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Chapter Twenty-eight: Vibrations and Openings
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Saumur – Lionel Darcy's Estate
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1st April 1827
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- You cannot move us to Spalatro, Mamma Jane! We haven't finished yet…
- Oh? You aren't finished yet? Perhaps if you had deigned explaining what you do here, I would have seen a reason to postpone our normal Spring schedule. You can't say that my decision surprised you, we are going to Spalatro every year in April since you were born!
Lionel let out a long sigh and looked at his preferred Aunt.
How could he explain something so complex to a woman who had literally no scientific background?
- Don't look at me as if you'd be facing the village fool, Lionel. I know that I have a very scant scientific veneer but that doesn't authorize you to shoot patronizing glances in my direction! I do know things you'll never even notice that you are lacking. Not everything can be measured in terms of science and technology and you quite well know it.
- I know and I'm sorry if it looks as if I consider you unintelligent but you must admit that your understanding of what is at the center of my thoughts is lacking…
- I never pretended to be a scientist, love. I'm just a mother who knows what my babies need! And the fact that *Link* and you have entered an alliance to change the world and make it, at last, a real scientific one, changes nothing at the little ones' physiological needs! You've pressured them for the last two weeks and I have seen that the progress you've made correlates with them being more tired.
She pointed at the last prototype he had built the last three days.
- This machine doesn't look at all like the two other ones…
- But it still doesn't function as I hoped it would.
- I've seen the wall crumble under its influence. It was impressing…
- I wasn't looking at a new way to burrow tunnels, Mamma Jane.
He pointed an accusing finger at the gun like machine.
- And even if that is what I obtained; it has nothing to do with what I tried to build.
He shook his head and made a face.
Knowing him quite well, Jane walked over and embraced him with her most loving hug.
- It is not a failure, love, it is only a side-effect that you should now be able to stifle with your next prototype.
She pointed at the machine.
- And Charles will be delighted to have a new way to burrow tunnels in London's underground. You do know that his diamond equipped giant burrs would be awfully expensive if he had to buy his diamonds. He will love your new vibration gun even if, should we consider the cave-ins it provoked, it is not yet finalized.
- Oh, if you want a burrowing tool it will be quite easy to finalize, but that's not at all what I'm looking for, Mamma Jane.
- You want to generate a vibration and, as we have seen, vibrations do have a lot of destabilizing side-effects. At least on rocks and other earth-like products. You should perhaps try it on water. Water does vibrate rather efficiently while never falling apart.
- I need a vertical surface…
- Build an ice wall and try to make it vibrate. Who knows, it will perhaps sublimate into what you need? And if it doesn't work that way, ask one of the senior Chemists of the company how those new plastics of them are coming out. Last time I saw one of their plastic tissue it was mightily stretchable and had it not been for that very vile odor I could have thought about using it. I said I would wait the model without the reek! From what I saw, a little bit of vibration shouldn't be able to destroy its inner structure…
Lionel's smile and shining eyes were back and he literally jumped out of Jane's arms.
Within seconds he was rummaging somewhere out of sight.
She sighed and let a proud smile light up her features. Having brilliant kids was a real heavy burden but there were also a few undeniable perks…
When do we move, Mamma?
She had a long time ago learned to distinguish between the different *Link*s. This was the serious but polite *Link*. Not the most efficient -and arrogant- one but the kinder one.
I'll see if I can negotiate another week, answered Jane. But I won't be able to make any promise. The last day of the wedding ceremony happens tomorrow and they won't stay much longer. Not only are they not welcome there, which they tend to ignore rather efficiently, but they are missing you.
They could come here, couldn't they?
That's what I'll propose. To come here to get us before the journey to Spalatro. They will know that I'm playing for time, but despite that, I think that curiosity will bring them here. I will inform Charles about the new vibration gun. I'm quite sure he will want to see it at work. And since he's the one who owns the Skyship, I'm quite sure to know where they will stop.
We are not decided, Mamma…
About Spalatro or here?
Indeed, here we like to be useful. But in Spalatro there is fun, and Wave is already waiting with her cousins.
