TW11 The Cleopatra Crisis NEW (10 page)

“You think they might be agents from the parallel universe'?" asked Delaney.

Travers shook his head. “I don't know. Either they are, or she is."

"
Cleopatra
?" said Lucas.

"I think it's possible," said Travers, gazing at them seriously. "She has a tremendous amount of influence over Caesar. I've been giving it a lot of thought. What if she's my counterpart from the parallel universe? A sort of L.T.O., a mole infiltrated into this timeline with the specific purpose of creating a temporal disruption. Her mission could have been to seduce Caesar and bear his son. Maybe Caesarian isn't even his son. She might have been already impregnated with a male fetus when she met Caesar. Possibly one that's been genetically tailored. What would happen if Caesar didn't die? What would happen if he added to Rome's conquests and dramatically increased its territories? What would happen if Cleopatra prevailed on him to name Caesarian instead of Octavian as his heir? And Caesarian was someone the S.O.G. could control? It would completely change the course of history. Octavian would never become Caesar Augustus. Tiberius would never become Emperor, nor would Caligula or Claudius or Nero. It could change the entire course of civilization!"

“Do you have anything solid to base your suspicions on or is this just a hunch?" asked Delaney.

Travers shook his head. "I tell you, I don't know, but something is very definitely wrong. Those Egyptians simply don't belong here. And their presence has not been taken well. Caesar even brings them into the Senate with him. It's increased the animosity toward him, which on one hand is all to the good, I suppose, but on the other hand, he's become more cautious, more aloof, and more determined than ever to do things his way, come hell or high water. "

"You're concerned about him, aren't you?" Andre said.

Travers glanced at her and grimaced. "Yes, I suppose I am. Funny, isn't it?"

"You got too close," said Delaney. "You allowed yourself to get involved."

"Listen, you study a man for half your life and then live with him, go through several wars with him, especially a charismatic man like Caesar, and you try not to get involved," said Travers. "The man's become my friend. You understand that? I've made him the subject of my life's work and I've gotten to know him as well as anybody knows him. It's hard not to like a man like Caesar. Yes, he's ambitious and he's arrogant, but great men always are. He's also capable of kindness, and loyalty, and devotion. It's not for nothing that his legions idolize him. He's larger than life. Intelligent, incredibly courageous, inspirational. One of the greatest men who ever lived. And I have to make sure that he gets murdered."

Travers took out his Roman dagger and stared at the foot-long, lethal blade. "Can you imagine what it's like to be stabbed with something like this? Twenty-three times. Twenty-three times, they're going to plunge daggers like this into his body. And not only am I helpless to do anything about it, I've got to make certain it gets done."

"No, Travers," Lucas said. "
We've
got to make certain it gets done."

"Evening, John."

John Marshall froze as he entered the dark bedroom of his house near the east bank of the Tiber. The voice had spoken in English and it sounded vaguely familiar. He lifted the oil lamp he carried in his hand. He was able to make out a dark figure sitting on his bed.

"Who
are
you?" he asked tensely, coming closer. He did not recognize the man.

"Someone who once saved your ass from the Spanish Inquisition."

"My God.
Steiger
?"

"Long time no see, John. Sorry if I ruined your evening. I sent the girl away. Told her I was an old friend of yours and wanted to surprise you. Little young for you, wasn't she?"

"Jesus. What the hell are you doing here? I never would've recognized you. You changed your face."

Steiger's hair was dark now and cosmetic surgery had dramatically altered his appearance. Not even his own mother would have recognized him. “Yes, I got tired of the old one. Actually, the situation called for a different look.”

"You're on the lam? I don't believe it. You tied up with the Network?"

“You know about the Network?"

"Of course I know about the Network. But I never thought you'd get yourself involved with them."

"I didn't. I'm still with the agency."

"You're on assignment? But I thought the covert field section was disbanded."

"For someone who's several thousand years out-of-date, you manage to keep up pretty well."

"Come on. We've got our channels, you know that."

