Botanicaust (30 page)

Used to the airy feel of the greenhouses, and more recently the open sky, Tula swallowed against the threatening claustrophobia. The dismal lighting and cramped hall were worse than the lab. At least the lab
’
s offices
offered fiber-optic sunlight.
Maybe the quarters are more spacious.

They passed several rooms, and finally the doctor paused at a set of white double doors, his hand on the latch. He focused an annoyed glare at Tula.
“
You should have called before you arrived. Our translator won
’
t be ready, you know. And we don
’
t have accommodations prepared.
”

A new worry entered Tula
’
s mind. What if the Fosselites contacted the Protectorate? Neither side would want to do anything to damage trade relations.
“
It might be better if you don
’
t tell the Protectorate of my arrival just yet.
”

He looked Tula over, his focus lingering on her scarred arm and her hand joined to Levi
’
s. Suddenly she felt dirty. She dropped Levi
’
s hand, wiping the palm on her skirt.

“
You have been in the desert too long.
”

Resisting the urge to run her fingers through her hair, she said,
“
I
…
yes. I suppose I have.
”
She must look an absolute wreck, and for the first time in her life, longed for jewelry.

“
Perhaps you should come with me while your companion talks to the translator. We can set up a telomerase drip.
”

The idea was tempting, but she wasn
’
t sure what Levi might tell the translator, and this entire situation needed to be handled delicately.
“
I
’
d much rather stay with him, for now. I might be able to help with the translation. As his Conversion Psychiatrist, I managed to learn a little of his language.
”
It couldn
’
t hurt to let them know she was a doctor. Perhaps her skills could be a useful trading point.

Dr. Kaneka
’
s eyebrows shot up.
“
He
’
s your patient?
”
His bloodshot eyes flicked over Levi again.
“
I didn
’
t realize
…
What
can we help you with?
”

“
He
’
s here to get a doctor for his son.
”

“
Your
doctors could not help him?
”
The condescending tilt of his eyebrow made Tula want to retort in kind. She bit her lip instead. They needed his help.

“
We couldn
’
t understand his language.
”

“
So you brought him here. How altruistic of you. Why don
’
t you
—
”
The door opened and two ginger haired women
emerged.
They looked like twins, except one had the moony features of trisomy 21.

The non-trisomy woman gasped
—
and lunged at Tula.

After so many weeks together, in prison and in the desert, Levi understood Tula
’
s body language. He sensed she was upset, although he couldn
’
t understand the conversation between her and the Fosselite. She knew his son was sick, but expressing the specifics of cystic fibrosis without words was impossible. If he couldn
’
t communicate with Tula, how did he expect to make the Fosselites understand? This entire ordeal could be in vain. Samuel certainly believed his goals were vain.
I didn
’
t do this for personal glory. Please, God, let me find a way
.

When the redheads appeared at the door, it was not the answer Levi hoped for.

Tula threw her arms out to protect herself against the woman
’
s attack.

Dr. Kaneka shouted over the flurry.
“
Michael!
”

The big, silent man at the rear of their group stepped in and put his long arms around Tula and lifted her like a doll. He charged down the lengthy hall, while Dr. Kaneka wrestled with the newcomer.

Levi sprang for Tula, but the chaos in the narrow corridor blocked him. Fear clenched his insides as he watched the monster carry her away.
“
Tula!
”

Ahead, Dr. Kaneka grasped the strange woman by the wrists as she tried to chase the couple down the passage. He shouted unintelligible words at her. She struggled against him.
Stay with Tula
.

Levi slid around the other redhead
—
a Down
’
s
Syndrome
woman in canary yellow who stood red-faced and bawling at the open door. As he passed, the small woman flung her arms around his middle and buried her face in his stomach. Her shoulders vibrated with fragile sobs.

“
Uh, it
’
s okay. Shh. Don
’
t cry.
”
He tried to disengage, but she clung so tightly he was afraid he might hurt her if he pried her off.

The wild woman clawed at Dr. Kaneka
’
s face, knocking his glasses askew and leaving a bloody weal on one cheek. He snapped back and slapped her. As she stood stunned, he shoved her, hard, back into the room.