You won't have to choose, dears, we will go to Spalatro. The only question is when. I'm aware that you like to work with Lionel and that you did not yet succeed in what you are looking for, but, whatever your impatient cousin tends to say, you are in no hurry. We will come back in the Fall on our way to Pemberley. Meanwhile you can still think about ways to get those vibrations of yours to do what you think it could do, like opening a portal.
You know?
I'm not totally blind, love, and you do tend to blabber when you are excited about what you do, answered Jane with a smile in her thoughts. And I won't talk about any of it. It is your secret, and it is yours to keep. I'm quite sure that I do not understand the math underlying your little project, but I do have understood that you were trying to open portals to go into parallel worlds.
She took a few seconds to find the safe way to say what she was about to say.
I'm not sure that what you try to achieve is safe, but I will not stop you as long as none of you tries to go through anything you open.
Not even Lionel?
Especially not Lionel, said she. Despite his huge brain and his feeling to already be mature, he still is a kid and kids are sure to not get my authorization -should somebody ask if he is allowed- to cross into another Universe.
She stopped to sigh.
And there is the problem of those from the other side taking the portal…
The probability that something will be on the other side just when we open it, is abysmal.
I suppose it is as abysmal as the probability to have Fluffy just at the other side of the place where Betty has opened her tear in the fabric of the Veil?
Well, the probability that two such similar events happen to the same family is even tinier. Mathematically we risk nothing.
I already explained that the Math part is way too complicated for me. I would prefer a real protection squad surveying said Portals' openings.
We can't have strangers roaming our secret base, Mamma. It would be a huge security risk.
Your secret base? Only megalomaniacal villains have secret bases. And my little ones are not megalomaniacal villains. I will ask Ma Biorna to get us a few brawny lads to man the Estate's security. I'm quite sure she will be able to provide what we need to be a little safer.
Ask her to come too. We like Ma Biorna…
How is it possible that everybody else is scared shitless by her and you like her?
She's fun and she has lots and lots of stories about the family's past. We like to listen and she likes to tell.
I'll ask her. She will perhaps like the Estate. It's one of France's mildest Climate. It should do her good to be somewhere where it never freezes. She always complains about London and Pemberley. France will perhaps be more to her liking.
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Beijing – Forbidden City, Imperial Gardens
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Second month of the year 4515
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- How do you judge the situation?
Geoffrey just shook his head.
- Not good but you're no longer at risk to be thrown out, said he while answering Yonglin's question.
- But there will be more rebellions…
- No, nobody has the guts left to launch anything looking like another rebellion. That part you have covered with efficiency and with the recklessness Qin finds appealing. But you have quite a few within your own family who are plotting to get rid of you. They won't rebel, they want your position after all, not that an outsider ousts you, but they will plot like mad.
- Plots are a part of Qin's tradition…
- You should do what's necessary to change those traditions, son! And soon. Because I know how it works, I've been an obedient tool for enough years to have a genuine idea of what will happen. They don't know it yet, or I would have dealt with them, but in a not-so-distant future, they will send assassins to target your daughters.
Yonglin Emperor face was as stone faced as usual, but d'Arcy had no problem to see his haunted eyes. He was quite fond of his daughters and the fact that his sons were in the North playing nomad shepherds had strengthened his link to his two remaining children.
- They all know that daughters are an easy way to a man's heart. By those stupid Qin tradition you will have to show that, as a true man, you know that girls are not worth destroying a family. So, you won't react as violently as you would have had they targeted your first wife or your heir. But like every true father a lost daughter will rip at your heart and will either push you to do things you will regret or slowly destroy you. And since you want neither of those things, I advise you to enter a little preemptive slaughter.
- Preemptive slaughter?
- How are your relationships with your father's brothers?
- Unfriendly and distant…
- You should begin to get nearer to them. As near as necessary to squeeze them to death.
- I can't do that…
- Of course, you can, you are the Son of Heaven. Almost a God on Earth and since they are mere Humans they should have to take your differences into consideration.
- I thought you take family as important…
- I do and that is because we are a family. We are, from time to time bickering or even quarrelling but never ever would I envision harming one of their kids. I have seen what the Imperial family links really mean. There was no love left between those people. Jealousy, envy and rivalry, yes! Love? Never!
Geoffrey looked his new son-in law in the eyes.
