NAAN (The Rabanians Book 1) (19 page)

“Disappointment with the developing world was one of the characteristics of the first settlers,” read Daio out loud from a summary he wrote. “In response they turned their backs on that world and chose to live frugally, doing only what they must to get by. This way of life leached into the education system, and from there into the values of the population. Over the years, the new generations grew up with an inherent contempt for the modern life and to the wealth it offered.”

“Sinner’s plague,” mumbled Daio pacing the living room like an animal in a cage.

“I assume there is an explanation for this,” said Dug standing next to the window and looking outside.

“Dozens dead,” said Daio. “
P
rocessions. Have you heard about this? There will be processions.”

Dug lifted his eyebrows, “Yes, terrible,” he said still looking outside.

“He hid it from us the whole time. I’m sure of it.”

“I don't think so,” said Dug. “We were busy with so many things that it simply didn't come up.”

“Don't be naïve,” said Daio. He suddenly stopped. “You remember the boxes next to the house in the forest? The little boxes? The shrouds on the table?”

Dug lifted his eyebrows again.

“That was a year ago. The plague must hit this place once a year!” said Daio angrily. “Nearly every house has lost someone.” 

Dug glanced to his right when the gate squeaked open. “The Doctor is here,” he said.

Daio walked towards the remote cabinet. Dug thought he was trying to avoid a confrontation with the Doctor. 

“Let him talk,” said Dug. Daio lifted his hand into the air as a sign of calmness yet he shook his head as if he didn't know what to do.

“Let's first hear him out before we jump to any conclusion,” continued Dug. “It’s what you always tell me.”

Daio turned back toward the living room when the Doctor stepped inside.

“I know you are angry,” said the Doctor when he stood at the entrance to the living room. He gazed at Daio standing far from him “Why didn't you tell me?” asked Daio walking forward.

“I was afraid,” said the Doctor.

“You were afraid we would run away,” said Daio and the Doctor nodded.

“You should have given us that choice.”

“I know.”

Daio shook his head, and walked past the Doctor. “What is this disease?” he asked. “How can you be so indifferent? Dozens of children have already died.”

“They’ve been dying for hundreds of years and there is nothing I or anyone else can do about it,” said the Doctor.

“What does it mean? I cannot believe this. How can you live like this?”

The Doctor’ impassive face made him angry and his command of the language suddenly failed.

   The Doctor walked towards him. “I have done my best for them, but as you can see, I haven’t succeeded very well. I need help. I need people that care about what is going on here. People who will succeed where I have failed.”

“This was your plan all along,” said Dug decisively.

The Doctor nodded. “I am sorry if you feel I cheated you. I have great respect for you and for what you have done. I never thought of hurting you.”

“But you lied so we wouldn’t leave,” said Dug.

The Doctor nodded again. The true lie was ten times bigger.

“I had a feeling you were up to something,” said Daio.

The Doctor nodded. He thought of the shuttle he’d sent on its way two hundred years earlier. He would take that secret with him to his grave.

Daio walked back to the cabinet. “What do you know about this plague?”

“It comes every year and it always ends, eventually,” said the Doctor with confidence. “It won't be long until everything returns to its course.”

“I know. I understand that,” said Daio angrily. Again his anger robbed him of his Naanite vocabulary. The Doctor thought about bringing back his translation box, but feared it would only aggravate him more.

“No,” said Daio suddenly realizing what he’d said. He turned to the Doctor. “I don't understand this. I don't accept this. We cannot let people die and not do anything!”

“I understand you are having hard time accepting this reality,” said the Doctor, “but there is no other way.”

Daio sighed and searched for the right words. “You are not even looking for a cure?” he asked. “All illnesses have a cure, some way to treat the afflicted, this one should too.”

"I am not familiar with the details. It was before my time," said the Doctor.

"I cannot accept their indifference. This is murder,” said Daio.

“I understand how you feel. I also want to find a cure for this disease, but you need to understand that it's not so simple. Not only will a cure be difficult to find, but the people here don't believe it's exists.”

“I want to talk to the House of Commons,” said Daio.

The Doctor sighed. “You will but now is not the time.”

“Now!” said Daio.

“You will only aggravate them right now. They are busy this time of the year. Every one of them has someone ill in his house or in the family and everyone is getting ready for…the processions.”

“It cannot wait. I want to meet with them now. I want answers,” insisted Daio. He walked to the window, looked outside gritting his teeth. “If they cooperate fine, if not…”

The Doctor walked towards him. ”If you succeed in finding a cure you will become the king of Naan.  It will be a huge success. A revolution.”

Daio turn to him. “I am not looking for kingdom and I don't know what revolution you are talking about. Nowhere else in the universe do people believe they die for their sins.”

