Botanicaust

baptized and serve the Lord . Now, I recognize my reasons were selfish, and that I did not so much wish Josef to remain on this earth to serve God, but to stay with me. All I accomplished by leaving was lose precious weeks of time I could have spent with my son, whom God will take home when it is his time, regardless of what earthly measures I may apply. ”
    Throughout the congregation, heads nodded.
    Levi forced back tears. “ What I found on the Outside, though, was not what I expected. Blattvolk, Cannibals, Fosselites — I met both good and evil, deception and truth in all races. The cure I sought bore a steep price, far more than even our congregation anticipated. A price I would not have been aware of if God had not crossed my path with Peter ’ s lost daughter, Katie. ”
    Whispers blew through the congregation like a dust devil. Brother Yonnie put a hand on Peter ’ s shoulder to urge him to keep his seat.
    “ I will tell you all I learned of the Outside at another time, should any wish to know. Tonight we must consider how we will treat one of our own, a child who was taken from us long before her baptism into the faith, but who has been brought home like a lost lamb. Before you pray on my petition, I ask you to consider Katie ’ s. My own place in the congregation I leave in God ’ s hands, for I am unworthy to decide my fate. But Katie, and the child, Eily, who has yet to fully learn the Salvation of Christ, are among us, seeking refuge. Seeking salvation. Nothing happens but by Gotte ’ s Wille. ”
    The usually silent congregation erupted with exclamations and indignation. Bishop Eldon rose and raised his hands. “ Peace, Brothers and Sisters. Peace. Levi is honest in his position, which must be considered before we can decide on an action. Let those who wish to discuss the matter in Scripture do so as the Spirit moves them. ”
    Brother Yonnie popped to his feet. “ I would like to put before you Article Nine of the Discipline of 1865 as amended by the Prophet. ‘ It is improper for a Christian to mix the creatures of God, such as the horse and donkey, by which mules arise, because the Lord God did not create such in the beginning. Nor shall man insert the Life Pattern from one creature into one of another ilk, for God created the creatures of the earth, everything in its kind. ’ The Blattvolk are an Abomination of Kind, as spoken by the Prophet, and Marked by the Beast. ”
    Levi was prepared for the argument, but he knew this would be only the first of many brought against Tula. “ Did not the Prophet also distinguish two Marks of the Beast? The Mark of Acceptance is given to men who choose to reject God of their own free will. But, ‘ unto the children the Beast placed the Mark of Affliction , that the Earth might be deceived. ’ The Beast has shrouded even its mark in deception! Does our Lord Jesus Christ not ask us to judge not on appearances, but to judge correctly? ”
    Brother Amos slowly rose to his feet. “ Are you sure it is not your judgment that has been clouded? Your history of carnality has been forgiven but not forgotten. You arrived at our gate half clothed, in the presence of a naked woman. Do you deny you have carnal knowledge of the Blattvolk? ”
    Heat swamped Levi so intensely, a sweat broke out all over his body. Amos had seen him caress Tula from Beth ’ s porch. History repeated itself; he ’ d also stood before the Brethren when Sarah became pregnant. “ I am weak and sinful, I confess. I would make right my deeds by taking Katie as wife, if her father would allow. ”
    Yonnie jumped to his feet. “ You cannot take an outsider as wife! Article eight of the Essingen Discipline clearly states marriage shall be only in the Lord and not with the world. The Prophet demanded we turn our backs upon the world and shut our ears to the cries of the damned. The Blattvolk, Accepted or Afflicted, bear the mark of the damned. ”
    Peter, still clutching his hat, wobbled to his feet next to the deacon. “ My Katie is not damned. She is Afflicted. If a child falls and scrapes a knee, even if they are at fault, do we refuse to comfort them? Let me comfort my daughter. I wish to help her rise and walk with the Lord again. ”
    “ Now, Brother — ”
    Another man spoke from the back of the room. “ Did not the Lord entreat us to give succor to our enemies? Did he not command us to feed and clothe the needy, regardless of their faith, that by our actions we may be judged