The Cleopatra Crisis

6

The dinner Travers had planned was a large one and he had invitedsome of the most influential citizens of Rome. Though he had not invitedCaesar. One did not simply invite the Emperor to dinner. even if one was aclose friend of his And there was a reason why they did not want to have Caesarpresent at this occasion. They wanted to be able to talk about him in a mannerthat his presence would not have, allowed. It was to be the occasion for Delaney,in his identity as “Fabius Quintullus,” to make his first move in trying toinsinuate himself into the conspiracy against Caesar.

Cassius and Marcus Brutus had been invited, as Travers knewthem and many of the others from the Senate. as well as Antony and a number ofhis friends, at least one of whom, Trebonius, was known to them to be involvedin the conspiracy. By this point, less than two weeks before the Ides of March.the conspirators would be well advanced in their plans. The thing to do was seeto it that nothing changed them.

It seemed difficult for Delaney to believe that a conspiracywith so many people in it could have been effectively kept a secret, but thensuch was the character of life in Rome among the powerful. Everyone seemed tohave two faces. The public face, which was worn from day to day, in the Senateand on social occasions, and the secret, private face, which was glimpsed onlyduring moments of clandestine intriguing. Rome had seen many conspiracies andwould see many more.

Travers had organized an entertaining party. His kitchenslaves had been at work throughout the day, preparing the many dishes that wereserved, and he had hired musicians to play throughout the evening, as well asdancers, wrestlers, acrobatic dwarves, and several magicians. It was mixedcompany, some of the men having brought their wives, others having broughttheir mistresses, and there were single women in attendance as well as a bevyof attractive slaves. It wasn’t quite the decadent “Roman orgy” of legend, butas the evening wore on, things loosened up considerably and people started todrift off together to explore the house or “walk’ in the gardens.

Marcian had come, as well, along with a number of the charioteerswho had raced the previous day. Clocillus seemed quite comfortable rubbingelbows with Rome’s upper crust. He knew that he was a celebrity. Some of theothers, particularly the young Cassinus. seemed a little awkward, thoughCassinus gradually grew more and more at ease as he was repeatedly complimentedupon his win over Clocillus, who took the attentions paid his rival with goodgrace and added his own supportive sentiments to those of the others.

There was another man who came with Marcian, not one of thecharioteers, whom Travers did not know. Marcian had introduced him as CreonSabinus, a horse breeder from Ilerda whose farm and estate he was attempting tobuy. Antony seemed to be friends with him, as well. They had dined with Caesarthe previous evening. It turned out that Antony, an inveterate gambler, hadlost a fortune at the races to Sabinus. who had been losing steadily until hehad placed a daring bet on Cassinus during the final race. That made Lucas andAndre pay particular attention to him. It turned out that Caesar had beenimpressed by Sabinus, as well. He had offered him a commission in his cavalryfor his campaign against Parthia. A campaign that, if history ran true tocourse. Caesar would not live to embark upon.

Talk of Caesar’s upcoming campaigns gave Delaney the openingthat he was looking for to turn the conversation toward politics.

“I had not heard that Caesar was leaving for the wars onceagain.” he said.

“All Rome speaks of little else,” said Trebonius. “He plansto set out first for Parthia, to avenge his old friend Crassus, and then topress on for the Orient, as his hero. Alexander. had once done. The army isalready gathering in the provinces.”

“Then he will be gone for a long time.” Delaney said. “Whowill govern Rome in his absence?”

“His aides and secretaries, Oppius and Balbus,” saidCassius, “if you can believe it. And they are not even senators. WE are to bedictated to by mere functionaries while our Emperor pursues his dreams of gloryin the East.”

“But it is for the glory of Rome that Caesar embarks onthese new campaigns.” protested Antony. “Think of the wealth the empire shallacquire.”

“I am thinking of the wealth that Caesar will acquire,”Cassius said dryly. “And I am thinking of the days when Rome was a republic,not an empire. governed by one man who appoints mere secretaries to carry outthe duties of his office while he goes adventuring abroad in an attempt torecapture the faded glory of his youth.”

“A sentiment one could expect from someone who supported Pompey,”Antony said derisively.

“Pompey never had himself proclaimed emperor.” said Cassius.“If a man wishes to be king. then it would seem that the least he could do wasstay and rule his kingdom as wisely as he can, not chase off to the far ends ofthe earth in a pointless quest to rival the exploits of a long dead general.”

