Botanicaust

reached behind the seats, grabbed Koil ’ s sandals, and handed them to Levi. The bundle of water bottles was more awkward, but she pulled it onto her lap. Untying the sleeves, she unwrapped the package and showed Levi the stash.
    He caressed the cool exterior of the bottles. “ Danke. ” Then he spotted the notebook. He pushed the bottles aside. His eyes gleamed with unshed tears as he ran a big hand over the cover. “ Danke. ”
    “ You ’ re welcome. ”
    He looked into her eyes, his features clear. The crags and shadows on his face expressed what he couldn ’ t put into words. “ Danke. ”
    She nodded slowly, accepting his acknowledgment of what she ’ d done for him. Not the water. Not the notebook. His freedom. Possibly in return for her own.
    A tiny spark of fear rose in Tula ’ s breast. Vitus would have her hide over this. He might even convict her of reversion. Reversions were either euthanized or sent to the mines to work out their days in darkness.
    She opened the compartment in the dash and retrieved the emergency water pouches, adding them to Levi ’ s supply. She opened the first aid kit from the car and dumped the contents into the kit from her office. She wished she could do better.
    Levi needed an breathing filter to leave. An idea struck her and she selected a roll of gauze from the first aid items. She held it out to Levi. With a palm cupped over her mouth and nose, she made breathing noises and pointed outside.
    He drew his brows together in confusion.
    Climbing to her knees in her seat, she took the gauze and unrolled a portion. She draped it over his nose and mouth, forming a dust mask. It wasn ’ t perfect, but would have to do. They were out of time. He had to leave as soon as possible.
    She settled back into her seat, still on her knees, and let her hands collapse into her lap. Levi reached toward her, slowly, and traced the pale scar on her arm with one finger.
    She closed her eyes against a sting of tears, against the flaw in her conversion.
    “ Menschlich. ”
    She opened her eyes, the muscles of her face tight with grief. She had no idea what he meant. And she never would. Her time with him was done. She smiled weakly and pointed outside.
    He nodded, gathering the water bottles, first aid kit, and notebook back into the folds of her lab coat.
    Outside, dawn fought the dust clouds for dominion. The ravine cliff loomed stark against the paling sky, and Tula saw the startling outline of shrubbery along the base of the wall. The wind had subsided, as well. Maybe Levi could make it.
    They both climbed out of the skimmer, Tula ’ s sandaled feet sinking into the fine silt on the ravine floor. Levi ’ s head didn ’ t clear the top of the gully wall; he ’ d have to climb up if he wanted to see over.
    “ Goodbye. Levi. Gott be with you. ” She didn ’ t know why she invoked his god.
    The words seemed to mean a lot to him. He bent to embrace her. This was the second time they ’ d hugged, and she clung to him as if she didn ’ t intend to let go. The gauze of his mask pressed tight to her cheek. “ Goodbye. ” His voice was rough and gravelly.
    Righting himself, he slung the makeshift bag over his shoulder and trekked up the ravine. The gold robe made him look divine, and she hoped the bright color didn ’ t cause him to be spotted. Before he disappeared behind a bend, he turned one last long look over his shoulder at her. And she knew what she ’ d done was worth it.

    Levi strode up the dry creek bed with as much haste as his body could muster. He needed to make some distance. Not only from the incoming Blattvolk, but also from her. What was it about her that made him want to protect her, even from her own people?
    As green as she was, her scar served as a visual reminder that she was still human. Her actions were human. He wondered what was in store for her after saving him , sure it wasn ’ t good . That evil man, Vitus, would likely try to hurt her.
    When he thought of Vitus pushing her on the stairs, his steps faltered.
    You can ’ t go back.
    Should he have invited her along?
    To where? His people would never accept her into the fold. He had nowhere to harbor an abomination, even if she was more human than he ’ d expected.
    He continued hiking through the dim light, made dimmer by the high sides of the gully and the dust-clogged air, glad for the mask she ’ d made him. Squinting against the grit, he trudged on, eyes watering. He ’ d get his bearings