Gates of Rome

CHAPTER 60

AD 54, Imperial Palace, Rome

Cato stood and stared at them; they calmly returned his silent gaze.

‘This area is off-limits to you,’ said Stern. ‘You do not have authority to proceed any further. Please leave immediately.’

‘I’m checking the palace for any intruders, looters,’ said Cato.

‘I understood that,’ replied Stern calmly. ‘However, I repeat: you have no authority to enter this particular location. Please turn round and leave.’

These men — no, not men… things — used to unsettle Cato. However, unlike the superstitious men he commanded, he’d never thought of them as supernatural beings. Just that they were decidedly inhuman. Odd. Creepy. But now he felt he had some sort of understanding of what they were.

Contraptions. Devices.

‘You know who I am, don’t you?’

‘Affirmative. Tribune Cato.’

‘And you understand I have the emperor’s authority in his absence?’ said Cato. ‘I am in charge of palace security.’

‘Affirmative.’

‘So, what is behind those doors?’

Stern took a step forward. He cocked his head slightly as if listening to something only he could hear. ‘That information is strictly classified, Tribune Cato. You do not have the correct security clearance for that information.’

Cato studied the Stone Man. His eyes were blinking repeatedly. There was an air of distracted uncertainty, of confusion about him.

Security clearance. Such odd words.

‘You mean I don’t have the authority? But you see, I do. The emperor put me in charge of — ’

‘Negative. This is a… US military security zone… this is…’ Stern stopped. Cocked his head again awkwardly. ‘In this current operational mode, the user designated “Emperor” has complete diagnostic control.’ The confusion slowly cleared from his face as if another conflicting voice from within was coming through. ‘We are authorized to use lethal force if you do not leave immediately.’ Stern took a step forward, more certain of himself now. He reached for the hilt of the sword strapped to his side. ‘You should leave now.’

Cato raised both his hands in surrender. ‘All right, all right… I’m leaving.’ He stepped back into the main hallway and allowed the drape to flop back into place, once more concealing the small passageway.

Cato realized the young woman from the future was quite correct. That beyond those sturdy oak doors was quite probably everything she wanted to find: the technology of her time. Her way home, and a way to correct everything.

He found Fronto a few minutes later, outside watching the sky above Rome laced with ribbons of smoke from riots that were breaking out right across the city.

‘We should bring the others in now,’ he said quietly.

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Take a section of men with you and get our friends back here as quickly as you can.’