Bactine

by Paul Kater

"Obviously."

  "Let me take you out to dinner, Rhonda. It is too nice a day to be spending in here," Daniel suggested.

  Rhonda frowned. "Do you think that's smart? Do you want to be seen with someone like me?"

  "They already saw us, so who cares. I do think we could fix you up, though."

  "Fix me up?"

  -=-=-

  "This is one hundred percent insane, Daniel." Rhonda stood outside the dress rental shop and regarded herself in the reflection of the window. "Just let no one on star base hear about this..."

  She wore a simple grey dress. Her hair was kept under control by a hairnet and crowned by a small grey hat with a white feather. Her own clothes were in a large shoulder bag that still fit with her costume. The change was dramatic. Rhonda looked like a woman.

  "My lady, would you accompany me?" Daniel held up his arm.

  "What?" Rhonda stared for a moment. "Oh. Right."

  Arm in arm they walked into the street, getting lost in the crowds that all were looking for a place to sit and eat. Daniel knew where to go, and soon they sat in a small booth, separated from the larger seating area. Daniel had ordered a nice wine, the order for the food was out also.

  "This is so different, Daniel. And the scary bit is that you fit in here." Rhonda sipped her wine. "And this is really good, as far I know something of wine."

  Daniel nodded, drank from his wine also, and looked at Rhonda. "How are things on the base?"

  "Okay. Nothing much happening so you don't miss a lot. Troy got carted off to the shit planet, you know that? Right. Ludo turned around like a leaf after Troy left. Nice guy. Rudyer retired. Oh... I should not have mentioned that name, perhaps."

  Daniel frowned. The name of the general that had technically kicked him out of the service still sounded painful.

  "Captain Chambers has taken over his place, he got promoted tremendously."

  "Oh, that's good." Daniel remembered Chambers. "Glad to hear that. If you see him, please give him my regards."

  "My regards," Rhonda echoed. "You never said you were born here and just snuck out to the base, Daniel." She grinned and finished her glass of wine.

  During dinner, they had several more glasses of wine and talked about everything they could think of. Rhonda really enjoyed herself and Daniel felt as if he had never been so relaxed since he had arrived on NGC6637-VIII.

  As they were sipping the best cognac-ish drink the restaurant had to offer, Daniel settled the bill with his ring. Rhonda was amazed by the simplicity of the system.

  They walked back to the street where Daniel could summon a carriage. "Can I take you somewhere, Rhonda?"

  "I think you can... Wait..." She dug around in the shoulder bag. "Dammit, where is the stupid bloody- oh, here it is." She held up a cable. "I thought you might like to..."

  Daniel stared at the cable as if it was something entirely alien to him. "You brought one?"

  "Of course," she said as she put it back in her bag. "As my dear mother used to say: never leave home without one."

  Daniel laughed along with her. "You had a really clever mother, Rhonda Flower." He pulled out the hydger and called for a carriage.

  They went into the apartment. They needed no light. Clothes fell, Bactine bodies connected, and the cable slipped into connectors. They spent most of the evening and part of the night making love in that amazing way that left them both drained.

  -=-=-

  Daniel woke up. He knew, before he had his eyes open, that Rhonda was not lying next to him. He got up and found her looking out the window, the morning light painting the town and the harbour in soft pastels. He slipped his arms around her.

  "No, Daniel. Don't." She slowly pushed his arms away, yet remained standing against him, looking outside. "You know this won't work. Not with us."

  "I know. But holding you feels good."

  "Okay then. Hold me. But that's all."

  Daniel wrapped his arms around her again, but the moment was gone and lost forever. After a few minutes he let go. "I really want to thank you, Rhonda. For visiting me."

  Rhonda turned and leaned against the wall next to the window. "I wanted to. Just a visit. To check on you. My privilege, since I reconstructed you." She grinned. "It's good to see you again. Too bad I have to go again."

  "I still have a few days off, Rhonda," Daniel said.

  "That's good for you. I have to leave today, Daniel." She walked to the table with the shoulder bag, pulled out her clothes and put them on. "Thank you, for a wonderful dinner. For renting the dress. And the night I got to spend here."

  "Do you want me to come with you?"

  She shook her head, sending her short black hair dancing. "No. I would appreciate it if you could call me one of those carts and program it for the Embargo plaza or whatever the place is. I get frustrated spelling out the numbers that the thing doesn't understand."

  "You mean the Embarcado Circle," Daniel grinned. "Yes, I will do that. And I'll pay the fare for you." He got dressed.

  Rhonda folded the dress and put it in the shoulder bag, together with the hairnet and the little hat. She chuckled as she looked at it for a last time.

  Daniel picked up the bag and escorted Rhonda downstairs, where he called for a carriage. In silence they waited until it arrived, and Rhonda got in.

  "Thanks for everything, Daniel," she said as he set the destination for her using the hydger.

  Just as he left the carriage, she quickly kissed his cheek. Then the door closed and the carriage pulled away into the traffic.