“It is Rome’s destiny to rule the world.” said Antony.

“As it was Caesar’s to rule Rome?” said Cassius. “Well, Ithink it may be safely said that both those destinies have been realized. Romedoes rule the world and Caesar now rules Rome. What need have we of furtherterritories of dubious value? Rome prospers. I tell you, it is not for Rome’ssake that Caesar goes to war again, but for his own. His hunger for power isone that can never be appeased. Already. he is a king in all but name. Whatmore can he want?”

“To extend Rome’s glory.” Antony persisted.

More likely, to extend his own.” Cassius replied.

“You would not speak so if Caesar were here himself.” Antonysaid stiffly.

“Ah, but the Emperor does not mingle with us mere mortals,except to dictate to us from his throne in the Senate. Only queens are fitcompany for kings,” said Cassius with a smile, referring obviously toCleopatra.

“Are these secretaries to sit upon the throne in his place?”Delaney asked before Antony could reply. “It seems an incredible insult to theSenate.”

“It is an insult, Quintullus,” Cassius said. “Yet it is onethat we are all expected to suffer.”

“It is not Oppius and Balbus who will rule in Rome, but Caesar.”Antony replied. “They will merely act for him in his absence.”

“But why must they. Antony?” Brutus asked reasonably. “Isthe Senate not capable of governing Rome. as it did in the days of therepublic? Has Caesar not increased the House in order to enable it to betterbear the burden’? Or does he believe the House so incapable that it must beguided in its actions by his secretaries’?”

It would seem that he does not wish the House to govern inhis absence because he fears that they might make decisions of which he willnot approve,” Delaney said.

“I think Quintullus has struck upon it.” said Cassius. “Itis not Rome’s power that Caesar seeks to increase, but his own that he wishesto protect.”

“How can you speak this way?” asked Travers. “Look at all thegood Caesar has done for Rome! He has restored Rome to prosperity and peace.from which we have all benefitted.”

“Caesar most of all,” Delaney said.

“I’m surprised at you. Fabius.” said Travers.”You do notknow Caesar as I do. What you say is not only unfair. it is untrue.”

“Is it untrue that he has become an autocrat’?” Delaneyasked. “As Cassius has said, a king in all but name? Never has one man ruledall of Rome as dictator for life. How can Rome preserve her freedoms if allpower is vested in one man? It seems dangerous to me.”

“You can’t seriously believe that Caesar would deprive Romansof their freedom” Lucas said.

“I know this is a subject on which we do not agree. Marcus.”said Delaney. “but I also know that your perceptions have been colored by yourbrother’s correspondence over all these many years. You have studied Caesar’scampaigns and fought them over in your mind until you know every step thatevery soldier took. Caesar has become a hero to you. as to many others. I donot dispute that Caesar is a great man, perhaps even a good man, but he isstill a man and not a god. And men can be corrupted. Especially by power.”

“Quintullus speaks the truth,” said Brutus. “Power is seductive.”

“And we all know that Caesar is easily seduced,” added Cassiuswith a smile.

“You are merely envious.” said Antony.

“Of Caesar’s sharing Cleopatra’s bed?” asked Cassius. “Thereis no shortage of beautiful women in Rome. Antony. I have no need of foreigndiversions.”

“That is still another matter.” said Delaney. “I have heardit said that Cleopatra has great influence with Caesar. Is it right that aforeign queen should hold such influence in Rome? Especially a queen that holdsno respect for Rome’s traditions. Is Egypt Rome’s possession or is Rome Egypt’s?Why must Rome’s ruler be protected by an Egyptian bodyguard? Are there noRomans suited to the task?”

The bodyguard was a gift front Cleopatra.” Antony replied. “Caesarkeeps them merely to please her.”

“Or perhaps he does not trust his fellow Romans’?” said Delaney.

“You are speaking like a fool. Fabius!” said Lucas.

“I am only speaking as one who is concerned.” Delaney replied.“Concerned about so much power invested in one man. Concerned that autocracy isnot compatible with freedom. There is a danger here, Marcus. I sometimes fearfor Rome.”

