Chapter Eigthteen: Ruffians, Spies and Promises
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Paris, Palais Brognart
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February 1821
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- You are a thief and a rascal…
Gianluca looked up and smiled at the man who just entered, without knocking, the office of Senator Benevento.
- Not really fresh information that, monsieur le Premier Consul. I was probably born a thief and evolved into becoming a crook then a pirate and a slaver and to top my fall into sin, I ended up a politician and now I'm a Senator. Only one pit level more and it is already occupied.
He winked at Napoleon.
- And while you are at the top of my present food chain, I'll have to show patience and exercise restraint before grasping for what should be my real destiny.
As wanted by Gianluca Napoleon couldn't help but laugh at his accomplice's mot d'esprit.
- One day I'll believe you and you'll end up dead.
- One day you'll stop believing me and that's the day I will be in danger of dying.
He put his pen down and looked Napoleon in the eyes.
- What can I do for you, Citoyen?
- Pay me back what you gouged out of my coffers.
- Am I a fool to try and gouge the most famous, dangerous and umbrageous man of the western hemisphere?
- If it is a question, answered Napoleon, I fear I'll have to answer with a positive. You are a greedy scoundrel and, from time to time, you just can't help and put you hand in my cookie bin.
Which is, sorry about it, way too true, thought Gianluca. But how could he really resist? All those monies came all out of very shadowy transactions and nobody knew the real extent of how much money those transactions really generated.
- I had a lot of extra expenses. It is not easy to take over well protected shadow businesses. And with all the turmoil of the after-war adjustments Constantinople's underworld has been very costly to take over. The Russians from Moscow and the Ukrainians from Odessa were already fighting over the turf when my men arrived. I had to spend huge amounts of money to get the Russians and the Ukrainians to really go at each other's throats. But now it is done, and you will soon see a lot of black money flow into your secret coffers. We even got an interesting side effect since I was able to introduce a mole in the Gang of Odessa. It should help us greatly to take over Odessa's crime scene.
- I'm not really interested in taking over Russia's gangs, Gianluca. What I want is taking over the businesses of all the local gangs around the Middle Sea.
- I know: it has been my proposition at the very beginning, remember? But having the gangs of Constantinople working for us will be not only very profitable because of the heavy trafficking taking place in that port but with the city being Russia's Capitol City we will have lots or opportunities to get information out of the Topkapi.
- I have already two official and one un-official spy rings who work for me and Russia is not one of my main worries. That's not why I launched your operation for. I want all those black monies to be mine, Gianluca. They are dealing with fortunes and since they don't pay taxes, I see nobody better suited than myself to get those monies in his pocket.
- I'm quite sure you don't, and we do thrive to get you everything we can spare but you can't deny that there are expenses. You can't take the risk to be thrifty with the people who are on site. If you don't pay them enough, they'll decide to take what they want…
- As you do on a daily basis?
- Not at all! I don't take a centime out of the coffins I get before giving them to you. As long as you honor your word and repay my ten percent, I have no reasons to try and steal from you. Why would I take the risk to anger the most important man in the western world when I have already more money hoarded than I will ever be able to spend? I'm greedy, no secret there, but I'm also smart and angering you would be a very foolish gesture.
- I would ask d'Arcy to look at your accounts but you were accomplices for so long before you went into my service that I can't really believe he would denounce you. I'll have to take your word…
- Indeed, and since I really don't scam any of what I owe you I don't have the least trouble at sleeping soundly. I'm a thief but I no longer need to steal anybody, I'm not too rich –nobody can be too rich- but you are the least man –on par with d'Arcy probably- I'll try to rob. My greed hasn't rendered me a complete fool.
Napoleon nodded and took a seat in front of Gianluca's quite simple working desk. He wasn't and had never been a showoff. Having money was one thing showing off with your money was something else.
- Are there people you need to be taken out of the game?
- I have already used some of Fouché's informers to point him towards a few people whose demise or locking up would be a good thing for the expansion of our business. He will be his usual efficient self and send his best hounds against them. Either they end up in hiding or behind bars. We should be able to do what's needed to replace them while they are following other business.
- You still believe it is better not to inform Fouché?
