The motors of the boat used electricity, drawn from a grailstone when it discharged.
“Then they not only have steel, they have copper for the windings of the electrical motors,” Burton said. “Where did they get all that metal?”
Frigate said, “The boat could be mainly aluminum. And aluminum could be used for the windings, though it’s not as efficient as copper.”
More data came in. The vessel bore its name on its sides in big black Roman letters. Rex Grandissimus. Latin for “The Greatest King,” that is, greatest in manner or style of life. Its commander, according to informants, was none other than the son of Henry II of England and Eleanor, divorced wife of Louis VII of France, daughter of the Duke of Aquitaine. King John, surnamed Lackland, was the captain. After his famous brother, Richard the Lion-Hearted, had died, John had become Joannes Rex Angliae et Dominus Hiberniae, etc. He had also gained such a bad reputation that there was an unwritten law in the British royalty that no heir to the throne should ever be named John.
On first learning the captain’s name, Burton had gone to Alice. “One of your ancestors commands the paddle wheeler. Perhaps we could appeal to his family affections to get him to take us aboard. Though, from what history said, he did not seem to have much family loyalty. He led a rebellion against his father, and he is said to have murdered his nephew, Arthur, whom Richard had made heir to the crown.”
“He was no worse than any other king of that time,” Alice said. “And he did do some good things, despite what people think. He reformed the coinage, he supported development of the Navy, he did all he could to develop trade, he urged the completion of London Bridge. He was also unusual among the monarchs of his time in that he was an intellectual. He read Latin books and French histories in the vernacular, and wherever he went he took his library with him.
“As for his opposition to the Magna Carta, that has been misrepresented. The barons’ revolt was not in the interests of the common people; it was no democratic movement. The barons wanted special privileges for themselves. The freedom for which they fought was the freedom to exploit their subjects without opposition from the king.
“He fought hard against the barons, and he battled to keep the French provinces under the English crown. But there was no way he could get out of that; he had inherited old conflicts from his father and brother.”
“Well!” Burton said. “You make him sound like a saint.”
“He was far from that. He was also far more interested in England itself, the welfare of its people, than any previous Anglo-Norman king.”
“You must have done much reading and thinking about him. Your opinions go against the grain of everything I’ve read.”
“I had much time to read when I lived in Cuffnells. And I form my own opinions.”
“Bully for you. Nevertheless, the fact remains that somehow this medieval monarch has gotten control of the greatest artifact, the most superb machine, on this world. I can deal with him when I get to him. The problem is, how do I do it?”
“You mean, how do we do it?”
“Right. My apologies. Well, we shall see.”
The Snark was let down the ways into The River amid much cheering and drinking. Burton was not as happy as he should have been. He had lost interest in it.
During the festivities, Oskas took him aside.
“You don’t intend to leave soon, I hope? I am counting on you to help me take the great boat.”
Burton felt like telling him to go to hell. That would, however, not be diplomatic, since the chief might decide to confiscate the Snark for himself. Worse, he might quit resisting the temptation to take Loghu to his bed. During the year he had given her some trouble, though he had made no violent moves. Whenever he got very drunk, which was often, he had openly asked her to move in with him.
There had been many uneasy moments when it looked as if he was going to take her by force. Frigate, whose nature was anything but belligerent, had intended to challenge him to a duel, though he thought that it was a stupid way to solve a problem. But honor demanded it, manhood demanded it, there was no other way out unless he and Loghu sneaked away some night. He would not leave the people with whom he had been so intimate so many years.