Eight for Eternity Read Online Free PDF Page A

have!”
    Justinian glanced down at the sodden form. “More importantly, I can’t offer the masses in the Hippodrome a corpse. They are not likely to be placated by having their colleague returned to them in such a state. The body of the Green is of no more use to me than this one. It can stay in the cistern. Narses!”
    The man summoned stepped forward. “Caesar?”
    “What is your opinion on this sorry affair?”
    “If the crowds discover the prisoners from Saint Laurentius were murdered they are likely to believe you are responsible. Which is exactly what the culprits intended. These murderous outbursts which have offended our great city lately are not mere spontaneous demonstrations of vast ingratitude from a populace who are ruled with mercy and kindness.” Narses paused to judge the effect of his flattery and then continued. “Disloyal persons are organizing these outbreaks. I suspect a plot by certain parties to depose you, Caesar.”
    Justinian’s bland countenance did not change. “Your thoughts march in step with mine, Narses. I have made it my policy to treat the factions even-handedly. I have required both to obey the law. No fair-minded person could dispute it.”
    “That is so, Caesar. The populace well remembers the unruly days of Anastasius when the factions rioted every other month. People are being misled.”
    Justinian turned to John. “I have hopes your undoubted intelligence will save you yet, since up to now you have been a good servant. Because of that I shall permit you an opportunity to redeem yourself. Find out what is happening so that appropriate measures can be taken against the ringleaders.”
    “And don’t leave half your task undone this time,” Theodora remarked. The toe of her red slipper prodded the corpse John had recovered.
    John bowed and began walking backwards to leave the imperial presence.
    The massive double doors at the far end of the hall opened behind him. As he backed through they swung shut, blotting out Theodora’s smile. For a heartbeat her image continued to float before John’s eyes, superimposed over the ornate wooden inlays and embossed metal of the closed doors like an image of the sun when it has been stared at for too long. The thought reminded John too much of certain specialities exercised by several of Justinian’s servants whose role it was to persuade those with information to part with it. Swift on the heels of the thought came another: Sebastian would soon suffer their ministrations.
    John turned, walked past the silentiaries standing guard, and went out through a second set of doors into a long, broad corridor whose walls were covered with hunting scenes. The suffocating presence of the imperial couple began to fall away.
    Justinian had reigned over five years, long enough to have acquired more enemies than John could possibly track though he had served the emperor, at first in a less elevated capacity, since the beginning of his reign. Though he knew the emperor well, he did not know him well enough not to fear him. No one did, except perhaps Theodora, who had been his wife before he ascended the throne.
    Even as John formulated plans to undertake his investigation he smelled the cloying fragrance with which Narses customarily scented his garments. In a moment the eunuch overtook him.
    Narses’ bald pate barely reached John’s shoulder. Except for the jewels in the cape around his narrow shoulders and the elaborate embroidery covering his dalmatic, he might have been one of the acrobatic dwarfs that so amused Theodora. The embroidery depicted scenes of some sort. John did not care to examine Narses closely enough to determine what they were.
    “I may be able to assist you in this matter.” Narse’s voice was high pitched, with a mere hint of an Armenian accent.
    It vexed John to take orders issued in such tones and he avoided doing so as much as possible. It had caused the two to clash frequently in the course of their duties. “Justinian