The Adventures of Deacon Coombs (39 page)

“That was not necessary, Mister Coombs. I brought you here because I trusted you. Urzel, come here.” Goharn extended his hand, and the child moved into the middle of the room for the second time, tilting his head in a pathetic way. Deacon was drawn now to the pitiful sight—two sorrowful crimson eyes crying out for his sympathy. The boy’s head bobbed up and down, and then Urzel replied, “Hello.”

It was only one word, but it terrified Deacon so much that he extracted his weapon. The child retreated to the corner, frightened.

Goharn was upset. “Why did you do that?”

“That voice. It reminded me of the voice of Urzel when I was on Nix.”

“Mister Coombs. I invited you here because when Geor and Como died, Urzel Lok was with me, on Earth. It is time to lay your fears of this child to rest.”

“The tone of that voice was strikingly similar.”

“It is a pure coincidence. Urzel was here with me. This sickly child cannot harm you. Now let us leave, for I have other news to impart to you that will be of interest.”

“Jim, Goharn Lok and I have business to discuss. Stay here and take samples from the boy. Be gentle with him. I want hair samples, cutin, saliva, fingerprints, and, of course, the heartbeat and metabolic energy of the body. I also want a retina scan. Goharn, can you speak to the child to ask him to cooperate?”

Goharn nodded his head and coaxed the child to obey the Owler. “We will provide all the evidence you need, Mister Coombs,” he said. Then they left him alone with Jim.

Not a single word was spoken on the descent. Once back in the bamboo hut, Goharn said, “I owe you a further explanation.”

“Goharn, how did he get here?”

“The Medullans informed me of what they had done, so I tried to engage the services of traders to rescue Urzel from Nix, but no one could be paid enough to break the law to go there. It was also not a mapped, recognizable planet on trade charts. Then, as you suspected, Urzel escaped on the disabled trade ship from six years ago. Correct you were again in assuming that he duped the crew.

“Older but not wiser, his first step was to go back to—where else—his mother. She had not forgiven him for Phendal’s death and warned him to leave before other Medullans discovered his presence back on Medulla. This all occurred after my attempts to find Phendal and my visit to Medulla.

“So Nedilli—Urzel’s mother, my brother’s wife—informed Urzel of me, and he arrived here on my doorstep. He has been seriously ill for that entire period of time, ever since I first laid eyes upon him.”

“What does he purport to have?”

“Not purport. Urzel is deathly ill and is in a weakened state, and has been for six years. Your Owler will discover this and confirm it. He can’t even walk from his hut down to my place anymore without my assistance, let alone perpetrate the crimes that you investigate.”

“Why?”

“Urzel has been diagnosed with dipholopic fever. There was a time after his arrival here when he lived passively but healthily. I have had a number of medics confirm his condition. He has high fever; a constant soreness of the eyes, which causes the redness; constant urination; some cellular disorder; and infection of the digestive tracts. All these are symptoms of the disease. I want him to be left alone to die in peace. This parade of visitors must stop.”

“Parade?”

“You are fourth visitor in three nights.”

“Who else has come here?” Deacon asked quickly.

“A pestering trader called Chubby Eaves has come by twice. He too was concerned about my trip to Medulla. I told him nothing. He was arrogant. He’s a snoop. I refused any courtesies to him, for he was rude and demanding toward me. I turned him away a second time last night. I told him nothing of the tale that I have told you.”

“And the other visitor?”

“Urzel grew enormously strong the other night. No, not strong, furious. Something aroused him. As I sat to comfort him, I swear that there was someone ascending the path. I raced to the opening and cried out, summoning them to appear. Whomever it was decided to remain hidden down the path, but I knew someone was there.”

Goharn suddenly seemed to be hypnotized. “Then I heard a strange sobbing, and as I searched in the bushes, drawing dangerously near to the sound, it fled down the hill. Later I listened as the being ran in confusing circles, scurrying around the perimeter of Urzel’s hut.”

“How many times has this occurred?” Deacon asked.

“Just that once.”

“I am educated about dipholopic fever. I know the consequences. I took injections before my travels into space to combat this disease.”

“Urzel did not have the luxury of those types of injections, as he was abandoned on Douso—I mean Nix—without any immunizations.”

Jim appeared. “I have completed my assignment, Master Deacon. Is there any other data I should gather here?”

“No. I will join you shortly at the vehicle, Jim. Please return to Quobit there.” A thought crystallized in Deacon’s mind. “How old is Urzel?”

“In Earth years, sixteen years old.”

“You mentioned the mother of Urzel?”

“Nedilli of Erestharn, west country.”

“The sobbing that you heard—think, Goharn; did it sound like sobbing? What precisely did it sound like?”

“Well, it sounded like sobbing. That is the best word I can think of to describe it.”

“Did it sound like Urzel, when Urzel sobs?”

“No, it was not like that at all. It was a strange type of sob, quite a foreign sound to me.”

“Were there pauses between the noises?”

“Yes, there were. As I drew closer, it became fainter, but there were definite intervals between the noises. I can’t help you anymore, Mister Coombs. I have trusted you with too much of the untold tale. Urzel Lok is a sickly child. He has been in my presence for many years. Please direct your attention elsewhere to find your space demons. And if you see Chubby Eaves, command him to leave us alone.”

“Did Nedilli relate this tale of the child to you when you visited Medulla?”

“Yes, with the aid of three associates.”

“How many other Medullans know that the child has escaped from Douso?”

“I can’t answer that.”

Deacon emptied his cup and rose. “Goharn Lok, you have been most helpful tonight. I apologize for any inconvenience. I believe now that Urzel Lok is not the one that I seek. But I must impose two favors on you.”

