Chapter 27
'Saving a Life'
'A Close Call'
'A Speedy Send-Off'
A hand grabs the back of Dr. Horn's coat. Horn clutches his chest as he looks out on the icy fjord. Chunks of ice cover the surface. Jacobs hurries over the ice dune witnessing the near calamity. He is too far away to aid them but he has a clear view of what is going on. He watches as Dantius helps Horn to his feet. Horn is visibly shaken.
"My heavens! That was a close call."
"Yes, it was. A very close call indeed."
"Shall we go back now?"
"I think so, sir."
"I suppose you're right. Pity…I was planning to show you so much more of the fjord."
"It's okay. I've seen enough."
Horn calms down and looks around. Still regaining his footing on the icy ground, Horn's eyes dart around his feet.
"My pipe…I think I've lost it."
Dantius looks around the messy mixture of rocks, ice and muddy snow. He thinks it is fruitless to worry about an old pipe but he pretends to search for it anyway. He sees what looks like the mouthpiece of the pipe barely covered with snow. He attempts to brush more snow over it with the heel of his boot but he senses that he is being watched. Suddenly, he bends over and reaches for something.
"Here it is, sir, I've found it."
"Good, good. You have a keen eye. I wouldn't want to lose that pipe. It was a Befana Eve gift last year from Finn."
Dantius is about to pick up the pipe when he hears this. He lifts the pipe out of the snow. It is in perfect condition. Horn grabs the pipe as Dantius presents it to him. He immediately pulls out the tobacco pouch and refills the pipe and relights it. Hew leans on Dantius; arm for support as they climb up the dune. Jacobs meets them halfway.
Horn lifts his hand to greet Jacobs. Jacobs waits and reaches out to him.
"Dr. Horn, Are you alright, sir?"
"Oh, yes, yes. I came precariously close to taking a spill into the fjord. Fortunately for me, my old friend here has quick reflexes and pulled me to safety."
Jacobs glances over at Dantius and utters a sarcastic, "Indeed."
Jacobs looks back at the waters' edge and the broken barrier. One of the pieces has fallen into the icy water already caked with ice as it is taken with the current along the fjord.
The three men return to house. They sit in the drawing room as Dr. Horn recounts his brush with death. Mrs. Horn is pleased to see that everyone has come home unscathed. She serves tea and cakes. Sigrid sits quietly at her father's side gently kissing his hand as he lights his pipe. Dantius watches the doting daughter leans over and kisses her father's mop of flaxen hair.
Dantius saved her father from imminent death. This is surely enough to warm their hearts for him. This display of affection is heartening but he also feels envious contempt for this family. He never experienced this closeness with his father. But he also feels proud because he is a 'hero' today…or so he thinks.
Sigrid takes Dantius aside in the hallway and gives him a warm embrace. Dantius can feel her heart beating close to his. Her long, sweet smelling hair almost suffocates him but he does not care. If this were the last breath he ever takes, he would be satisfied.
"Thank you, Dani. I shudder to think what would have happened if you didn't pull him back in time. No one survives a fall like that in Lnteelfjord this time of year. I love my father dearly. He is such a gentle, loving man. You could have been in danger as well. You're a good friend."
"I wouldn't hesitate to do it all over again."
She called him her 'friend.' It is not what he wanted to hear. It will have to do for now. Anyway, he was not honest about 'saving' her father. His initial intention was to shove the renowned architect over the rail and into the frosty sea. He could have used his force powers to test how far he could go. He realized how he could change things with some will and a turn of the hand. Instead, he has been spending too much time with the 'young revolutionaries' instead of honing the dark powers. Plagueis encouraged him to use. The revolutionaries were stifling his abilities.
The afternoon included a celebratory lunch, after which, Sigrid brings down her overnight bag, including a sack of treats for her friends who are still enjoying themselves at the ski resort.
Mrs. Horn was not going to have her daughter leave after just arriving. She sees the baggage in the foyer.
