Chapter 10: Expecting

Nyk paced back and forth in front of the vidisplay attempting to call the phone numbers Suki gave him. Outside, the wind continued to howl, bright flashes of lightning seeped around the closed shutters and thunder boomed.

He placed another call. He heard it ringing. “Hello?”

“Mrs Kyhana? This is Nick Kane.”

“Oh, Mr Kane! Have you heard what’s happened?”

“Yes, I know.”

“She gave herself to him. She taunted him and gave herself to him so he wouldn’t molest a blind woman.”

“I had no idea! That was a brave thing.”

“It was a foolish thing. She could’ve gotten them both killed.”

“It was brave and noble, Mrs Kyhana. May I speak with her?”

“I’ll see if she’ll come to the phone. Needless to say, she’s distraught. Sukiko? It’s Nick Kane.”

“Oh, Nick!” She began sobbing. “Thank you, Mom. I’d like to be alone ... Nykkyo!”

He sobbed. “I saw the whole thing. If I could’ve jumped through that circuit to help you, I would’ve.”

“I know you would. Were you the one who called the police?”

“Yes.”

“To think help came from two hundred lightyears away. I don’t know what would’ve happened if those guards hadn’t shown up.”

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I’m sore, I’m exhausted and I feel so, so violated.”

“Your mom said you lured him from Cathy. That was a brave thing you did.”

“It was another out-of-body experience. I saw myself, lying there on the floor. I don’t know why I did it. I couldn’t bear the thought of someone taking advantage of Cathy, and she feels so guilty he attacked me.”

“What’s next?”

“I went to the hospital for the tests. They offered me the morning-after pill, but I refused it.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t like taking drugs. I’ve heard scary things about it. I need to go back for regular HIV testing until they’re sure I’m negative or ... Oh, God, Nykkyo -- I don’t know what I’ll do if I test positive! I’ve been in the gay community. I’ve known people with AIDS ... It was so horrible...” She sobbed.

“Oh, Suki, I’m so sorry I can’t be there to hold you.”

“I’ll be all right. What’s worse is knowing we’ll never get closure.”

“Closure?”

“The bastard got away. They’ll probably never find him.”

“Didn’t you or Cathy get a good look at him -- oh, not Cathy of course. Did you get a good look at him?”

“To be honest, Nykkyo, I was looking at the knife. NYU Security searched the union for him. Well, they have samples for evidence if they ever do catch him. And, they have his knife and earring ... and a piece of his earlobe.” She giggled. “I couldn’t believe Cathy was hitting him with her cane. I’ll never forget that...” She sobbed. “I’ll never forget any of it!”

“Oh, Suki, I feel terrible -- it’s all my fault. If it hadn’t been for my interference, this might not have happened. I caused your suicide attempt, and now I’ve caused this. I’m so sorry -- I’ve messed up your life.”

“Nykkyo, you can’t blame yourself. My life was messed up before I met you. You’re my bright spot -- my savior. Please don’t feel badly. I’ve never had good luck. I certainly don’t blame you, and without you there’s a good chance I’d be dead, now.”

“That’s not likely.”

“No one knows what my life might’ve been without you. Might-haves don’t count, remember? I’d rather have my life with you.”

“I called to comfort you, and now you’re comforting me.”

“We comfort each other, Nykkyo. I’ll get through this. Please don’t blame yourself. Knowing you care helps so much.”

“You’ll call and keep me posted?”

“Of course. Good bye, my love.” Nyk heard a click and a dial tone. He cancelled the vidphone session and sat, his elbow on the table and his forehead in his hand. He closed his eyes and sobbed.

Nyk opened his eyes. He was slumped over the vidisplay. Wakefulness spread across him and he became aware the storm’s winds had subsided. He stepped to the house’s control panel and touched the screen. The shutters opened and a breeze blew through the Residence. He stood looking out at the roiling sea. Easterly winds were breaking up the overcast. Patches of indigo sky were becoming visible and shafts of golden light contrasted against the dark clouds.

He walked to the front of the house and looked out to the west. A large dune of black sand had blown across the access roadway. This was not unexpected -- storms frequently blew debris and blocked the road. Nyk accessed the Sudal civil authorities via the vidisplay to report the obstruction. Then he stood near the back of the house and watched the sea.

The vidisplays began signaling him of an incoming call. He pressed his wrist to the scanpad and it chirped in acknowledgement. “Hello,” a voice answered. “This is Sudal Civil Support. Did you report storm damage?”

“There’s a dune across the roadway outside the Residence.”

“We’ll send a crew to remove it. Do you have other damage?”

“No ... No other damage.”

“Do you need supplies? We can send a skimmer.”

“Could you take me into Sudal?”

“Certainly.” The vidphone session terminated.

Nyk stood outside the Residence and saw the skimmer approaching. It touched down and he climbed aboard. “Any place in particular you want to go?” the pilot asked.

“Shopping mall. I must restock our supply of meals.” The pilot nodded and the skimmer lifted off.

Nyk regarded damage to the vegetation. Branches from the indigenous palm-like plants littered the ground and violet-black leaves were scattered everywhere. “It was quite a storm,” the pilot said. “Two fatalities.”

“How?”

“A pair of visitors from the north were caught without shelter. City people ignore the storm warnings.”

“It never even rains on Floran City,” Nyk replied, “because of the rain shadow from the mons. City folk have no idea what these storms can be like.”

Nyk lugged a sack filled with prefab meals and beverage packs to a livery kiosk outside the shopping mall. With a wristscan he ordered a groundcar. He looked around the city’s streets. Most shops and buildings still had their shutters down and he could see little traffic. The fleet of groundcars had been called off the street and he knew one must be dispatched from the garage. He paced back and forth until he saw the driverless vehicle approaching. It stopped adjacent to the kiosk.

He climbed in. “Car, the Residence.” The vidisplay showed a photoimage of his house. “Confirmed, car go.”

“Destination unavailable,” a synthesized voice reported.

“Car, power plant. Confirmed, car go.” The groundcar headed for the fusion plant on the coast south of Sudal.

Nyk approached the ash pile on the power plant grounds and spent the better part of the day sorting through it to select the largest and clearest crystals. He carried a large polymer fiber bag of raw diamonds to the groundcar and climbed in. By now the dune should be cleared, he figured. “Car, the Residence ... confirmed -- car, go.” The groundcar pulled onto the roadway and headed toward the east.