Blood on the Water

by Mark Hildebrandt

  Most of the color had drained from Marcus’s face, “This is not good Josephus.” Marcus then placed his hand on Cassandra’s shoulder, “Cassandra I promise I will explain, but we need to get you and James out of here, fast. We need find someplace safe, someplace out of the way, and I don’t think Tuscany is the best place to hide.”

  The turmoil in Cassandra’s head was preventing any rational thought. She didn’t understand, but from somewhere below her consciousness drifted the image of a tranquil Caribbean beach. Without analyzing the thought, she said to Marcus, “What about the family island in the Caribbean. If we chase out all the servants before we arrive, no one will know we are there.”

  Marcus smiled and kissed his sister’s cheek. “That is perfect. About as far away from Rome as you can get. All you need to do is stay out of sight for a little more than a week, after that the senate will be on summer recess. With all the senators home sucking up to the constituents, it will be impossible for Kukulcan to get approval to do anything.

  “Go collect James and your things. We need to move fast. If Kukulcan got word you are here, it may already be too late.

  “Josephus make arrangements to have a transport ready to leave in thirty minutes. And I want you to make damn sure your best Decum is on the plane.

  “Cassandra, I promise, I will explain later, but there isn’t time now. We must stay ahead of Kukulcan. The survival of the Empire depends on it.”

  Chapter 13

  - Who’s in charge here -

  There was silence in the vehicle as it sped to the Ministry Air Station. Cassandra had told James they were going to the Caribbean and not Tuscany, and asked he wait for the full explanation until they were aboard the plane. She needed time to think about the discussion with Josephus, and the myriad of questions James was likely to ask. Fortunately, he complied without argument, and seemed to be content to look out the window at the passing city lights.

  Unconsciously she found herself watching James, and soon her mind was no longer analyzing the discussion on the porch, but things said and done by this unique man over the last few days. He was no physicist, but he was clearly very intelligent. He was more patient then almost anyone she had ever known, and he was not hard on the eyes. That was all true, and the way his silk shirt clung to his pecks … she began to smile as her mind plodded along the course her subconscious had plotted.

  Stop it! A voice of reason shouted in the back of her head. This man is your responsibility. You have a duty to him and need to focus on that, and not some ridiculous daydream.

  The vehicle slowed as it approached the base. It was on the outskirts of the city and access was restricted to military and Ministry officials. As James was neither, Cassandra worried that just might present a problem. Then it occurred to her, it could be even worse. James had no identification what so ever, if the guards tried to check him out, they would not be able to find him in the citizen database. They would discover James didn’t exist. A phenomenon that, in this highly computer-controlled world, was thought to be impossible. Fortunately, Marcus had made sure the guards were issued strict orders not to interfere with Cassandra or her passenger, and the lowly gate guards, who had been personally contacted by the Minister himself were not about to disobey.

  The car drove directly to the transport, where ten uniformed soldiers greeted them. “Greetings Optio,” Cassandra said exiting the vehicle. “Please have a couple of your men collect our things and let’s get on board.”

  The oldest of the ten clicked his heels, nodded and silently gave directions to his men. She then looked at James, “We might as well get on board. I think we will have the entire rear cabin to ourselves. The guards will take the front cabin.”

  “Okay, but you didn’t tell me we were bringing the Marines. Are you expecting a war when we get there?”

  “Not at all. These guys are simply my body guards. I guess they didn’t feel the need to wear civilian clothes since we are on a military base. Come on.” As she said and hurried to the transport. After a few steps she paused and looked back to make sure James was coming, and found he was moving very slowly, and staring at the plane. “Come on silly, I know you have planes in your world. This one is just like yours, perhaps a little faster that’s all.”

  James had stopped gawking and caught up to her, “A little faster? You said we were going to the Caribbean, and the trip would take about two hours. Dr. Vespus, there are no planes in my world that travel from Italy to the Caribbean in about two hours.”

  Cassandra shrugged and led the way through the plane’s front access door. The forward cabin looked like an ordinary plane with two seats on either side of the walkway.

  “These seats look like business class accommodations on the planes in my world.” James commented.

  “The transport is reserved for important Ministry business. I’m afraid the extravagant seats will spoil the legionaries.”

  The rear cabin looked more like a private business jet. It was appointed with overstuffed chairs, couches, worktable, and desks. There were even a couple of rooms with beds. “Cassandra, I don’t understand if a flight half way around the world takes less than two hours, why is this cabin equipped with bedrooms?”

  Cassandra glared at him, “Is that a rhetorical question? I don’t think those beds are for sleeping. Come on. Sit down and strap in. We should be underway shortly.”

  The intercom beeped, “Dr. Vespus, are you ready to depart.”

  “Proceed Engineer. We are ready.”

  The transport began to move as soon as Cassandra closed the intercom. She looked over at James and saw him squinting to look out the window. “You won’t see much until we are in the air. This base is several square miles and there is absolutely nothing near the runway.”

