The Valentinian entered the port from the west. When they had left the lighthouses behind, on the port side, the impressive panorama of the sun palaces could be seen, shining in many colors. Here, in the vast buildings near the sea and away from the stench of the metropolis, lived the rich and highly placed, the powerful shipping families of the city, the merchants, high officials of the Empire, or simply those who were of old money. This city, founded by the legendary Alexander, had been even before the Roman conquest an economic and administrative center, and many of the Greek and Egyptian families who were still living here today could trace back their pedigrees and their influence on the fortunes of Alexandria many hundreds of years. There were plenty of wealthy inhabitants who lived from what their ancestors had accomplished, and their pleasant existence was made very evident by the grand palazzos.
The closer they got to the actual landing, the more the breathtaking splendor of the city unfolded before their eyes. Even those who’ve already been there several times couldn’t help but look up from their work and devote a few moments to the sight. Directly in before them, the great theater of the city towered, built close to the shore, with its own pier, so that the rich and famous could reach it without having to endure the dusty and busy streets of the city, and on the nearby water rowing competitions were held in the evenings. Situated next to the Grand Theatre, the actual port area stretched with its piers, numerous shipyards and a large market area with warehouses and open storage areas on which, despite that during this season barely any vessels arrived, a lot of activity prevailed. Once the Valentinian had passed the beacons, the instruction had been given, although not really necessary, to fire up the steam engine, to achieve the desired propaganda effect. The loud puffing of the machine echoed across the wide dock and broke at the high and imposing buildings on the shore, and it wasn’t long until a good quantity of onlookers had assembled to witness the majestic approach. Köhler felt reassured as rapidly a cohort of port guards appeared who shut off the berth and began to repel too inquisitive spectators.
Köhler took his eyes from the panorama of the city. He would still have plenty of opportunity to look at the temples and churches across the large squares. But he already knew that his help wasn’t needed: Africanus had everything under control. As the steam engine died and the ship was pushed with a gentle, almost unnoticeable movement toward the quay, the ropes flew and the Valentinian was moored, her maiden voyage officially over. It was clear that the new design had proved to be excellent.
At the wharf, a delegation of the city’s notables had gathered in addition to the onlookers, local officials who would dominate the first round of welcome. Of course, there would be a reception by the governor in this part of Africa, before they could make the trip inland to arrive as quickly as possible at the Red Sea and from there onward Aksum.
Once the Valentinian was firmly lashed, Marcellus approached the railing and looked expectantly at Köhler and Africanus.
“Can I explore the city?” he asked eagerly.
Köhler threw Africanus a look. “We are both busy with the officials for a while, and we must certainly leave a small guard – but I see no problem in granting the rest of the crew shore leave for the day.”
“Especially you time travelers,” Africanus added. “You know not more than Ravenna and Thessaloniki so far. You must make yourself familiar with the Empire. A Roman and a Greek city are in many ways different than Alexandria.”
“What is the difference?”
Africanus smiled. “Alexandria is Alexandria. Here you find all of them, from around the world, from all regions of the Empire. Here you find all Christian churches and all other religions, the most noble scholarship side by side with fanatical stupidity. There is no city like Alexandria.”
The Trierarch looked around, then waved to Sepidus. “My old friend here,” he said, as the man with the weathered face joined them, “has been here many times in his life. He once even had a steady girlfriend. Laviria was her name, right?”
The older man rolled his eyes. “Do you have to warm up the old stories, Africanus?”
“She had fire!”
“Oh, yes, but not under her stove. Every time I had to bring her to a tavern and spend my meagre pay for meals she ate almost on her own. And after the third year, there was clear evidence for the results of her appetite!”
Africanus grinned as Sepidus, who with masterly fashion, put on a suffering face. “Sepidus was at that time secutor on a trireme, which belonged to the Alexandrian quota,” he told Köhler. “Shortly thereafter, he was transferred to Ravenna.”
“One of the great strokes of luck of my life. Laviria suddenly spoke of marriage!”
“Yes, the Emperor’s wisdom is unfathomable, and he watches with kindness on those who serve him!” Africanus replied. “Anyway: Sepidus knows his stuff. Call your men, Köhler, and the young Marcellus here, and I’ll give them my mate as a guide. Look around in the city and return before dark. You yourself, my friend, will have to accompany me, though.”
Köhler glanced at Behrens, who looked with shiny eyes toward the shore. It was the first time for him to step foot on another continent – in both eras. It was clear that he wanted to join to the small group of those who were given the guided tour.
“Then I’ll meet with Africanus and Dr. Neumann to do the honors,” he said, trying to copy Sepidus’ suffering face with similar intensity. He didn’t quite succeed.
