by Ted Mayes
Most of the businesses here are small shops. I don’t know why, but Commerce hasn’t allowed many big corporations to set up shop in Ostia and Capitol. Yes, that’s one of the daily flights for the Moon – you’ll be on one tomorrow. No, nobody who knows is willing to even hint at how they do things. I never thought to ask what’s beneath the ‘spaceport’, and I don’t think I want to know. No, I don’t know who the emperor is – I know people who say they know, but they won’t even give the smallest hint as to who it is. No, IP has no interest in ‘secrets’ - there’s more than enough to write about just with all the new things happening. Besides, the empire is strict on espionage, and you can ask your attaché about the Russian view of things at lunch.
The IP would expect stories on events in your country – events that are public knowledge. Things like government announcements, political and cultural events that are public. No, it’s our intention to stay away from opinion pieces – not that you can’t have your own opinions, we just don’t write opinion pieces. You can have interviews and write stories on them, like Henry did on the consul – it would probably be appreciated, if it’s accurate and truthful. No, as far as I can tell, the empire doesn’t ‘worry’ about espionage – from my own experience, I’d say they already know how to take care of spies. If there is spying going on, the empire is going to catch those responsible. I don’t know how you ‘candidates’ for the IP are vetted – all I’m told is “We’ll know” when I ask how the empire can know if a journalist is secretly working for a government.
Eventually the questions tapered off, at least for the moment. The walk continued and Dimitry looked closely at the stores and the people. Eventually he said, “May I ask a personal question?”
“Sure,” Amanda said.
“Do I understand correctly that you are soon going to be married to the consul?”
She looked at him thoughtfully. The voice was carefully neutral, but the words sounded almost like an accusation. “In two weeks, I’m going to be marrying a man, Michael Baxter. For the next few months he’ll hold the office of consul, but he is eagerly awaiting the end of the year when he retires. Did you have any concerns about that?”
“Only a concern that you and your colleagues may be, shall we say ‘co-opted’ by the empire without even knowing it?”
She smiled. “It’s a concern that is shared by others, Dimitry. Since I’m too close to ‘the problem’ I would suggest you bring that concern up with Henry when you see him tomorrow. My own opinion is that in the ‘outside’ world, one of the main concerns of government is to get the government message ‘out.’ For the IP, the main concern is to get accurate information ‘in’, if I can use that term. You said earlier that you were a Russian, and that’s a plus, because a Russian is able to give a more accurate report on what’s going on in Russia than an outsider can. And that’s what your job would be – giving accurate information about what’s going on, publicly, in Russia to anyone and everyone who might want to know.”
“You are not going to try and persuade, pressure me?”
She shrugged. “Now, there, I’ll admit I’ve been influenced by the empire. The way Henry and I have been treated is, basically, the empire doesn’t try to persuade you. You see things for yourself, and then, if you want, you can ask questions. I do have to warn you, though, you won’t necessarily get the answers you want from the empire. Their response to questions has been summarized as ‘often what, sometimes why, never how.’”
Dimitry glanced at her. “I have heard that phrase before. And you say that you, engaged to the highest official in the empire, have never been told ‘how’ things operate?”
“If you mean the scientific advances that the empire seems to have, no, I’ve never been told how. In fact, I have yet to hear an imperial official admit that they have scientific advances. However, you will need to see these things for yourself. You’ll need to look around and see for yourself what the empire is like, what imperial officials are like.” She paused for a moment. “What time is it, Samantha?”
“It’s almost 1015, Miss Amanda, and your next interview is waiting at the IP office.” She couldn’t help noticing Dimitry’s avid interest. “Yes, that’s my clerk. You’ll have a clerk for the IP office in Moscow, but you won’t have a personal clerk until you gain Latin rights. Now, I have to head back for the next interview, so I’ll leave you to look around on your own. Your Russian embassy is on the Via Publica, level 1 – you can ask anyone for directions and when you get there, you will not be able to miss seeing the Russian flag. If you have any more questions, direct them to Henry. Hopefully, we’ll be meeting again in the not too distant future.”
