25 Short Stories and Novellas Part 54

recorders whirred diligently. Uncle James seemed to be asleep. Carlotta's

attention wandered. Now and then a cheer rose from the a.s.sembled citizens.

She could see the sleek Brazilian in the crowd. He was staring at the

old man as though he were a mound of emeralds. Then he noticed Carlotta

watching him, and he flicked his gaze toward her, letting his eyes rest on

her in a warm insinuating way, and smiled a sleek smile that gave her

s.h.i.+vers. As if he was buying her with that smile.

What did he want, really? Just to talk?

Uncle James was awake again. Instead of looking at the Emperor, who

had begun to speak in response to the mayor's oration, he was peering at

the rows of foreign tourists, gaping at them as though they came not

merely from other continents but from other planets. In a way, Carlotta

thought, they did. Who could get to j.a.pan or Brazil or Nigeria from

here? They come to us; we don't go to them. It used to be different,

she knew. Hundreds of years ago, before everything fell apart, when

America had been all one country of incomprehensible size that

stretched from ocean to ocean, its citizens had gone everywhere in the

world. But now there were thousands of little princ.i.p.alities where

America had been, and no one went anywhere much.

"A century ago," the Emperor was saying, "the fate of this entire area

was at stake. Every man's hand was raised against his neighbor. Cities

that long had lived in peace had gone to war against their fellow

cities. But then, on this day exactly one hundred years ago, the

climactic battle of the War of San Francisco was fought. This city

and its valiant allies in the East Bay and Marin stood firm against the

invaders from the outlying lands. And on that day of triumph, when the

peace and security of the Empire of San Francisco was made certain

forever-"

"Start moving the old man up to the top of the platform," Ned Townes

whispered. "He's going to get his medal now. "

Uncle James was asleep again. Carlotta gave him a little adrenaline jolt.

"It's time, Uncle," she whispered.

They had a ramp around back. She touched her palm control and the