Paul Kater - Bactine

Daniel stepped aside to let the man do his work. Dammit Rhonda, where are you when I need you, he thought to himself. He was certain that the doctor was very capable, but the things the man carried in his bag did not fill him with much confidence. To his surprise he saw how Rayko even tried to push the doctor away.

“Preacher…” she repeated.

Daniel kneeled by the bed and took her hand. “I am here. Be calm. Let the doctor do.” It seemed to calm her down.

The doctor gave her a few small pills, that she barely could swallow down. With the help of luke warm tea it worked, however.

“This is medicine against the fever,” the doctor said, “and something to help her sleep. A fever is not uncommon in situations like these.”

Daniel wondered how often the doctor had encountered a situation like this, but remained silent. Sygra thanked the doctor, who was then taken to the front door again. The preacher sat down on the bed again and looked at the pale face. She did not look like someone who would play a game of any sort, he thought.

“Preacher… tell me of Nahmyo,” she whispered as she dropped a hand on his knee. She closed her eyes.

Daniel swallowed hard. He was getting into quicksand and there was hardly a way to avoid it. Suddenly he heard a whisper behind him. He recognised the voice of the senator. After the first line he knew what he had to do: simply repeat the slowly spoken words.

“Nahmyo was on the world… she had been sent with a message… to tell the people about life… and the world around…”

Sygra and Daniel spoke for several minutes. Daniel noticed how Rayko was falling asleep, as she was relaxing. At a certain point Daniel stopped talking, Sygra holding still also.

“She sleeps,” Daniel said as he turned to the senator.

“You did well, Daniel,” the thin man smiled.

Daniel got up after placing Rayko’s hand under the cover. Quietly all but one servant left the room. The servant would watch over Rayko.

“I did nothing but repeat your words, senator,” said Daniel.

“You were there. That was more important. Now we should try to get some more sleep. Interruptions like these will take their toll over the day.”

Daniel nodded. Silently he went back to his room, took off the brown and grey clothes and fell into the bed again. There were no more dreams waiting for him.

The next day he woke up amazingly refreshed, despite the broken night. He dressed in what the servants of the senator had arranged for him and headed to the room where breakfast was being served. Sygra was already there and greeted him.

“You are up early, sir,” Daniel said as he sat down, ready to be surprised what would come from the kitchen.

“Old people sleep little,” Sygra said with a wink. “Once again, my gratitude for being here, Daniel.”

Daniel shrugged. “I have few options. It is not easy being dead, and this house is a lot more inviting than the average coffin.”

The day crawled on for a while. Rayko was asleep and Daniel was reading the book that his host had supplied him with. He jumped as the hydger rattled. He saw Huajo’s call sign.

“Seigner Dogom ko Tzuy,” Daniel said, “good day.”

“Good day, Mr. Zacharias.” Huajo had a smile on his face, which was something that made Daniel feel good. “I think I am bringing excellent news.”

“That sounds very positive, sir, you have my full attention.”

Somewhat earlier that morning, at the house of the Dogom ko Tzuy family, there had been a very unexpected visitor. Gaguran Slindris…

“Good morning, Seigner,” Gaguran said. “My lord, Seigner Dandra ko Galem, has ordered me to come here. He wants you to know, and so do I, that all my services are yours to use, in order to find Miss Rayko.”

“Mr.Slindris, good morning. I must say that I am quite surprised about this offer. Pleasantly surprised, do not get me wrong. Please, sit down. Can I offer you something?” Huajo was in his element. The plan they had been working on was still going well.

Gaguran sat down and accepted tea and the inevitable cookies that this house seemed to have growing somewhere in abundance. “As you may be aware of, Seigner, I have a special affection for Miss Rayko,” the mouse said, “so it is very important and dear to me that she is found.”

“I understand, Mr. Slindris. I have yet to deploy people to all kinds of places, but that will be done today.” Huajo had indeed prepared a few search crews who would be heading out today, it all had to look as genuine as possible.

“Are there already things that have reached you, sir, that would be of benefit for the peace of mind of my Seigner and his lady?” Gaguran asked. The order that Clelem had given him was simply to find out how much Huajo already knew.

“I am sorry, sir, there is no news yet,” Huajo said. “You can rest assured that I will not delay in telling you if something arises.”

Gaguran nodded. “Of course, sir. I am just asking, of course, as you are probably very well aware of the crisis my Seigner and the lady are going through.”

Huajo noticed that the man seemed nervous.

Clelem had told Gaguran to offer his services, in order to get an inside take on things concerning Huajo. Gaguran at first had had his doubts and arguments against that. It had been rough on him to arrange Rayko’s kidnapping. When later he had learnt that Clelem had made sure that Rayko had been taken to the cellar in the building where Gaguran himself had ordered the implosion grenade to be installed, he had started to rebel against Clelem.

Clelem however had ways to pull Gaguran over his problems. The prospect of money and influence, and later also his pick of a woman to get over Rayko, had done the trick in the end. Enough money and influence were the things that had beckoned Gaguran as his dream goal. So he had given in. With the wry certainty that, if he could not have Rayko, nobody would. It was not the first time his boss had asked to make sure someone’s end was hurried.

“You seem ill at ease, Mr. Slindris,” said Huajo as he got up. He walked around his desk and patted the man on the shoulder. “I can understand that. You are in a very difficult situation now, of course, with so many contradicting things to do.”

Gaguran frowned for a moment. “I am not sure what you are referring to, Seigner…” He was not going to be easy to read.

“What I mean, sir, is that you are facing the loss of someone dear, who has so far not returned your feelings. This must make for a very uncomfortable working environment, unless I am mistaken.” Huajo smiled, almost as a father figure.

“It is… awkward, indeed.” Gaguran was certain he could admit to that. After all, he was in a strange situation, all things considered.

“I assumed so much,” Huajo nodded. “Therefore I thought it might be interesting for you to expand your horizon. Fly out to a new employer, for instance, to be away from the hardship that is put onto you.”

Gaguran worked through the words he heard carefully. “Are you offering me a position, Seigner Dogom ko Tzuy?”

“Let us say that I would not be against such a thought,” Huajo smiled, playing it safe enough and yet opening a door for the man.

“Sir, I do beg your pardon. My loyalty is with Seigner Dandra ko Galem. I do not see the need for me to change position. My relationship with the Seigner is strictly on terms of business.” Gaguran got up. “I think I should return now, sir. I thank you for your time.”

Huajo got up also, his large body making him sway and bump into Gaguran. “I am truly sorry, Mr. Slindris,” he said, “my knees, you know.”

Gaguran nodded. “No harm done, sir. I will hear from you about any news.” The mouse nodded and quickly left the house.