Shivers got more frequent, then he curled up. Healers supported his arms and legs and gently rolled up his fingers. Curved his arms in. As a body they slid their arms under him and helped him turn on his side. Normally healers don't move someone in regen. They either heal, or they die, and not much between the extremes. But if they fall out of regen and it doesn't finish, they usually die! Anybody with an aandat can have a regen, and certain species like Thordes, even without one. I never saw an old person in regen. But if he was that old, would his curls be silver?

Farley barely touched my mind. He is only 90, this year. For us, middle. Pie was middle before his recloning. Pirad hopes to wake his wife, but--

"Galar!" A healer brought in a crying lady.

"Ih-"

"Eae! I am your Ilaesan, and I stay." She whispered, then sang comfortsong.

He had a hint of a smile, and his body shook harder.

Nobody said anything. Except my brother bounded in and opened his mouth. We didn't hear him. Someone took him out and explained, then he looked horrified. I didn't write that prog, but sure grateful we had it!

A couple of hours passed, so I checked progs for Pas. To my shock, nothing needed changing. They worked like everyone else's worked. Why?

One of the other healers smiled. Child, Pirad changes all mixed ones, so we are closer to Zheien of Fhiah, or MarKu. Is gradual, over weeks. Do you see how much orange is in our yellow? Soon we are nae yellow, but orange, or some will be brown, or even blue, or green.

Will you miss being yellow?

That amused him quite a bit. I can sacrifice my yellow, for greater health! Someday, we consider yellow as unwell a color as gray.

Will Eans turn orange, too?

Nae! Their unwells are oft from malnutrition, and we have plenty of food! They use new methods on Kin Para and Calladia, so soon we have the first harvest from them. Fhiah and MarKu had great yields this season, and planted more, so we enjoy their increase.

I hadn't really thought about where our food would come from.

Farley was tired and fell asleep on our leiwege. He lasts longer these days, but moving is exciting. I checked his prog and everything was normal.

I had other projects that I worked on while regen went on. Finally, Galarsmen went limp and Pas looked him over. His wife slept next to him with her back against his. After four tense checks, Pas sat back on his feet. "Be happy, all who worry for Galarsmen. He will recover completely."

"What happened to my friend? Will he have unwell again?" Nitomahan sat by him. He'd just come back from the Temple with a slew of other worried people.

Pas sighed. "His mind spilled. But, he had a strong regen, and all is well now. He needs days of rest, but he is well. I began herbs to strengthen his vessels. For a few days, he must rest much, that his mind heals. He may have unwells of memory. We must comfort him quickly, that upset ne brings unwell again.

"I can ne predict if severe unwell comes again. I hoped we had progs in place to warn of this, but once we knew of it, his progs also knew and acted to save him. Pirad's work is very well."

"Pirad? I didn't see him—" I looked around. Stupid, he's in his lab! Where else would he be?

"Lady, we all have his healing terminals spread by touch. When he had unwell, they acted to save him, but Pirad saw him through me. He learned to send his healing, Ella."

"What's with the Lady Ella stuff? Because I'm married?"

Pas took my hand. "O, we call you so, ne only because you married, but to show respect for your skills."

Oh. I just smiled and nodded, but I wondered if I'd ever understand Zheien culture. Later. I watched Farley sleep and checked his progs again, just in case. It shook me up that we had somebody nearly die. I hoped the next time wouldn't be my husband.

I was surprised to see Pas with Galarsmen on his feet. Farley just finished his mud bath and sprang to his feet and spotted them. "O! Galar!"

He smiled. "Farley. How is your well today?" His red-gold eyes turned lighter. I noticed that people with red-gold didn't go a lot lighter or darker, but Farley smiled, big.

"I feel very well! Are you well?"

He frowned, and Pas looked worried. "I think I am. I should check progs—"

"You should rest, Brother! I will check progs for you. Let me carry you to a bed." He took him off his feet. Asked us mentally not to follow.

Farley sighed. "I should nae expect miracles, but we have them so oft, here." His lips trembled.

"Don't worry. He can stand up and he can talk, which is a lot more than I expected!"

"Eae, we are all grateful nae to lose our Galarsmen yet!"

"Tom!" Farley hugged him and wept. Poor Becky just stood there. You just don't see men cry in the US!

"O, nae weep! I am well. Becky needed time, but she feels well today."

"And, my head is full of when to bow, how low to bow, and what trades we need here in Alb!" Becky giggled.

"Dear wife, I know these things, and you may borrow of me when you have need." He put an arm around her.