“I think perhaps that what you fear is greatness,” Antonysaid. “Most men are not capable of greatness. They are little men and they donot understand it. What little men do not understand, they fear. I do not feargreatness, Quintullus. And I have no use for fearful little men. Good night to

“Spoken like a true lackey,” Cassius said wryly as Antony departed.“But it grows late and I am weary of the evening’s entertainment. I would beinterested to hear more of your views, Quintullus. We should continue this discussion.Will you be at the baths tomorrow?”

“Yes. I had planned to go sometime in the morning,” said Delaney.

“Good. Then perhaps we shall see each other there. Goodnight to you, Quintullus.”

“And to you.” Delaney said. Most of the guests had alreadyleft. He waited till Cassius had left with Brutus and then turned to Lucas andTravers. “I think the fish just bit.”

“Just be careful,” Travers said. “Don’t seem too eager.Cassius is nobody’s fool.”

“Neither am I,” Delaney said.

“What did you think of Marcian and Sabinus?” asked Andre.

“I didn’t get much chance to talk to them,” Delaney said.

“Marcian didn’t seem very interested in conversation,” Lucassaid. He disappeared somewhere with a couple of the women. And Sabinus spentmost of his time talking with the charioteers. Of course, him being a horsebreeder, that’s not really surprising?

“He was the big winner at the races the other day,” saidAndre. “He took Antony and his friends for over one hundred thousand sesterces.”She turned to Travers. “You said that Marcian was probably the only one whocould have fixed the race and Sabinus was with him.”

Travers nodded. “It’s possible that they were in collusion.Marcian said that he was trying to purchase Sabinus’ farm and estate. Maybe heset up the win to help his business deal. I can’t see where such a risk wouldhave been justified, but some men will do almost anything to win when it comesto business dealings. However, if that’s the case. I don’t see any connectionto our mission.”

“No. neither do I.” said Lucas. “They don’t seem like menwho are interested in politics. But I think we made good progress tonight withthe conspirators. Delaney can follow up on that and tomorrow, when you take meto meet Caesar. I’ll see what I can do to get into his confidence. That stillleaves Cleopatra.”

“I’ll figure something out.” said Andre. She frowned. “Still,there’s something about that Sabinus that bothers me. I can’t quite put myfinger on it, but I’d swear there’s something familiar about him.”

At night, the streets of Rome were often noisy. Produce andsupplies were brought into the city on heavy carts, fights broke out, thievesand cutthroats plied their trade. But some areas of the city were quiet.Marshall moved softly down the graveled paths of the gardens on the banks ofthe Tiber. It was about three o’clock in the morning and a cool breeze wasblowing. He came to a sitting area where a large sundial had been set up andstopped, waiting. A moment later, someone said his name.

“Simmons?”

Marshall turned to see a figure emerging from the shadows.As the man came closer, he could make him out more clearly. He was dressedincongruously for the time and any Roman seeing him would have puzzled over hisstrange clothing. The man was wearing a 20th-century three-piece charcoal-graybusiness suit, with a button-down white shirt and ‘a red silk foulard tie. Hishair was short, dark, and neatly styled. He had a closely trimmed beard thatran along his jawline and there was the faint bulge of a shoulder holsterbeneath his jacket on the right side.

“I hope this is important. Marshall.” he said.

“Steiger’s here,” Marshall replied.

“Creed Steiger? He’s in Rome? Are you sure?”

“Of course I’m sure. You think I’d have sent word to you ifI wasn’t certain?”

“Is he alone’?”

“Yes and no. There’s an adjustment team that’s been clockedback here and he’s technically working with them, but they don’t know about it.He’s undercover.”

“Undercover?” Simmons frowned. “You mean working on his own,independent of the team? That’s impossible. Forrester disbanded the old covertfield section.”

“Yes, that’s true. but Steiger’s trying to convince him toreinstate it. He’s running this one on his own, to prove his point that there’sa need for the covert field section. And that it can operate withoutcorruption,” he added wryly. “He even wanted me to come back in.”

“He still doesn’t know you’re in the Network?”

“No, he thinks I’ve simply skipped out to join theUnderground and get away from it all. He used some of our old contacts in theUnderground to track me down. He wanted me to help him on his mission.”

“That’s interesting. It could be very useful. What is the mission?”

“A temporal anomaly involving Caesar. There’s a chance hemay not be assassinated on schedule. They think the S.O.G. might be involved.”

“What do you think?”

“I think it’s very possible.”

“That could make things difficult We can’t afford any disruptions.”

“Tell me about it. But I also can’t afford being busted.”

“Is that what he intends to do?”

