Ryee sighed. Friends, you are welcome to come to Ye~. Any who wish to live among us may. We offered for Areonian traders to do so when they needed healing. They feared for their families and left us.
We try to obtain Areonian herbs for healing and the Council refuses to hear our pleas. I think they fear that we take many from your colony. We do not wish to interfere with your government, but I fear the ones who govern in Lilmerica.
Kleideu trades peacefully with us. Lilmerican officials try to interfere with this trade, for all goods must pass the Spaceport. Half of our aandats reach us alive, because of inspections.
Derees shivered again, and Ryee hummed. Tension melted from his shoulders. “My friend, I cannot heal these mind pains. When they come on you, rest will help.” His mind's voice came very deep. I am Healer Pas, my son. Tell me of all sensations. Do I frighten you?
No, I remember you.
“Lie very still, my friend. Try to sleep. Maybe Ryee can make you sleep.” I will not leave you alone.
“Thanks, Vonn. I will.” He closed his brown eyes.
Now we had an excuse to be quiet while the wise one examined him.
I am very sorry you have pain. I must touch your points, places on your head where mind functions are near. Then I can sing healing.
Pas explained more about Zheien healing and what it is. When he already knew that? But Derees listened as if he did not. Did she hurt him so badly? I looked for her, but she was in a cot holding her head. What did she do?
When a people is mixed, slaves oft experiment on them, to control their minds, and is easier. Valid healing can have unexpected effects.
He startled. Vonn, do you think they are experimenting on the people in our hospital? On our children? Ryee, can you tell, with your telepathy?
Our friend stared at the wall. Shook his head. The walls were yellow. Merite. It stops telepathy. This is a sign that the place is unwell. Berto yet negotiates for the release of all there.
Derees looked very pale. Ryee, my children are everything to me. My wife will not go to Ye~. She is pregnant, Vonn. This time, will they take our child and make me forget her? Will they keep her? I want to know if there is a safe place for people to go. To bring their children. He shivered. Is your colony safe, if I sent my children, in a portal? Could someone raise them?
Ryee dropped both hands to Derees' shoulders. Surely you would come with them?
How can I leave my unborn child? I wish my other children to be safe!
Ryee hummed, and he calmed. My friend, we have many who cannot bear children in my colony. Many who would raise them well. But Areon's government would ne grant us permission to keep them. If any member of your family asked for them, we would have to give. We are Alliance, and this is written into any planet's charter, that people must be of age and willing to leave their home. For Areon, one must be 16.
With a sigh, Vonn patted Derees' shoulder. My friend, if you took your children to Ye~, your marriage would be severed. Government could not ask for them, by Areon's Law. A friend's wife took their children to Elshar Mashai, to relatives there. The law is the same whether husband or wife. A Kleideu law, and they insisted that Lilmerica adopt it, in exchange for a law protecting the helpless that they discarded.
Before I lost my brother, he was a lawyer. A family complained that they could not take a relative home from the hospital. By Areon's Law, they lose all rights if they are not mentally competent. They can be traded as slaves if no one contributes trade for their care. No one contacted me, to ask me!
We spoke while Pas felt Derees' head. He used Ryee's hands to spread the fingercorners across Derees' forehead. I noticed clear coverings over the fingers. Derees sweated now. After a pause, he moved each fingercorner back a little on Derees' head. Whose body quivered.
Berto is still negotiating for the helpless ones.
What would they do on Ye~?
My people would care for them and give them easy work, if they could do such. If ne, they would receive care all of their life. We traded for many slaves, from an Esteerrian trader, three years past. Many of them still live comfortably on Ye~ with us. Elshars, trifingered Ishah, Xchou, and many other species worked as servants, traders, botanists, nearly every occupation.
I wish more came, and we would help them! See them now.
On the broad commons, whiterobed healers sat with people on blankets, or on leiwege, those bendable pillows if they could not sit. People slept, or enjoyed simple crafts. Some walked with help. Others, carried in strong arms, traded with artisans or nodded to traders who talked with other traders. If someone who could not talk watched someone at work, a healer patiently sat with the person and they watched the worker! People in a variety of occupations smiled when a healer brought a helpless one! I wondered how Papa would take that in his department? I would not mind if someone wanted to watch me mix chemicals, if they were protected. People seemed happy, those who watched, and those who hosted them.
Even several Esteerrians and Zbbat who were docile! Progs ran to hide them from anyone who was frightened. They lived in a part of the Tunnels and tended gelsai, even though they do not need tending. When they become slaves they are severed from the hive minds and have to be told what to do. How sad! Holos of their people told them how to care for the gelsai, which are easy animals.
What if their families could not provide so much trade?
My friend, let us ne speak of trade! My kingdom would provide the trade, and for any of their families who wished to emigrate! We would take them all. There is much land on Ye~. If War causes our colony to move, we will take all with us, with their homes, buildings and possessions.
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Vonn frowned. My brother told me anyone who is declared helpless loses everything, his trade, his home, anything of value.
I would provide trade to bring his possessions, or give him replacements. Any kingdom of Zheiea would do so!
How can you afford so much trade? Derees frowned.
A Zheien king is father to his people. You are father to your children. Do you provide trade for their support?
Yes, I work very hard to give them what they need. I would do anything for them.
So does a Zheien king, for his people are his children, even helpless ones.
What is Zheien?
