by Peter Rhodan
The old man tried to stand up straight and look like the man he had obviously been in his youth but although his body straightened up, his eyes clearly showed his fatigue. “I fear you are right, young man.” He said after a moment. “I have been hanging on here for the sake of my great granddaughter who is all that survives of my family after the Scotti got through with the place.” The old man said sadly placing a hand on the shoulder of the young girl standing next him who was possibly in her early teens. “I would see her wedded to a good man before I pass on.” He said firmly.
Arturo had learned enough of local laws to realise this was mainly because females could not own property, in normal circumstances, something he intended to change. “I intend to change the property laws to allow all citizens to own property, male or female” He stated.
The old man looked at him for a moment then grinned. “Well that would be good for Anthea but you have to survive for it to become a fact of life.”
Arturo nodded. “Yes. I am holding back changes to the law until things are sorted with Maximus. Hopefully he will be reasonable and see the value of what I have to offer.” The old man broke up into a crackling laugh, the man standing behind the girl likewise succumbing to mirth. Apparently, they too found the idea of Maximus being reasonable a source of mirth, like most everyone else around in the general area. Medio finished up suffering a coughing fit as Arturo waited patiently, amused by the response to his last statement. “Several other people have reacted like that when I have mentioned reasonable and Maximus in the same sentence.” He commented at last. "In fact nearly all of them." He added after a moment of apparent reflection.
“I’m not surprised young man.” Medio answered. “I suppose he could do something extraordinary and be fair minded and reasonable but after his rebuff at Vindolanda I think reasonable is the last thing you can expect from him. He will need to exert his authority over the only area still left to him in case others decide to stand up to him.”
“Yes. I think you are probably right. I will certainly plan on things going that way although I hope it will not happen. We shall see. In the meantime, let us find something we can agree on. If I cannot have you then perhaps I can borrow some of your books?”
Medio considered this and then turned to the man behind the girl. “This is Coel, my freedman and the one who really runs the property. Coel do you think Melwyn would be interested in what this Arturo is offering?”
Coel was dark haired and solid looking, with the same general appearance of a lot of the local men. He looked at Medio for a moment then turned to face inside the house and bellowed the name Melwyn. A tall, lanky man who looked to be in his twenties appeared, dark haired and with a face that was a thinner version of Coel’s.
“Yes father?” The plainly dressed young man said coming out from within the house. He was of medium height, brown haired and with a wiry build, Arturo thought was probably from not enough to eat when he was younger. He had sparkling green eyes that made him look quite intelligent despite his peasant garb.
Coel turned to Arturo. “This is Melwyn, my son. Medio has taught him to read and write. He has read much of Medio’s library and is a sober and hardworking lad.”
Arturo looked the young man over and liked what he saw. The lad appeared young than he had first thought, probably late teens or early twenties, he guessed with his usual difficulties in estimating local ages. This was very much like the same sort of decision he made when he had chosen Ceri and the more he thought about it the more he liked the idea. A younger man would almost certainly suit him better than an old man rigid in his thinking. “I am looking for a man of learning to instruct others in how to teach reading and writing as well as someone who can help others learn history and geography. I intend to borrow books from Medio’s library which will be copied and returned, the copies then being used to instruct others. I am a foreigner and have knowledge from my people I wish to have imparted as well, so you will have to be prepared to learn new things, some of which may go against things you may have previously learned from Medio’s books.”
The young man first looked at his father and then at Medio before returning his gaze to his father. “Father” He asked.
His father placed a hand on his shoulder. “You have never been happy as a farmer my son. But know it is not without risks. If Maximus comes south with his army you may have to run for your life, it is even possible you may never be able to return here.”
Melwyn nodded and his face took on a pensive expression. “I have heard of your victory over the Scotti so you have some skill at war. But Maximus has many men. You have only a few men I hear. What will you do if he marches south?”
Arturo looked at the young man weighing options. “If you really want to know, I have spent many years being schooled in how to fight wars, not just battles. I have served in my people’s navy for many years. Maximus is experienced but not successful. From what I understand he is a blunt instrument and liable to a short temper which is something I will probably be able to take advantage of. These are most attractive qualities on a potential opponent I think.” And he smiled at the young man who nodded, smiling back.
He waved a hand back to where Arturo thought the library must be. “I have read the accounts of Alexandros who was often outnumbered by his enemies but who still won because he had summed up the opposing commander. You think you can use his failings against his superior numbers?”
“I hope so. Nothing is certain in war but my men are well trained and confident in my leadership and, perhaps more importantly, confident in the leadership of their officers. I understand his cavalry are well trained but his infantry indifferent. There is a weakness inherent there and that is just a beginning I imagine, although it is hard to gauge accurately from a great distance without actually seeing his performance in the field.”
Melwyn studied Arturo then waved a hand at one of the soldiers still mounted back in the lane. “You there. You have seen this man command. Is he good enough to beat Maximus?”
The man bowed his head. “Arturo is a good enough for me. I hear Maximus has trouble keeping his best men around him. Arturo here has trouble finding enough positions for his.”