- You can't inform anybody. And especially not Fouché. He's the chief of your police forces, Boss; you can't have him knowing that we are thriving to take over all the illegal businesses of the country. We all know that dishonest politicians are common and everywhere. But a chief of State who's behind every dirty business in the land he's sworn to protect? He wouldn't like it. He's a policeman to the core, he revels in eliminating the bad guys. Let him do it… Even if he blows up one or two of our subsidiaries it won't kill the golden goose and he'll be happy to have been efficient as usual. And there is no chance that he will ever get a look at what's behind the curtain. Not even the local bosses know that they work for you. They all know that they have discreet sponsors who scam a quarter of the profit to get them the efficient protection they got. And since said sponsors really exist –even if they are only strawmen- we can, if necessary, make it happen that Fouché's men are efficient enough to find them. Be sure that they won't survive being discovered and their hoarded cash will never be found…
Gianluca's smile became huge.
- It helps to have a copy of all the reports Fouché is receiving. We are always capable of cleaning up before the Gendarmes get to what is really interesting.
- Do you think d'Arcy knows?
- It is always safer to assume that he knows. Should something worry him he will come out and speak about it. As long as he remains silent, let's just go on playing the game while following our schedule. We are not yet at fifty percent but that is a target we should reach within the next three months. After that we are facing little groups or individuals who work independently. The best way to get at their part of the business would be to get them in jail. Once their business is boss-less our men should be able to take over easily.
Napoleon couldn't help but let a huge smile adorn his face. Gianluca's idea had been very profitable. With d'Arcy's monthly gold payments which were as secret as what Gianluca's operations were bringing in, his slush funds were growing at unhoped heights.
The real problem, in fact, was to spend said monies in a smart manner. Having lots of money was a fine thing but since he didn't want everybody to know about said slush funds, he got stuck. He had, when all was said and told, the same problems that any other crime lord always find himself having. He was rich but couldn't –in his case wouldn't- show it in fear to appear on everybody's radar. A crime lord could use his money to discreetly buy more estates or rare jewels or people… What he wanted to do with his money he couldn't without showing that he was in possession of a lot more funds that could be accounted for. He didn't risk being imprisoned –who could do that to a tyrant like him, even if what he was doing was against the law- but if it was known that his fortune had risen to such heights they would suspect him of embezzling the State's treasury and he couldn't risk to endanger his Dynasty's good name. So, he was hoarding gold and looking for safe ways to dispose of it. He had found a few ways to spend money –he was funding a few scientists to work on secret weapons but they were few and not very numerous: the best were all moving towards England, traitorous bastards all of them, and the researches of his own researchers weren't very successful. He had to find ways to spend these funds in order to use them for important things, not just spending for spending.
Napoleon sighed and forced himself to concentrate on his partner in mischief.
- What do you do with the money?
Gianluca who was the CEO of what was called the Corsican Connection decided that the question wasn't a personal one.
- Mostly I use the casinos we've built in most of the Great cities of what we can't yet call an Empire to launder it and use the 'profit' to buy parts in trading companies all over the world. Some of it is used to corrupt local office holders and to bribe local police. It is also very interesting to get advantages when it comes to obtain certain claims… We've at least a dozen geologists –with protecting parties- who move all over the world to find the mineral spots which will be interesting in the future. Once found we buy –with official monies- the land or the rights to exploit, whatever is cheaper.
He smiled at his guest.
- Of course, when the Company announces that it is increasing its capital I follow in order to stay at the same level of investment or, if possible, increase my part. It wouldn't do to stop following the wise path shown by Mr. Gardiner. It is perhaps no longer my first source of income, but it is –with my Senator's earnings, of course- the only official one and by far the safest.
Napoleon nodded. He had a financial staff whose only task was to manage his private fortune. They had never forgotten to follow an increase in the Company's capital. They had even been able to 'convince' a few shareholders to sell their parts.
All in all, having too much money was a problem even if –by personal experience- it was nothing when compared with those you had when you had too few to get what you needed.
- I have thought about the problem and came up with a few solutions, Boss. What we must do is reduce what the State's financing to concentrate said State's spending on only those duties that really are its job to provide.
He sighed.
- You need armed forces and those can only be in the hands of the ruler. Private armies are too great a risk.
- I agree and there won't be any, believe me!
