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to normal function without help. Since most of these people were trained scientists, it’s possible that many will simply reestablish old neural pathways. There may be some loss of factual memory: maybe even a great deal. Even then much may return over a period of time.
    â€œRight now, they need reassurance, interaction: music, smells, kindness, encouragement, gentle exercise. As normal a routine as we can manage. Talk to them, about anything and everything: help them reestablish themselves. Where we know the name, repeat it often. When we know something of their background, refer to that as frequently as possible. Help them reacquaint themselves with themselves.”
    Kris had three women, all in their late fifties: two had been research physicians in a drug company—Peggy Ihde and Marjorie Flax; the third they called Sophie because Sarah McDouall said she thought she looked like a Sophie. Kris was to supervise their meals. Just putting a spoon or a fork in their hands stimulated self-feeding. She read to them from Jane Austen’s
Pride and Prejudice
, which they might even have read in their youngerdays. She took them on quiet walks in the lodge-pole copse, or sat with them above the bay where benches had been placed for meditation.
    â€œPleasant surroundings are extremely important after the holding pens they’ve been in,” Dorothy said. “Soft, kind voices, gentle handling will reassure even the most damaged.”
    There were a few whose condition was clearly catatonic but Dorothy was serenely confident that, in time, even these would recover.
    â€œThere’s something about this place,” she said, spreading both arms out to include the entire subcontinent, “that will generate healing. The smells are good, the food is fresh and tasty, and the vibes…” she smiled at using the vernacular description, “are good because we’ve made them so. Beauty is a natural stress-absorber, you know. It reassures on a nonverbal level that they are now safe.
    â€œYou see,” she went on in her soft voice, “we’ve decided to use a multi-modal treatment of this stress. The right hemisphere—which thinks in pictures—can’t tell time: therefore it needs pictures to counteract the negative images of the trauma. The left hemisphere stores rational thought processes in thought and ideas. The two hemispheres interact and each approach can help the other side. We need to maximize good input and involve as much as possible in terms of brain resource utilization. Many of our friends here may never recall exactly what happened. That would truly be a blessing.”
    â€œBut won’t we have to explain something of how they got here?” Sarah McDouall asked.
    â€œOh, yes,” Dorothy said with a smile, “and by then we’ll probably have a coherent answer for them. They are, to all intents and purposes, on a holiday from their own minds right now.”
    â€œWe could always tell them they’re in Oz,” someone at the back of the room quipped.
    â€œAnd no red slippers in sight,” someone added.
    Dorothy’s expression was droll. “We’re all in Oz.”
    â€œThe Eosi are the wicked witches…”
    â€œLet’s leave the analogy there, shall we?” Dorothy said in the firm tone of she-who-must-be-obeyed.
    Kris felt her shoulder muscles relax. She had been readying herself to protect Zainal. Really, she had to stop doing that. He had made his own position here on Botany and was firmly entrenched. She didn’t need to fret over possible snide remarks and animosity. She devoutly hoped!
    â€¢Â Â Â â€¢Â Â Â â€¢
    THAT EVENING WHEN ZAINAL CAME HOME from the construction site of the new units for the Victims, he very carefully put a book down on the table.
    â€œThat’s for kindergartners,” she said in surprise, recognizing the title.
    â€œKindergartners? It is for learning to