- I'm not saying that you need to exterminate your uncles and their families. But, if you insist I'll gladly do it for you. I'm saying that you must make them understand that you won't let them send you messages with blades or poisons. Whoever the victim, they need to know that you'll retaliate with deadly force.
He took a long breath.
- Don't forget that for Qin's Mongol elite, family has not the same signification than in other places. For now, they are on your side because your coronation confirmed their right to stay in the Throne's vicinity. They know that a new Dynasty would have meant the end of their privileges and their power. Perhaps even their life. So, they go on with the tide, but that doesn't mean that they have any respect or feeling for you or your family. You alive and in power is just the better side of the option. Remind them that without you, they lose everything and that angering you is a bad idea.
- They know that…
- I wouldn't bet a larger sum on that! I've been in the pit around the Son of Heaven's Throne for quite a few years. I've worked for the Emperor's preferred Uncle. It didn't stop his plotting. Not against the Emperor which would have been stupid, but against his brothers, nephews and even cousins. He believed that nothing could touch him because he stupidly thought that the Emperor needed him to stay in power.
- It was perhaps the case; my father was heavily dependent on his brothers and uncles' support. He never had the self-confidence at match with his position.
- Are you like him?
Yonglin Emperor took a few seconds to think about the question.
Was he like his father? Was he hesitant and always rehashing past decisions? Did he need others' approval?
- I'm not always right but I know why I take a decision and I know that regrets are useless for everything but understanding why bad decisions were made.
- That wasn't my question.
Yonglin Emperor shot a smile in d'Arcy's direction. He liked the man and he liked his total absence of servility even more.
- No, I'm not!
- I agree, said d'Arcy. But self-doubts can become a ruler's worst enemy. Remember that you will make mistakes and people will die because of some of those mistakes. Perhaps even people you love! But you need to understand that once you've made a decision said decision has mutated into a truth that can no longer be changed. Live with it and move on without letting regret paralyze you.
- Am I still allowed to regret bad decisions?
- If necessary but to say the truth regrets are wasted energy. It's not about regrets it is about understanding. Think about what happened because of your decision and make sure to realize what -if it was indeed even possible- you could have done better to avoid the result you've gotten for a more favorable one. A ruler's world must focus on becoming better at making tough decisions, not avoiding them.
- Is that what you've taught your son?
- Outside of combat techniques I didn't teach anything to my children. Not even to love me since my wives were a lot better at that than me. Fitzwilliam did all the teaching, and he was a way better teacher than I will ever be. He cares about the people, you know. He wants them to be satisfied with his rule. I do not! And a ruler who doesn't care about his people will, sooner or later, lose the link with its real power base, the people, and will be dependent on surrogates.
- Like uncles and brothers?
- Don't ask me! I had no Uncles, and my brother was an even sicker psychopath than I am. But to answer your question by using the experience I got with your Uncles and brothers I truly advise you to avoid becoming dependent on them.
- They still exist, and they are quite numerous.
- Make sure that they lose the false impression that you need them and that you hold them in any superior esteem. They need to feel in their guts that you are the One in Power because you did what had to be done to get there. And that you are ready to do everything that's needed to stay in power. With or without them…
- How do I get the people's approval?
- Lower the taxes on peasants and small entrepreneurs, that's always a good way to begin to smooth your relationship with the mass.
- After three rebellions I need every gold piece…
- Tax the Company and their local competitors by using the new taxes Fitzwilliam and Napoleon have created in Great Britain and France. You'll get more money, and the little people will immediately feel the lessening of their tax-burden. The rest will come with each new generation of scholars coming out of your schools and universities.
He shrugged.
- It's a slow road but it is the road to success. In two generations Qin will be back in the race and you'll be dubbed the Great.
Yonglin nodded and looked d'Arcy in the eyes and came nearer to whisper at him.
- And will you accept that another son of mine who won't have been born to Sunteu becomes the next Emperor?
D'Arcy didn't look surprised by the question.
- I don' know yet… answered d'Arcy. But we spoke about it, Jane and I, and she said that it wasn't my business to choose the Middle Kingdom's next ruler. Which did irk me since she had no qualm at seeing Fluffy choosing you…
- She didn't choose me; I was the first to not collapse in front of her.
