The Last Beekeeper: Chapters 10–15

by Pablo Cartaya
As a farmer in the Valley's Lot 2506, twelve-year-old Yolanda Cicerón does not have the money to continue her training to be a neurolink surgeon, so despite her sister's warning, she accepts a scholarship from the System.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–3, Chapters 4–9, Chapters 10–15, Chapters 16–22, "Understanding Bees"
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. frock
    a one-piece garment for a woman; has skirt and bodice
    “Even though I still remember you with that curly little puff of hair and those baggy little frocks you used to run around in, making mud pies and pretending to eat them. ¡Qué linda!”
  2. determination
    firmness of purpose
    I continue to look at Cami and watch the mix of sadness and anger blend into a face of hope and determination.
  3. burden
    a serious or difficult concern
    “I don’t know exactly why they were exiled or what our burden truly is, but I do know that it all has something to do with these woods and the bees inside them.”
  4. lush
    produced or growing in extreme abundance
    About thirty feet in the air, shielded by lush leaves and twisting branches, an entire hive of bees hovers in and out of the nest.
  5. mesmerize
    attract strongly, as if with a magnet
    We both stand in silence as the dark golden substance mesmerizes us.
  6. extract
    remove, usually with some force or effort
    “Her notes explain everything,” I say, scanning the book. “How to extract it, how to remove it from this thing called a comb, and look.”
  7. notation
    a comment or instruction (usually added)
    I skim through more pages and read more chapters. There is a system on how to prep before going out to the hive. A notation about tending to the drone bees and several pages dedicated to the queen bee.
  8. invasive
    involving aggressive attack
    Vespa mandarinia—a giant wasp species. Highly invasive. Can destroy entire bee colony.
  9. terminology
    a system of words used to name things in a discipline
    “Her notes are really detailed, Yoly,” she reassures me. “And you know exactly how to read them. It took me years to even understand some of the terminology. It took you less than a day!”
  10. humility
    a lack of arrogance or false pride
    “Well, technically,” I correct, “I kind of understood it as soon as I read it.”
    “Humility does not appear to be one of your gifts, hermana,” my sister teases.
  11. deterrent
    something immaterial that interferes with action or progress
    Honestly, sometimes I don’t even realize I’m rolling my eyes to exaggerate what my sister is telling me. It’s like a Cami deterrent whenever she’s annoying.
  12. parasitic
    relating to an animal or plant that lives in or on a host
    “The Varroa destructor is a parasitic mite that attacks and feeds on the honeybees, or rather Apis mellifera. And the disease caused by the mites is called varroosis.”
  13. capacity
    the power to learn or retain knowledge
    “You will have an examination on viruses that attack the human brain,” he says coolly. “I expect your capacity to study bee diseases will translate into knowledge of things that really matter. If it does not, you will be removed from the class permanently.”
  14. depicted
    represented graphically by sketch or design or lines
    It makes me wonder how many other creatures depicted in that story were nothing like they were in real life.
  15. erratic
    likely to perform unpredictably
    Yesterday their buzz was high-pitched, erratic, and frantic.
  16. brood
    the young of an animal cared for at one time
    Bees produce broods, and those broods need to be in chambers so they can hatch and fly out to collect pollen.
  17. indistinguishable
    exactly alike; incapable of being perceived as different
    There is a tiny wire that runs the length of the oak tree. Almost indistinguishable from the bark.
  18. apprehend
    take into police custody
    Suspect Cornelius Rivera has been apprehended on charges of illegal connectivity and distribution of unauthorized literature.
  19. leverage
    strategic advantage; power to act effectively
    And yes, I want to find a way to help, but until we get you out of debt, they have leverage over us.
  20. buff
    of the yellowish-beige color
    We gather near the hive box and see a large bee making its way to the funnel. It has dark yellow bands at the front of the thorax and middle of the abdomen. The tail is buff colored and is much larger than the others’.
  21. deduce
    conclude by reasoning
    “Bees don’t fly out long distances when the temperature outside is too cold. They’re usually more active in warmer temperatures.”
    “The cooler temperature in here must be keeping them from flying too far,” I deduce.
  22. centralized
    located in one place or under control of a single authority
    “Connectivity. The System. The drones. Silo wants us to rely on them. The more centralized the power, the more control the System can have and the more—”
    “Control Silo has,” my sister says, finishing my thought.
  23. meddle
    intrude in other people's affairs or business
    “This is not a concern of yours and certainly not a concern of mine! You two girls need to go home and stop meddling, or you’re going to find yourself in the same situation as your friend. Understand?”
  24. industry
    the action of making of goods and services for sale
    “We all thought we were going to go back to our original ways. Using our hands. Working together. Sharing what we grew. All that tech and industry is what messed us up in the first place.”
  25. consistent
    steady and reliable in performance or behavior
    There’s a flash and a low consistent beep coming from my V-probe.
  26. default
    act of failing to meet a financial obligation
    Jacob McMillian of Lot 8839B has admitted to default. Subsequent fine requires maximum incarceration sentence until debt is paid.
  27. condemn
    pronounce a punishment, as in a court of law
    “A sentence given in the most extreme of cases. Well, exile is the most extreme of sentences, but we don’t want to condemn someone to death, do we? Who could survive out there beyond the Dead City?”
  28. pelt
    the dressed hairy coat of a mammal
    She’s wearing a nightcat-skin pelt with matching pants. I almost fall when I see the nightcat’s head dangling behind the woman’s shoulders.
  29. carnage
    the savage and excessive killing of many people
    Can you imagine if that beast had come to Silo? The carnage would have been horrifying!
  30. unbecoming
    not in keeping with accepted standards of what is proper
    “Such outbursts are unbecoming of an aspiring doctor.”
  31. delicate
    marked by great skill especially in meticulous technique
    “I wouldn’t feel comfortable having a doctor who screams when she’s upset performing such a delicate procedure as a neurolink operation,” she adds through that awful fake smile of hers.
  32. renowned
    widely known and esteemed
    “Maybe all your research and planning failed to inform you that I am not only a renowned author, little miss, but I am also the designer of TIE and its most accomplished professor.”
  33. alias
    a name that has been assumed temporarily
    She was using an alias. She’s Dr. Sime.
  34. devious
    characterized by insincerity or deceit
    Hortensia smiles a devious grin, then whispers something into Mayor Blackburn’s ear.
  35. fruitful
    productive or conducive to producing in abundance
    Your debt is now due, and since you can’t pay, well, I’m sure that your work on Retreat will be rewarding and incredibly fruitful for our community.
  36. intently
    with strained or eager attention
    He’s watching intently as Cami moves to the town entrance.
  37. exploit
    use or manipulate to one's advantage
    “He finds any leverage and exploits it,” she says.
  38. stealth
    the act of moving in a quiet or secretive way to avoid being noticed
    I can’t see the ambush drone, but I hear its distinct heavy motor. The designers could have given it a stealth engine, but they chose not to. Like they wanted you to hear the loud buzz from everywhere in the sky.
  39. obligation
    the state of being bound to do or pay something
    Repayment of your debt obligation will begin immediately. Prepare to be detained.
  40. ransack
    search thoroughly
    The drones ransack Abuelita’s shed.
Created on Fri Nov 17 15:12:28 EST 2023 (updated Sat Nov 18 16:47:10 EST 2023)

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