- You need the best infrastructure available. You need roads, you need bridges, you need canals and you need airfields. You could perhaps go on building railways, but it is quite sure if we can judge at what happened in Great Britain that for their travels people prefer airships to railways. It will perhaps change with those new GURL-driven locomotives, but I doubt it. Airships are more comfortable, and the thrill of flight will never disappear. And those new Shamballah Class GURL-driven airships move a lot faster too. But the means of transportation are not the State's problem. Private companies –or the Company as of today- will take care of them.
Gianluca pointed with a third finger.
- You need a police, of course, but that could be a duty you could hand over to more locally situated powers. You could add to the department of Justice –which you cannot spare- a small centralized police force whose duty would be to take care of those criminals who jump from one place to another. With such a choice you could still control the Empire in the strict way you like without spending too huge a sum.
- I'm looking to ways to spend money not to spare it, protested Napoleon.
- We are speaking State's money! That you must reduce to a minimum in order to not create a deficit.
- Most Nations of the past had huge debts…
- And most Nations' rulers were in their creditors' fangs, Boss! It is never a good thing to be in debt. Even for a Nation.
Gianluca's smile was back.
- That's also a way to use your slush funds: loan to indebted countries. Most of the time it is good business. Occasionally you lose everything. But there is less choice each year and it is also because most countries are working at bringing their debt down. Grand Great Britain has shown a very bad example in this matter. Most Kings or Princes are trying to manage their countries more smartly.
He shook his head.
- But I'm blabbering here, let's go back to what I believe a State must spend money for. Army, Justice, and police were roles all Nations have taken over since there are centralized States. Infrastructure is something the Roman State did two thousand years ago, and it helped to ensure its survival for centuries. We should follow its lead. The one you must add is Education. We can no longer let most of our people not get the education we need them to have to be of use to the country. And, in my opinion, that's it! The rest you let the society decide who's doing what.
Napoleon didn't seem convinced.
- What about Health? GGB is spending a lot of money hiring doctors and nurses to ensure that the global Health of their citizens is looked after.
Gianluca nodded.
- That's true but I believe that it is not necessary. People are getting better wages and are living in much better housing facilities. Illness and sickness are becoming rarer and rarer. Well paid workers should be able to pay for their and their families' health problems. And if they want something more protective, they can always mimic the Company's Worker Associations where the workers pay a part of their income to get, when they need it, extra help. The solutions are there, I'm quite sure that the State has no interest in taking individual Health problems in its own hands.
Napoleon made a face. He had spoken lengthily with his wife and she was a great –and stubborn- supporter of a Public Health Policy. His wife's mirroring a great part of Jane d'Arcy's opinion…
- There are some of your colleagues who don't share your opinion.
- Of course, there are, and I even believe that they are honest when they ask for it but I still think that it is not necessary. Don't forget that once a privilege is granted you won't be able to suppress it easily. They will all consider that it is a given and that it should stay a given.
- Now that you speak of it, I remember why I came here! Your monthly contribution to our little unofficial cassette is twenty per cent lower than last month's. How do you explain that?
- I am financing two turf wars, Boss. That's costly business. You can't imagine how many bribes I must pay to get some police officers to look the other way.
- It would cost less if your so-called turf wars wouldn't take place in foreign countries…
- Probably but I can guarantee that if, one day, we should need to enter troops into Constantinople, we will be able to do it without losing half of them just to get on the outer walls.
- Remember, Russia is an ally…
- Alexandre in an Ally, Russia is a madhouse…
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Ann and Emilie were sitting in Rosings' winter Garden and sipping tea taking advantage of the glorious and uncommon February sun. From far away it could be looked at as a little afternoon tea when, in reality, it was a working session between two very uncommon females.
- I'm sure China is preparing something, said Emilie. I have studied every dispatch the Son of Heaven has sent to his local governors, he is milking his Empire to the last drop and nobody knows why. There is not one architectural or economic project in the making. He's gathering a huge bunch of money and the only spending we have no details about are those shipyards in Nankin and even those don't have the size to justify the disappearance of such huge sums.
- He's probably trying to close the gap in his scientific knowledge, Emilie. He sees how quickly we evolve, and he has to invest huge sums to catch up with us…
- Of course, he has, Ann, but I've studied the last roosters of the official civil servants list.
