That was Justinian's old thinking at work. Shrewd enough, within its limits. But if nothing else, the years Belisarius had spent with Aide's immense knowledge of human history in his mind had made him highly skeptical of imperialism. He'd been able to scan enormous vistas of human experience, not only into the future of this planet but on a multitude of other planets as well. Out of that, when it came to the subject of empires, Belisarius had distilled two simple pieces of wisdom:
First, every empire that ever existed or would exist always thought it was the end-all and be-all.
Second, none of them were. Few of them lasted more than two hundred years, and even the ones that did never went more than a couple of centuries without a civil war or other major internal conflict. The human race just naturally seemed to do better if it avoided too much in the way of political self-aggrandizement. The notion that history could be "guided"-even by someone like Belisarius, with Aide to serve as his adviser-was pure nonsense. Better to just set up something workable, that contained as few conflicts as possible, and let human potential continued to unfold within it. If the underlying society was healthy, the political structure tended to sort itself out well enough to fit whatever the circumstances were.
In short, not to his surprise, Belisarius had come to conclude that the ambitions and schemes of his great enemy Link and the "new gods" who had created the monster were simply the same old imperial folly writ large. Belisarius didn't really know exactly what he believed in. But he knew what he didn't-and that was good enough.
"Agreed, then," he said abruptly. "We'll plan on keeping the Triangle. Who knows? Khusrau might even be smart enough to see that it's in his benefit, too."
"Might be," grunted Justinian skeptically. "I doubt it, though. Don't forget he's an emperor. Wearing the purple automatically makes a man stupider."
The scarred, savaged face grinned. "Take my word for it. I know. "
Their conversation was interrupted by a particularly loud ripple in the never-ceasing exchange of barrages between the Romans and the Malwa. Some of the enemy shells even landed close enough to make the bunker tremble.
Not much. But enough to bring Justinian's scowl back.
"I'm getting tired of that. When in the name of all that's holy are you going to stop lolling about and start the offensive?"
Belisarius didn't bother to answer.
When the time is right, came Aide's voice. Then, a bit plaintively: Which is when, by the way? I'd like to know myself. "
Et tu, Aide? The answer is that I don't know. When it feels right. Which it doesn't yet. Things have to keep brewing for a while, in the Hindu Kush-and most of all, in Majarashtra.
You don't have any way to get in touch with Rao by radio, Aide pointed out. Or Kungas, for that matter.
Teach your grandfather to suck eggs! I know I don't. What's worse still, is that even if I did have radio contact with India, I couldn't talk to the three men who matter the most.
There was silence for a moment, as Aide tried to follow Belisarius' train of thought. For all his immense intellect, Aide had little of the Roman general's intuitive sense of strategy.
Oh, he said finally. Narses the eunuch.
Yes. And Rana Sanga. And, most of all, Lord Damodara.
There was a moment's silence, again. Then Aide added, somewhat timidly: You probably better not mention to Justinian-certainly not Theodora!-that you're stalling the offensive because you're counting on a Roman traitor and the two best generals on the enemy side.
Teach your grandfather to suck eggs!
Chapter 5
Bharakuccha, on India's west coast
"It must be unnerving," Ajatasutra chuckled.
" What must be unnerving?" asked Narses irritably. "And why do you keep thinking such pointless chatter will help you win?"
The old eunuch moved his bishop, taking the assassin's knight. "Check. It distracts you more than it does me. That's partly why you lose, nine games out of ten. The other part is because I'm smarter than you."
Ajatasutra didn't even glance at the chess board. His thin smile was still directed at Narses. "It must be unnerving to have Rana Sanga watching you the way he does, whenever you're in sight. Reminds me of a tiger, trying to decide if you're prey."
Narses' lips tightened, slightly. "He doesn't know anything. He only suspects."
"Just as I said. Trying to decide whether you're prey."
That was enough to make Narses scowl, although he still didn't look up from the board. "Why? Until he's sure he knows the truth, he won't do anything. He'd be too afraid to. And once he does discover the truth, why would he…"
His voice trailed off. Even Narses couldn't help but wince a little.
Ajatasutra chuckled again. "I will say you love playing with danger, old man. I'd never gamble at the odds you do. Yes, there's the chance that the fiercest warrior of Rajputana-not to mention its greatest king-might forgive you once he finds out that his wife and children, whom he thought murdered by bandits, are alive and well. Then again-"
Ajatasutra cleared his throat. "He might be a bit peeved at the man who had them kidnapped in the first place and faked the murders."
Narses pointed to the chessboard. " Check, I said."
Smiling, Ajatasutra moved up a pawn to block the bishop. "Granted, you had them hidden in a safe place afterward. Even in a comfortable place. Granted, also, that the Malwa had ordered you to have them actually murdered, so looking at it from one angle you saved their lives. But, then again, that brings up the next problem. What will Lord Damodara-Malwa's best general and a blood relative of the Emperor-"
" Distant relative," Narses growled.
"Not distant at all," the assassin pointed out mildly, "if your scheme works. And stop trying to change the subject. What will Damodara think when he discovers you corralled his wife into the kidnapping? And thereby put his children in mortal danger?"
Narses took the pawn with the bishop. "Mate in four moves. I didn't corral the woman into providing Sanga's family with a hideaway. That was Lady Damodara's idea in the first place."
"So? When all the rocks are turned over and your machinations exposed to the light of day, the fact remains that Damodara and Rana Sanga will discover that you manipulated and cajoled their wives into the riskiest conspiracy imaginable-and, unfortunately for you, both men dote on those wives."
Casually, Ajatasutra reached out and toppled his king. "I concede. So when the wives bat their eyelashes at their husbands and look demure-like only Indian women can do!-and insist that they were pawns in your hands, which way you do you think the lightning will strike?"
Finally, Narses looked up. His eyes were half-slits; which, as wrinkled as his face was anyway, made the eunuch look more like a reptile than usual. "And why are you so amused? I remind you that-every step of the way-it was you who did the actual work."
"True. Another game?" The assassin began setting up the pieces again. "But I'm in prime physical condition, and I made sure I've got the fastest horse in Bharakuccha. You aren't, and you didn't. That mule you favor probably couldn't outrun an ox, much less Rajput cavalry."
"I like mules." The board now set up-Narses playing the white pieces, this time-the eunuch advanced his queen's pawn. "And I've got no intention of running anyway, no matter how the lightning strikes."