Botanicaust (17 page)

Vitus
’
s eyes narrowed.
“
How long ago.
”

The tech dropped his chin.
“
I got a call about twenty minutes ago.
”

“
What do you mean, a call?
”

Behind him, a voice spoke.
“
I called.
”

Vitus turned to see a man holding full Burn gear. Councilwoman Arnica stood at the door shaking sand from her hair. Vitus focused on the man.
“
Who are you?
”

“
Mo. Hymo Tryphus. I
’
m Tula
’
s - Dr. Macoby
’
s man. I saw her leave the city in a skimmer. It looked like she had a man with her.
”

“
That weed!
”
Vitus exploded.

Arnica stepped forward and skewered him with a look.
“
We have a hostage situation, here, Vitus.
”

“
She
’
s no hostage. She set him free.
”

“
You have no proof of that. Until things are proven otherwise, we will proceed with caution.
”

“
The storm is blocking the tracking signal in the skimmer,
”
the head of Burn Ops said.
“
We have to wait until the blowout subsides to launch an air search.
”

The muscles in Vitus
’
s jaw clenched so hard his teeth ached.
“
How far could they get in this weather?
”

“
No telling. They have quite a head start on us.
”

“
They can
’
t be far. Which way did they go? Send skimmers. We can
’
t let her get away.
”

“
Losing more equipment or men in this storm would be a waste of resources, Dr. Dedecus. They
’
re several hours ahead of us and could be turned around in the storm themselves.
”

Vitus refused to back down.
“
What do you mean several hours?
”
He turned his attention to the weed
who
claimed to be Tula
’
s man.
“
Why didn
’
t you report it sooner?
”

Mo stood firm, his mongrel-eyed gaze rejecting Vitus
’
s accusation.
“
I wasn
’
t sure of what I saw. It wasn
’
t until about twenty minutes ago I thought to call and make sure nothing was amiss.
”
He turned to his supervisor.
“
Sir, that
’
s my lady out there. I
’
d like to be on the first duster cleared for takeoff.
”

“
Of course,
”
the other man agreed.

“
Hold on! This man failed to report a crime for hours, and you
’
re going to give him a lead in the investigation?
”

Head of Burn Ops turned a calm stare in Vitus
’
s direction.
“
I
’
ve heard my man
’
s side of the story. It
’
s my decision how I arrange my teams.
”

The Councilwoman stepped in before things turned any hotter.
“
Has anyone attempted to contact the skimmer by
com
?
”

Vitus gave the head of Burn Ops one last narrow-eyed glare,
then
spoke.
“
I
’
m her supervisor. I
’
ll make the call.
”

Vitus retreated to his office. He
’
d hoped to make the call alone, so he could let Tula know what he had planned for her, but Arnica and the head of Burn Ops followed. Mo stood outside the doorframe. Vitus shot him a sneer as he punched in
com
codes. The mongrel had probably helped Tula all along.

“
Dr. Sertularia Macoby, this is headquarters calling. Please respond.
”
He
waited,
half hoping she wouldn
’
t answer, yet disappointed when she didn
’
t.
“
Dr. Macoby, this is Dr. Vitus Dedecus. Please respond immediately.
”

“
Reassure her we have rescue units standing by. Help is on the way.
”

Let her know we
’
re onto her, is more likely.
But he did as Arnica asked. The weed couldn
’
t hide for long.

The Reaches

Tula tried to start the skimmer again with no success. The dash lights worked, but the engine only sputtered after they
’
d bounced and rolled across the bottom of the gully. Thankfully, they
’
d landed right side up. Outside the nuvoplast windows, drifting sand settled over the skimmer as the storm howled above the ravine. Worried they might end up
buried,
Tula opened the door, allowing a mist of silt to eddy through the car. And with the door open, the debris couldn
’
t block it shut.

She sat back in the seat and looked at Levi.
“
No good.
”

He shook his head, his face grim in the feeble light from the dash.

Something skittered into the skimmer and Tula stiffened before batting it away.
A leaf
—
that meant they were close to the Reaches, where Levi might find shelter from Protectorate aircraft. She had to get him out and away as soon as possible, but with the storm raging above them, it was too dangerous right now. The skimmer beacon would get her rescued, but Levi had to be in full hiding, preferably a few hours walk away.