She shook her head.
- You know that only sworn-in civil servant have the privilege to work for the Son of Heaven? Without that title –and the advantages that come with- no Chinese would accept to be in the Sun of Heaven's service in fear of being considered as a mere servant or what amounts to a glorified slave. Recently a new kind of civil servant 'Observer of the Laws of Nature' had been created and the toll has reached the number of twenty-two. And, in my opinion, it means that the Son of Heaven has probably only twenty-two proven scientists at his service. Even if they are all geniuses of the magnitude of Joseph Niepce they are too few to spend all those hoarded monies at least if they only are in the R&D business.
Ann smiled at her associate and friend. She loved those tea parties where they could look like normal women of the gentry while speaking about Earth's problems. Emilie was the only woman of her staff who was genuinely able to contradict her. Which was so refreshing…
- Has it occurred to you that the Son of Heaven is perhaps doing the real smart thing at his disposal?
- And what would that be?
- Spying of course, dear.
- There is nothing to spy in science, Ann! Our scientists have indeed already discovered quite a lot, but Charles is publishing the results of their researches even before their discoveries have been correlated. Science is really an open book at the world's disposal and believe me it irks papa as much as Napoleon or Uncle d'Arcy.
- Everything hasn't been published and you know it, Emilie! The whole GURL Scheme is top secret even within the Company. Because for once even our dear Charles has fathomed that that peculiar knowledge is too dangerous to put into every hand. And since we were able to get a GURL Generator's schematic, others will be able too. And if these others invest enough in a spying venture they will, in the end, get what they look for.
- So, you mean the Son of Heaven is investing in spies?
- I would in his place… It is the best way to get an easy and quick return on investment. Charles or Fitzwilliam or Napoleon have already spent the money to get it done. Getting the result of said research for a tenth of the money initially invested is a real bargain.
- Isn't it our job to catch the spies?
- No, dear, our job is to find the spies and to know who they work for and what we can do to use the channel we found to our employer's advantage. If we inform the authorities, we lose an asset and the enemy will just find another greedy or black-mailed idiot to do his job. If we shut up, we get two different advantages: we get to look over said spy's shoulder and we have a channel to feed garbage towards the spy's employer.
- Isn't it counterproductive to let the enemy get his hands on innovations we have paid dearly to ascertain?
- Stop thinking like your father or Fitzwilliam or Napoleon. Think like d'Arcy or me or for that matter like Charles. What we love is finding new things, learning new truths, discovering new facts. Deep within we are spies, countering other spies is fun but not really as fun as spying. So, giving to the others the means to find new things and spy them out is the ultimate kick. And for now, since Charles' scientists are the best in the world there is nothing to spy elsewhere.
Emilie frowned at Ann.
- You mean that you let them do?
- Of course, we let them do, dear! We even open some back doors to give some opportunities to the less skilled of them.
- Isn't that treason?
- Treason? What is treason in reality for such as us?
- Such as us?
- Indeed, such as us! We are, you and me, members of a very tiny elite branch of humanity. In a lot of ways, we are no longer normal human beings. We are stronger, faster, smarter, healthier than ninety-nine coma ninety-nine percent of Mankind. We are the precursors of Humanity to come, Emilie.
Ann looked her young ward in the eyes.
- You know about the Amazonia Alien Plant, don't you?
- I was informed by father the day he proposed me the upgrade.
- You see that the fact that there are Aliens who came to Earth –lots of them if we look at the numbers of stars and galaxies up there- there are probably a bunch of them who have millennia of scientific research at their back. And that changes everything we ever thought about us and the Universe. Not only are we no longer the center of God's creation but we are just a tiny uncivilized speck of organic matter prowling over an insignificant mud-ball lost in some back-yard part of the Galaxy. Mankind is, when measured to the reality of the Galaxy, irrelevant. We need to give ourselves a relevance and a real importance. I we fail we will probably just be gobbled up by one or the other of those mighty neighbors.
Ann sighed before sipping at her tea.
