But then he couldn’t remember what he could do. Out, away, was the only thought he could hang onto. Out, away, safe.
The fresh air helped for a minute or two and he managed to weave an unsteady path some way from the inn. But then it all caught up with him and he slumped against a corner post, sagging to the ground. Help me. Someone. Anyone.
But no one heard him.
Staying Power: 19
“Now that was a very fine bit of cooking,” Romi said, chewing on a tooth stick thoughtfully as they walked along. Wepizi’s friends had hosted a wonderfully enjoyable evening, and he was feeling mellow with good food and razika.
“Nearly as fine as one of Lema’s meals,” Wepizi agreed.
Romi hadn’t wanted to say that, but acknowledged the truth of his friend’s words. “No one cooks as well as she did, but that came close. It puts a fire in your belly for sure.”
“And in your balls, so they say,” Wepizi said with a grin.
“Oh everything’s an aphrodisiac in this damn city, if you listen to the rumours,” Romi scoffed. “It’s a wonder every woman you see isn’t pregnant and every man crippled and dried...gods, look, Wepizi!”
“What...?”
Romi was already running to the corner of the street, where a slight figure with a distinctive braid slumped sideways against a building, visible only because his fair hair caught the small amount of light from the lanterns of passers-by. Romi knelt, and confirmed it was indeed their naturalist lying unconscious. “What in hells?” He set two fire sprites over their heads to give them some light. “Karik, wake up.”
Wepizi knelt also, and their lamp let Romi see a little better. “Is he hurt? Sick?”
Romi shook the slight form and slapped his face, but got no reaction. “He’s very hot. Can’t see any injury—maybe he’s drunk.” He leaned down and sniffed. “I can smell wine...oh, you stupid man. How could you do this?”
“The inn is close by.”
“I know, but we can’t take him back like this. Can we get him to the barracks? The infirmary so he can sleep it off?”
“I’m sure we can,” Wepizi said. Romi quickly checked that Karik wasn’t obviously injured and that it was safe to move him. “Let’s get him up.”
“Damn—his trousers are undone. What in hells has he been up to?” Romi gave Wepizi an exasperated look.
Wepizi shrugged. “I don’t know, my friend, but we need to get him away from here. The streets of Visiqe are not safe at night.”
With difficulty, they hauled Karik up. The man was quite unconscious, so was no help at all. “Here, let me....” Romi managed, with Wepizi’s help, to get Karik over his shoulder. “If he pukes on me, I’ll kill him.”
“Wait until he’s awake, at least.”
It wasn’t that far to the barracks, which, unlike those of Tsikiugui, were located in the heart of the city. Wepizi made a hasty explanation at the guard post and then led Romi to the infirmary, which, naturally, was quiet, its healer not expecting to have a drunken Darshianese thrust at him. He told Romi to lay Karik on a bed, and as more lamps were lit, Romi could finally get a good look at the man. He was filthy—he must have fallen over a few times in the mud—but there was no sign that he’d been attacked or knocked out. “Help me undress him,” the healer said.
The removal of the shirt revealed no injuries either, but when he drew down the man’s trousers, Wepizi gave a little gasp. “What...he’s been assaulted,” Romi said, dumbfounded at all the blood.
“He’s been raped, you mean,” Wepizi said, drawing nearer. “What was he doing out on his own, without Soza?”
“I have no idea, but right now, I want to make sure Karik’s all right. Is he?” he asked the healer.
“I don’t know. Please excuse me, sir, I need to examine him. If you would wait outside?”
Wepizi took him out to the front office of the infirmary so the healer could work in peace. “I must report this, Romi. A crime of this nature against a visitor cannot be ignored.”
“Yes, agreed, but why don’t we wait until Karik wakes up? We’re assuming this was non-consensual.”
Wepizi gave him a narrow look. “Have you ever known such injuries to come by consent?”
“No, but I can’t pretend to know everything people do in bed. I need to speak to Soza. Will you wait with Karik, Wepizi? I won’t be long, but I don’t want him to wake up alone.”
