Knives went to fetch some more melon, in case she wanted more, but he rushed back as though she might disappear or fall unconscious again, before his return. Breathless, he settled two, ripe melons on the floor beside the bed, and seated himself back onto the stool beside her. He'd been sitting there almost nonstop, waiting for her, for two days since she'd shown up.

She kept staring at him, but she looked content. Her body was still suffering from exhaustion and dehydration, she wasn't speaking, and her eyes opened only a little. But she was alive, and would recover, with no major injuries. Knowing that, there was nothing he would ask her.

The strange tomas she'd rode in on had been run to death. Its stench reached the shack within hours of her return. Knives had had to bury it hastily, but he'd stripped it of its bridle, saddle, and baggage, first. He'd also stripped Vanessa of the coarse cloth he found her in, before washing her and tucking her in to rest. As she lay there, he had carefully filed through the cuffs on her ankles and wrists.

The foreign items, of toma leather, woven roots, and cattle bladders, proved that there were more humans out there.

The cuffs he'd seen before, so long ago. Cuffs like that, he knew, used to be common in slave trade. He'd had to take several breaks from filing the cuffs to step out into the desert and scream in anger and disgust. Since she awoke for the first time, his anger had dissipated.

And though she could say very little, she kept mouthing to him, "Please don't be angry." He smiled when she said it, reassuring.

There were things she would tell him, important things, in time. In the meantime, she was safe, and he felt he was as well. There would be time for questions, later. She ought not be rushed.

He couldn't let his eyes leave her, as he sat there, holding her hand tight without realizing it. His own, tired eyes were weary from tears, from worry.

Knives sat there, as the day grew hot, giving her water on the hour, twice helping her out to the near trees in the garden to go to the bathroom. She was regaining some strength, but her legs could not support her yet, and when she bent her knees, her legs quaked. Still, she wanted him to turn away when she did her business, smiling as she whispered hoarsely that she would be fine.

After the second trip out, Vanessa asked to stay in the garden. It was so hot in the shack. He agreed, and propped her against the trunk of a maple. They sat in a tranquil silence. Neither spoke, even as they went to the shack at night to sleep.

O

O

The following morning, Knives opened his eyes, he found Vanessa was staring at him, turned on her side to face him. Startled for a moment, he asked if she needed anything.

"I'm feeling much better," she replied in a whisper, still rather hoarse. "How long as it been since you tended to the plants?"

"Don't worry about them, they can grow without my help. I'll get you breakfast." He sat up, yawning.

"Not those plants, the angel plants."

He scratched his scruffy chin, turning to her. "I've kept them all on schedule, except-" Abruptly, he grew quiet. "I really need to check on Callisto."

Callisto! She'd nearly forgotten! She sat up as well, arms shaking. "Let's go to her, then."

"You're staying here."

"Don't worry about me," she assured, standing. "I'll get showered, we can leave in an hour at most."

"Oh, yes, let's take you far out to one of the most distant complexes on the planet, because you're in perfect traveling condition," he scoffed, still seated. "Besides, what if humans are…" Trailing off, he became suddenly stern. "Would you be unsafe here, alone?"

She paused, leaning against the wall for support. "The garden's safe. The complexes…they're safe, too. You've never seen evidence of a human, for this whole time…Don't expect to, ever again." She ran her dirty toes along the weave of the floor mats, avoiding his gaze. "I'd just…prefer…to stay…I want to go with you, please."

"So they…" He stopped himself. No, not until she wanted to talk about it, he reminded himself. Vanessa was clever, she wouldn't let harm come to the garden, or the plant angels. She'd told him all he needed to know. Somehow, he knew it. "Go and shower, then. Yell if you need any help."

"Thank you."