- We, those who know, have our own agenda and that agenda must imply that we, and here I speak of whole humanity, must prosper as quickly as possible. We have no choice, really. We have no proof, but the probability is that up there, they are all already more civilized, better equipped and better armed. We need to speed everything up in order to be ready when another of those alien races happens on us. And to speed things up we need to push every player in Mankind's game to do its utmost to progress. And so, by "sharing" knowledge we ensure that everybody spends its money in the best and most useful way possible.
- But nothing ensures us that they will share with us once they have discovered new things.
- Indeed, if we just believe in Man's goodness we will lose in the end. But do you really believe I have invested a penny in Man's goodness?
Emilie shook her head.
- And you are right! You said that the Son of Heaven has twenty-two 'Observers of the Laws of Nature'. How many of them do you believe are already on my payroll?
- One?
Ann frowned at her ward, her pout more playful than injured.
- Please, just remember that I'm the best at my job.
Emilie nodded and thought about the features she knew Ann tried to follow when if came to spy rings.
- Five?
- Seven and growing, dear, said Ann with a smile. Remember that these people are just beginning in the research field. I have no idea who within that little circle of 22 will become the rooster of the courtyard. As of now they have nothing of interest to dispatch. But one day they will and even if the Son of Heaven's staff tightens the security around them to prevent outsiders to contact them, it will already be too late. I have by now my foot in the door and I'll be informed of every new success at the same time as the Son of Heaven.
She looked at Emilie.
- Have you spoken with d'Arcy about that Secret Library he knows of?
- A Secret Library?
Ann smiled. Of course, he wouldn't have spoken to her. She knew it only because Jane considered her a friend and had never hesitated to answer her questions. And d'Arcy's past in China had been of great interest for Ann.
- There is, somewhere in the Western Chinese Mountains a Monastery whose cellar contains –if you believe d'Arcy who lived and studied there for ten years- the biggest Library on Earth and d'Arcy had found out that said Library holds books that are renowned to go back to the Age Of Gods and are older than the Roman World. They are written or printed or stamped, who knows, on metal sheets that are indestructible and unyielding. That last part has been verified by d'Arcy. So, the Chinese have at their disposal books that are old enough to have a chance to be, as Ashalon calls them, of some Atlantean or Muvian legacy and who could perhaps give them an advantage in the future. That's why we invest large sums in getting into these 'Observers of the Laws of Nature's good graces. Should they one day have access to these books, we need to know about it.
Emilie looked at her employer and frowned.
- I have read Plato and I do see what Atlantis is, but I must admit that Muvia is an unknown to me.
- It isn't Muvia it is Mu and it is d'Arcy who has spoken with me about it. He pretends that there was a continent in the middle of the Pacific Ocean named Mu that has been submerged twenty thousand years ago and that the Chinese believe that their ancestors have been survivors from the catastrophe who settled in China. Some of them could save books and those books are now stored in the Library of the Convent where he studied. He asked me to look at manuscripts or books speaking of Mu.
- Could it be the same tradition than Atlantis? asked Emilie. It looks very much like it…
- It could really be, but we won't be sure but after having read those books.
- And nobody tried to get their hands on those books?
- You mean d'Arcy with your 'nobody, don't you?
Emilie nodded.
- He is rather reluctant to speak about them. I believe he swore an oath over it and that because of said oath he won't do anything about them. He wouldn't have spoken with me about them; it's Jane who referred to them when she spoke with me about her husband's youth. He never even spoke about them with anybody save Jane, I believe.
- And if I remember what my father has once said, d'Arcy has no wish to go back to China. Too dangerous for him, I think.
- He spoke recently about going back but he was speaking about commanding an army to invade China's mainland should it come to a shoot-out between the Empire of the Middle and France or Grand Great Britain.
Emilie once more nodded. Her father had said the same thing. It seemed that everybody was persuaded that a war against China was inevitable.
- You believe they are right when they foresee a war against China?
Ann shrugged.
- My latest information point in another direction but officially we are still in a pre-war environment. It looks like an unavoidable confrontation. China has woken up and looking around has seen that the world is being carved up between Imperialistic European Powers. Chinese are not renowned for their modesty and reserve. They have immediately reacted, and they will go on reacting. If you listen to d'Arcy, China's reactions in the past have always been loud, sudden and on a grand scale. Judging by the Nankin shipyards, I would say that the Chinese are preparing an assault on Nippon and those islands at China's south. But it could be a stratagem to hide their real objective which could be Siberia… They have after all probably more than a million soldiers.
