Page 22 of Zinnia and the Zombie
As they madetheir way to the fountains the next morning, Jaxx insisted on scouting ahead and checking each building for any signs of predators. He still had not entirely regained his golden coloring, but his movements were smooth, and he no longer leaned against the wall to rest.
She was still wearing the shirt he’d given her and she found herself watching the play of muscles beneath the gleaming skin more than their surroundings. Her fears of the previous night had seemed foolish in the morning light, but before she could figure out how to let him know she wanted to try again, he was busy preparing for their trip.
As they emerged into the plaza, morning sunlight reflected off something above them. She shaded her eyes, looking up at one of the smaller structures at the edge of the plaza
“Jaxx,” she said, pointing. “Is that glass? It looks intact.”
He followed her gaze. “I believe so.”
“Maybe we should check it out?” she suggested. “If the glass is intact, it could provide shelter.”
He nodded. “And we would be aware of anything approaching. Let’s see if we can find access.”
They circled the building before finding a breach in the eastern wall partially hidden by climbing vines. He carefully tested each section of the remaining structure before allowing her to follow, navigating their way through the debris-strewn interior. It appeared to have contained retail units at one point, although little remained.
A wide staircase, remarkably preserved, wound upwards through the building’s core. The floors were higher than they appeared and her thighs were burning by the time they reached the roof.
The top floor landing opened onto a sight that stole her breath away.
“Wow,” she whispered as she stepped past him.
The entire roof was a massive arboretum, enclosed by a soaring dome of cracked but largely intact glass. Sunlight streamed through the glass, dappling the lush vegetation that had clearly been thriving here for centuries. But despite its age, the plants grew in organized sections—some in orderly rows, others in artful arrangements around small pathways.
“Look at this.” She moved deeper into the space, overwhelmed by the abundance surrounding them. “There’s fruit everywhere.”
He followed more cautiously, scanning the environment. “Interesting. It appears to be a cultivated food production facility. It’s remarkable that it continues to function.”
She brushed her fingers against what looked like a cross between a tomato and an apple, its skin a vibrant purple. Next to it was a vine bearing fruit that looked uncannily like grapes. “Some of these plants look almost like Earth varieties.”
A soft hissing sound startled her, and she jumped back towards him. Then she realized what was happening—a fine mist was being released from small nozzles embedded in the glass ceiling, raining down on a section of leafy plants.
“I can’t believe the irrigation system still works.” She laughed in disbelief. “There must be power somewhere.”
“Impressive engineering,” he murmured, studying the ceiling mechanisms. “Self-sustaining technology was rare even among advanced civilizations.”
She wandered through the garden, cataloging their discoveries with growing excitement. There were root vegetables nestled in rich soil beds, climbing vines heavy with pod-like structures, and trees bearing fruit of every imaginable color. An astonishing array of flowers were mixed in with them.
“We won’t starve,” she said, grinning over her shoulder at him. “And I think we just found our shelter.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “It is defensible, provides sustenance, and offers protection from the elements. An optimal location.”
She laughed. “Just say it’s perfect.”
The corner of his mouth twitched. “It is… perfect.”
She moved deeper into the garden, marveling at the diversity of the plant life. She could identify many of the basic structures—these were definitely pollinating flowers, those were tubers of some kind—but the specifics were alien.
“Look at this bush,” she called to Jaxx, who had begun examining the irrigation system more closely. She pointed to a bush bearing plump, blue fruits like oversized blueberries. “These look ripe.”
She plucked one carefully, the skin yielding slightly under her touch. When he came to join her, she offered it to him. “Want to try it?”
He took it from her, bringing it to his nose first. “No detectable toxins,” he said after a moment. “Though our physiologies differ significantly.”
“Only one way to find out if it’s edible,” she said with a shrug.
He broke the fruit in half, revealing juicy, deep indigo flesh. He handed one piece back to her, their fingers brushing in the exchange. “Together, then.”
She counted down. “Three, two, one?—”
