Botanicaust (60 page)

“
We have a contract with your thumb print and a retinal scan agreeing to experimentation, Dr. Macoby.
”
Dr. Rice
’
s voice was deceptively calm over the speakers.

“
And what about the other
“
test
”
subjects? There is a child convert at the Holdout. Eily. She was a twin supposedly euthanized on Dr. Dedecus
’
s orders six months ago. You
’
ll find her match in the DNA records.
”

“
Lies! Can
’
t you see she set this all up?
”
Vitus
blustered,
fine beads of sweat breaking out over his chlorotic skin.
“
This weed had access to euthanization records. She ran to the Fosselites, knowing she would soon be discovered. But they saw through your deceitful nature.
”

“
The red of your eyes, Dr. Dedecus, reminds me of my time with the Fosselites. Did you know Dr. Kaneka told me your T-cells had become non-selective? That
your
ripening was accelerating in spite of your treatments?
”

“
My affliction is none of your concern. I was born with it, as my documentation will attest.
”

“
Will your documentation also detail the
special
treatments you
’
ve been receiving? Perhaps we ought to take blood samples to look for foreign genetics.
”

“
I don
’
t have to stand for this.
”
He wobbled and settled ungracefully back into his seat.

“
Dr. Kaneka told me about your
“
deal
”
—
as he strapped me to a table and inserted experimental fungi into my bloodstream. I always wondered why someone who hates converts would work in the Conversion Department. Now, I know it
’
s so you have access to test subjects.
”

Councilwoman Arnica tapped her stylus against a gamma pad on the table.
“
Dr. Dedecus, I sympathize with your condition. But these are serious charges.
”

“
You
’
re going to let that weed invade my privacy? Dr. Rice, tell them how ludicrous all this is.
”

“
I warned you about allowing her to give testimony, Vitus.
”
Dr. Rice
’
s eyes settled on Tula.
“
We will offer fourteen units of telomerase if you hand her over to us now.
”

The gallery exploded with outcries.

“
Order! Order!
”
Councilman Roben
’
s gavel cracked uselessly against the table.

Vitus
’
s outrage echoed through the crowd.
“
I am a citizen! A natural born Haldanian! That weed is lying! She
’
s obviously reverted. Why didn
’
t she come back to the Protectorate after releasing the prisoner? Ask her that!
”

Several Board members argued with each other, while Dr. Rice
’
s voice rose above the noise in the room as if she had access to the speaker volume herself.
“
Our offer is merely a courtesy for your cooperation. This woman is in possession of our intellectual property. We have a contract.
”

Tula
’
s heart hammered so hard, the world seemed to expand and contract with each beat.
“
My retinal image and thumb print were obtained without my permission. Without a signature, the contract means nothing.
”

Roben made a signal to the tech controlling the vid stream.
“
Dr. Rice, I
’
m afraid we have to sever communication until we have sorted things out over here.
”
The screen went dark. The ceiling cleared to allow full sunlight into the room once again.

After the gallery emptied, Tula sat at the large table with the rest of the Board
—
minus Vitus, who had fainted during his vehement protests. While he was at Med Ops, they would take blood samples and prove he had been part of the experiments. Several Enforcers guarded the doors against the crowd shouting outside.

“
Dr. Macoby, we will hear the rest of your testimony now. Your state of reversion has yet to be determined, and Dr. Dedecus made a valid point. Why did you not return to the Protectorate after releasing the prisoner?
”

“
Councilman, I did not attempt to return to the Protectorate because I had reason to believe I would not be given a fair trial.
”
Mo had told her to reveal his part in warning her, but she could not bring herself to drag him into this by name.
“
Burn Operation policy flashes first and looks for survivors later. And I knew there was a chance I
’
d be considered a reversion. I am a convert. I believe in photosynthesis. I believe in peace. But I also believe our way is not as peaceful as we claim.
”

She met each of the council members in the eye, going back to Arnica before she continued.

