Botanicaust

abandoned milk house near the orchard. ”
    Relief flooded him. God had saved them. Then guilt crashed down over him. “ And Josef? ”
    “ He is well. I took him fresh milk this morning. But he misses you. ”
    “ I miss him. ” More words stuck in his throat. He ’ d failed to get a cure. All he ’ d succeeded in doing was bringing more trouble to the Holdout. You saved Eily and Ana. The knowledge comforted him.
    “ Beth. ” He stepped forward but stopped short of taking her hands as he once would have. “ These Blattvolk — they are not the abominations we think they are. They are people. People who were changed against their will. Not marked. They are Children of God. Tula knew the words to Jesus Loves Me before I met her. And Eily and Ana have been learning the Lord ’ s Prayer. They can be saved. ”
    Her face softened. “ You always were a dreamer. Eat. Then go see your son. Samuel and the Elders can wait. ”
    As hungry as he was, he could hardly stomach food, but after a quick prayer of thanks, he wolfed down several bites and excused himself. So many things drew his attention, he didn ’ t know where to go first. He did as Beth suggested and strode toward the Ward, ignoring the curious stares of wives from lacy kitchen windows. The men and older children would be out in the fields. Annie Fiscer appeared at a back door and called to two small children on a swing suspended beneath an enormous shade tree. The scent of baking bread floated between the houses, mixed with the dry dust of the road. The acrid hint of the hog barn wafted his way and he smiled. He was home.
    The largest building in the Holdout, the Ward looked the same as always — a two story brick structure with row upon row of monotonous windows. A wrap-around, covered porch lined with small chairs was currently empty. The surrounding yard had turned brown with autumn. A young woman named Mary knelt at the edge of an herb bed and collected seed heads. She had her back to him, and he didn ’ t bother to call out a greeting as he jumped the steps to the porch and opened one of the double doors.
    Inside, the nurse greeted him with surprise. “ Levi! I … didn ’ t expect you … so soon. Josef will be happy. ” She led the way to the playroom where Josef sat at a small table wrapped in a blanket. Other children engaged in quiet activities, either together or alone, throughout the room. Laid out before Josef, several large, wooden puzzle pieces waited to be fitted together, but he only stared at them without moving. Next to him, a glass of milk looked untouched.
    “ Josef. ” Levi called, his heart in his throat. His joy at being home wilted into despair. The boy looked worse than he remembered. Purple smudges beneath yellowed eyes. Lips pasty and chapped. Cheeks hollow against his skull. So much like Sarah just before she died.
    Josef looked up and drew a sharp breath that started him coughing.
    Levi rushed to his side, ready for chest palpitations, but the coughing cleared.
    “ Papa! ” the boy cried and dropped the blanket from his shoulders to raise his arms.
    The stick-thin limbs made Levi cringe. He lifted his child against his chest and held him gently. “ Son. ” He buried his nose in the boy ’ s thin hair, hating the scent of illness but breathing deeply, anyway.
    Josef hiccoughed sobs against his shirt. “ Why did you go away? ”
    The question broke him. All that time apart. How could he tell his son it had all been for nothing? “ I was trying to find a way to make you better. But the scientists turned out to be very bad men. ”
    The voice of an older child interrupted his answer. “ Mr. Kraybill? Is it true you went outside the fence? ”
    He looked down into the face of a boy about twelve. The rest of the children in the room stopped their play to watch in rapt attention. “ Yes. I did. And I have plenty of stories to tell all of you. But not now. ” He set Josef back into his seat and pulled the blanket around his thin shoulders. “ I brought some new friends I have to see. I hope you can all meet them soon. ”
    Several questions flowed from children all at once. Josef refused to let go of Levi ’ s shirt collar. “ Papa, take me with you. ”
    The nurse put her hands out, palm down to quiet the crowd. “ Everyone, Mr. Kraybill has to go. ” Levi smiled in thanks. She didn ’ t smile back.
    Crouching near his son, he pried the boy ’ s weak fingers loose and placed them around the glass of milk.