Plant Them Deep (29 page)
Authors: Aimee & David Thurlo
She considered it. “I’d really like to go check in on Lena before we set out. I want to make sure she holds on. How long will it take you to go
get the camera and bring it back?”
get the camera and bring it back?”
“An hour.”
“Then you can do that while I check in with my friend.”
Rose drove to her home and dropped Herman off by his truck. As she pulled to a stop, her thoughts circled around the one piece of the puzzle that still didn’t seem to fit. “There’s one thing I sure wish I could figure out,” she said. “People have
reported seeing a gas company truck driving
around in places where there isn’t any gas service, and when they tried to approach, the truck drove away. That’s got to be connected to the thefts, but how?”
reported seeing a gas company truck driving
around in places where there isn’t any gas service, and when they tried to approach, the truck drove away. That’s got to be connected to the thefts, but how?”
Herman shrugged. “It might be totally unrelated.”
“My feelings tell me different. But I guess that’s not the most important thing to worry about now. My son needs that plant, and he needs it soon.”
As soon as Herman drove off, Rose headed
to the hospital. She intended to make sure Lena knew she was always first in her thoughts.
to the hospital. She intended to make sure Lena knew she was always first in her thoughts.
Upon her arrival Rose walked directly to Lena’s room. The good-luck plant she’d given her was beside the bed, along with other flowers, candy, and gifts from relatives, judging from the cards. Seeing that Lena’s eyes were closed, Rose decided to leave a note, but before she could reach for a pad and pen,
Lena’s eyes opened.
Lena’s eyes opened.
Seeing Rose, Lena smiled wearily.
“You look better,” Rose said, noticing that the pallor on her skin didn’t seem so pronounced tonight. Maybe her friend was regaining her health even without the ritual.
Lena opened her hand slowly, and nestled in her palm was Ella’s badger fetish. “Your daughter stopped by and said I should keep it for now. She said it would help me fight.”
“And it will,” Rose said softly, thanking Ella in the silence of her thoughts. “Its power has saved my daughter more than once. You hold on to the strength it gives you.”
As Lena closed her eyes again, Rose tiptoed out of the room.
Rose and Herman met earlier than planned. He had insisted on driving now that the last remnants of daylight had given way to the night, and they were now parked
beneath the overhanging branches of a cottonwood tree just down the street from Knight’s
home. The streetlight outside the driveway leading onto his property made it easy for them to keep an eye on the place.
beneath the overhanging branches of a cottonwood tree just down the street from Knight’s
home. The streetlight outside the driveway leading onto his property made it easy for them to keep an eye on the place.
“So now we wait?” Herman asked.
She nodded. “If I’m right, he’ll wait until well after dark, then set out to harvest the plants he’s already decided to collect tonight.”
An hour passed
slowly. Reaching into her large purse, she pulled out two burritos. “One is made with chicken, the other with mutton. They’ve also got plenty of beans, cheese, and salsa. They’re cold, but the green chile will warm you up.”
slowly. Reaching into her large purse, she pulled out two burritos. “One is made with chicken, the other with mutton. They’ve also got plenty of beans, cheese, and salsa. They’re cold, but the green chile will warm you up.”
“Great, I was starving. Thanks!” He gestured ahead. “His porch light just went out.” Herman set down the binoculars. “From the looks of it, he’s not getting ready to go anytime
soon.”
soon.”
“Do you think it’s possible he spotted us down here?”
“I’m sure he hasn’t. He hasn’t come to peer out his windows or anything like that.”
While Herman ate first, Rose used the binoculars to keep her eyes on Knight’s car, parked close to the house. Time passed slowly. After an eternity of waiting, Rose suddenly spotted movement. “He just came outside. Get ready.”
Herman reached for the
ignition, planning on starting his own truck after Knight had already put his vehicle in motion. But Knight, wearing some kind of uniform now, walked past his truck and headed toward a small, detached garage.
ignition, planning on starting his own truck after Knight had already put his vehicle in motion. But Knight, wearing some kind of uniform now, walked past his truck and headed toward a small, detached garage.
Rose’s heart fell. Maybe she’d been wrong about him, unless he had another car they’d never seen before.
“Why doesn’t he use his truck? It’s perfect for reservation travel,” Herman mumbled.
Rose, who had not taken her eyes off Knight, added, “I have a hunch what’s in the garage.”
“Ah, right. Another vehicle that doesn’t say ‘I’m Bradford Knight’s truck,’ perhaps?”
