Her sister’s a mess, but she’s been a prisoner of a horrible man.
They had a Tudor style house. I used the brass door knocker.
Becky’s dad came to the door. “Oh, Bedelia! Come in! Maybe you can explain why they wanted Becky to meet with Wasa Mai. I thought she’s just Princess Of Esta Faho.”
Thoughts raced through my mind. Why would he want to see her? “Nitomahan is our king, but Wasa Mai’s his king. If he wants to see her, now, during this time when healers are trying to get everyone to rest, it’s important. None of the Zheien are able to go see about things. That’s why Nitomahan appointed my husband, Jos Keil and I to the Council to represent all of our Earthans, I think.”
“This is Dunapa, and he represents our Artisan’s Guild.” Guild isn’t quite the best word for their group, but it’s a familiar term. This man ran an air courier service on Earth. He’s probably figuring out his company. Some of his employees came today. So, 3 more couples! And they are sitting in the living room.
He led me through their foyer. Everything had an American Colonial theme, from their nicely carved dining room table to the carved sofa legs. Very tasteful. Plates on the wall had scenes from the American Revolution. Quite a contrast to the yellow sky outside with fluffy yellow clouds golden against it. And two moons.
“My wife’s up in Rilley’s room with her two kids. I’m having a business meeting down here to decide what to do about my company.”
I heard a piano playing “Someday My Prince Will Come” and Dunapa looked upstairs with light eyes. He let me know that the young man playing is Osanor, who’s 13. His mother’s teaching Mrs. Edwards voice lessons. She sang it, beautifully.
“Oh, I’m a Business major, and grew a client’s company from a juice event cart to 5 brick-and-mortar stores! Maybe I can help!”
“Wonderful!”
“May I go see Os and his parents?” He bowed again.
“You’re their boss?”
Dunapa chuckled. “We artisans are all equals. I only make sure all my artisans have what they need.”
“I like that! My company’s like one big family. Sure, go up.” He smiled, and his green eyes had that merry look Becky had between semesters. “Rilley and her kids are asleep on her bed. Osanor is in her room playing the piano for them, and Jamie is with his parents in the sitting room, first door on the right.”
“Thank you. Lady Bedelia, please let me know when you are ready to leave, or if you need anything. I think Umpat can answer your questions. He’s our best trader!” That must be the trader in cobalt blue robes, a master trader, but he had red clothes under ‘em. Never saw that in Rainbow! But, I never went to that market. Keiley needed me.
Umpat had a holo up describing trading. Elshar trading. I’d seen holos like that in Rainbow. They lost me.
Three couples jumped up and rushed to me. “Everyone, this is Bedelia, and she’s our council member! I’m not sure what that means, but she’ll explain.” He smiled at me. Perfect teeth. His silver hair had one wave in front. Young, for that. Looked 30s like the other couples. He wore a beige sweater vest over a long-sleeved dress shirt. Beige slacks. So did all three men. The women wore dark blue dresses, pretty similar styles. Josh Edwards’ tie was also that shade of navy. Had a gold logo of a plane with a package under a parachute in the middle. Cute.
I shook their hands and my mental display kept their names straight. And warned me that healers don’t recommend that Earthans learn trading yet.
We talked, and Umpat smiled. “So, do you trade?”
“Healers are not recommending that we Earthans learn it. They suggest that we pass our items to the trader group, like they suggested to the artisans.”
His eyes turned black. “But, everyone needs to learn to trade! Our colony needs trade!”
I waved up the chart that Keris showed the artisans. He told all of them to stop trading at all, today, and see their healers. Umpat leads the Elshar traders! Keris didn’t tell him? As I described it in English for our Earthans, I showed Umpat our meeting. His face got red.
“Does this count for businesses, too? My General Manager Terri Hennesy wouldn’t leave Earth, and she’s running things back on Earth. I’m worried about my employees who stayed! Diplomats tried to get all of ‘em to leave!”
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“You can have a diplomat check in with them every day. Send them holos of what you’re doing here, your house, and what your life is like here. Some of them might take a little while to warm up to the idea. If you’re open about how your lives changed and show them, some of them just might be waiting to see if they ever hear back from you again!” People on Earth whose relatives left usually didn’t hear from them. Diplomats warned people not to send holos, but to let a diplomat visit them in person. Slavers are already active on Earth, a lot more than they were that I remembered! Why? I tried not to show how nervous that made me feel. Our family had relatives who didn’t come, too.
One man-- “So, what will we do here? I don’t think Zheien need packages delivered. I’m Oliver Wendall, General Manager. They don’t seem to need managers, either. If I’m not learning trading, what can I do?” He had a desperate look. Saw that on so many Earthans in Rainbow!