“He says no. but I don’t trust him. He’s still playingcowboy. like he always did. Him and his psychotic mentor, Carnehan. He’s notconvinced the adjustment team can insure that Caesar will get killed onschedule, SO he’s managed to buddy up to Caesar and get offered a tribuneshipwith the legions Caesar’s planning to take on a campaign to Parthia. That way,if Caesar doesn’t die when he’s supposed to. Steiger’s going to take him outhimself during the campaign, just to prove to Forrester that it couldn’t havebeen done without a covert wet work specialist on the scene. If he decided tobring me in. as well, it would be an added bonus for him. They’d interrogate meabout my contacts in the Underground and my involvement with the Network wouldbe exposed.”

“We can’t have that, can we? Where is he?”

“Not so fast. About the contract. It’s still on. isn’t it?”

“You think we’d cancel it after all that son of a bitch costus with his damned Internal Security Division? Not bloody likely. You take himout for us and you’ll get the money, any way you want it.”

“Not me,” said Marshall. “No way I’m going up againstSteiger by myself. Why do you think I called you?”

“You want to set him up for the hit, that’s fine. too.”

“I’ll still get the money?”

“You’ll still get the money. Provided Steiger’s dead.”

“That adjustment team might complicate things,” Marshallsaid.

“Who are they?”

“Priest. Delaney, and Cross,” said Marshall.

“That can’t be. Col. Priest is dead.”

“Well, he’s a pretty lively looking corpse, if you ask me.”

“You actually saw him?”

“Only several hours ago.”

“You’re certain it was Priest?”

“Well, that’s who Steiger said it was. I don’t know the man,myself, so I suppose it could be someone else. But why would he tell me it wasPriest?”

“I don’t know. Unless he suspects you and he’s planning something.”

“I’m sure he doesn’t suspect me,” Marshall said. “If he knewI was tied up with the Network, you think I’d be here talking to you?”

Simmons hesitated “I don’t know.” He glanced around cautiously,and his hand went toward his shoulder holster. “You’re certain you weren’tfollowed’?”

“I had his wine laced with a sleeping draught.” saidMarshall. “He’ll be out like a light till dawn. You think I’d take any chanceswith him around?”

“I just don’t understand why they’d try to pass someone elseoff as Col. Priest,” Simmons said. “It doesn’t make any sense. If he doesn’tsuspect you, then why would he lie to you?”

“Maybe Col. Priest didn’t really die,” said Marshall.

“They inscribed his name on the Wall of Honor. Why would theyfake his death? Unless ….”

“Unless what?”

“Unless Forrester or Steiger are running their own covertoperation.”

“Then why would they tell me it was Priest’? I mean, if theywanted to make it look like he was dead. It makes no sense.”

“You’re right, it doesn’t. At least, not yet. But they’reobviously up to something. You’re absolutely certain that they don’t suspectyou?”

Marshall hesitated. “If they did, why wouldn’t they havebrought me in already?”

“Perhaps to smoke us out.”

“Why would they need to? If they knew about me. they couldarrest me. clock me back to Plus Time, put me through the wringer, and find outeverything I know before the Network even realized that I’d been busted. Thenthey could simply pick up all my contacts one at a time.”

Simmons nodded. “Yes, that makes sense. But the rest of itdoesn’t. We’ll have to be very careful. There’s obviously something going onhere we don’t know about. We’ll have to bring some people in.”

“What do you want me to do?”

For the time being, play along. For your sake. Marshall, Ihope you’re right about their not suspecting you Because we can’t afford tohave you taken in.”

Marshall tensed. “You’re saying that if they arrest me. I’ma dead man? You’ll have me hit?”

“If they try to arrest you. you know what to do.”

“And if I don’t you’ll do it for me. Is that it’?”

You know how the game is played. Marshall.”

Marshall sighed. “Shit. So I’m stuck right in the fucking middle.”

“It’s your own fault for not covering your tracks better. IfSteiger knew about your old contacts in the Underground. you should have brokenoff with them. You have only yourself to blame for allowing him to find you.Incidentally. if you’re entertaining any thoughts about taking off again. Iwouldn’t advise it. Then you’d have both us and the T.I.A. looking foryou.”

“Hey, I’ve always done my part. haven’t I?” said Marshall. “IfI was thinking of going on the lam. would I have sent for you?”

“No. I suppose you wouldn’t have.”

