Hilarity Ensues Episode 8, part 4.

   The antidote had been administered to both patients.  The Empyreans had given them a medicine to drink too, a herbal concoction that Janella said would let them sleep while the antidote did its work and the help the healing process begin.  

   "How long before we know if it's worked?" Tom asked.

   "Some hours," Grothorne replied.  "When they awake, we will know."

   The hours seemed to pass slowly.  While Angphir and Janella watched over the patients, Grothrone asked the travellers more about how they had come to be held captive by the Pserpentese.  Will, judging it best to be honest, told him the truth about his and Zoe's identity, their mission to Earth, and the likely reason the astroninjas had attacked them.  The Empyrean looked grave when he heard about how the earth-dwellers had been kidnapped, but as it was explained to him what Ruth and Patrick had done to help the others his expression became one of admiration.

   "For their sake, for the courage and self-sacrifice they have shown, our people will aid you," he said.  "The political strife of another planet is no business of ours, but you have sought sanctuary and healing here and you will be safe while you stay."

   "Thank you," Will said.  "We appreciate your kindness."

   All this time the Hilarity had been in a low orbit around Della Crusca.  Looking down, the travellers could see the planet's surface appeared to be covered by expansive green forests and vast blue oceans.  Here and there appeared to be clearings of open ground, but they could see no trace of cities or buildings.  Below them,  but above the forests there were large dark shapes that seemed to be floating in the planet's skies, some remaining stationary above one spot, others moving through the air.

   "Those are our cities," Grothorne said to them as they looked out.  We do not live on the ground.  We farm, in places, but our planet's ecosystem is too precious and too fragile to risk spoiling by clearing her forests or polluting her seas.  We leave our planet to nature, and find what we need in her bountiful gifts."

   "Are those airships?" Nick asked.

   "They are our living pods, suspended from balloons filled with gas.  Some of our people live in the treetops, some few who farm live in dwellings on the ground, but most in our great Cities of the Skies, the Urban Aireas!"

   "Your planet is beautiful," Emma said to Grothorne.

   "We work hard to keep her so," he replied.  "We have heard what has happened to other once-beautiful planets that have been defaced and their resources squandered by their inhabitants."

   "I'm afraid our planet has suffered like that at the hands of our species," Ernest said.  Grothorne nodded sadly.  "So I have heard.  Yet at least some of your people have recognised the danger and are trying to save what they can, even if it is too late for much to be done.  Such crimes bring their own punishment."  He looked at Will and Zoe.  "Your people would do well to remember that."  The brother and sister looked at each other, puzzled yet somehow ashamed.

   Other Empyreans arrived bearing gifts of food and drink.  The travellers were glad to accept, for their own supplies were running low.  There were strange fruits and vegetables that even Will and Zoe, brought up with the knowledge of the foods of a dozen different worlds, did not recognise, some of which were so exquisite that none of them wanted to forget the taste, and others which were rather more dubious.  Yet the most surprising things for the travellers was that amongst all this exotic spread, given pride of place were turnips. Ordinary turnips, identical to the ones they had seen and eaten (well, some of them) back on planet Earth, with nothing special about them at all.  Yet from talking to the Empyreans they discovered that this vegetable, the humble turnip, was revered on Della Crusca as the utmost gift of nature, the pinnacle of culinary delights.  The travellers from Earth looked on in wonder as the leader of the Empyreans who brought the gifts told them of Brassica Rapa, god of the planet, to whom turnips were sacred.  None of them dared tell the Empyreans that on Earth turnips were often scorned and looked down on.

   Patrick awoke.  For a moment he was confused, wondering what had happened.  Then the memories came back to him- the cold damp cell, the pain and fear, the rescue, the Empyreans and their medicine.  He turned and looked across to Ruth.  She seemed to be still asleep, but her repose was troubled and she tossed and turned and groaned.  It was evident that she was still in pain.

   He looked up, and saw Angphir coming across to him.  "You have awoken," she said.  "How do you feel?"

   "The pain has gone," he said.  "Well, almost...there's a bit of an ache still.  I feel...drained, tired but not sleepy, if you understand, but so much better!"

   "Your body is weak, after all it has had to fight, and it will take a little time to recover," she said.  "Also you have not eaten for some time, I believe.  That we can solve."

   She left the room for a few moments and came back with a cup containing some kind of soup, which she helped him to drink.

   "How is she?" he asked, looking back at Ruth.  The Empyrean's smile faded.

   "We do not know yet," she said, and turned away to wash the cup.

   Patrick lay down again, facing towards Ruth.  She had loosed her hand from the sleeping bag in her unrest, and it lay loose.  He reached out and took it in his own.  It was cold, and he could hear her breathing loudly.  "I wish I could help you," he whispered.  "It's not fair that you should suffer more."  She moved restlessly, and moaned incomprehensibly.  Patrick thought she might be waking up, but she did not.  He watched her sadly, and wished there was something he could do.

The story continues...