“Certainly.”

“Who knows of Urzel’s existence on Earth?”

“Only the doctor who treated him, and now you, your Owler, and, of course, me. Urzel has never met any of my neighbors.”

“You did not disclose his existence to Chubby?”

“Definitely not.”

“It is absolutely imperative that you not tell anyone of Urzel’s existence here. Also, here is an apparatus with a subspace code that can reach me instantly day or night. If this noise, this sobbing, reappears, record it by pressing this button, transfer it to my handheld by pressing this button, and notify me at once using this code.”

“A reasonable request.”

“Goharn, dipholopic fever is fatal. I must know if and when Urzel regresses or dies. Contact me immediately.”

“Coombs, why have your clues led you to me? I don’t understand. This child is harmless.”

“I don’t know. I am also confused by the events of tonight. I will return to tell you how this gets resolved. I promise. I have another pressing engagement. I must depart.”

They embraced, and Deacon scampered down the cliffs to the clearing below. Not long after that, they were leaving the hilly jungles, the washboard roads more than once sending Deacon’s head crashing into the roof of the vehicle. Inside, he was bursting with startling new conclusions that only Chubby Eaves could confirm. He discussed his encounter with Quobit as they raced to the inn.

At the inn

The sight was heartwarming. A relieved Lyanna had sat on the porch all night, swathed in a blanket, awaiting Deacon’s safe return, stirring at every little footstep. As soon as she recognized him and Jim, she ran forward and threw her arms around him, kissing him on the cheek twice as Jim said, “Ahem.” She broke the kiss and then hugged and kissed Jim too, to which Jim said, “Well.”

Once inside, Deacon informed her of the events of the evening, which intertwined the lives of Goharn Lok, Kam Chuen, Phendal Lok, Chubby Eaves, Urzel Lok, and Nedilli of Medulla but left more questions than answers. Jim stood watch outside and continued to scan for any signs of Gem. Deacon finished his tale long after one in the morning; he was out of breath, and Lyanna was completely enthralled. Then, the mortals opted for rest.

With Jim outside and Quobit curled up on the outside porch, Lyanna decided to teach Deacon his first lesson of love. In her transparent nightgown, she crept into his room and lay down beside him. The cue of snoring told her that this event would have to be postponed. Nudging him gently only brought an exaggerated snort before he tossed, mumbled, and tossed again. Relegating herself to another time, she placed his arm around her shoulders, snuggled up to his chest, and slept peacefully.

Meanwhile, down in the heart of the bars, Gem spied an Aralian slowly and sluggishly approaching the Wendovian. After a brief conversation with the innkeeper, Gem was able to confirm a positive identification. The Owler hid under the staircase as the Aralian slowly started to climb the stairs in a drunken stupor. Outside the room, Gem summoned the Aralian, and as he turned, he received a blow that rendered him unconscious. The master was to have two surprises in the morning.

The pleasant fragrance of Somoan tea wafted up into Deacon’s nostrils. Soothing to the mind, it enhanced his comforting dreams until pangs of hunger directed him to breakfast. Upon opening his eyes, his heart jumped at the sight of seeing Lyanna’s body turned into him, her left arm straddled across his chest, her left leg curled over his body. While he basked in the moment, a sudden commotion in the outer room seized his attention. Dressing quietly, so as not to awaken her, he stole a look at her figure just as she grabbed his arm to pull him on top of her. “Don’t you have even one minute for me?”

As she completed her request, the ruckus in the next room flared to a crescendo, demanding an immediate investigation. “It appears that we have a guest.”

With great difficulty, Deacon yanked himself away from Lyanna’s grip. When he entered the adjoining room, he saw the arms of the Aralian flailing wildly in all directions. From behind his gag, Chubby blasphemed his captors.

“Well, if it isn’t Chubby Eaves! Good morning, Chubby.” After making this statement, Deacon ignored him, turned his back to pour a glass of juice, and stood to savor the taste as Chubby fussed. The trader, craving Deacon’s attention, moaned incessantly. Lyanna, robed and grinning, sat beside Deacon as they faced Chubby, separated by only a few feet.

“Remove the gag, Quobit,” Deacon said.

At the very instant of oral freedom, the Aralian squealed. “Kidnapping is a crime! You hear me, Coombs?”

Gem secured the bonds on his hands and feet. Deacon ignored Chubby to finish his drink, remarking to Lyanna what delights Earth had that he had taken for granted. Then he looked at Chubby.

“I admit to kidnapping,” Deacon said, savoring the taste of the fresh fruit.

“What do you want with me?”

He pointed his finger at him. “I ask the questions here. Get that straight.” His outburst of temper in an irascible tone surprised Chubby. He turned to Lyanna to flash a smile as Chubby bowed his head.

“Can’t you at least release me?” said Chubby. “I can’t escape from these Owlers. These bonds hurt. My, who is your monstrous Jabu friend?”

Deacon motioned to Gem to perform this task. The Owler did so, and then the two Owlers stood close by, one on each side of the Aralian as Deacon introduced Quobit to him. There was a silence as Chubby massaged his aching wrist and ankle muscles and then arose to help himself to liquid refreshments.

Deacon, sitting with his legs crossed and arms folded, began the interrogation. “You cleverly fooled me on Aralia. You tried to convince me to take you to Nix, knowing all along that my answer would be no. The Owlers discovered that your flight plans to come to Earth were filed before I even arrived in the caves of Glagn. As soon as Travers, God bless his soul, and I departed, you left immediately to Asianda to unearth clues about this so-called devil who transformed the crew into a demented lot.” Chubby was silent.