- Well, whatever. And since I didn't look very convinced with her arguments, she came up with one of her visions…
- Your wife has visions?
- They all have. It happens when it pleases them...
- And what was her vision?
- Sunteu giving birth only to girls…
Yonglin's smile was suddenly back.
- I will admit that it would be a nice and safe turn of events.
- But it would also bear a lot of new problems. I do tend to like my daughters and granddaughters to play interesting roles and to have interesting lives. Marrying them away to some lesser Satrap won't be a possibility…
- I'll have lots of daughters born to better ranked wives to marry away. I think that the Middle Kingdom will be able to survive and acknowledge the scandalous behavior of the daughters of the ninth wife…
- Scandalous and tradition-breaking…
- Why will I not be surprised?
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Isle of Man– Biorna Main Base
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3rd April 1827
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- Took them long enough to remember that we exist, hissed Ma Biorna while drinking her Mango Juice.
She hated the Bennet diet, but she had seen said diet's results on her arthritis and it had been enough to shut her up. If, to be at her Clan's Head a few more years, she had to sip those vegetable juices for twenty more years, she just would do it…
Besides she quite liked the Mango and Grapefruit Juice.
Once more she read the letter Jane d'Arcy had send through a servant acting as a courier.
Which was a proof more that said Jane d'Arcy, under all her silly softness and kind smiles, was aware of what was happening in the world.
She looked up and crooked her fingers to call her maid/heiress/advisor at her side.
- Hannah, please get me a map of France and, if we have it, a map of the Loire Valley. It could be that we are about to move.
- Move, grandmother? What will happen with the shipyard?
- Freya will take over, that's what will happen. She's been long enough under my supervision that I'm quite sure that she is able to take over.
- And why do we move?
- We are needed in France at our cousin Lionel's Estate.
- Lionel? Anne's eldest son?
- Himself. And Jane d'Arcy has asked us to provide special security for said Estate.
- Which means that something's brewing there, said Hannah with a smile.
- Indeed, and if the Biorna lads are asked for when Jane d'Arcy has at her disposal her son's or Napoleon's troops to do whatever she wants, it means that the something that is brewing is a family secret. And I love to be invited to share family secrets. It's always so fun to discover what has been hidden under all that apparent openness.
Ma Biorna couldn't help but see Hannah's frown. Hanna was a great admirer of Jane d'Arcy and she had shown in the past that she was reluctant to do things that could be judged unfriendly for the d'Arcy Matron.
- Don't frown at me, Hannah, I won't do anything that could go against the interest of the Clan. It has been a long time since the Biorna Clan has been at the center of so much power and I won't risk losing my link to it by being imprudent. For now, we are a part of the whole game and I do appreciate our current position. But one never knows how things will evolve.
- I doubt that the Darcys will lose their current position of strength anytime in the near future…
- And you are right, young William is a good Monarch and Napoleon has begun to think before letting his greed take the overhand. We should be safe on both fronts.
- And Russia is friendly too…
Ma Biorna made a face.
- You know what I think about Russia, dear. Our Clan has created the Rus Kingdom and we had it under our thumb for decades and we still ended up ousted by those slavish pigheads. I mistrust everything Russian and Elizabeth Romanova d'Arcy is a typical Russian ruler. She will never trust us, and we will never have an opening as wide there as we have in Great Britain.
- We are on the Darcys' side, aren't we?
- We are on the Biornas' side, girl! Everything else is temporary. I hope it will last and I won't do anything to make it end, but the Clan's history has shown that we tend to be betrayed rather often.
- We tend to betray even more often…
- The Clan comes first.
- Charles is part of the Clan and thanks to his marriage to Kitty he's also part of the Darcy Clan. We should be able to balance both allegiances.
- And that's exactly what we do… As long as it is in the Biornas' interest to be linked to the Darcys we will be trustworthy allies.
- Too many secrets will spoil our relationship.
- They have secrets too…
- Jane d'Arcy trusts us.
- And I trust her, but I will never trust her husband. That man is a spider who has too many hidden agendas. He wants his blood in power everywhere.
- What about that? At least he shares with his allies. We have greatly benefited from his support. In the whole of our history, it is the first time, since we ruled over the Moskva Rus that we have enhanced our power.
