Paul Kater - Bactine

A police officer came closer. “What is the matter here, gentlemen? Is anyone able to tell me?”

Daniel hoisted himself to his feet, a cup of hot strong tea in his hands. He told the man their story, incredible as it sounded.

“You’ve been… flying? In that?” The policeman pointed at the blue boat. “I hope you do not mind me asking what is in your cup, sir…”

“It is tea, officer.”

Some of the people who had been there when the airship had landed on the water came to Daniel’s help and vowed to the policeman that the boat had indeed flown.

“And what are your plans now, sir, after your upheaval creating arrival?”

“Once our sick have been seen to, we go on to Skarak, officer,” said Daniel.

“Ah. I see. And you will be… flying there, I assume? With your boat?”

“Airship,” Aldrick corrected him. The vessel had proven to be worthy of the title.

“Airship, you say. It does look like a boat to me, sir. And you are?” The policeman feigned professionalism. It was obvious though that curiosity was his ulterior motive.

“I am Aldrick Bunzing. Inventor. I created this airship.”

“Of course, sir…” After a frown, the policeman sauntered off, but did not leave the harbour area. He wanted to see the rest of this.

An hour after that, the doctors agreed that the sick people could be moved further. “We shall inform our medical brothers in Skarak about them,” one of them said, already reaching for the hydger in his bag.

“Thank you, sir,” Daniel said, as lightning seemed to hit him. He left Tomlin to arrange some things and he walked off, taking his own hydger. He looked up the number of the mysterious person and requested a connection, but there was no answer. He decided he’d try again later, put away his device and returned to the boat, where most people had gone aboard again already. The sick ones were safely tucked in, and the broken line on the floater had been repaired.

Aldrick took his position at the engine. Daniel and Abnezer set the sails, as Ulaman was at the map and the compass. Accompanied by the sound of many cheers the small ship left the harbour. The policeman stood to the far side, watching the proceedings.

Aldrick, once the ship had left the harbour, did his trick with the levers. The floaters filled up. The straps that had held them up were released to allow the balloons all the space they needed. And then Aldrick added the gas for the extra lift. Slowly the airship was lifted from the water. Daniel grinned at Ulaman and Tomlin. The sails were raised. This time the wind was with them; it had changed and it was ready to push them to Skarak in almost a straight line. As they flew off, the crowds in the Boragov harbour went crazy with cheers and whistles.

The last leg of their journey went by as in a dream, so quickly. In far less than two hours they crossed the last forty miles to Skarak.

Tomlin used his hydger to inform some people they were coming in, once they were in range to connect. Daniel, in that time, was talking to Seigner Waldo Skinsh ko Talush, the president of the Ship Owner Society, to inform him about the rescued people from the Pricosine.

Aldrick had decided to land the airship outside the harbour again and sail in, like they had done in Boragov.

A strip in the harbour had been cleared for them. There were many people present, many of them family members of the sailors. The news of their arrival had spread like wildfire.

Daniel smiled as he spotted a tiny woman with white hair among the masses. He touched Draiky’s shoulder for a moment and was rewarded with a hug and a big smile.

The airship moored at a spot where several policemen had cleared a large area. After that, everyone left the small ship. It bore the signs of being home to so many people for many days. The sick were carefully brought ashore and taken away to the hospital for a proper check-up and treatment. There were reporters of the newspapers. Seigner Skinsh ko Talush had a speech prepared, and all eyes and ears were his as he spoke. Clelem Dandra ko Galem was there, with his son Warlem. Clelem mingled with the people of the crew, but for unspoken reasons he ignored Daniel.

Before he could approach the owner of the Pricosine, Daniel was called to the front by Skinsh ko Talush. He was awarded an honorary title that did not mean much to him. As soon as he could, he retreated to the back of the crowd, where he found a spot to sit. He had never felt so tired. He had not allowed himself sleep aboard the airship, almost feeling bad to discover when he had nodded off. He’d see to Clelem later-

“Daniel…” a soft voice said. Daniel recognised it without looking.

“Warlem.”

“You did the amazing, Daniel. The impossible. And with such style. I hate to trouble you, but I do need to speak with you,” said the young man.

There was an urgency in his voice that Daniel could not resist. He got up. “Okay. Where? Here?”

Warlem shook his head. “No. Too public.”

Daniel nodded. “Give me a moment.” He went to where Tomlin, Aldrick and the Skipper were standing, told them he was leaving quietly and returned to where Warlem was waiting.

They walked off, to a carriage, Daniel wondering what this would be all about.

As soon as they had entered the carriage, it started to move.

“You are not waiting for your father?” Daniel asked, somewhat without need but curious about the why.

“No. He doesn’t seem to care so much. Daniel, I am really sorry to inconvenience you like this, and when you hear the reason you have my permission to slap me in the face, or anywhere you prefer. We do need your help, though.” Warlem looked in the most pleading way Daniel had someone ever seen.

“Okay. What’s the problem?”

“My sister is gone.”

“Gone where?” Daniel was not sure this was a joke, but it had the makings of it. It couldn’t be one though. Warlem was not the kind of person to go for practical jokes.

“We don’t know. Four days ago she just disappeared. Not a word from her that she was going to do something like that, and also none of her things have been taken. We worry, Daniel, that someone abducted her.” No matter how sneering Warlem could act towards his sister, the man’s face showed serious worry now. “We are going to see my mother now. She too wants to ask you for your help, but I think it is good that you know this beforehand.”

“Your mother. At your house.”

“Yes.”

“And your father? He will either tear my heart out or throw me down the hill.” Daniel was not looking forward to a confrontation, even if he felt sorry for the man about his daughter. But Warlem’s remark…

“I think he would opt for both, Daniel, he is really mightily displeased about something,” Warlem shook his head. “If you feel like sleeping, please, go ahead. We’ll be there in a while. I’ll wake you up.”

“I’ll try. Just close my eyes for a second.” A second was all it took to make him fall asleep.

“Daniel?” It took Warlem some serious shaking to wake the man up. “I am truly sorry to wake you up already. We’ve arrived.”

“Yeah, that’s okay.” It wasn’t, but Daniel was not going to back out of this. A was said, so B was the logical next step.

They clambered out of the carriage and into the basket under the floater. Swiftly they were going up the hill, and Daniel felt a tweak in his heart over the airship that had done so miraculously well. He shivered, from the cold, the lack of sleep, from the tension of the past days that was still in him. A shower, food and a bed were on his mind, the last two not necessarily in that order.

The floater stopped. They got out, stepped into the reception building. Warlem grabbed a coat and offered it to Daniel. “You look cold.”