Becky's Gift

COVID and SETI

How I wanted to sit on the sofa and watch the TV Bedelia used as a monitor. No. My head hurt too bad to sit up. Elsie heated up my hot bag again. "Can I do anything else for you, Becky? I never saw you this sick!" The thermometer beeped. "It's 103.5. Should I call an ambulance?"

"No. If I start seeing things, maybe." If I talk too much, I'll get sick again. Miserable COVID. Bedelia's not bad. Elsie's not. I lost my sense of smell yesterday, and I'm worried. I just wanted to smell a flower. Not in January.

"This is Emperor Ry'nao, speaking earlier today about the spaceship they found in Tullahoma, Tennessee. I'm Ryan White, reporting."

"We think there may be a slaver's mine somewhere in your solar system. The ship was the size of a compact car and had no occupant. We are looking for the person. Every country on Earth gave us permission to run progs to prevent violence. We ran a test in Atlanta, Georgia earlier today."

"Here is a tape of an encounter with a man who wanted to beat up a woman in an alley in downtown Atlanta this morning."

"No! Get away from me!"

"You haven't got anyplace to run—hey!"

"As you can see, the man couldn't hit her and she was able to escape. The program also offers to bring a healer to the person, for free, and this lady did. Zheien healers touch a person's head—"

A knock at the door startled me.

"I'll get it. You expecting company, Elsie?"

"Not at 10:30 in the morning! Be careful."

I heard the door open. "Oh, hi!"

"May I see Becky? I am Antomias, Diplomat Of Esta Faho."

"Bedelia, I am Jos Keil, Diplomat Of Esta Faho. These are for you."

"Oh, thanks! These are beautiful! Antomias, maybe you want to give Becky these roses yourself. Elsie?"

"This way! Becky, these'll cheer you up!" Bedelia led a handsome fella in. He wore a white suit and carried a vase of yellow roses—my favorite! I tried to sit up and my stomach turned over!

He somehow put the huge vase on my bedside table without knocking over anything and held a hand on my forehead. My tummy calmed down.

But, I looked up into black eyes. Like they were all pupil in the white!

"Nae be frightened. Becky, you are very unwell! I wish to bring a healer to you, may I?"

My tiny room with its yellow walls vanished.

The cracked blue plaster of my tiny room in Merit Colony depressed me.

Slowly, my eyes focused on a tall man with dark curls. A friendly smile. If I smiled back, I'd throw up again, so I just enjoyed his blue eyes a few secs and then made like I slept.

"This is Tom. He's an adopted slave that ran away from his people. I thought this makes a great opportunity. He can stay up here and take care of you, Becky."

Yeah. Great. What is he, a Zheien? I looked at the hand long enough to see two fingers. Wide, flat fingers. A Zheien. They're gentle people, but after they've been slaves, they can't take care of themselves. I can't even get up most of the time. "Elsie. A week. The doctors gave me—" Only a week before cancer kills me. I probably won't wake up after tonight.

She put a hand on my bald head. "Look, Becky. You need somebody. I can't stay here and lose my job, or I'll have to live in Merit. They don't give you a week off to stay with friends, you know?" I heard the tears in her voice.