Dr. Kaneka disappeared after her, leaving Levi with his sobbing companion. Craning his neck, Levi peered around the doorjamb. Circular tables filled the area, and several people were soothing the crazy lady as they held her to a chair. The faint smell of food drifted into the hall, and Levi saw more people sitting at the tables eating as if this were an everyday occurrence. Their garishly colored clothing seemed out of place against the dim gray backdrop of the granite walls.

“
Hello, can I get a hand out here?
”
Levi called as he plucked at the woman around his waist. Several heads turned his way. He held his arms over his head while two people came his aid. The woman wiped snot on her forearm and followed the others into the room, still shuddering breaths as she slumped into a seat.

Levi squinted down the dim curve of the hall where Tula and the big man had disappeared. A hand around his elbow urged him into the cafeteria as a stranger babbled nonsense at him. Several curious stares met him, many with the slant-eyed gaze of Down
’
s
Syndrome
.

Levi longed for something to wipe his naked, tear-wet chest with, but no one offered him a cloth. He looked like a cannibal, he thought as he glanced down at his crude, cattail fiber leggings.

The doctor gestured for Levi to approach the same redhead who had attacked Tula.
“
Levi, Rosalee.
”
He didn
’
t bother to introduce the woman with Down
’
s
Syndrome
.

He wants me to make nice with her?
Levi glared at Dr. Kaneka and pointed back out the door.
“
Where is Tula?
”

Dr. Kaneka pointed to Rosalee.

Refusing to look at the woman, Levi repeated,
“
Where did he take my friend?
”
His heart hammered so hard he felt the pulse in his temples.

The woman named Rosalee cocked her head.
“
Your friend?
”

Now, Levi did turn to her. She spoke German?
“
Yes. Why did you attack her? Where did they take her?
”

A confused look washed over Rosalee
’
s face.
“
I don
’
t know.
”
She sat a moment, looking at him with soft, harmless eyes.
“
Who are you again?
”

“
My name is Levi. My friend is Tula. I
’
ve come looking for a cure for my son.
”

“
Oh, no. No, no, no. We
’
re still in research phase. The FDA hasn
’
t approved the treatment yet.
”

Levi searched his brain for meaning.
“
FDA?
”

Dr. Kaneka bent and said something to her. Again, her pale green eyes glazed and refocused. She spoke to the doctor, who directed her to Levi.
“
I
’
m to ask you what you
’
ve come for.
”

“
My son has cystic fibrosis. The salt trader told me about you. That you can cure him.
”

“
Salt trader?
”
Her eyebrows rose as if in disbelief, and she scrutinized Levi head to toe. His entire, nearly naked body flushed under her scrutiny.
God wants me to be humble.

“
Please, Rosalee.
The salt trader, Antonis.
He carries salt from the Great Salt Lakes. Last spring your people healed him of leprosy.
”

“
You have leprosy?
”

Taking a calming breath, Levi explained again,
“
No. My son has cystic fibrosis. Antonis said he spoke to you about a cure.
”

“
Who?
”

“
The salt trader your people cured.
”
He glanced at Dr. Kaneka for help, but the man obviously didn
’
t understand a word being said. The woman
’
s attack on Tula made a little more sense, now. He
’
d better keep things simple.
“
Can you tell Dr. Kaneka I need a cure for cystic fibrosis?
”

She frowned.
“
Why don
’
t you tell him? He
’
s right here.
”

Humble, Levi.
Humble
.
“
He doesn
’
t understand me.
”

“
Doctor, this man wants medical treatment for his son. Can you look at the boy?
”
She still spoke in German.

Levi interjected,
“
Josef
’
s not here. He
’
s too sick to travel. And Dr. Kaneka doesn
’
t speak German.
”

Dr. Kaneka said something to her and she giggled. She turned to Levi.
“
He doesn
’
t speak German.
”

His confidence in the capabilities of the Fosselites was quickly deteriorating. They were supposed to be a people who could cure anything, yet this woman obviously suffered from some form of dementia, and people with Down
’
s
Syndrome
surrounded them.
“
No, that
’
s why I need you.
”

“
Sweetheart, I
’
ve heard that line a hundred times. You
’
re very handsome, but I
’
m not dating right now.
”
She rose from her seat.
“
I
’
m tired. I think I
’
ll go lie down.
”