“Cassandra dear, this war between the Senate and the Emperor is worse than I have ever seen it. I know you have always held nothing but distain for politics, but when Irena said you were on the way to Rome, I thought you should see this.”
Cassandra shrugged, “I don’t see anything unusual. Marcus has been called to hundreds of Senate investigations. The Senators always give him a hard time. It’s what they do, but Julia you have to realize, it’s the part of the job Marcus loves.”
Julia was shaking her head an emphatic no, “Cassandra you have been away in London. You have no idea how bad the posturing and open battles have gotten. A new Senate Majority Leader has taken over, and now the Senate has gained a new boldness. The Emperor seems to be unconcerned. He hasn’t been fighting back, not like his father used to. There have even been rumblings through the News Grids that the Emperor should step down and be replaced with an elected official.”
“Julia that is ridiculous.” Cassandra said laughing, “The separation of powers between the Senate and Emperor has been an effective form of government for a thousand years. If the Emperor were elected, the system would collapse. The Emperor would be just as duplicitous as the elected Senators, making outrageous promises to their constituents to get elected, and then doing whatever they need to do, to retain power.
“Since the Emperor is not elected, he can do what he believes is best for the Empire. He often is forced to make a decision that is not always popular, but in hind sight it usually turns out to have been the right one. If he were elected, he would be making decisions based on popular opinion polls. No, Julia, an elected Emperor just doesn’t make sense.”
“Things are changing,” Julia said concern showing in her posture, “And you have been away from Rome for too long.”
“I stay away for a reason. I can’t stand the politicking, lying, deceit, and outright cruelty. I stay away by choice.”
“Cassandra, I know you have avoided politics all your life, but this is your family. This virus has people stirred up. Things are different now, and I fear for your brother. Sources have told me that the Senate has infiltrated the Ministry with operatives at several levels. It seems the Senate knows as much about what is going on inside as Marcus does. They will use that information to destroy the Emperor, but the worst part is they will destroy Marcus, you and your family to get at him.”
James had been intently watching the hearing, and apparently paying little attention to Julia and Cassandra’s conversation. His avoidance of the discussion must have stuck a nerve with Julia, “James, Dr. Woodman.”
He turned and answered. “I’m sorry. What did you say? I was engrossed watching the committee meeting.”
“Are you politically inclined, Dr. Woodman?”
James got that distant look on his face that Cassandra had learned to interpret as, help! And she quickly spoke up, “As I said, James has been on an excavation for the last couple of years, and is even more removed from the political fray than I am.”
He quickly followed her lead. “I have to agree with Cassandra. I have been away so long, it is going to take some time to get caught up.” He added smiling.
Julia returned his smile, “Well that must be why you two are together. You both are cut from the same cloth.”
Both Cassandra and James started to protest, but before any words could be vocalized, the servant announced lunch was served in the triclinium.
During the appetizer the discussion, directed by Julia, quickly returned to the political ramifications of the current conflict on the Vespus family.
“I don’t know why you are telling me all this,” Cassandra objected, “You know I’m neither a physician or a politician.”
“Because sister-in-law, you need to help your brother.”
With the antipasto nearly gone, a course of mushroom risotto was placed on the table.
“Make sure you get enough risotto James, we are only having a light veal dish as a main course. I don’t want you going away hungry.” Julia then turned her attention back to Cassandra, “You may fancy yourself simply as a scientist, but you are also a Vespus, and that means you have plenty of fight. Your brother needs you. Stand with him.”
“I sense you know more then what you are telling me. You know more than a few spies have infiltrated the Ministry. What did your sister tell you to cause such concern?”
Julia smiled and then appeared to blush, “Cassandra, you certainly know me well enough to know that if my sister had shared any pillow talk, I would not be at liberty to repeat it.”
“Oh, stop it. I don’t want to know anything about my brother’s sexual prowess.”
“Please Cassandra, we have a guest.” Julia said feigning embracement. “I will not betray my sister’s confidence, but I can say is she is worried.”
A server appeared with the veal, more bread and wine, and while he was performing his duties, Cassandra discreetly glanced at James. The man was without a doubt true to his word, he had said very little during lunch. A second quick glance revealed a man concentrating on his food; so much so, one might believe he was completely unaware there was anyone else in the room. Very convincing, she thought, but she also knew, he was absorbing everything, and was certain to be full of questions when they were back in the car.
With the server’s task completed, Cassandra returned her gaze to her sister-in-law. “Julia quit being obtuse and get to the point. What is Irena worried about?”
“You Vespus have always been entirely too direct. I think your brother even has more tact than you do. I don’t know specific details. Irena has only told me, Marcus is under a lot of pressure. She is certain, if left unchecked, the pressure will be transformed into physical violence directed at the family.”
Cassandra suppressed the urge to laugh and maintained a stoic expression. Clearly this woman needed to find something to do. How much of her day was spent in fanciful gossip, she wondered? It was clearly enough to concoct some outrageous stories. “Look Julia, I was completely unaware of these developments, but I promise, I will speak to my brother this evening. I will do everything I can to help protect the Vespus name – All right?”
