by S F Chapman
After several seconds of pondering the matter Judge Dwan spoke, “Let it be posted in the Official Daily Records of the Free City High Court that Herman “Bowie” Kowalski is to be held without bail and bound over for trail for the charges of murder and assault.”
“Thank you, Your Honor.”
• • •
“It's been a hell of a few weeks,” Zmuda noted as he sat at the Conference Room table in the Inquisitor's Office.
“It certainly has,” Helga wheezed.
She turned to Ryo, “Summarize the final details of your investigation into the misdeeds involving the Billikin, if you would Inspector.”
Ryo shuffled through his paperwork, “On the 1st of August, a Retrieval Specialist from the Billikin by the name of Nathan Briggs was murdered in Low Earth Orbit for the purpose of intimidation by a punk named Herman 'Bowie' Kowalski. I have very good evidence that Bowie and his gang called the Goons were hired by Frédéric Rameau who was the EurAfrican Commander of Covert Operations for the Northern District of Africa.”
“Rameau also supplied the unusual weaponry,” Zmuda interjected. “Sadly, the Commander died in a recent 'accident' at the Base.”
“Remind me to stay on your good side!” Helga snorted.
Ryo continued, “Sometime later, the Goons boarded the Billikin and murdered the Captain and crew. Afterwards they were not shy about spreading the news of the slaughter around the fleet of Space Debris Salvage vessels. This, combined with several earlier acts of intimidation, greatly reduced the amount of scrap material that made its way into the Metals Market.”
Helga's bushy eyebrows arched up, “And that caused the recent run-up on the Metals Commodity Market?”
The old Investigator nodded, “Fortunately the prices are now edging down with the resumption of normal salvage operations.”
Helga tapped at her copy of the report, “There is no doubt in your mind that the Kufuzu family was the prime instigators of this manipulation?”
“None at all.”
“Alright;” the weary Chief Investigator sighed, “I will forward that information to the Prime Minister and the High Court for further action. I'm afraid that the Kufuzus still retain a great deal of power in EurAfrica so nothing may come of this.”
She turned to the Lieutenant; “I understand that you are currently accountable only to the Prime Minister, perhaps you would favor me with whatever information that you wish to share regarding your recent activities involving Daniel Kufuzu.”
“Much of it is Top Secret, mainly due to the use of unusual personnel and tactics,” Zmuda forewarned them, “but this is what I can tell you: Daniel Kufuzu, Former Warlord of EurAfrica is dead and will not return.”
Both Ryo and Helga smiled approvingly at the news.
Zmuda continued, “Significant efforts by the Enlightenment Crusade in New Rome and Nairobi have brought about many reforms in the local governments and some slight improvements in the treatment of slaves and Serfs. Elsewhere in EurAfrica I'm afraid that much work needs to be done to reduce corruption and to improve the lives of all.”
The Lieutenant stopped short, “That's all that I can share right now.”
“What of Edict 343?” Ryo wondered.
“It's still in full effect,” Helga noted. “Anything else, gentlemen?”
Ryo turned to the Lieutenant, “Thanks for supplying the bodyguard for my kid.”
“No problem; she is my beloved goddaughter after all. You're on you own for now. The particular spy that saved the day is off on another assignment.”
“I suppose that her nanny and I can look after her.” Ryo gathered up his paperwork, “Helga, I'd like to request a two week sabbatical.”
The cranky old Chief Investigator for the Free City Inquisitor's Office scowled at the request, “Why do you need time off, Mr. Trop?”
Ryo slowly smiled, “Four women have rather sternly indicated that I need to attend a formal function in the Southern Hemisphere.”
Helga sighed with visible annoyance, “Very well; but I expect you back in a fortnight.”
38. Goodbye hello
The formalities would begin in two hours.
Considering how somber the event was supposed to be, Luis Hernandez could not stop smiling as he checked over the site.
It was a beautifully clear morning on South Georgia Island, the perfect type of day for a funeral.
As the sun slowly warmed the normally frozen soil in the cemetery of New Grytviken he surveyed the two deep rectangular holes. The sides bore the recent tool marks from the arduous effort that had gone into chiseling the permafrost into suitable gravesites.