- With crap equipment, commented Emilie.
- Do not underestimate the Chinese. They were a few centuries ago the leading technologists of the whole planet. Without a crazy Ming Emperor they would have conquered half the world by now. They are already building modern breach-loading rifles. They are copying the French MAS 1815 which was a lot easier to reverse engineer than the British Leroy Empfield. Which they are trying to reverse engineer as we speak. We won't have real equipment superiority and if the Chinese attack Russia, which is clearly the easiest thing to do for them, they well sweep over Alexander's Siberian Cossacks with ease.
- With ease?
- Well, perhaps, with ease is too much a word but there can be no doubt that they will win. They will probably lose twice as many men as the Russians and still destroy them. There is a real superiority in greater numbers, believe me! They won't have the best equipment but with the MAS15 they won't be outperformed, and they still will command highly motivated good and experienced troops. If France and Great Britain are not at Russia's side, the Russian Siberian Army will be overwhelmed.
Emilie, as was her habit since her youth, shut her eyes to think.
- Shouldn't we inform Alexander?
- Alexander knows perfectly well what he risks and he has half his army in Siberia facing the Chinese. He knows but it won't change a thing if the Chinese attack. The Chinese are more numerous –ten times as much at least- and are better trained to fight in coordinated movements. The Russians are mainly Cossak Cavalry. Superb troops to smash a wall of infantry in order to let your own infantry level the battle field. But the Russians don't have enough infantry in Siberia to do the take over and mopping up. The only reason, for now, that hinders the Chinese to attack is the certainty that once the Russian Army out of the way the next wave of soldiers coming into Siberia will be French and British paratroopers with airships and bombers as support. And against them the Chinese Army, even with MAS15 rifles won't be able to win. And if it is d'Arcy who's in overall command of the allies –which is more than likely with his double allegiance- they will be stomped into the Siberian permafrost.
Emilie's frown was back.
- So, since the new Son of Heaven seems a lot more pragmatic than his half brother, it is more likely that the Chinese won't attack, so I err?
- No, you don't, answered Ann, in normal circumstances, the Son of Heaven will stay put; but there could be some abnormal circumstances. What would happen if the French and British troops were to do something else than running towards Siberia to face the Chinese?
- Like what? I don't s…
Emile stopped and finally nodded.
- Nicolai! You still fear a coup launched by Alexander's brother.
- In fact, said Ann, I don't fear it at all, I know it will happen and I know that once this snake pit has been opened we are facing the first war where all the major powers of the world will be facing each other on the battle field. And its length will entirely depend on the Siberia Cossacks. If they stay to face the Chinese, the war will be won without territorial loss. If they retreat to support the impostor, China will probably take over most of Siberia.
- Nothing's sure in war, Ann…
- You are right, dear, but China has its own superb strategists to command their armies and even if they are not as good as d'Arcy, they won't make the mistakes the Ottoman high command has made against Napoleon. They won't have to defend territories where their own population lives. They will fight in a more or less virgin land and it will probably be d'Arcy that will have to take care of refugees and to protect Russian cities. It will be an entirely different campaign than England, Hindu Kush or Persia. It will probably depend on China's willingness to pour huge sums of money into its weapon research program. There are ways to counter the French bomber superiority and the British air fighter forces. The Russian already have them, and I don't doubt it for a second that the Chinese are already in possession of most of the blueprints of Russian Rockets.
- Those are bad news… whispered Emilie.
- A war between China and the rest of the world is, as I said, unavoidable. The fact that Nicolai's move could push the Son of Heaven into attacking too soon while his forces are not yet at a dangerous technological standard could be our chance. They could win a few battles, annex Eastern Siberia and decide –with the correct incentive- that what is won was worth the move but what is now at risk is worth a treaty.
Emile looked at her mentor.
- You really mean that?
- You must always look at the bright side of a problem. If we wait ten more years China will have overcome most of its handicaps and the war will be a lot bloodier. If it happens, let's say, next year, the Russian will take a beating and lose a few billions acres in Eastern Siberia while the Chinese will double their territory –at least- and be a lot more open to discussions. If the shit hits the fan quickly the splatters will be a lot less dealt out.
