Paul Kater - Bactine

Daniel thought back of the blue airship, and excitement filled him again. It had been an incredible adventure, flying with that thing. No spacecraft could ever be a match for that. “Yes, it worked great. I hope we can make an even better one, with what we know now.”

An hour later, Daniel was coming near to Aldrick’s place again, and half an hour after that the two men were going over the drawings and writing that Daniel had made.

“That, Daniel, is very strange. We cannot put the floaters on sticks like you drew there. And what’s this?”

Daniel pointed out, explained, and wondered about things, together with the inventor.

“Do you really think the steering wheel should be removed?” Aldrick looked pained by the thought.

“It is useless, Aldrick.”

“Yes. That is so. But I like the wheel.”

“Maybe we can put up a smaller one then.”

They haggled about the wheel for a while and decided to leave it for now. Then Daniel used his hydger to get in touch with Tomlin. He explained where he was and what they were doing, and then relayed his ideas about the new steam engine.

Tomlin appreciated the ideas and said he would give it some serious thought. He also laughed as he heard Daniel mutter about the steering wheel. “Make the silly fart happy, leave him the wheel, Daniel. Attach it to some propeller that he can wiggle about.”

Daniel laughed, then stared at the display. “But of course. That’s it!”

“Uh? That’s what?” Tomlin was lost.

“I’ll get back to you, Tomlin. I have an idea again. I have to go now!” Daniel ended the talk and quickly walked over to a drawing-table. He grabbed a pencil and started sketching. “Aldrick!!”

Aldrick stared at the drawing and heard Daniel’s explanation. “Do you think that’s going to work?”

“It did, centuries ago on my old home planet, so why not here?” Daniel had drawn the new airship, with the floaters high up. There were two small sails on the ship, at the bow, and at the back he had drawn two propellers. “If we can get this working, there is a need for the steering wheel too. Turning the wheel will turn the direction of the propellers, and then you can influence where you go.”

Aldrick caught the bug. “This is amazing. Daniel, this is a miracle. I will start drawing and think of how we can do this!”

Daniel could almost hear the gears and cogs in Aldrick’s head work, as he philosophised on the mechanism to manipulate the propellers. He left the inventor alone and went to look at the way the floaters were now strapped to the airship.

Aldrick served a pretty decent lunch. Daniel had helped where he could, but the kitchen of the house was not a place where he felt safe. It looked as if anything would jump him if he did not keep an eye on it, and he did not have enough eyes.

Daniel’s hydger started rattling. “Ah, that must be Tomlin, with some good ideas.”

Aldrick, who did not own an intrusive device like that, frowned.

Daniel opened the box and almost dropped it. On the display was a black triangle without a name. This could not be true. Slowly he flipped the switch. “Hello.”

Aldrick noticed the change in Daniel and looked at the man in wonder.

“Mr. Zacharias,” the voice with the metal brush sound said. “We need to meet.”

Daniel stared at the hydger. “You. Yes. We really have to meet. And when we meet I want some answers.”

“You will get your answers, Mr. Zacharias,” the voice said.

“Where do you suggest we meet?” Daniel asked.

“I would suggest neutral ground.”

Daniel was not really in the mood for that. “I would suggest that you come to the foot of the hill where senator Dirrit ko Assac lives. There is a crossroad there.”

The voice on the other side said: “The foot of the hill it will be. I will arrive tomorrow morning.” That was all. The display went its normal grey again.

“And I’ll be there,” Daniel announced to the silent box. He closed it and put it away. “This is going to be interesting.”

The day went by with jumps for Daniel. There were times he and Aldrick were very busy, hacking, cutting and grinding, there were also times he had to wait and at those moments the meeting with the cloaked person did not leave his thoughts for a moment.

Later that evening he told Sygra about the strange call.

“You have mentioned this cloaked figure before. Are you sure you want to go into that meeting alone, Daniel? I can arrange for some safety if you want.”

“Thank you, Sygra. I am sure I can deal with this person myself. I’ll take a good stick with me. That can come in handy.”

“You can take Kernak too,” Sygra offered. “She likes to be with you and is quite good at protecting someone.”

Daniel gave that a thought. “Might not even be wrong to do that. If you really believe it is safe to take her.”

“It would make me feel better, Daniel.”

Daniel was awake very early the next morning. The one person who had been so mysteriously weaved through all that had happened was going to meet him today. Daniel had given up his attempts to contact the triangle; there never had been a response. But now things were different.

Sygra had once more insisted he should take Kernak along. “Don’t worry, Daniel, she won’t get hurt. It takes a lot to hurt a Kotrvayk.”

Daniel was convinced of that. He thought of it as he let Kernak out of the garden, through the small reception building. He had first worried about a leash or something, but Sygra had laughed at that idea.

“Where do you want her to take you, Daniel?” he had asked, which was where Daniel saw reason. “She likes you. She will stay with you and protect you. And Kernak will enjoy it, she does not go out very often.” That was obvious also.

Kernak was very easy going and followed along calmly as Daniel walked down the hill. The crossroad, he knew, was behind a long and slow bend, but he was very early and had plenty of time to enjoy the gentle breeze and the sunshine. As he walked along the deserted road, he was suddenly very aware of being there, in the land, the feel of the ground under his feet, the large Kotrvayk with him. It made him slow down and come to a halt.

Kernak turned her mighty head to looked at him, and walked back. She lay down at his feet. Daniel hardly noticed it, as he took in the scent of the area while the wind messed with his hair. He squatted down and stroked Kernak’s head. “This is an amazing place, girl,” he told her. Slowly he rose to his feet again, and as he made the next step, Kernak was up also and with him.

Daniel noticed it now and was stunned. What an amazing creature. They went on. It took them over a quarter of an hour to reach the crossroad.

“In the morning”, the cloaked voice had said. Well, there was plenty of morning to enjoy.

Daniel and Kernak waited. At times he took a short stroll, the animal on his heels. They lay on the ground, sat, and Daniel at times whistled a tune. Then he heard the familiar rattling of wheels on the hard road. A carriage worked itself towards the crossroad.

Daniel and Kernak stood again when the carriage reached them and came to a halt. Daniel’s hand was on Kernak’s back. “It’s okay, Kernak.”

The door of the carriage opened, and the cloaked figure came out of it. As soon as the entire person was with both feet on the ground, the cloak unfolded to its large size. Daniel heard the rush that the strange mask made of the breathing.

“I am here,” said the mysterious stranger. Behind him, the carriage slowly pulled away, en route for a new customer.

“Yes. And so am I,” Daniel said. “You need not fear the Kotrvayk as long as you do nothing strange or threatening.”