Cast In Time, page 4
I was told this was standard behavior for children, but I had to wonder if I was raising a psychopath. I was informed that all three-year-olds are psychopaths.
It was our job to teach the children acceptable behavior. This parenting stuff is hard. I'm sure it will be easier when they are teens.
Thankfully, I didn't have to worry about my daughter's homicidal tendencies as a more serious issue came up. Rome was being visited by a plague sent by God for their sins.
From the description, I suspected Pneumonic plague. It is caused by contact with an infected animal, spreading person-to-person through coughing. It attacks the lungs, rapidly multiplying, which triggers an immuno-response. Eventually shutting the lungs down and leaving the person to die of respiratory failure.
The symptoms included fever, sneezing, sore throat, extremely bad breath, violent coughing, chest pains, insomnia, and convulsions.
Many people were in good health when the plague struck but succumbed within ten days after the first symptom of the fever. This fever persisted to such a degree that people could not tolerate clothing. Constantly needing water, they could not hold it down.
It was reported that those who tried to help died so quickly others began abandoning the ill. Looking after their own interests instead.
Those who caught the disease died or recovered within two weeks. From the books I read, the plague was thought to have originated in China and spread westward along the Silk Road. Thankfully in my past day and age, we didn't have to worry about diseases coming out of China.
I hastily called a meeting with all my advisors. The most important attendees were Lady Agnes, Archbishop Luke, and Senior Priest Timothy. Agnes because of how it would affect health care and the religious men because of the belief that the plague was God's will.
I very carefully worded my explanation to the group.
"There is a plague in Rome right now. It is coming from the east along the Silk Road."
Baron Bolventor spoke up.
"I have heard of this Silk Road but know nothing about it. Is it a road covered in silk?"
"It is a trade route in which silk is brought from some country far to the east of us. The silk is mysterious, and we don't know how it is produced. But it is the finest cloth in the world and worth a fortune."
The Archbishop who knew my secret asked.
"Have you ever heard of a way to defend against the disease?"
"It is spread by a person coughing. Even if they don't cough on you, if you touch a surface that has their spit, you can contract it. The only real defense is to not let those people into our County. The only problem is that while we can quarantine ships, we can't quarantine people who sneak across our borders."
Lady Agnes asked, "Will penicillin work?"
"Sadly, no. Things will be bad."
Chapter 6
Lady Agnes and the others that knew my secret wanted to know what would work if penicillin wouldn't and could we make it. I had broken down and let all my advisors know of my background some time ago.
I told them of streptomycin, gentamicin, tetracyclines, and chloramphenicol. All discovered in soil samples in a part of the world we couldn't get to.
Even if we had the samples, we didn't have the knowledge or the equipment to identify them, much less make them.
The only way we could prevent it from coming to Cornwall was to declare a Madagascar.
Lady Agnes asked, "What is a Madagascar?"
"In my world, there was a plague that affected the whole world. One island nation, Samoa, allowed trade to continue, and suffered, losing twenty-five percent of its population.
"Another island nation, Madagascar, closed its ports. Allowing no one in or out. They had no known losses."
Baron Lewanniet, a proud new grandfather, stated, "Then let's close our ports."
"We can, but we aren't an island nation. Once the plague is on our land, people will be fleeing in all directions. Some will come here after they have been infected with the disease."
The Baron asked, "What can we do?"
"I read a story once that had a similar situation. They built walls to close off their border. They would allow people to enter their gates and spend time in quarantine. Once it was obvious they weren't infected, they were allowed into the valley."
Archbishop Luke asked, "Can you dictate a copy of that book? I would love to read it."
"I could, but I won't. It is a work of fiction, and things were made up, but there were many real things as well. It would only confuse everyone."
"I don't believe people would fail to understand it isn't real."
"Do you want to take a chance that people might think immortality is real and that they may never have to face their maker?"
"What!"
"As I said, I won't allow that book out."
"Thank you. I must ask. Are there many works like that?"
"More than you can imagine."
"Then we should leave well enough alone."
"That is why I get your permission to release each book."
"Thank you again."
I changed the subject, regretting ever getting involved with that conversation.
"We can close our ports, but we will have to build a wall to separate us from Wales and Middle Wessex. Then have gates leading to quarantine areas."
"When do we close our ports?"
"Since the disease is being carried from Rome, it will arrive in Armorica first. As soon as we hear of a case there, we must close the ports. Even then, it might be too late."
Eleanor said, "Maybe we should bring our people home from Armorica and close our ports now."
"That would be the safest thing to do."
"How long do you think we have?"
"Thirty days before it gets to Armorica. That is how long it takes merchants to make the trip."
"What about individuals on horseback?"
"They would die before they could get here. Since they are traveling alone, they are less likely to infect someone. This is true of any small group."
