The Baroque Cycle - The Confusion Part 39

"Bang!" suggested Jack, and a moment later a musket was fired outside by Vrej, as a signal.

Their plan was extremely simple, and so many events were triggered by the firing of this one shot. On the northern bank of the oxbow, local guides kindled bonfires; these shone out across the river as beacons marking the places where the bank was easiest to scale. The caravan-drivers, trapped between the river and the Maratha onslaught, needed no further incentive to make for those lights. Soon the river was striped in four places by columns of slos.h.i.+ng beasts.

The line of sword-wielding mercenaries barring the neck had already begun to desert their earthworks and to fall back, for the elephants were only a few yards away. When the musket sounded, those who had held their ground jumped out, to a man, and split into two groups, occupying the trenches that the slingers had prepared along the flanks of the expected Maratha advance. The archers fired a last volley of arrows. This, and the trenches, and some trip-ropes that had been pounded into place before them, and the congestion caused by the Marathas' entire battle-front being compressed into the narrow pa.s.s, caused the onslaught to slow, just on the threshold. A few impetuous Marathas ventured across the line of fox-holes, or even jumped obstacles on horseback; but these were easy marks for the archers and for the few musketeers they had managed to round up.

All of which, wild and memorable though it was, remained well within the normal limits of what one saw in warfare. Night battles were unusual, and (to Jack anyway) ones involving elephants were outlandish; but for all that, it was just a battle. Until a hundred glowing bottles of phosphorus were lobbed out of the scrub to either side of the neck, and dropped out of the sky like falling stars, and burst upon the ground among the attackers. They came in a few ragged volleys, and by the time the last one had fallen, most of the ground that stretched before the Maratha vanguard was glowing. And as if that were not enough, some of it was bursting into flame.

One of the elephants made known his intention to turn around and go back. Jack could not discern, from this range, whether his driver was of the same mind, or not; but it did not matter, for the elephant was leaving. And perhaps he was some sort of a leader among pachyderms, for the idea spread to the others fast and unquenchable as phosphorus-fire. When several elephants with razor-sharp blades all over their tusks decide to pirouette in the midst of a tightly packed mob, there is apt to be disorder, and such was the case now; Jack could not really see through the arch of radiance, but could infer as much from the vocalizations of the Marathas, which sounded like every Italian opera ever written being sung at once.

As the phosphorus on the ground dried out, it burnt. This went on fitfully for longer than was really convenient. Jack and all of the others in the oxbow could not do anything, because they could not see. To their backs, the convoy dribbled across the fords like streams of mola.s.ses running down a chilly plate. It would be hours before they were all across. And Jack had been warned not to underestimate the Marathas. It was one thing to spook their beasts, another thing altogether to break the will of their men. For these were not just peasants with sticks, but veterans belonging to castes such as the Mahar Mahar and the and the Mang Mang whose whole purpose was military service. Such warnings he had been slow to heed, for there was nothing in England that corresponded to it; but Surendranath had drawn a loose a.n.a.logy between these castes and the Janissaries of the Turks, which began to give Jack the idea. He had accordingly ordered the slingers to hold a few of their bottles in reserve, and when the last of the phosphorus-fires burnt out, he insisted that the mercenaries move up again, and take up their former positions. The archers he moved to the flanks to join the slingers, so that they could fire from behind the protection of the riverbank. All of these measures were soon put to the test by attacks of whose whole purpose was military service. Such warnings he had been slow to heed, for there was nothing in England that corresponded to it; but Surendranath had drawn a loose a.n.a.logy between these castes and the Janissaries of the Turks, which began to give Jack the idea. He had accordingly ordered the slingers to hold a few of their bottles in reserve, and when the last of the phosphorus-fires burnt out, he insisted that the mercenaries move up again, and take up their former positions. The archers he moved to the flanks to join the slingers, so that they could fire from behind the protection of the riverbank. All of these measures were soon put to the test by attacks of Mahar Mahar and and Mang Mang infantry; and so it was that, as much as he had wanted to avoid it, Jack was finally obliged to ride out from the concealment of the tent, flanked by Mr. Foot on one side and Monsieur Arlanc on the other, and to sally across the neck and drive the die-hard Marathas back screaming all the way to the Ravines of Dharoli. For Jack, Foot, Arlanc, and their horses were all glowing in the dark. No one even had the temerity to shoot an arrow at them. infantry; and so it was that, as much as he had wanted to avoid it, Jack was finally obliged to ride out from the concealment of the tent, flanked by Mr. Foot on one side and Monsieur Arlanc on the other, and to sally across the neck and drive the die-hard Marathas back screaming all the way to the Ravines of Dharoli. For Jack, Foot, Arlanc, and their horses were all glowing in the dark. No one even had the temerity to shoot an arrow at them.

