Breath of Life by Christine Pope

Author:Christine Pope [Pope, Christine]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: beauty and the beast, SF romance, beauty & the beast, science fiction, fairytale retelling, novella
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Later that week he asked me if I would like to assist him in the greenhouse.

“It’s a worthy occupation,” he told me, as the mech cleared away our breakfast plates. “You have said that you’ve helped your father, and so it seems you already know some of the rudiments of gardening. Would you like to learn more?”

I actually was curious; even the bits and pieces I had picked up so far seemed much more interesting than nursing along a few hydroponic vegetables. If my circumstances had been different, I would have considered how valuable such knowledge would be if I decided to narrow my studies to xeno-botany. Specialists in that area were hot commodities for the GRC’s advance reconnaissance teams. But since I had no idea whether Sarzhin intended to ever let me go, I wasn’t sure whether acquiring those skills would do much more than help vary my often monotonous days.

It seemed to me, though, that Sarzhin had offered the diversion out of a spirit of generosity, and it would be foolish to turn him down…even though helping out in the greenhouse meant we would be spending far more time together. I didn’t know quite how to feel about that.

Speaking quickly, before I could change my mind, I replied, “That sounds wonderful. Thank you, Sarzhin.”

“No, thank you.”

Even though I couldn’t see his face, the warmth in his tone told me how pleased he was. He added, “Shall we?”

I hadn’t expected to start so soon, although breakfast was over and I had a light day as far as schoolwork was concerned. Maybe I hesitated, just for a few seconds. But then I said, “Absolutely,” and got up from my chair. He rose as well, and led the way back to the greenhouse.

By then it was familiar enough to me—the humid air that somehow managed to be close without cloying, the scents of hundreds of growing things. This time, though, I wouldn’t merely be observing the rich plant life, but helping it along, encouraging it to bud and blossom.

“We will start here, I think,” Sarzhin told me, pausing in front of a tallish plant in a heavy pot. It had sword-like green leaves and waxy five-petaled flowers. “It is a forgiving specimen, one from a place on Gaia called Hawai’i. Your people call it a plumeria.”

A heady, sweet scent, unlike anything I had ever smelled before, seemed to swirl out from the plant. I reached over with one finger to touch a flower’s petals, then hesitated. “I won’t—I won’t hurt it, will I?”

“No. It is quite sturdy, despite its appearance. And easy to propagate as well. Let me show you

He went to the table where his various implements were stored and retrieved a sharp knife from one of the drawers. “Make a cut here,” he said, and indicated a spot on one of the gray branches just below where a flower emerged. Then he handed the knife to me.

The knife felt heavy in my hand, even though in reality it wasn’t all that big.

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