17. An unexpected visitor

 

The rest of the journey and the tests of the ship went well. Even the cook that had come aboard was feeling better and managed to do his work without too many problems. Draiky however was glad to see him leave.

Daniel did what he could to avoid the Seigner's daughter and succeeded in that. Ulaman helped, as he understood that there was definitely no chemistry between them, apart from a destructive one.

As the harbour came back into view, Daniel was surprised by a gentle tap on his arm. It was the daughter of the Seigner.

"Excuse me, Mr. Zacharias. I would like to be at the front side of the... ship when we arrive. Do you deem it safe to stand there?"

It took Daniel a few moments to get over his surprise, then he nodded. "We'll be on our way for at least another hour, miss."

"I don't mind, sir," Rayko said. "It would really please me."

"In that case I am sure we can find you a safe spot. One moment please, Miss Dandra ko Galem." Daniel walked off to Bilk and told him where he'd be, taking the Seigner's daughter to the bow.

"This way, please, miss," he said upon his return. They walked to the place Daniel had in mind. "I assume you want to see how we come into port?"

"Yes."

They arrived at a safe place, far away from moving ropes and masts.

"If you wait here for a moment," Daniel said. He grabbed a large roll and stacked that against the railing. A Bactine body had its advantages.

Rayko looked in disbelief as he lifted the immense stack of rope. It weighed at least two hundred and fifty pounds, she estimated, and he handled it as were it a pillow.

"It is perhaps not the most comfortable seat, but you could sit on it if you get tired. Miss."

"Thank you, Mr. Zacharias. That is kind of you, but I am sure it won't be needed." She even condescended to show him a little smile.

"Very well, Miss Dandra ko Galem. I'll come back for you once we're moored, if you agree with that."

"Of course." Rayko stepped in front of the large bundle of rope, rested her hands on the railing and looked out over the water and towards the harbour.

Daniel waited for a few more moments, but she did not pay attention to him anymore. Just as well. He made his way back aft and divided his time between the bridge and helping the men stow sail and roll up roll. From the bridge he kept an eye on Rayko and grinned as he saw her sitting on the stack of ropes.

The hawkers were thrown, able men caught them and secured the Pricosine. Daniel saw a few carriages already down at the quay, so the Seigner had received the communication that they were almost back. Good. And good riddance.

As the men were lowering the gangway, he walked to the bow and made sure to make enough noise for her to hear him coming. "Miss, we've arrived, and everything is ready to disembark. Are you ready too?"

Rayko looked at him as if she was trying to put a value on him. "I am indeed ready. Thank you for remembering me."

She walked with him, to where the men had collected her suitcases on deck. The cook had already taken his leave.

Landlubber, Daniel thought with a grin.

Rayko bravely stepped onto the gangway and looked down. It was steeper and deeper than she had thought. She stepped back, and red-faced she said: "I hope I do not inconvenience you, Mr. Zacharias, but would you please escort me down?"

Daniel grinned without showing it. "My pleasure, miss." He carefully picked her up, knowing that the eyes of the whole crew were on him.

Rayko hesitated for a moment. Then she put an arm around Daniel's neck. She buried her face in the clean shirt he had put on just before fetching her. Her eyes were closed tightly, she did not want to see this.

Daniel stepped onto the gangway and started walking down. He occasionally told her where they were. Halfway down, three quarters already. Just before the last steps, the wind caught Rayko's dress. It hooked behind something and a loud tearing noise was heard. Daniel felt how Rayko stiffened in his arms. He walked on as the damage was done already and put her on her feet.

Venom shot from her eyes. She looked at her dress and the tear was considerable. "Now look what you've done, you incompetent little man!" The fact that he stood two heads taller than she did was not the issue. "Argghh..." Very angry, she turned and walked off. Alas... too fast for her footwear. Four steps down she slipped and tripped.

Daniel, who was closest to her, quickly went over to her. "Are you okay?"

"Don't you dare touch me, you imbecile! Go away! Leave me! Mr. Slindris, please get this incompetent away from me!"

Daniel got up and looked at Gaguran. He shrugged and backup off as the man approached and helped Rayko to her feet.

Fuming, she hobbled off on Gaguran's arm, scrambled into the carriage and she drove off.

Gaguran waited for the luggage to be loaded. As he stood there, he turned to Daniel. "That, Mr. Zacharias, was highly unfortunate."

"She slipped, Mr. Slindris."

"I saw that. Still..."

Daniel could almost taste the repressed pleasure Gaguran had over the incident. "I wish you a good day, sir. I have duties to attend to." He nodded and paced away, not waiting for a greeting from the serving man.

After all his work on board was done, he asked Ulaman what the plan was.

"You take a few days, Daniel. We'll be sailing in a few days again. Big trip then, I think. I will notify you when we need you sooner."

Daniel went to get his stuff. He grabbed a quick shower and changed into a suit. Enough people had been staring at him for one day, so if this would make things easier, so be it. Dressed and his bag in hand, he walked down the gangway. As he was almost down, he saw a strip of fabric flapping from a ring. "Crap," he stated as he ripped it from the ring and stuffed it in his pocket.

"Daniel."

He knew the voice. Then he saw Rhonda walking up to him. She was in her regular camouflage outfit. "Rhonda?"

"The one and only. Man, you look..." She smothered a grin. "Different."

"What are you doing here? I mean, why are you here?" Daniel was stumped; he had not expected to ever see the Head Medical Officer again.

"I took a bit of leave and came over to see how you were doing. The folks here do dress up weird, Daniel. They even got you. They're staring at me all the time."

"Guess why I wear this," Daniel said, patting his sleeve. "It stops the staring. Come, I was going home. Care to join me?"

They walked along the buildings to the exit of the harbour where Daniel used his hydger to call for a carriage.

Rhonda curiously eyed the device as he used it. "That looks odd."

"Gets the job done though."

"I'll take your word for it. Say, what was that scene with you carrying ladies down and getting kicked in the butt for that?"

Daniel groaned. "Have you seen that?"

"Yep, and I want to know all about it."

A carriage rolled to a halt. Daniel held the door for Rhonda. "After you."

"Daniel Zacharias, is that really you in there? You scare me!"

On the way to his apartment, Daniel told Rhonda about the happening with the Seigner's daughter and how all that had not gone all too smoothly.

"Be glad she's not on the ship all the time. One of you would die," Rhonda declared as they were in the elevator to Daniel's floor. "Fancy housing here, Daniel."

He showed her into the room where she looked around as he put away his things.

"Wow, that is a view here! Really blows the star base out of the water, Daniel!"

He came back and saw Rhonda still in front of the window. "I know. That is really great about this place. That and it's cheap."

"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.