- Aren't you the cold fish?
- That comes with the job, dear. When you deal in human foibles you no longer look at things in the same manner. People and their emotions are at the center of every decision and it is, sometimes, necessary to include a minor defeat in your planning because in some circumstances a defeat is –in the long term- better than a victory…
- You mean the Chinese would look after revenge if they were defeated?
- It will probably be necessary to defeat them because I'm quite sure that a commander in chief with a string of victories will probably go on until his enemy has stopped him or has yielded. So, it will be necessary to stop the Chinese, no doubt on that matter, but once stopped our commander in chief could decide not to roll over his foes but just to push them back.
- They won't let it be an easy thing…
- Of course, not, but I really do believe that we would have a commander in chief who could be subtle enough to resist to the urge of smashing his enemy into the ground?
- It's the Chinese, Ann, and even me, I know that d'Arcy has a past with them…
- He has surmounted his other past demons, that one shouldn't be a lot more difficult. I do believe in him, dear, that brother of ours has proven to be an exceptional man, don't you agree?
- Indeed, I do and what is even more important in my eyes is that this exceptional man has three not less exceptional wives, all this together should give us a real chance to see the smart things we wish for happen!
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Grand Great Britain, Scapa Flow
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February 1821
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Teenara was looking at the sky and a smile came soon to grace her lips when she considered that for once it wasn't raining and that it could even be that the sun would be able to disperse the two cloud layers that were currently covering the place the Scotts and the British were calling Scapa Flow.
The place had great sceneries and she couldn't help but love the place. Whatever the weather –fog excluded for evident reasons- it was gorgeous and the Ocean was an ever-repeating wonder in her eyes.
She of course loved her natal mountains. Who wouldn't since the heights of Hindu Kush were, probably, the most gorgeous Mountain Peaks in the whole world? But the first time she had seen the Sea something in her heart had been awakened and since then she had had that longing to live at its shores. Somewhere, anywhere with the Sea and its gorgeous never-ending song at immediate proximity.
She stopped listening to the waves breaking themselves on the shore while the wind was whistling through the cliffs to concentrate on the light snoring of the man she's chosen to be –probably for a lifetime but she wasn't going to confess that to him- her bedmate the day she's looked at him from a distance.
She snickered at herself.
Here she was, Light and Air weaver of tremendous power –the others' judgment not hers even if she agreed that she was gifted in her weaving fields- who's chosen to quit the circle to follow a mere male!
She sighed and slipped between the sheets –a fine thing these linen sheets, much more comfortable than wool blankets- and snuggled herself against him. His arms were immediately surrounding her.
It made her smile… He was, like every other male of his upbringing, on the possessive side of the scale but it didn't worry her. She had discovered herself a lot more possessive that her own upbringing should have allowed.
- Already up and awake, I see, said Richard in a whisper.
He embraced her with his usual mix of fierceness and tenderness. She quite loved it and since her upgrade she could handle it without even a strain.
- A healthy evening sharing of energy seems to give me the possibility to need less sleep…
He snorted.
- Well it seems that for me it is just the contrary, before meeting you I had problems to find sleep and since we are together there's nothing better than what you call a healthy evening sharing of energy to put me out and push me into Morpheus' arms.
Indeed that and a little dozing spell. It helps to smother the bad memories and the ugly ghosts that haunts a man of the sword…
- That's normal, love, love making is a lot more physically taxing for the male part of the race. We women do a lot less physical efforts…
He snorted a half laugh.
- I'd say that you a lot more active than any other partner I ever had before.
She felt a pang of jealousy squeezing her heart and she immediately despaired at he own silliness.
You didn't arrive a virgin in this mating, remember? It's foolish to be jealous for past lovers of him. And most of them had been paid lovers!
He felt her little crispation… He had no problems recognizing her reasons. They had spoken dozens of times about their respective former lives.
- How can it be that you are jealous, love? You of all the women I ever encountered should be a lot more relaxed in that matter. You are the dominating sex in your country, aren't you? You have a habit of changing mates, don't you?
- Of course, we have and of course we are, and of course it is foolish of me and I try to reason with myself… But…
He laughed while hugging her.
- But you're still jealous…
- Can't help, grumbled she. It blossoms as soon as you speak of them!