"Mr. Foot!" Jack called out to a fiery blob hurtling to and fro in pursuit of demoralized foe-men, "turn thee around and let's to the river. Nothing but dust now lies between us and the Court of the Great Mogul in Shahjahanabad; and he had d.a.m.n well better be grateful, lest we boil up some urine in his his town." town."

Book 5

The Juncto

Mrs. Bligh's Coffee-house, London SEPTEMBER 1693.

"ROGER, YOU ARE a great man now, and worth more than the Great Mogul." a great man now, and worth more than the Great Mogul."

"So I have heard, Daniel-but it is perfectly all right-I do not mind hearing it again."

"You are also educated, after a fas.h.i.+on."

"'Tis better to be educable educable-but pray continue in your flattery, which is so very unlike you."

"So then. What metaphysical significance do you attach to the fact that you are unable to pay for a cup of coffee?"

"Why, Daniel, I say that I just did did pay, not for pay, not for one one, but two two-unless that object on the table before you is a mirage. mirage."

"But you didn't, really, my lord. Coffee was brought forth and you incurred a debt, p.r.i.c.ked down on Mrs. Bligh's ledger."

"Are you questioning my solvency, solvency, Daniel?" Daniel?"

"I am questioning the whole country's country's solvency! Empty out your coin-purse. Right there on the table. Let's have a look." solvency! Empty out your coin-purse. Right there on the table. Let's have a look."

"Don't be vulgar, Daniel."

"Oh, now 'tis I I who am vulgar." who am vulgar."

"Ever since you had the stone cut out, you have seemingly regressed in age."

"I will bet you the whole contents of my my purse that purse that yours yours contains not a single piece of metal that could be exchanged for a bucket of cods' heads at Billingsgate." contains not a single piece of metal that could be exchanged for a bucket of cods' heads at Billingsgate."

"If your purse's contents were worth so much, you'd be Ma.s.sachusetts-bound. Everyone knows that."

"You see? You are afraid to accept the wager."

"Why do you belabor me me about the fact that England has no money?" about the fact that England has no money?"

"Because you are a momentous fellow now, rumors career about you like gulls round a herring-boat, and I want you to do do something about it, so that I can go to America...right. Very well, my lord, I shall give you a few minutes to bring your mirth under control. If you can hear what I am saying, wave at me-oh, very good. Roger Comstock, I say 'tis well enough for something about it, so that I can go to America...right. Very well, my lord, I shall give you a few minutes to bring your mirth under control. If you can hear what I am saying, wave at me-oh, very good. Roger Comstock, I say 'tis well enough for you you that you have credit, and can buy cups of coffee, or houses, by simply that you have credit, and can buy cups of coffee, or houses, by simply asking asking for them. Many other men of power enjoy the same privilege-including our King, who appears to be financing his war through some kind of for them. Many other men of power enjoy the same privilege-including our King, who appears to be financing his war through some kind of alchemy. alchemy. But some of us are required actually to But some of us are required actually to pay pay for what we buy, and we have nothing to pay for what we buy, and we have nothing to pay with with at the moment. They say that America is at the moment. They say that America is awash awash in Pieces of Eight, and that is a sight I would fain see-alas, s.h.i.+ps' captains do not dispense credit, at least, not to Natural Philosophers.... Oh yes, my lord, in Pieces of Eight, and that is a sight I would fain see-alas, s.h.i.+ps' captains do not dispense credit, at least, not to Natural Philosophers.... Oh yes, my lord, do do be entertained. I am here in Mrs. Bligh's coffee-house, in pied rags, solely as a Court Jester to Creditable Men, and request only that you throw a silver coin at me for every giggle and a gold one for each guffaw. Fresh out? What, no coins in the bank? Does your purse hang as flaccid as a gelding's s.c.r.o.t.u.m? 'Tis a common condition, Roger, and this brings me round to be entertained. I am here in Mrs. Bligh's coffee-house, in pied rags, solely as a Court Jester to Creditable Men, and request only that you throw a silver coin at me for every giggle and a gold one for each guffaw. Fresh out? What, no coins in the bank? Does your purse hang as flaccid as a gelding's s.c.r.o.t.u.m? 'Tis a common condition, Roger, and this brings me round to another another subject 'pon which I will briefly discourse while you blow your nose, and wipe the tears from your eyes, and that is: What if all debts, public and private, were to be called in? What if Mrs. Bligh were to march over to this cozy corner with her accompt-book resting open on her bosom like a Bible on a Lectern and say, Roger Comstock, you owe me your own weight in rubies, pay up straightaway!" subject 'pon which I will briefly discourse while you blow your nose, and wipe the tears from your eyes, and that is: What if all debts, public and private, were to be called in? What if Mrs. Bligh were to march over to this cozy corner with her accompt-book resting open on her bosom like a Bible on a Lectern and say, Roger Comstock, you owe me your own weight in rubies, pay up straightaway!"

