looking at it objectively.
Daniel looked at a page in the book again. “The care for a being shows how much you are in tune with nature. Every being is a part of nature, of everything,” he read out, quietly, “and the realisation of you being a part of that everything is the start of becoming a more whole person.”
He shrugged, and looked at the sleeping woman again. He bent over and carefully brushed some hair away from her face, so he could see her better. “Care,” he whispered. “I’ve been caring all my life, and look what that got me. Maybe Troy had a better idea. Although… commanding a station at Trados Noxos isn’t exactly what would make me happy.” He chuckled to himself, picturing Troy up to his knees in badly smelling goo, screaming commands. Then his thoughts found another alley to stroll down.
“I wonder what you know about your father,” he mused to himself. “Step-father, should I say. But I am not even sure if you know that…” Daniel tried to picture for himself the state of mind of a man who would sacrifice his step-daughter for whatever reason. He ended up with something so inhuman that he was not able to make the picture in detail. The rough sketch of it was already making him sick.
He turned to the book again, skipped to a random page and started reading.
54. Kernak
“Daniel?” Rayko’s soft and not so awake voice startled him.
“Oh. You’re awake.” Daniel became aware that he had no idea how long he had been sitting there, dividing his time between reading the book, dozing off and thoughts.
“I think so,” she said. “Could you help me sit up, please?”
“Certainly,” he said. He put the book on the bed and held her up, rearranging the pillows with one hand. “Comfortable enough like that?”
“Yes. Thank you.” She smiled a tired smile. “I just wish this sitting and pain was over. I want to go outside. Walk. Feel the sun and the wind, and smell the ocean.” She reached out for the book, a short twitch in her face showing that the movement still hurt. “Oh.” She smiled. “You were reading this.”
“Yes, I did. I picked it up as I was afraid it would fall off the bed,” Daniel said.
Rayko looked at him. “How long have you been sitting here?” Her voice did not sound accusing, it was just a question.
“I’m not sure. For some time.” Daniel noticed the empty cup. “Would you like something to drink?”
“Oh, and to eat, please!” She nodded. “I am famished.” After all, she had missed breakfast.
“I’ll go see what the house has to offer,” Daniel said as he got up and picked up the teacup. “Do you want to try sitting in the dining room?”
“I’d really like to. Maybe we can see Kernak from there.”
“Oh, you know her?” Daniel asked.
“Yes, I have seen her several times. She is magnificent.”
Daniel agreed. “Let me see what can be arranged. I’ll come back for you, okay?”
Rayko glared at him. “Okay. Okay. Do you know how much that makes you sound like an uncivilised peasant boy, Daniel? It is such a dumb word.”
“Calm down, you. You’re in no position to fight, remember?” Daniel warned her.
“Hmpf. If my ribs did not hurt, I would throw a pillow at you. You don’t know how lucky you are that I am defenceless at the moment.”
“Shouldn’t that be offenseless?” Daniel laughed.
“Oh, go and do something useful, instead of trying to outsmart me.” She opened the book and stared so intently at the page that it was clear she considered the matter closed.
“It’s upside down,” Daniel said before he left. He laughed at the peasant sound she made as he closed the door behind him.
It did not take long to get a nice lunch on the table in the dining room. Daniel and a servant had brought a large chair into the room, filled it with pillows and then he had picked up Rayko and seated her in the chair.
“I am relieved that you no longer worry about me dropping you, Rayko,” Daniel said as she was sitting and he took his own seat.
“I know now that you are strong enough. And not nearly as clumsy as you look,” she said as she reached. “Oww… could you please hand me the bread?”
“Of course. What do you mean by looking clumsy?” Daniel had no idea that he looked like that. He held the bread basket for her.
“You’re so… big. Broad. Your voice was so loud then. And then your clothes… so sailor like. And you smelled bad.”
“I was at a ship, Rayko. Sailors don’t wear suits or costumes.”
“So I’ve noticed. Marmalade please.”
For a while they ate in silence, until Rayko suddenly exclaimed: “Oh, there she is!”
Daniel looked over to where the woman was pointing. Outside the window, the Kotrvayk walked to her spot under the low tree. “She’s magnificent, isn’t she?”
“Oh, yes, I can’t look at her enough.”
“She is also good fun to play with,” Daniel said, a grin on his face as he remembered the tugging contest.
“Play?” Rayko’s large eyes stared at him. “Surely you are joking, aren’t you?”
“No? Why should I? The senator introduced me to Kernak, and she seems to like me,” Daniel said.
“For lunch, I’m sure, or a hearty snack in-between,” Rayko muttered as she buttered some toast.
“I’ll show you after lunch,” Daniel said.
“You will do nothing of the kind, Mr. Zacharias. I can not allow you to go near that animal just because you have the need to show off. Kotrvayks are strong and dangerous. I have read my books, you know. It is a miracle that the senator has not been hurt by her. Magnificent or not.”
“You, miss Dandra ko Galem, are hardly in a situation to allow me anything. Allow me to pour you some more tea.”
“Thank you for that, Mr. Zacharias.” Her face made it clear she was not done with the other issue though, it was just on a back burner.
Lunch went by without further incidents.
“I never knew that eating is such hard work,” Rayko said as she carefully touched her ribs. “But I am glad I had lunch, Daniel. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now, if you would excuse me for a moment.” Daniel got up and slipped out the dining room. He walked through the other corridor and reached the door to the inner garden, where he walked up to Kernak. “Hello Kernak, how are you today? You don’t seem to get many visitors,” he said.
“Oh no, he really is an idiot,” whispered Rayko as she saw Daniel cross the yard to where the Kotrvayk was lying. “He is going to die, and I put him up to this.” She pressed her napkin against her lips as she saw how the man walked to animal and kneeled next to her. She wanted to look away, but could not avert her eyes.
Daniel stroked Kernak’s head. The Kotrvayk rolled on her back and allowed him to pet her all he wanted. She was just a great big kitten to him, enjoying the attention.
Inside the house, Rayko stared and could not believe what her eyes told her. “He is petting her,” she whispered. “He is petting the Kotrvayk. He truly is a preacher.”
“So, tell me, girl, do you want to meet Rayko? I am sure you will like her.” Daniel rubbed the massive chest of the animal. “I just wish I could be as certain as the senator about that.”
Rayko witnessed how Daniel got up and came back to the door. Soon after, he came into the dining room. She stared at him.
Her piercing look made him feel slightly uncomfortable. “Is something the matter?”
“If you ever so much as dare to hint to me that you are not a preacher, Daniel, I will kick you. And I will not stop until Nahmyo herself comes to tell me otherwise.”
“Come on, you’re exaggerating,” Daniel said. “It’s just a friendly animal.”
