Becky's Gift

Zheien Differences

Micansen's lips trembled. "What am I to do? I offended an Elder, Tom!"

"Dear friend, be calm. Take of bis tia."

"Pah! I can't take herbs! What if she changes her mind and calls for me?"

Tom laughed. "Know you how many missions I served, and if I had impairment, I hid it? Take one leaf of bis tia. He only affects if you help him. Breathe in. Trust you me?"

"With my life!" But he looked at that tiny, green leaf Tom held between two fingercorners of one hand, as if it were poison.

"Breathe in."

He did, and Tom let go. When the leaf went in, Micansen coughed! "Oh, I am rude!" He covered his mouth.

"My friend, you are Zheien now. You feel guilt, eae? We must nae ever touch the mouth. I think Pirad gave you the Protocols, but did not explain--

"I'm Elshar! I don't see how any of those rules apply to me! My mind is still Elshar."

"O, but minds control bodies, and bodies have effects. Nae touch, my friend." Tom pulled on his hand until his trembling fingers didn't touch his lips. He wasn't as pale yellow, then. "Feel difference? Eae, your mind is Elshar, but I think you need to follow the Protocols. Severe unwells come to any Zheien who nae follows them."

"But, what if I somehow court her? How will I kiss her?"

Tom got very orange in his face. "You think to survive it? And, if you kiss her and leave your lips long, lips nae know lips from foods!" He paled!

Micansen cried! "Then, I can never marry? This is not fair!"

I touched his wrist. "Council member Micansen, I married a Zheien. You may marry her, but she will learn, as I did, that I can not act Earthan. I must take care with my husband that I do not harm him. If she loves you, she will learn. Zheien love is enough."

"But, what is Zheien love?"

Oh, my face burned, but I let him see just a glimpse of Tom having bellsongs. We laughed like two children! Somehow, a Zheien's chest makes music like a bell choir, harmonies and all. We just hugged, without taking our clothes off. Tom'll be mad at me! But, he'll forgive me.

Micansen's eyes turned black. My father did that with Zheien! He went to Ih Esta and they killed him! Doesn't it hurt them to do that? They all died!

When a Zheien man loves a woman, and she's not giving him slaver herbs to make him feel more, he is healthier, and I think I was, too. Love is healthy. What tenters do, that's not love.

His eyes turned very light. "Then, I have hope, without giving up my Zheien body?"

"You'll have to talk to her. Pirad can undo it, if she can't handle it, can't he?"

Micansen sighed and it rumbled on us. "I suppose—what's that?"

"My friend, when we are unhappy, there is vibration that travels. Becky calls it a rumble." He smiled at me. He's not mad? His eyes were serious blue, though. His face was very orange.

"I've noticed that, but I didn't realize you did it! I just wanted stronger telepathy so I can work better."

"Pirad gave me stronger telepathy, and I'm still Earthan."

"But, I like this body! I feel strong."

"He said he could give me traits of other species—"