“Risentah, how can I see through the healthy image they all put up?”

Daddy looked irritated. Uht oh.

But, Risentah looked puzzled. Looked around at all the sleeping bodies. Farley was now on our bed, sleeping against his fa, who had both hands in Fa’s hair. I grinned. “They sleep. Nae can hide while sleeping.”

“Esta Fahoans do! Math~an visited from Escet Vu, and—well, I didn’t see it, Becky did.” I shared her memory, just a glimpse of twisted limbs, because Yelena got upset.

He gasped. Took Fa’s hand, very carefully, and he grimaced. “My son, I must see all, to heal you. Why hide you from me?”

“We must. Mican watches us!”

“Who is this Mican, that you fear him so? You were gone many years, my son. Surely he is gone—”

“He is yet on the council of Par Vu Elshar Colony. They did nae move to Alb. Ih Esta seeks him, for he is a slaver! He is forbidden to come here.” A diplomat sat with us.

“I nae understand. If he was on Par Vu’s Council, how do people of Esta Faho even know of him?”

The old diplomat sighed. He also had orange skin. “I visited Esta Faho long ago to negotiate a treaty modification. Mican once had responsibility for all 14 worlds of Par Vu and all 5 of Rahn Estar that were farming and mining worlds. Rasa Mai complained for years to Ih Esta that he interfered with his governance! Mican had argument against any provision for the well of these people! I was nae successful, and o, my health suffered! My king assigned me to duties in our prov on MarKu. When I heard Esta Faho had needs, I came to help.

“Mican treated all cruelly, Zheien or Elshar. All feared him. Loud thoughts of all near us suggested he sent Elshars from Par Vu to attack them!”

Risentah frowned at him. “Nae hide from me. How long did you have moisture on you, my son?”

He laughed. “Ever since that mission! My healer says to rest oft, so I do.”

“May I see your healer’s record?”

The man got very orange in his face, but waved it. Tasener, Master Diplomat Of MarKu, Fig. His healer was Dasenpie, Master Healer Of Fig, MarKu, in Pie’s Master Ennead. And, he died recently!

Risentah made him lie down! “Do you see Senapai?”

“I am healthy enough! I had nae unwells since we moved to Alb.” A shudder, and he had yellow sparkles on his skin!

Ella startled and waved up his chart, and worked on it.

With a frown, Risentah looked at what she was doing. She also had Dasenpie’s chart. He had some of the same poisons affecting him, and died of a massive stroke! Zheien say, ‘his mind spilled’. A young healer, to die at 49! I felt scared!

Risentah’s upset rumbled on us!

“What are these poisons?” Daddy pointed to several lines.

“Mine poisons that should not be on MarKu! Many are unique to Esta Faho. My son, this was last year! Did Dasenpie hide records, that you continued to work?”

Poor Tasener cried aloud!

“I think you know you must leave your work—I need help, here!”

Eight other healers ran to him! Daddy did CPR, but Risentah showed him a prog that did it. They worked on him, but waved him to stasis very quickly. Daddy got very red in his face.

“My son, nae of us could save him! Ella, nae this sorrow. Your work is well.”

But she just dived into her work again. That reminded me of what I do when I can’t handle things.

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Risentah held my hand. Noticed how I gripped my husband’s. “You are fearful, Daughter. Show me again, what Princess Becky showed you.”

I thought about it and he held my mind open and saw Farley’s open record, because Ella was working on that. “Ella, Child, you were present during Math~an’s visit?”

Her blue eyes filled and had that haunted look. They got the memory-sharing stare.

I looked at Keiley, and instead of his sunny yellow skin, he had gray. His arms, his legs, even his twin-fingered hands and feet had deep twists in fingers and toes! I gasped.

Risentah grasped my shoulders. “What see you?”

Oh, I wanted to look away! Run out of this building! But I made myself keep looking at my husband, and all the orange cracks in his skin. His blood’s all over my hand. I sobbed.