"But, Daniel, that never happens. Mrs. Bligh, if she wants coffee-beans, can go down to the docks and shew her book-or her Lectern, in a pinch-to a merchant and say, 'Behold, every powerful man in London is in debt to me, I have collateral, lend me a ton of Mocha and you'll never be sorry!' "

"Roger, what is Mrs. Bligh's b.l.o.o.d.y book-by your leave, Mrs. Bligh!-but squiggles of ink? I have ink, Roger, a firkin of it, and can molest a goose to obtain quills, and make ink-squiggles all night and all day. But they are just forms forms on a page. What does it say of us that our commerce is built 'pon forms and figments while that of Spain is built 'pon on a page. What does it say of us that our commerce is built 'pon forms and figments while that of Spain is built 'pon silver silver?"

"Some would say it speaks to our advancement advancement."

"I am not one of those hard cases who believes credit is Satan's work, do not put me in that poke, Roger. I say only that ink, once dried on the page, is a brittle commodity, and an oeconomy made of ink is likewise brittle, and may for all we know be craz'd craz'd and in a state to crumble at a touch. Whereas silver and gold are ductile, malleable, capable of fluid movement-" and in a state to crumble at a touch. Whereas silver and gold are ductile, malleable, capable of fluid movement-"

"Some say it is because their atoms, their particules particules are bathed in a lubricating medium of quicksilver-" are bathed in a lubricating medium of quicksilver-"

"Stop it."

"You asked me to wax metaphysical, just a minute ago."

"You are baiting me, Roger. Oh, it is all right. By all means, amuse yourself."

"Daniel. Do you really want to go to Ma.s.sachusetts, and leave all this behind?"

"All this is more amusing, not to mention profitable, to is more amusing, not to mention profitable, to you you than 'tis to than 'tis to me. me. I want to put distractions behind, go to the wilderness, and work." I want to put distractions behind, go to the wilderness, and work."

"What, in a wigwam? Or do you have a cave picked out?"

"There are plenty of trees remaining."

"You're going to live in a tree?"

"No! Cut them down, make a house."

"I fear you are unused to such labor, Daniel."

"Oh but I am educable educable."

"One really would do better to have an inst.i.tution inst.i.tution on which to rely. You could be a vicar of some Puritan church." on which to rely. You could be a vicar of some Puritan church."

"Puritan churches tend not to have have vicars." vicars."

"Oh, that's right...then perhaps Harvard College would have you."

"Then again, perhaps not."

"Here, Daniel, is my metaphysical reading of your circ.u.mstance:"

"I am braced."

"England is not finished with you yet!"

"Merciful G.o.d! What more can England possibly ask of me?"

"I shall come to that momentarily, Daniel. First, I propose a transaction."

"Is this transaction to conclude with silver silver changing hands? Or ink-squiggles?" changing hands? Or ink-squiggles?"

"It is to conclude with a sinecure for Daniel Waterhouse. In Ma.s.sachusetts Bay Colony."

"d.a.m.n me, and here am I, on the wrong side of the ocean!"

"The sinecure is attended with certain perquisites perquisites including a one-way trans-oceanic voyage." including a one-way trans-oceanic voyage."

"Are you saying, England wants from me something so dreadful so dreadful that when I have done it, she won't want me around any more?" that when I have done it, she won't want me around any more?"

"You read too much into it. You You are the one who has been bawling about Ma.s.sachusetts for all these years." are the one who has been bawling about Ma.s.sachusetts for all these years."

