Paul Kater - Bactine

“And so, Mr. Zacharias, was the meeting with Mr. Slindris. I should add, that while I accidentally bumped into him, something personal of great value made its way into his pocket.” Huajo’s face in the small display almost burst of pleasure. “I have learnt that it is always a good thing to play things safe while being engaged in dangerous games.”

Daniel nodded. “Be careful, sir. It is after all your throne that is at stake at the moment.”

“My throne, Mr. Zacharias, is very solid. It has stood up to a wager before, and all of those have made it more stable. I do take it that you appreciate this information.”

“I certainly do, sir. Thank you very much.” With a grin, Daniel closed his hydger. Yes, the plan was in motion. Now everyone had to keep to it. That was the worrying bit.

Gaguran, in that time, was in the working chamber of Clelem, reporting on how the visit and the offer had gone.

“So he did accept your offer? That is good. Too bad that he knows nothing, or at least says nothing. That fat fox is one to be careful with.”

“Yes, sir. There is something else. He offered me a position.” Gaguran had to tell this. He had never held something from Clelem; history showed that he was bad at keeping secrets from that man.

“A position? Hmmm, interesting. You accepted of course?” Clelem smiled slyly, knowing that Gaguran would never do that.

“Of course I did nothing of the kind, Seigner, and I told Seigner Dogom ko Tzuy that as well. My loyalty is with you.”

“And that is where it has to be, my valued Mr. Slindris.” Clelem nodded slowly, writing tiny crosses on a piece of paper in front of him. “You are free to leave, now. I have business to attend to.”

Gaguran nodded and left the office in silence, while Clelem was brooding on his plans. The Pricosine 2 was almost ready to be sailing. He needed a fresh crew.

Clelem’s hydger rattled. He frowned at Huajo’s sign. “My friend, good day.”

“My friend,” said Huajo. “I am grateful for your offer to let your serving man help me in finding your daughter. But something unfortunate has happened during his visit. I am, of course, not saying that your man is responsible for it, but the time in which it happened is too coincidental.”

Clelem wondered about that. “What happened, my friend?”

“A very precious small object that was on my desk has disappeared since your man left my house. I had people search for it, but so far it has not been retrieved. I wonder if you could ask your serving man if he has seen the object. It is a ruby, set in silver, with a filligrain ship on it.”

Clelem was genuinely surprised. Gaguran had never stolen anything. “I will ask him about it, my dear friend, and I will let you know about this as soon as I know more.”

“More I cannot ask, my dear friend.” Huajo nodded and ended the call. He dialled for Daniel again, to update him on the latest happenings.

Meanwhile, at Clelem’s house, Gaguran was sent for.

“Sir?” Gaguran was quite surprised to be summoned again so quickly after being dismissed.

“I had a disturbing message from Dogom ko Tzuy,” Clelem came straight to the point. “It seems that something which belongs to him disappeared after you left. Did you take something from him?”

“I did not, sir.” Gaguran shook his head. “I wouldn’t do such a thing.”

Clelem was certain of that. Well, for the most part. Gaguran had been acting a bit strangely lately. “Good. We’ll leave it at that for now. Thank you.”

Gaguran left, confused.

Clelem saw him go and was still worried.

Daniel put the book aside and got up. He had been reading for a while and felt stiff in his joints. On a hunch, he walked into the corridor and walked a few steps. He gently knocked on a door.

“Yes?” Rayko was awake.

He entered and stayed by the door. “Hello. I just wanted to know how you are.”

“Oh. You.” Her face twitched, Daniel was not sure if it was from some pain or from seeing him. “I cope.” She held a small handkerchief in her hands, toying thoughtlessly with a corner of it. “I think I have to thank you. For saving my life.” Rayko kept her eyes on the handkerchief.

“I had to do something. I could not let you die there.”

“Die? What do you mean?” Her eyes now were on him.

Oh, crap. He could kick himself. “Well, it did not look like someone was bringing you food and water there.”

“True.” She looked sad. After a while she looked at Daniel again. “How did you know I was there? Wherever that was anyway?”

“Lucky guess, I assume.” Wrong, Daniel. So very wrong.

“Don’t lie to me, Mr. Zacharias.” Her tone was sharp, despite her situation. “You cannot lucky guess things like that.”

“And I am not sure if you are ready to take the truth, Miss Dandra ko Galem.”

“I will decide on that, Mr. Zacharias!”

She should not have spoken so forcefully. She squeezed her eyes shut and almost doubled over in pain.

Without thinking, Daniel reacted. He darted to the bed, and gently took Rayko by the shoulders. “Be careful, take it easy. Come, sit back up. You should not press down on your ribs like that,” he whispered as he slowly guided her back into the pillows. He sat on the bed, watching her face relax slowly.

As her breathing relaxed, she opened her eyes and looked at him. Very slowly she reached for one of his hands and took it in her own small hand. Without looking, she said: “It was you, wasn’t it? You are the preacher.”

Daniel just looked at her.

“You are. Your hands… they are the same.”

“I am not a real preacher,” Daniel said. “The senator…”

“To me you are a preacher, Mr. Zacharias. A preacher always is there in time. And everyone can be a preacher.” A few tears appeared in her eyes and slowly rolled down her cheek. “I’m sorry. I should not cry.” She wiped the tears away.

“You should. You’ve been through a lot.” Daniel held her hand, he could not let go. “This is not the life you should be leading.”

“Nahmyo says,” Rayko started, “that life is what comes to you, and you will be strong enough to take it.”

“Yes, otherwise it won’t come to you, I know,” said Daniel. “She also says that there are times in which you must pull back and work on yourself. If you are not well, you have no business facing the challenges that are waiting for you.”

Rayko did something remarkable. She smiled at him. “I told you. You are the preacher. You know this.”

“I just read it this morning.”

“That’s irrelevant. You know this. ‘You will know the things in time,’ Nahmyo says.”

Daniel laughed without sound. She was tricking him, he knew. “At least I knew this in time. As I knew in time where to find you.”

She looked at him in a serious way. “Tell me, preacher… would I have died if you had not found me?”

Daniel had to force himself to say yes.

“I see…” Rayko said, in a sigh. “He must hate me very much.”

“Your father.” Daniel did not make it sound like a question.

“Yes…”

It did not happen often, but this evening was one where Gaguran was invited to share dinner with Clelem and Ugidra. At first Gaguran was still suspicious, as the talk with Clelem earlier that day had not been the smoothest of all, but the dinner went by nicely, and there was a pleasant atmosphere.

Due to that, the serving man was relaxing. The good wines that had been served had helped as well.

Clelem had talked about the problems at the shipyard, Ugidra had politely yawned behind her hand and Gaguran was sipping some of the special imported black port he liked so much. Something was off though, the mouse slowly formed his thoughts. Usually, when drinking this port, he could still feel his feet. And his hands. Slowly he put the glass on the table and looked at his fingers. They were all there. He was sure. At least, it looked like they were.