He had started the sad work in earnest two days after Seamus had died. Luis had first sent the Official Death Notification to the Free City Bureau of Records taking care to leave the location of death blank and listing the decedent's name as merely 'S. Nelson.' Keira Norton had contacted him three days later to confirm that the old man had died.
Both Luis and Keira had been teary-eyed by the end of the sad exchange.
Several hours later he checked on the old man's corpse. It had frozen solid on the porch of the little white cottage where he had left it. Nearly a week later when Luis's sprained ankle had mended enough that he could walk again, he hobbled down to the harbor maintenance building and tinkered with the little electric service vehicle that had sat forlorn there for several years.
Fortunately the antique lithium iron phosphate batteries readily accepted a fresh charge and the centuries old control system required only modest adjustments.
By midday he was able to drive the plucky little cart up the bluff to the cottage. With great care he'd carried Seamus's body down the stairs and gently placed it on the back of the service vehicle.
As he inched away from the cottage with as much reverence as he could manage, Luis glanced back at the house that they had briefly shared.
There in the front window watching over the sad cortege was Moresby.
Luis then spent several hours preparing the old man's remains for a proper interment. He carefully dressed the stiff old man in the one and only suit that he had in his closet. Luis finished up by slipping the shiniest of the fat copper half pence coins from their poker game into his shirt pocket for good luck.
Luis methodically measured the body and drew up the plans for a simple casket. He hobbled around the derelict buildings of the harbor for several hours collecting suitable scraps of wood for the project. When he had enough acceptable material, the Harbor Master then labored for days to construct a coffin for the old man.
When the sad task was completed he gently placed the body of his friend into the box.
Since then Seamus had lain in state in the casket draped with a fine dark blue tablecloth centered on three sturdy sawhorses in the frigid harbor maintenance building.
Luis had planned to bury the old man in the springtime when the ground thawed and his ankle had properly mended.
Six days ago his gloomy plans had dramatically changed for the better.
Keira contacted him again with a carefully thought-out proposal and today was to be the culmination of the intended efforts.
Now, in the slowly warming morning air of New Grytviken, Luis gently trailed his hand over the two caskets. One was the rustic homemade coffin that he'd lovingly constructed for Seamus and the other was the modest commercially produced box that contained Nate Briggs' body.
Both men would be laid to rest today in the cemetery that overlooked Cumberland East Bay.
Ryo and Keira had brought the remains of Nate Briggs back to South Georgia Island several days ago aboard an intercontinental aerial transport along with Ryo's adopted daughter Dilma, her nanny Sabra MacFarland and Ryo's sweetheart Dr. Jana Fesai. Jana's son Lev, who was also Keira's fiancé, had come along to help out.
But it was Sabra MacFarland who had caught his eye.
Keira, Lev, Luis and Sabra had taken turns digging the two gravesites in the frozen earth of the cemetery.
/> Luis had spent a few hours with each of them in turn teaching them how to use the jackhammer and bucket hoist that were needed to chip through the rock-hard soil. Keira and Lev were merely mediocre at the task but Sabra attacked it with admirable gusto.
He soon found that he was working with increasing regularity along side the gregarious and mud-stained young woman. Even little Dilma had tagged along and helped out with the difficult work on several occasions.
During a short break yesterday while he, Sabra and the girl were enjoying a snack in the midday sun, Luis studied the two and briefly imagined what it would be like if the woman stayed with him for good on South Georgia Island.
Sabra had noticed his protracted stare and had winked at him across the mound of dirt that separated them.
Last night they had taken a long walk around the harbor together and shared a demure kiss on the porch of the cottage.
This morning as the rest of the solemn group prepared for the funeral, he and Sabra had both sported pleasant grins.
• • •
“We are gathered here together,” Ryo started, “to lay to rest these two weary souls.”
Nearly everyone had bowed their heads in respect for the departed.
Ryo glanced sideways and noticed that Dilma was studying him with great interest as he spoke, the girl had never experienced a funeral before and Sabra had spend many hours beforehand describing the ritual to her in great detail.
