Adia, Scientist

Fahie's Dispute

Then a commotion outside got all of their attention. Ryee's father pulled De'sai and D'gmiash out, but an older diplomat stood with them. They watched through the transparent hull of the ship. No one could see them.

Pas became an Elshar healer, who held Ronmai. Parsopah tried to follow, but Ket did not rise. "I see moisture on you. Let them speak."

Outside the ship stood a trader with a TS Inspector. "—stole my ship!"

The inspector's eyes turned black as he stared at D'gmiash. "You are a disgrace! Look at the tears, on you." He swept his cobalt blue robes back, and a cloud of the yellow dust rose to the tops of his deep blue boots. There was a market near the ship, and traders stopped to watch.

De'sai stood tall, but he was a head shorter than his opponent. "Etkar, you stole my bahie from me, and just now, I know you took him to Elshar Mashai. Would any man be emotional, to see his Fahie after long years? You allowed me no contact with my bahie, as required by our laws. Here is my evidence, Inspector." He stared at the man. Traders gathered around them. Most of these were older men in cobalt blue robes like De'sai's. They all frowned at Etkar, who was their ages but still wore light blue. Not a master trader.

"Pah! Take this slopfah's ship, and all his holdings. Etkar, to Ih—"

De'sai held his wrist. "Habis ha! Take them and leave. I will keep my bahie."

Etkar bent and kissed De'sai's right knee. Then got in his ship and left. The TS Inspector ported. Men dispersed. All of them had animated conversations in small groups. Then, the hull became opaque blue again.

Quickly, De'sai pulled D'gmiash into the ship.

D'gmiash fell to his knees and covered his face. De'sai stood by him and held his hands. Ket ran hygiene on both of them and yellow dust vanished. "Oh, Fahie, I am not fit to be anyone's bahie!"

"Look at me. All I want is to see your smile. If you hate trading, be a poet. These people value you, for you saved men whom they love. I love you, my dear bahie. Come, let us sit by Ron. He will be fearful when he wakes. Let me hear your poetry." They ran hygiene again. Parsopai linked De'sai's navs to tow his ship.

Pas, on Ye~, looked up into the lavender sky and a blue streak grew. As it came close, he ran to where it aimed. The portal bounced off a blue wall and the man in it tumbled. "Oh, I am clumsy! Did I hit anyone?" He got up. The healer waved for a flat mattress under him.

Healers made him sit and frantically brushed dust off his hands! "My son, ne move. I am Pas, a healer—"

Ni'olmai laughed and shook out his blond curls. "Elshars are tough—"

Pas stared at his boot and waved at his feet. Tritoed feet had much orange on them. "Ah, you are part Ishah, are you? May I see your healer's records?"

"I am healthy! This is mere sand—" His smile dropped. The fivefingered hands were very red. How could he have different feet than hands? Like half of him was a diff species!

"Our sands irritate the skin of Elshars. Your Ishah portion ne helps you. Let a healer work. May I touch you?" Pas waved for hygiene to run on him.

A slow wave brought up his record. Ni'olmai, Diplomat-In-Aid To Asha Of Elshar Mashai, Prov One. "Do I have enough trade? I wish for your comfort." He looked at all the Yeff who came near with frightened looks.

The old healer looked over all his points. D'gmiash hugged him. One of Ryee's diplomats helped him with his Link. Another of Ryee's diplomats used their Diplomatic Link to bring De'sai's mind to Ye~.