I got his attention. “Can I at least try to talk with them?”
He hesitated. “Yea Becky, I think it unwise until I speak with Wasa Mai. I will give him your wish and see what he wishes to do. If it were the shipbuilding facility, is different. The weapons facility, the part that is left, was given to us by treaty with Lisbaar—”
All the scientists gasped, and stopped what they were doing! One held a rifle of some sort, carefully put it on his table, and ran over. “Lisbaar! Are the scientists of Lisbaar?”
“Eae, they are. But this family came in Gedda Dier’s reign, from the time before Rahn Estar was founded. Rahn Estar was once a mining world of Lisbaar.”
The man trembled, and his healer ran to him! “And, we lived there! And, all of us are unwell!”
I put a hand on his arm. “You’re from Esta Faho?”
“Eae! I am Nimaros, Weapons Designer, and I worked in our facility, the part that moved here! We were not allowed to cross the barrens to the Lisbaar facility, though I nae knew it was from there! Now I understand why they wish nae contact! Their work is nae on our tech level!”
The healer waved up five leaves of bis tia. “Breathe—”
“I can nae take herbs! I need to go to the weapons facility—”
Rasanos hugged him. “Ba, be calm! We should nae speak of this. You can nae go to the weapons facility, all of us must stay here. Other scientists continue your work there, scientists who nae knew of Lisbaar’s facility. Nae of us can discuss it. Pirad made a clone of himself to work there, and other scientists are his.”
“Pirad? The Bisillipian?”
“He brought many Biehshah, but they are altered to survive Rahn Estar. He will speak with the family on Esta Faho. Go with Elapor. You should be resting in Rainbow with the others, not working.”
“But, the war is nae resting!”
“We think the war ends soon. I cannot discuss. Go with Elapor, and when I can, I tell you quickly.” He kissed his forehead, then he agreed to take the bis tia. Elapor carried him through the portal.
Another worried scientist waved the weapon away and came over. “Most of my Zheien are in Rainbow! Are they exposed to poisons of Esta Faho?”
“My son, we of Esta Faho had attacks from Elshar slavers, sometimes more oft than once a week! We will need much rest for a few weeks. Not one of us died, but a few had perils. Farley has been very unwell, but all are sleeping. This is why I speak with Yea Becky. When we finish in Rahn Estar, I go to my ba and rest. Nae worry for us. We have plentiful foods and healers, and this pleasant world. Those of Rahn Estar had the Anterans to protect us. Calladia and Sara Kia had nae as many attacks because they grew few rare herbs. Kin Para had frequent attacks to his mines, but perhaps, once a quarter. So most of us will be well, with rest. I think all of us, including the provs of Elshar Zheiea and K’hasa Zha, will take much time to accustom to this world with nae slaver attacks!”
“But, one of Nitomahan’s Council tried to take Elshar artisans from their homes! Many fear to sit on its commons!”
“O, Ih Esta came for Oparnen and he is gone. Yea Becky found his followers and they are gone. The other councils have peace, and this one does also, at last! Mican can nae come here, to stir troubles.”
“Can you say that, when they nae took Micansen?”
“Micansen is loyal. Know you, he asked Pirad to change him Zheien? But he is now Elshar again. Is too much of a change, for an Elshar! Do you know we have a visit from an Elder Of Lidara? She is Falarnen, and sits by him in Rainbow as he sleeps. Her advisors try to make her leave, for many of D’sharr wish to speak with her, but she will nae leave him. Perhaps he travels with her to D’sharr tomorrow.”
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“And leave the affairs of Esta Faho behind?” An Elshar scientist nodded emphatically.
“Do you know of Keris Pon, who leads the Artisans now? He will see to all of you, if Micansen goes with her. She is only here for 2 weeks, then returns to Lidara.”
That seemed to satisfy him.
“Are your scientists well, Varasin?”