“Of course. Do you want one of your men—or ours—with you?”
“I can handle Soza. If I find he’s involved in this—”
“Then he will face our law, I promise you,” Wepizi said. “I’ll wait here for you, my friend.”
Romi ran back through the darkened streets into the town. Damn it, he should never have agreed to the civilians staying at that cursed inn. Should have gone with his instincts and be damned to the arguments.
The sleepy clerk who answered the bell told him in which room Soza and Karik were staying, and said he hadn’t seen either of them that evening, although they might have used the back stairs. Romi swore again and ran up to the second floor, banging hard on the door of the room. It took more time than he would have liked for his knock to be answered but finally an irritated-looking Soza opened the door. “Lieutenant, what’s the meaning of this?”
“Have you seen Karik this evening?”
“Karik?” He frowned. “Of course I have—we ate supper together and had some wine. He went out earlier for some fresh air.”
“And you didn’t go with him?”
“No, I was feeling tired and went to bed. Why? Where is he? What’s happened?”
“We found him in the street...I think the wine got too much for him. We’ve taken him to the infirmary to sleep it off.”
“Oh—is he all right? Should I come?”
“No, it’s fine,” Romi lied. “If he’s fit in the morning, I’ll send him back. The healer wasn’t sure it was just the drink—it might have been some bad food too. You’re not feeling unwell, are you?”
“No, just tired. If you’re sure he’s all right....”
“Yes, I’m sure. Sorry to disturb you.” Soza just grunted and shut the door.
Well, Romi thought, if my lover had been found unconscious in the street, I hope I’d be a little more concerned than that. But Soza’s lack of proper feeling wasn’t his concern. The fact that Karik had gone out for a little fresh air and been attacked, was. Not just attacked—raped. Even if wandering around a strange, decadent city while drunk wasn’t the cleverest thing a man could do, no one should suffer that. Karik wasn’t wise to the ways of places like Visiqe, Romi was quite sure. In Darshek, a drunk could sleep all night in almost any street in the city and only have a hangover to prove the lack of wisdom of such an action.
He hastened back to the barracks and to the infirmary. Wepizi was waiting in the front office again. “Any news?”
“Yes,” Wepizi said, his expression grim. “What did Soza say?”
“Just that Karik went out earlier to clear his head after they’d both been drinking. He was asleep when I got there, and knew nothing about it.”
“Hmmm. You better come and speak to the healer.”
The healer was just covering Karik up. He’d been wiped clean, and his filthy clothes removed. He was still deeply unconscious and dreadfully pale, at least to Romi’s eyes. The healer motioned them to the other end of the long room. “Please tell him what you told me,” Wepizi said.
“Yes, Lep. I regret that your friend has been drugged, captain.”
“Drugged? How? With what?”
“I don’t know the answers to those questions, I’m sorry. Once he wakes up, I might know with what, but as to how—there are many ways a drug can get into a person’s body. Drink, food, smoke—a long list.”
“Drugged so he could be...assaulted?”
“I fear so, captain. His injuries are painful but not life threatening. Tearing, bruising—he will be in discomfort for several days. More serious is the mental hurt. As I
was handling him, he woke briefly and was absolutely terrified. Lep Wepizi had to help restrain him.”
“Gods. Wepizi, did he say who?”
Wepizi shook his head. “No, but Groi Vyoti describes it correctly. Karik was frightened for his life.”
“But why would he accept a drug from a stranger who could do something like this...? Something doesn’t add up,” Romi said angrily. “I want to know who did this.”
“I will start enquiries immediately,” Wepizi said. “But I suspect we will not get very far until Karik tells us more and Vyoti says he may not be able to help even then.”
Romi looked at the healer for explanation. “What I mean, captain, is that some drugs make it impossible to remember clearly—or at all—the events leading up to their consumption. It is for this reason that the king and council made them illegal, but unfortunately, they are still available.”
“And the after-effects? He is going to wake up, right?”