A few minutes later, two groups left the ship. The larger of them, consisting of the five Germans and Marcellus, disembarked expectantly under the direction of Sepidus. The other, consisting of Africanus, Köhler and Proreta Lucius, would welcome the waiting notables and probably provide a guided tour of the ship for any visitors interested in the technological marvels. In addition to those who joined only out of politeness, Köhler expected that some with serious technical and professional curiosity would appear – shipowners, shipyard managers, trierarchs of other vessels. Rheinberg’s statement had been very clear: The blueprints of the Valentinian were no secret – down to an exact plan of the steam engine, which they should distribute among Alexandrian scholars upon request. It was as pointless as counterproductive to keep all this a secret. Only when such innovations quickly spread and became common knowledge they could help improve the situation in the Empire. This was another reason why the captain had endorsed the trip to Alexandria: Although the heyday of the city was over, the metropolis was still considered a center of knowledge. This feature could turn out to be useful.
The first group plunged enthusiastically into a dazzling city, crowded with pilgrims and travelers from around the world. Sepidus led them to the width of road, the main artery of the city, which was, as they were soon to learn, built strictly symmetrical, like a chess board. It seemed, if kept one important monuments in clear view, that it would be absolutely impossible to get lost in this place, and also Marcellus seemed very impressed, but far from lost. Among the important buildings was, in the west of the city, the Moon Gate, and one of the most magnificent churches of Alexandria, the Theonas Church, formerly the seat of the bishop of Alexandria. On the way, Sepidus explained that there was hardly a city in the whole Empire where the religious divisions of the realm unfolded more distinctively. Alexandria was both the city of the Arians as well the Trinitarians, as powerful bishops like Gregory or the famous Athanasius left their mark on the population. In addition, many other faiths were apparent, even the officially banned Manichean creed from the Orient, which had been established here trying to find a gateway into the Roman Empire.
In the city center, there was another large church, whose construction was completed not too long ago – the Imperial Church, which was the current seat of the bishop. To all this, the visitors devoted some time, and the pleasure of discovery got to them, as at every street corner something new was to be admired. Temples and other places of worship, partly of great architecture, lined
up against each other. The racecourse was one of the meeting points of the city, and as Sepidus told them, the Alexandrians were crazy about the races – if something like a national sport existed, this was it. They visited the square of Alexander, named after the former much less mythical but very real founder of the city. Once, the Sema had been located there, the tomb of Alexander, which later relocated to the newly built palaces of the Ptolemaic kings and was even later, under the reign of Aurelian, destroyed.
Again and again, they returned to the width of road that divided the metropolis exactly in the middle. In addition to the coastal region whose palaces they had been able to admire from the sea, this was another preferred residential area for those who were well off. It was loud and hectic, because activities persisted along the busy boulevard day and night.
Sepidus had of course dutifully explained the pleasures of the city’s nightlife, as Alexandria was particularly known for it. The numerous localities in which to drink, dance and indulge in yet other pleasures were apparently well known to the old gubernator, and it was Behrens who ended his enthusiastic and increasingly detailed descriptions with a silent nod toward Marcellus. The boy had developed a very intense interest for this exposition and seemed a little disappointed that Sepidus promised Behrens to use another outing to inspect personally the attractions described.
The end of their hour-long round tour was the Serapeum, the most impressive of Alexandria’s pagan temples. Dedicated to the city deity Serapis, the building was of gigantic proportions; its colonnades and columns shone with an almost blinding white, while the numerous paintings exhibited vibrant colors. Before they had left for Alexandria, Behrens had Captain Rheinberg explain to him what could be found in the few books about Alexandria, including the fact that in the old time line just three years from now, in 391, the Emperor Theodosius would order the destruction of this unique place of worship. Now that the Spaniard wasn’t considered as emperor anymore, it was quite possible that the building could be spared. As the visitors observed the architectural masterpiece and looked at each other in astonishment, the desire grew in all of them that in fact this building should persist, because it was doubtless a landmark of the metropolis, just as the Pharos lighthouse.
Köhler, Neumann and Africanus, however, didn’t have the pleasure of extended sightseeing. It was characteristic of the local leaders, who had certainly heard of the technical achievements from the future, that the esteemed guests were immediately led to be greeted in the Museion. Here, the remains of what was once considered the famous library of Alexandria could be found. This largest collection of ancient knowledge had been partially destroyed during Caesar’s invasion of Egypt, only to be restored and to fall victim to fires repeatedly. The latest bloodletting was only a few years back, again at the time of turmoil under Emperor Aurelian, as apart from the destruction of the residential neighborhood and other parts, a great quantity of the scrolls had been annihilated. Nevertheless, visitors could convince themselves that the collection was still considerable and that until that day scholars of world renown used the papers for their own research. Scientists even received public scholarships to work on their projects. The Museion was closest to what one might consider a research institute, at least until the arrival of the Saarbrücken. And the current chairman of the institution, a mathematician named Theon, welcomed the time travelers with an enthusiasm that was based solely on the eagerness of a scholar wishing to learn new things.
Of course, all curiosity aside, once a number of scholars was gathered who formed the welcoming committee led by Theon, the usual envy of the accomplished scientist aroused and the need to demonstrate everyone’s ingenuity. It was therefore inevitable that – aside from the expressed desire to visit the Valentinian and especially the steam engine – a young Greek scholar, who called himself Dionos and announced himself to be a student of the great Heron of Alexandria, couldn’t wait to demonstrate to the visitors that not all the marvels of the future were as marvelous as expected.
