him.
The young man bowed and moved closer, 'Forgive me, honored sir, if I have disturbed your moment.'
Casca bowed likewise. The moon lit up the youngster's face, smooth in the light. His eyes were gentle yet wiser than his years.
Casca indicated the carved stone bench. 'Will you join me, young master? The night is quiet and there is room for more than one. I would be honored for you to share your company with me.' Damn, he thought to himself, I am beginning to talk like them, it must be contagious.
The youngster moved with smooth strong steps to the bench, sat down and folded his hands, one on the other. Both were silent for a moment and then the boy pointed to the garden with long graceful fingers. 'For what do you look in the garden, Lord Casca?'
'I don't know, young sir, but it draws me. I believe the stones and gravel have a special meaning.'
The boy nodded. 'Indeed, that is why it is what it is. One of the greatest poets of our land built this small piece of perfection over two hundred years ago. It is his message and feelings that draw you.'
'Yes,' agreed Casca. 'I never thought of it before, but it is like a poem, if only I could understand the words.'
The boy smiled showing even white teeth. 'Perhaps you will before this night is out. Watch the garden and I will try to help you.'
Casca let his eyes drift over the shadows and sands settling on one lone rock sitting by itself apart from the others and somehow seeming like him, part of the whole, but always alone. The boy's voice merged with the garden. 'Yes, it is alone, that one common rock is humanity, placed by itself, as it has been for two hundred years. It was put there for all who are lonely to see and know they are not the only ones who must be lonely and even the most humble of objects has feeling too.' Pointing to where the two larger stones were connected by a piece of weathered rope, tying the larger stone to the smaller, he continued, 'That is man and woman when Chu Ssma placed them there. He took pity on them in their isolation and made them one by giving the thread of life to connect them, to give them comfort though there is a distance between them. Now they are happy and have each other. They shall be so as long as this place exists.'
Though the concepts were alien to the Roman, they seemed here not out of place. Watching the two rocks with their tattered rope, it made sense to him and was oddly pleasing and comforting.
The two sat silently until the first light of day cast a glow over the wall. Rising, the young man bowed low to the barbarian, 'We will meet again, Lord Casca,' and he turned to leave.
'Please, young sir, you know my name, may I ask yours? I wish to thank you properly for what you have shown me tonight.'
The young man smiled again and bowed gently, 'I am Tzin.'
Before Casca could find his voice, he was gone.
'The Emperor… I have spent a whole night with the Emperor watching a couple of rocks!'
Confused, he returned to his rooms and lay on his pallet, letting sleep take him. 'The Emperor.” That day he dreamed again, faces haunting him… Glam… the barbarian… Neta, his first love.. ships and battles and then a distant aching in his wrist and the Elder Dacort's face leering from a cross saying…'You are the road that leads to Jesus and we shall be there with you.'
The following day, Casca was instructed in the manner in which to present himself to the Emperor. He would enter the imperial chambers on his knees and bow three times, crawl forward three paces and bow three more times, keeping his eyes averted from the Son of Heaven until he was permitted to sit up, but not to stand as no one must hover over the royal person.
The reception hall of the Peacock Throne was quite simple in comparison to the courts of Rome and other kingdoms he had seen. Ostentation was not to be found here. Wealth, yes, in the few objects present, but the lack of any vulgar display seemed somehow to give those items present an even greater value. Vases of alabaster so thin that light glowed from them as if there were candles inside, one statuette of a flying dove carved of luminescent rose jade placed on a piece of twisted teak, spoke more of wealth and power than all the jewels on the fingers of Gaius Nero.
Performing the prescribed ritual, Casca bowed his way into the presence of the royal person. His face remained to the mat floo'r until the words of the major-domo permitted him to rise and look upon the face of the Father of the World, conqueror of the Hsuing-nu, overlord of the mongol tribes and the Son of Heaven, in whom all wisdom resides.
Tzin sat in the only chair present, on a raised dais so that even sitting, he would be taller than any man present. In his hands, he held a wand of gold and ivory, beautifully engraved with twisting four-toed dragons winding about it. Four toes on a dragon were permitted only for those of the royal household and only they were permitted to carry them or their likenesses about.
A small brazier glowed nearby the Emperor's right hand, a thin spiral of incense rising and giving the delicate fragrance of roses. The Emperor had more wealth on him than the treasuries of Rome could purchase in three years of taxes from all provinces, but it was considered vulgar to complement each other in this place. On his head was a soft two-cornered cap with red and gold tassels, his robes and hat were both of the imperial green shade that only nobility could wear.
The Emperor spoke, holding the packet of letters which Casca had brought from Kushan. 'Lord Casca, we thank you for bringing us this welcome message from his highness, the. King of Kushan. We are pleased to note that our countryman, Tsin-ta'i, still has our interests at heart and is loyal to the throne. Kushan has prospered and an alliance to drive the Hsuing-nu back into the wastes from which they came, shall please us.'
Holding up another letter, the Emperor continued, 'Here is a letter from our servant, Tsin-ta'i, in which he tells the remarkable story set down by an ancient sage who died long ago, Shin Lao Tze. It is indeed remarkable. None other than myself has seen this letter.' Tzin dropped the paper onto the incense brazier where the flames hungrily consumed the paper, leaving only a small pile of ashes.
'Lord Casca, is it your wish to remain with us and serve the House of Tzin for such time as you wish to depart, as I know you must one day?'
Casca looked the young king in the eyes and felt again the drawing power of this young man. 'It is, Lord.'
Pleased, Tzin nodded and motioned for a scribe to crawl nearer. 'Take these words. It is my pleasure that the one known as Casca shall henceforth be honored as the Baron of Chung Wei, which guards the Jade Gate from which he came to us. There all shall obey and honor him.' Pointing his ivory rod, the Emperor said, 'Lord Casca, you shall await my pleasure and prepare the men I shall send to do battle against the Hsuing-nu. From our mutual friend in Kushan, I know much of you and that you will be of assistance in ridding the earth of the lice who call themselves men.' Tzin clapped his hands and had a lacquered box brought to him. Opening the container, he withdrew the new lord's seal, presenting it to Casca with his own hands. The Chu hou wang of a noble, made of yellow gold with a knob of polished tortoise shell. With this Casca would make his mark, sign his orders and all documents sent to the Lord of Heaven. The Lord Tzin himself signed and stamped documents of ennoblement with his own hand and the seal of the kingdom made of rare jade engraved with a li, a one-horned dragon knob with four toes bearing the inscription that had come down to the Kings of Han from the past: Shou t'ien chih ming huang ti shou ch'ang (By the command of heaven, long-lived and glorious the emperor).
Honor was shown to the new lord, responsibility was given and none could dispute it. The word of the Emperor was law and the law would be obeyed, for such is the order of things in civilized countries.
'You have my permission to go to your province now,' said the Emperor and, with the wave of his sceptor, informed Casca that the audience was over. Repeating the same procedure used on entering, Casca backed out, averting his eyes from the Presence and not rising until the chamber doors closed behind him.
'A Baron! He's made me a Baron of Tzin. Well, why not, I was a god once.'
Sixteen
