Botanicaust (62 page)

One thing the Elders insisted upon was the privacy of Church, but that hadn
’
t stopped curious Blattvolk from hanging about, peeking in windows or photographing members coming and going. The congregation now held Meetings in the farthest houses or barns, away from easy interference. Men and women greeted each other with handshakes and kisses, but there was no joy in their exchanges. Things were dire. They
’
d held three burials this week, two children from the Ward and one elderly Sister. Several other members were on their deathbeds.

A double handful of pies rested on the sideboard; not enough to feed the two hundred gathered, but everyone would get a taste. In the women
’
s section, Levi spotted Beth and Eily. The girl waved furiously at him until Beth patted her arm down. Raising a hand in greeting, he couldn
’
t help but notice she was the only child here plump with health.
The chloroplasts
. Even fully dressed she made enough calories sitting by her bedroom window.
Or pacing the fence looking for Ana, as she was wont to do.

She was lonely, of course. The other women at the Meeting gave Beth and the child an entire bench to themselves. Often he wondered if she might not have been better in the Blattvolk city. The Haldanians were prepared to accept strangers into their midst. And Tula was there
…

His mouth twitched with a grimace. His new sketchpad lacked half the pages because every time he found himself doodling Tula
’
s face, he would rip out the page and burn it. She
’
d never spoken to him since the Protectorate released the prisoners. The Brethren held weekly meetings with her and others from the city, but no messages came for him. Eily insisted she kept her distance to keep them safe, but he didn
’
t understand.
Safe from what?
Things could not get much worse.

They could start killing or forcing conversions
. Was that why Tula was protecting them? How
did not speaking to him help?
Maybe she does not want to accept the Ordnung
. That was easier to believe.

“
Brothers and Sisters in
Christ,
let us pray.
”
Bishop Eldon stood near the large window in the kitchen, a bulky sweater covering his shoulders, a gray scarf the same hue as his beard around his neck. He
’
d just overcome a fight with pneumonia but insisted on preaching at Meeting.

Levi dropped his chin and recited the rote words of the Lord
’
s Prayer in his mind. To do any more proved too much effort. As everyone regained
their
seats, Bishop Eldon raised his frail voice above the battering of the wind against the glass.

“
As we enter our third month of the occupancy of the Blattvolk, I want to praise God for the strength of our Unity. As in days of old, we must live side by side with those of the world. The Gate to Heaven is narrow, and we must walk carefully the path of the Ordnung. Today we will consider John, Chapter Ten: The Good Shepherd and His Sheep.
”

The Bishop recited the passages and expounded on the analogy of the narrow Gate. But Levi could not let go of a verse.
I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them, also. They, too, will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd
.

Other sheep. He
’
d always been given to understand these
“
other sheep
”
were the Gentiles, shown to faith by the Apostles after Jesus
’
s death. But the Old Order believed in applying Scripture to their everyday lives. Tula might not want to accept the Ordnung. But the Ordnung changed as the needs of the congregation did. The only thing that remained the same was the Scripture.

Without realizing he had done it, Levi was on his feet. He blinked as he became conscious of every eye upon him. The bishop had ceased his sermon.

“
Brother Levi?
”

“
Other sheep. Jesus has other sheep.
”

“
There may be other Holdouts, yes.
”

“
No, sheep not of this sheep pen.
Those who may still be brought out of the world.
Who may repent and be saved. Cannibals, Blatt-
”

“
All we may do is live by example, Brother Levi.
”

“
Our example is nothing, Bishop! We are starving and suffering. Our children are dying. Why would the Blattvolk wish to live as we do? How can we be doing God
’
s work if we won
’
t even talk to them?
”

A collective gasp filled the lower rooms of the house.

Brother Abe stood up several benches over.
“
The Blattvolk are damned. We must not open our lives to their influence.
”

“
Not all of them are damned. We determined that at the last Council Meet. The Afflicted may still be called to Jesus. Eily has accepted Christ as her Savior. When she is of age, I have no doubt she will accept Baptism.
”

“
Brother Levi, it is not our calling to separate Afflicted from Accepted. To let in one is to open
ourselves
to the influence of the other. Those called to Jesus will hear him.
”

“
And then you will cease your blindness and accept them with open arms?
”
Levi
’
s words were a scoffing question. No matter what Bishop Eldon said, he had the answer of Eily right in front of him.

“
Brother Levi, moderate your tone. You overstep your bounds.
”
Deacon Yonnie rasped, his voice hoarse with a cold.