Zheien come from the planet Zhea~ in the Sixth Galaxy. Yeff are Zheien, from Ye~ Prov, where King Marel'vanrah reigns over all of us. There are over 700,000 Zheien Colonies. My colony is about 2500 people. My world could support 100,000 comfortably. King Marel’vanrah sent us 5800 soldiers and their families, and they should arrive nextweek.
Vonn startled. All of Areon contains 65,000.
Ryee frowned and his orange eyes opened very wide. Our scientists found that Areonians could live among us and be healthy for life, if we could alter Elshar herbs for their bodies as we do Zheien herbs for ours. A very few Elshars live on our world, and one is 125, when they live to 65 on Elshar Mashai. They think that Areonians live over 100.
Over 100! The oldest Areonian lived to 79. Derees smiled at Vonn.
Vonn rubbed his face. If I came to Ye~ with Derees, could you get me to Kleideu, undetected? I have a distant relation who sits on the Council there.
This is too dangerous, my friend. All portals and ships must go through Eicken. You cannot get permission to visit Kleideu?
I shook my head. My father cannot get permission for us to visit my aunt! No one in Eicken Spaceport can leave, except to go to the Barrens. People of Kleideu cannot go to the Barrens for any reason, because Lilmerica owns the mining rights. My aunt must get permit after permit, and then they refuse to allow her to come. She is a healer, so someone must request her services from Lilmerica. The process takes days.
Days? If Ryee had not saved you, it would take days to get your healer? Derees took my hand. His was very cold! I do not even know how to contact one. After your accident, I checked on the Hub. Healers are not listed there from Areon. There is a service to request one from Elshar Mashai. I could have an Elshar healer within a day, but would he be able to heal one of us?
My friend, if any of you need healing after our project ends, use the Hub to contact Pas, Master Healer of Ye~. A diplomat will negotiate healing for you. You have my word. I would give each of you a Yeff terminal if Areon would allow it. You may tell this to anyone you know.
Healer Pas' deeper voice spoke. I will heal you, and I ne ask trade. King Ryonne~ and his family support me so I can heal all the people of Ye~. I have many healers who help me, my son. All is provided to all who live in our colony without need for trade, and to any who visit us.
I wish I could talk to my wife! We cannot contact our families while we are at work.
Pas sang, and Derees got color back in his pink skin.
Ryee waved up a prog screen, but far more complicated than any we used. I write a protection prog for him which shall run from my ship. It runs for all. If she uses her telepathy, Alliance Security will come.
Vonn startled. You cannot! Ossy's father is a powerful enemy—
My friend, telepathy can kill. I cannot save him again. I cannot protect him. I fear for all of you. If Derees dies, you yet have danger.
I will not her kill my friend! Should I call Security now?
I do ne advise it. Let her think we ne know that she did this. I will help you all I can, and so will my government. I wish all of you to come to Ye~ and bring your families.
Vonn smiled. When I come, I will tell you about DF. Once I am offplanet, I have nothing to fear.
My prog will also warn you when Derees wakes. Fear ne for him.
Thank you, Ryee. With your help, maybe I can do something for my people. Something brave.
Ryee took out his yellow herb terminal. A squeeze, and three yellow leaves, long as a finger, with a blue stripe down them, floated up. He took them and touched Derees’ head.
He barely opened his eyes. “Ryee.”
I have an herb to heal you. Will you take it?
Anything for this headache!
Ryee touched his lip with the leaves and he ate. Oh, this is so sweet! Rongahi is very strong and minty. This is like sugar.
This is yllis. When you feel mirth, you must sleep.
It will make me drunk? Citsa will make fun—“
She has the mind pain and sleeps. Ryee put his hand under Derees’ chin and hummed.
His eyes opened very wide and he started a chuckle, then frowned. Relaxed. His body shivered, as if he were very cold. Then, his knees came up.
Ryee turned him to his side. The cot did not squeak as I expected.
Vonn stared. Is that regen?
Ryee nodded. Pas tells me this state is pleasant. He shuddered.
A healer would know.
Later, I noticed Citsa walking out of the sleeping quarters. Late afternoon. But, so did Vonn. He stopped her and waved up the prog. She looked nervous. For the first time in this week of working together, she went back to her station and seemed interested in work. Maybe she did fear Security, after all.
We all watched Citsa. Now that we knew she was trying to kill Derees, I wished we could do something, tell someone, and have her taken to prison! But Cevit Ion must gather evidence.
Instead, we worked. Tension grew between Derees and Vonn, which surprised me. But, they did not let it become arguments. Apologies were more frequent.
I ran experiment after experiment. I must have this answer today! Tomorrow is the 13th day.
Citsa threw vile memories at Ryee and he stayed pale. Derees got a bad headache and went to a cot. I mixed until my arms got sore and Ao~ helped me last. But, Ryee traded and handed a necklace to Derees. “Wear this, my friend—”
He frowned. “But, ladies wear jewels!”
“He is long enough to wear underneath your collar. These gems reflect telepathy. When she tries to harm you, she will gain it.”
Derees smiled. Lifted the necklace. How it sparkled! It slipped around his neck and fell under his onepiece. Oh, I feel strong!
The metal is Tessite.
He gasped. How shall I ever repay this?
Ryee laughed. O, your research already benefits our people greatly! M’Naga has it because my father insisted he trade for it! When you go home, if you give it to Patasia, she will have great strength for childbearing. It also has healing properties. Be~saech wrote progs to detect injury and give vek ea or yllis, or both, when you go to sleep.
I felt sad. He will give her the necklace, but she will leave him.