“Oh yes, thank you Cassandra.”
Coffee and Tiramisu arrived, and the conversation stopped for a moment.
Casting aside the political intrigue and putting on her perfect Roman hostess façade Julia asked, “I hope you got enough to eat James. Cassandra told me you are going to the clinic for a checkup. They probably won’t give you any decent food. You just make sure to leave here full.”
“I assure you I’m quite full. This was very good. I’m even afraid I ate far more than I should have. Thank you very much.”
Cassandra noticed James’s empty plates and took advantage of the situation. “Julia, James is right. The meal was wonderful, but we really need to get to Rome. I promised Marcus we would be at the clinic early this afternoon.” She then discreetly motioned for James to get up. As the three walked to the door, Cassandra reassured Julia she would speak to Marcus this evening. The two women hugged, and with James following closely, Cassandra left.
Back in the car with the bubble sealed, James turned to Cassandra, “Did you notice the two men in the car across the street. They seem to be watching us?”
Without looking up from her task of programming the next destination, she answered dispassionately “Of course. Those are my Imperial guards. They have been following us since we left London.”
After a noticeable sigh of relief James said, “I guess after listening to you two over lunch, I have become just a bit paranoid.” The drive engaged, and the vehicle sped off down the residential street, discreetly followed by the car with the Imperial guard. At first Cassandra didn’t say anything, she was too busy studying the messages on her data pad. “Come on you have to tell me something.” James continued, “What is all this political intrigue? What were you and Julia talking about?”
Cassandra looked up from her pad and smiled. “James don’t pay any
attention to anything Julia said. Most of it was nonsense.” And quickly returned her glance to the data pad.
“Now wait one minute. If it was all nonsense, why did you promise her twice that you would speak to you brother about it this evening?”
“So, she would leave me alone.”
James reached across the car and placed his hand over the display screen on the data pad. “That’s not good enough, Dr. Vespus. You stopped there for lunch, why? I think you owe me a little background. Don’t you?”
“Don’t do that! I owe you a trip home nothing more.” She snapped.
James quickly pulled his hand back, “All right, if that’s the way you want it.”
Silence quickly filled the cabin. Several moments later Cassandra looked over at James. He was staring out the window arms crossed, and if she didn’t know better, pouting. “James, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. It’s just those people do it to me every time.”
James rigid posture seemed to soften slightly as he turned and said in a soft voice, “I would like to understand, but I don’t know anything about this place. If I say something impolitic it is out of ignorance not malice.”
Ouch – she thought, but he was right. She was allowing her displeasure to be directed at him. He did, after all, deserve an explanation. “James, Julia and her family epitomize everything I hate about Rome.
“Julia’s status and her families hit the jackpot when Irena married my brother. Her family, like countless others, have always been social climbers and would be aristocracy. They revel in politics, rumor and innuendo even though they have no bearing on what happens.
“You saw the picture of a concerned woman, concerned about the welfare of my dear brother, the Minister of Health and Environment. It was nothing more than a pretense. She cares about my brother only to the extent that he affects her social status.”
James nodded, “That may be so, but if you hate all that stuff, why did you stop?”
“I don’t know. She convinced me she had important news about Marcus. I guess, I was curious, but she had nothing new to say. It was all the same old stuff.”
“Is that so?” James said, “I have watched a few Senate investigations in my world, hoping to relate current events to the past. Yours was not all that different. The one thing that was obvious was those Senators smelled blood.”
“Oh great, another expert on politics.” She said looking down and shaking her head. “Look politics here are unique to this place. Just let me worry about the political situation.”
“Anything you say.”
“Thank you. It looks like we are approaching Rome. You may wish to watch as we travel through the city. Once we get to the clinic and get you settled, I would like to resume our history discussion.”
Chapter 9
- History 101 -
The Vespus Clinic was in the central part of Rome, but absolutely nothing looked as James expected. Most of the ancient Roman architecture, he thought he knew from his studies, had long been replaced. Even the coliseum appeared to be a modern stadium. The city didn’t appear very Roman, but there was no mistaking, the clinic was defiantly a hospital. Cassandra was greeted, with what must have been an official solute, by the guard behind the receiving desk. He instructed her to see Dr. Vespus’s assistant, Quintus, on the ninth floor. She nodded acknowledgement to the guard, and without saying a word, turned and motioned for James to follow.
At the door to Marcus Vespus’s office a short thin young man in his middle twenties greeted them. He was wearing a well-tailored navy-blue suit which matched his overall well-groomed appearance, “Dr. Vespus how nice to see you again. Please come in, sit down and make your self’s comfortable.”
“Thank you, Quintus. This is Dr. James Woodman. Is Dr. Vespus in?”
“No, I’m afraid not.” Quintus answered, “Dr. Vespus has yet to return from his Senate meeting, or rather he did return, but then rushed off to another. He was; however, emphatic that your companion is to be treated with the utmost respect. I have prepared one of our Senatorial suites for his visit.”