"But then why do you specify it has to be one-way?"

"You can come back if you think it would be in your best interests," Roger said innocently. "As long as the Juncto remains in power, you shall have protectors."

"Your voice has the most annoying way of fading just when you are on the verge of saying something interesting. Do you do that for effect?"

"Juncto...juncto...JUNCTO!"

"What on earth is a junk-toe? Some new type of gout?"

"More like a new type of gov't."

"I am quite serious."

"A scholar might say it Latin-style: yuncto yuncto. Or, a Spaniard thus: hoonta hoonta!"

"Why don't you just say 'joint,' which is what it means?"

"I know what it means. But then people would suppose we were discoursing of knees or elbows."

"But isn't the idea idea to be mysterious?" to be mysterious?"

"Then we would call it a cabal. cabal."

"Oh, that's right. So, you are in a juncto?"

"I am in the the juncto." juncto."

"And your role in the the juncto is to be-?" juncto is to be-?"

"Chancellor of the Exchequer...Daniel, it is childish to make coffee shoot out of your nostrils. You know of someone better better qualified?" qualified?"

"What about Apthorp?"

"Sir Richard, as he is called by polite polite men, will run the bank." men, will run the bank."

"But do you not think he would gladly set aside his duties at Apthorp's Bank to become Chancellor of the Exchequer?"

"No, no, no, no, no no. I am not speaking of Apthorp's bank. I refer to the Bank of England."

"No such inst.i.tution exists."

"And no inst.i.tution exists in Ma.s.sachusetts Bay Colony that will put a roof over your head and give you a sinecure. But inst.i.tutions can be made made, Daniel. That is what an inst.i.tution is: is: something that has been something that has been inst.i.tuted inst.i.tuted."

"Oh."

"Ah, finally light dawns! You are are educable, Daniel, very much so!" educable, Daniel, very much so!"

"The Bank of England...the Bank of England. It sounds, I don't know, big big."

"That is the point."

"You shall ama.s.s some sort of capital, and lend out money."

"This is the timeless function of a banca banca."

"I can only perceive two drawbacks to what is otherwise an excellent plan, my lord..."

"Don't say it. We have no capital...and no money."

"Just so, my lord."

"Is it not admirable, admirable, how simple things are in the beginning? Oh, how I love to begin things." how simple things are in the beginning? Oh, how I love to begin things."

"Let's take them in order...what is the capital to be?"

"England."

"Ah, very well, I should have guessed from the name, 'Bank of England.' Now, how about the money?"

"The Bank will issue some paper. But you are right. We need coinage. To be specific, we need recoinage. recoinage."

A silence now fell over this snuggery in the corner of Mrs. Bligh's coffee-house. Roger had spent enough man-years orating in Parliament that he knew when a Pause for Effect was called for. And Daniel for his part was strangely affected, and lost all interest in speaking for a short time. The notion of recoinage made him strangely sad, sad, and he was desirous of figuring out and he was desirous of figuring out why why. It would mean calling in all old coins-as well as the plate, candlesticks, bullion, et cetera et cetera-and melting them in the great crucibles of the Tower. Crucibles that purified and separated the genuine metal from the dross of the counterfeiters but thereby melted all those discrete objects together, destroying their individual characters.

Daniel had in his purse a pound coin stamped with a picture of Queen Elizabeth. He knew this because such coins were rarer than flawless diamonds now, and he was holding it back in case he had to ransom his life somehow. The Golden Comstocks-Roger's ancestors-had imported the metal from Spain and Thomas Gresham had caused the coin to be minted at such-and-such a weight, and had used some of his rake-off to build Gresham's College. The coin had been pa.s.sing from hand to hand and purse to purse for more than a hundred years, and probably had more tales to tell than a s.h.i.+p full of Irish sailors-yet it was just a single mote in the dust-pile that was the English money supply. In a certain way to take that dust and shovel it into the maw of the crucibles was monstrous, like burning a library.

But imagine the glowing rivers that would spring from the lips of those crucibles when all of that tarnished silver was made clean, and made quick, and con-fused, and all of its old stories driven off as clouds of smoke that the river wind would carry away. Imagine the s.h.i.+ning coins in purses everywhere-Mrs. Bligh striking out the debts from her ledger-book, her strong-box becoming a catch-basin for the new money, overflowing and spilling out gleaming rivulets down the street to the bankside coffee-merchants, and thence down the Thames into the wide.