Envoy Extraordinary

Posthumus turned aside and spoke briefly among his officers. A detachment of laden legionaries doubled along the quay and stationed themselves between the Emperor and escape. The women wailed then settled to a steady lament. The Emperor affected not to notice but drew Posthumus towards the barge. Amphitrite continued to circle round her anchor slowly.

Posthumus stopped.

"It was high time I came home."

More thunder. The Emperor looked back at the dense mass of soldiers that filled the end of the quay

"About a hundred men, I should say. An Imperial Salute?"

Posthumus snorted.

"You can call it that. Presently more ships will enter the harbour. There will he sufficient to ensure that we agree on all points of policy. But what a stroke of luck to find you both on the quay!"

Mamillius cleared his throat and spoke in a high uncertain voice.

"Posthumus, you are mistaken."

"Mamillius in arms."

"For show only. I do not want to be Emperor."

"Ah!"

Posthumus took a step towards him and Mamillius started back, tripping on his cloak. Posthumus poked a finger in his face.

"You may think not. But he would bridge the Adriatic to please you."

The Emperor flushed a delicate pink.

"You have never wanted my affection, Posthumus, so you have never missed it. If I have been foolish enough to think that I could enjoy his company without more danger than the usual scandal, I have been wise enough to know that you are the best man to rule the Empire-however uncongenial I may find you."

"I am informed otherwise."

"At least you might gloss over our differences in public."

Posthumus paid no attention to these words, but fished a folded paper from inside his breastplate.

"To: Posthumus, etc., Heir Designate, etc.

From: CIII

Ships and weapons are being built or converted on the quay next to the tunnel. - The Emperor , and the Lord Mamillius take much personal interest in a ship, Amphitrite, ex-corn-barge, unclassified, and a tormentum (mark VII) that has been placed on the quay and trained seaward. They are also experimenting with methods of poisoning food on a large scale. Lord Mamillius seems to he in a state of high excitement and anticipation--"

"Posthumus, I swear--"

Posthumus merely raised his voice.

"He is corresponding with the Emperor and others in code under cover of writing poetry-"

Mamillius was flaming.

"Leave my poetry alone!"

'It has not yet been found possible to break this code. Submitted to XLVI it proved to be composed of quotations from Moschus, Erinna, Mimnermus, and sources not yet identified. Research is proceeding."

Tears of rage ran down Mamillius' face.

"You filthy swine!"

'That was unnecessarily cruel, Posthumus."

Posthumus stuffed the paper back.

"Now we have done with fooling, Caesar. The time has come for a regency."

"He does not want to be Emperor."

Posthumus sneered at Mamillius.

"He is not going to be."

A faint clattering sound came from Mamillius' armour. The Emperor laid a hand on Posthumus' arm.

"lf the ship and the. tormentum worry you, Posthumus, I can explain them rationally. Be fair."

He turned to the officers and raised his voice.

"Bring the Greek to me."

Posthumus nodded, waiting. Phanocles stood before them, restoring the circulation to his wrists.

"This man is the root of the matter."

'Lord Posthumus-I am altering the shape of the world."

"He has this curious manner of speech, Posthumus."

"There will be no slaves but coal and iron. The ends of the earth will be joined together."

Posthumus laughed and the sound cheered no one.

"And men will fly."

He turned to the officers and beckoned.

"Colonel-why aren't those ships coming in?"

"Visibility, sir."

"Damn the visibility. Signal them in or send a message."

He turned back to Phanocles.

"This fantastic ship--"

Phanocles spread his arms.

"She will go faster than any other. Civilization is a matter of communications." He frowned at them and searched for simple words. "Lord Posthumus. You are a soldier. What is your greatest difficulty?"

"I have none."

"But if you had?"

"Getting there first."

"You see? Even warfare is a matter of communications. Think of the elaborate efforts Xerxes made to conquer Greece. With Amphitrite he could have crossed the Aegean in a day and against the wind."

Mamillius struck in, teeth chattering, eager to help.

"Think of the first Caesar, of Alexander, Rameses--"

Phanocles sank his head on one side and opened his hands as if the explanation was simple.

"You see, lord? Communications."

The Emperor nodded thoughtfully.

"They should be made as difficult as possible."

Thunder rumbled again. Posthumus strode over to the tormentum and the women shrank away. The roar of the harbour was rising again.

"And this?"

"I have to shut the lightning in the keg. The sting when it strikes anything looses the lightning. Then there is a smoking hole in the ground."

The Emperor made a sign with two fingers.

"What is the brass butterfly at the base of the sting?"