When Knight drove out of the garage in the white gas
company truck, a cold chill raced up her spine. Before she could comment, Knight pulled out of his driveway onto the street. The lights on his phony utility truck were
still off.
company truck, a cold chill raced up her spine. Before she could comment, Knight pulled out of his driveway onto the street. The lights on his phony utility truck were
still off.
Rose and Herman ducked down as he drove past them, then they both looked up. Halfway down the block, Knight finally turned on his headlights.
“You’re too far behind. We’re going to lose him,” Rose said as Herman started his pickup’s engine.
“Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing. There’s no other traffic right now on this stretch and that’s why we have to hang back. He’s going to see
our headlights in his rearview mirror as it is.”
our headlights in his rearview mirror as it is.”
They followed as Knight turned and headed west. Knight continued on for nearly ten minutes before crossing the San Juan River and traveling south down Highway 371. The state highway roughly paralleled the eastern edge of the Navajo Nation for miles.
Once they passed the popular recreation site known as the Dunes, Knight took a dirt road to the
right, crossing a natural gas pipeline, then entering Navajo land near Amarillo Canyon. The gas company truck left a plume of dust in the air, eerily visible in the moonlight.
right, crossing a natural gas pipeline, then entering Navajo land near Amarillo Canyon. The gas company truck left a plume of dust in the air, eerily visible in the moonlight.
“Slow down, or he’ll see the dust trail that we leave behind as clearly as we see his,” Rose said.
Herman nodded. “I think the dust he’s throwing up would hide our presence as long as he goes straight, but he might see
us if he makes a sharp turn to either side. I’ll stay back a bit farther, just in case.”
us if he makes a sharp turn to either side. I’ll stay back a bit farther, just in case.”
They remained on his trail for another thirty minutes. The moon, full and bright, lit their way, and even without Knight’s headlights and taillights, the white color of the truck was distinctive. Meanwhile, she knew from experience that Herman’s green pickup only faded into the darkness, looking like a
medium-gray
shadow in the limited light. Finally the trail of dust settled, the head- and taillights they’d been watching disappeared, letting them know that he’d parked.
medium-gray
shadow in the limited light. Finally the trail of dust settled, the head- and taillights they’d been watching disappeared, letting them know that he’d parked.
Herman got as close as he dared, then pulled off the road behind an eroded sandstone formation that, in the dark, looked like a scoop of half-melted ice cream.
“We’ll have to go on foot from here. Otherwise he might hear the engine,” Herman
said.
said.
“Grab the low-light camera and let’s go,” Rose answered.
“I’ve used this kind of camera before, so I’ll climb up just below the crest of that hill and use the zoom lens once I spot where he’s gone.”
Rose nodded. “While you do that, I’ll go alongside the road, staying behind cover. I want to see for myself what he’s digging up this time.”
“What if he has a night job for the natural gas
company, maybe as a night watchman or something like that?” Herman whispered.
company, maybe as a night watchman or something like that?” Herman whispered.
“Then he shouldn’t be out here, should he?” Rose replied. “He’s guilty. I have no doubt about that now. All that gas company stuff is just a disguise.”
“Just be careful,” Herman whispered.
Rose moved silently through the brush, stopping often to wait and listen. Once she located Knight, she’d find out what he was
after, then back away. She didn’t want to confront a man who was most likely a killer.
after, then back away. She didn’t want to confront a man who was most likely a killer.
As Rose drew near, she heard a soft thump, and saw Knight chopping at the hard ground with what looked like a small pick. Moving closer, she recognized it as a GI entrenching tool, with the blade turned to a ninety-degree angle. Still needing to find out which plant was being uprooted, she went a few steps
closer, hiding behind a juniper, and crouched low. Knight had found several “baby newborn” and, from the gunnysacks
behind him, had already dug up at least half a dozen of the healthiest plants. A few had been cut by his careless strokes—he wasn’t using a lantern to see—and they were scattered on the ground where he’d thrown them.
closer, hiding behind a juniper, and crouched low. Knight had found several “baby newborn” and, from the gunnysacks
behind him, had already dug up at least half a dozen of the healthiest plants. A few had been cut by his careless strokes—he wasn’t using a lantern to see—and they were scattered on the ground where he’d thrown them.
A sense of outrage filled her, but she crept back to the truck,
following the plan. Moments later, Herman joined her.
following the plan. Moments later, Herman joined her.
“He’s our man, down to the GI shovel,” Herman said. “I’ve got it all on tape, but I’m not sure how clear his face will be. The magnification was good, so the image was large enough, but the angle wasn’t right. The juniper on that rise above him cast shadows on his face. My guess is that the image will come out distorted.”
