Botanicaust

lake. As Tula ’ s bare feet sank into the muddy bottom, the craft hovered over the camp on silent lifters.
    Imaginary blisters tingled across Tula ’ s skin as plants brushed familiarly against her limbs. She wanted to thrash the stalks away, but fought to remain calm. She ’ d been so careful to avoid contact until now. What would happen to her in this vegetative soup of water? All her childhood lessons about plants came to mind. Every muscle in her body quivered, but she didn ’ t move. Any noise or movement might give them away.
    “ This is the Haldanian Protectorate. Come out with your hands up. ” Without a beat to allow compliance, a spout of flame engulfed the lean-to. Amidst bits of airborne plant matter and glowing ash, the craft settled onto the stone next to the water. Two Burn Operatives hopped out and Tula gasped.
    Mo .
    He wore full Burn gear, goggles and sturdy boots, his wide loincloth hugged the tight muscles of his sun-darkened legs. Black hair spiked around his head in a sooty mess as he jogged to the settling embers of the shelter.
    The other Operative scanned the lake, the fire-tongue at the end of his gun flickering. Tula flinched. His eyes scoured the foliage. Behind him, Mo kicked at the ashes of the lean-to.
    Mo called out. “ Hold. ”
    “ You don ’ t want to flash this? ” The other Operative shot a gust into a stand of tamarisk. The crisscrossing branches popped and exploded in the intense heat.
    “ I said hold! ” Mo ’ s voice rose over the roar from the gun. He walked back to the duster.
    Once Mo disappeared inside, the other Operative drew closer to the edge of the burning tamarisk. His hungry gaze said it all. He was ready to flash everything. Tula cowered in the water, no longer conscious of the plant life brushing her skin.
    A hiss from the duster, and Mo ’ s voice came over the com speaker. “ Tula, answer me if you can. The Board has approved your safe extrication. I know you ’ re out there! Please respond. ”
    Tula sucked a sharp breath. Mo was here to save her. She didn ’ t have to live her life — or die miserably — in the desert. Her legs were so weak, she could barely support herself, even buoyed by water. A gentle pressure around her bicep reminded her Levi was right behind her. He needed a translation. She looked at him, her relieved smile fading to distress. What about Levi? They might be here to save her, but that didn ’ t mean he was safe.
    She glanced out between the stalks. The heat from the burning tamarisk caused the foliage to sway violently. She glimpsed the other Operative arguing with Mo. His voice reached out over the lake again, this time without the amplification of the com. “ If you can ’ t answer me try to give a sign. We have orders to start flashing the place if you don ’ t respond. ”
    She knew how things worked. If she was offered asylum, they ’ d still eliminate Levi. She looked back at her companion. Levi snapped stalks, looking over each one carefully. His attention darted to the duster with every cracking twig. Burning tamarisk roared to the right. The Operatives continued to argue at the water ’ s edge. She didn ’ t have much time.
    Save yourself.
    Did she want to go back to the way things were? The instinct was strong.
    Levi pushed a length of brown stalk into her hand. She looked between it and him and shook her head. What was he doing? She glanced to the Operatives.
    She couldn ’ t abandon Levi. Not after everything they ’ d been through. A lump formed low in her throat, her voice pressing to get out. But her mouth remained clamped shut.
    Mo raised his flame gun.
    They started flashing the other stand of tamarisk, sending burning fronds crackling skyward. Bits of fluff on the tops of Tula ’ s stand of weeds caught fire. Flames crept down the dry stalks toward her head. Levi put a stem to his lips and she saw the straw was hollow. Placing the end into the water, he blew bubbles, his gaze on her. Lips still around the end of the straw, he tilted the straw into the air and ducked beneath the surface.
    He wanted to hide under the water.
    She tested air through her straw. She had to suck, but she could breathe. A gust of hot air fanned through the weeds, and Tula saw the other Burn Operative grinning as he aimed his gun in their direction. This wouldn ’ t work. If they stayed here, the straws would be reduced to ash.
    If she called out, then Levi could potentially swim away. She ’ d watched him dive