“Zheien do things a bit differently—”
“A lot differently!” Another man laughed.
I did, too. People relaxed. “Yeah, a lot! But, don’t worry. While you’re deciding what to do, Umpat, why don’t you teach them how how to help you? A lot of people in Zheien colonies take items to the market and trade in person, because it’s fun! You can teach them about that. I saw dorna carts in our market.” That kind of startled me, but they all have aandats. Rilley has a dorna sleeping on her bed. Like a donkey with a cow head on him, and he’s white. I might like one.
“Dorna carts?”
Umpat waved one up and described trading from one. That’s like delivery! His traders’ kids go around to artisans with carts and carefully put their artworks in. They have regular routes. For heavy items they can use containments, but they have plenty of time to talk with friends. Some of his traders are too injured to trade using telepathy, so they also have carts. Artisans make a lot of stuff, so their route allows for trips back to the same artisans. The artisan area is spread out near the green building, that’s local trade, and the bakers and candy-makers have an area between that and the blue trader’s building. That’s where the open market is with eaezhfee tables in bright colors.
“I think my kids might enjoy that! My eldest son is always asking when I’m going to give him a job with the company!” Oliver smiled.
“So does my son! They could do a cart together, couldn’t they?” David Wendall is Operations Manager, and Oliver’s younger brother.
“Oh, yes! Anyone can do this. My youngest daughter is 5, and she goes with my 6 year old daughter.” We saw them happily putting fragile artworks in their cart. Containments kept them safe. This was a model of a tree with lots of tiny leaves.
Oliver’s wife nodded. “In my spare time, I want to take singing lessons like Jamie!”
“Why wait? Tutors can work anyplace, even on a dorna cart!” I pointed out an artisan giving lessons to a driver!
They all got excited! I realized they did barbershop quartet every Saturday night. “Zheien love music! You could
Her parents are scared, but they trust Suma, and she’s the best Rainbow has.
Becky’s mother was upset. that Becky’s with Wasa Mai and not with them.
I promised her parents I’d do anything they needed me to do, but for now, they have a house and all the healers they could ever want. Mr. Edwards wants to design houses, but we don’t have any other new colonists, so he’s thinking about helping if the other worlds need someone. He has contacts. Mrs. Edwards is nice, and very pleased with Becky’s new family, but they hope Tom’ll be able to visit with them soon. Both Tom 2 and Tom 3 have been over to meet all of them, and Myrillis, who now calls herself Rilley, likes ‘em and so do her kids. My 16 year old clone also comes over, and she has 16 year old Suma, too. Friends are important. But they decided to make her 13 again. Suma’s 16 now wants to be 13 so Rilley will have a friend her age. It’s a good idea. And, she’s getting married tomorrow. What? Her music teacher fell in love with her and he’s been abused, so they mindlinked. Her parents wanted to talk and I let ‘em. But, since Zheien don’t have sex, they’re both safe, and they’ll still live with them. His family moved in. Everyone’s really happy with that.
I went to Ella’s parents and met them and their four other kids. And, they have a clone of Suma who’s 16 like their oldest girl. All the kids have friends, and some on MarKu who are Earthan, oh and Ye~. They’ve already gotten together to play baseball with Karl, who’s 14 and a good pitcher. They seem like they have what they need, and Pas lives with them. The kids are really messed up, and the parents are Type 3’s like my parents and me. I suggested they might want to be friends. Suma’s doing all of them some good, so maybe I need to talk to her! My parents already like her.
Then, over to Stacy’s. Her husband’s out of danger and the kids are adjusting well. And, a cloned sister of Suma’s is living there to help. Het’s family moved in. So they’re helping, too.
Also visited with the 2 Tom’s. Tom 3 has an Earthan wife who’s happy, and I filled her in on some things, including Piedmont Park. They’ve been to the festival, and I felt a bit left out. But, when Keiley’s up to it, we’ll have our fun then. He’ll be here to help Tom.
Tom 2 is taking coursework on the Sleepshare, like virtual Sigan Mas school. You learn as you sleep, as long as when you wake up you use what you learned, or you forget it all! I got excited about that. But, Tom 2 will be doing missions. I don’t want to think about that!
Visited with some of the other cloned sisters and brothers of Earthans. Some left. Others are now kids, so they’re living with whomever.
The Earthans didn’t seem to need me as much as our Elshars, which struck me as really weird. But, they all have Suma. I think I’ll be a lot busier when our Zheien get back on their feet.