I continued, "A group of merchants could start out with one infected member who would die along the way. Before he died, he would infect others who would die. In turn, they would pass it on until all were dead. If any of the infected dealt with the local population along the way, they would pass it on."
"Have no doubt the plague will reach Armorica and us if we do nothing."
"How many die from this plague?"
"Almost all."
Baron Bolventor wanted to know, "When can we call our people home and start on the wall?"
"Today isn't too soon."
We set the surveying teams in motion, finding the best path for a wall between us, Wales, and Wessex. It was to be on the far side of our Keeps but remain on our territory. Gates would be near each Keep as that was the path most people followed.
Road crews were clearing a fifty-yard-wide strip for the wall, with roads on both sides. Outside the wall would be a graveled path. Signs with arrows would be placed on the wall instructing people to go to one of the gates where they would be admitted.
The road inside the wall would be fully paved for the rapid movement of troops if needed.
Messengers were sent to our people handling trade in Armorica. They were to close up shop and bring their families and dependents back to Cornwall. They were also allowed to bring any loyal employees and their families.
Many of those coming back had never lived in Cornwall. We promised them housing and jobs. Those who elected to stay wouldn't be allowed in without going through quarantine. We tried to communicate how serious this was without creating a panic.
In two weeks, we had almost all our people out of Armorica. It was a good thing because I had underestimated how fast the plague would travel. In three weeks, the first report came in.
We left a ship anchoring in the harbor at Vellooasses. We had paid a man to sail his fishing boat out once a day and yell the news to us. The day he shouted people were falling sick, we yelled back he should take his family and leave the area. It was the last we heard from him.
Our ship brought the news to Saltash, and word went out that our ports were closed. Ships would patrol the harbor entrance and deny entry. First with shouted orders, second with bolts from the large ballista on deck.
If they still didn't turn, flaming arrows would follow.
Work on the wall becomes frantic. We had every work crew in Cornwall on site. The lime works and gravel pits used to build the New Keeps, as they were called, were brought back into full production. Sand by the wagon loads was hauled from Tintagel.
After the surveyors finished the wall path, they started laying out the quarantine areas, fifty at each gate.. These were simple one-acre lots, with enough food and water for three weeks for twenty people. Tents for housing and latrines would be put in place. They would be on their own for the quarantine period.
If there were more than twenty people in a group, they would divide themselves into smaller groups and use multiple areas.
To speed things up, the first edition of the wall was ten feet high and a single course of concrete. It was enough to deter people from climbing over. We also set up guard towers along the way.
These towers were manned twenty-four hours every day. The men had telescopes to watch for people trying to climb the walls.
The guards were also set up with signal fires. If there was an incursion they couldn't handle, they could summon help.
We had started on edition two of the wall when the first people showed up. Edition two of the wall was to be another wall parallel to the first, with rubble in between. A road would be built on top with even taller guard towers. A semaphore system would be installed along the way and back to the Keeps.
There would be a third edition of the wall. Eventually, the outer wall would be raised to fifteen feet and firing steps installed.
Our ships had turned away multiple ships refusing to enter our quarantine areas. These were the same as those at our gates with Wessex.
Saltash and Tintagel had the most turn-up.
Several ships owned by merchants arrived with their families, retainers, crews, and their families. All left their empty ships tied to the dock. The portmaster, using a loud hailer, asked them what to do with it. He was told whatever he wanted.
We towed the ships to a small cove and planned on returning them when the plague had passed. They wouldn't sail until things were safe again.
Some tried to come in at Brude and Wendon, but we weren't set up to quarantine people in those small fishing ports, so they were turned away.
There was nothing we could do if they decided to land on the rough coastline where there were no towns. They would be self-quarantined, and by the time they reached a town, the plague would have killed them if they were infected.
All cottagers along the coast knew to flee rather than interact with any landing groups. They were to report the groups as soon as possible. We would have a cavalry unit shadow them to ensure they didn't sneak up on our people. Any signs of violence, and they were to kill them from a distance.
This was draconian, but what else could we do? Before it was over, we had to kill two groups. One had small children with them. It was heart-rending, but I was trying desperately to keep my people alive.
Along the wall, things were much better. At first, we had deaths in several quarantine groups. But soon, there weren't any. It appeared if a group had an infected person when they started, they would all be dead before they could get to us.
The people who came from Wessex were middle-class merchants and artisans who knew of us due to their dealings. About one thousand of them showed up in groups. They had wagons full of their goods. Accompanied by their families and retainer's families.
We thought there would be strong objections to the quarantine, but instead, they praised us for our common sense. These were the type of citizens we needed.
As far as we could figure out, the mortality rate outside our walls was fifty percent. Inside was zero.
It took about four months before the plague burned itself out in our part of the world. We waited another two months before we opened our gates to a new world.
We emerged into a different world.
All those merchants from Wessex found a new home. We shipped most of them to Armorica with several hundred soldiers to provide security. The soldiers would also have the inevitable job of burying the dead. Senior Father Timothy sent two young Priests to conduct the mass grave ceremony.