“Damn right. You guys tried to take Steiger out in Plus Timeand you couldn’t do it. Well, I’m giving you a chance to hit him when: he won’texpect it and I intend to collect on that contract.”

“You do your part and I’ll see to it you get the money. Butbe careful, Marshall. Don’t tip him off.”

“Don’t worry. I know what’s at stake.”

“Where is Steiger now?”

“Asleep at my house. It would be the perfect time to do it.”

Simmons shook his head. “No, not with a potential temporaldisruption going down. We simply can’t take the chance.”

“So what the hell am I supposed to do’?”

“Hang tight and don’t lose your cool. I’ll bring some peoplein to cover you. In fact. I’ll take charge of this myself. I’d like to see thisso-called Col. Priest.”

“You know him?”

“We’ve met. We’ll move in close and keep an eye on things.Let Steiger and the adjustment team do what they have to do. Then once thetemporal threat is over with, we’ll take care of Steiger.”

“What about the adjustment team?”

“Do they know about you’!”

“I don’t think so. Steiger’s playing his own game, close tothe vest, as usual.”

“Then they may not be a problem. With any luck, we might beable to pull it off without them catching on. But if they get in the way, it’llbe just too bad for them.”

“So what you’re saying is that I’m supposed to hang out inthe breeze until Caesar’s been assassinated, one way or the other.”

“Or until they’ve neutralized the S.O.G.”

Marshall grimaced. “Terrific. So we’ve got Steiger, the adjustmentteam, the fucking S.O.G., and me right in the middle of it all, out in theopen. Damn it. I want some protection!”

“Take it easy. I said we’d cover you. If they don’t suspectyou, then all you’ve got to do is continue to cooperate with them. Long as youdon’t lose your nerve, you should be okay.”

Marshall moistened his lips and nodded. “All right. But ifthey make a move on me. someone had better be there.”

“Don’t worry. They will be. I’ll be in touch.”

Simmons clocked out and disappeared.

Marshall reached into the folds of his toga and took out apack of cigarettes. Normally. he never took the chance of taking them outsidehis room, where he could smoke with the door bolted and the wood braziermasking the smell, but his nerves were on edge and he really needed one. As helit up, carefully hiding the flame with his hand and holding the cigarette withhis palm cupped around it, he thought about the laser pistol he had hidden in asecret drawer in his room

The trouble with Roman clothing was that it wouldn’t hide itvery well. A tunic wouldn’t hide it at all, the bulge would be easilydetectable beneath the drape of his toga and he couldn’t very well walk aroundwearing a cloak all the time. He’d have to leave it where it was and count onhis dagger to protect him, which any Roman male could wear openly withoutarousing any suspicion. But the thought of going up against Steiger withnothing but a dagger made his stomach churn. He had no doubt what the outcomeof that would be. He wouldn’t stand a chance unless he took Steiger completelyby surprise. Get him while he’s asleep, thought Marshall, and drive the son ofa bitch up to the hilt into his kidney. Either that or cut his throat. Helooked out over the rippling, moonlit surface of the Tiber and exhaled heavily.He wished there was another way. but there simply wasn’t. Steiger had himbacked into a corner. Damn cowboy, he thought. This wouldn’t have happened ifhe’d just gone along with the others in the organization. Or if he’d simplykept his mouth shut. But no, he had to get up on his white horse and take onthe Network. Had to form the I.S.D. just to clean out all of the so-called “corruption.”As if there was any harm in people trying to make a little money on the side.

The agency expected you to risk your life and all you gotfor your trouble was a lousy government pension. So what was wrong with tryingto salt a little away for your retirement? All right, it was illegal, but sowhat? Everybody always looked the other way. Even the old director had been inon it. But then old man Forrester came in and got all tight-assed about it.Decided to put the Network out of business and bust everyone who was involved,right up to the old director. Jesus. It was his own fault the Network put acontract out on him. People were only trying to protect themselves.

Steiger should have stayed out of it, thought Marshall. Heshould have just kept his damn mouth shut and stayed out of it. It’s not myfault, thought Marshall. He’s left me no other choice. It was too had thatSteiger had to die, but there was just no way around it. And if it had tohappen, why not collect on the contract, so at least some good would come ofit? If not him, somebody else would get it. It might as well be him. You justdo the best you can and take what comes. thought Marshall. That’s how the gamewas played.