Free Bactine by Paul Kater

He asked me to help you if you need something."
     
    "That's wonderful. Thank you. Can you tell me what the cargo is?"
     
    "We are moving soil today."
     
    "Soil. Like ground. Dirt." Daniel frowned.
     
    "Indeed. There is an island that has been damaged by a storm several weeks ago, and we are bringing them soil to rebuild a part of their island."
     
    "I see." Daniel frowned. "How important is soil on this planet?"
     
    "Not very important. Unless your island is in need of some," Bilk shrugged.
     
    There was no arguing with that.
     
    Ulaman returned not much later, and as everything was in place, the Pricosine was prepared for departure. Daniel was on the bridge with Ulaman and Lidrin Starhouse, who was the ship's navigator and best hand for the steering wheel.
     
    Daniel's hydger rattled, making him jump. It had not done that before.
     
    Ulaman and Lidrin laughed as he grabbed for the book-device, opened it and found the switch to answer what turned out to be an incoming call.
     
    The face of Seigner Clelem Dandra ko Galem appeared on the small screen. "Mr. Zacharias. I take it you are on your way to the Pricosine?"
     
    "Good morning, Seigner Dandra," said Daniel. "I am already on board, sir."
     
    Clelem's face twisted a bit. Daniel was not sure if that was because of the reception of this device, or if the man took offence to how Daniel had butchered his name. He looked at Ulaman, who was shaking his head. Damn. It was the name-bit.
     
    "Admirable, Mr. Zacharias. I trust that you will be doing well. I hope you understand that you will be out of hydger-range for most of the journey, so if anything happens, the crew and the ship will rely on your ingenuity and resources."
     
    "Thank you for informing me, Seigner Dandra ko Galem," Daniel tried to make up. "I will do all that is in my powers."
     
    "Very good. I will hear from you again upon return. Safe sailing, Mr. Zacharias."
     
    "Good day, Seig-" The connection was ended before Daniel was done. He looked at Ulaman. "Bad move?"
     
    "Bad move," the captain confirmed. "He'll live. And so will you. Come here, Daniel, we are about to sail."
     
    Daniel witnessed how the small-sails on the front mast were hoisted, and the large aft-sail was brought up halfway. Slowly, as the expertly-set sails caught wind, the giant ship drifted away from the quay as large unseen machines rolled in the large hawsers that had held the vessel tied to shore.
     
    The few people that manned the boat used something that resembled a primitive bicycle to quickly go from one side of the boat to the other. Daniel was astounded at the speed they developed with the thing.
     
    As if the ship was pestering everyone, it turned only ever so slow before the bow was pointing towards the exit of the harbour.
     
    Ulaman kept yelling commands into a tube, occasionally rang a bell and seemed to enjoy the whole thing tremendously.
     
    After a while, more sails were set. The Pricosine picked up speed, helped by the outgoing tide, and then they were outside.
     
     
     

10. Sailing
     
     
     
    Sailing was a new experience for Daniel. He had never been out on the water before, and to be on such an enormous ship was totally new for him as well. As there was not much for him to do, he had conferred with Ulaman about helping the crew with chores. Ulaman was glad that Daniel offered that. Every little bit helped, after all, and there were always small things that were left undone because of the large amount of big things that needed doing.
     
    Daniel learnt a lot about the ship and the way of sailing. He even was allowed, under supervision of Stroro, to climb all the way up in the rigging. Supervision of Stroro also meant that Daniel had to use safety-hooks to secure himself. He was not allowed, Stroro said, to fall down on the deck and kill himself, because that would make a mess. As Daniel proposed to just fall in the water instead, Stroro advised against that. "You'll fall to your death just as easily