agree, yours is the right way to think. But the people are coming to believe that the comet and the lights herald the coming of the Star Child – the Mak or Map or whatever he is supposed to be called. And then there are the insurrectionists who will seize upon any old myth as a pretext for divine approval of their aims. For example, what have you heard of the rebellion of Queen Boudica in Britan?"
"I thought Valarion was supposed to be handling that."
"And so he is. But that is an example of what I mean. In that case a mentor fable of Aereoth which is applied as prophecy for political ends. And so here at home, before someone takes political advantage of it, I need you to handle the superstition of the Roman people. I need you to convince them that this recent apparition about Moonstar is merely a scientific phenomenon and not the end of the world as we know it."
"Have you forgotten, my Emperor? You appointed me Chief Scientist of Rome, which means now no one ever listens to me anymore. So how am I to convince anyone of anything?"
"Don't tell them, show them. Let them plainly see with their own eyes that comets are not 'sky chariots' and moons are not 'space stations.' And so that brings us to the point of this meeting. Now, I do too listen to you, Archimedes. And in fact, I recall you once formally requested funding to build a great lens-work to catalog the skies."
The spoon plopped into the porridge.
"The – the big telescope, you mean. Are you saying that you would be willing to fund it now?"
"If it can be used to deflate public hysteria before an insurrectionist induces panic. You spoke of a public observatory. Build one here in the city, and I will pay for it."
For a moment, Archimedes was lost in rapturous daydream. Imagine, being able to survey the surfaces of the Moon and planets as never before! To see stars by the million –
"It – it should be erected in the mountains. To avoid the glare of the lights of the streets and buildings."
"Build it here in the city, and fast, and I will pay any amount."
Hadron lifted and opened a small nondescript chest, and took out a stylus and embossed certificate of treasury, which he pushed across the table to Archimedes.
"Write any amount," the Emperor of the Roman Empire decreed.
Archimedes met Hadron's stare, but then looked away and smiled impishly. He scribbled a ridiculous number. His smirk faded when, with only a brief glance, Hadron calmly pressed the imperial seal.
6.
Matt awoke, choking and coughing and wheezing. His lungs were on fire, his head pounded, his eyes stung. He tried to flail but his arms were rubbery noodles. He tried to speak but his tongue was a bloated dead fish.
"Ivan!" he subvocalized. "Ivan!"
"I am here, Matt."
"Can't breathe. Help!"
"I cannot help you at this time."
"Stop pain! Hurts! Stop pain! Please!"
"I cannot help you at this time."
Matt tried to scream, but all he managed was a gurgle. He tried to writhe but he seemed paralyzed and the attempt to move only resulted in more pain. He tried to breathe but it was like his lungs were filled with mud.
"Put . . . me . . . back . . . to . . . sleep!"
"I cannot help you at this time."
He tried to look around but he was blind. His ears rang so loud he could hear nothing but ringing.
He felt like he was forever drowning, and after seeming hours he could take no more. "Bee Three See Seven . . . See Nine Jee Seven Jee . . . ."
"Euthanasia protocol is unavailable at this time."
The pain finally become unendurable and he passed out.
He awoke to a heavy male voice declaring, "I have restored consciousness."
The pain was gone – most of it. He breathed freely – and was there a greater pleasure?
He opened his eyes. He was still in the pod, which was drained of biogel. The cover plate had been removed. An old-style medical robot was hovering half a dozen appendages with sharp-pointed
"I thought Valarion was supposed to be handling that."
"And so he is. But that is an example of what I mean. In that case a mentor fable of Aereoth which is applied as prophecy for political ends. And so here at home, before someone takes political advantage of it, I need you to handle the superstition of the Roman people. I need you to convince them that this recent apparition about Moonstar is merely a scientific phenomenon and not the end of the world as we know it."
"Have you forgotten, my Emperor? You appointed me Chief Scientist of Rome, which means now no one ever listens to me anymore. So how am I to convince anyone of anything?"
"Don't tell them, show them. Let them plainly see with their own eyes that comets are not 'sky chariots' and moons are not 'space stations.' And so that brings us to the point of this meeting. Now, I do too listen to you, Archimedes. And in fact, I recall you once formally requested funding to build a great lens-work to catalog the skies."
The spoon plopped into the porridge.
"The – the big telescope, you mean. Are you saying that you would be willing to fund it now?"
"If it can be used to deflate public hysteria before an insurrectionist induces panic. You spoke of a public observatory. Build one here in the city, and I will pay for it."
For a moment, Archimedes was lost in rapturous daydream. Imagine, being able to survey the surfaces of the Moon and planets as never before! To see stars by the million –
"It – it should be erected in the mountains. To avoid the glare of the lights of the streets and buildings."
"Build it here in the city, and fast, and I will pay any amount."
Hadron lifted and opened a small nondescript chest, and took out a stylus and embossed certificate of treasury, which he pushed across the table to Archimedes.
"Write any amount," the Emperor of the Roman Empire decreed.
Archimedes met Hadron's stare, but then looked away and smiled impishly. He scribbled a ridiculous number. His smirk faded when, with only a brief glance, Hadron calmly pressed the imperial seal.
6.
Matt awoke, choking and coughing and wheezing. His lungs were on fire, his head pounded, his eyes stung. He tried to flail but his arms were rubbery noodles. He tried to speak but his tongue was a bloated dead fish.
"Ivan!" he subvocalized. "Ivan!"
"I am here, Matt."
"Can't breathe. Help!"
"I cannot help you at this time."
"Stop pain! Hurts! Stop pain! Please!"
"I cannot help you at this time."
Matt tried to scream, but all he managed was a gurgle. He tried to writhe but he seemed paralyzed and the attempt to move only resulted in more pain. He tried to breathe but it was like his lungs were filled with mud.
"Put . . . me . . . back . . . to . . . sleep!"
"I cannot help you at this time."
He tried to look around but he was blind. His ears rang so loud he could hear nothing but ringing.
He felt like he was forever drowning, and after seeming hours he could take no more. "Bee Three See Seven . . . See Nine Jee Seven Jee . . . ."
"Euthanasia protocol is unavailable at this time."
The pain finally become unendurable and he passed out.
He awoke to a heavy male voice declaring, "I have restored consciousness."
The pain was gone – most of it. He breathed freely – and was there a greater pleasure?
He opened his eyes. He was still in the pod, which was drained of biogel. The cover plate had been removed. An old-style medical robot was hovering half a dozen appendages with sharp-pointed
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