There was no doubt the soldiers would loot everything they could. The dead had been dead so long the plague was gone. But I wouldn't have wanted to search those gruesome bodies for anything.
We sent scouts into Wales and Western Wessex.
Wales had hardly been touched. As usual, raiders had gone from Wales to Wessex, but not us. They had learned to leave us alone.
The raiders found houses and villages of death. They were smart enough not to go into them after they realized a plague had visited. They spread the word at home and stayed there.
The border between the Wessex and Wales was hit especially hard, so people died before they could flee.
Our scouts found Wessex empty near our borders. We considered expanding into the territory. But after a contentious meeting, it was decided not to. We didn't need the land. We had enough for our population already.
It was the Barons who wanted more land. They had been raised with the concept ingrained. No one else saw the need to expand.
However, there was one expansion opportunity we decided to take. Armorica had been hit hard. They must have lost eighty percent of their people, if not more. The surrounding Franks were in the same shape. We had been worried about the Franks eying Armorica due to our high trade volume and weak presence. That worry was over.
Chapter 7
Now that the plague has passed. It was time for me to check on some projects I had started but hadn't followed up on. I decided to take a detour to Hilston from Tintagel to Owen-nap.
I had dumped Peter Owen-nap and his wife there and told him to get the panels made for a hydrogen balloon. I had to do it in secret because both Archbishop Luke and Senior Priest Timothy had strong feelings that if God wanted man to fly, he would have given us wings.
Rather than defy them directly, I started my own skunk works for a lighter-than-air craft. Thinking back, I hadn't been fair to Peter and his wife. I gave him a bag of money and told him to get the panels made. I hadn't provided them lodging or even enough money to feed themselves this long.
We rode up to the crude barn I had purchased for him. It wasn't a crude barn anymore. It had a new roof and stone siding. And tethered in front of the barn was a balloon floating serenely with a large wicker basket underneath.
Peter and a group of five young men were hooking the balloon to a wagon in preparation to take it somewhere. One of the young men said something, and Peter turned and saw me. I thought he was going to be ill.
"Peter, what is going on here? Where are you taking this balloon?"
One of the young men was helpful.
"To the market, like every week. We make good money giving balloon ascensions. It's my turn to take people up this week."
I asked Peter directly, "What do you do with this good money?"
His voice was barely a whisper, "I've used it to pay these men to help me. Most of the money has gone into setting up the hydrogen generator you had Tom Smith build."
"Tom sent you the generator on your word?"
"Uh, I sort of led him to believe you wanted that."
"You let these men in on what is supposed to be a secret project?"
He hung his head as he answered. "Yes, My Lord."
I think this is when the boys caught on to who I was as it became dead silent.
"Why did you do this?"
"I needed the help to finish the balloon and to test it by giving ascension rides at the market each week. I did check out each man with Baron Hilston and his regent to make sure they were good citizens. I wanted a hard-working and adventuresome crew."
"Do you have any idea how many people have been up in the balloon?"
"Well over a hundred, My Lord."
"So, if I understand you correctly, you had the panels made that I requested. Then, you took it upon yourself to assemble the panels, have a basket made, and obtain the hydrogen generator through a little trickery.
Successfully launched the balloon and did human testing. Even getting people to pay for the testing."
"That is correct, My Lord."
"Furthermore, you took it upon yourself to reveal a state secret to these young men and to operate the balloon."
"Yes, My Lord."
His wife had come around the corner of the barn. She was about seven months pregnant, looking as big as the barn she stood next to. She was pale and supporting her stomach.
"That is absolutely brilliant, Peter! You have accomplished more than I ever hoped for. Of course, you did exceed your authority, so I must punish you. Your punishment is to be the Chief Pilot of the Owen-nap Air Force with the rank of Captain. I think that more than doubles your pay.
"As far as these young men, they are now drafted into the Owen-nap Air Force with the rank of observer pilot. Pay rate to be determined but at least equal to a Sergeant."
I expect excitement at that. But the excitement came from another direction.
"Peter, my water just broke."
One boy was mounted behind one of my guards to lead him to fetch a midwife. Another guard rode along to bring the midwife back.
Twelve hours later, a baby boy was born. Both mother and child were doing well. I was so proud of what Peter had accomplished. He took the initiative to make it happen. That was a rare trait in people and had to be nourished.
What I hadn't seen in the yard was a nice little cottage built behind the balloon hanger. A neat little garden was well-tended, and a shed provided shelter for three goats.
Peter had done well with the money I left him. I needed to provide more funds so he didn't have to sell joy rides to pay for my project.
My new Air Force graciously let me ascend in the balloon. I was told it would be the most thrilling thing I had ever done. I didn't tell them about when I rode the backseat of an F4 Phantom jet at Mach 2. Now, that was thrilling.
