Botanicaust

delivered the punch line of a joke.
    After he finished chuckling, he said, “ I ’ m prepared to offer you asylum if you agree to aid us in further research. ”
    Tula considered. “ I ’ m not sure how I can be of assistance. My area of expertise isn ’ t gerontology or chemistry — ”
    “ You misunderstand. We are not asking for collaboration. We need chemical samples. ”
    Tula sat back to gauge the expression on his bland face. “ You want to use me as a test subject? ” A shiver coursed from her middle, up her shoulders, and to the tips of her fingers and toes. “ I hadn ’ t actually planned to stay — ”
    “ Your friend spoke to our translator this morning, and it appears he has nothing to trade. We will go to his home and provide treatment to his son in return for your cooperation. The offer is more than fair. ” He stuck his hands into the pockets of his lab coat and stared at her through bloodshot eyes.
    They were willing to actually venture outside? And save Levi ’ s a son? It was a generous offer. Perhaps she could travel with them and meet Levi ’ s people first.
    Tula cleared her throat. “ I ’ d like to talk to you about offering conversion to Levi ’ s people. You have the technology — ” Dr. Kaneka shook his head, but Tula pushed on. “ I could convince many of them of the benefits of conversion, given enough time. Perhaps once they are converted some of them will be willing to aid your research. We can all help each other. ”
    Dr. Kaneka ’ s scrutiny raked over her like grit in a blowout, making her cringe. “ We need a convert with a well established genome immediately. The only agreement we will entertain is that you remain here for testing. But I will consider putting forth the offer to his people. ”
    “ I ’ ll come back as soon as I secure some initial conversions. ”
    “ I told you, our time is running out. We need to begin at once. ”
    She looked at the gamma pad lying before her with its purple image. She understood his urgency. But simply passing along an offer for conversion would get no results. Not if the rest of the community was anything like Levi. But if she didn ’ t take Kaneka ’ s offer, not only would there be no chance for Levi ’ s son, but little chance the Fosselites would offer conversion at all. How could she refuse and live with herself?

    After a shocked instant, Levi blundered toward the exit after Rosalee and the others, only to find a man in a bright red tunic blocking his way. The man put up a calming hand and urged Levi back into the library. The crazy woman ’ s words hung in the air. Don ’ t believe a word they say .
    Levi tried to step around the man in red, but the man mimicked his moves to block him. “ I want to go back to my room, ” Levi said.
    “ Sit. Safe. ” The man ’ s mouth smiled, but his blood-curdled eyes stayed wide and alert.
    “ I don ’ t want to sit. I ’ m worried about Tula. ”
    The man remained firmly in place, his arms akimbo. Levi stood nose to nose with the man, not touching, unable to get by without physically pushing past. His insides quivered as his passive upbringing warred with his desire to protect Tula.
    The man squinted and his nostrils flared. “ Sit. ”
    After a moment of hesitation, Levi spun around and paced the length of the bookshelves. Although here of his own volition, he was as much a prisoner as he had been with the Blattvolk. They could do with him as they liked and there wasn ’ t a thing he could do about it. Thank God they hadn ’ t locked him in a cell. Yet.
    None of these Fosselites seemed truly sane. And they couldn ’ t even fix their own children. How could he be sure they could help Josef without added risk? Josef could end up with dementia, or only able to have children with Down ’ s Syndrome , or with some other horrible side effect. He should take Tula and go home to enjoy the time God had given him with his son.
    What seemed like hours passed, and finally Levi heard voices in the hall. Rushing to the door, he spotted Dr. Kaneka speaking to his room guard. The doctor glanced at him, said one last thing, and walked away. The sentinel turned to Levi and gestured for him to follow. Glad to be out of the library, Levi moved abreast of the guard in spite of the narrow hall. Ahead, voices murmured and dishware clinked behind a set of double doors, and the scent of food made Levi ’ s insides churn with hunger.
    The guard paused at the doors and swung an