The healer hummed and all of it healed. Those other 8 healers were still here and added their hands to his shoulders. Their harmonies calmed me.

When his hands healed, it was like I could see more. But, Risentah asked for Pirad, and he didn’t come. He got other healers.

Daddy had this look of utter surprise on his face.

I went from person to person and held their hands as they slept. Healers came and sang healing, and their skin healed up. Other teams of healer went to each person to untwist limbs and hold them in position.

I saw what Ella saw. They do that, but the limbs just twist again when they’re done. It’ll take months, or even years.

Can’t think about that! Why isn’t all the ea fae and tnshey they’re putting on people keeping them healed? I led them from one to another, for hours.

And, why can’t the healers see it? They need me to do this? Why me?

Elsie went with us and modified progs. Daddy learned from her how to do a little of it. Had some ideas that she didn’t like. Apparently healers have trouble convincing Esta Fahoans to run progs, but they have the right to refuse a treatment. When Daddy heard that, he quit suggesting that things run automatically, but he made a list of suggestions. Whatever they were, Elsie didn’t like a lot of ‘em. She’s too polite to say anything, though.

Halfway through the room, Elsie’s stomach growled.

Risentah smiled. “O, we helped many! Let us eat, then rest.”

I hate eating in front of anyone. But, to please them, I did. After one, a warning flashed on my screen.

“Daughter, you should eat two pastries, or choose another food.”

I felt really hungry, but didn’t trust the calorie-counter. “I can eat later. If I eat a little, but more often, I’ll burn more calories.”

He got a blank look. Then I had to explain calories, dieting, and stuff most people do but I don’t. Didn’t want to admit to what I do.

“Daughter, our progs measure what you need, and every activity. You were active today, but you nae felt well after. Are you unwell?” I didn’t know it measured that!

Because he had the worried medium-blue eyes, I let him check me. Glanced at my file. I had an ulcer in my esophagus that was infected. That’s cured. Erosion of my teeth. Also cured by Zheien healing. I hoped they wouldn’t discover my bulimia! But all of that’s cured, isn’t it? Shouldn’t worry.

The progs make sure a person gets all the nutrients they need, and cuts calories if they are too much. Seriously? So I can eat all I want, and calories are just reduced? They told me that in Rainbow, and I gained weight. Didn’t think I looked very good, but the progs will run unless I tell it not to do something, and then I’ll have to explain it to a healer.

“Perhaps is too much for you today. We can continue tomorrow—”

“But, these people are suffering! They need—”

“You are the only one who can see their suffering. Daughter, you must care for yourself. Is very difficult, to be the only one with a talent. Ella can see connections between our progs, and only she can see dangers we can nae. Elsie is the only one who can help Ella, and nae knows why. Becky can see operatives who threaten. Bedelia, is clear to me you have a special talent, and we must protect your health that you nae fall unwell.

“Newness of our colony is harming many here. In other colonies, many died in every colony start! I am here to try to prevent that, and your work is vital for us. Please, Lady, eat more, then sleep. These will nae die because you rest. Every person has a healer to watch over him.” His blue eyes filled.

Those pleading eyes convinced me. I ate another pastry, slowly, and counting bites like usual. Never had any food so delicious on Earth, even that pastry shop at the Galleria! Should’ve just waved up a salad with vinegarette.

I was tired. Carefully hugged Keiley, and he woke up long enough to kiss my forehead.

Risentah made me sound very heroic! Keiley studied me with blue eyes wide. “Are you well? You healed too many! Risentah—”

“Cease these worries! I saw her! Merely hold your wife and let her sleep.”

“I slept all day! Must I sleep more?”

The healer pointed to his ‘weariness’ graph, which was high.

Keiley groaned, and I stifled a grin. He’s so dramatic! But all the Zheien are.

We laid down and I enjoyed the feel of his arms around me. Daddy was off giving massages, thank goodness. For now, I’m grateful that my husband’s sleeping, and I don’t have to explain my odd habits.