Scaevola's Triumph (Gaius Claudius Scaevola trilogy Book 3) Read Online Free Page A

into her ear. "Don't. He's our only ally right now."
    "I really am very sorry," the Tin Man said. "I am also sorry that my construction is such that I can't say this in a way you would believe. It adds to the crimes of my former master. I really am sorry, and I shall try to explain this later, although I am not sure how, given your primitive level of technology."
    "What are you trying to say?" Lucilla stared at him. She was angry, but she was also full of dread. "He's dead, isn't he?"
    "That's what I don't know how to tell you," the Tin Man replied.
    "By the Gods, I . . ." She paused as Gaius tried to comfort her. "How did he die?"
    "I don't know," the Tin Man replied. "If it helps, assume he died of old age."
    "Look, that's . . ."
    "If I took you back to that planet," the Tin Man held his hand up, "Quintus would have been dead for about six hundred years, even if he died of old age."
    "What?" Lucilla stared at him. "That's impossible!"
    "You mean," Gaius said in amazement, "this ship has travelled into the future? If we went back to Rome, it would be six hundred years later too?"
    "And eleven more," the Tin Man said.
    "That's ridiculous!" Lucilla spat.
    Gaius stared blankly at Lucilla. The prophecy! He would return to find Rome in ruins. It had seemed impossible, but . . . It was impossible! Except, why tell such a lie? It made no sense. All the Tin Man had to say was 'No!' and that would be the end of the matter. He hugged Lucilla, and said softly, "I am afraid that may be true," he said. "At least we don't know it isn't, and so far we haven't caught him out in a lie."
    "We don't know he's been telling the truth either," Timothy cautioned. "All we've seen is the inside of this cell."
    "I can show you their cell," the Tin Man added. "They left some shields behind, and a couple of other things. I know, that doesn't mean they weren't killed, but I promise you they were alive when they left this ship."
    "What would have happened to them on the planet?" Lucilla asked.
    "I am afraid the most likely outcome is that they would become servants. You would call them slaves, but they would not be badly treated."
    "Slaves!" Lucilla howled. "Oh, my poor Quintus!" She began to cry. Gaius held her, as she sobbed.
    "I shall leave you to your grief," the Tin Man said. "I know you will say I don't sound it, and that's because I can't, but I am sorry, and I really cannot do anything about it. You must believe me when I say I would go back and get him if I could, but it is absolutely impossible. I understand your grief, and I'll come back later."
    "And we are still prisoners?" Gaius asked.
    "No, you are not. Here is an authorization key. Push it into a slot on any door on this ship, and the door will open, provided you are permitted entrance. You will have only limited access for now, that being limited to those places where you cannot accidentally hurt yourself. If you see the ship's captain, you're welcome to try to apprehend him, but I suspect he will avoid you. I shall know where you are, so if you get lost, call out."
    "He could get a weapon and . . ." Vipsania said fearfully.
    "No, he cannot," the Tin Man said. "He has been scanned and he has no weapons. All weapons lockers are denied to him"
    "Suppose we want to go up," Gaius asked. "We came down in a room that moved, and . . ."
    "If you remember what the design outside the door looked like, and you see such a door, your card will let you in. To work the elevator, walk in, and say which level you want to go to. The door will then close; it will take you to that level, then open the door and let you out. You can also move between front and back, or go to any room you know about. Now, to get back, this is level five, so say level five, cargo section. The elevator to this section is to the left as you leave this door. What we call the bridge is on level one, and if you go to such an elevator, just say 'bridge' and it will take you along to it as well."
    "And what's on this bridge?" Gaius