Botanicaust

device and swiped a hand across the surface. A partially played game of chess appeared on the screen. The unfinished moves of Tula ’ s game made him ache. Clenching his teeth, he exited the game and found the drawing program.
    He sat and stared at the blank screen. All he could think to draw was Tula. Always her smile, her blue eyes, the gentle curve of her neck and shoulder. Of its own volition, his hand created a swoop, and then the fall of the necklace she ’ d been wearing at lunch. Such primitive baubles for such an advanced community. But then, it had come from one of the lesser members of the society. Where would Tula rank among all the scientists?
    He needed to stop thinking of her. To focus on his goal. Josef. He tried to call to memory his son ’ s face, to put the child on the screen. The image would not come. How could he not remember every detail of his own child? He ’ d been gone so long. In the dungeon of the Blattvolk, he ’ d had no way to tell the passing of days except by the arrival of meals, and he ’ d lost count. The same as the artificial state of existence the Fosselites chose to live in here in their mountain.
    Perhaps Tula was right. She did belong here, in an artificial environment, among people who accepted her green skin. The Old Order would condemn her on sight. God was protecting her. She could not come with him, but she had provided the means to save Josef. Perhaps that was God ’ s intent all along. He had to trust in God ’ s plan.
    Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he finished the drawing of Tula.

    In an exhausted, tear-induced doze, Tula thought she heard a soft knock on the door. If Levi came to see her now, she would break. The knock sounded again, two tiny taps. She wiped her eyes on the bedcovers and rose. Shoulders back, she prepared herself to be cold, firm. She opened the door. “ Michael, ” she said in a rush of air. “ What are you doing here? ”
    He pointed a thick finger to her tear stained cheek then looked quickly away.
    That did it. A single, heart wrenching shudder and she broke. “ I have to stay. ” She felt a hand pat her on the shoulder in an awkward attempt at comfort. Pulling herself together, she smiled through her tears and took his hand in hers. “ I ’ m sorry. I don ’ t mean to make you worry. ”
    He gave a sigh that spoke of compassion far better than words would have.
    “ You are a good friend, Michael. I ’ m glad I have you here since I ’ m going to be staying. Are you here to give me a tour? Maybe get me a little light? ”
    She ’ d been without sunlight over twenty-four hours, and the low blood sugar from lack of sun made her feel a bit woozy. Or maybe it was the crying. She liked to believe it was lack of sunlight. Dr. Kaneka said they had a solution to her photosynthetic needs, and she assumed that meant whatever light source they used in the hydroponics section.
    Michael ’ s face fell and he dropped her hand. His brows drew together in a pained look.
    “ Your father said you ’ d had Haldanian guests before. Maybe you could show me where they stayed? ”
    Michael glanced down both sides of the hall and then nodded. He shambled out of the doorframe, looking behind to make sure Tula followed. After many forks and turns, the lighting grew sparse until they reached a metal door. The placard read “ Phytogenics. ” He paused with his hand on the knob, and looked at her as if asking if this was what she really wanted. She smiled in reassurance.
    He bent to use the key card on the lanyard around his neck and stepped inside. They were in the lab he ’ d brought her to that first day when he ’ d carried her away from the crazy woman. Michael pulled on a radiation suit from the far wall, and she remembered the Fosselites ’ aversion to sunlight. Apparently, they had to protect themselves from the hydroponic lights, as well.
    Once he was dressed, he offered her a suit.
    She waved it away. “ I ’ ll be okay. ”
    He shook his head and pushed the suit closer.
    After a moment of hesitation, Tula acquiesced and struggled into it, although she was longing for some photosynthesis. Wearing heavy clothing was unfamiliar, and she felt trapped as she moved toward the door behind Michael.
    The first door led into a tiny antechamber with a second door directly across the way. As he opened the second door, intense light speared the room. She flinched, closing her eyes before she realized the suit and visor shielded her. With