The Adventures of Deacon Coombs (37 page)

Cautiously, Deacon inquired of Dr. Chuen. The bartender’s beady eyes fixed on Deacon as he pretended to wipe a glass over and over with a soiled rag. Then, with an abbreviated gesture, his head swayed only for a split second toward a table in the deepest recess, where Deacon could barely make out the outline of a single person through the smoke. As he moved closer, Deacon saw a low-burning candle faintly outlining the posture of a thin elderly man with deep, sunken, opaque eyes sitting on the dirty floor.

Deacon positioned himself closer for inspection. His fingers fondled the laser gun under his vest, and he felt the signaling device that would prompt Jim’s assistance. He looked over his shoulder at Quobit before he took the last three steps, and then a slight barking cough focused his attention on the man. Chuen was distinguished looking, puffing on a long blue pipe of opium. His twiggy frame was outlined in the tight black clothes that he wore. “Excuse me, pardon my interruption, but are you Doctor Kam Chuen?”

“Who is asking?” The doctor’s voice was high-pitched and raspy as their eyes met.

“A fellow detective, one representing the Alliance.”

Chuen’s two dark eyes now penetrated Deacon, opening wider and wider to expose enlarged pupils. Arising from the floor, wobbling on bony legs, the Asiandan reached out and grabbed Deacon’s arm sturdily, forcing him to his sitting level on the earthy red floor, yanking him to draw him closer. A whiff of his foul breath caused Deacon to turn his head abruptly to savor fresh air. “The Alliance sends an errand boy? An Earthman? To talk to me? For what possible reason?”

“I regret any inconvenience that I have caused you, but this is an errand of gravity.”

Chuen stopped inhaling to size him up, sprinkling his investigation with infrequent darts of eye contact. Sternly, he said, “What do you want of me? I come here to be left alone and enjoy my own company, so make your business brief.”

Deacon fondled the signal button to alert Jim, as he didn’t appreciate the menacing tone of Chuen’s remarks. Then he realized his situation. Chuen was on edge. Quickly he tuned into Chuen’s mind. He would listen to him and read him simultaneously. However, the detective’s energy thought patterns were unclear, so he initiated dialogue about Medulla.

“Perhaps a smoke while we converse?” Chuen asked.

“No thanks, but I appreciate your offer. I have important matters of business tonight to tend to with you.”

Chuen was insulted. “My friends do not turn away from my gainful proposition of a free fix.” Deacon noticed that a swarthy Asiandan, was acknowledging Chuen as he passed, and he eyed Deacon with contempt. “All shall be well. Sit and smoke with me.” Chuen signaled the host with an encouraging wave of his hand.

Deacon decided to remain and play Chuen’s game, as time was short and this was an important lead—and maybe the only lead to play. “You have journeyed to the planet Medulla on more than one occasion during the last few years. In one instance, you were absent from Earth for almost a year, traveling space, reaching Medulla as your final destination. That, I believe, was your first trip; then there were three others. The Alliance desires to know the nature of your voyages.”

“Ha! The Alliance is a bureaucratic snoop. I was on vacation. Big deal.”

“I don’t believe so,” said Deacon.

Chuen stared at him with dour, beady, penetrating eyes. “You insult me? You dare to call me a liar?”

Deacon was firm and responded quickly. “The Alliance will reward you handsomely for the names of your clients that you represented during those voyages and also for the purpose of these journeys.”

Chuen blew a rancid exhale into Deacon’s face. “I represented myself. I took vacation. Who in the Alliance dares to say I did not? You?”

Deacon restated his offer. “Rewarded very handsomely.”

Chuen snickered, looked past Deacon, let some awkward minutes pass, and then asked, “How handsomely?”

Deacon knew this was going to be easy, for in Chuen’s mind, he betrayed his expectations of drugs and money, and Deacon had deciphered each expectation. So Deacon did not disappoint him as he suggested a value very close to Chuen’s wants. Chuen heaved a sigh and boldly upped the ante. Deacon held his ground, for he read Chuen’s extreme satisfaction when the initial amount was revealed. Bartering took place lethargically over five more minutes, and the two concocted a deal. Deacon did excite Chuen by adding, “A bonus if you can also deliver the current whereabouts of your client.”

Chuen rubbed his chin and then twisted his beard. “Do you have the money with you?”

“Yes.”

“What is your name?”

