Botanicaust

Enforcers stepped toward the center of the room. “ I mean, perhaps we should withhold treatment as an incentive to convert. ”
    As much as she would like to see the children cured, she knew the action would only make the Holdout more resistant to conversion. The Board would not respect the spiritual nature of Old Order beliefs. At best she could hold off enforced conversion and pray the Protectorate would accept the position of the Old Order given enough time.
    “ Good idea, Dr. Macoby. Children have always made the best converts. ”

L evi paced the bars of his cell, boots echoing against the paved floor. Thank God, this time he wasn ’ t naked. Also unlike before, he would speak to the technicians in halting Haldanian every time they delivered the protein drinks. “ The children need more. ” “ Can have another blanket? ” “ When can talk Tula? ”
    The Blattvolk always responded to his requests. Except when he asked for Tula. Then they just scoffed and walked away.
    “ Your Blattvolk betrayed us. ” Brother John spoke from the cell next to him. The child in his care slumbered on the cot. They ’ d been prisoners about two days, by Levi ’ s guess. The Blattvolk assured him Josef was fine, although they refused to allow him to see his son. Brother John was the only Brother or Sister who would talk to him, and only to insist on Tula ’ s duplicity.
    “ No, she ’ s a prisoner, like us. ” Levi couldn ’ t look at him. After seeing her embrace the Blattvolk man, he wasn ’ t so sure. “ You don ’ t know her like I do. ”
    “ Aye. ” The single word held all the reprimand needed to make Levi flush crimson. Once again, caught in carnal knowledge of a woman. She ’ d never accepted his marriage proposal. He ’ d assumed she needed time to get used to being back among her people. Had she known the Blattvolk would come all along?
    Movement at the stairs drew his attention. A group of Blattvolk entered the room. Official-looking Blattvolk, with jewelry like that Vitus fellow wore. None of them looked like Vitus, though. Among them stood Tula, the nakedness of her breasts barely hidden by a swath of necklaces. Levi ’ s heart leapt along with his groin and he flushed again. Why had God given women such power over him?
    The rest of the Old Order rose, gathering children against them, watching the Blattvolk warily. Levi moved to the bars closest to the visitors.
    Tula glanced at him, her face impassive. Cold dread settled into Levi ’ s soul. Speaking to the entire room, Tula used Levi ’ s language. “ The Protectorate would like to offer peace between our people. ”
    After a few heartbeats of silence, Brother John spoke. “ They ’ ll leave us in peace? ”
    “ They ’ ll leave your people in peace in return for … occupancy rights. ”
    Unsure he ’ d heard correctly, Levi asked, “ Occupancy? ” He longed for her to make eye contact. To silently reassure him things were going to be all right.
    But she continued to address the group as a whole. “ They want to establish a Protectorate Burn around your Holdout. To expand their territories. The Protectorate will offer protection from the cannibals. And any of your people who choose to convert will also be eligible for DNA repair. ” She shot a look to the children and then to Brother John.
    “ It is against the Ordnung. ” The muscles of Brother John ’ s jaw bulged.
    “ They ’ ll force no one to convert. The terms are quite reasonable. ” Tula ’ s brows pinched a little in worry. She met Levi ’ s gaze directly for the first time. “ If you don ’ t agree, they ’ ll do what they want. ”
    He knew what she meant. Full conversion or death.
    Brother John sighed in submission. “ We have to return to the Holdout. To consider the Scriptures and vote in unity. ”
    She nodded and said something to the other Blattvolk. Then she turned back to John. “ They ’ ll give you three days to decide. ”
    They turned and disappeared up the stairs without looking back.

    The autumn sun heated Tula ’ s dark lab coat across her shoulders, while the exposed skin of her arms tightened in the coolness of the breeze outside Confinement. A duster waited on the pad, loaded with dignitaries seeking a trip to the archaic settlement called the Holdout. A Protectorate Liaison building had been erected almost overnight, and Haldanians were clamoring to visit.
    Tula would not be going.
    She had to maintain her distance from Levi, although