Botanicaust

language better, many subtleties still eluded her.
    He nodded.
    She remained silent for a few steps as she thought. “ It means to kill with … thinking first? ”
    Frowning, he said, “ Intent. ”
    “ Intent. It means you want to do killing? ”
    “ Yes. ”
    “ Did you intent to kill? ”
    Air refused to fill his lungs. “ I don ’ t know. ”
    “ What is the word for no intent? ”
    “ Accident. ” The word came out a whisper. Had it been an accident? He only wanted to stop Kaneka from harming Tula. But the man fell and died.
    “ Accident! ” She breathed the word as if remembering a flavor. “ You didn ’ t murder. Murder is like … euthanization. ” Against his arm, she trembled. “ Dr. Kaneka was a bad man. Maybe your god wanted him to die. You did accident. ”
    Was she suggesting he was a hand of God? The thought was tempting. And prideful. “ Then God have mercy on my soul. ”
    It was the closest thing to forgiveness he could ask for.

    Tula thought the Reservoir was the most amazing thing she ’ d ever seen, until they reached the dam where once-placid water tumbled thirty meters into a churned and muddy pool before roiling violently east. The roar of so much water deafened her, pounded the earth and vibrated through the soles of her feet. Even Levi seemed amazed as the four of them stood gaping.
    Finally he broke away and pointed across the flat horizon. “ Only another seven or eight days. ”
    For five nights now, no helicopters had come. Still, none of them slept easy. Twice they ’ d come across cold fire-pits where someone had obviously camped not too long ago. Tula saw no evidence of human bones, but she had no doubts these were cannibal camps.
    They moved on quickly, finding shelter where they could. The rain had stopped, and the air turned cooler with a constant breeze pushing the seed-laden amarantox low to the ground. Behind them, the white caps of the mountains gleamed like wicked teeth.
    Levi told her about his people as they walked. Electric fences to keep out cannibals, miles of fields plowed by methane-powered equipment, houses built of brick and stone. His stories were so vivid, she felt she ’ d been there.
    He outlined plans to build a greenhouse, so she and the girls could still get sunlight. And he talked about clothing. So much about clothing, and how she would have to become used to covering much of her body for modesty. She didn ’ t mind covering herself, but less sunlight left her hungry.
    Today, much to Levi ’ s consternation, she lowered the robe around her waist to expose her back and breasts to the warm morning rays, indulging herself in the wash of chemicals on the first sunny day since leaving the mountain. “ There ’ s no one around to see me, Levi. And you ’ ve done more than look. ” She teased him, enjoying the flush rising into his golden cheeks. “ Plus, I can share, ” she added, lifting her chin for a kiss.
    He leaned down to humor her just as one of the twins scampered up and thrust a scorpion between them. Tula recoiled. Out in the brush, the other twin ’ s voice rose on the wind like a warning siren. A prickle of sweat coalesced to run down Tula ’ s naked side. Ignoring the scorpion, she peered into the morning shadows in search of the missing twin.
    Levi slid out of the pack and dislodged the first aid box. “ Where ’ s Ana? Did she get stung? ”
    “ Food. ” Eily held the squirming creature out to him, her eyes lit with excitement.
    Ana stomped out from behind the head-high tamarisk. “ Eeeeeiiiiiily! ”
    “ I pulled off the stinger. ” Eily claimed without looking back at her sister.
    “ I caught it! ” Ana ’ s shriek echoed across the plain. She stood ramrod straight, her hands balled at her sides. Beneath her chloroplasts, her face was dark. Even the bushes seemed to cower at her rage.
    Turning to Tula, Levi asked, “ Is she hurt? ”
    High emotion was part of the reason for the twins ’ euthanization order in the first place. How were they ever going to fit into Levi ’ s peaceful society? “ A fight. ”
    Levi relaxed. “ Ah. Sibling rivalry. Ana, come here! ” He appropriated the scorpion from Eily and passed it to Tula.
    Trembling, she gingerly pinched the tail of the squirming creature between thumb and finger. The thing appeared to have no head, just semi-hairy segments of body and tail, and arms ending in bulky pincers. Even though the tip of the tail had been broken off, the scorpion twisted