The Rosetta Key

I’d closed my eyes—I’d had quite enough of staring down musket 3 3 4

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barrels at Jaffa—and heard the crunch of boots on pea gravel as Napoleon came over. What now? I opened them warily.

“You’re telling the truth about the book, aren’t you Gage?”

“It’s gone, General. I mean, First Consul. Burned.”

“It did work, you know. Parts of it. You can put men under a spell and get them to agree to extraordinary things. It’s a criminal waste what you’ve done, American.”

“No man should be able to enchant another.”

“I despise you, Gage, but I’m impressed by you as well. You’re a survivor, like me. An opportunist, like me. And even an intellectual like me, in your own odd way. I don’t need magic when I have the state. So what would you do if I let you go?”

“Let me go? You’ll excuse that I wasn’t thinking that far ahead.”

“My position has changed. I am France. I can’t indulge in petty revenge, I must think for millions. There will be an election next year in your United States, and I need help improving relations. You’re aware our two nations have been dueling at sea?”

“Most unfortunate.”

“Gage, I need an envoy in the Americas who can think on his feet. France has interests in the Caribbean and Louisiana, and we’ve not given up hope of recovering Canada. There are strange reports of artifacts in the west that might interest a frontiersman like you. Our nations can be enemies, or we can help each other as we did during your revolution. You know me as well as anyone. I want you to go to your new capital, the one they call Washington, or Columbia, and explore some ideas for me.”

I looked beyond him at the line of executioners. “An envoy?”

“Like Franklin, explaining each nation to the other.” The soldiers grounded their arms. “Delighted, I’m sure.” I coughed.

“We’ll waive the charge of murder against you and overlook this fiasco with Silano. Fascinating man, but I never trusted him. Never.” That’s not what I remembered, but there was a limit to argument with Napoleon. I felt life returning to my extremities. “And?” I nodded toward Astiza.

“Yes, yes, you’re as bewitched by her as I am with Josephine. Any t h e

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man can see that, and God pity us both! Go with Astiza, see what you can learn, and remember—you owe me two hundred livres!” I smiled as affably as possible. “If I can get my rifle back.”

“Done. But we’ll confiscate your ammunition, I think, until I’m well out of range.” As they handed back my empty long rifle, he turned and contemplated the palace. “My government will begin in the Luxembourg, of course. But I’ve a mind this could be my home.

Your fire is an excuse to start remodeling: This very morning!”

“How fortunate I could be of assistance.”

“You realize that it’s because your character is so empty that it’s not worth the bullets to kill you?”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

“And that France and America share the same interests against perfidious Britain?”

“England does have a way of being overbearing at times.”

“I don’t trust you either, Gage. You’re a rascal. But work with me and maybe something will come of it. You’ve yet to make your fortune, you know.”

“I’m well aware of that, First Consul. After nearly two years of adventure, I don’t have a penny to my name.”

“I can be generous to friends. So. My aides will find you a hotel, well away from that horrid landlady of yours. What a Medusa! I’ll start you on a small allowance and count on you not to risk it at cards.

We’ll dock some until I get my livres back, of course.” I sighed. “Of course.”

“And you, lady?” he addressed Astiza. “Are you ready to see America?”

She’d looked troubled as we talked. Now, she hesitated and then slowly, sadly, shook her head. “No, Consul.”

“No?”

“I’ve been searching my heart these long dark days, and I’ve realized I belong in Egypt as much as Ethan does not. Your country is beautiful but cold, and its forest shadows the soul. The American wilderness would be worse. This isn’t my place. Nor do I think we’ve found the last trace of Thoth or the Templars. Send Ethan on your 3 3 6

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mission, but understand why I must return to Cairo and your institute of savants.”

“Madame, I cannot guarantee your safety in Egypt. I don’t know if I’ll be able to rescue my army.”

“Isis has a role for me, and it’s not across the ocean.” She turned.

“I’m sorry, Ethan. I love you, as you’ve loved me. But my quest is not entirely over. The time hasn’t come for us to settle down together. It will, perhaps. It will.”

By the swamps of Georgia, could I never succeed with women? I go through Dante’s inferno, finally dispose of her former lover, get a respectable job from the new government of France—and now she wants to leave? It was insane!