"This is the first time I've ever run into anything of this sort."
The President of the Senate shrugged1. He was an old man who had been placed in the Senate by his father in 1980. So long ago that people wondered when he would die. They were tired of these old men dictating2 to their ruler, as many people before them had been tired. The rise of the President of the Senate to leadership of that revered3 group had not been meteoric4 by any means. But his maintenance of the position had been tenacious5. He was a careful man.
The President of the Senate shrugged. "It is. It is the first time anything of this sort has ever come up, Julius. Therefore it is up to you to set an example."
Caesar glanced over at General Bonadella. The General nodded in agreement with Senator Chianti.
"This sort of business can break up the Empire if it's allowed to continue, Caesar," he said, in his pompous6 military way. "I say death."
Major DeCosta nodded quietly.
"Thumbs down all around, is it?" Caesar sat down behind his desk and picked up the speaker of his private cable to London. He looked at the three men.
There was a silent moment.
They looked up as Prefect Lamberti of the Pretorians, the Imperial personal bodyguard8 (it had progressed far beyond that. Its enrollment9 was tremendous; its power second only to the Dictator's) came in. The Senator nodded. The two field soldiers turned quickly away. The men of the field did not get along with the Pretorian dandies.
"Commander? This is the Dictator," Caesar said unnecessarily. The garrison commander knew that only one person could call him on that line. The phone would react to no voice other than Caesar's.
"Have you the fellow who was preaching dissension? I say one year in prison. You heard me. Yes, one year. What? No! No torture!" He severed10 connections and looked up at his advisers11.
Prefect Lamberti shook his head. Senator Chianti turned and stalked out. After a moment General Bonadella followed. The Major turned away to stare out the window. He shook his head.
"del Ponta? This is the Dictator," that quiet, flat voice said behind him. Caesar was calling the under-chief of the Pretoriani. "I will speak tomorrow from the balcony. Yes. 1400. Of course. World-wide. That's right. Oh, I suppose about a quarter 'til."
The man who ruled the world stood up and stared at Major DeCosta's back. At forty-one, Caesar was a gaunt man with stooped shoulders and sad lines running from his nostrils12 to the corners of his mouth. His forehead was lined and re-lined, and the keen brown eyes were dulled with years of decisions and hard work.
He was tired.
They called him the Hound because his face bore the same sad, quiet look worn by those dogs. And they called him weak because he let offenders13 off too easily.
DeCosta turned around. The young Major met his Chief's gaze.
"Well?" The voice of the Dictator was quiet and calm.
"It is not for me to say, Sir."
A slow smile spread over those weary features. "And you, Farouk?"
Lamberti stretched out his arm and balled his fist with the thumb extended and pointing down. "You know me, Caesar."
"I do. Even my best friend disagrees with my decisions now, after all these years of elbow-rubbing.
"You are usually more out-spoken, Major DeCosta. Have you nothing more to say?"
DeCosta's reply was slow in coming but rapid in delivery. "I am around Caesar much of late," he rapped out. His back was stiff and military as he strode out of the Dictator's office.
Prefect Lamberti's gloved hand dropped to the butt15 of his gun, but Caesar shook his head in gentle negation16.
Julius Caesar Imperator V gazed sadly at the closed door.
Jay had given up trying to reason with Ilaria about God. The man was intelligent as well as brilliant—there's a tremendous difference—about everything else, but he was stubbornly obstinate17 to Jay's arguments. At least in Jay's terminology18 he was stubbornly obstinate. All faith is stubborn obstinacy19. Kevin Ilaria's faith was appalling20. His arguments were beautiful. Flawless. Jay thought of his old friend, Father O'mare. Even that great psychologist-priest would be hard-put, he decided21.
So he quit. He didn't give up. He just quit.
Can you tell a man the Earth's flat after he's been up in a jet?
Can you talk a bullet out of pursuing its path?
Can you reason with a Marxist?
"If a man can conquer the greatest enemy the world has ever faced, is he not God? If he can turn from killing22 and soldiering to soothing23 and pacifying24, is he not God? If he can make the world one, after twenty-two centuries of 'world anarchism' is he not God? If he can maintain the peace and keep the people happy and heal all sores is he not God? If he just looks at you when you call him 'God' or 'Savior' and smiles and say 'I?' is he not God? If he chooses the perfect man to continue in his place, is he not God?"
"Only God could realize that one man can't continue to reign26 indefinitely. His ideas, yes. But he must create another to carry on his ideas. There must be variety and diversions."
Unshakeable. Unquestioning. Jay could never understand a person's sticking to the claim 'I'm a Christian27' or 'I'm a Moslem28' when he would be killed for it. Jay had always figured he'd have said to Nero's men 'Me? Me? A filthy29 Christian? Not I. I love Jupiter and Juno. Step inside and see my altars ...'
So he quit.
Instead he learned about the gyro-jet cars which hugged the roads like lovers on a honeymoon31. He watched them sprout32 stubby wings and breathe flame and soar straight up. He learned about saying 'Open' to a lock and having the electronic device 'recognize' him and let him in. He learned about personalphones which 'recognized' your voice. He learned about the tiny pellet of potassium cyanide and sulphuric acid with which the guns were loaded. The pellets struck and broke and the victim was dead in seconds. Very humane33. No maimed or wounded. Just the dead.