“I am Bothwen, an administrator of the Union of Space Traders and part-time space detective, here on behalf of the traders’ union and the Alliance. Here are my credentials.” Chuen pretended to inspect the papers and badge, but Deacon’s mind read that he was anxious to commence the transaction and obtain the financial gain. Chuen snapped the wallet closed, but instead of passing it to Deacon, he gave it to a swarthy figure who was now towering behind him. Deacon’s pipe arrived, and with the deal close to consummation, the two puffed in silence for a few minutes, Deacon taking very short inhales until the brute returned with the papers. Deacon heard a whisper and then read Chuen’s mind easily to confirm Chuen’s satisfaction.

As Chuen sat cogitating, Deacon relaxed, changing his mood as Lyanna had taught him. Out of the silence, the name Goharn Lok penetrated his mind.
A
thought
from
Chuen?
he wondered. He had to confirm it, since there were other patrons in close proximity. Deacon severed the sereneness. “Come, come, Chuen, let’s get on with our discussion, for the Alliance knows that Goharn Lok may be involved.”

Chuen was startled. “Why bother me? This deal seems so foolish if you already know of Goharn Lok as my client.”

“You lose your bounty if my patience grows thin.”

Chuen sighed. He rested his pipe. “Okay. You are correct in your assumption. It was he, Goharn Lok. Lok came to me years ago, asking me to locate his brother, Phendal Lok, who had left Earth years ago when Goharn was but a teenager. He paid me very handsomely to locate Phendal. After a convoluted trail through the farthest regions of our space, which as you noted took one Earth year, I surprisingly located him on the planet Medulla. Apparently Lok’s brother resided there for many happy years before he passed away. This is no secret. All the locals know of Goharn’s quest to find his long-lost brother, all the locals know that he engaged me, and all know that I found him on Medulla. During my first trip, he was alive.”

Chuen moved closer. “So I called it vacation as I journeyed to Medulla. So what? I had not been abroad. It was an exciting adventure, traveling to many planets, following Phendal’s trail. It was all exciting except Medulla. Goharn paid for all my expenses—and very well.” Chuen stopped to have another puff and faced Deacon. “Maybe I should make sure that you will indeed treat me more than comfortably before I continue.”

Deacon was adamant and ignored Chuen’s inference. “Where does Goharn Lok reside?”

“Goharn’s a recluse, lives up in the hills near here, the hills of Ingkata. He is very popular with the locals. He asked me to journey with him to Medulla. Goharn was very welcome there. He is the only Earthman I know who was allowed to land on the planet’s surface except me. During my first trip, when I discovered that his brother had lived there, I was permitted to land on the planet’s surface to peruse personal files. What a horrible, disgusting environment exists there. My next two trips were to secure travel plans for Goharn Lok, who was invited to Medulla. When I accompanied Goharn—that was my last trip—I was confined to the moon to conduct my investigation, as are all other life forms. But not Goharn! They actually invited him to the planet’s surface as if he were royalty to meet with high-ranking Medullans! Disgusting-looking creatures, these Medullans! I think I would have thrown up in front of them if I had been asked to see them again. Sorrowfully, his brother had passed away by the time I found him.” Chuen again put down his pipe.

“Oh my! Excuse me, Mr. Bothwen. Not true. I must correct myself. Goharn’s brother was also permitted on the surface of Medulla, for he lived on the surface. Yes! Lived there for many years among these ugly creatures in the disgusting muck and filth on the planet’s surface. Goharn too during his trip on the planet actually dined with the Medullans, conversed with them. ‘What an opportunity,’ some would say. But their physical appearances are completely repulsive, as I said earlier. It made poor Goharn sick to his stomach too. He has many tales to tell about that experience when he interfaced with the Medullans. That is your interest, is it not? Goharn’s thoughts on the Medullans and life on the surface? His journey there? To document it for the Alliance?”

Deacon thought that this was all so easy. But he had gained nothing yet except for the Lok brothers’ ability to gain access to the planet’s surface. “The Alliance does not have to divulge my purposes to you.”

Chuen replied sneakily. “He is the one that you seek; trust me. Goharn Lok. I only journeyed to Medulla because of his requests. I am not in any trouble, am I?”

“Did you converse directly with the Medullans, Chuen?”