Ma shot her an angry glance.
- One day you will be sitting on that armchair and you'll do what you want, Hannah. Meanwhile I'm still in power and I'm very aware that the only way to survive is to always have a second and a third iron in the fire.
- I'm not against having a second and a third iron in the fire, I'm against not being truthful to our allies. They did nothing to earn our mistrust. But if we go on not being what we pretend to be, they will, sooner or later, turn against us. And even if we know how to be warded against Demons, we still won't survive should they begin to suspect that we are playing our own partition.
- Everybody plays its own partition, that's how you ensure that you are never surprised by a friend's betrayal.
- Which is not the same as making preparations to betray said friends…
- We prepare nothing, we take precautions and should said precautions end up useless I will be the first one to be pleased. But, meanwhile, we will do as I say.
- Of course, we will, Gramma. But I do have the right to believe that you are wrong. And, as your heiress, to make it known! That policy will come back and bite us in the ass! And I've seen the biter's fangs, it will be costly…
- We'll see, girl, we'll see…
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Saumur – Lionel Darcy's Estate
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7th April 1827
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- It's cold here…
- It's because of the ice, answered Lionel to his Aunt's comment. If we want the wall to resist until we shoot at it, we need the cave to be under zero. Luckily I had no difficulty to develop the machines to lessen the temperature drastically.
- It is indeed a drastic change. I preferred yesterday's temperature. It wasn't extreme like today.
- If everything goes as badly as it could our vibrations will destabilize and heat the whole wall and we will be wadding in cold water in less than an hour.
- Shouldn't we wear boots then?
- Boots wouldn't be useful.
He pointed at the opening in the upper wall.
- If you want to avoid being drenched you should join the others up there. The room is heated, and the cushions are quite comfortable.
- And what happens if the whole wall unfreezes in the blink of an eye and floods everything?
- The ice wall consists of twenty-two tons of ice, once it has melted the quantity of water will cover the whole cave's floor with twenty-five centimeters of water. Hopefully not boiling water but there is no certainty there. The probability lies around twelve and forty-seven degree Celsius.
- When covering the floor…
- Indeed, when covering the floor…
- What about hot waves?
- Very unlikely.
- But not impossible.
- Nothing's impossible, Mamma Jane. But our calculations show that this place being at fifty-nine centimeters over the medial floor plan, we should be safe.
- The key word being 'should'…
Lionel shot her a frustrated glance.
- No, dear, I won't let you stay here alone.
- I'm not alone I have half a dozen brawny Biorna lads who have no more utility than you.
- They will be useful should you succeed to open your portal and should something from the other side decide to have a look at the other side of the aperture.
- The portal should open in the exact same cave. A cave that has been empty for the last ten thousand years when that ice-bear whose bones we found was crushed under the cave-in that put an end to its career.
- Let's be prudent, shall we? One never knows!
Lionel took a last exaggerated breath and gave the signal.
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For a few minutes nothing happened and then, suddenly the smooth but translucid ice wall began to waver.
First just in the center and after a few minutes, the waver began to expand until it covered the whole ice wall.
Ice wall who was still clearly present but totally transparent.
- Well, we do see the other side, said Jane. And said other side looks indeed like this cave.
- Without any lamps and machines, said Lionel. Which proves that we are looking at another cave. Ours was full of sensors and flood-lights.
- So, we can look through it… Can we cross it?
- We'll see, said Lionel.
He pointed at the ball-lamp they had prepared just in prevision.
- Throw it through the portal, please, Angus. We should soon see what happens.
Angus, who was the strongest but not the smartest, took the lamp and threw it towards the waving wall.
The lamp flew through it and soon rolled in the not-any-more unlighted cave.
- Let's try the slow entry with a stick, said Lionel.
Angus did as tell and placed the end of the stick against the wall and was, within seconds, pulled to the other side. Not being very smart but knowing that he was very strong he had refused to let the stick go and had tried to resist.
He failed and to everyone's relief he could soon be seen looking angrily at the wall which had shown him who was the strongest.
He picked up the ball-lamp and crossed the wall for a second time.
