]
CHAPTER II
GREASE
The next several days were hectic. After word got out that Theodore Bilkenson had been killed, his friends in Parliament immediately began painting the picture to their liking. With strings pulled, the scenario that came about was that Captain Bilkenson was senselessly murdered. According to his friends in Parliament, Bilkenson had been having pleasure with a prostitute when, without provocation or reason, Robert Ibeada came from out of nowhere and savagely murdered him. And when they found out he had committed seppuku to avoid being disgracefully executed, Bilkenson's friends painted Robert as a coward. As they told it, Robert was so ashamed of what he had done, he took his own life rather than face justice.
For Khione, however, it was worse. Being half-French, she was painted as a harlot who was so displeased with her client that she had him killed during a pleasure session. She hardly ever left the house, her grief for her husband was so great. Some even regarded her as the harlot mourning the loss of her best client.
Seeing all this, Daniel began switching moods. When with friends, he would mourn his father. When with his mother, he always tried his hardest to console her. When he was alone, he would look at Westminster Palace with a glare, cursing all of Bilkenson's friends for what they allowed to happen.
Before going to sleep, Daniel said, "You will have your justice one day, father."
The next day, when Daniel left his room, he saw his mother already in the dining room; it was as if she were only half alive. She was apparently having Japanese food for breakfast; Daniel suspected the eating of Japanese food rather than English food was to honor Robert's memory; Daniel was well aware of his mother's thinking: "If I cannot embrace him physically, I will embrace him in memory".
Although Daniel wanted to urge his mother to overcome her pain, he knew any attempts to have it happen would be futile; his parents loved each other so much, it was as if their hearts were intertwined. While such a bond often brought with it great strengths, there were also severe weaknesses. Such weaknesses included what his mother was currently suffering(and could potentially be suffering in permanence): a chest half empty. Daniel also remembered that his mother once said that his father already had one half of
her heart, so the other half she gave to him. Such a thought only stoked the rage slowly heating within him.
Daniel knew that three things were required to ignite a fire: kindling, grease, and a torch. In a way, the seppuku of his father was the kindling and the endless trauma of his mother was the grease. All that was left now would be the source for fire that would light the slowly-heating rage in his heart.
"Mother…" Daniel started before Khione raised her hand to stop him,
"If you are going to tell me to not let my grief control me, you are too late; your father, my husband was a part of my very being. It is a good thing I am not of Juliet's mind, or I would be taking my own life to join him." Khione said,
Knowing that there was no hope for his mother, Daniel just went about his way, pondering just how his life could get any worse. Although no one said anything against him, his mother was still slandered. Only war veterans who had stood beside his father and the crew of the Calliope were firmly loyal to Robert Ibeada's memory.
While on a trade venture to Nantes, Daniel ran into his uncle Gabriel.
"I heard from Khione what happened, Daniel." Gabriel said, "Whatever the law says, that pig of an officer deserved what he got."
"My thanks, uncle." Daniel said,
"Remember, where there is family, there is friendship." Gabriel said, putting a hand on Daniel's shoulder,
"Many thanks, uncle." Daniel said,
"Oui." Gabriel said.
As Daniel walked through the streets of Orlèans, he saw several families going about their days. Some were perusing stores, others eating at diners, other walking their dogs, others going to church. All this brought both nostalgia and pain to Daniel, as he enjoyed the memories of once was at the same time he lamented what could have been.
So distracted was Daniel that when a voice behind him said,"Eh! Monsieur.", he jumped with a start.
"Moi?" Daniel asked,
"Oui. Es-tu Anglais, monsieur?"
"Oui." Daniel said,
"As you are clearly mourning, I will speak your language." the man said,
"Not mourning, sir. Lamenting." Daniel said,
"Regarding family?" the man asked,
"Yes. How did you know?"
"My father was a casualty of the war against the Netherlands. My mother
wept for months. Which is why I can guess that your lament is concerning a deceased father and a bereaved mother." the man said,
"I am actually of three countries. Through my father, I am Japanese. Through my mother, I am French. Through them both, I am English." Daniel siad,
"Hm." the man replied,
"My father saw a man molesting my mother. Though the man long had death forthcoming, the fact that he had friends in Parliament meant dire consequences. Not wanting a disgraceful death by the noose, my father, in accordance with his father's customs, committed seppuku, a ritual form of suicide. My mother has been grieving ever since."
"I can also detect a sense of hate simmering within you as you spill these thoughts."
"You do not know the half of it." Daniel said.
Little did Daniel know, not only was kindling for the fire laid out, but also greased. All that was left was the torch, and the lighting of the fire.