  Daniel stared after it until it was lost in the hustle and bustle. Something inside him rolled over and scratched in a most painful way. He looked at the bag in his hand. He turned and started walking towards the dress rental shop, the scratches getting worse with every step.

  18. Huajo Dogom ko Tzuy

  Daniel woke up after a short night. Sleep had forgotten to attend. He had been thinking about too many things. He had kicked himself, for not going after Rhonda. He also knew that she would have kicked him if he had, so the end result was all the same.

  He got up and stood at the window where Rhonda had been not even so long ago. It was still dark, the city lights were still on and the stars were bright this morning. Night.

  "This, man, sucks rocks like a black hole," Daniel told his mirror image in the window. His image agreed in silence.

  Daniel showered, dressed and walked outside. He strolled through the silent streets, his thoughts churning over the last evening. This was not what he wanted, he was certain of that. He felt certain that Malcolm was either a fool or had never had all his marbles. He even wondered if Cynthia was doing the right thing with her boyfriends. And still, whenever the train of his thoughts stopped at the station called Rhonda, there was this tweak. Why hadn't he gone after her?

  Suddenly Daniel found himself at the harbour. "Workaholic," he muttered.

  Affairs at the harbour were going on as usual, ships needed to be loaded, goods needed to be moved, so there was a lot going on. Daniel walked onto the yard and watched the people work. Then he would walk on and watch another group. Curiosity drew him to another part of the harbour this time. He knew there was another arm where more eight masted clippers were moored, so he turned his steps toward it.

  The part of the harbour he came to was as large as the side he knew. Nine ships the size of the Pricosine lay there, tugging at the ropes, wanting to go and play on the water. There was room for four more. Daniel studied a few of the ships in the dusky light and was satisfied that he could recognise some differences between them. The shape of the rigging, the curve of the bow at the waterline, the height of the stern. He knew he still wasn't much of a sailor, but the few trips he had made for now had taught him a lot already. Ulaman had since long not called him a landlubber anymore.

  "Good morning, Seigner," a voice said.

  Daniel looked, to find a man with a cane walking up to him. "Good morning to you too, Seigner."

  The man approaching was remar
kably big and round-bellied. He had long curly brown hair and a round nose. His moustache stood out from his face like giant whiskers. "Dogom ko Tzuy. May I enquire after your name?"

  "Daniel Zacharias. Nice to meet you, Seigner." They shook hands.

  "Zacharias. Yes. I have heard the name. Seigner Skinsh ko Talush mentioned you. You are on the Pricosine, is that right?"

  Daniel nodded. "Indeed."

  "Seigner Dandra ko Galem speaks highly of you."

  Daniel grinned. Either the man had not heard about the mishap with Clelem's daughter the other day, or daughter dear had not mentioned it to her Daddy. "I am delighted to hear that."

  Huajo Dogom ko Tzuy pointed at the ship they were standing for. "This is one of mine. The Tzuy number three."

  Daniel had seen the name on the ship's bow already. "And where are number one and two, if I may ask?" He knew that some ship owners preferred to be secretive about the whereabouts of their ships.

  Huajo was not one of them. "Number one is on a long journey. They should return in approximately two months. Number two... unfortunately, that fell victim to pirates. The very reason you are here."

  So the threat was real. Daniel had wondered a bit about it, as he had not seen any sign of pirates so far. He wondered how a band of pirates would master such an enormous ship.

  "The pirates, Mr. Zacharias, are a fearless band. They fight like a demon is inside them, they ram our ships and they carry, I have heard, the most impossible array of weapons."

  "I had already suggested placing weapons on the Pricosine, but Seigner Dandra ko Galem did not want to hear of that."

  "Oh, we cannot do that," Huajo said. "The Ship Owners Society claims, in its manifests, that merchant ships are to remain peaceful and neutral all the time."

  "That does not really make sense," Daniel remarked. "Neutrality I can see, but when you go out into waters where there are pirates, then peaceful has to go overboard at a certain point. There is a difference between going after someone and beating someone off who tries to attack you."

  Huajo sighed. "I have tried to convince Skinsh ko Talush of the same, Mr. Zacharias, but the man is old and hard to move from his old points of view." He put a hand on Daniel's forearm for a moment. "I may not say this, but... if ever you feel like you need to expand your horizons, young man, do not hesitate to call on me. I have room for someone with fresh ideas like yours, and I have many ships that need protection."

  Daniel considered the man's words. "I am honestly flattered by your suggestion, Seigner Dogom ko Tsuy. And I will remember your words. But I am still here on assignment from the Spacial High Command. I can't switch jobs just like that. And I do feel at home on the Pricosine."

  Huajo nodded and smiled understandingly. "I am sure you do, Mr. Zacharias. And your feeling towards your position is commendable. But do allow me to hand you my hydger information. I do assume Seigner Dandra ko Galem gave you one?"

  "In fact it was Seigner Skinsh ko Talush," Daniel said as he took his hydger. "I assume that I will not get in trouble if Seigner Dandra ko Galem finds out I have your information?

