by Eric Flint
Basil took a deep breath. Nodded.
Again, Belisarius clapped him on the shoulder.
"Besides, man-cheer up. We should be getting a new supply of gunpowder and rockets from Callinicum. Good Roman powder and rockets, too, not that Malwa crap. A big supply. I sent orders calling for every pound of gunpowder available. We've got more demolition work ahead of us. Lots more."
Basil grimaced.
Belisarius, understanding that grimace, made a little mental wince of his own.
I hope. If the usual screw-ups with logistics aren't worse than normal.
But there was no point in brooding on that matter, so he changed the subject.
"What's your opinion on security?" he asked.
Basil's face cleared up instantly.
"It's beautiful, sir. Between Abbu and our scouts, and Kurush and his Persians, I don't think a lizard could get within ten miles of here without being spotted."
From their vantage point on top of what remained of the ancient dam, the cataphract pointed down at the Nehar Malka. "The Malwa have no idea what we're doing here. I'm sure of it. The one thing I was worried about was that the Kushans might try to sneak out a few of their men to warn the Malwa down at Babylon. No way to do that in the daytime, of course, but I had Abbu maintain full patrols at night and he swears-swears-that no Kushan ever tried to-"
"No," interrupted Belisarius, shaking his head firmly. "That wouldn't-how can I say it? — that wouldn't be something the Kushans would do."
Basil's brow creased in a frown. "Why not? Vasu-deva's oath was that they wouldn't try a rebellion-or a mass breakout. He never swore that he wouldn't send a few men to report back."
Belisarius looked away. It was his turn to hesitate, now. He was as certain of his understanding of the Kushans as he was of anything in the world, but to explain it to Basil would require-
Aide broke through the quandary.
Tell him.
Belisarius almost started.
You are sure of this, Aide?
Tell him. As much, at least, as you need to. It will not matter, Belisarius. Even if he talks, so what? By now, Link will have deduced my presence in this world. At the very least, it will do so very soon. Much sooner than any loose talk among Roman troops could ever find its way to the ears of Malwa spies. Secrecy about me is not so important, anymore. Not as important, certainly, as the trust of your subordinate officers.
Belisarius sighed-with immense relief. He had always believed that his success as a general, as much as anything, rested on his ability to build a team around him. The need to keep Aide's presence a secret had cut across his most basic nature and instincts as a leader.
He was glad to be done with it.
Of course, came the firm thought, that doesn't mean you have to turn into a babbling babe.
Belisarius, smiling, turned back to the cataphract standing next to him. "I am-sometimes-blessed with visions of the future, Basil."
The Thracian soldier's eyes widened. But not much, Belisarius noted.
"You are not surprised?"
Basil shrugged. "No, sir. Not really. Nobody talks, mind you. But I'm not stupid. I've noticed how Maurice-and Valentinian and Anastasius, for that matter-get very close-mouthed about certain things. Like exactly how you got the secret of gunpowder from the Malwa-and somehow managed to get it to Antonina in time for her to build a whole secret little army in Syria before you even got back. And exactly what happened-or didn't happen-in India. And exactly how it was that you were so sure that the Malwa would be our enemy, when nobody else ever gave India more than two thoughts. And why did Michael of Macedonia-Michael of Macedonia? — wind up such a close friend of a general? And just exactly-"
Belisarius held up his hand, laughing. "Enough!"
He glanced around. He and Basil were quite alone on top of the dam. The nearest Roman soldiers were the small cavalry escort waiting patiently at its base. No Persians could be seen in the vicinity-and there was nowhere to hide, anyway, except in the reeds which lined the Euphrates. The nearest clump of such reeds was thirty yards away. Much too distant for any eyes to see the small thing which Belisarius drew out of a pouch handing from his neck.
He cupped Aide in his hands, sheltered from sight. Basil leaned over, awestruck.
"Michael of Macedonia brought this to me," said Belisarius softly. "Over three years ago, now. He calls it the Talisman of God."
"It is so beautiful," whispered Basil. "I've never seen anything so wondrous."