“I sincerely hope so, captain, but as he’s unconscious, I can give him nothing to hasten that happening. Nor would I until I have a better idea what he’s been given or taken.”
“How long? Will he wake in the morning?”
The healer shrugged. “I can’t tell you, I’m sorry. I’ll watch him tonight, and pray for his recovery.”
Romi wasn’t content to allow the Andonese deity take charge. “Wepizi, please make enquiries. I’m going to wait with him.”
The healer bowed. “That won’t be necessary, captain—”
“Damn right it’s necessary, Vyoti. Karik’s part of my team. No one hurts a member of my team and gets away with it.”
“As you wish.”
The healer left them to go back to Karik’s bedside. “You realise this is probably hopeless,” Wepizi said quietly.
“I know but we have to try.” Romi rubbed his forehead—it had been such a good evening until all this. “Thanks for your help.”
“It’s nothing, my friend. I’m as angry as you at this being done to that boy.”
“He’s no boy.”
“He’s young enough to me. Tell him that I’m worried about him.”
“I will. Wepizi—one more thing. Keep this quiet—if you have to say anything, say he was attacked, but no details. Let him have his privacy.”
“Of course. I’ll insist on discretion from our people.”
Wepizi bowed and left. Romi turned and found the healer wiping Karik’s face with a cloth. “Is he running a fever?”
“Yes. Some drugs cause this. If you want, you can help keep him cool. Just wipe his face and arms. If he seems to be rousing, call me—and I suggest you don’t touch him then. Sometimes the memories lie below the consciousness, and while he thinks he can’t remember the attack, part of his mind will do so and be afraid.”
Gods. Romi took the cloth from the healer, and followed his instructions. What had induced Karik to try a drug from someone he couldn’t trust? Was it curiosity? Had he been held down and forced to swallow it? But no—his skin showed every mark and the only bruising was on the hips, as if he’d been held there but nowhere else. Rape was thankfully rare in Temshek, but when drunken men didn’t take no for an answer, they left marks just as Karik bore.
But this whole story made no sense. Why hadn’t Soza gone out with him? Would it have killed the bastard to have stepped out with Karik to make sure he was all right, especially if he was under the influence? Soza indicated that Karik hadn’t planned to explore and wasn’t to be gone very long. How had a drugging and attack happened so quickly? And where in hells were Karik’s boots?
Karik lay utterly still for hours, but just as the sun was starting to come up, he began to shift, obviously in pain. Romi took his hands off him and called the healer, making sure he was nowhere near the bed when Karik opened his eyes. But he needn’t have worried—Karik was too busy throwing up his guts to be frightened. Since it looked like he’d be nauseous for a while, the healer suggested Romi left them alone, and since no one liked to be watched while they were vomiting, Romi agreed. But he didn’t head to his bunk—he wanted to know what Wepizi had found out. His friend had obviously been out all night on the case, and not long returned—unfortunately with no news.
“No one saw a thing,” Wepizi said, looking depressed at this unsatisfactory result. “Soza and Karik ate in the dining hall near the inn, and were seen to leave by several people. They were talking quite normally, and nothing seemed amiss.”
“So Karik wasn’t drunk?”
“Not to the point of falling down, no.”
Romi frowned. “And his boots?”
“His boots?”
“He wasn’t wearing any boots when we found him—don’t tell me he left the room in bare feet.”
“We weren’t looking for boots—I’ll send a search out now.” Wepizi rubbed his eyes. “How is he?”
“Sick but awake, poor bastard. Haven’t had a chance to talk to him. I want to speak to Jou and Netu and then I’ll go back in. Wepizi, I think we need to speak to Soza again—and is there any way we can search their room without him knowing?”
Wepizi lifted an eyebrow. “You suspect him? Why would he drug Karik to have sex with him when he’s his lover?”
“I don’t know, but something about his story doesn’t fit. None of this makes sense. Look, just talk to him again, see if he can remember anything else. I’ll try and get more from Karik.”
“Very well, my friend. Ah, what a miserable business, and we will have to delay our departure. Karik won’t be fit in four days.”