This time his laugh spoke of pleasure and satisfaction.
- And I promise you that there won't be another one as long as I have the luck to have you at my side.
- Not sure you are so lucky, grumbled she. There are quite a few of your men who look at me with a frown.
- A lot more leer at you and I resist to the urge to shoot them! We can deal with a few idiots' foolishness, love. And even if you don't dress, yet, like a proper English Lady, I do like the efforts you make to adapt your dress code to our silly customs.
She sighed and snuggled a little more against him knowing that if she placed herself in the right manner her erected nipples would soon have the wished results on his manhood.
- The d'Arcy women's outrageous dressing manners do help in crushing those silly customs. What the British women now wear is a long way from what they were wearing twenty years ago. A lot more relaxed and comfortable.
- But trousers are still not an accepted garment for women, love, said Richard. I wonder why… It is a lot more practical to do physical exercise than a skirt or a formal dress.
He began to nibble her earlobes.
- Do you know what your nipples stroking my chest do to me?
- I know it and if I hadn't known until now, I would have a real pregnant proof showing up…
- Let's do what's necessary to make said proof disappear.
She laughed at his boast.
- We'll see if you are up to the challenge.
- Indeed, said he while letting his hands roam on her skin. Let's see…
I
-°-oOo-°-
- That was amazing…
- I would say that what we did before the bath was way better, said Richard. But a good swim in the Sea is an excellent way to wake up!
She shook her head like was her habit.
He tossed her the towel. She grabbed it.
- Try this it will be more efficient.
- I don't look for efficiency; I just love to feel the air flowing through my wet hair.
He came with another towel and covered her naked body before rubbing her energetically.
- There will be a pool on Athena, you'll love it.
- I love the sea, a pool won't be the same.
- I know but I love looking at you when you swim and from the side of a pool it is so much easier than from behind you while trying not to lose you.
She sighed and turned around.
- Why don't we stay here? It's so much more fun.
- I'm not here for the fun, I'm here to develop Great Britain's new fighting machine.
- You already have more than necessary to win any war. Why developing other ones?
- Because men love new toys and the toy I'm developing will be the most exciting of all, you'll see.
- I'm not sure I'm interested in going to war with you.
- If you prefer you can stay in Pemberley, the Circle is there and I'm quite sure they will be happy to have you back.
- They sure will but they don't need me… I'm not balanced enough to increase their power.
- We could do what's needed, couldn't we?
She turned around and looked him in the eyes. He was at the same time very serious and had sprinkling eyes which was a rare occurrence indeed.
- It's not so easy…
- Yes, it is, if you want it we could ask Mrs. Bennet to do what has to be done. Today, if you are in a hurry.
- You are sure about that? Last time we spoke you were reluctant.
- It was three months ago and we… I was an idiot. Now I know better and I'd like to give it a try. Even if what is between us doesn't last.
She nodded and felt a smile taking over.
- I'm quite sure it will last, love. Perhaps not for life but nevertheless a long time.
- Long enough to…
He hesitated. They hadn't spoken about it, but he had learned enough about the Gandharan society and culture to know that women didn't marry…
Once more she nodded.
- We live in a new world with new rules. Even we old farts who are part of the oldest most traditional civilization on Earth must adapt. And there can't be a doubt that your brand of civilization is, slowly but steadily, taking over.
Her smile doubled in size and her eyes began to twinkle like his.
- And there is that new possibility of divorce which is now open to those couples who believe that they no longer can go on living together. It will be a little more cumbersome than what we Gandharan do but, should it happen that we can no longer put up with each other, we will have an opportunity to stop it…
His amazement was clear.
- You would accept to marry me?
- It would be better for our sons. Your people are so foolish about that bastardy concept that I won't let them ruin their lives because of my people's uncommon traditions.
She frowned at him.
- But the day I decide to quit you accept it without making our life a hell! Do you agree?
- I will just have to do everything in my life to convince you that there is no better place on Earth than at my side.
- We will live long lives, love, it could happen that…
- We find the right path to be together! That's what's going to happen! Let's not quit before having fought the battle, shall we?
He took her in his arms and turned her around so forcefully that she lost her towel.
They soon were engaged in other activities and the sudden drenching rain didn't stop them even for a second.
I
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