Severina could start, ‘I suggest, Imperatrix, that we call upon loyal and right-minded citizens to assist in the current crisis.’
‘What are you proposing, Caius Tellus?’ asked Quirinia. She looked as if she had a bad smell under her nose.
‘It won’t cost your precious budget a single denarius, my dear Quirinia. I know how anxious you become about tallying your figures.’
Dull red patches appeared on her cheeks. She tightened her lips for a moment before answering. ‘A budget of over thirty billion solidi is hardly something you tally on an abacus.’
Caius just smiled at her as he would a recalcitrant child. ‘Whatever you say, Quirinia.’
I thought she was going to explode. She looked caught between venting her anger and not wishing to lose her dignity.
‘I think we should at least hear Caius Tellus’s proposal,’ piped up the junior commerce minister. He’d only been in post six months and was representing his minister today. ‘No help should be refused in a crisis,’ he added in a sententious tone, and turned his full attention to Caius.
‘We’re starting to come out of it, Felinus, if you read the report thoroughly,’ I said. ‘Which aspects in particular do you think need special help?’ I smiled at him and waited.
‘I…I would prefer to answer after Caius Tellus has outlined his proposal, Foreign Minister.’
‘Really?’
‘Come now, Aurelia,’ Caius intervened, ‘don’t tease the boy – he’s trying to be positive.’ He shot Felinus a ferocious look. His stooge flushed and looked down at the table and wriggled in his seat.
‘But it’s a fragile recovery,’ Caius continued, leaning back in his seat, completely relaxed. ‘I’ve been consulting with American economic and political experts in the last few weeks…’
Severina stared at him. Her mouth didn’t quite drop open.
‘…obviously in an informal and confidential way. They are willing to lend their help, but a condition is that order is restored.’ He smiled at the stunned faces around the table. ‘The Roman National Movement has disciplined organised cohorts. I have some open channels to them. I propose we ask their senior leadership in for talks to see what help they can offer.’
‘Over my dead body!’ I was on my feet hurling my voice across the table at Caius’s unctuous face. Quirinia and Calavia shouted ‘No’ almost in unison. The room erupted. Caius shot me a look of pure malice and smiled. Through the shouting noise, I heard him say clearly, ‘That could be easily arranged, Aurelia.’
*
Back in my Foreign Ministry office, I went straight to the tray and poured myself a stiff measure of French brandy. I should have known better than to rise to Caius’s provocation. Of course, it would be stupid to dismiss his threat but I had my guard and despite being in my forties, I wasn’t a complete pushover if attacked personally.
A buzzer on my desk interrupted my negative thoughts.
‘The interior minister and magister militum are here and ask if you have a few minutes.’ Cornelia’s voice sounded as assured as usual. How could she remain so cool?
‘Of course. Show them in.’
I waved them both to easy chairs at the side and joined them. The interior minister coughed and attempted to recover his breath. He couldn’t have been more than mid-sixties, but looked as if he’d spent the last ten years in the silver mines at Truscium. He’d lost weight over the past six months and I thought he wouldn’t last much longer, but he refused to give his post up to his number two. Apart from formalities in council, we’d hardly spoken since Marina’s attack. Although I knew in my bones it was Caius, I held this old fool partly to blame, and for the poor investigation. He avoided meeting my eye and gestured at the magister to speak.
‘Foreign Minister, we find ourselves in a quandary.’
The magister was punctilious as always, but I was wary of the way he addressed me by my function rather than my praenomen, Aurelia. What the hell was coming next?
‘I’ll be blunt,’ he continued. ‘Caius Tellus. He’s obviously looking for a power grab.’
Blunt indeed.
‘He’s equally obviously in cahoots with these nationalist people – any fool can see that. The imperial council is the only way to stop him within the law and it has to do it now.’
‘I would remind you, Magister, the imperatrix is the legal ruler of Roma Nova, albeit with the consent of the council, Senate, and the people’s tribunes.’
‘All due respect, Aurelia, Severina Apulia couldn’t open a jar of beans.’
‘Careful, Magister,’ I said.
‘We’re stable as long as she has strong advisors like you and Quirinia and is backed by fixers like Plico, but what would happen if you were all removed?’
‘What are you saying?’
‘After Caius’s outrageous proposal,’ the magister continued, ‘Interior and I met and looked at the figures.’
‘Mine aren’t the only shocking ones, Aurelia,’ the interior minister added and coughed violently. When he recovered, he shuffled some stapled sheets across the table. ‘Look at the Curia stats for the local elections.’
I scanned the districts’ returns. Nearly forty-six per cent had a Roman National Movement councillor and a dozen a deputy leader. No leaders, though. With all my personal and security problems, I hadn’t noticed. What an idiot.
‘Very well. Suggestions?’ I looked from one to the other.
‘If he succeeds, the military
and vigiles will have no option but to obey him,’ the magister said. ‘That’s the law. I’d resign, but that would allow him to appoint a stooge. The same for everybody. We’re caught whatever we do.’
‘You can always mutiny,’ I half joked. This was too fantastical to take seriously.
‘And have my troops decimated? I think not.’
‘You’re not serious?’ I said. ‘That’s not still in the codex, is it?’
‘Unfortunately, yes.’
‘Mars’ balls!’ I closed my eyes for a few seconds and leant back in my chair. Picking out every tenth soldier and ordering her or his comrades to beat them to death on pain of suffering the same fate was a barbarity beyond imagining.
‘The ancients only used it occasionally in extremis.’ The magister shrugged. ‘A pragmatic way to punish a large group of offenders.’ He gave me the grimmest look I’d ever seen on his craggy face. ‘Nobody’s used it in Roma Nova for nearly a thousand years but it’s never been rescinded. A bastard like Caius Tellus would know that, and use it.’
‘You’ve looked into this in detail, haven’t you?’
‘I like to be ready.’
‘So no commander, even at centurion or optio level, is going to risk it.’ I was stating the obvious, but it was a perfect trap. ‘Terror by numbers.’
‘Exactly,’ the magister replied.
‘Rescinding that provision is the top of the next council meeting agenda.’ I scribbled it on my notepad, underlining hard.
‘You think that’ll stop him?’
‘For the gods’ sake, why are you so sure it’s going to happen?’
INSURRECTIO Page 13
