Paul Kater - Bactine

“Very well, Miss Dandra ko Galem. I’ll come back for you once we’re moored, if you agree with that.”

“Of course.” Rayko stepped in front of the large bundle of rope, rested her hands on the railing and looked out over the water and towards the harbour.

Daniel waited for a few more moments, but she did not pay attention to him anymore. Just as well. He made his way back aft and divided his time between the bridge and helping the men stow sail and roll up roll. From the bridge he kept an eye on Rayko and grinned as he saw her sitting on the stack of ropes.

The hawkers were thrown, able men caught them and secured the Pricosine. Daniel saw a few carriages already down at the quay, so the Seigner had received the communication that they were almost back. Good. And good riddance.

As the men were lowering the gangway, he walked to the bow and made sure to make enough noise for her to hear him coming. “Miss, we’ve arrived, and everything is ready to disembark. Are you ready too?”

Rayko looked at him as if she was trying to put a value on him. “I am indeed ready. Thank you for remembering me.”

She walked with him, to where the men had collected her suitcases on deck. The cook had already taken his leave.

Landlubber, Daniel thought with a grin.

Rayko bravely stepped onto the gangway and looked down. It was steeper and deeper than she had thought. She stepped back, and red-faced she said: “I hope I do not inconvenience you, Mr. Zacharias, but would you please escort me down?”

Daniel grinned without showing it. “My pleasure, miss.” He carefully picked her up, knowing that the eyes of the whole crew were on him.

Rayko hesitated for a moment. Then she put an arm around Daniel’s neck. She buried her face in the clean shirt he had put on just before fetching her. Her eyes were closed tightly, she did not want to see this.

Daniel stepped onto the gangway and started walking down. He occasionally told her where they were. Halfway down, three quarters already. Just before the last steps, the wind caught Rayko’s dress. It hooked behind something and a loud tearing noise was heard. Daniel felt how Rayko stiffened in his arms. He walked on as the damage was done already and put her on her feet.

Venom shot from her eyes. She looked at her dress and the tear was considerable. “Now look what you’ve done, you incompetent little man!” The fact that he stood two heads taller than she did was not the issue. “Argghh…” Very angry, she turned and walked off. Alas… too fast for her footwear. Four steps down she slipped and tripped.

Daniel, who was closest to her, quickly went over to her. “Are you okay?”

“Don’t you dare touch me, you imbecile! Go away! Leave me! Mr. Slindris, please get this incompetent away from me!”

Daniel got up and looked at Gaguran. He shrugged and backup off as the man approached and helped Rayko to her feet.

Fuming, she hobbled off on Gaguran’s arm, scrambled into the carriage and she drove off.

Gaguran waited for the luggage to be loaded. As he stood there, he turned to Daniel. “That, Mr. Zacharias, was highly unfortunate.”

“She slipped, Mr. Slindris.”

“I saw that. Still…”

Daniel could almost taste the repressed pleasure Gaguran had over the incident. “I wish you a good day, sir. I have duties to attend to.” He nodded and paced away, not waiting for a greeting from the serving man.

After all his work on board was done, he asked Ulaman what the plan was.

“You take a few days, Daniel. We’ll be sailing in a few days again. Big trip then, I think. I will notify you when we need you sooner.”

Daniel went to get his stuff. He grabbed a quick shower and changed into a suit. Enough people had been staring at him for one day, so if this would make things easier, so be it. Dressed and his bag in hand, he walked down the gangway. As he was almost down, he saw a strip of fabric flapping from a ring. “Crap,” he stated as he ripped it from the ring and stuffed it in his pocket.

“Daniel.”

He knew the voice. Then he saw Rhonda walking up to him. She was in her regular camouflage outfit. “Rhonda?”

“The one and only. Man, you look…” She smothered a grin. “Different.”

“What are you doing here? I mean, why are you here?” Daniel was stumped; he had not expected to ever see the Head Medical Officer again.

“I took a bit of leave and came over to see how you were doing. The folks here do dress up weird, Daniel. They even got you. They’re staring at me all the time.”

“Guess why I wear this,” Daniel said, patting his sleeve. “It stops the staring. Come, I was going home. Care to join me?”

They walked along the buildings to the exit of the harbour where Daniel used his hydger to call for a carriage.

Rhonda curiously eyed the device as he used it. “That looks odd.”

“Gets the job done though.”

“I’ll take your word for it. Say, what was that scene with you carrying ladies down and getting kicked in the butt for that?”

Daniel groaned. “Have you seen that?”

“Yep, and I want to know all about it.”

A carriage rolled to a halt. Daniel held the door for Rhonda. “After you.”

“Daniel Zacharias, is that really you in there? You scare me!”

On the way to his apartment, Daniel told Rhonda about the happening with the Seigner’s daughter and how all that had not gone all too smoothly.

“Be glad she’s not on the ship all the time. One of you would die,” Rhonda declared as they were in the elevator to Daniel’s floor. “Fancy housing here, Daniel.”

He showed her into the room where she looked around as he put away his things.

“Wow, that is a view here! Really blows the star base out of the water, Daniel!”

He came back and saw Rhonda still in front of the window. “I know. That is really great about this place. That and it’s cheap.”

“Obviously.”

“Let me take you out to dinner, Rhonda. It is too nice a day to be spending in here,” Daniel suggested.

Rhonda frowned. “Do you think that’s smart? Do you want to be seen with someone like me?”

“They already saw us, so who cares. I do think we could fix you up, though.”

“Fix me up?”

“This is one hundred percent insane, Daniel.” Rhonda stood outside the dress rental shop and regarded herself in the reflection of the window. “Just let no one on star base hear about this…”

She wore a simple grey dress. Her hair was kept under control by a hairnet and crowned by a small grey hat with a white feather. Her own clothes were in a large shoulder bag that still fit with her costume. The change was dramatic. Rhonda looked like a woman.

“My lady, would you accompany me?” Daniel held up his arm.

“What?” Rhonda stared for a moment. “Oh. Right.”

Arm in arm they walked into the street, getting lost in the crowds that all were looking for a place to sit and eat. Daniel knew where to go, and soon they sat in a small booth, separated from the larger seating area. Daniel had ordered a nice wine, the order for the food was out also.

“This is so different, Daniel. And the scary bit is that you fit in here.” Rhonda sipped her wine. “And this is really good, as far I know something of wine.”

Daniel nodded, drank from his wine also, and looked at Rhonda. “How are things on the base?”

“Okay. Nothing much happening so you don’t miss a lot. Troy got carted off to the shit planet, you know that? Right. Ludo turned around like a leaf after Troy left. Nice guy. Rudyer retired. Oh… I should not have mentioned that name, perhaps.”

Daniel frowned. The name of the general that had technically kicked him out of the service still sounded painful.