by Paul Kater
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."
"Uhm, if I remember well I am the person who put you in danger, sir, as I came up with the basic idea," Daniel wanted to correct him.
"None of that, Mr. Zacharias. You are a hero." Huajo said it as if it was a fact.
Daniel laughed out loud, not caring if that was appropriate here, in this building. "I am being called all kinds of things here, Seigner Dogom ko Tzuy. A hero. A preacher."
"These titles suit you." The man emptied his glass. "I do apologise, I have business to attend to, Mr. Zacharias. Do not feel pressed to leave, you are most welcome here. Varning will see to that, you just have to call for him." He hoisted himself to his feet with considerable effort and shook Daniel's hand again. "It was a pleasure, sir. A real pleasure."
Daniel quickly got up. "My pleasure also, Seigner Dogom ko Tzuy."
The fat man nodded and walked off.
Daniel sat down again and started at the large glass on the table in front of him. A preacher. A hero. Alone.
58. A job for a hero
Daniel had left the building of the Society. He had taken off the medal and slipped it in the small box it belonged in. There was a carriage seemingly waiting for him, so he was on his way - no, not home. At least it was the next best thing.
As he reached Sygra's house, he quickly went inside and changed into something more comfortable. He had an idea, but before he got the chance to leave again, the hydger beeped. Curiously he looked at the display. An incoming message from star base.
Daniel sat down on the bed and looked at what was coming in. It turned out to be a message from Rhonda.
"Dear Daniel. I received a message today, from Tomlin Bark
er. He says he knows me from long ago and he heard you tell about me. I am sure you are familiar with him. In his message he wrote that you have done something amazing, by taking out the pirate that flung you off the ship? Daniel, are you okay? Please, write to me that you are okay. I don't want to worry about you. Rhonda."
Daniel read the message twice. He could not believe this. Tomlin had contacted Rhonda- It might be time to pay that man a visit. But he grinned at the same time. He started composing a message to Rhonda. Read what he had written. Changed some words. Unchanged them, as he remembered how stupid he had been last time. And then he sent the message off.
Still in disbelief of the message, he called a carriage, put on a jacket, slipped the hydger in a pocket and left the house. The carriage arrived quite soon, and Daniel programmed where he wanted to go.
As the backland came into view, the new hero of the Society grinned. He stepped out of the carriage and started up the trail to the place where crazy Aldrick the inventor lived and worked. As Tomlin had done, he went through the small gate instead of going around it, and walked up to the house.
"Aldrick? Are you in?" Daniel tried not to call out too loud.
"I am," a voice yelled from the inside. "Give me a moment, I am coming outside."
The sound of something falling reached Daniel. Then the sound of something breakable breaking.
The door opened, and Aldrick emerged. He wore what looked like a suit or armour, but then made of brass plating and canvas. "Ahhh, Daniel!" Aldrick waved at him, making his suit of armour clang and rattle. "How good to see you again!"
"I am glad to see you again too, Aldrick," Daniel said. "What is that you're wearing?"
Aldrick did his best to look at himself. "I am not exactly sure. But I am trying it on, to make sure that it is comfortable."
"Oh. Really. It doesn't look very comfortable to me."
Aldrick looked pained. "It isn't. Would you mind helping me to get it off?"
Daniel laughed as he helped the man out of his impossible costume.
Once Aldrick was freed of it, he sighed. "Well, it was a good try. To what do I thank this visit, Daniel?"
"I am curious to see what you are up to, Aldrick. And to be honest, I am bored out of my mind. They gave me a medal for taking Birkle the pirate out of commission, and that's it. I have nothing to do."
"Oh! In that case, I have a great thing for you! And for me of course! Come, come!" The man waved his arm as he trotted off.
Daniel followed him to the same part of land where the airship had been. And then he stopped walking.
"Well, what do you think?" Aldrick said.
There was another airship. An entirely different shape and idea as what they had flown to rescue the Pricosine crew. The ship itself was flat, and large. There were six floaters on the ground on each side of it. The rigging with which the floaters were being kept under control was clearly redesigned.
"Aldrick, this is amazing." Daniel walked around the ship, looking at the material. It was all water-chemical safe, he saw. Some things needed improvement, but that was for later.
Aldrick stood on the ship, near the steering wheel that he had installed. It probably was as useless as the one on the other airship, but it gave a special touch to the whole contraption.
Daniel jumped onto the ship also and looked around. "This is incredible. You can do so much with this!"