He learned about self-shaping sandals—the most comfortable and most sensible shoes man had ever worn—and air baths and soft-voiced alarm clocks which politely told you it was time to get up and about unbreakable ring-finger chronos and about atomic heating and flawless plumbing34 and he saw plastic, plastic, plastic.
He learned about all of them. But his real delight was the depilatory cream. This, above all others, was man's greatest invention.
"No shaving ... no silly damned socks or tight, hot shoes or tie ... no battery stalling or flat tires ... I guess this is paradise, Kevin!"
"And the perfect government and the perfect religion! All one race! One religion! One nation! One language! One nationality! One God!" Ilaria added exuberantly35.
"That reminds me. How come I never see any coloreds?"
"Haven't you? By the way, no murderous car insurance or alimony laws, either. And no need for them. All marriages are ideal."
"Now, don't let's go too far. Identical religion and race and customs and ideals and opinions may lower the divorce rate a lot, but there's still ye olde sex angle. A couple can go together twenty years and break up on the wedding night. Some are hot and some are cold and some are slow and some are fast. The only thing you could have improved on, is sex education. It's astounding37 how many people of my time know nothing about the sexual part of marriage. The most important part!
"Of course it's doing what comes naturally; but what if two people have been taught from different viewpoints? Or if one hasn't been taught at all? Some people are actually ashamed or embarrassed. There are intelligent people who don't even know the biological facts! Few—especially women, know about the pleasure and the habit-forming angle. That's the one thing than can break up something beautiful in ten minutes.
"Education, maybe. Human nature, no."
"Whew!"
"Excuse me, Kevin, for launching into a Phillipic, but that's long been my pet peeve38. Atrocious, deplorable, and all that."
"We don't usually tamper39 with human nature, Jay. As a rule, that is. This is going to come as a shock to you, with your silly, 'atrocious and deplorable' 1954 ideas and morals.
"A trial period. A pre-marital period of living together for a couple of weeks. If the couple isn't sexually suited, they either attempt to have it remedied by a physician or break off."
"A shock, yes," Jay murmured, slowly shaking his head. "How did it ever start? Anyone who'd propound40 an idea like that in my time would be accused of being some sort of perverted41 sex-fiend!
"A foolproof, flawless plan to insure happy marriages!"
Half across the world a door swung open and a tall dark man with piercing black eyes and a twin-tufted beard came in. His dark-green garment, faintly resembling a trench-coat, was double-breasted and belted and military cut. His feet were encased in plastileather boots which clicked as he came to attention before the desk.
The plate on the desk read "Praefectus Praetoriani."
"Major del Ponta, Sir."
The man behind the desk looked up. "At ease, Major."
Major Ali ben del Ponta relaxed and waited.
The man behind the desk finished scanning the sheet of micro-paper, marked something on it with a stylo, stuck it in the pneumatube on the corner of his desk, and pushed the button to close his desk drawer. He looked up at Major Ali ben del Ponta.
"It has begun, Prefect Lamberti. All over the world our local men are leading their followers43 in attack. Captain Abram Mazzoli has sent in his report from Tel Aviv. The city is in his hands. Captain Mahomet DiSanto's 'Raiders' have complete control of the Sahara. Captain Arnaldi's forces are firmly entrenched44 in the old Washington area of America. He will move northward45 to meet Colonel Magnani's forces from Canada and Commander Campisano. They—"
"Campisano's airborne ready to roll?"
"Yes, Sir. Arrangements have been made. The drop will be just outside New York."
"Alright. Then everything has gone off as scheduled?"
"Yes, Sir."
Prefect Farouk Lamberti regarded his deskchron thoughtfully.
"And Caesar will make his speech in twenty-five hours and thirty-three minutes?"
Major del Ponta glanced at his own chron, which was strapped46 to the third finger of his left hand. "Yes, Sir. At 1400, tomorrow."
"Have the twenty-foot 'visor screen activated47 for public showing. Mount it outside as we'd planned."
"It's being taken care of, Sir. The screen is on its way to the Square. There will be a crowd."
"Good. We all want to hear noble Caesar."
Del Ponta grinned. "Yes, Sir. We all do. Especially tomorrow."
"He doesn't know?—or suspect?"
"He shouldn't Sir. Our men took over and began covering up at once. You know the atrocious condition of world communications systems. The Empire could fall and Rome might not hear of it for days."
"That's what I was counting on ... that and the Disturber. The degeneracy of the field military is terrible. They are allowing themselves to get lazy and fat and careless."
"Yes, Sir."
"Have my car ready to drive to the Square behind Caesar's tomorrow. See that the covermen in the houses around the Square are doubled and double-checked. But when we go to the show, let's not have too great an exhibition of Imperial power. We don't want this thing to backfire and cut our own throats."
"Yes, Sir." Del Ponta's grin widened.
"Dismissed."