A sudden crackle from the dash caused Tula to jump as the
com
came to life. Levi
’
s attention turned toward the noise.

“
Dr. Sertularia Macoby, this is headquarters calling. Please respond.
”
Static overrode the
voice,
the signal likely affected by the storm and the ravine walls.

Levi glanced at her.
“
Vitus. Bad.
”

She nodded mutely. They knew she was gone. She
’
d hoped for a few more hours, until the scheduled euthanization.

“
Dr. Macoby, this is Dr. Vitus Dedecus. Please respond immediately.
”

Poking her head out the open door, she squinted at the sky against the falling silt.
Still too stormy to go anywhere.

“
Tula, be assured we have rescue teams standing by. We have a lock on your location, and as soon as the storm clears, we will come to your aid.
”
The last word was a sneer.

She reached behind the seats, grabbed Koil
’
s sandals, and handed them to Levi. The bundle of water bottles was more awkward, but she pulled it onto her lap. Untying the sleeves, she unwrapped the package and showed Levi the stash.

He caressed the cool exterior of the bottles.
“
Danke.
”
Then he spotted the notebook. He pushed the bottles aside. His eyes gleamed with unshed tears as he ran a big hand over the cover.
“
Danke.
”

“
You
’
re welcome.
”

He looked into her eyes, his features clear. The crags and shadows on his face expressed what he couldn
’
t put into words.
“
Danke.
”

She nodded slowly, accepting his acknowledgment of what she
’
d done for him. Not the water. Not the notebook. His freedom.
Possibly in return for her own.

A tiny spark of fear rose in Tula
’
s breast. Vitus would have her hide over this. He might even convict her of reversion. Reversions were either euthanized or sent to the mines to work out their days in darkness.

She opened the compartment in the dash and retrieved the emergency water pouches, adding them to Levi
’
s supply. She opened the first aid kit from the car and dumped the contents into the kit from her office. She wished she could do better.

Levi needed
an
breathing filter to leave. An idea struck her and she selected a roll of gauze from the first aid items. She held it out to Levi. With a palm cupped over her mouth and nose, she made breathing noises and pointed outside.

He drew his brows together in confusion.

Climbing to her knees in her seat, she took the gauze and unrolled a portion. She draped it over his nose and mouth, forming a dust mask. It wasn
’
t perfect, but would have to do. They were out of time. He had to leave as soon as possible.

She settled back into her seat, still on her knees, and let her hands collapse into her lap. Levi reached toward her, slowly, and traced the pale scar on her arm with one finger.

She closed her eyes against a sting of tears, against the flaw in her conversion.

“
Menschlich.
”

She opened her eyes, the muscles of her face tight with grief. She had no idea what he meant. And she never would. Her time with him was done. She smiled weakly and pointed outside.

He nodded, gathering the water bottles, first aid kit, and notebook back into the folds of her lab coat.

Outside, dawn fought the dust clouds for dominion. The ravine cliff loomed stark against the paling sky, and Tula saw the startling outline of shrubbery along the base of the wall. The wind had subsided, as well. Maybe Levi could make it.

They both climbed out of the skimmer, Tula
’
s sandaled feet sinking into the fine silt on the ravine floor. Levi
’
s head didn
’
t clear the top of the gully wall; he
’
d have to climb up if he wanted to see over.

“
Goodbye. Levi. Gott be with you.
”
She didn
’
t know why she invoked his god.

The words seemed to mean a lot to him. He bent to embrace her. This was the second time they
’
d hugged, and she clung to him as if she didn
’
t intend to let go. The gauze of his mask pressed tight to her cheek.
“
Goodbye.
”
His voice was rough and gravelly.

Righting himself, he slung the makeshift bag over his shoulder and trekked up the ravine. The gold robe made him look divine, and she hoped the bright color didn
’
t cause him to be spotted. Before he disappeared behind a bend, he turned one last long look over his shoulder at her. And she knew what she
’
d done was worth it.