"It is a marvel. It is a messenger from the future, who came to warn us of the Malwa danger. It did so by giving me a vision of the future which Malwa would bring to the world."
He paused, letting Basil absorb the shimmering glory of the facets. "Later, I will tell you all of what I saw, in that future. Indeed-"
He hesitated. Aide spoke.
Yes. It is time.
"I will tell all of you. All of the army commanders. It is time, now. But, for the moment-"
He spoke gently, then, for a few minutes. Telling the cataphract Basil of the vision he had received, once, of a princess held in captivity by the Malwa. Held for them, by a Kushan vassal named Kungas. And he told how, in that future, the Kushan named Kungas had held his tongue when a Malwa lord had entered his chamber to take possession of his new concubine. Had not warned the great lord that his new concubine was an assassin. And how that lord had died, in that future, because a Kushan had his own harsh concept of honor.
And then he told of how, in the future which Belisarius had created, that same Kushan had held his tongue, once again. Held it, and said nothing to his Malwa masters, when he realized that the Romans were smuggling the girl out of captivity.
"And where is he today, this Kungas?" asked Basil.
Belisarius slipped Aide back into his pouch.
"Today, the Kushan named Kungas-along with all of his men-are the personal bodyguard of the Empress Shakuntala. The heir of Satavahana. Rightful ruler of great Andhra."
Basil looked up, startled. His eyes flashed south, looking toward the distant encampment of the Kushan captives.
"You think-?"
Belisarius shrugged.
"Who knows? Kungas is an unusual man. But in some things, I believe all Kushans are much alike. They have their own notions of loyalty, and duty. They are Malwa vassals, and have served them faithfully. But I do not think they bear any great love for their masters. None at all, in fact."
He turned away, and began climbing down the dam.
"Most of all," he added, over his shoulder, "they have their own peculiar sense of humor. Very wry. Rather on the grim side, too. But they cherish it quite deeply."
At the bottom of the slope, he waited for Basil to join him. Once he had done so, Belisarius grinned.
"I'm counting on that sense of humor, you see. The Kushans wouldn't warn the Malwa of what we're doing. God, no-it would spoil a great joke."
That night, in the gloom of his little tent, Vasudeva leaned over and filled Belisarius' cup.
"Good wine," he said. "Not enough, of course. The Persians are stingy. But-good. Good."
He and Belisarius drained their cups. Vasudeva smiled.
"We like to gamble, you know. So we have a great bet going. All the Kushans have taken sides." He shrugged modestly. "We have not much to wager, of course, being war captives. But it is always the spirit of a wager which is exciting, not the stakes."
He refilled Belisarius' cup. Again, he and the general drained their wine. When they lowered their cups, Belisarius stated:
"You are wagering over whether I will succeed. In my plan to drain the Euphrates dry and leave the Malwa stranded at Babylon without supplies."
Vasudeva sneered. Waved his hand in a curt, dismissive little gesture. "Bah! What Kushan would be so stupid as to bet on that?"
He refilled the cups, again. Brought his own to his lips; but, before, drinking, added with a little smile: "No, no, Belisarius. We are betting on what you will do afterward."
> Belisarius managed to drain his cup without choking. Vasudeva's smile became a grin.
"Oh, yes," murmured the Kushan commander. "That's the real question."
He drained his own cup.
Vasudeva held up the amphora, in a questioning gesture. Belisarius shook his head, placing his hand over his cup.
"No, thank you. I've had enough. Tomorrow will be a busy day."
As he stoppered the wine jug, Vasudeva grimaced. "Please! We will be doing most of the busy-ness. And in that miserable sun!"
Belisarius rose, stooping in the low shelter provided by the simple tent. Vasudeva rose with him. Much shorter, he did not need to stoop.
The Kushan's little smile returned. "Still-that's the way it is. Really good jokes always take a lot of work."
Outside the tent, in the quiet air of the Kushan encampment, Valentinian and Anastasius were waiting with the horses. Quickly, Belisarius mounted.
