How the Stars did Fall Read online

  Chapter Nineteen

  Holding onto Adler’s wide wings, Faraday floated high above, watching as the rock giants traversed the plains below. They flew over San Francisco even as it burned and then onward for hours all the way to Sacramento. All around the state capital, refugees from San Francisco had come and camped out seeking some restitution for the losses they had incurred. But Adler did not land in the city, preferring instead to enter it by foot after having taken on the appearance of a man, normal in every way but for an unusual height, rising as he did a good seven feet off the ground.

  They walked straight to the governor’s residence. A great multitude of citizens and protesters loitered around that house, their approach stopped by a detachment of Union soldiers and members of the state militia who had been charged with protecting the governor. Adler walked straight past the mob and approached the door to enter, but the soldiers denied him and Faraday.

  By dumb luck, a congressman arrived at the same time and, recognizing Adler, admonished the soldiers and apologized to Adler for their ignorance. The three of them entered together. As soon as the door closed behind them, Adler pulled the congressman aside.

  “Hancock, is it?”

  “Yes.”

  “I remember you.”

  “And I you. Mr. Collins has been expecting you.”

  “How is the buffoon?”

  “He sits in his office and drinks like a good Irishman. He lets no one near him and never leaves this house. Only Mr. Collins has had some success in lobbying him.”

  “Then everything goes as planned. And in the congress? Have we the numbers we need?”

  “I am sure of it. Give the signal and we will have the votes.”

  “Good. Now take me to the governor.”

  They found governor John G. Downey sleeping on a sofa. Seeing Adler, the governor recoiled.

  “You. I’ve told you and your crony Collins enough times that I will not be intimidated by your Order. Now leave before I have you in shackles.”

  “No, governor, I’m afraid you’re the one on the way out. Your incompetent administration has gone on for long enough. You ignored the mutiny in San Francisco and now that great city has been reduced to nothing. The people require a strong hand to guide them out of this mess.”

  “And whose hand would that be? Yours perhaps? Or Collins’?”

  But Adler paid no more attention to Downey. Instead, he turned to Hancock and told him to summon the congress. That evening, in secret, the senators and congressman passed, by majority vote, proposals which allowed California to secede from the Union, forming the Republic of California. At the same time, they created a new office: that of the Emperor of California. Under the watchful eyes of Collins’ militia, Adler was sworn in as the first Emperor of this nascent Republic and he took to the streets to announce his newfound authority. Wherever there was dissent, Adler’s imposing height and fierce oratory quickly dispelled it. Even the Union soldiers who had been stationed in the city either turned in their weapons or joined the state militia, exchanging their blue uniforms for black ones.

  That night, Faraday found Adler in the governor’s office naked and surrounded by tailors who carefully measured each limb with yellow tape. He had in front of him, on his desk, maps of California and many other territories stretching across the continent and to the south.

  “You said you would help me save Olivia,” Faraday said.

  “And I will. But my power alone cannot oppose the usurper. You saw the army he has created.”

  Later, clothed in the regal livery of an Emperor, Adler recieved a visit from a confederation of Indian tribes, the Ohlone among them, and with the help of interpreters they entered into an alliance with the Republic to take back San Francisco.