Prefect Lamberti opened his desk drawer and took out his old service pistol. It was a gamma gun. He had not released any of the deadly, slow-acting49 rays from its chamber50 in seven years. But it was ready.
He opened another drawer and took out a white cloak, marked across the back with a blue dove and the single word 'Liberacione.'
He checked the pistol.
"Does the Emissary from 1954 get to meet Caesar?" Jay wanted to know.
"Later. He's to make a speech tomorrow afternoon. It will be world-televised."
"He looks very old and very tired," Jay ventured. He'd seen Caesar on transcriptions of old speeches and on old newsreels.
"I would've guessed him to be a good deal older." Then "Why weak? Because he's lenient?"
Ilaria smiled. "Remember, Jay, 'Pax per Bello.' Too much leniency52 leads one's subjects to be bold. Over-bold."
"One man's opinion?"
The Tribune shrugged. "No. Caesar doesn't get along with his advisors53 too well. They criticize him for being too ready to forgive and forget."
The more Jay saw of this perfect world, the more he realized how cruel and hard people must be to maintain a paradise. If everyone is to be happy, someone must be unhappy.
The trouble is, people don't like to be told "This is for your own good."
Jay said so.
"But if they're sat on hard enough," Ilaria rebutted54, "they don't have a chance ever to try anything else which they might think is for their own good...."
Jay nodded. Very true. As Ilaria left the room Jay went to the window and looked out at the Louisville of 2054. For the millionth time in the seven days he'd been here, he wished he had a cigarette. They had been outlawed55 as detrimental56 to health long ago.
The fact that it had been seven days reminded him of something else left behind.
Julie.
"You're a fool," he finally told himself. No wonder Julie'd been on edge and acting what he termed 'odd' lately! She was scared. He'd been out of school three and a half years. He was twenty-five. He'd just bought a new Olds. He'd begun buying his clothes at The Store rather than a store. Hell, he should've been married long ago. His days here were full. There were meetings with scientists and historians and militarists and linguists57 and everyone else Kevin could think up. He talked and listened and discussed and lectured. But he thought of her every night. Every morning before he rose. At times like this, when he was alone for a few minutes.
Of course it was love! He'd always thought too many people threw the word around too much. He'd always been afraid to use it because he wasn't sure of its meaning. He's used it once. And he'd been kicked in the teeth by the girl. He hadn't used it since.
When was a guy ever sure?
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1
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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dictating
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的现在分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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3
revered
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| v.崇敬，尊崇，敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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4
meteoric
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| adj.流星的，转瞬即逝的，突然的 | |
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tenacious
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| adj.顽强的，固执的，记忆力强的，粘的 | |
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pompous
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的 | |
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7
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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bodyguard
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| n.护卫，保镖 | |
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enrollment
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| n.注册或登记的人数；登记 | |
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10
severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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11
advisers
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| 顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授 | |
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12
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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13
offenders
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| n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 )；犯规者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物） | |
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14
flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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16
negation
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| n.否定；否认 | |
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17
obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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18
terminology
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| n.术语；专有名词 | |
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obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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21
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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23
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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24
pacifying
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| 使（某人）安静( pacify的现在分词 )； 息怒； 抚慰； 在（有战争的地区、国家等）实现和平 | |
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immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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26
reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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27
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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Moslem
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| n.回教徒，穆罕默德信徒；adj.回教徒的，回教的 | |
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29
filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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30
martyr
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| n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲 | |
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31
honeymoon
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| n.蜜月（假期）；vi.度蜜月 | |
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32
sprout
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| n.芽，萌芽；vt.使发芽，摘去芽；vi.长芽，抽条 | |
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33
humane
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| adj.人道的，富有同情心的 | |
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34
plumbing
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| n.水管装置；水暖工的工作；管道工程v.用铅锤测量（plumb的现在分词）；探究 | |
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35
exuberantly
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| adv.兴高采烈地，活跃地，愉快地 | |
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36
detoured
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| 绕道( detour的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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37
astounding
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| adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词) | |
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38
peeve
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| v.气恼，怨恨；n.麻烦的事物，怨恨 | |
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39
tamper
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| v.干预，玩弄，贿赂，窜改，削弱，损害 | |
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40
propound
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| v.提出 | |
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41
perverted
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| adj.不正当的v.滥用( pervert的过去式和过去分词 )；腐蚀；败坏；使堕落 | |
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42
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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43
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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44
entrenched
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| adj.确立的，不容易改的(风俗习惯) | |
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45
northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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46
strapped
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| adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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47
activated
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| adj. 激活的 动词activate的过去式和过去分词 | |
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48
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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49
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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50
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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51
lenient
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| adj.宽大的，仁慈的 | |
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52
leniency
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| n.宽大（不严厉） | |
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53
advisors
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| n.顾问，劝告者( advisor的名词复数 )；（指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授 | |
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54
rebutted
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| v.反驳，驳回( rebut的过去式和过去分词 )；击退 | |
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55
outlawed
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| 宣布…为不合法（outlaw的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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56
detrimental
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| adj.损害的，造成伤害的 | |
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57
linguists
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| n.通晓数国语言的人( linguist的名词复数 )；语言学家 | |
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