Botanicaust

her head. “ Your friend? ”
    Now, Levi did turn to her. She spoke German? “ Yes. Why did you attack her? Where did they take her? ”
    A confused look washed over Rosalee ’ s face. “ I don ’ t know. ” She sat a moment, looking at him with soft, harmless eyes. “ Who are you again? ”
    “ My name is Levi. My friend is Tula. I ’ ve come looking for a cure for my son. ”
    “ Oh, no. No, no, no. We ’ re still in research phase. The FDA hasn ’ t approved the treatment yet. ”
    Levi searched his brain for meaning. “ FDA? ”
    Dr. Kaneka bent and said something to her. Again, her pale green eyes glazed and refocused. She spoke to the doctor, who directed her to Levi. “ I ’ m to ask you what you ’ ve come for. ”
    “ My son has cystic fibrosis. The salt trader told me about you. That you can cure him. ”
    “ Salt trader? ” Her eyebrows rose as if in disbelief, and she scrutinized Levi head to toe. His entire, nearly naked body flushed under her scrutiny. God wants me to be humble.
    “ Please, Rosalee. The salt trader, Antonis. He carries salt from the Great Salt Lakes. Last spring your people healed him of leprosy. ”
    “ You have leprosy? ”
    Taking a calming breath, Levi explained again, “ No. My son has cystic fibrosis. Antonis said he spoke to you about a cure. ”
    “ Who? ”
    “ The salt trader your people cured. ” He glanced at Dr. Kaneka for help, but the man obviously didn ’ t understand a word being said. The woman ’ s attack on Tula made a little more sense, now. He ’ d better keep things simple. “ Can you tell Dr. Kaneka I need a cure for cystic fibrosis? ”
    She frowned. “ Why don ’ t you tell him? He ’ s right here. ”
    Humble, Levi. Humble . “ He doesn ’ t understand me. ”
    “ Doctor, this man wants medical treatment for his son. Can you look at the boy? ” She still spoke in German.
    Levi interjected, “ Josef ’ s not here. He ’ s too sick to travel. And Dr. Kaneka doesn ’ t speak German. ”
    Dr. Kaneka said something to her and she giggled. She turned to Levi. “ He doesn ’ t speak German. ”
    His confidence in the capabilities of the Fosselites was quickly deteriorating. They were supposed to be a people who could cure anything, yet this woman obviously suffered from some form of dementia, and people with Down ’ s Syndrome surrounded them. “ No, that ’ s why I need you. ”
    “ Sweetheart, I ’ ve heard that line a hundred times. You ’ re very handsome, but I ’ m not dating right now. ” She rose from her seat. “ I ’ m tired. I think I ’ ll go lie down. ”
    Levi looked helplessly at Dr. Kaneka, then scanned the room for anyone else. Several people watched him with interest, but no one was the least bit disturbed by Rosalee ’ s behavior. She and her companion exited through another door at the other end of the room.
    Dr. Kaneka stood shaking his head. He shrugged his shoulders and said a few words Levi couldn ’ t understand.
    “ Where is Tula? ”
    “ She is okay. ” The doctor nodded once. That much Levi understood.
    The man gestured into the room, leading the way to a stainless steel cabinet covered with steaming food. The smells Levi had been ignoring caused his stomach to rumble audibly. Mashed potatoes, beets, salad greens, and some kind of little bird roasted golden and crispy. Dr. Kaneka handed him a plate.
    “ I want to see Tula. ” But Levi ’ s eyes wouldn ’ t leave the food. How long had it been since he ’ d had a real meal?
    “ Eat. ” The word was familiar from his time in the Blattvolk prison. It brought up images of the cage and the plain metal canister. This spread was no plain metal canister. “ Tula … medicine, ” Dr. Kaneka said.
    At least, that was what it sounded like. She had said the Fosselites could help her. And Josef. Perhaps he should relax and trust them. What if they were protecting Tula from the crazy Rosalee? He licked his lips and reached for the serving tongs.

T ula fought against the big man to no avail. Her captor continued down the hall and branched left into a darker corridor. “ Put me down! ” she ordered, but he didn ’ t act like he heard her. Tula ’ s eyes required a few minutes to adjust. The hall wasn ’ t completely dark. Every few dozen feet, a meager spot of light shone from what appeared to be emergency ceiling fixtures. She stopped thrashing, waiting for a better opportunity to fight back.
    The man halted and she craned her head