“I never knew Nathan Briggs, but I understand that he was a good man and certainly a hard worker in his profession as a Space Debris Retrieval Specialist. Sadly; he met his end when he was torn from on high by the unforgiving hand of gravity and cast into the cold southern sea. Now, at last, he will find peace.”
Luis and Keira nodded in agreement.
“But I did briefly know Seamus Franklin Nelson. He had a wonderfully salty perspective on life and was quite willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good of others. Both are admirable qualities in any man.”
Ryo studied the others as he recounted his moments with Seamus.
Jana stood next to him with the supportive appearance of a very dear friend. Their rather sweet relationship seemed destined to slowly evolve into lifelong love. That pleasant prospect caused Ryo to grin at her for several seconds.
Standing across from him, Keira held hands with Lev and both had a profound look of sadness.
As he spoke Ryo wondered if their sorrow was due to the occasion or perhaps something else. Both had seemed rather cross with each other during the last few days.
Luis had covered his eyes and was sobbing. Sabra produced a tissue and handed it to the big man. She appeared to be quite concerned about his forlorn state. Luis finally dabbed his dark brown eyes. Of the seven mourners clustered around the two coffins, he was by far the most emotional.
And why shouldn't he be? Luis had lost his friend Seamus and had spent quite sometime laboring to discover Nate's identity in order to afford the dead man a proper burial.
Equally disheartening, Ryo realized, in a day or two Luis would be alone again on South Georgia Island.
“...and so these two will return to Mother Earth from where we all sprang.” Ryo nodded to Dilma.
The girl approached the two caskets with the fine silk pouch that she had carried with her from Free City.
Dilma retrieved a handful of dried pale pink rose petals that she had collected for the funeral from the garden near the War Atrocities Monument in Roscommon Park.
Her voice cracked as she sprinkled the petals onto the caskets, “Although you are no longer with us, you will not be forgotten.”
Nearly everyone smiled at the girl’s efforts, she had practiced it many times for them in the cottage.
One by one they filed slowly past the two coffins to pay their respects.
Keira laid her hand respectfully on Nate's coffin then erupted into a tremendous wail when she touched Seamus' casket.
Lev led her away.
Dilma clasped Jana’s hand as they lingered for a time at the gravesites. Jana glanced at Ryo and the two exchanged a warm smile about the little girl’s surprising show of affection towards the woman. The twelve-year old and middle-aged Research Scientist headed off together towards the cottage.
Ryo stood for many minutes in silent reflection before he bowed a bit to each of the boxes. He too finally walked slowly out of the little cemetery and followed the others towards the cottage. Partway down the pathway, the old Inspector glanced back up towards graveyard.
Sabra and Luis stood alone together in the cemetery high above Cumberland East Bay.
Sabra had sidled next to the big man and wrapped her arm supportingly around his waist.
High overhead a single Storm-Petrel glided fluidly through the sapphire blue sky.
Ryo studied the man and the woman nestled together on the bluff. They were obviously quite smitten with each other. The old Inspector smiled to himself, Luis and Sabra seemed to be a near perfect match.
“It seems likely,” Ryo chuckled as he turned back towards the cottage, “that I’ll have to find a new nanny.”
Appendix
List of Characters in order of appearance:
Nate Briggs Mr. Briggs is a Serf and a Space Debris Retrieval Specialist onboard the Billikin.
Captain Philip Takahashi The Captain is the hard-nosed Master of the Low Earth Orbit Salvage Ship Billikin.
Inspector Second Class Ryo Trop At age fifty-five, Mr. Trop is recently semi-retired from the Free City Inquisitor's Office. He currently resides with twelve-year-old Dilma at Number 17, Na Daracha Ársa Street, Apartment 392, in the Ballaghaderreen District of Free City. He is considered by many to be second only to the Chief Inspector in investigative abilities.
Dilma Trop The twelve-year-old former parlormaid for the now-deceased Dimitri Verhovnyi, the Supreme Imperial Warlord of the Outer Reaches lives in Free City with her guardian Ryo Trop. Many suspect that Mr. Trop will eventually adopt the girl.