“
Councilwoman, you set me on a path when you asked me to establish communication with Levi
—
the subject I freed. My discoveries in the Reaches confirm the existence of a non-cannibal race. There may be more. Yet we attacked them and killed several without offering to parley. Burn procedure does not include talk. If we truly want peace, our Burn procedures have to change. And so will our conversion policies.
”

“
How do we know they are as peaceful as you claim?
”
The council member next to Vitus
’
s vacant seat asked. A live vid feed from one of the cells in Confinement appeared on the surface of the table. Brother John sat propped against the bars with one of the children sleeping curled in his lap.

Tula swallowed, the lump in her throat making her voice thick.
“
You don
’
t. But how can you expect to receive peace if you open with violence?
”

“
If we delay to give every roving band a chance to talk, we
’
ll have no Burn Operatives left.
”

Several of the Board members nodded agreement.

Arnica scrolled through her gamma pad.
“
The prisoner you freed tested positive for the F508 mutation, and it appears that every child currently in Confinement suffers from cystic fibrosis.
”
The image on the tabletop shifted to show Josef in a bed in Med Ops, surrounded by tubes and monitors.
“
I
’
m not sure we have a viable community here.
”

Prickles broke out all over Tula
’
s skin.
“
The particular population sample in Confinement is not a true representation of their genetics. The group selected for transport had just exited the medical building when the dusters arrived.
”

“
But it does make them less useful to us.
”

She jerked her head to glare at the man who
’
d spoken.
“
Is the Protectorate mission to give everyone photosynthetic skin, or to facilitate peace?
”

Several Board members huffed, and several and nodded slowly.

“
The F508 mutation is treatable.
”
She didn
’
t mention Levi
’
s people would refuse genetic modification.
“
The prisoners currently in Confinement should be released back to their homes. They are no threat to anyone, and have found the means to survive without resorting to violence. We can teach them about conversion without imprisoning them.
”

Roben pursed his lips and brought up a map on the table
’
s surface.
“
We could establish a base there. Expand our patrols into the Reaches.
”

“
What if we heal one of the children as a show of good will?
”
Arnica said.

“
No!
”
Tula
’
s voice rose louder than she intended. The Board looked at her like she was about to spring, and several Enforcers stepped toward the center of the room.
“
I mean, perhaps we should withhold treatment as an incentive to convert.
”

As much as she would like to see the children cured, she knew the action would only make the Holdout more resistant to conversion. The Board would not respect the spiritual nature of Old Order beliefs. At best she could hold off enforced conversion and pray the Protectorate would accept the position of the Old Order given enough time.

“
Good idea, Dr. Macoby. Children have always
made the best converts.
”

L
evi paced the bars of his cell, boots echoing against the paved floor. Thank God, this time he wasn
’
t naked. Also unlike before, he would speak to the technicians in halting Haldanian every time they delivered the protein drinks.
“
The children need more.
”
“
Can have another blanket?
”
“
When can talk Tula?
”

The Blattvolk always responded to his requests. Except when he asked for Tula. Then they just scoffed and walked away.

“
Your Blattvolk betrayed us.
”
Brother John spoke from the cell next to him. The child in his care slumbered on the cot. They
’
d been prisoners about two days, by Levi
’
s guess. The Blattvolk assured him Josef was fine, although they refused to allow him to see his son. Brother John was the only Brother or Sister who would talk to him, and only to insist on Tula
’
s duplicity.

“
No, she
’
s a prisoner, like us.
”
Levi couldn
’
t look at him. After seeing her embrace the Blattvolk man, he wasn
’
t so sure.
“
You don
’
t know her like I do.
”

“
Aye.
”
The single word held all the reprimand needed to make Levi flush crimson. Once again, caught in carnal knowledge of a woman. She
’
d never accepted his marriage proposal. He
’
d assumed she needed time to get used to being back among her people. Had she known the Blattvolk would come all along?