She left him there with a smile and a wave. The smile continued as she walked down the street. His expression had been what she’d come to expect from those she’d ‘interviewed.’ There was astonishment that they were left on their own to explore Ostia, and then what she interpreted as eagerness to find out what was really going on. By the time they left for Capitol to meet Henry, they were usually so intrigued by what they had discovered that it was easier for Henry to recruit them.
Now, to ‘interview’ the individual they were considering for the other spot at the Ostia branch. She needed to get someone on board and up to speed if she was going to be married in two weeks and then the honeymoon. That certainly led her thoughts in another direction.
* * * * *
Beth stood in the commons of the Aventine building and wondered, once again, whether she’d made a wise decision. It was noon, and she was waiting for Jon so they could lunch together. She’d decided to check out the ‘samples’ she’d loaned to the University and was doubly surprised at what they had done. First, she’d expected that it would be a small display that few would notice. That was not the case. The samples were prominently displayed in the very center of the commons and there was a considerable crowd standing around looking at them, very considerable for a Saturday noon.
The ‘worst’ surprise was the name on the display. She had insisted that she didn’t want her name connected with the display and encountered quite a bit of resistance – it seemed that the University had a very strict rule against ‘anonymous’ displays of any kind. She’d been told that a final decision would be made at a higher level, and then she’d been told that her name would not be mentioned. She hadn’t been told, though, what they would put on display. A large sign above the samples proclaimed that these rock samples from the moon, Mars and Mercury were on public view ‘by the gracious command of the Empress’.
She was so flustered, she didn’t even jump when she heard Jon’s voice in her ear. “That certain ‘friend’ of ours explained to me that the University was not going to put anything anonymous on display. The empress wanted to have the display open to the public, so having it done on her command keeps your name out of sight.”
She leaned back against Jon and said quietly, “Well, I hope nobody connects me to the display, especially with that sign.”
Jon chuckled. “If you’re worried about being mistaken for the empress, rather than just an ordinary imperial princess, I don’t think you have to. The empress has been around for 19 years or so, so I don’t think you’re old enough. Now,” he said, spinning her around, “are you ready for your surprise date?”
He’d been teasing her about a ‘surprise’ date tonight for a couple of weeks. “Do I get a hint as to what’s involved with this surprise?”
“Yes and no. Amanda wants to give you an afternoon at a beauty salon, in thanks for your letter of recommendation for Latin rights. Then, after you dress up fancy like you did for the diplomatic party at the residence, I’m going to take you out to dinner at one of the more expensive places in KC. Then, after dinner, we’ll try and find a place to do some dancing.”
“Wow,” Beth laughed. “Is there any reason for all this high society stuff?”
“Well, sure, you’re going to be a bridesmaid in one of the biggest weddings in imperial history, so we have to get y
ou into the proper ‘mood’, don’t we?”
She smiled. “It’s not going to be that big a thing, but, thanks, Jon, for the surprise. I’ll be looking forward to the dining and dancing.”
Jon led her out of the Aventine and down the road, hand in hand. “I’m supposed to get you down to the salon, on level 1, and Amanda is supposed to meet you there. I was told that I was not to feed you lunch, that Amanda has something planned at the salon. I will see you tonight, however. I’ll pick you up at the apartment at 1830, okay?”
“I’ll be ready, Jon. I just hope that Amanda doesn’t go too overboard on this.” They were at the salon soon and Jon left. Taken in hand by Amanda, Beth enjoyed all the pampering throughout the afternoon. Almost everything that could be done, was – facials, massages, manicures, pedicures, hair styling and everything else Amanda could think of. It was wonderful. Then Amanda came to the apartment and helped her get ready.
