Botanicaust

for a new preacher, but the Bishop had calmly insisted on the choice being God ’ s. The position was for life, barring excommunication. John siding with Levi had caused a lot of turmoil.
    The Bishop sighed and climbed onto the tractor with Brother John. Although the Bishop had ultimately denied Levi ’ s request to search for a cure, at least he ’ d listened to Levi ’ s request. Yonnie ’ s mouth puckered, but he clambered onto the tractor along with the others.
    Looking at Samuel, Levi asked, “ And you, Brother? ”
    Samuel looked over the men on the tractor, then back to Levi. “ I shall walk at your side. ”
    Together they cut across the field ahead of the tractor. At the orchard, men and women stopped singing and lowered long-handled fruit pickers to watch the tractor chug past. They didn ’ t notice Levi and Samuel slip through the field toward the milk house, and Levi was relieved.
    “ There ’ s talk of witchcraft, Levi. That you ’ ve been seduced. ”
    “ And what do you think? ”
    “ I ’ ll see the Blattvolk first. And pray for God ’ s wisdom. ”
    Levi sighed. What his brother-in-law meant was he ’ d wait to see what the Brethren said. “ I will pray for that, as well. ”
    At the milk house, men with dogs rested near each corner. Against cannibals, the dogs didn ’ t seem so awful, but with the threat directed at Tula, Levi felt ashamed. Was it hypocritical for the Old Order to condemn violence, yet train dogs to do the dirty work? He rubbed his fingers against his palms, remembering Dr. Kaneka ’ s death, remembering the cannibal ’ s bloody face. He was a changed man, and humbler for it.
    The guards greeted the party with nods but remained in place. Brother John opened the door to allow the group inside.
    “ Tula! ” Levi squeezed past the men.
    At the sound of his voice, she rose from the floor and hurtled into his arms. “ Levi! You are all right? ”
    She wore a proper dress, fastened below her chin, and Levi grinned. He located Eily, her own dress in a pool around her as she sat with her head bowed as if in prayer. “ Where ’ s Ana? ”
    Eily slumped forward, her forehead in the dirt, and began to moan.
    “ Tula? ” Levi looked into Tula ’ s suddenly teary eyes.
    “ She sacrificed herself so we could run. ” Tula ’ s voice cracked.
    Levi ’ s mouth went dry. He spun to the Brethren. “ Why didn ’ t you tell me? ”
    “ Her action drew the cannibals away from the gate. ” John gazed sadly at Eily. “ And her prayer turned our heads. ”
    Yonnie huffed, but said nothing. The Bishop and the others folded their hands in front of them.
    Kneeling at Eily ’ s side, Levi stroked the child ’ s frail back. Ana was gone. He couldn ’ t believe it. Shock swelled into anger. He glared at the men crowding the doorway. “ If you had let us in when I asked, she would be alive right now. ”
    Tula knelt and put a hand on Levi ’ s where he petted Eily. Her voice was small, but calm. “ They couldn ’ t risk the entire village to save us. But they used the opportunity Ana provided. Don ’ t be angry. ”
    Bowing his head, Levi held back the tears. He wanted someone to blame. But Tula was right. His anger would serve no purpose.
    He cupped Tula ’ s cheek. “ Are you all right? ”
    “ They ’ ve not treated us unkindly. I ’ m glad to see you ’ re well. ” She put her fingertips to his face near the burns from the fence. “ Levi, my Papa is here. ”
    “ Your … Papa? ”
    “ At the gate. He called me Katie, and I remembered it all. ” She clutched the fabric of her dress over her heart, as if afraid the memories might escape if she didn ’ t hold them in. “ I was born here, Levi. ”
    He ’ d suspected something like this, after she sang to him in the Fosselite compound. And it explained her quick grasp of his language while he struggled with hers. He realized she ’ d been speaking his language since he arrived at the milk house.
    “ Just because Brother Peter thinks he sees the face of his dead daughter in an abomination does not make it true, ” Deacon Yonnie spoke. “ We have prayed together, and he believes he may have been mistaken. ”
    Levi rose. “ Gatekeeper Peter? Is her father? Has he been to see her? ” Something in his eye must have frightened Yonnie, for the Deacon shuffled back so Brother John stood a shoulder in front of him.
    “ We did not think it wise to open a door he closed long ago. ”
    Fists clenched, Levi