  Huajo picked a locket from his coat pocket. "Not at all. We all carry each other's information, Mr. Zacharias. After all, in case of an emergency we do have to be able to contact each other quickly."

  This made sense to Daniel.

  "Well, sir, do enjoy the view of my ships. I should be moving on again, my poor legs have a problem keeping me up lately. I bid you a nice day."

  "Have a good day, Seigner Dogom ko Tzuy," Daniel said as the large man walked off. Losing a few pounds would do you good, old man, he thought. Then he wondered why this man was up so early and wandered around the harbour in the dark.

  He watched Huajo disappear into the shades of a building; the man was clearly in pain as he heavily leaned on his cane.

  Daniel walked around over the pier for a while longer, taking in the ships. He would love to have a look aboard, to see the differences and the similarities. He grinned to himself. He might yet become a sailor. Then he started off towards the Pricosine. Since he was near, he might just as well have a look there.

  As he came close to the Pricosine, he was surprised again. Instead of a silent ship, there was a lot of action going about already. Ulaman's voice rang from the deck, another man was clearly arguing with the captain. At the gangway Daniel found two unknown men who asked who he was and what his business might be. It took him a lot of convincing that he was a crew member. Only his threat to use the hydger and get in touch with Mr. Slindris or even Seigner Dandra ko Galem made the two give in, so he charged up to the deck.

  "Daniel," Xandree said who was on deck also. "Here please."

  Daniel saw Ulaman standing almost nose to nose with a man in a beige suit and a dark shirt. Very strange combination, he thought. Then he stepped to where Xandree was, leaning against the bridge house. "What is this?"

  Xandree shrugged. "This man says he has the right to be on board and verify the contents of all compartments. Ulaman asked him for identification which the man refuses."

  "Does this happen often?"

  "No."

  Daniel did not wait for an invitation: he went over and stood next to Ulaman, towering over the two. "Good morning, Ulaman. What is the matter here?"

  "Daniel. Why are you here?"

  "Bad night, nothing important."

  The man in beige glared up at the security man. "And who are you?"

  "Daniel Zacharias, in charge of security on this ship. And you are?"

  "My name is not important," the beige suit snapped at him. "I have orders to check the ship."

  "Orders from whom?"

  "That is none of your business." The beige suit assumed a very hostile stance, as if he wanted to box Daniel off the ship.

  "Daniel, stand down," Ulaman said, "this has nothing to do with you, I am sure."

  "This man here wants business on the ship, captain, and I am here to safeguard it. So it is my business. If he can't show evidence why he is here, he has no business here."

  Ulaman looked at the man in beige. "Mr. Zacharias is right. I command you to leave the ship, before you will be forcefully removed. Sir."

  "You would not dare," the beige suit hissed.

  "Do you want to find out?" Daniel said as he took off his coat. He put his hand on the shoulder of the man and pushed down ever so gently.

  The man resisted the pressure, but he was no match for Bactine and enhanced muscles. He pulled his shoulder from Daniel's hand and stepped back. "You will regret this, mister. Your size does not impress me, nor does your strength. You will be sorry." The man turned and paced off, leaving the ship.

  Ulaman's face showed relief and also worry. "I am not sure if we did the right thing, Daniel."

  "If something goes wrong, blame me. I physically challenged the man, Ulaman. It's my job."

  They went into the galley where Xandree made some strong sturt, the coffee replacement.

  Daniel again evaded the question about his presence. He blamed it on some insomnia biting his heels, which was accepted as a valid reason. "And a good thing your insomnia happened this morning," Xandree commented.

  They sat and talked while the morning was unfolding. Suddenly Ulaman's hydger started its noise. He took it, frowned at the display and went outside to take the call, leaving Xandree and Daniel wondering. When he came back, he said: "The Seigner wants to see me. He is sending the mouse over to pick me up."

  "Do you know why?" Daniel asked the captain. "Anything to do with the incident this morning?"

  "He did not say. He did not look or sound annoyed, but then, he is very good at that. We'll see."

  "Call me if you need help, Ulaman," said Daniel.

  "I will."

  When the mouse, Mr. Gaguran Slindris, arrived, several crewmen had come aboard to do maintenance on the ship. They all stood at the railing, watching Ulaman walk off with the Seigner's serving man to where a carriage would be waiting.

  The crewmen had already hear
d about the mysterious visitor that had left in ill spirits and the guessing game was on, of course. Everything from a secret inspector to a spy was brought up as a possible option. The crew was finally chased off to work by Xandree. Daniel grinned to see how her mere presence had a big influence on the crew. One word from her was worth a hundred light-hearted threats from Ulaman.

  Daniel excused himself and headed up to the silent bridge. He walked around it, watching the area from up there. Inside he watched the maps and the ship's logs, written in Xandree's tiny hand.

  The incident of the morning worried him. The early morning presence of Huajo Dogom ko Tzuy worried him also. The way his thought dragged him back to Rhonda worried him most. Not at ease with himself he stumbled down the stairs to the deck and went to find Xandree. "Do you have a moment?"