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 remarkably 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 heard 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?"

"Of course. What's eating away at you?" The woman had an uncanny eye for that.

Daniel told her about meeting Huajo early that morning.

Xandree looked at Daniel for a while before speaking. "Seigner Dogom ko Tzuy often is out there. He is an insomniac. The ghost winds alone know how he survives without sleeping normally. He is also troubled by the pain in his bones. Everyone knows about him. And Daniel... if you need to talk about the other thing, you can talk to me too."

"What other thing?"

"The reason you did not sleep this night. You always sleep. There is something that kept you from it, and that is a worry. It is not good to carry your worry around. Talk about it, to get it out of your way." She looked Daniel in the eye. "Your secret is safe with me. If you want to talk."

Daniel nodded. "You are right. There is something that's bothering me." He sighed. "I may take you up on your offer. Thank you."

Xandree nodded. "I'll be here to listen, Daniel."