Accidental Friend

Dovetails with Rainbow Series v. 4 or 5

Zhea~ Year 7832

An Elshar befriends a Zheien, but when he is injured, no one will believe the Elshar’s story. Rated G.

ASIN: B002IKKOH4 File Size: 75 KB (Kindle Edition - July 21, 2009)

Accidental Friend - Novelette Kindle Edition

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Between classes, he strode quickly down the flowered walks. A beautiful Zheien girl smiled at him, a bit shyly; he also gave a smile in a blushing face. So like me, with the Elshar girls. He slowed as if to say something, but she took a path to a building, and he walked on. The slight frown reminded me of what I might think in the same situation: Slopfah! Why didn’t you greet her? Would a moment of conversation cost me much of the lecture?

Two Elshars stood near the walk aiming rod launchers at a holo target on the other side. “Hey, Slopfah! Your head looks better than my sillato. Hold still!” He raised the launch. The Zheien ignored him and walked faster.

“Aw, Lase, he’s too scared to talk to us. Here, want some lessenleb? It’ll calm you down, Slopfah.” This one blew smoke at the Zheien; I waved a containment to protect him.

They walked after us. Lase jostled his launch, and it fired. The rod hit his shoulder. They ran. I held him up. Quickly, I shoved him into nearby bushes and slipped out of my containment as we fell to the ground. My hands protected the back of his head, a vulnerable area for a Zheien.

“Pah ne veh!”

“Shhh! I am a healer, my son.” I covered his mouth with one hand while keeping the other at the back of his head; through them, I sent healing into his shoulder. His blue eyes opened wide. Surely he saw how dark my eyes were and thought me angry!

I finished quickly and moved off his chest. Carefully moved the injured arm. He grimaced. I sent more healing; a fracture. If this didn’t help him, I’d have to take him to the infirmary, to a Zheien healer, and everyone would see.

The fracture sealed, but he shivered. Barely enough. I kept my hands on his shoulder. Sighed. “I can block this pain, my son, but you must have rest—”

“Pah ne veh! Ad Beni expects me—now—in his office—” His face turned more pale.

Ad Beni could take him to the infirmary. But, Ad Beni could have me expelled for participating in an attack on a fellow student. The Zheien feared I planned to intoxicate him; his thoughts would hide from any Elshar but a healer.

“Listen, my son. I was raised with honor, in Prov One. I give you my word before Riyhupur who can take my life, I will not harm you. If my kinsmen see me with you, they will persecute me unto death! I am sworn to preserve life, not to take it. If I accompany you to Ad Beni in alternate space, will you tell him of me? If you do, I will lose everything, for I am near graduation—”

His frightened eyes stared into mine, and I heard his triple heartbeats aloud. “How can I trust you?”

“If you can get up, and walk alone, I will let you. You cannot walk far; you are cold now.” I felt his shoulder stiffen in my hands. Zheien lose temperature rapidly after injury. Too much, and no healer can save him.

He lifted his head feebly; too far gone. I supported it and pulled him to his feet. Waved at my pocket so my terminal would hide me. The man stumbled as I pushed him into the Diplomatics Building.

I expected other students, perhaps friends of his, to be about. No one came past us. The Zheien stared ahead of him. His open-mouthed breaths echoed in the foyer. His body trembled; I supported more than half his weight.

Slowly, I pushed him down the Yellow Diplomatics Hall to Ad Beni’s office. The old Zheien came out; his green skin turned pale when he saw—

“Metros, my son!” With two steps, he took Metros off his feet. Through the containment, I kept my hands on his shoulder. I wanted to run. But, I literally held Metros’ life in my fingers; I couldn’t bring myself to let go.

“Ad Beni. Two Elshars. The rod launch—I think, an accident—”

Ad Beni ran with him into his office. Laid him on a soft green bench. “My son, rest. I will call Pedsa.”

The Zheien healer. She was small, but very skilled. I watched her carefully as she sang healing on him. I didn’t know Zheien points. Her twin fingers balanced delicately on his head in eight places, and she moved them carefully back from his forehead. Frowned. “Your shoulder was fractured. Did someone practice healing on you already? Metros?”

His eyes searched for me. “I d-dreamed someone touched me. I nae see him.” Metros closed his eyes. It was then I took my hands off his shoulder, and he lost consciousness. Pedsa’s eyes flew open wide. She looked at me. I was hidden, but I panicked. I ported away.