Lionel who hated it when people did things that weren't in synch with what he had prepared was about to shout at the man when Jane intervened.
- Thanks, Angus, that was quite an impressing feat. Could you please throw the ball back on the other side and make another attempt with the stick? But this time let it go, please. We want to know where the stick will land. Just place it on the wall and open your hand.
Angus, who wasn't wet, did as he was told, and they all saw the stick be pulled in until it was in its entirety on the other side before falling to the floor. Clearly the pull was extremely strong while touching the wall and inexistent once through.
- Cut the machine, called Lionel to be heard by James who was in charge of that part.
Ten second later the machine stopped, and they were all drenched with the ice-cold water that was slapping on the cave's floor.
- Shit… hissed Lionel who was immediately frowned at by Jane.
- Sorry, Mamma Jane, but it sucks!
- None of us is soluble in water and we just achieved a portal opening, I would think that a hooray would have been more appropriate, dear.
She called Angus at her side…
- Let's go up to the health center and look at what your crossing did to your body, dear. We wouldn't want you to be injured and sillily die of an inner injury. We have everything to get a thorough look at you and should anything has happened I'm quite sure I have the means to heal you.
She looked the big Biorna man in the eyes.
- What did you feel when you crossed?
- Anger, came the immediate answer, that thing refused to yield to me…
- Such things happen, dear. Next time, just let it go. What would you have done if in that other cave there wouldn't have been breathable air?
- Why would there have been no breathable air?
- For no specific reason, dear. But sometimes things don't go as planned.
He shrugged, thought about the question for a few seconds before answering.
- Turn around and go back?
- Good idea, dear, good idea. But next time, let's make our moves after a little more preparation, shall we?
Lionel who knew that the comment was more pointed at him than at Angus, nodded once. He was wet and cold and not at all as excited as he should have been considering the huge success he had just reached. Mounting that ice-wall had been a huge pain in the…
And now it was gone.
He would have to find another way to open a portal. That one wasn't practical at all.
Too wet and definitively too cold. He hated having wet feet…
And wet cold feet in drenched shoes were the worst.
He sighed loudly.
He should have listened to his Aunt and looked for boots.
Being a genius was a mightily frustrating situation.
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Beijing – Forbidden City, Yonglin's office
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Second month of the year 4515
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- It is time we move, said Fitzwilliam who was the one member of the family who had an estate in the center of Beijin. An estate where the whole family was currently gathered in company of the Emperor and a part of his staff.
As Vice-Roy of Asia, he had been granted the right to live in his own House -still not owned by him but by Yonglin- in the Palace's vicinity. He even had the right to use the Palace's landing pad with his Gyrocopter. Which he never used since everybody knew that rockets had been terrorists' weapon of choice.
They were all in Fitzwilliam's East parlor where they could use western furniture, in this case real armchairs, and sip a good Scottish whiskey while relaxing around a real open fireplace.
- We've been a thorn in anyone's side for too long. They will love to see the Lightning move to bring us back Home.
- They do have problems with strangers, admitted Yonglin who quite appreciated to be Fitzwilliam's guest. I'm sure in one or two generations it will be easier but for now you are too exotic for their taste.
He too was sitting in a leather armchair and sipping his favorite Western beverage, Champaign.
- And too influential, said Charles. They consider us the ones responsible for the Middle Kingdom's numerous changes these last years.
- Which we cannot deny being, said d'Arcy…
He looked around them.
- Where are the French?
- They are all with my top generals talking battles and anti-guerilla fighting methods. We have crushed our rebellions with our old methods, but they were curious about how the French are doing it in Egypt and Syria… We've got our own Muslims in China and they tend to be unhappy with us too. And since counter-insurrection is probably a safe topic for all the officers involved, it's a lot easier to speak about that than about everybody's new fighting doctrines…
- There are really no new fighting doctrines, said d'Arcy. Our arsenal is evolving so speedily that we have to change our doctrines at least once a year.
- I hope you are exaggerating, said Yonglin, because as I see it, we're still lagging three or four doctrinal changes behind you.
- Which is not really a problem, said d'Arcy, since we are adapting our present five years-old doctrines to all the new possibilities having spaceship in orbit has opened. We are looking into methods that will change warfare for the worst…
- War has never been a clean business, protested Fitzwilliam.