Vasudeva had come out of his tent to see the Roman general off. From other tents nearby, Belisarius could see other Kushans watching. For a moment, he and the Kushan commander stared at each other.
"Why did you come tonight, Belisarius?" asked Vasudeva suddenly. "You asked me nothing."
The general smiled, very crookedly. "There was no need, Vasudeva. I simply wanted to know if Kushans still had their sense of humor."
Vasudeva did not match that smile with one of his own. In the moonlit darkness, his hard face grew harder still.
"It is all that is left to us, Roman. When men have little, they keep what they have in a tight fist."
Belisarius nodded. He clucked his horse into motion. Valentinian and Anastasius followed on their own mounts, trailing a few yards behind.
"Yes, they do," he murmured softly to himself. "Yes, they do. Until finally, when they have nothing left, they realize-" His words trailed into a mutter.
"What did he say?" whispered Anastasius, leaning over his saddle.
Valentinian's face was sour. "He said that damned stupid business about only the soul mattering, in the end."
"Quite right," said Anastasius approvingly. Then, spotting Valentinian's expression, the giant added:
"You know, if you ever get tired of being a soldier, I'm sure you could make a good living as a miracle worker. Turning wine into vinegar."
Valentinian began muttering, now, but Anastasius ignored him blithely.
"I thought it was a good joke," he said.
Mutter, mutter, mutter.
"A sense of humor's very important, Valentinian."
Mutter, mutter, mutter.
"Wine into vinegar. Yes, yes. And then-! The possibilities are endless! Turn fresh milk sour. Make puppies grim. Kittens, indolent. Oh, yes! Valentinian of Thrace, they'll be calling you. The miracle worker! Everybody'll avoid you like the plague, of course. Probably be entire villages chasing you with stones, even. But you'll be famous! I'll be able to say: 'I knew him when he was just a simple nasty ill-tempered disgruntled soldier.' Oh, yes! I'll be able-"
Mutter, mutter, mutter.
Early the next morning, construction began on the second phase of Belisarius' plan. The Roman soldiers played more of a role, now, than they had earlier. Undermining the old canal, except for the work of laying the charges, had been simple and uncomplicated work. Brutal work, of course-hauling an enormous quantity of stones out of a canal bed. But simple.
This new project was not.
Belisarius oversaw the work from a tower which his troops erected on the left bank of the Euphrates, just below the place where the Nehar Malka branched off to the east. The tower was sturdy, but otherwise crude-nothing more than a twenty-foot-high wooden framework, which supported a small platform at the top. The platform was six feet square, surrounded by a low railing, and sheltered from the sun by a canopy. Access to it was by means of a ladder built directly onto the framework.
There was only room on that platform to fit three or four men comfortably. Belisarius and Baresmanas, who occupied the platform alone that first day, had ample room.
The Roman general drew the sahrdaran's attention to the work below.
"They're about to place the first pontoon."
Baresmanas leaned over the rail. Below, he could see Roman soldiers guiding a small barge down the Euphrates. The barge was the standard type of rivercraft used in Mesopotamia and throughout the region-what Egyptians called a skaphe. It was fifty feet long by sixteen feet wide, with a prow so blunt it was almost shaped like the stern. The craft could be either rowed or sailed. The only thing unusual about this barge was that the mast had been braced and the sails were made of wicker-useless for catching the wind, but excellent for securing the baskets of stones which would eventually be laid against them.
A squad of soldiers were on the barge itself, shouting orders to the mass of soldiers who were doing the actual work of placing the barge. Many of those soldiers were on the riverbank, holding onto the barge by means of long ropes. Others were on the two barges which were serving as tugs-one directly behind, helping to hold the barge against the sluggish current; the other in mid-river, counteracting with its own ropes the pull of the soldiers on land.
Surprisingly quickly, the barge was brought into location about thirty yards from the riverbank. The barge was facing upstream, its bow heading into the current. The craft was riding very low in the water. From their vantage point, Belisarius and Baresmanas could see the stones in the hull which weighted down the craft to the point where it was almost already submerged.