"Yes, I know. That's how I found you. You've done pretty well for yourself since I last saw you. Nice place you've got here."

"What do you want, Steiger'? You here to bust me, is that It?"

"Now is that any way to talk after all the years we've known each other?"

"Yeah, but like you said, it's been a long time and things change. Stop rattling my chain, Creed. What do you want?"

"I need your help, John. Just like old times, remember?"

“I'm out of it now, Creed. I turned my back on all that.”

"You can never turn your back on it. John. You know that.”

"Damn you. I'm just trying to live a quiet. peaceful life."

"Peaceful? Staging gladiator fights, beast baiting, and chariot races in the arena? But I guess that doesn't count, huh? What the hell, it's only show business, right? I gather it pays well. Lets the noble Marcian buy young teenage girls like the one I just sent out of here."

"Where the hell do you get oil, judging me? Especially after some of the shit you've pulled."

Steiger held up his hands. "Okay. Forget it. So my hands aren't exactly clean, either. I guess I'm still sore about you going over to the Underground. You were a damn good agent, John. We can't afford to lose people like you."

"Yeah, and I can't afford to die, either," Marshall said, setting down the lamp on a small table and sitting down in a chair next to it. "I was getting pressure from the Network. Either you're with us or against us. And you know what happened to people who tried to buck the Network."

"I bucked 'em and I'm still around."

"Yeah, well, you always were a cowboy. You and Carnehan. The super spooks. Me, I got old and tired. I got slow. So I took early retirement.” He pressed something on the table and a hidden drawer popped out. Steiger instantly had a laser pistol in his hand.

"Hold it, John."

"Take it easy, for God's sake!"

"Whatever's in there, take it out slowly."

Marshall produced a pack of cigarettes. "Satisfied'?"

Steiger grinned and lowered the pistol.

"You want one?"

"Don't mind if I do. What happens if one of your slaves comes in and catches us smoking?"

Marshall lit one up and tossed the pack to Creed. "My slaves know what's expected of them. They don't come up here unless they're told to. I'm still a careful man, Creed."

"Yeah, but you're slipping. I got in here with no sweat."

"How the hell did you get in'?"

"Came down from the roof."

"You see? I told you I'm getting slow."

He held out the lamp for Creed to light his cigarette.

"So. You going to tell me what you're doing here?"

"I'm on a covert mission. We may have a potential temporal disruption on our hands."

"You part of an adjustment team?"

"No, but there's been one clocked back here. Delaney, Priest, and Cross. You know them?"

"I've heard of them. I also heard that Priest bought it in Afghanistan."

“Not exactly," Steiger said. "But that's a long story."

"So they sent in the first string, huh? Must be pretty big. Where do you fit in?"

"Sort of unofficial backup. Undercover."

"Meaning they don't know you're here," Marshall grinned. "You haven't changed. Still the same old cowboy. What's going down?"

"I'm not exactly sure, but it has to do with Caesar."

Marshall exhaled heavily. “That is big. What've you got?"

Steiger briefly told him what he knew. Marshall listened silently, not saying anything till he was finished.

"And this L.T.0., Travis?"

"Travers."

"Right. He thinks it's going to center around Caesar's assassination?"

"That's my guess."

"What do you mean, it's your
guess
?"

"I mean I haven't spoken to the man. All I've got is the first report he made of a possible anomaly involving Caesar."

"You mean the oracle.”

"That's right. Travers sent up the balloon and the team went out, but I've had no contact with him, so I don't really know what the latest intelligence is. Caesar's supposed to die in about two weeks. That's got to be the focus of the disruption."

"You think the S.O.G. is going to try to prevent the assassination.”

"It would make for a hell of a disruption," Steiger said. "It would probably bring about a timestream split. I think this is going to be a rough one. The old man didn't approve of contacts between the agency and the Underground, but I've been trying to convince him he was wrong about that. We're going to need all the help we can get from now on."

"What made Forrester change his mind?"

"He hasn't. At least, not yet."

"So what are you telling me? He doesn't know about what you're doing here?"