Melwn smiled. “So you would have me teach those who would then teach others, I gather you intend to start schools in this area. Why?”
“Because I would build a strong society. And only an educated populace can ever really be strong. Besides I have need of scientists.” He used the Terran word here. “Men who can study the elements and come to conclusions, find out new things, new ways of doing and making and seeing. But for that they first need to be able to read and write, oh and in some cases be able to do mathematics too.”
Melwyn looked quite taken with this idea. “That is an interesting attitude towards learning. What about areas such as philosophy and rhetoric?”
Arturo smiled. “In my land such matters have been studied and debated for many, many years. And yet from what I can see no one has found real answers. As for rhetoric, that has always been a mainstay for politicians and lawyers and I expect that will always be so. Societies may differ but I have found politicians and lawyers vary very little.”
Melwyn nodded smiling and Medio let out a bark of laughter although refrained from actually commenting, content to watch his protégé continue his interrogation apparently. ‘You will pay me for this service?”
“Of course. You will have good pay in proper coins." Medio lifted his eyebrows at this but again said nothing. "I thought I would start you at the same rate as a Cennard and see how you go, after all you may not actually be good at imparting knowledge to others.”
Melwyn looked taken aback at this but then grinned. “That is true. Still one learns even by failures. When do wish me to start?”
“As soon as possible. There is much to do. I would like you to select a small selection of books you think are important. Include a good history of the Empire and perhaps a good collection of poems or a book containing one of t
hose great sagas I have heard Arcadius mention. Other than that it is up to you. Once they have been copied they can be returned for others so there is no need to overburden yourself immediately.”
Melwyn nodded staring off into space then he turned to Medio. “Do you think I should do this sir?”
Medio nodded. “It is great opportunity, but also a great risk. But on the whole I favour your choosing to aid this Arturo. Besides think of what knowledge he may pass on from his own people. You could be the first to write about a people previously unknown!”
Melwyn nodded. “I can be ready tomorrow sir.” He said finally.
Arturo clasped arms with him. “We will return tomorrow then.”
“And where will you stay tonight?” Medio asked.
“We will camp in the old fort so I can look it over. It may be worth bringing back into order.””
Medio nodded. “Till tomorrow then.”
The old fort was not really any different to the one at Dervent, except a bit bigger but Arturo did not see any value in occupying it at the moment. It made a convenient resting place for him and his men as kept the breeze off them. The internal layout appeared to be identical to the one at Dervent as far as Arturo could determine. He could see no need for a fort here in the future if his plans went ahead so eventually it would no doubt disappear as it’s stones were used for houses and such like as the town was rebuilt.
The next day when Arturo returned to the house of Medio he found both Melwyn and Coel waiting with a battered old cart. “It will be easier for me to carry Melwyn and his belonging south in this cart and then return, rather than provide him with a packhorse or mule. Besides I have heard there is a new plough available in Dervent that is better than the old styles. I thought I might take one or two back with me.”
having the cart trundling along with them meant trip back was much slower than when they had come north but the weather remained dry if not fine and sunny and the trip was not too laborious. Late in the first day of his two guards rode up next to him and said quietly. “That girl you rescued on our way north?” Arturo nodded. “She follows us. Must have followed us the whole time. “
Arturo went to look back then refrained. “Very well. Leave her. We shall see what she does when we are back at Dervent. We will share the guard duty tonight though, just in case.” The man nodded, looking reluctant at having his master sharing in the guard duty but having experienced enough of Arturo's leadership style to refrain from objecting.
They camped in a small lower area beside the overgrown track when the bank gave protection from the easterly wind that evening and Arturo engaged Melwyn in a discussion to resolve a few thoughts he had been harbouring as a result of observations he had made. “You have read histories of the Empire?” He asked.
Melwyn nodded. “Yes, Medio has quite a selection of historians. What do you wish to know?”
“I have tried to get a feel for the Empire since I arrived. It is hard to get a real idea of what the rest is like from out here at the edge so to speak. But listening to the things people have said of their travels it seems to me the Empire is much poorer than it once was. Valerius, who commands my cavalry, told me of towns where the buildings are falling into ruin because there is no one there to maintain them anymore. He mentioned several public buildings at places like Eboracum that were very grand once upon a time but not now and I asked him if there were any new ones and he could not think of any except for a large Christian church in a place called Treverorum which is on the mainland I understand. On the other hand, he said many public buildings were falling down, even in the big cities whilst in some places many of the smaller towns were largely deserted.”
Mewlyn nodded, “I have never been to other provinces but Medio says the Empire is much constrained these days. He thinks it is because the Emperors hoard the wealth and the army drains the provinces without really protecting them from the barbarians.” He looked over at Arturo. “His view is biased because of what happened to his family here but there is still much truth in it. The Visigoths marched the length of Italia and now occupy much of southern Gaul but neither the Emperor nor his generals are willing to do anything about it. In the old days the Republic would have sent army after army till they left the Empire or were destroyed. That happened to the Teutonae back five hundred years ago.”