She was ready at 1830 when Jon rang the bell. He looked very handsome, in a tux, no less. Not only that, but his brother James was driving a golf cart for them, so that she wouldn’t even have to walk to the undergate. When they got there, some bigshot, a Hollywood star, was just being whisked up to topside. James drove them through the undergate and right up to a limo. After Jon had handed her in and then climbed in himself, she had to ask, “A limo? You actually arranged for a limo to take us to dinner?”
“Hey,” Jon said, “Amanda said this was the way she used to go out to eat.”
“Well, it’s nice, I suppose, but it’s certainly not what I’m used to doing.”
“Somehow, I don’t think we’ll ever get used to it – I just can’t imagine limos in Ostia, Capitol or Landing. But for special events, to spoil a pretty lady, it has it’s good points.”
As the drive continued, they made a game out of seeing what all was available in the limo. It took a while to discover all the snacks, liquor and electrical gadgets that were ‘hidden’ in the limo’s passenger compartment. By the time they were done with the game, Beth noticed that they were driving through the Plaza, and Jon informed her that they were going to eat at the restaurant on the top floor of the Ritz-Carleton, overlooking the Plaza.
The limo deposited them at the door and they entered the lobby. Beth was struck by its opulence. She didn’t exactly feel out of place, but she eventually decided that it was just too much, at least on a regular basis. While she appreciated the luxury for a special occasion, she decided that she preferred a simpler life style. When they stepped out of the elevator and into the restaurant, the luxury continued. Crystal chandeliers, gold leaf, marble floors, a bevy of servers, a pianist seated at a grand piano softly playing light classical music. Beth looked around carefully, determined to remember this dinner and all its details.
They were ushered to a table by a window overlooking the scene below. She quickly noticed the fine china, the heavy silver service, the thick linen napkins. “Are you sure this is how Amanda used to dine? It’s definitely a couple hundred steps above the atmosphere of eating during basic!”
“Yeah,” Jon said dryly, “it’s well above the atmosphere of the kitchen in my apartment as well.” After a pause, he said, “I’m afraid, since we’re ‘outside’ that we’re going to have to forget about getting any wine or champagne – we’re both under the legal age in the state of Missouri.”
“That’s okay. You know I’m not that big on wine or beer even where I am legal.” The server brought menus and took their order for drinks, water for her and iced tea for Jon. She almost gasped out loud when she looked at the menu. “Jon, can we afford this? Do you see these prices? Twenty dollars just for the pork chop, and that’s the cheapest meat item on the menu.”
“I can afford it, Beth, so relax and enjoy the experience.”
She tried to, ordering the pork chop, rice pilaf and green beans almondine, and she was hardly surprised when Jon ordered the largest fillet mignon on the menu. She still had a hard time believing the prices and she was more astonished after a brief trip to the restroom. “You’ll have to go check yours out! The women’s was all marble and gold brocade, with a chandelier over every stall, and heavy linen towels to dry your hands!” she whispered to Jon. “I have got to talk to Amanda and see if she was really used to all this.”
Jon seemed thoughtful. “I can see some of Dad’s points now, from Politics 101. I can see where, if somebody got used to this kind of thing, you could easily get to thinking you were better than everyone else.” He noticed Beth’s questioning look. “I’m not thinking of Amanda, I’m thinking of the emperor and the new Caesar. I’m really beginning to think that having an ‘incognito’ imperial family was a very wise idea.”
They talked briefly about Beth’s new assignment, liaison between several of the lunar colonies and the foreign department. She described how the she and her decury were going to keep track of the scientific outpost on the edge of Copernicus, the ‘private’ (and booming) colony at Kepler, and the new refugee colonies just getting started in the Mare Imbrium north of Copernicus. He gave no details (which she didn’t want, anyway) about working under the consul, but had more to say about the upcoming assignment of taking a decury through basic training.