The soldier in charge looked up at Belisarius. The general waved his hand, indicating that he was satisfied with the positioning. Immediately, two of the soldiers on the barge clambered down into the hull. Belisarius and Baresmanas could hear the hammering sounds as the soldiers knocked loose the scuttling pins.
A minute or so later the soldiers reappeared. The entire squad, except for their commander, clambered aboard a small boat tied alongside the barge. They attached the boat to a rope from the tub directly astern, and then released the rest of the ropes coming from that tug. The barge was now settling below the river's surface.
The squad commander quickly climbed up a ladder to the top of the barge's mast. There he remained, watching carefully as the barge sank into the river, ready to issue commands if the current moved it out of location. Not until the water was lapping at his feet did the squad commander climb into the small boat alongside. A moment later, the only thing visible was the upper three feet of the mast. The barge was securely grounded on the riverbed.
"That's the first one," announced Belisarius. "Well done, that was."
Already, another barge was being jockeyed into position next to the first. Baresmanas, watching, was struck by the speed with which the Romans scuttled that craft next to the first, further into the river's main course. And the next. And the next.
The sahrdaran said nothing, but he was deeply impressed. Persians had often matched Roman armies on the battlefield-outmatched them, as often as not. But no people on the face of the earth had that uncanny Roman skill with field fortifications and combat engineering.
"Will you have enough barges?" he asked, toward the end of the day. By then, eleven pontoons had been sunk.
Belisarius shrugged.
"I think so. The supplies are coming from Callinicum steadily now. Since there's nothing to send back on those barges, I can use almost all of them for pontoons."
He smiled, remembering the look of relief on Basil's face when the supply barges which had arrived the day before proved to be carrying an ample supply of gunpowder to refurbish his rocket force. Refurbish it-and more. New stocks of rockets had also arrived, along with three more katyushas and the crews to man them.
Belisarius glanced toward the west. The sun was almost touching the horizon. He decided there wouldn't be enough daylight to position another pontoon, and he didn't want to risk his men's lives in a night operation unless it was critical. For all the relaxed ease with which his soldiers went about their task, it wa
s dangerous work.
So he leaned over the rail and shouted the order to quit for the day. His squad commanders, familiar with their general's attitudes, were obviously anticipating the order. The oncoming barge was gently grounded on the riverbank, where it could be easily pushed off the next morning.
On the third day, Belisarius shifted his operations to the other side of the river, where a similar command tower had been erected. While Maurice oversaw the work on the left bank, Belisarius started the process of extending a line of pontoons from the west.
By the fifth day, the operation was in full swing. The Euphrates, at that point, was a shallow but very broad river-almost a mile wide. Sinking twenty to twenty-five pontoons a day, the Roman engineers were building their dam at the rate which would, theoretically, bridge the river within a fortnight.
Of course, the rate at which the pontoons were sunk began slowing. As the dam took shape, the current became faster. And, what was worse, turbulent.
Two men were killed on the eighth day. After knocking loose the scuttling pins, they failed to emerge from the hold quickly enough. What happened? No-one knew, or ever would. Probably one of them had slipped, and the other had gone to his aid. But there was no time, now, for anything but haste. The river which poured into the settling hull was not the sluggish stream it had been. The water hammered into the barge and drove it down like a pile driver. Days later, one of the bodies floated loose and was salvaged downstream.
By the end of the second week, the Euphrates was a snarling beast. As the Roman engineers extended the two lines of pontoons closer and closer to each other, the center of the river became a thundering torrent of water. The rest was not much better. As the water level rose behind the dam, the entire Euphrates became a cataract, pouring over the line of pontoons all across its width.
Casualties were now occurring daily-a matter of broken limbs and crushed fingers, for the most part, but there were fatalities also. On the twelfth day, the entire crew of a pontoon perished when they lost control of the barge just at the point when they were preparing to scuttle it. The heavily weighted craft was swept into the narrow channel in the center of the river. Before it was halfway through, the barge disintegrated, spilling its men into the torrent. Most of them were dead by the time their bodies were recovered. One man survived for half a day, his skull shattered and pulpy, before he finally expired.