And since the time travelers had created a stir with their steam engine, it was understandable that Dionos appeared well prepared for the visit and presented his own apparition.
It was evident that Köhler and Neumann were duly impressed. Stoker Forstmann would’ve fit well in this group, but he had chosen to become familiar with the city.
They entered a light-flooded room with circular and large windows. On the ceiling were beautiful paintings that pointed clearly to the Greek goddess Athena. Much more importantly, a metal structure stood in the middle of the room. Next to them were two other young men, apparently students of Dionos, waiting for them.
“This,” the scholar explained, touching his neatly trimmed whiskers and his dark brown eyes shining with pride, “is the Aeolipile!”
Köhler and Neumann considered the apparatus curiously. It consisted of a vessel, a simple sphere, arranged to rotate on its axis, having oppositely curved nozzles projecting from it, like tipjets. Dionos started immediately to present its functionality. When the vessel was pressurized with steam, the steam expelled through the nozzles, which generated thrust. Once the nozzles, pointing in different directions, produced forces along different lines of action perpendicular to the axis, the thrusts combined to result in a rotational moment, causing the sphere to spin about its axis. The water was heated in a simple boiler that formed part of a stand for the rotating vessel, connected to the rotating chamber by a pair of pipes that also served as the pivots. A simple, but ingenious device.
It worked perfectly.
The sphere spun.
“This invention of the great Heron is using, as I may say, the very same principle of your machine that drives the ship and was used to come to Alexandria,” Dionos explained with a mixture of pride, arrogance and self-confidence that couldn’t quite cover an undoubtedly aroused inferiority complex.
Neumann and Köhler exchanged glances. That was precisely the very thing Rheinberg had warned them about. Avoid any hubris. These people had to be taken seriously. Never even remotely suggest that the time travelers were techonologically far superior to them. Arrogance was fatal.
“Dear Dionos,” Neumann said, “You surely have impressed and surprised me. I wouldn’t have thought any of this possible. Alexandria is truly a great place of knowledge and learning. I recognize that over the centuries up to that time we come from, so much seems to have been lost, so much that what we had to regain laboriously. Heron must have been a genius. Is he alive? Can we talk to him?”
The young Dionos seemed to be very pleased by the physician’s response, because he smiled broadly and bowed slightly.
“Heron is dead for over 200 years,” he informed Neumann. “I consider myself as his student on the basis of his studies, who I intend to continue and refine.” He hesitated for a brief moment. “Maybe I can use your engine as a way of inspiration.”
“Perhaps, but surely we won’t teach you anything of the underlying principles anymore, because you have obviously been inspired by your teacher and have internalized them perfectly. Maybe you are even able to improve upon our machine on some important aspects of craftsmanship. To this end, we will be just happy to help.”
Dionos nodded happily.
Africanus spoke. “Dear Sirs, I would like to thank everyone on behalf of the Roman fleet for this highly instructive hour. We leave this place inspired and encouraged in the knowledge that as long as the Empire has learning of this kind available, we can overcome any storm – quite literally. But we visit this beautiful city only as a transit station. Our route takes us further into the realm of Aksum. We need to start immediately with the necessary travel arrangements. Apologies therefore that we will, for he foreseeable future, not be able to benefit from your knowledge anymore.”
Was it due to Africanus’ friendly words or the fact that the scholars had proved themselves sufficiently to the strangers, the parting with their visitors wasn’t delayed. With man
y polite phrases, many bows and expressions of mutual esteem, the men were released and returned to the Valentinian.
The evening bound all crew members as guests of the city’s notables who had invited them to a feast in their honor. For the next day several guides would show interested visitors around, while the ship’s officers would start the preparations for their trip to Aksum. There was also a meeting with the local governor scheduled, with whom they wanted to discuss plans for the establishment of a modern shipyard facility. Since they were officially commissioned by the Emperor, they got all the support of the local authorities they could ask for. In Adulis, the port city of the African Empire, they were already expected by a Roman trade envoy, who officially represented only the economic interests of the Empire, but in many cases also conducted diplomatic tasks. Everything was, as far as they could see, going very well.
Until Marcellus disappeared.
14
Ambrosius, Bishop of Milan, was in a bad mood. He secretly asked the Lord to forgive him his thoughts, but the unflattering words about his fellow travelers that conquered his mind, the travel conditions and the hopeful end of his journey, simply didn’t disappear from his consciousness. The cart in which he traveled by road to Treveri was badly sprung and his companions, all priests of his closest circle, showed their bad mood to each other, rather than bear the difficult conditions with humility and, may God grant it, finally shut up. The weather was cold, and they didn’t advance very rapidly. Ambrosius would’ve preferred to travel on horseback, which would be faster and ultimately more pleasant, but couldn’t refuse his brothers “to assist him,” as they called it.
The Emperor's Men 3: Passage Page 12
