Clicking began under us. My heart pounded.

Farley hugged me. “Dear wife, you are pale! Do ships frighten?”

I hugged him. “I’m okay. Oh, they’re bringing them in already? Did they fly here from Saturn?” I always got scared on takeoff or landing, because that’s how slavers get people, mostly.

Pas hugged both of us. “They are boarding a ship that met them near Mars. This ship will take them to us, but, for them, they are being moved into groups. Healers from all over Alb are using holos to run gentle hygiene on them and progs prevent harms of all kinds. With these holos, they can run progs to detect some unwells and give herbs. Until they reach us, we can ne heal them, for ne are well among them to channel healing. Ah, here are some from Esta Faho and other worlds of Rahn Estar. Let us help them, when they bring them in.”

Goes raised his arms again. “Now I shall let Pas, Master Healer Of Yeff, teach us how to help these frightened ones!”

Pas brought Molly up there. “Here is Molly, Queen Of Rainbow. She will speak to the slaves and tell them two rules. What are they, Molly, that all might repeat your words?”

She bowed, a graceful Zheien bow with one leg far behind. She wore a cobalt blue dress and her healers’ robes with Tessite symbols in two lines down the front where the edges of her white robe came together with two strips of blue for the symbols to hang on.

It felt downright odd to see her in a dress! Molly wore blue jeans for her first few years running Rainbow, and I never saw her bow. That bow was as graceful as any Zheien’s!

Those red ringlets were bright red. This girl started Rainbow Unwell Colony at 15, when most people who start colonies are maybe, 30. She opened her green eyes wide without using her eyebrows, which looks really weird! “I have two rules, and you are all citizens of Rainbow for my purpose tonight, so remember, you have to follow ‘em, too. Rule Number One is, Rest when you’re tired. Tired hands might not be as gentle, and if you’re rubbing ea fae on a Zheien, you have to be very gentle. So, what’s Rule Number One?”

Everyone repeated it, though Zheien said ‘Rest when weary’, and only the Earthans said, Rest when you’re tired.’

“Good! Now, Rule Number Two is, ‘See your healer if you don’t feel good.’ So, what’s my second rule?”

Some said it like that, but Zheien said, ‘See a healer if unwell.’ I smiled.

“That’s it, so all of you, follow it, also. These returned slaves need to see you following them, too. Now Pas’ll teach you all how to be healer helpers. Rainbow needs lots of you!” She bowed again to Pas, who returned it.

He waved up a holo of a trembling Zheien. “This man is on the ship coming here. My son, did you hear Molly’s rules?”

“Eae.”

“Please, sit and rest.” He waited for the man to sit. Then he sat in front of him. “Did you see a healer, my son?”

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“Eae. He told me I need rest.”

Pas waved for a flat mattress. “This is a leiwege. We use them to hold an unwell in comfort. My son, sit here, please.”

He moved onto it, but he still trembled. Pas spent a few seconds bending the sides up so he laid with his head back and arms out, but just slightly reclining. He pushed the man’s legs together so his legs were up slightly and bent. “All of you, this position helps mind pain. Returned slaves oft have it, from injuries, and oft from fear. Wave, and you have a heated blanket if he is too cool, and a cool blanket if he is overly warm. It will adjust as conditions change. This blanket is for you, my son.” He waved and it floated over him.

The man smiled, but his lips trembled. He kept looking at another older man.

“O, would you like your friend to come to you?” He motioned to the man, who looked scared, but he came. Both men cried.

Pas hugged the newcomer. “Here, sit by your friend.”

“May I, Master?”

“You may.”

Carefully, he sat in the leiwege and the other one hugged him. “What must I do, to earn Fa?”

Fa gasped and covered his face.

Pas hummed and got him to look up. “You earned rest with your bae, and he earned rest with you. Stay by him, and I teach you this new work. Both of you must rest now. I will put ea fae on you.” He waved and a huge bowl of the white foam sat on the floor. He got a handful of it and smoothed it on the younger one’s face. “See how he enjoys this, my son? Bathe his face while I bathe his legs.” He guided the older one to do that, then moved to their legs. The father obviously enjoyed doing this. And, the younger one loved it. “O, I lie in healing!”

The older one watched Pas and trembled. “Ea, you lie in healing, and your fa puts ea fae on you. When in healing, you must rest. Your fa must also rest soon, and he may lie beside you. We go to my chambers soon. You are on a ship, and when he lands, you will be on Alb Seer. Some of you will go to MarKu, and some, to Ye~, some to Escet Vu, and some to Vasye—”

“Vasye!” The older one wept. “We go home, Bae!”

“Ea, you go home to Vasye. Here is a healer of Vasye to comfort—”

“Fae!” The younger one reached.

The older one gasped. “Fa! O, is you, fa!”

The man hugged both of them. Pas continued with his massage, until both of them stopped trembling, and he covered their feet. The older healer rubbed it into their arms and sat by them as they slept.

Pas stood. “For every one of these, is different. Some may ask for family, and you should tell them when we land, we can contact them. Others bear ne reminder of home or family, so speak carefully. Ne ask questions. Merely listen. Use information they give, ne ask, for some were punished to ask, and if you ask, they might relive pains from terrible memories.

“As for ea fae, this is healing. If one has scrapes, they heal when you put this on them. Ne fear to do this. At first, there is discomfort, then warmth, and healed skin. Zheien skin is easily damaged, so use your lightest touch. Slaves oft come malnourished, and skin is more delicate. Fear ne to touch heads, arms, and legs below here.” He rested his fingertips where his knees would bend. “Ne touch above here, even if there is injury. You may pour ea fae there, but ne touch.”

“Know when to bring a healer. If you can ne calm one, wave to one in a white robe. If you see much blood. Or, if one ne sees you, but sees people or creatures you ne see. If one sleeps, go to one who is awake. My healers will go to all who ne wake to see if they merely sleep, or if we need to heal him. Always bring a healer to one who has pains.

“Now you know enough. All of you, stand, and I take you to those who need you.” Holos of slaves appeared around the ship. Pas had a group, well, both Pases, but every healer also had a group.