“Yes. Well, indirectly through an electrical interpreter. They would not allow me to leave the lone shelter I occupied. They were very congenial in allowing me to gather data on Phendal and then piece together the life of Goharn Lok’s brother, but it was difficult to look at them. It is illegal to land, you know, on the planet’s surface, so I was surprised that they, in secrecy, allowed me. Also, how did this peasant, Phendal Lok, get permission too, eh? That’s all Lok’s brother was—a peasant.” Chuen emphasized the
P
s in
peasant
and
permission
as he spoke. “Kings and High Council members don’t have that right, so I was hoping that you maybe have the answer. Why were these brothers allowed to land there? Is that what the Alliance is doing? Investigating the crime of landing there?”

“Well, as I stated before, it is not customary for me to divulge specifics to you.”

Chuen inhaled from his pipe—a long, deep invasion of his lungs—and then said, “Goharn Lok and his brother, Phendal, were orphans. No schooling, no future in wealth, no family. It is very curious that this illiterate man Phendal travels in outer space and meets his destiny to reside on Medulla.”

“And Goharn visited just once?”

“Yes.” A look of curiosity crossed Chuen’s face. “What does the Alliance want with me? I am too old to put into prison for breaking a space law. Right?”

Deacon was uneasy. He had the real residence of Goharn. He knew he could get more information regarding Goharn Lok from a prolonged meeting with Chuen, but he decided that this was sufficient. “Anything else that I should be aware of, Chuen?”

“Goharn Lok is well known in the hills of Ingkata. Ask anyone for directions. That is how I first found him. Take the Frendis Road up high into the hills until it turns into cobbles and ruts. Then ask as you continue to make your way to the summit of the hill. The road eventually terminates in a huge clearing, and from there you take the path to his home. The affair belongs in your hands now. There is the matter of gratuities. You will keep your half of the bargain.”

“Yes, I shall retrieve it.”

“Not alone,” he said as he grabbed Deacon’s vest. “My friend Chang shall go with you to make sure.” Deacon noticed the monstrous shadow in the corner again, which took shape in the light as it advanced.

“One last question, Chuen. You made two trips to Medulla for arrangements. Why did you go there twice for planning?”

“On the contrary, I followed Lok’s trail across the galaxy to Medulla during the first trip. Goharn sponsored a second journey for me to get permission for Goharn to land. When I informed the Medullans of the existence of a brother on Earth, the Medullans finally admitted to his presence on my second trip. The third trip was to make arrangements for Goharn; I traveled there with Goharn during the fourth voyage.” Chuen looked up. “As we said earlier, maybe Phendal Lok didn’t have permission to land so was breaking the law and the Medullans wanted to protect him. I don’t know. Not my concern. I was tenacious. I found him. I was rewarded handsomely by Goharn. Go talk to Goharn and leave me alone now, Bothwen.”

The tall, husky man stayed one step behind Deacon as he emerged at street level. The henchman crossed his arms and demanded payment. Jim streamed a packet of dockets and a small sack of gems into the man’s outstretched hands. They waited until he had counted them and affirmed their safe departure. Then Quobit left the bar behind them, and they vamoosed quickly to secure a motorized vehicle to proceed into the hills. With Jim protesting vehemently as darkness descended, Deacon ordered about what little time they had left to solve the crime and find the villain and validate the safety of the known universe. Most importantly, Deacon was puzzled by Chuen’s testimony about the Lok brothers and could not fathom how two peasants fit into the schemes of a devil.

In the hills of Ingkata

Deacon found it impossible to be comfortable as the pathways became infested with potholes, a product of the almost daily rainfall in this equatorial city. They traversed through the forested landscape, winding higher and higher into the hills on trough-laden roads, the roughness of the road creating turbulent air pockets underneath their craft, in turn bouncing the vehicle. Lyanna would have to be patient for his return, as Deacon over and over justified his decision to track down Goharn Lok on this night. He calculated that they were running out of time as the docking hour of the empty
Heritage
drew closer. Landrew would surely initiate an investigation for their whereabouts as soon as the ship arrived empty.

The directions to Goharn’s abode became confusing, as an abundance of unmarked intersections now marred their way. Not knowing precisely the next turn, as Chuen had predicted, they stopped to ask directions and corrected their path twice by backtracking. On a hairpin turn, with the lights below providing a grandiose view of Ketapongo, they huddled with natives to once again determine the direction to Goharn’s house. An elderly man seeking transportation on his way back from market loaded his chickens and grains into the vehicle and guided them the last three miles.