She pulled at her blond curls, which were a lot more golden than mine. Those light blue eyes would make people think she's happy all the time. Mine are more of a serious blue. "Yeah, you're a walking encyclopedia! Oh, there's Bedelia!"

Bedelia saw her, tried to walk fast, and kind of fell forward in slow motion! But Jos Keil leapt from ten feet behind her, landed over her head in front, and gently pushed her shoulders back. "Be, Love, be careful! Did you harm yourself?"

"I-I'm so clumsy!"

He held her. "You nae ever traveled to a world with our gravity. Nae this guilt. You are nae clumsy, my love, nae at all!" He kissed her forehead.

"But, I lived in Rainbow for years, Keiley! I should be able to do this!" One hand swatted to emphasize her statement, and he had to catch her again! "Oh, I'll never get this!"

I felt the same way, but I didn't want to talk about it.

Elsie did. "You an' me both, Sister!"

Becky rushed over there with little hops. "Don't worry. I've been doing some exercises I learned in Rainbow. Remember how Molly used to get around?"

"Hey, that's just like I do! Keep up the good work, Becky, 1st Princess Of Esta Faho!" Is that Molly? Oh, Milly, her clone for Elshar Zheiea. She runs Rainbow Elshar Zheiea. What's she doing here? Her red ringlets bounced as she ran over to steady Elsie.

Who shook her head. "If'in I didn't have Nes, I'd be in trouble!"

"See this prog, ladies? Run it, and you won't fall, even if your husband's not on the alert like Jos Keil, here. Good catch, my man!"

"Hey, he's my man!" Bedelia laughed.

She giggled. "Just a figure of speech, you know. My man is sitting with the unwell back in Rainbow. I thought I'd check in with all my Earthans and see how you're holding up. It's been a wild two weeks! But, I think most everyone's better. Poor Galarsmen! Pas'll make him rest up before he lets him start healing again."

Tom put a hand on her arm. She had on a beautiful cobalt blue dress with her white robes and Tessite symbols over it. All 16 of 'em. That shows her willingness to improve everything. In Rainbow she didn't care for bowing and all!

"Prince Antomias, what can I do for you?" Her green eyes opened wide. Like a Zheien's.

"I worry for our Master Healer! Will he heal? He is my healer, Molly."

"Don't worry. Pas knows what to do for him, and he thinks he'll recover completely. I wanted to talk to you before our council meeting. And Ella, I want you to come with us. May we meet in your office?"

"Certainly, Queen Molly. This way." We all walked towards the sky blue building that was the palace.

Becky looked back. "See you later, Elsie, Bedelia! Have extra fun at the festival for me!"

They seemed a little disappointed that they weren't coming. I felt nervous. Why does Molly—uh, Milly--want to have this pre-meeting? Farley warned me not to think. All Kings' and official offices in Zheien palaces or in the Trade Office—that's the green building or the blue one—the Diplomats' House, all of 'em are lined with merite. Telepathy can't pass. Farley answers a question before I can even ask! Zheien husbands are so nice!

The day turned misty. Not cold, and that's all? No thunderstorms, heavy rain, hail—on Elshar Mashai it can knock you out! And no blizzards, earthquakes, tornadoes, or nuclear power plant accidents. None of the dangers Earth had.

Once at a HamFest hail came and I waved a football helmet on Farley. He smiled, but later I had to put ea fae all over his head. The padding hurt and the impact of tiny quarter-inch hail was enough to bruise him. I felt terrible. And he fell asleep during it. That embarrassed him awfully! With what I know now, he should've seen a healer.

So hard not to think about dangers past! I should've been paying attention to the festival. The Science Service folks demonstrated changes in biome maintenance and how it's automated now, even on Elshar Mashai.

We can go to the festival after we meet, Love. I am eager to attend with you.

I smiled. This festival will go on for weeks more! Lots of people got married, or discovered new things, and King Challet declared a record 81 days! Now that the war's over, we'll probably have 'em a lot more often! Or we can port someplace that's having one, if I'm brave enough.

O, I am brave enough! Farley laughed. I am ever ready for festivals!

I squeezed his hand. We had to pass through a line of dancers, but Farley timed it just right and steered me through.

"Wow! That was fun!" Becky giggled and hugged Tom as we walked. "Oh, I should be more formal—"

"Dear wife, we have nae such rules! I am happy to see you enjoying yourself, and our people, as well."

Her face still turned red. Glad I'm not a princess! All I have to do is apprentice to someone here for prog writing. Odd that I didn't have a tutor already--

Epernensen will assign you, perhaps Ti Ranasen, Master Program Instructor, if he is well. He can nae write progs in Galarsmen's Chambers, and Pas nae released him.