Simon Hawke - The Cleopatra Crisis

“I thank Caesar for the compliment. However, my destiny tooka different course. I could not change it now.”

“I have heard it said that a man could change his destiny.”said Caesar. smiling. “Now that Marcian is purchasing your estate perhaps youwill have the chance to alter yours. I will soon be embarking upon newcampaigns of conquest, adding to Rome’s territories. I will require able men.Why not come with me? I promise you that you would not be an ordinary soldier.For your knowledge and ability, I would make you a tribune with my cavalry.”

“I am indeed honored,” Steiger said. “When do you intend toleave on your next campaign?”

“I have an old debt to pay the Parthians, to avenge thedeath of my old friend, Crassus. I plan to depart from Rome on the eighteenthof the month. That should give you sufficient time to conclude your business withMarcian.”

“But I had planned to engage Sabinus to manage the estate,”Marshall protested.

“I am certain that Sabinus has slaves and freedmen overseerswho could manage it for you equally well. Marcian,” said Caesar. “And doubtlessyou could pay them less. I have greater need of able men than you. What sayyou, Sabinus? You have already increased your fortune at my friend Marc Antony’sexpense, and you shall increase it further when your business with Marcian isconcluded. Once that is done, you shall be relieved of your responsibilitiesand there will be nothing to prevent you from enlisting with my forces. Youcould arrange for your money to be invested wisely and when you return, youwill be a rich man. And you shall have your choice of properties from the landsthat we shall conquer. You may build a villa, start a farm and live there, oryou could live in Rome and hire a freedman to manage your property for you,along with the slaves you shall receive from among our prisoners. I treat mysoldiers well and reward them for their service. A man such as yourself coulddo well in the wars.”

“Such inducements would seem impossible to refuse,” saidSteiger. He smiled. “As it would be impossible to refuse Caesar.

“Splendid! Then let us drink a toast to your new destiny!”

Parthia?” said Steiger.

Caesar smiled and raised his goblet. “To Parthia!”

“What the hell was that all about?” asked Marshall. afterthe evening was concluded and they had left the palace.

There’s no need for you to join the legions. By the eighteenth.Caesar will be dead.”

“But what if he isn’t?” Steiger countered. “Suppose this anomalywith the Egyptians turns into a disruption and the conspirators fail to killhim? Then there will be nothing to prevent him from leaving on his new campaignagainst Parthia.”

“And you intend to be with him.” Marshall said. “So that thefirst chance you get …”

“You got it.”

Marshall snorted. “Just like old times. huh? Cloak-and-daggerwet work.”

“Yeah. A tribune’s cloak and a Roman dagger,” Steiger said.

“You’re actually hoping it’ll happen. aren’t you? Christ,you really want the conspiracy to fail, so that you can take Caesar outyourself.”

“I’ll do whatever I have to do.” said Steiger. “depending onhow things turn out. But it would be a hell of a thing, wouldn’t it?”

“Yes, I guess it would at that. You’d be the man who sanctionedJulius Caesar. Not even Mongoose ever pulled off anything that big.”

“It would convince Forrester that there’s a place for thecovert field section,” Steiger said.

“With you as senior section chief, no doubt.” said Marshall.

Steiger glanced at him.-Why not? I’d be the logical choice.And I’ll need good, experienced agents.”

“Forget about it,” Marshall said. “I told you. I’m allthrough with that. I’ve got a good thing going here. I’d like to keep it.” hegave Steiger a long look. “I am going to get to keep it, aren’t I?”

Steiger shrugged. “It’s your choice. John.”

“Is it?”

Steiger met his gaze. “What are you saying. John? You thinkI’d turn you in?”

“You’d only be doing your duty if you did,” said Marshallflatly. “It would be another feather in your cap, wouldn’t it? Busting arenegade agent and using him to nail all his Underground connections. Mighteven net you a promotion.”

“I don’t want to be general that badly,” Steiger said.

“So you say.”

They stared at each other for a long moment.

“Is that what it comes down to. John?” asked Steiger, histone emotionless. “We can’t trust each other anymore? Is that what being in theUnderground has done to you?”

“It’s made me very careful, Creed.” Marshall said evenly. “Maybewe’re both working toward the same end. but we’re really not on the same sideanymore, are we?”

“Aren’t we?”

Marshall shook his head. “No, Creed. You’re still on theinside. I’ve opted out. That makes me a criminal. You can drop the hammer on meanytime you feel like it. I’m not very comfortable with that idea.”

“I’m sorry you feel that way,” said Steiger. “But you couldalways leave Rome. Go deeper underground, in some other time period where Icouldn’t find you. Of course. you’d have to start all over, but that wouldn’tbe very hard for a resourceful man like you. If you really believe I’d turn youin, why take the chance of staying?”

“You don’t really understand, do you?” Marshall said. “I’vegot a good life here. A pleasant. simple. comfortable life. For the first time,I’ve found a sense of permanence. I don’t want to run, Creed. I don’t want tospend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder.”

“Then you shouldn’t have deserted.” Steiger said. “What doyou want me to say. John? That after all this is over, I’ll go back to PlusTime and forget all about you? Fine. You got it. Is that what you want to hear?”

“I wish it were that simple.”

“Yeah, so do I. but it isn’t, is it? Because you don’t trustme. If that’s the way you feel, then nothing I say will make any difference.You see, that’s what happens when you run, John. Sooner or later, you alwayswind up looking over your shoulder. If it’s not me back there, it could besomeone else. You’ll never really know for sure. So you can keep running. Oryou can stop and face the music.”

“I’m not going back, Creed. That part of my life isfinished. “

“Then I guess you’ll have to live with your decision,”Steiger said. “I’m sorry there’s nothing I can say or do to make that easierfor you. but that’s the way it is..

“I’m sorry, too.” said Marshall. Ile sighed. “Hell, let’s goget drunk.”

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.