"What is this?"
"We're taking the 6pm express back to Mt. Ison."
"Oh, no you will not. I won't hear of it. Your father and I did not wait all this time to see you only to have you leave 24 hours later. You and your little friend should stay another day. You may leave after breakfast tomorrow."
Sigrid is about to say 'No' when Dantius, totally out of character, chirps from the staircase landing.
"It would be an honor. I know that you would like to spend some more time with Sigrid before we both return to university. I wouldn't think of depriving you of more time with your daughter."
Dantius was quite please with himself for the eloquent statement. Mrs. Horn smiles then turn to her daughter.
"Well! That was excellently put, Dantius. Thank you. You understand the importance of family."
"Oh, I do, I do." Actually he didn't give a damn but it sounded good and he would earn points for this.
Sigrid stares at him, wide-eyed and in disbelief. This is a side of Dantius he has never seen.
"Okay, Mother, but we really should get back tomorrow for sure."
Jacobs overhears this and heads directly to Dr. Horn's study.
That evening, after dinner, Dantius helps himself to those delicious tea biscuits in the pantry. The house is quiet. He sits alone in the dark kitchen. The only illumination comes from the Endor moon piercing through the wide kitchen windows. He can see the garden from where he sits. He bites into one of the biscuits. The anise and vanilla flavors burst on his tongue. It is a perfect combination. It is quiet but he is not alone.
"So, there you are."
Dantius turns on the stool that he is sitting, he is chewing slowly now. He knows who it is before he turned in his seat. It was that familiar scent of that pipe tobacco wafting through the air.
Dr. Horn looks down at the floor. He removes the pipe from his mouth.
"I see you haven't tired of us yet."
"I didn't want to deprive Sigrid of spending time with her family."
"Of course you didn't. Leave the family stuff to me. You were quite the hero today. I commend you….however, just to make things clear, there is no future for you here. It would disappoint me to see you waste your time. I think you understand."
"Yes, you've made yourself quite clear yesterday."
"Excellent; I am glad we understand each other."
Dantius takes a napkin and wipes his mouth. He has lost his appetite. He sides off the stool and bows respectfully.
"I thank you for your candor and for being such a gracious host. I hope my being here has not been too much of a bother."
He exits the kitchen. By mid-morning, Dantius and Sigrid have a full breakfast. They are packed and ready for the drive to the Lnteelfjord Spaceport. Conspicuously absent this morning is Per-Erik did not join his wife and daughter for breakfast. Mrs. Horn apologized that he would not be available to see them off because he was in the process of negotiating a deal to design a new spaceport on Alderaan.
Just as they are about to walk out the door, however, the good father makes an appearance, wearing a traditional floor-length Lnteel architect's robe made of fine Taun-taun wool. His pipe in his left hand, he extends his right hand to Dantius.
"It was a pleasure meeting you, young man."
"Thank you. I have learned so much. It will be a great help to me in the future, I am certain of it."
"Good. You are an ambitious young man. I'm sure we will be hearing from you down the road. You'll make quite a name for yourself."
"I will try."
Per-Erik Horn, the great architect turns to his beautiful daughter. He opens his arms wide and draws her close. The robe he is wearing has the sweet smell of his pipe tobacco. He holds Sigrid as if he does not want to let her go.
"Ah…my darling, beautiful daughter. I love you so much. Come home more often to see your old man."
"I promise, Dad."
"My lovely golden girl."
He pops the pipe in his mouth and stares over her shoulder at Dantius. He smiles at him but is a smile tinged with contempt.
Jacobs waits outside preparing to take Sigrid and Dantius to the terminal. The bags are already in the speeder for the trip back to Mt. Ison.
Dantius and Sigrid arrive that evening to the ski resort on Mt. Ison. They rejoin their friends at the lodge. The remainder of the holiday is spent on the slopes. Lives will change once their trip ends. They will soon be back on campus at Theed University. Whether they will all remain friends long after this is uncertain.