  As it transitioned from ground vehicle to aircraft, the plane started to shake violently, and the acceleration pushed the passengers firmly back into the seats. James slowly turned to look out the window and watch the receding lights. “Wow, this makes the air travel of my world seem as primitive as the old bi-planes. Is this rocket propelled?”

  The childlike innocence of James’s question softened Cassandra’s stiff business-like exterior. “You said you didn’t know anything about physics. Are you asking for a lesson on modern propulsion systems?”

  “Well not enough to write a dissertation,” he answered. “But I am curious. As I recall it is about six thousand miles from Italy to the Caribbean, and you said we would do that in about two hours. Even I can figure out that equates to a velocity of about three thousand miles per hour. Considering how strong the acceleration at takeoff feels, I assumed this was rocket plane.”

  A slight smile formed on Cassandra’s face as he asked the question. “Yes, but not exactly. Not if you are referring to the ancient chemical rockets, the ones that use a chemical reaction to produce the propellant.

  “A small self-contained fusion reactor powers the plane. The reactor drives an electromagnetic propulsion system. Air is turned into charged plasma, which is then accelerated using an electromagnet to produce the propellant: Thrust. The engine will propel us to the edge of the atmosphere, but not fast enough to reach escape velocity. Then it will be turned off and we will begin to fall to our destination in the Caribbean. Of course, at the top of our trajectory with the engine turned off, we will be weightless.” Cassandra noticed a slightly concerned look on James face, “What did I say to cause that look? If you are worried about being weightless for a few minutes, don’t. We can strap you down, you won’t feel a thing.”

  People in my world pay big money for that privilege. It is just that not too long ago, a ship was descending back through the atmosphere and burned up, killing everyone on board. Can that happen to us?

  “You said descending back through the atmosphere. Does that mean it was coming from space, another planet or the moon?

  “Yeah, sort of. It was returning from an orbiting space station.”

  Cassandra thought for a moment then smil
ed, “I guess in your world this kind of travel is cutting edge science. In mine it is history, and even history professors learn about it. The ship you referred to had to have been traveling much faster than we will be. It had to at least reach escape velocity, perhaps five times faster than we go. If the engineer was using the atmosphere for breaking, or neglected to slow before he reached it, there is a good chance he could have burned up. Since we will be traveling much slower our surface will get hot, but nowhere near hot enough to burn up the transport. I have made this flight or flight just like it hundreds of times. I assure you there is nothing to worry about.”

  James nodded but his anguished look took a few minutes to dissipate. He turned and looked out the window and watched the receding planet.

  The intercom once again beeped, and Cassandra answered. “Yes Optio.”

  “Dr. Vespus, might I have a word with you?”

  “You may. Come on back.”

  The Optio entered the cabin and smartly saluted Cassandra. She touched the left side of her chest in response, and said, “Come in, and please sit down. What do you wish to discuss?” Cassandra hardly looked at the Optio. After only a glance, she knew what he looked like. She had seen hundreds exactly like him. There was something about crusty old legionaries; it was almost like they were made with the same cookie cutter. About five ten, one hundred seventy pounds, and even though the uniform covered everything but the head, neck and hands, she knew there was absolutely nothing but skin, muscle and bone underneath. This model was about forty-five, which is about as old as they are allowed to get, with very short salt and pepper hair.

  The Optio remained at attention, and said, “Dr. Vespus, I have explicit orders to protect you and your companion with my life, as well as that of my men’s. Please rest assured, you have my pledge we will do so; however, we will be on a large island, and with just ten men, complete security coverage will be difficult. We must ask your cooperation. While in the main dwelling, you will be safe. Outside will be a different matter. Danger can approach from any direction, and for us to protect against that danger, I would like you notify me, when you wish to go out.”

  Cassandra wondered what was wrong with this soldier. The island had always been safe, ten men or ten thousand she felt at home there. Then for the first time she looked at him standing more rigid then the bulkhead behind him. He didn’t look different than any other, where did this concern come from. Guards like him had always done exactly what she wanted, no questions asked, and that was the way it was supposed to be. She frowned looking at the Optio, “Don’t you think you are being just a little paranoid? Optio, no one in my family has ever been molested on the island.”

  “Yes ma’am, I know that has been the case in the past, but things are different now.” The Optio turned his head and looked directly at Cassandra, then quickly resumed his position eyes front. “Please excuse me ma’am, but I must be blunt, and I hope you will accept my apologies in advance for being so. My orders are firm; the Minister personally gave them to me. He made it abundantly clear, that you two, are not to fall into the hands of the Senate. Under normal circumstances, as you have pointed out, I would not be concerned. But I was also briefed on the current tactics utilized by the Senate Surveillance teams, and this time there may be danger. We will only be able to do our job, if you think of us as vital members of your staff. Keep us involved, and we will not interfere with your activities. You won’t even know we are around. Ignore us, and that won’t be the case. Because for me to carry out my orders, I will by necessity, be in your face.”

  Cassandra could feel her face grow warm and tried very discreetly to breathe deeply and regularly hoping her anger might not be too evident. She was not going to let this little man see he had upset her. The breathing helped, and when she felt her heart rate begin to slow, looked directly at the rigid man and calmly said, “Optio, I’m am glad you apologized before you spoke. I have heard your words and will take them under advisement, for now you are dismissed. I am certain we will continue this discussion - latter.”

