NAAN (The Rabanians Book 1) (48 page)

"Thank you for joining me," said the Doctor when Kashir entered the car.

"Of course," said Kashir, although he didn't know why the Doctor had made such an odd request. He’d met Daio once or twice and he’d also seen Su-Thor once but he’d never spoken to her.

The Doctor started to drive and soon the car turned onto the road that led to the plantations.

"How is she?" asked Kashir when the fertile terraces started to appear on both sides of the road.

"She's fine," said the Doctor dryly. "Things are working out." he nodded to himself and gave Kashir a quick glance.

"I hope so," said Kashir.

"An operation is always painful, but if it succeeds, you quickly feel much better."

"What do you mean?" asked Kashir. He knew Su-Thor had lost the feeling in one of her hands but he wasn't sure the Doctor was talking about her.

"That’s what's going on here."

"I'm not sure I'm following you," said Kashir.

"It’s because you're not looking at the big picture. We are in the midst of an operation but we're very close to the end."

"You speak in riddles."

The Doctor smiled. "I'm talking about the last couple of years. Many things have happened here, but we are about to emerge. The picture will soon be sharper and clearer than ever."

"Sharper and clearer?" said Kashir trying to understand what the Doctor really meant.

"In any event we need to encourage Daio. He is the only survivor of all this and he needs our support." Images of the three brothers went through his head. Dug was smart but he wasn't worthy. Sosi was dead. Besides, Daio had always been his choice.

"Do you think Sosi is dead?" asked Kashir.

The Doctor gave him a quick look. "You think otherwise?

"I heard Daio is still looking for him."

"Daio must look for him if he wants to keep his conscience clean. After what happened the last time he needs to have evidence. He needs to see a body."

"No one will find a body in those mountains. That is ridiculous."

"Maybe so, but still he needs to make an effort," said the Doctor.   

Kashir shook his head and looked outside. "He was very talented. Very resourceful."

"History is full of talented people that didn't survive to reach their potential," said the Doctor. "He survived two years on the mountain all by himself starting with nothing and badly injured. Eventually life in solitude without proper food or protection always wins."

"Yes, I suppose," said Kashir pensively.

"Talent doesn't guarantee anything," said the Doctor.

"I feel sorry for her," said Kashir. "She was his responsibility."

The Doctor nodded.

"He left before she got sick so he couldn't know, but still it's as if he ignored his responsibility for her."

"That was part of the whole problem," said the Doctor. "His social skills were never very sharp. A person can be very talented in one thing but incompetent in others. That was the reason for the isolation he imposed upon himself and the pointless flight to Mampas. He was there all by himself for nearly a year and got into a fight with everyone."

"But he came back with information," said Kashir.

"He came back with information that eventually led to his death. He left for Mampas soon after he came down from the mountains. It was as if the ground was burning under his feet. If he’d sat quietly, and allowed Daio to lead the way, he would still be here with us today. Su-Thor would never have left Mampas."

"Maybe she should go back," said Kashir.

The Doctor shook his head. "It's not that simple. She is not welcome there. I hope that Daio will… adopt her if she survives. She might lose her hand, but even so, she is still good looking and full of energy. The age difference between the two is not that big and she has a great personality. I have no doubt they could become close."

The Doctor did care for her. He truly hoped she would survive, but if she didn’t, she'd simply be one more casualty in Naan's history just as Sosi had become. In the end she was just another of Sosi’s accidents. One of many.

"The plague is more difficult for strangers than for us,” suddenly said Kashir.

The Doctor gave him a look before returning his gaze at the trail. "The plague," he said pensively.

"We are used to it but stranger’s cannot adapt to this reality."

"It’s like a test," said the Doctor and nodded. "A test set by Naan for every newcomer."

Kashir looked at him. "A test no newcomer has survived to my knowledge."

The Doctor nodded. "Some die from the disease and some go crazy trying to cure it."

"I’ve met Daio only few times, but every time he looked as if he really suffers for us because of this disease," said Kashir and looked at the Doctor. "He wants to find a cure but I don't think he is crazy."

The Doctor shook his head.  "I am talking about Sosi.  Sosi was like a match that flared brightly and burned out in an instant. Daio on the other hand is a torch. He wants to survive. To survive Naan and to survive the plague."

He remembered the day they’d arrived on Naan. Without anyone knowing he’d given them a hard mission, one that had cost many people their lives. But it had been necessary. He’d needed to test them in order to find out which was the chosen. He’d thought he’d succeeded until Sosi suddenly appeared and shuffled the cards. Naan’s test, on the other hand, was much more decisive. He hoped this chapter was finally behind him. The next test would be the Shuttle crash. It would be just as important as the test of the plague. He didn't know when, but it was coming and he had no doubt Daio would triumph in it as well.

The trail changed to a narrow road and beyond the trees they saw the house. The Doctor stopped the car and looked at the front yard of the house. Su-thor sat in a wheelchair, Daio and Dug stood in front of her and they all looked through the trees of the plantation in front of the house.

"What is going on," asked the Doctor.

Kashir pointed towards the trees. "They are all looking at something," he said.

The Doctor rolled the car forward and stopped next to the paved drive.  Daio looked back at them but immediately looked away.  A bad feeling crept into the Doctor’s heart.

"What is it?" he asked as he walked forwards

"Hovercrafts," he said as he walked outside. Now he could hear the noise coming from the fields beyond the trees.

"I don't know," said Daio.

"So," said the Doctor looking forward. "It is probably Musan's new hovercrafts," he said, but suddenly wrinkles appeared on his forehead and he turned to Daio. "Do you think…" He began but stopped to think and looked out over the fields again. "Do you think they've found him?"

Su-thor started to breathe heavily. Ashima held the wheelchair handles firmly as if she was about to roll it back into the house.

"It is the rabble," said Su-Thor nodding her head. "They are here to claim their revenge."

"No," said the Doctor. He looked forward and ground his teeth.

Now they could see people far beyond the plantation. They walked slowly as if they’d been walking for a very long time. As they came closer the Doctor was able to count their number. Four walked in the front and several more were walking behind holding guns in their hands.

"It’s the rabble," whispered Su-Thor.  She coughed.  Tears welled in her eyes and dripped down her face. She closed them and lowered her head.

Dug backed up a bit but Daio stood his ground with the Doctor next to him. Suddenly his eyes opened wide. He lifted his hand slowly and pointed. "He is alive," he said with a trembling voice. Su-Thor eyes opened and she raised her head just in time to see Daio rushing forward between the trees.

The author wishes to thank Dr. Barry Lynn for his time and helpful comments while proof-reading the manuscript.