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September 2002 Storyteller Collaboration Maurice's Gold Solidus by Roberto Naranjo Rats! Couldn't I have picked a busier day?! Lunar One Transport to Earth has always been busy, but not like this. Ever since the United Earth Alliance opened the new colony, getting a seat on the shuttle down to the planet has become a real pain. No matter. In less than four hours I'll be there. Why am I so excited? It's only an old coin. I finally made it to the UniMall. There's the old bookstore and over to the left the food emporium. I think I'll make a pit stop there afterwards; I'm famished. Just a little longer and I'll get there. Here is the biorobotics store, I wish I could stop, but I am almost at the coin shop. Good. In a few minutes it will be mine. I got it! Maurice's gold solidus for two hundred. I haven't even looked at it yet. I was so nervous; however Mr. Jones told me not to worry. If I wasn't satisfied I could get my credits back. Fat chance! I will definitely love it! I have in my possession a gold coin minted during the reign of Maurice, over 1500 years old! Of course I will love it. It's rare to find any currency left since the Alliance banned its use fifty years ago, let alone one this old! There's the emporium. I need to sit down and take a peek. Let's see what I got. I can't believe it's in my hand. Oh Jesus! Oh no! I have suddenly developed such a headache! My head is spinning and I can hardly breath. What's happening? Let me relax and close my eyes. That will help. I see a white robbed woman with long black hair bowing in front of a man dressed in silk robes with golden threads. He wears a jeweled crown atop his dark and lengthy hair. Anna! Emperor Maurice! I am standing by double doors, lance at my side. This cannot be! I need to open my eyes. I am opening them. I feel better. "Sir, are you ok?" "Yes, officer. I am ok. I missed lunch. I'll be alright. Thanks." I better act more discrete. The security police do not tolerate unusual behavior. But I cannot help it. This coin is doing something to me. It feels so familiar. I better find a quieter place. There, behind that column it's a table partially hidden from view. The officer is gone. Good. I can hardly breath again. I need to close my eyes. Anna stands to my right. She is so beautiful. Black hair cascading down her back; tan skin looking so soft; big blue eyes smiling all the time, even when sad. Her full, red lips are so inviting. We are just outside the imperial chambers. As I am about to kiss her a commotion by the palace entrance supercedes my desire. Anna moves behind me. What the hell is this? A group of guards are approaching the chambers with raised swords. "STOP!" I command. They ignore my demand. "Tiberius, you and your woman better stand aside." The leading figure demands. "I am Lilius. I have orders from Phocas to arrest the imperial family. Anyone opposing us will die here and now!" Anna moves closer still and whispers into my ear. "Take this my love. The emperor just gave it to me. If you need to leave here at least you will have something to bargain with." She slips into my left hand a gold coin with an image of our emperor in it. Just as I am about to reply, two guards grab her and quickly move toward the palace entrance. Three other guards are surrounding me. One of them takes my lance as the other two push me in the same direction. In lieu of my anger I hold the coin with a tight fist. I remember that! I am opening my eyes. I see around me a modern food emporium in a modern mall. Directly across from where I sit five people stand in line at UniMacs. To their left a family buys ice cream at the ice cream shop and to their left several teenagers await service at UniTaco. On the ceiling, directly above me, hangs a big video screen blaring an advertisement for the new UniFord interoceanic cruiser. Yet, as I close my eyes I see a different world. A world as familiar to me as the physical world I am a part of. Why? My heart beats wildly and my head throbs. I am forced to close my eyes. I do. The sun sits high and mighty above our heads. Under our feet the ground has begun to dry from last night's rain. Drops of sweat commence their long journey down my face. My left hand tightly holds the coin while grasping Anna's delicate fingers with the right. Sweat and tears cover her tan face. Around us dozens of guards stand proud, sporting long and disheveled hair, much like their beards. The guards step aside. The royal family, dressed in rags and with bruises showing all over their arms and faces, pass ahead of us. Coming to a stop in front of Lilius, they are unceremoniously pushed to the ground. The emperor, holding his head contemptuously, delivers one final command to the usurper. "Let my family go into exile; Lilius. They won't do thy new emperor any harm." "Your majesty, that's not the way things are done." The commander speaks. I am opening my eyes. This is terrible! I remember everything and I know what will happen when I close my eyes again. I need to drink something. Behind me there's a UniBK. My headache it's not getting any better. "One green coke please." "Are you alright sir? You look pale." The biocamera has read my condition perfectly. "It's alright. I just have a headache." "I can help you sir. Would you like a headache patch or a pill? We have both in our first aid kit." "That's really nice! A pill would be good enough. Thanks." I cannot remember ever being this courteous to a biorobotic unit ever. Must be this damm headache! It's definitely not getting any better. I am back on this table, I have drunk the coke and taken the pill and I don't feel one iota better. This is impossible! Pain patches and pills have done away with pain, no matter who you are and how you feel. I need to close my eyes again. Oh Lord!" The emperor stands flanked by two sweaty guards. His wife Constantina and all four children are similarly held. Four other guards are holding Anna and myself. Lilius unsheathes his sword and approaches one of the children. The guard holding the child pushes the innocent creature forward. Lilius steps to the left of the child, brings the sword up and in one smooth movement severes the head of the royal prince. Oh Lord! It's not happening! I open my eyes, but just as quickly I close them again. A scene from hell spreads in front of me. Every member of the imperial family lies headless in a pool of blood and mud. Anna is crying next to me. Suddenly she screams as she is led forward toward the gruesome sight. "Please Lilius, let her go. She is only a distant cousin. Please!" I yell at the commander. Lilius ignores my pleas. I force open my eyes again. The headache is now unbearable. Tears are running down my face. I cannot take this. I realize I am still holding the coin in my left hand. I take a deep breath. The officer is approaching and this time he is not alone. Shit. Can't I be left alone! I'll put my elbows on the table and cover my eyes with my hands. Perhaps they will leave me alone. No, no, no. Again I am there. Oh my God!! Anna is dead! The heat of the midday sun is hotter than ever. I can't move. My heart is racing. Lilius is approaching. I must face this moment with dignity. I want to open my eyes but I can't. Lilius stops in front of me. He raises the sword and places the tip of it against my heart. I open my left hand and the gold coin falls to the sludge. I hear the familiar sound it makes as it hits the marble floor. I look into Lilius' eyes. One word slips out in a crescendo. "MURDERER! MUR......................" Boston, AP Interplanetary News. The coroner's office today announce the conclusion of the investigation into the death of the twenty four year-old white male who suffered a massive heart attack in the food emporium of the UniMall two days ago. The autopsy revealed a healthy heart and veins without a trace of any disease or abnormality. The young man appeared to have suffered heatstroke even though the temperature and lights where he laid were low. The officers at the scene heard him scream "Murderer" and then clutch his heart. When they got to him it was too late. Resuscitation failed. Efforts to find members of his family here on Earth and on the colonies have been fruitless. An antique coin was recovered from the scene, believed to have been purchased moments before. Copyright Roberto Naranjo 2002 |