Arturo waved his hand back at Alauna. “I see abandoned forts everywhere, that must have once been garrisoned by extensive forces, yet are now derelict. Some of the roads are very well made but overgrown and falling into disrepair. Coinage has disappeared from use making trade difficult. Valerius says it is much the same in the areas of Gallia he rode through. Although many of those areas have had barbarians go through them in recent years which must account for some of it, other areas appear to be just declining on their own.”
Melwyn nodded. “Yes. The empire has fallen on hard times. Roma is not even the capital anymore. Makes a mockery of calling it the Roman Empire.”
Arturo heard these words and stopped dead in shock. Suddenly he realised that the ‘Rumans’ he had been hearing was really ‘Romans’, the Brythonic accent distorting the sound. Oh shit. He thought. The Romans, as in the Fucking Roman Empire! And Brythons, or Brittania as the Romans called it, as in the British Empire. Rufanig must be the local word for the Roman. Oh shit. Oh Shit. What the hell had happened to him.
One of his guards stopped beside him. “Are you all right sir?”
Arturo stared blankly into space for a moment, all these thoughts going round and round in his head before snapping out of it. “Yes. Ah sorry. Just had a sudden thought that distracted me.” He explained and realising he had stopped his horse in the middle of the road gee’d it up to continue their ride south. The guard, Lomax wagged his head at his mate who rolled his eyes and they fell in behind Arturo again.
Oh shit, Arturo thought to himself. This can’t be right. He tried to remember his Ancient History. He had only done one semester and it was all a bit vague now. He was sure the Roman Empire came before the British Empire. Yes, that was right. The British Empire coincided with the Industrial Revolution, that was something he was pretty sure of and had been a thousand years or more after the Roman Empire.
But how could he be here? He brought up a galactic map in his head. Galactic co-ordinates had been set out thousands of years ago at the dawn of space travel with the line from the galactic centre out through Earth as zero degrees on a three hundred and sixty degree circle. And the plane of the galaxy was zero in terms of vertical displacement. All known systems were mapped off this and every naval officer had the map of Federation space and its' near neighbours etched into his head by their trainers.
The Federation was core-ward and down from Earth comprising maybe fifteen percent of the old Empire. His ship had been at a system at the fringes of Federation space and out towards the known edge of the old Empire was well. He tried to get a handle on the relative positions in his head which wasn’t easy without a trivid display. Okay, so if my ship was here and Earth is there then the distance would be about, hmm, say five thousand light years. Roughly. And it was about a thousand years since the fall of the Empire, which had been around for about two thousand years and the British Empire was before that and the Romans a thousand before that which means I must be getting on to four or five thousand years in the past.
Oh. OH! But how? Why had his ship been sent something like five thousand years into the past and five thousand light years through space. Wait. Was there a correlation there? Hmm! They roughly corresponded. Coincidence? Hmm. The trouble to little data. All right, taking that as working hypothesis for the moment, it’s ridiculous but whatever, the next question is why? Why did my shuttle finish up here and not any of the others? What was different? The other two were ordinary shuttles while he was in an armoured Marine assault shuttle. But that should not have mattered. Both types could traverse jump points perfectly safely and often did in training exercises. In fact just about anything could pass through a
jump point if aligned properly and mounting a jump engine. If you weren’t aligned properly you simply continued on past the warp point in normal space as if nothing was there. And, of course, the other Marine shuttle had gone through first with the surviving marines aboard. Idiot!
Actually the only time there was a problem with a jump point was if there was acceleration or deceleration involved. Oh! The plasma impact just as they’d jumped! It had almost certainly imparted acceleration to the shuttle just as they’d entered the jump point. Shit! But it would not have been much. Those assault shuttles are big and have lots of mass. Hmm. As far as he could remember scientists had studied the jump point rule of no momentum change for thousands of years without solving the issue or even determining where the missing ships went. He didn’t think there had been any new research since the Empire collapsed but he was not sure. And as far as he could remember there had never been any ship recovered.
Yes, it was well known that no ship had ever come back when entering a jump point under acceleration. Or deceleration for that matter. Not ever. It was one of those things everybody knew and was drummed into the heads of navigators and ship captains alike. And maybe he now had the answer. Maybe. How much was the shuttle accelerated? Without being able to look at the logs, which were rusting away in that lake, he could not be certain, but it would not have been much. So, if his shuttle got sent five thousand odd light years through space and five thousand odd years backwards as a result of just being nudged by the plasma blast, which only hit them a glancing blow, how far would a ship go under normal acceleration go? No wonder no ship had ever returned. Ships must have been launched over thousands of light years away from where they had been and thousands of years backwards in time would obviously never be able to find their way back. Hell, some ships may well have finished up in another galaxy altogether it the time and space movement was logarithmic. Shit!
But that was not really the big issue for him personally. At least not now. Not until he got his shuttle repaired or built a new ship. What was he supposed to do now that he knew he was in the past, on Earth and not some back slid ex-Empire planet? Oh god, what do I do now? He thought to himself worriedly. I’ve already changed the past by being here, although if he stopped now the changes will probably disappear, submerged by barbarians washing over this isolated part of the Empire he guessed. Must have done in fact. Yes? Hmm.