- Well, I have seen the craters the new Tungsten Rod's impact have created in Iceland's central plateau. I'd say that the impacted area is, for each rod, at least of Oxford's dimensions. We will have to make a few tests somewhere with houses and buildings but I'm quite sure that very few buildings would have resisted. The bunker we have built to make the test no longer exists. We need to rethink our protective architecture. Drastically and in a hurry.
- We need to make sure that nobody uses those rods against the planet, said Fitzwilliam.
- Which means that we must strictly limit those who have access to orbit, said Charles with a frown. Most Nations won't like to be restricted in their bid for space. And I understand them. Orbit should be open for everybody.
- Go look at Iceland and once you've seen the devastation, you'll come to the same conclusions as I. One good-placed rod and you have an army totally disorganized and half destroyed. And the fact that once it is under way there's nothing you can do to intercept it, is another stuff for more nightmares. Gathering huge armies has just become a very silly idea.
- If I remember well, said Fitzwilliam, it was your idea, wasn't it?
- Yes and no, answered d'Arcy. I was speculating about hurling rocks from orbit towards the ground when Lionel intervened, explained me, rather lengthily and with a lot of scientific details, that rocks wouldn't be of use since not only would they burn out in the atmosphere but also would never hit what you wanted. But Rods made of high resistant metal -he proposed tungsten- could, if manufactured correctly- his words not mine- reach the ground and hit the targeted point… An hour later he was providing the blueprint of a prototype that, in his opinion, was able to resist to the heating of the atmosphere's friction and follow the expected trajectory to hit the ground at the targeted point. Plus minus a mile which, once I've seen the impact crater, I deem a very irrelevant detail.
Yonglin Emperor who liked stories about new technologies and who had spent quite a few hours studying the reports about Western military sciences looked up.
- Who's Lionel?
- Anne Darcy's son, said d'Arcy. The genius of the family. He prefers hard science and has been working, if I remember well, on a theory about light speed and how to move faster, but he is not against a few engineering feats from time to time. Hence his idea with the Rods when I spoke about hurling rocks from orbit. And I confirm that one of his rod shot against the planet does tremendous amount of damage to the targeted region.
He chuckled.
- We are, now, the proud owners of another lethal instrument of mass destruction. It is extraordinary how many means of mass destruction we've been able to create in less than a decade. And we are only at the beginning of the Century. The only reason I see giving us a chance to survive this century is probably God's protection.
- And do you believe in God?
Yonglin's interest was genuine and Geoffrey had never had, contrary to Fitzwilliam, a problem speaking of his faith, or lack thereof.
- Jane and Maureen do. So, I try not to disappoint them by pretending not to. Let's say that I believe that the Universe has been created for a reason by a superior Being whose motivations we are unable to understand. But I believe He exists and since His creation is beautiful and useful, I have no qualms to grant Him the success it is.
- There are rumors saying that you are a Muslim…
Geoffrey shot his son-in-law a sarcastic smile.
- There are rumors saying that I am an assassin, aren't they?
He took a long breath of air and shook his head.
- Why is it always me one asks about religion?
He looked at Fizwilliam.
- Nobody never asks you why you are Anglican, do they?
- It's probably because I systematically refuse to speak about it. And the fact that I am in the norm of everybody else living in Great Britain probably helps too. Being Anglican is normal for a Darcy. As would being a Catholic for a d'Arcy. But since you are not even member of an exotic brand of Christianity, it pushes people to ask you about the reasons you abandoned the traditional creed to enter the realm of the hated religious opponent. Being a Muslim for a member of the French Aristocracy is surprising.
Geoffrey nodded and looked back in Yonglin's direction.
- I'll answer, don't worry. I do like speaking of it because I hope it gives the people who are listening the motivation to think about their own beliefs.
He nodded and began to count on his fingers.
- First, even if I have an exotic creed, let's say that a man in my position needs to demonstrate a certain degree of normality. Very soon in my Western career it appeared that my numerous fans did prefer me sharing some weakness of them. Hence my decision to become a known member of a religion. It gives me the needed coating.
- But you are no believer.