Aldrick nodded. "I know! I want to make this the first airship for emergency transports. When people are hurt or so. It will be able to carry a doctor to them, and carry the people back. We saw how important that can be, as we returned from the island of the pirates. Landing in the water takes too long. This airship can land on the land also, and then things will be so much faster." The man beamed at his invention and the idea that was behind it.
Daniel shook his head. "You deserve that medal, Aldrick." He could already see the ship in flight. "Have you tried it already?"
"Oh, no. There is still a big problem with the engine, and the tanks for the floater gas are not done yet, and the tubings have leaks. There is so much work here, Daniel. If you want to help me get this done. That would be a big gain, I am sure. You know how to fly and sail and all that."
The two men sat down on a bench on the new airship and started talking. Aldrick picked his sketches from the small cabin and outlined to Daniel what his ideas were. When they looked up from the paper, it was because it had become so dark that they could hardly see it anymore.
"Daniel, if you can come here tomorrow morning, we can work on all this."
"You bet I'll be here, Aldrick. And I am going to ask Tomlin to look into the engine design."
They walked back to the house, where Aldrick fetched a light so Daniel would not be lost on the way to the road.
When Daniel came back to Sygra's house, the smell of food greeted him.
"Good evening, sir," said a servant. "You've arrived rather late. Would you care to freshen up before supper?"
Daniel wished he could peek into the dining room. He hoped the senator had not sat waiting for him. "Do you think there still is time for that?"
"Most certainly, sir," the servant said with a smile.
Daniel hurried to get himself in order and all but ran into the dining room.
"Oh, good evening Daniel." The senator turned around to look at him. "Come see what nice statue I managed to acquire."
Daniel looked. It was indeed a very nice statue. He liked the colours. He just wasn't very sure what it was. "It looks nice, indeed."
Sygra turned to the little thing again. "Yes. Do you have any idea what it depicts?"
Daniel grinned. "Not a clue, Sygra."
The man nodded. "I thought so. Well, come, let's sit down. The kitchen will start to worry about us."
As they sat to eat, Daniel could not help but bring to table what he was thinking about. "Do you allow me a question?"
"Of course. Ask away, Daniel."
"Do you have any idea about Rayko's feelings towards me now? I mean, I got the man killed that she believed to be her father. So much happened to her and her life after I came to the planet. We had a few good talks. The preacher bit also was very nice. And how she looked when she first touched Kernak..." Daniel smiled at the memory. "She was as happy as a child."
Sygra looked calmly at Daniel. "Indeed. She was very happy. And she was not so when she left here. I told you that. Unfortunately, I have not had much time to speak with the Dandra ko Galem family. They either do not want to communicate, or they are too busy with other things to respond. I am sure that I know what you want to know, Daniel. Alas. I have no answer for you."
Daniel nodded. "I understand. I can imagine that she feels bad about it all. That worries me. She is so..." he looked for a word. "I don't know. So immature at times. So limited."
Sygra frowned. "You are talking about Rayko Dandra ko Galem, aren't you?"
"Indeed."
"I just need to be certain we are talking about the same person. Let me tell you, Daniel. Rayko is not immature, nor is she limited. She is a special person, and her ways of doing things are not always the ones you would expect from a young lady of her standing."
Daniel carefully thought before he spoke. "I am sure you know her better than I do, Sygra. It is how she strikes me. She even kicked my shins at that party."
The senator nodded. "Yes, that was most entertaining."
"You saw that?"
"It was very hard to miss. Mr. Slindris, may Nahmyo tend to his weary soul, also saw it, I am sure. He would have loved the attention of Rayko in that way." Sygra had the biggest smile on his face.
Daniel buried his face in his hands. "I wonder what more I did to make all of this a mess."
Sygra patted him on the shoulder. "There is no mess, Daniel. Remember what is written in the book I gave you. There are no challenges put on your path that are greater than you can handle. You need to look at them carefully and decided which of your strengths you will deploy to take up the matter."
"I know. I have read that passage many times. But it is so easy to read it and so very difficult to actually do it."
"Nobody said it would be easy, Daniel. You did the great things with great skill. Now do the small things with small skill. And improve that skill as you go along."
"That sounds nice. I'll think about it and give it a try." Daniel leaned back against his chair. "I'll put on the preacher's clothes again and see if that helps."
"You do that, Daniel. You do that. And you may find that it will actually do so."
Later that evening, before he went to sleep, Daniel sat on his bed. He wore the brown clothes and the grey hood, and the book of Nahmyo was in front of him.