The Diseased Head: Two

Chapter 11, Tale Thirteen: The Diseased Head -- Part 2 pic and text

It was true that there was doubt in his mind as well, but it was not his. Sallow doubted, not Caesar, and this division brought him great pain. Sallow must die, the City must be taken. There would be no further questions then, when he had the City, his new Rome, the heart of his Empire of Man. Sallow would die, the headaches would stop, and he would create his world.

He looked down at the Chip, and wondered idly what it was for. It opened the doors on the west end of the camp, he was sure of that, but past that, he did not know. But that was idle curiosity only, in truth he did not wish to know. If House even existed, then his way was the image of the folly of the world that was dead. Machines taking the place of the strength of hard men, preventing the sacrifice of blood that was the cornerstone of a righteous cause. It was men that should labor, men that should bleed, men that should die, to accomplish the goals of mankind, not machines. Machines had no purpose other than to dull the sharpness of man, to make them lazy and complacent, to do their work for them. It was folly, and in the end it would lead only to death, like it had before. His Empire would be an Empire of Man, strong and sure, one where the purpose of each part was for the glory of the whole of the Empire, this foolish, vain notion of individual value driven into the dust and blood. That vanity was what led to belief that machines had value, led to greed and laziness and stupidity.

No, he did not care what was hidden below, he only wanted it destroyed. He wanted House destroyed too, if he even existed in truth, and this guest, this Courier Six, she would be the catalyst by which it was done. Only a woman, true, but a resourceful one, and as a woman she would, in the end, be obedient. It was the true nature of man to stand over woman, and for woman to obey. The rise of the power of woman was the result of machines, toys and technology that allowed them safety, strength, and convenience, it was not the way of mankind. He would use her well, and at the end she would join the rest.

He stirred as the tent door opened and she came within, approaching his throne. He was impressed by her lack of fear as she approached. She was quite beautiful, in the end she would make a fine gift for one of his favored. Or perhaps he would, if she proved properly compliant, keep her for himself, as a consort or concubine, even to bear him an heir. That was for the future, however, and right now he had other uses for her. He waved her to stop, just short of his throne, and they studied each other. She was, he admitted, quite difficult to read. Behind her autumn eyes was a curious blankness, that gave little to nothing away. Finally, he smiled and spoke.

“You have given me some trouble on your roads, I’ve heard. No few of my men have fallen, at this point, to you and your friends.”

“Your men attacked me,” she said, “and I protected myself. If you don’t wish to lose them, you should instruct them to not attack random bands on the road.”

He laughed, again impressed by her bravery, even if, in this place, it might just be foolhardiness. “My men are blessed by Mars with a zealous nature, and perhaps at times they err on the side of enthusiasm for their tasks. I tasked them to unsettle the land, and they take their task seriously.” She said nothing, and for a long moment more they looked at each other, trying to get a feel for the other.