- I believe in a lot of things but not at all in the veracity of a Dogma that has been created by Priests in their own interest. I believe in an overall Creator, I believe in the Great Wheel of reincarnations and I believe in me and my destiny. The longer I live and the more I'm sure that I've been put at the place I'm currently occupying for a reason. I'm a stubborn bastard who refuses to believe that he is only the result of a few random events with no head or tail.
He smiled at Yonglin.
- And since the circumstances seemed to reinforce my belief, I looked at the world's religions to find one that could be applied to me without making me look as an impostor. And once I had an idea of each religions' content, I soon discovered that Islam was the religion that suited me best. For quite a lot of very astute reasons but not because I believe Islam has been created directly by God. Like the other religions I'm quite sure that the Creator has never played a role in its creation.
- But still, you profess being a Muslim.
- I don't profess anything! If asked I agree and that's the range of my acceptance. Islam is the religious tool I deemed best for me. It is and it stays, like every other religion, a man-made ideological construct that is useful if you want to control a greater mass of Human Beings with void arguments. Saying that it is God's will you are pushing has always been an easy plot nobody can really counter since nobody has been giving god's official approval that he is speaking in his name.
He shot a sarcastic smile at Yonlin.
- And that's even truer for Sunni Islam where there are no Mollahs to play Allah's spokesmen. Islam gives its members a lot more power and versatility than any other religion. So, it was the evident choice for me. If you are a male of the Species and good at killing your fellow Human, Mohamed has built Islam just for the like of us!
- Your point of view reeks of cynicism. If Islam is the right choice for you because you are a man and a killer that's not what I could call an unavoidable argument.
- And nevertheless, it is the best argument to choose a religion when you are free to choose. Most people don't choose, they are more or less hired by their parents to become a member of the family Creed. If you are free, like me, and still need one, the smart decision is to take the religion that gives you what you need to go on being you while getting the veneer of respectability people around you seem to want.
He snickered.
- I won't deny that I chose the religion that offers me the most freedom while not trying to emasculate me. Contrary to Christianity or Judaism, in Islam there is no pretention that you need to be a good Human Being. In the eyes of Allah, you are good because and if you are a Muslim, no need to do so-called good deeds or to expressively love your fellow Human Being. Allah clearly doesn't give a shit about that. What is important is that you accept being His Servant! You just must recognize that He is the Boss and that there's nobody else above Him you honor. If that's the case you're sure to get His blessing.
- So, for you it's a means to an end…
- Indeed, and it gives me a tool to use against all those Muslim who, like me, have seen how to use it to push their own career.
D'Arcy's smile lost any pretense at levity.
- With the difference that I have the regular army to lend me a hand when it comes to exterminate the competitors.
- And, when necessary, your Hounds…
There d'Arcy shook his head.
- Those are never to employ in conjunction with religious matters, said d'Arcy. I prefer that the rebels are found with a dozen bullet holes in the body or their throat slit than mummified alive with a mask of eternal pain on their face. One wouldn't want some fanatic priest to use said mummified bodies to falsely accuse me of cavorting with the Devil, don't you agree?
- Don't you fear being exposed?
- Exposed? Why should I fear being exposed? I don't play a role, you know, I don't pretend being a Muslim while being something else. I respect everything Mohamed asked from his followers.
Once more he began to count on his fingers.
- There are five Pillars of the Muslim Faith. I have professed my faith in God, and I do believe in a Central Creator, which covers the First most important Pillar.
He lifted a second finger.
- I show regularly my submission to said Creator by ostensibly kowtowing with my fellow coreligionists, which covers the second Pillar.
Third finger accompanied by a satisfied smile.
- I make Alms to the Poor and each year I finance the construction of a new Mosque whose predicator is chosen and paid by me, which does a lot more than cover the Third Pillar of Islam.
A fourth finger was added to the first ones.
- I respect strictly the rules of the Ramadan and always eat while it is night during that month. And I never cheat, which considering that I can move to places where it is night whenever I want, would be very easy to do.
Last finger of his right hand.
- And, last but not least, I have done the Hajj at least five times already. When all is said and told, I'm the poster boy of the genuine successful modern Muslim ruler!
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Next chapter soon to come… A Chapter about Sea, Sun and... Dolphins?
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