Simon Hawke - The Cleopatra Crisis

“Such as yourself. Brutus?” asked Delaney. “I have heardthat there are intimate bonds between yourself and Caesar.”

Brutus flashed him an angry look. “I am not his bastard. ifthat is what you imply!”

“I imply nothing.” said Delaney. “I only repeat what I haveheard. Did he not pardon you after you took Pompey’s side during the civil war?”

“He pardoned Cassius, too,” said Brutus. “And Casca and manyothers. It was all his way of showing himself to be magnanimous, the greatgeneral who was gracious in his victory. It was but another way to curry favorwith the mob. It was no different from when he ordered Pompey’s statues putback up after the mobs had torn them down. You think that he had any love forPompey? If so. then why did he pursue him into Egypt? Why did he destroy hissons? Did he make a great show of remorse for having done so, as if he had hadno other choice? No. He returned to Rome to celebrate a triumph. A triumphcelebrating the destruction of one of the greatest families of Rome! There wasyour true Caesar. not the one who gave out pardons and ordered Pompey’sstatues put back up!”

“That was nothing but a show: said Casca derisively. “Anotherentertainment. It was as if to say. ‘Let us have the statues put back up. tocelebrate the greatness of the man I have defeated. thereby proving I amgreater still.’ His ambition seems to know no bounds. For the good of Rome.that ambition must somehow be curtailed.”

“Strong words,” Delaney said. “but then what good are wordswithout acts to back them up?”

“We do not merely speak words. Quintullus,” said Casca intently.“We plan to act as well!”

“Indeed?” Delaney said, raising his eyebrows. “What is itthat you plan to do?”

“Peace. Casca.” Cassius said, laying a hand on his arm. “Perhapsnow is not the time.”

Delaney smiled. “Yes, I have heard such talk before.” hesaid wryly. “It is the wine-fueled courage of the dinner table, the whisperedconspiracy of the baths. Men talk boldly, but when it comes time to act, theyhesitate and say. ‘Now is not the time.’ And somehow, the right time nevercomes.”

“What if it were to come?” asked Cassius. “Where would youstand. Quintullus?”

“Where I have always stood, with the strength and purpose ofmy convictions.” said Delaney. “If there was something to be done and if therewas a way to do it. and if Rome stood to benefit from the act that I was contemplating.then I would stand for Rome, of course.” He shrugged. “But then, we speak onlyimpassioned words. Impassioned acts are what is needed. Yet, as you say. Cassius.there are no more Ciceros. Even Cicero himself has retired from public life. Noone opposes Caesar openly. There is nothing to be done.”

“Perhaps there is,” said Casca. “If, as you say. you areindeed a man who stands for the strength and purpose of his convictions. A manwho stands for Rome.”

Delaney gave him a steady stare. “So far. all I have heardis talk,” he said. “To oppose Caesar in the baths is one thing. To take a standagainst him publicly is quite another. As you say. Caesar controls the Senate.What can a few men do?”

“Perhaps we are not quite so few as you suspect,” saidBrutus. “There are many others who share our feelings and concerns.”

“I do not doubt that.” said Delaney, “but I repeat. Caesarcontrols the Senate. When the House belongs to Caesar. what can anyone do?”

“We could remove Caesar from the House.” said Casca.

There was a moment of tense silence.

“There is only one way to do that. You speak of murder. Casca,”said Delaney softly.

“Not murder,” Casca replied. “Tyrannicide! That is the onlyway to stop a man like Caesar! Or does the thought disturb you, Quintullus?”

“It is a disturbing thought,” Delaney said.

“What happened to the man who spoke of the strength of hisconvictions?” Casca asked snidely. “A moment ago. you spoke of the need foraction. Yet now, it is you who hesitates.”

They were all watching him carefully.

“To hesitate is not the same as to weigh a course of actioncarefully.” said Delaney. “It is one thing to huddle together in the baths andwhisper boldly. It is another to plan a course of action. Such things should beentered into with great care. There have been others in the past who actedrashly. They did not live long to regret their choice.”

“No one speaks of acting rashly,” Cassius said.

“Then you have a plan?”

“We have considered it,” said Brutus. “But we must becertain that those to whom we speak of it stand with us. You seem to be of a likemind with us. Quintullus. We spoke of that last night. The question is, haveyou the courage to stand with us?”

“Do I look to you like the sort of man who lacks the courageto stand for that which he believes in?” asked Delaney.

“No,” said Brutus. “you do not seem like such a man. Yetthat is not an answer.”

“Before I give you one.” Delaney said warily.” first tell mewhy you have chosen me, a stranger to you all, to reveal your thoughts to. Thatmeant taking a great risk. How do you know that I will not denounce you?”

“A fair question.” Cassius said. “And one deserving of an answer.First, we were favorably impressed with what you said last night. You spokeboldly and frankly, expressing thoughts similar to ours. A man such asyourself, strong, clear-thinking, forthright, did not seem to us like someonewho would be afraid to follow words with deeds.”

“There was a risk, of course, in sharing our thoughts withyou,” said Brutus, “but the risk was not so great as you imagine. You are, asyou have said, a stranger and a newcomer to Rome, whereas we are all men ofposition and influence. Them are no witnesses to testify to what has transpiredhere just now save for ourselves. If you were to inform on us-”

“Which would be rash, indeed.” interrupted Casca.

“If you were to inform on us.” continued Brutus. “it wouldbe merely your word against ours. And we are all in a position to make certainthat you could not pose a threat to us.”

“Make no mistake. Quintullus,” said Cassius, “we do not intendto threaten you. Brutus merely seeks to explain our reasoning.”

“Your reasoning seems sound, so far.” Delaney said.

“There is yet one more thing.” Cassius said. “Yourfriendship with Lucius Septimus, and the fact that you are staying in hishouse, means that you could be very useful to us. Septimus is close to Caesar,a frequent visitor to the palace. He has Caesar’s confidence. And you seem tohave his.”

“I see.” Delaney said. “And Trebonius is friends withAntony, who is also close to Caesar. I begin to understand your methods.”

“Yes, as you can see. Quintullus. we are careful men.” saidCassius. “We must see to it that not a thing is left to chance. There is muchat stake. The very fate of the republic, to say nothing of our lives.”

“Indeed.” Delaney said thoughtfully.

“So. What is your answer?” Cassius asked “Do you stand withus, or against us?”

“I stand for the republic.” said Delaney.

“Then you are with us?” Casca asked.

“If I am to be asked to risk my life.” Delaney said. “then Iwould be a fool to undertake that risk for nothing.”

Brutus frowned. “Is it payment that you seek?”

“I am not some assassin who works for hire. Brutus,” said Delaneywith an affronted tone. “I believe in the republic and I have come to Rome tobuild a life. But if I am to be instrumental in saving the republic, then Iwould like to have a hand in restoring it. as well.”

“And so you shall,” said Cassius. “We will need men ofability when the time comes. to prevent Rome from falling into chaos. Neverfear. Quintullus. you shall not fall by the wayside. At the very least, atribuneship could be arranged. What say you to that?”