Bactine (52 page)

"I am staying at the house of senator Dirrit ko Asac, Tomlin. I was in hiding here, during the time I was officially 'deceased' and he told me to stay as long as I need to."

"And?" Tomlin asked.

"I'm okay. Good. Well, mostly."

"Good. I just want to know that you are taken care of, Daniel. You're my friend, and this stuff of late has shown me that more clearly than ever. If we can do something for you, Daniel, let us know. Come to visit, call if you have to talk. And don't just say yes, I want you to promise me."

"I promise, Tomlin. You'll be sorry."

"Try me," the man in the display said. "Take care, Daniel..."

Before Daniel could get up, there was another call, from Ulaman this time. And one from Waldo Skinsh ko Talush after him. And some more calls, until Daniel was about to fling the hydger in a corner. Somehow the spirits of the place had understood that, because then the hydger remained silent.

"Sheesh," he muttered. He got up, put on a jacket to slip the hydger into a pocket and left his room. He just had to go to Rayko's room. To his surprise it was empty. The sheets had been taken off the bed and the woman was not there. Daniel walked on, into the dining room. Nobody. Finally, in the small library, he found Sygra.

"Ah, Daniel. You look better."

"I do, thank you. I noticed that Rayko is not in her room."

"Indeed. You noticed well. Do sit down, Daniel." As he had sat down, Sygra said: "Rayko was rather upset as I told her what had happened. I really did all I could to be diplomatic about it, but she insisted I call a carriage and her mother. She has left, and went home. Her mother was, as you may understand, in tears for joy to know her daughter was still alive. The poor woman still was in shock as she heard about the loss of her husband."

Daniel stared at the senator. He heard the words and acknowledged them. This was not what he had hoped for. But, he asked himself, what had he hoped for? That Rayko would have been happy hearing that he'd had a hand in the demise of the man who she had always thought to be her father?

"Give things some time, Daniel. You and she were getting along so well, I am convinced that she will contact you once she got herself together. Also remember that she was still in shock over what had happened, and she was in a lot of pain. Being at home with her family is better for her than being with us men."

Sygra was right, Daniel knew it. But still, the feeling that he was stuck with now did not make things well. She was better off at home, with her family and her own things. The understanding that had grown between Rayko and him had come from the situation, not because they had chosen for it. The whole preacher thing had also been a cover, a way for Daniel to get around. Had he not worn that, she would never have talked to him.

"Indeed. It is better this way," Daniel said. He hoped his face did not betray too much of how he felt in reality.

"Let me advise you to get something to eat, Daniel. It's been a long and hard day, and one that started very early for you as well. And then get some rest. After that, things will look different."

Daniel slowly nodded. "Yes, you're probably right."

Daniel was walking around the area. He had left Sygra's house a few hours ago and had kept on walking and running. He wore simple clothes that could take a beating. The need inside him to do something was growing, almost screaming at him.

There had been an official police investigation concerning the affair on the shipyard, Daniel had been summoned to the Zoroon courthouse (as Skarak did not have one) where he had been submitted to hours of questions in the witness stand. One time he had almost been accused of drug smuggling himself, and conspiring with Clelem Dandra ko Galem, but these things had quickly been set straight by Seigner Skinsh ko Talush, the senator and Huajo.

Rayko had not been present at any of the sessions, she had given notice that she was in too much pain and grief to be able to face all that. Warlem had been at one of the sessions; Daniel had seen him sit, in the back. The young man's face had not told him anything, and by the time the court session was over, Warlem had left already.

For several days now he had been sitting, reading and thinking, and nothing had happened outsides these boundaries. He felt alone, deserted, no longer welcome anywhere.

"You have to do something," Daniel told himself as he tried to power lift a fallen-down tree. "See, you're getting weak!" Of course, that was not true. His Glandrine skin was no match for a full Bactine body, but he needed something to slap himself over the head with.

The day before, he had visited Ulaman, Xandree and a few of the others. They were all well, but with Clelem out of commission they were not certain about their future.

Daniel had contacted the president of the Ship Owners Society for them and asked him about what the sailors were to do now. Seigner Skinsh ko Talush had promised to look into the matter, and that was where the curtain fell for Daniel. Ulaman and the others had been grateful, certainly, but that did not give Daniel anything substantial to do for now.

With Birkle, the most feared pirate, out of the way, ships were sailing much more safely now, and the need for security was no longer an urgent matter.

"Talk about making yourself redundant," Daniel muttered as he reached for the bottle of water he had with him. It was empty. "Sure." He took it as his cue to go back to the house.

After returning, he made himself more presentable again. He'd been to town a few times to buy new clothes and other things a former dead person might need. All his things had been destroyed by the bomb in the building, and during the time he had stayed hidden at Sygra's, there had not been an option to do that.

Feeling decent again, he picked up a book and sat in the small library, enjoying a cup of tea. Before opening the book, he stared at the cover. It was the old, leather bound book about Nahmyo, the one that Sygra had lent to him. Daniel had read it twice now, and he felt compelled to read certain parts again. Somehow, he felt, these parts could jog his mind into action. Decide what to do next.

He had been reading for a while, in silence. The staff in the house was amazingly quiet, as always, and Sygra had gone for a few days, to take care of some senatorial business. Then his hydger rattled.

As Daniel picked up the by now battered box, he grinned. He had gotten used to the sound and the feel of the thing. "Daniel Zacharias," he said as he saw the seal of the Ship Owners Society.

"Mr. Zacharias, this is Mr. Varning. From the Society. The president would like to speak with you this afternoon. Would that be convenient for you?"

"I am sure I can fit a visit into my schedule," Daniel said, glad with the reason to escape the house.