“
What if I feel called to offer God
’
s Word to the Blattvolk?
”

Voices rose throughout the congregation like the buzz of an angry hornet
’
s nest.

“
We do not proselytize. To coerce with words promotes a weak and untrue repentance.
”

“
You are wrong!
”

Silence filled the house. To brazenly oppose the Elders was unheard of. Levi shocked even himself, but the first step had been taken. He sighed a deep breath and looked around at his Brothers and Sisters.

“
What if God has sent us these trials and tribulations to make
us
open our eyes? The
Blattvolk do not ask us to give up our devotion to Christ. They have offered to heal our sons and daughters. Can we ignore the gifts God puts before us? If a sheep gives birth out of season, do we leave the lamb to freeze, just because it doesn
’
t fit the rules? No, the lamb is a gift, and we bring it into our home, and wrap it with blankets, and nurture it, so it can join our flock.
”

Levi met the eyes of the people who did not turn away. Some glowered, but quite a few regarded him with what he could only assume was hope. Rachel Hulse and her oldest daughter matched expressions with lips bit between their teeth as if to hold back words. Brother John stroked a finger through the ends of his beard.

“
He speaks against the Ordnung. Against God
’
s earthly laws!
”
Deacon Yonnie
’
s voice cracked, but he kept on.
“
Better to die a martyr than fall into the clutches of evil.
”

To Levi
’
s surprise, Samuel rose to face Yonnie.
“
You do not have a child in the Ward, Brother Yonnie. You do not fret that your un-Confirmed son or daughter may never see the light of Heaven.
”

“
Children are exempt from the fires of Hell.
”

“
Children of the Blattvolk, as well?
”
Crimson faced, Samuel held his ground. Levi
’
s heart swelled with pride and gratitude.

Yonnie glared at Samuel.
“
Like the sin of Eve, the Blattvolk pass their curse on to their offspring.
”

Brother John cleared his throat. Levi held his breath, worried which side the pastor would take.
“
God sent Jesus Christ to atone for Adam and Eve
’
s sin.
”
He played with the fringe of his beard, eyes heavenward in thought.
“
Would He do any less for one like Eily?
”

Levi let out his air in a trembling sigh.

John continued,
“
I would like to read from the book of Isaiah, chapter forty three. God tells Israel,
‘
Forget the former
things,
do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now, it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
’“
He allowed the words to settle amongst the congregation.
“
Brother Levi has been called to speak. To have us consider new things. In the book of James, we are told that wisdom from above is pure and free from prejudice or hypocrisy. I am but a humble servant, unworthy to judge, but Levi
’
s words resonate with the forgiveness of Christ.
”

Levi lowered his head, his heartbeat rapid. Had God called him to speak? He
’
d been a rebel all his life. Was this any different? Was he putting his own selfish hope for Josef ahead of the congregation, yet again?
“
I cannot say my words are from God. I only know we face challenging times, as dire as the days of the Prophet.
”

“
The Ordnung is scrutinized twice a year to allow us to address challenges like this.
”
Pastor John remained standing.

“
The Council Meet has passed, Brother. Unity was reached.
”
Bishop Eldon asserted.

“
And now, it is broken. Is there something in the Ordnung restricting re-evaluation at other times of the year?
”

The voices in the room hovered just above shouting as the congregation argued. Men stood before their benches, waiting for opportunity to voice their opinions.

“
Brothers and Sisters! Calm yourselves!
”
The bishop
’
s voice barely carried over the roar, but voices ebbed and subsided.
“
Brother John wishes to call another Council Meet. How many are also moved to do so?
”

More
“
aye
’
s
”
filled the room than Levi would have expected.

“
Then we must issue the call to Unity.
”

Haldanian Protectorate

Tula
re-read
the conversion roster and carefully set the gamma pad on her desk. Her hands trembled and she was afraid she might drop it.
Nine requests for conversion?
There was only one cannibal child in Confinement at the moment. This list was marked for Tula
’
s special attention. What had the Protectorate done?

The
com
sprang to life at her desk and she jumped.
“
Dr. Macoby, report to Confinement.
”

She cinched the dark lab coat firmly around her waist and slipped her gamma pad into the pocket. Down in Confinement, several children sat on two bunks inside a single cage, clutching hands. They had already gone through processing, their
bald heads
so pale the veins looked like penciled lines through the skin. But she knew they were Old Order. They still wore their clothing
—
dresses with aprons, trousers with suspenders.