“In other places people die for reasons no less ridiculous,” said the Doctor. “And it will be a revolution because this disease is not caused by a lack of cleanness, or by having too few doctors. Nor is it caused by the lack of advanced enough equipment in the hospitals."

Neither Daio nor Dug was sure about the Doctor last statement.

"It doesn’t have a cause one can easily identify," continued the Doctor. "Besides that you already know the people here are different and this is a major part of the problem. If you find a cure it will change their crooked way of thinking. Naan will change dramatically."

Daio nodded.

"But it must take place at the right time because if we fail it will be our end."

“Ours?”

“Ours,” said the Doctor. “It won't be easy and you will not be able to do it by yourselves. I will help in any way I can. When the time comes I’ll do anything you ask. We will succeed or fail together. This will be our test but it must take place at the right time, and this is not the time for it.”

Daio gazed at him. The Doctor looked pensive and Daio wondered if he was being honest or once again the Doctor had some hidden agenda.

"Why do they call it the sinner plague?" asked Dug.

The Doctor shrugged his shoulders. "It's just some stupid belief. I wouldn't worry about it too much."

“I still want to speak to the House of Commons,” said Daio. 

The Doctor sighed. “Daio, we need to be wise about this. You are not fully accepted here yet. You’ve done wonderful things for this community, but you are still strangers and many think you are vain. They don't trust you enough and to try something like this now is going to be a huge risk. It's not the time.”

“So what are we supposed to do? Let children die?”

“Yes. We must let children die today so we can save those not yet born, and in the process save Naan,” said the Doctor.

Daio walked towards one of the armchairs and sat heavily.  “How can you live with this?” he asked and then nodded his head. “How am I going to live with this?”

The Doctor walked towards him and shrugged his shoulders. “I live with this the same way l live with the unpleasant fact that one day I'll die. The people here live with this disease because it is a part of life here.”

Daio let his arm fall to the arm of the chair and held his head.

“The Processions will start in few days,” said the Doctor. “I think it will be appropriate for you to join them.”

Daio lifted his head, “Yes, of course,” he said pensively.

“You are not leaving me I hope?” said the Doctor suddenly switching his gaze between the two brothers.

Daio looked at his big face and shot a glance at Dug. “We are still here,” he said and sounded disappointed. He wanted to demand that the Doctor be honest with them from now on, and that he shouldn't hide any more information, but he felt his words would be worthless.

The Doctor bowed and left the living room. The two brothers remained quiet until they heard his car pull away.

“A very unique man, this Doctor,” said Dug gazing through the window and looking at the Doctor's car going through the open gate.

"To say the least," said Daio shaking his head.

“Something he said bothers me,” said Dug.

Daio chuckled. “Dug, everything he said bothers me.”

“Yes, but I mean something else,” said Dug pensively.  He turned at Daio. “He said he has tried hard to help
them
.”

“Yes. What's odd about that?”

“I don't know. Maybe it's just a feeling, but for a moment it felt as if he was saying he’s not Naanite."

The House of Commons was opposite the police station at Naan's main intersection. Their noisy car stopped at the entrance to the building and their driver hurried out to open the door for them. They got out, rocking the car from side to side, and stepped towards the main door. A few other members of the Commons arrived at the same time, their faces gloomy. They too walked towards the building entrance. Their fast little steps seemed to say they wanted to get this over with and to go back to their vacation. The time of the plague had been designated as a recess many years ago. Daio greeted them but he was so agitated that his language was confused. 

The head of the gathering, Detch Yoch, stood and waited for everyone to be seated around the large table in the conference hall. When everyone was silent he spoke.

“First I would like to ask that we keep this gathering short. I know we are all busy this time of the year so let's avoid pointless bickering.” He looked around, to make sure his words were accepted, paying particular attention to those members he suspected enjoyed verbal sparring.

“Good. I now invite Daio Plaser to tell us why he has called this emergency session,” he said and sat down.

A hum went through the crowd and Detch rapped sharply on a ragged wood plate with his gavel. The humming died.

“I have asked you all here to clear up a few things,” said Daio when he stood up. He gazed down at the digital notepad where he’d written his thoughts, but immediately laid it on the table.

“I am sorry for asking you here during your vacations,” he said then paused silently thinking, in Seragonian, that the translation for their vacation was
funeral leave.
   

“I think that when so many children and people die in a single week it should be considered a crisis worthy of bringing this body together.”

The hum went through the crowd again and Detch was forced to use his gavel again. Daio was excited. He smiled; embarrassed, thinking the humming was caused by his poor ability with their language. He gazed at Dug sitting next to him. Dug frowned and gave him a thoughtful nod.