"Not officially. I'm supposed to be on R & R. He knows what I’m doing, but no one else does."

“I get it. You fall down on this one, your ass is wide open and his is covered."

"Something like that.”

"And you wonder why I decided to get out."

“What can you tell me about Caesar?"

"That you don't already know? Probably nothing."

"What do you mean, probably nothing?"

"Just what I said. What do you think, I'm on his dinner invitation list?"

"But you're the local impresario around here," Steiger said. “Hasn't he been staging chariot races and fights?"

"Well, yeah, but you don't think I deal with the man directly, do you? He's the Emperor, for Christ's sake."

"Who do you deal with?"

"Lately, it's been mostly Antony."

"Marc Antony?"

"That's right," said Marshall. "It’s not always him in person, though. Most of the time, I work through intermediaries. He's an important man."

"Can you get me an introduction'?"

Marshall sighed. "I guess I could try. Damn it, I thought I was through with all of that. Why the hell couldn't you leave me alone? You're going to get me killed, you know that?"

"I'll try to keep you out of it as much as possible," said Steiger. “All I need is a connection. And a base of operations."

"
Here
?"

"Partly, but I'd also like to arrange a safe house. What would you recommend?"

"I own some apartments in a tenement block in the Argiletum, a shopping district near the Subura district. Not exactly your luxury accommodations, but I could set you up in one of those."

“Oh, so you're a slumlord, too?"

"Give me a break, Steiger. I'm trying to cooperate because I owe you."

"What, not for old times' sake?"

“Well, maybe that, too. And I've also got a life-style to protect here. I don't want a temporal disruption any more than you do."

"Okay. An apartment will do fine."

"You'll need money, I suppose."

"I've got some, but a little more can't hurt."

Marshall nodded. "All right. Anything you need, just say the word. But there's one condition. This is strictly between you and me. I don't want that adjustment team involved. I don't want them knowing about me. Otherwise, all bets are off.”

"That goes without saying, John."

"Okay. I just wanted to make sure we understand each other. What about your cover?"

"What would make me interesting to Antony?"

"He likes chariot racing."

"A betting man?"

"Obsessive."

"Good. Why not say I'm a breeder of racing horses? And I've trained charioteers. You've bought strings from me in the past. Where should I be from'?"

Marshall thought a moment. "Ilerda, in Nearer Spain. That would make you a provincial and no one would be likely to ask you any detailed questions about where you're from. You could always say you've never ventured very far from your farm out in the country, by the Ebro."

"So what brings me to Rome? A business deal?"

"Let's say I'm contemplating purchasing your entire operation, leaving you to run it, of course, and I've invited you here in order to discuss it."

"That would work." Steiger grinned. "Almost like old times, isn't it?"

"Too much like old times, if you ask me," Marshall replied sourly.

"When's the next race coming up'?"

"As a matter of fact, I've got several teams entered in one tomorrow.”

"Will Antony be there?"

"He never misses a race if he can help it."

"Good. What are the chances of putting in a fix?"

"You want me to fix a chariot race?" said Marshall with disbelief. “You realize I could get the death penalty for that?"

"Only if you got caught," said Steiger.

Marshall sighed. "Hell. I suppose it could be arranged."

Steiger smiled. "You haven't changed much, either, have you?"

"A man does what he can. You're planning to take Antony?"

"For a bundle." Steiger said. "What better way to get to know a man than to have him owe you money?"

"I hadn't expected it to look so beautiful," said Andre as they approached the city. Andell drove the coach, while Castelli rode ahead of them, with Corwin and Drummond mounted on their horses, bringing up the rear.

Travers had clocked back to his villa in the city, to await their arrival

"It looks better from a distance. First time in Rome, eh?" Andell said.

"I've served a hitch in Rome before," said Lucas, “but for Finn and Andre, I think it's the first time. Still, Rome was very different then."

"Oh, yeah? When did you pull a tour here?"

"Second Punic War." said Lucas. "I was with Scipio in the war against Hannibal."