“No, probably not for a week or more. Well, it doesn’t matter too much and I don’t want him to feel even worse about things, so don’t mention it. We can easily justify a delay on the basis of needing more rest time for the team. You said you had things you could do, if we were here longer.”
“Quite true, and that will make a good excuse. As you wish it then—I better see about these boots.” He tapped his mouth thoughtfully. “Search the room?”
“If you can. But I don’t want him to know.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
Romi was tired, but he wouldn’t sleep—it wasn’t the first time he’d worked all night on a case. He found his team just getting ready to find their breakfast, and drew Jou and Netu outside. He explained the situation as simply as he could, without mentioning the rape, saying only that Karik had been seriously assaulted.
“I don’t want this to be gossiped about,” he said, and they nodded. “Jou, I think he’ll appreciate a little company while he’s sick, and since we assume he was attacked by a man, he might prefer you to any of us. Netu, I just wanted you to know so you could keep an eye on his health. I don’t know what the after-effects of this drug will be, or how long they will persist. Once we know what it is, I want you to find out all you can about caring for someone dosed with it.”
“What about Soza?” Jou said. “Shouldn’t he be helping his friend?”
Romi was the only one who knew Soza was Karik’s lover, not just his friend, but his answer was the same anyway. “I think Soza will just make Karik feel worse. I’ll tell him that Karik doesn’t want visitors, and unless Karik himself insists, that’s the line I want you two to take with him. Somehow I doubt he’ll press the issue.”
“Cold bastard,” Jou spat. “Poor Karik—how could this happen?”
“I don’t know but I take the blame, and I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again. Just be a friend to him, will you?”
“Of course—you don’t need to ask. Karik’s a good man.”
“Yes, he is. Why don’t you go to the infirmary after breakfast?”
“I’ll drop over right now and see how he is.”
Romi nodded and she headed off towards that part of the barracks. Netu watched her leave. “All right—now, what aren’t you telling me, captain Romi?”
“Sorry?”
Netu turned to him. “Look—all this discretion, keeping Soza away...what exactly happened to Karik that y
ou don’t want people to know?”
Romi cursed his medic’s sharp brain. He didn’t want to lie to the man, and since he’d guessed so much of it, there was little point. “He was raped,” he said bluntly. “Drugged, raped and left in an alley.”
Netu winced. “Gods...and we have no idea who?”
“None, but Wepizi has set enquiries going. Do you understand the need for discretion?”
“Of course—but you should tell Jou. She cares for Karik a good deal and it might help.”
“I’ll think about it, but really, I want to let Karik have the choice of who knows. This will need delicate handling, Netu. I know this wasn’t what we expected on this mission, but it’s happened and we have to deal with it.”
“I’ll do everything I can,” Netu said firmly. “Poor bastard. If I find out who did it....”
“You and me both,” Romi said with feeling. “And Wepizi too. Karik’s a guest in this country and I don’t think the Andonese will be happy about this, even ignoring the fact of who he’s connected to.”
“No, they won’t be. If it had happened on our patch, you know how we’d feel. All right, I’ll let Jou handle the infirmary visits, and be on hand for advice. I’ll speak to the healer later—sounds like he has his hands full just now.”
Romi agreed and watched his medic leave, trying to think what he had missed. There had to be something....
He shook his head. Breakfast and a couple of hours sleep, then back to see Karik and try and get him past this. He suddenly wished they were on their way home to Darshian—this was a bad omen, a very bad omen indeed.
Staying Power: 20
Karik had never been so thoroughly sick in his life, and even in his misery, he couldn’t help but wonder at his body’s ability to keep bringing something up even though he had to have emptied his stomach ages ago. He hurt all over and couldn’t understand why—what had happened to him? He knew he was in the barracks infirmary—in the brief moments when he wasn’t retching, a young man called Vyoti had introduced himself and told him where he was. But no one had yet told him why he was there.
Staying Power (Darshian Tales #3) Page 25