  While Cassandra glared at him, the Optio once again touched his chest in solute, did a smart about face and marched out of the cabin. The whole time she was thinking, how dare a Legionnaire, a noncommissioned officer no less, speak to a Vespus in that tone.

  “Cassandra why are you so upset with the Optio? It looks to me like he is just doing his job.” James asked with a genuine look of puzzlement.

  He has no idea, she thought still consciously controlling her breathing. “Didn’t you just see that exchange?” She said glaring at James, unaware that he had become the target of her anger. “That lowly Optio essentially threatened me, me a Vespus. That is just unacceptable. And to make matters worse, Marcus only sent an Optio. He should have at least sent at Centurion, or Tribune.”

  James threw up his hands palms front, “Wait a minute, slow down. I watched that man closely. He chose his words very carefully. They were not meant to offend, they were meant to frighten. He believes his life is probably on the line, and he wants you to know yours is as well.”

  Cassandra pondered the words for a moment, “Oh James, there is no danger on the island. It is why Marcus allowed us to go there.” She knew it was safe, but as she watched James shake his head, she wondered why he, a stranger to this world, obviously disagreed. “Are you going to argue with me as well?”

  “You may think I don’t know anything about this place and therefore have no idea what is going on, and that may be true. But just for a minute set aside your preconceived notions and hear me out.” He paused and looked at her with intense unblinking eyes.

  “Very well go on.”

  “Less than two hours ago, I was whisked away from what appeared to be a fortress in the middle of Rome, one that could not have easily been breached. I have yet to be given an explanation, but it occurred right after you and your brother met with the head of security for the Ministry of Health and Environment. I am pretty sure that the head of security understands danger, which is why we are on this plane.

  “And no sooner than we take off, the military man in charge of our security detail comes back to warn us of mortal danger ahead. Now I was not privy to the discussion on the porch of your villa, but I will tell you, I have studied military, past and present, and the man who just left this cabin was all military, no bullshit. He believed we could be in danger and I believe him.

  “One final thing, the Optio got his orders directly from your brother, and if anybody knows what is going on, and weather the danger is real or not, I bet it is Marcus.”

  Cassandra’s heart rate had increased once again, but this time it was not anger, it was because James might just be right. Every one of his points was true, and the one that got to her the most, was about Marcus. He was the only person on the planet that knew exactly what was going on, and he clearly was damn upset to find out the Senate learned of James and her experiments. She didn’t know how everything fit together, but James’s reasoning did not appear to be faulty. She slowly began nodding her head and quietly said, “I think you may be right.”

  “And as for only sending an Optio. Well I don’t look at that as a shortcoming, I tend to think of it as strength. In my world an Optio is on par with a Master Sergeant, and there is no one better at implementing battlefield tactics than a top Non-Commissioned Officer. A Tribune or Centurion might be better at discussing appropriate strategy, or playing bridge to pass the time, but let’s face it, the Optio already knows the battlefield strategy, keep us alive.”

  “James, I cannot argue with you. Everything you said makes sense, but I have no idea how it all fits together. I grant we may be in physical danger. I just don’t know why.” And for the first time in a very long time, she began to feel fear.

  James moved closer to her in the seat, took her hand and smiled, “As I see it, we need to try and figure out how the pieces of the puzzle fit together. That way, there is a chance we might be able to recognize the danger and avoid it.”

&nbs
p; There was something comforting about his touch and looking into those green eyes. Cassandra took a moment to allow the feeling to slowly engulf her. And while lost in the sensation, she became aware of something else, James possessed an inner strength that she hadn’t noticed before, and for perhaps the first time she saw him as a man, not simply a responsibility.

  Chapter 14

  - Damn pagans -

  Marcus left his office and met Josephus in front of the clinic. After a quick greeting, both men got in the vehicle and closed the dark tinted dome. Once closed, the vehicle speed off and Marcus finally felt comfortable enough to speak, “Where is the traitor?”

  “He is being held in the high security portion of the main Imperial Police building.”

  “Do you think that is safe? You’re sure no one can reach him?”

  “Yes, Marcus. It is secure. That area of the building is staffed completely with our own forces. Every man is aware betrayal means death. No outsider can get close to Quintus.”

  Marcus felt the tension that had racked him all night long lessen its grip, slightly, at Josephus’s words. “You cannot believe how traumatic this has been. I don’t think I slept more than a couple of hours last night. Irena finally got fed up, left me and went to one of the guest rooms to sleep. My mind was like a wheel spinning round and round each spoke, represented the potential damage done by that man. The problem was, that before the wheel could make a complete revolution, the diameter grew, and another spoke was inserted.”

  Marcus reflected a moment, and then continued. “Has anyone started to question him?”

  “No. The interrogation has yet to begin in earnest. We are just starting to soften him up. You know the usual, make sure he understands he is completely alone. His life or for that matter his death, is completely dependent on him, and most important, there is absolutely no possibility of any outside assistance.”