Botanicaust (28 page)

“
Why?
”
Osula
’
s dark contemplation penetrated Tula to the bone.

“
I rescued him and went against my people
’
s way.
”
Fresh realization of what she
’
d done filled her.
All for the sake of a single life.
How many more would Vitus condemn to death without her there to push the conversions through? She rose and brushed herself off.
“
I want to check on Levi.
”

The day neared sunset, and the evening breeze blew cold. Tula pulled the blanket around Levi. Sweat beaded his brow, even in the chill, and she dabbed at it with the corner of the robe.

“
I must change his poultice.
”
Osula stood behind her, but didn
’
t move toward Levi. Tula looked over her shoulder and nodded.

Osula knelt and removed the leaves from Levi
’
s wrist. He whimpered in pain as she wiped away paste from his skin. Tula wanted to cry. She put her lips to Levi
’
s, to ease his pain. Her tears fell against his cheeks, and when she rose, it looked as if he
’
d been crying.

He sighed and relaxed into Osula
’
s ministrations. The woman looked at Tula out of the corner of her eye.
“
You have the way of calming him.
”

Tula nodded, but didn
’
t elaborate.

“
You a healer with your people?
”

Tula considered the question. These Outsiders were more intelligent than the Protectorate gave them credit for.
“
I am a healer of the mind.
”

Osula raised her brows and tied off the new poultice.
“
Spirit healer.
”
She looked at Tula with a new appreciation.

Tula didn
’
t
correct her.

F
or three days, Osula treated Levi while Tula kept him unconscious.
“
You be a good match for a healer,
”
Osula said one night. Heide half-slept in her father
’
s lap, a little bubble of drool glistening in the firelight as her eyes blinked open and closed.
“
If you was a man, Brin might be out lucked.
”
The healer looked at her mate from the corner of her eye, with a smirk on her face.

Brin took the jest in stride.
“
Maybe I just take you both to my blanket. You get everything you want.
”

Tula thought he might be serious until he winked at her. Osula snorted.
“
I make her man better and he kick your ass.
”

Brin laughed, the sound startling the baby fully awake. Heide sat up and giggled, like she
’
d been part of the joke. Her parents beamed at her.

Tula laughed along with them.
“
You are a great healer. Thank you.
”

Osula nodded acceptance, then again glanced at Brin before directing herself at Tula.
“
You come with us. Get yourself marked. So you be safe. Maybe teach Heide the spirit healing?
”

Every muscle in Tula
’
s body seized.
Tears came to her eyes. Even after their horrible stories about the Protectorate, they wanted to take her in.
“
I can
’
t teach spirit healing. It
’
s something my people are born with.
”

“
You all got the spirit healing?
”
Brin raised his brows.

Tula nodded.
“
Because of our skin. The sun makes medicine in our blood.
”

Osula sighed deeply.
“
The kisses. You give medicine in kisses.
”

“
All your babies born with the gift?
”
Brin asked, his arms around Heide.

A strange longing rose in Tula, a desire to feel a little body hugged against her. She
’
d never considered a child of her own. Children in the Protectorate were community property. Pregnancy and birth, regulated by Medical Operations, required genetic testing and modification prior to implantation in order to guarantee a viable embryo. The mother endured gestation completely under glass to prevent chemically addicted
—
or worse
—
babies. Once born, children were raised in the Gardens. Until now, her patients had always been enough to satisfy her nurturing.

She shook the feeling off.
“
The green skin is poisonous to babies.
”

“
Genie modifation.
”
Osula said, so pleased with herself, Tula didn
’
t have the heart to correct her pronunciation.
“
You get more than power to make food. You get power to make medicine.
”

“
I suppose you could look at it that way. But the
…
medicine
—
too much is poison.
Too much sun makes poison for adults.
Our city has houses to protect us and our children from the sun.
”

“
You walk in the sun.
”
Brin said, cocking one eyebrow.

Tula nodded, all too aware of her mortality. She
’
d been full of chemicals for so long now, she barely felt the effects. Burn Operatives had genetic treatments several times a year to heal their organs. Tula didn
’
t have that option. Her liver and kidneys would eventually fail processing all the toxins. She wondered how long she could stay alive outside.
“
I will die soon.
”

Brin
’
s scrutiny slid to Levi where he slept, and Osula put a hand over Tula
’
s. Her eyes shone in the light of the fire.
“
For him.
”

“
This is a story worth telling.
”
Brin said, his eyes glistening.

Levi flexed his burned shoulder as he watched Tula hand the baby to the cannibal woman and say a few, tearful words. Then the family disappeared from the hollow, the scarred man looking back once and raising his spear in goodbye. Tula watched them go in silence, and then began to pack their things, lost in her own thoughts.

Awkward with his damaged arm, Levi attempted to help, but Tula shouldered the entire load.
“
Which way?
”
she asked.

He pointed north.

Over the next few days, the land rose slowly, until they crested a hill and a vast body of water opened up before them. No opposite bank in sight, the lake lay placid as far as they eye could see.

“
Reservoir.
”
Levi gasped.

“
Reservoir?
”
Tula repeated, shading her eyes from the sun glaring off the water.

This had to be the reservoir the salt trader described, only four or five days southeast of the Fosselites. In spite of his aching tiredness, he swept Tula into a one-armed jig.
“
A landmark. I know where we are.
”

Glad to hear her laugh, he led the way west along the bank, his steps full of purpose. Toward the end of the day, the reservoir narrowed to river size. Ahead, they spotted the cage of a pre-Botanicaust bridge stretching over the water. Rusted out hunks of cars and crumbled pavement spread from shore to shore.

Tula sucked in a loud breath.
“
This is from before? From Botanicaust?
”

He nodded and smiled, remembering his own awe at his first ancient ruins. Then he drew his face into serious lines.
“
We need to watch for cannibals. This is a likely crossing, so bands may wait in ambush.
”

Tula paused, looking up and down the river.
“
Levi, you heal. Next teach me swim?
”

His chest clogged. He hoped to reach the Fosselites within days, where he prayed to find a home for Tula. People she would be comfortable with, who would accept her without moral judgment. There would be no time to teach her to swim.

But he couldn
’
t tell her no.
“
It would be an honor, Tula.
”

She smiled until her blue eyes disappeared into crescents, and he felt sick to his stomach. They
’
d been through so much together. But he couldn
’
t take her to the Holdout. No matter what he owed her, he could not repay his debt by bringing her home. She would be much happier with the Fosselites.

The rationalization didn
’
t make his stomach feel any better.

Resolved to find joy in his remaining time with her, he brazenly clasped her hand and led her across the bridge, allowing her to look through the interior of a car on the way. In the city, they explored an old building together, and she translated the dedication on an ancient cornerstone.

Before evening fell, they were both exhausted, and set up camp against a half tumbled-down brick wall. The nights were cold, and Tula had taken to sleeping with him while he was ill, sharing body heat. Tonight he spread his blanket for himself, and Tula shook out the robe for her bed. They didn
’
t build a fire.

She glanced at his bed and a sad look washed over her face before she turned away to settle into her robe.
“
Tula,
”
he said before he could change his mind. He was a grown man. Surely he could bundle with her without taking things out of bounds. He just needed to avoid those luscious lips.

He beckoned her to his blanket. With a smile, she nodded and crawled over to join him. As he wrapped his arms around her beneath the fabric, too tired for anything but sleep, he felt at home.