“He may be going
someplace else now,” Rose said, pointing. “You’ll have another chance.”
someplace else now,” Rose said, pointing. “You’ll have another chance.”
Knight went back to the truck and loaded up the plants after sprinkling the gunnysacks with water from a big jug. Then he picked up three orange cones placed around the vehicle, and tossed them into the truck bed. Herman filmed the activity, and made sure he got the license number of the truck.
Rose glanced over at Herman.
“We have a shot of him digging up the plants, and another of him loading the plants into his truck. His face may not be perfectly clear, but there are two of us to testify that it was him, and that he was on Navajo land at the time. If the truck is a phony, the natural gas company will probably have a criminal complaint of their own to make too. But that will come later. What we need to do now
is take advantage of the fact he’s not at home and go back there and take a look inside his greenhouse. Maybe we can find something that will connect him to our murdered friend.”
“We have a shot of him digging up the plants, and another of him loading the plants into his truck. His face may not be perfectly clear, but there are two of us to testify that it was him, and that he was on Navajo land at the time. If the truck is a phony, the natural gas company will probably have a criminal complaint of their own to make too. But that will come later. What we need to do now
is take advantage of the fact he’s not at home and go back there and take a look inside his greenhouse. Maybe we can find something that will connect him to our murdered friend.”
“You’d have to break in, and that’s against the law.”
“Either way, I’m going.”
B
y the time they returned to Knight’s neighborhood and their parking spot beneath the cottonwood, all the lights inside the area residences were off except for a few porch lights. Rose headed along the fence line of Knight’s home, working her way toward the back, with Herman right beside her. It took a few minutes, but they found the gap under the fence they’d used earlier,
and slipped beneath it into the orchard.
y the time they returned to Knight’s neighborhood and their parking spot beneath the cottonwood, all the lights inside the area residences were off except for a few porch lights. Rose headed along the fence line of Knight’s home, working her way toward the back, with Herman right beside her. It took a few minutes, but they found the gap under the fence they’d used earlier,
and slipped beneath it into the orchard.
Together, they walked quickly through the orchard and up to the large greenhouse. Discovering that the door had no lock, she opened it and went inside, Herman a step behind her. It was warm and not overly humid, what she’d expected from a greenhouse specializing in desert plants rather than, say, orchids. There were no overhead plant lights on now, only
a few fluorescent bulbs placed near the floor that would enable Knight to move around without turning on the main lighting.
a few fluorescent bulbs placed near the floor that would enable Knight to move around without turning on the main lighting.
The first room, apparently, was where plants were being developed from cuttings or grafts. Most were so immature it was difficult to identify them, but she recognized a few as plants from her list of endangered species. Labels were placed on the pots, using code numbers
and dates. Many pots were
encased in plastic bags and had overhead light fixtures. None of the lights were turned on at the moment.
and dates. Many pots were
encased in plastic bags and had overhead light fixtures. None of the lights were turned on at the moment.
As they entered the second room through a large but open doorway, she saw it was crowded with four rows of waist-high planters lined up like school cafeteria tables. Like in the first room the lighting was dim, but it was easy to see now that her eyes had adjusted.
There were hundreds of individually potted plants native to the reservation—some she recognized immediately as species that the
Dineh
were having a lot of trouble finding. On each pot was a computer-printed label with a code number, date, and location where they’d been found. Looking quickly, she saw that they all appeared to be sites on the Navajo Nation.
There were hundreds of individually potted plants native to the reservation—some she recognized immediately as species that the
Dineh
were having a lot of trouble finding. On each pot was a computer-printed label with a code number, date, and location where they’d been found. Looking quickly, she saw that they all appeared to be sites on the Navajo Nation.
Rose turned to tell Herman to videotape
everything, but saw that he was already doing so. As the camera whirred softly, Rose walked down the long rows, searching for “white at night.” In a row of large plastic pots near one corner she found several of the elusive plants.
everything, but saw that he was already doing so. As the camera whirred softly, Rose walked down the long rows, searching for “white at night.” In a row of large plastic pots near one corner she found several of the elusive plants.
With her heart hammering in her throat, she picked up three of the smallest pots, placed them securely into an empty five-gallon plastic bucket with a wire bale, and
handed them to Herman. “Take these to my son,” she said. “They’re emergency medicine, and Lena needs them right now. They were taken from our land, according to the note attached to the pots.”
handed them to Herman. “Take these to my son,” she said. “They’re emergency medicine, and Lena needs them right now. They were taken from our land, according to the note attached to the pots.”