"That is most kind of you, sir. We will make arrangements then." Varning nodded and the face disappeared.

As of that moment, Daniel hoped that lunch would come quickly, so he could actually go. Lunch however was not the kind of thing that let itself be hurried, so when he finally was ready to go, he'd had time to change clothes again and make sure he was looking his best. He had learnt that this was appreciated in the circles of the Society.

The carriage came, Daniel got on it and as the journey went along, he wondered what the talk might be about. Something to do would be nice. Then he resorted to staring out the window and taking in the sights he had seen so often already. It gave him peace of mind. When the carriage ride was over, Daniel felt good.

Varning was at the door to let him in and take his coat. "Welcome, Mr. Zacharias. The President is waiting for you." Varning had the uncanny ability to pronounce capitals in any word he chose. "If you would care to follow me."

Daniel cared, and so he was taken to the large office where he had first met Seigner Skinsh ko Talush. As he entered he saw three more people. One was Huajo, who was hard to miss. The other two he had seen before, at Clelem's evening party, but he could not remember their names if he had gotten gold for them. They were introduced to him as Seigner Folkling ko Keran and Seigner Willin ko Noles.

"Mr. Zacharias, we are very pleased that you could find the time to join us this afternoon," said the president. He held a piece of paper in his hand, which made Daniel feel itchy. This could mean anything.

"Today we have come here, to honour Mr. Daniel Zacharias. He has performed actions that were far beyond the duty he was asked to perform here. In more than one situation he put his personal life at risk for the Society."

This was what Daniel had feared.

"Even more, Mr. Zacharias found out about the illegal practices that one of our esteemed members was entertaining, and again at the risk of his own life, he did not only divulge the indecent affairs, he also exposed and eliminated one of the most feared pirates of our continent."

It was Tomlin who had taken care of Birkle, Daniel thought with an inaudible sigh.

"For this, we, being the Seigner Huajo Dogom ko Tzuy, the Seigner Folkling ko Keran and the Seigner Willin ko Noles, and myself, hereby award Mr. Daniel Zacharias this medal of Valour and Reward."

The president opened a small box and took out a golden medal. It was, inevitably, the shape of a ship. Each of the four small sails was adorned with a gem; a sapphire, an emerald, an opal and a ruby. It was carefully pinned to Daniels jacket, and then the four men shook his hand, calmly and solemnly.

Mr. Varning came into the room, as if he had been eavesdropping. He carried a silver tray with five large crystal glasses. They all had the finest cognac of the planet in them.

As all the gentlemen were handed a glass, Huajo stepped to Daniel and raised his glass. "My friend," he said to Daniel, "I hope this is not too much of a shock for you. I am fully aware that this is not the social activity you are used to, but I had to recommended you for this medal. I had to. You are not aware what you have done for the community, Mr. Zacharias. Do you know how many lives are saved through your work, how much food is now reaching its destination again?"

"Not really, no," Daniel had to admit.

"Mr. Zacharias," said Seigner Folkling ko Keran, "the community is in your debt. We dare say that per week about one dozen of lives of sailors are spared. And I am not counting the many hundreds of people on islands who are depending on the deliveries of our ships."

Daniel recalled the offloading of food at some of the islands the man referred to and nodded.

"These people work hard, choose to live in barren conditions compared to our luxury. Without our ships sailing in safety, they fear of hunger. A very real fear, sir," Seigner Folkling ko Keran ended.

Daniel had not expected to hear things like this. And it wasn't over yet.

Seigner Willin ko Noles raised his glass. "When Seigner Dogom ko Tzuy asked me to witness and second this occasion, sir, I was not certain what I should do. I chose to take up the matter with the young Seigner Warlem Dandra ko Galem, and he told me about your heroism. I have visited the sailors who have sailed with you, Mr. Zacharias. These men and women swore you are their friend for life, because you took care of them as an equal. That, sir, made my choice simple."

Daniel was confused. Warlem? The man could not be serious. Warlem was a good person, but to decide something on the views of a poet... He did appreciate that the seigner had gone to see the sailors also. It made him feel somewhat more appreciative of the whole affair.

The gentlemen watched Daniel. To his embarrassment he understood that it now was his turn to say something. "Uhm, first of all I have to thank you for giving me this, uhm, medal." Great start, Zacharias, you are still as smooth with this as with the first medal you got in active duty. "I only did my job, and I'm glad that it has so many good things to show now." Way to go, preacher. That last thought made Daniel fall silent for a moment. "My heart goes out to the families who have lost dear ones, to the pirates, and during the fight on the new Pricosine. When Seigner Dogom ko Tzuy and I started all this, we had no idea that it would end in such bloodshed. I am proud and honoured to fight at the side of these men, who were brave, and willing to risk their life for this cause..."

Huajo raised his glass once again. "Well spoken." The others joined in.

The official part of the honouring was over. The two witnesses took their leave, and Huajo led Daniel away from the office of the president after their goodbyes.

"Mr. Zacharias," he said after they had found a nice place to sit. The seating arrangement was in a corner, the seats of white leather. Large windows let in abundant sunlight.

"This medal you received is something special. I know of only two other occasions that people were awarded this medal, and one was posthumously. Let's drink to the fact that you are still with us to receive it, and to enjoy it."

Daniel could not agree more. He had seen too many good men die and receive medals after being buried. He raised the large crystal glass and sipped the exquisite cognac.

"We are looking into several things, Mr. Zacharias." Huajo sipped some more cognac. "Things we cannot say much about. But you can rest assured, dear friend, that we will continue to see that your funds will be transferred. And if there is something I can do for you, please tell me. You have saved my life, and that is something I will not easily forget."