He laughed, and smoothed his purple robe. “All of my scientists are very happy here! With choices of kinds of homes, and plenty of food, and healers! My son walked yesterday. Walked! The healer I saw on Ishah said he wouldn’t. But Via saw him and changed all of his herbs. Fed him and made him bigger. My wife is so happy to see him able to play! If he never trades or follows me in my work, I don’t care. All I want is smiles on my family. So many of us hid our children like my Gorinapah, afraid slavers would trample them or take them to trade to Ilhanhsa for a quartertrade.
“At his birth, the healer suggested that. I feared to stay on Elshar Mashai, and what life is it there, for a scientist? I researched weapons captured from Kajarians, so my work had value to them, in Prov One and yet because my work took long hours and I had little time to trade, we lived in the 300,000 provs with farmers. There, I learned that farmers use much of our wastes in weapons research to enrich crops! They taught me of trace minerals in mine waste that were expensive to get, that I could refine myself with crude equipment.
“But, a fellow scientist wished to build ships, and his trader brother was traveling to Esta Faho. I contacted the weapons facility and they traded for my work! Compared to stone homes and daily moves to a different one, and trading all of my items away for equipment to refine materials, it was Kishan’s haven!
“We had a stone house there, too, but these had carvings done by artisans! And Science Service gave us our home to live in. My son was happier not to have his life disrupted. I carved little toys for him. The straw was much softer to sleep on. And, everyone Elshar had two blankets, one stuffed with hanahan fibers! And, I soon traded for soft mattresses of it! My house was near the weapons facility and all of us were scientists! There were no haughty Mashai traders to poke my son and make him cry, and laugh at us! No, Zheien whose wives offered to help my wife with him and shared what little food they had with us. We were often hungry, but we lived. My bahie lived! And, a healer visited often to try to improve him.
“He took us to Ishah on my first respite. I didn’t know what a respite was! But now that we lived in a Zheien colony, we had a respite of 5 weeks for every ten of work! The healer couldn’t do a lot more than that healer, but he gave us a terminal with progs to help my bahie sit so he could move toys. He loved it! So I left happy. On Esta Faho, I could run these progs.
“Now we are here, and beds are softer, and there’s plenty of food! My bahie can play! And so can all the others who saved their bahies and sahies, and there were many. It makes me wonder, how many children are in Ilhanhsa and places like it, from Elshar Mashai? Can we bring them here, to this paradise?”
Rasanos frowned. “O, Wasa Mai has a tender heart. I will suggest it, and he will ask of the Alb Council.”
“Let me know. Our progs make caring for my bahie easy. We could care for many more. I have enough love in my heart for them!” He spread his arms wide.
“I am sure you do, and many of our people! I think many are as my wife and I, who yearn for children and had none. I am sure my wife would agree for many to come to us!” His eyes turned very light.
Several other scientists got light eyes, too. I thought about foster kids waiting for homes, on Earth, like Elsie was. When she told Rilley she was 16 and grew up in foster care.
We continued our tour of the other buildings. Healer’s chambers here was also white, but had a golden glow to it. Every bed was full. I diligently looked at every face. As I had at every stop on this tour.
We walked on the Commons and I studied faces. Stopped to rub my eyes. They didn’t itch as much here as in Atlanta.
“Ah, you are weary. Yea Becky, let us continue tomorrow, in Calladia.” Feronoras took my hand from Rasanos and we bowed to each other.
He kept light eyes. “I am happy that you saw our city, Yea Becky. Please visit us oft. Tom chose well in his marriage, and you obviously care for our people.”
“I love our people, and all the people of Rahn Estar. Thank you for showing me around. I learned so much! Please, rest well, both of you.”
His wife hugged me. “Thank you. I wish your family well! You are very poised, in this upset! I would need my healer near!”
I smiled. “I am well. My husband’s love stays near me, and that of our family and our people, to strengthen me.”
People’s happiness tingled on me. Then we ported back to Rainbow.