Jay remembered Ilaria's previous mention of the system, and the unconscious swelling of the Tribune's chest at the time. "You're one," he said. Ilaria was caught off guard. "I--yes," he said. "I won't ask how you knew." "A guess. Then you've been a--whatever it's called--for nine years, during Caesar V's reign." "That's right." "And you don't know any of the others?" "Only one. I found out accidentally. He--" Ilaria stopped. Jay shrugged. "I won't ask any more questions along that line," he promised. "But I still can't believe there haven't been any uprisings!" "None. Caesar II died of a heart attack. Caesar III had a brain tumor which we learned about too late. His son never had a chance to prove himself, other than that he was brave and foolish. He swam the Rubicon at its widest point, then walked to Rome in his shorts in the dead of winter. He died of pneumonia. Caesar V, our Dictator today, is strong and quiet. He holds the Empire firmly unified. But he does nothing extraordinary. And he is too lenient." "I just can't conceive of such perfection!" Kevin Ilaria smiled. He walked over to the window and peered out. "_You_ couldn't. But this _is_ the perfect government. Everyone is satisfied. One ruler. One capitol. One army. One language. One nationality. One world. One religion." "I realize--" Jay halted. "One religion?" he demanded. "Yes." "What is it?" He found himself afraid of the answer. The indications were there, in plain sight. He guessed it before Kevin Ilaria turned from the window and said: "Caesarism." * * * * * The man called Gaius Julius Caesar Imperator V turned from the window and rubbed his hand over his graying hair. "This is the first time I've ever run into anything of this sort." The President of the Senate shrugged. He was an old man who had been placed in the Senate by his father in 1980. So long ago that people wondered when he would die. They were tired of these old men dictating to their ruler, as many people before them had been tired. The rise of the President of the Senate to leadership of that revered group had not been meteoric by any means. But his maintenance of the position had been tenacious. He was a careful man. The President of the Senate shrugged. "It is. It is the first time anything of this sort has ever come up, Julius. Therefore it is up to you to set an example." Caesar glanced over at General Bonadella. The General nodded in agreement with Senator Chianti. "This sort of business can break up the Empire if it's allowed to continue, Caesar," he said, in his pompous military way. "I say death." Major DeCosta nodded quietly. "Thumbs down all around, is it?" Caesar sat down behind his desk and picked up the speaker of his private cable to London. He looked at the three men. "Commander in charge of Garrison C," he said. There was a silent moment.