The entrees came, and it was truly delicious, but she was more intrigued by what Jon was saying. As he talked about the training courses he’d had to take for his impending duty, and the various comments that the veteran praetorians had shared with him, she came to realize that there was a little bit of an act involved in basic. Not that decurions weren’t tough, at least the ones selected for basic (she had big doubts about how well she’d do in that assignment), but she at least was starting to recognize that her own inexperience had more to do with how frightening the decurions were than anything else. After all, after having met and served briefly with the veteran praetorians, she could easily recognize how different they were from her basic decurion.
The meal passed quickly. They finished off with coffee and dessert (marble cheesecake, no less), and Beth was looking forward to the dancing so she could burn off the calories. The server cleared off the table and Jon complimented him on the coffee. It was a special coffee, the server insisted, ‘lunar’ coffee that had been provided by Jordan’s. Jon looked at Beth and she raised one eyebrow.
“Really? From Jordan’s? How did you manage to get some lunar coffee?” It had been provided by one of the Jordan girls. The eyebrow managed to go a little higher. “Which girl was it? The one running the shop on the moon, or the one here on Earth?” Oh, definitely the one here on earth. Beth requested to see the manager and while they were waiting, she murmured to Jon, “Now, how did this happen, I wonder.”
When the manager reached the table, he confirmed what the server had said. Beth looked at him for a moment. “I’m sorry to tell you that either you’re being scammed, or else you’re trying to pull a scam. There is lunar coffee, but right now, it’s only available at the lunar branch of Jordan's. My father is expecting the first shipment of lunar coffee to Earth, but there is so little of it, that it will only be available at the Jordan's in Ostia. Lastly, I have never supplied coffee beans to anyone, so I assume that bright and early on Monday morning, a lawyer will be out to talk with you. I suggest you have all your documentation ready at that time.”
The manager’s emotions seemed to alternating between panic and anger, but before he could gain the presence of mind to say anything, Jon spoke. “Let me introduce you to Miss Bethany Jordan, the younger daughter of the Jordan family, and the individual you say provided you with the so-called ‘lunar coffee.’” With the manager in shock, Jon asked the server for the check, pulled out a roll of fifty dollar bills, paying the tab and, Beth noticed, greatly overtipping the server.
They took the elevator down to the ground level and stepped into the limo, but Beth hardly noticed. She was still fuming from the ‘coffee episode’ in the restaurant, and as the limo got underway, she was happy that Jon was just listening as she vented. She had finally run down w
hen something else occurred to her. Half-filled with panic, she turned to Jon. “How did they get the idea that the ‘younger sister’ provided the coffee to them. Don’t tell me I’m getting famous again!”
Jon took her hand. “I think the first thing to do is calm down. I’m sure the lawyer will get to the bottom of things, but it may not have anything to do with you personally.”
“How can you say that?”
“Because you may not have paid much attention to some of the pictures at Jordan’s. Your Dad has a couple year old picture of your family behind the coffee ‘bar.’ And near the door is a sign reminding customers of Jordan’s at Capitol, and a picture of your sister as the manger. It’s possible that someone figured out that your sister might not be shipping coffee to Earth, and decided that you were the easiest person to blame it on.”
She thought about that for a few minutes. “I guess that is a possibility, so I guess I’ll have to wait and see what the lawyer says. At least I can hope that my low profile hasn’t been compromised. I think I’d better contact Dad and let him know about this.” She had Molly contact her Dad and poured out the story, and sent a copy of the record Molly had made. After the call was done, and her Dad had assured her that he would contact someone tonight, she leaned back and tried to relax. “I feel sorry for the emperor,” she said finally. “Nobody’s really looking for me, at least I hope not, and it feels like others are always trying to drag me into the spotlight. I can’t imagine how people must have been trying everything they could to find out who the emperor was.”
Beth breathed out a sign and tried get her mind off of the incident. “By the way, where are you taking me for dancing?”
“We’re almost there,” Jon said with a grin.
She sat up and peered out the window. It seemed familiar, but the limo rolled to a stop before she could finally recognize where they were. “High school? My old high school?”