Dr. Jana Fesai Ph.D. This brilliant fifty-three year-old Physicist is the Research Director of the Ultra Energy Physics Lab at Free City University. Jana often accompanies Ryo Trop during social occasions. Jana is the mother of Lev Fesai.
Chief Inspector Helga Bennet of the Free City Inquisitor's Office Rumored to never sleep, the seventy-year-old Chief Inspector is well known and respected for her toughness and abilities to guide difficult investigations to successful conclusions.
Professor Malcolm Evans/ Lieutenant Zmuda As Head of the Department of Advanced Applied Molecular Biology at Free City University he is loved and admired by his students. Professor Evans is an occasional advisor for the Enlightenment Crusade. Little is known outside of the Prime Minister's Office about his alternative persona as Spy Master for the super secret CRAMP Operation.
Sabra MacFarland Nearly destitute and often characterized as idealistic and naive, Sabra attends Free City University as a part-time student in the Department of Experimental Studies. She frequently attends Enlightenment Crusade gatherings with her idolized older sister Desiree. Sabra yearns to make more of her life.
Edlin Classmate and minor friend of Sabra MacFarland at Free City University.
Sabina Finney Considered by many to be manipulative and dismissive, the mysterious redheaded CRAMP agent was recently cloned by Lieutenant Zmuda using the DNA of a long dead North American woman. Little else is known of this twenty-five year-old spy.
Tariq Head of the group of Paramilitarist Desert Serfs sent by Commander Frédéric Rameau to a secret hideout in the Sahara Desert just after the death of Daniel Kufuzu, the Exalted Warlord of EurAfrica.
The “mute” slave This tall, thin man is currently a General Facilities drudge at the sprawling EurAfrican Imperial Military Base in Tunis.
Commander of Covert Operations and Feudal Master of Paramilitarist Serfs Frédéric Rameau. Frédéric was personally appointed to the position of Head Spy for the Northern District of Africa when he thwarted a poorly planned coup six
years ago. Daniel Kufuzu personally rewarded Frédéric with the prestigious appointment as thanks for preserving the Warlord's standing as the Supreme Leader of EurAfrica. Rameau's office is at the EurAfrican Imperial Military Base in Tunis.
Qadir A subordinate member of the Paramilitarist Desert Serfs.
Daniel Kufuzu, the Exalted Warlord of EurAfrica Supposedly killed by the massive explosion that destroyed the EurAfrican capital city of Arusha, rumors persist that the brutal Warlord somehow survived the disaster.
Mixion Fahmi This twenty-seven year-old Australian woman was cloned over a year ago by Lieutenant Zmuda at the CRAMP's secret lab in the basement of the Biology building at Free City University. Mixion has proved to be invaluable to the CRAMP's efforts to destabilize the regimes of the Warlords that dominate human affairs in the mid twenty-fifth century. Zmuda considers the perceptive young woman to be Second-in-Charge of the spy organization.
Jasper Pomeroy This husky redheaded CRAMP agent is nearly twenty-eight years old. Jasper is a recent clone of a rugged former farmhand from twenty-first century Blackall in Queensland, Australia. Unlike Mixion, he speaks with a noticeable accent.
Fiefdom Liaison Agent and Attack Craft Pilot Keira Norton Attractive and often sensitive, this twenty-seven year-old Free City resident is an especially talented up-and-coming Fiefdom Liaison Agent at the Department of External Affairs. The Registry Bureau recently certified Ms Norton as an Attack Craft Pilot. Keira has a rocky romantic relationship with Lev Fesai.
Seamus Franklin Nelson Seamus is a ninety-seven year-old former Engineer on the Billikin who currently resides in the quiet Eire District of Free City. For much of his life Mr. Nelson was a Serf in the Crewmen and Dockhands Federation. He was indentured for over fifty years to the owners and various Captains of the Billikin.
The Head of the Connaught School for Disadvantaged Girls Judgmental and persnickety, few outside of the acclaimed institution are fond of this dour old woman.
Luis Hernandez Caretaker of New Grytviken, Superintendent of South Georgia Island and Harbor Master of Cumberland East Bay.