The Dog and the Wolf by Poul Anderson Read Free Book Online

King’s brought me the news every time he paid a visit. There’s ample unfilled land. There’s iron ore to be gathered nearby, and unlimited timber, and a defensible site that fishers and merchantmen can use for their terminus.” Apuleius opened his mouth. Corentinus checked him with a lifted palm. “Oh, I know, you wonder how so many can be fed in the year or more it’ll take them to get established. Well, in part we’ll have to draw on Imperial resources. I’m sure Bishop Martinus can and will help arrange that; his influence isn’t small. The need won’t be great or lasting, anyway. For one thing, the Ysan hinterland grazes sheep, geese, some cattle and swine. Their herders would far rather drive them here and see most eaten up than keep them for the barbarians. Then too, Ys was a seafaring nation. Many a man will soon be fishing again, if only in a coracle he’s made for himself, or find work as a deckhand on a coastal trader.” He paused. “Besides, the former soldiers and former Bacaudae who owe their homes to Gratillonius—I think most of them will be glad to help.”
    Apuleius gripped his chin, stared afar, sat long in thought. Outside, sounds of the town were dying away.
    Finally the tribune smiled a bit and said, “Another advantage of this site is that
I
have some small influence and authority of my own. Permissions and the like must be arranged, you understand. That should be possible. Thesituation is not unprecedented. Emperors have let hard-pressed barbarian tribes settle in Roman territory; and Ys is—was—actually a foederate state. I have the power to admit you temporarily. Negotiating a permanent status for you will take time, since it must go through the Imperium itself. But the, alas, inevitable confusion and delay are to the good, for meanwhile you can root yourselves firmly and usefully in place. Why then should the state wish to expel you?
    “Of course, first you require somewhere to live. While land may lie fallow, it is seldom unclaimed. Rome cannot let strangers squat anywhere they choose.”—unless they have the numbers and weapons to force it, he left unspoken.
    “Well?” asked Corentinus tensely.
    “I have property. To be precise, my family does, but God has called most of the Apuleii away and this decision can be mine.”
    Gratillonius’s breath went sharp between his lips.
    Apuleius nodded, as if to himself, and continued methodically. “You remember, my friend, that holding which borders on the banks of the Odita and the Stegir where they meet, a short walk hence. On the north and east it’s hemmed in by forest. Of late, cultivation has not gone so well. Three tenant families have farmed it for us, one also serving as caretakers of its manor house. They grow old, that couple, and should in charity be retired. As for the other two, one man has lately died without a son; I am seeing what can be done for his widow and daughters. The second man is hale and busy, but—I strongly suspect—would welcome different duties. God made him too lively for a serf. Can the Lord actually have been preparing us here for a new use of the land?”
    “Hercules!” Gratillonius breathed. Realizing how inappropriate that was, he gulped hard and sat silent.
    “Hold on,” Apuleius cautioned. “It’s not quite so simple. The law does not allow me to give away an estate as I might a coin. This grant of mine must employ some contorted technicalities, and at that will involve irregularities. We’ll need all the political force we can muster, and no doubt certain … considerations … to certain persons, if it is to be approved. However, I’m not afraid to have theactual work of settlement commence beforehand. That in itself will be an argument for us to use.”
    “I
knew
I could count on you—” Abruptly Gratillonius wept, not with the racking sobs of a man but, in his exhaustion, almost the quietness of a woman.
    Apuleius lifted a finger. “It will be hard work,” he said, “and