As instructed James and Cassandra sat, but Quintus remained standing and without saying another word just stood staring at James. James found the stare unnerving and started to squirm almost as soon as he was seated. After several minutes the silence became too much, and he asked, “Quintus, are there forms to be filled out?”
“No. Dr. Vespus has seen to everything.” He responded with a smile.
Cassandra must have picked up on James’s anxiety and spoke forcing Quintus to redirect his gaze, “Did my brother leave any special instructions?”
“The only instructions he left were to make Dr. Woodman comfortable, and to make sure he had nothing to eat or drink after midnight.”
She then altered the tone of her voice, ever so slightly. James noticed it, and from Quintus reaction he must of as well. The tone clearly indicated her statement was an order and was not to be questioned. “Very well then, if there are no admission forms, then show us to the suite.”
Quintus immediately straightened, moved to the door and said, “Certainly. I apologize for the delay. Please follow me.”
They were led down several floors and several passageways. James was amazed, as different as this world was, this place smelled and felt just like the hospitals where he came from.
He didn’t have much experience with hospitals. Point of fact, he had been a patient only once, but he hated hospitals. It was a loathing he could trace back to his early childhood. It was all still so real. He remembered his mother lay dying in a hospital, a hospital that felt and smelled just like this one. The bright and cheery façade was merely a disguise for the pain and suffering hidden beneath. He sat at his father’s side, for two months, and watched as his once beautiful mother withered away to nothing more than a stick figure. In the end she was just as unrecognizable to them, as they were to her.
Ever since James has avoided hospitals at all cost. If a friend or colleague were admitted, James would find any excuse he could to procrastinate visiting; at least until the friend had been released and sent home. Now here he was walking through a hospital, a far stranger one than any he remembered, nevertheless just as frightening. But the worst part was, he was being admitted.
“Dr. Vespus, Dr. Woodman, here we are.”
When Quintus’ words seemed to drift by James unheeded. Cassandra placed her hand on his triceps and softly said, “James. We are here. Are you, all right?”
Weather it was the touch, or the gentle words, or perhaps the sudden awareness of her fragrance or maybe all three, the effect was to quickly retrieve James from his dark thoughts of long ago. “Yes. I’m fine. There is just something about hospitals that makes me feel a bit uneasy.” James paused and looked around the spacious room in amazement, then said. “Well this is very nice. Not at all like what I expected. I should be very comfortable.
“It’s clearly much nicer than the room you gave me in London, Dr. Vespus.” He added forcing a smile to hide his lingering discomfort.
“This will do nicely, Quintus.” Cassandra said, “I wish us, not to be disturbed for the rest of the afternoon. I will be leaving at eight to meet with Dr. Vespus. After I leave please make sure Dr. Woodman is given anything he desires.” Without waiting for a reply and clearly dismissing him by her gestures, Cassandra turned once again to face James. “Come over here and sit with me, we can continue our discussion. I’m anxious to hear more about your history, just as I’m sure you anxious to hear more of mine.” She walked into the sitting area of the large nicely appointed suite. It consisted of several overstuffed chairs and couches as well as a small conference table and six chairs in the corner.
“Looks like you could have quite a party in here?” James commented looking at all the furniture.
“This room is one of the Senatorial suites. Senators demand large comfortable accommodations. They claim it is necessary to conduct the people’s business while they are here. But if you ask me, it is me
rely the trappings of wealth and power that is important to them.” She said easing into one of the comfortable chairs. Then quickly changing subjects continued, “You said Trajan didn’t have any children and was forced to anoint his nephew heir. What happened next? How did the Empire collapse?”
“So, it is my history first?” James said sliding into the chair next to hers. “Very well I’ll go first, but I might not let you leave until after you finish yours.”
Cassandra merely shook her head, “James we have at least two weeks. There is plenty of time. Now go ahead. Tell me what happened next.”
“All right. Let me see, Trajan … Ah yes, Trajan did not produce any heirs with his wife, and took Hadrian as his adopted son. When he died, Hadrian became Emperor. Hadrian felt the Empire could not be sustained if it grew any larger and began erecting walls at the fringes. He felt the Empire was just right, and if he could keep out the barbarians, it could be maintained just as it was. But he was wrong because once it stopped expanding, it began contracting. History records everywhere the barbarians pushed on the defenses, the legions retreated. For the next several hundred years the Empire slowly contracted.
“While the barbarians encroached and shrank the size of the Empire, internal forces such as Christianity began changing the basic fabric of Roman society. After centuries of persecution, Constantine legalized Christianity in 313 AD, and it was finally named the official state religion by Theodosius in 380 AD. I believe that should be about 1067 and 1134 in the Julian calendar.”
“Wait a minute.” Cassandra interrupted, “The official state religion. That’s pretty frightening and completely opposite from what happened here. In this world, at about that time, the pagan reform act took effect. The old pagan state religion was abandoned, and because of the religious diversity the Empire faced, an official policy was adopted separating the state and religion. There would never again be a government-sanctioned religion, and all religions would be tolerated provided they were peaceful. Under this arrangement not only Christianity, and Judaism flourished, but so too did all the new religions from the east.”
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