“Let’s both go,” Herman said, lowering the video camera, then taking the plants from her carefully. “We have all we need now.”
“I can’t leave yet. This is my one chance to search for something that will
link Knight to the murder of our friend. I strongly suspect that he was the one who stole those special plants that our friend had been developing. If I find any growing here, that will connect him to those missing plants and the break-in of his trailer.”
link Knight to the murder of our friend. I strongly suspect that he was the one who stole those special plants that our friend had been developing. If I find any growing here, that will connect him to those missing plants and the break-in of his trailer.”
“But you can’t afford to get caught on his property. Our word might not carry much weight if we’re facing trespassing charges,” Herman reminded.
“The videotape might get thrown out as evidence.”
“The videotape might get thrown out as evidence.”
“But it would still provide a reason for the authorities to search this place. Besides, I don’t plan on getting caught. If I see him return, I’ll just sneak out the other door before he spots me. As long as he doesn’t know we’ve been here, he’s not going to suspect anything,” Rose replied.
“Just make sure he doesn’t see you. I’d rather lose these
plants than have you get hurt,” Herman said.
plants than have you get hurt,” Herman said.
“I’ll be fine. Just go, find a phone, and tell the police you saw a trespasser here in the greenhouse. Then deliver those plants to my son. Once the police arrive I’ll show myself and tell them I saw Knight digging up our plants earlier tonight on the reservation and followed him here. I’ll explain that I stayed to make sure he didn’t get the chance
to destroy anything in the greenhouse when he saw the police arrive. Once they see the plants for themselves the evidence on the videotape will be all the corroboration they need.”
to destroy anything in the greenhouse when he saw the police arrive. Once they see the plants for themselves the evidence on the videotape will be all the corroboration they need.”
“Promise to leave if he comes into the greenhouse before the police get here?” Herman said, turning toward the door.
“Of course. I don’t want him to know we’re on to him. That’s the best way to protect the Plant People.
If anything happens to all these plants, we might not have others to replace them, at least not for years, and some could be lost to us forever. As a Plant Watcher I owe this to the tribe and the Plant People. Now go.”
If anything happens to all these plants, we might not have others to replace them, at least not for years, and some could be lost to us forever. As a Plant Watcher I owe this to the tribe and the Plant People. Now go.”
Herman stood there. “I should be the one who stays. You take what you need to your son and bring the police.”
“I can’t do that. This is
my
duty, and since the tribe hired me,
it’s also my job. Also, as a Plant Watcher, I’ll be able to recognize our friend’s special plants easier than you can. Get the videotape
away from here and protect it, then drive that hot-rod truck of yours as fast as you can and take the plants to my son.”
my
duty, and since the tribe hired me,
it’s also my job. Also, as a Plant Watcher, I’ll be able to recognize our friend’s special plants easier than you can. Get the videotape
away from here and protect it, then drive that hot-rod truck of yours as fast as you can and take the plants to my son.”
As soon as Herman was gone, Rose fought a sudden surge of panic. She needed to focus. Herman would be back soon with help, but in the meantime
she still had a job to do. Although Lena would finally get the medicinal plants she needed so badly, Charlie Dodge’s death still cried out for justice.
she still had a job to do. Although Lena would finally get the medicinal plants she needed so badly, Charlie Dodge’s death still cried out for justice.
Finding a flashlight on a workbench in the first room they’d entered, Rose returned to the big plant room and walked slowly down each row, using the increased lighting to help speed up her search. She found a planters filled with “frog tobacco”
and “salt thin.” Halfway down the final row, Rose became aware of a fragrant and familiar scent. Searching for the source, she saw several plants on a planter next to the greenhouse wall. The small violet-blue flowers had a scent that was as unique as the vivid hue of their petals. Only one man had ever managed to create a variety like that. Those plants were Charlie’s special hybrids. Rose had
wanted a link and now she had it. The only way Knight could have had these hybrids was if he’d taken them from Charlie.
and “salt thin.” Halfway down the final row, Rose became aware of a fragrant and familiar scent. Searching for the source, she saw several plants on a planter next to the greenhouse wall. The small violet-blue flowers had a scent that was as unique as the vivid hue of their petals. Only one man had ever managed to create a variety like that. Those plants were Charlie’s special hybrids. Rose had
wanted a link and now she had it. The only way Knight could have had these hybrids was if he’d taken them from Charlie.
The gas company truck, the presence of the native plants at his greenhouse, the video of Knight digging up the plants disguised as a gas company employee, and now these dark blue flowers, matching the one she’d rescued from Charlie’s trailer, would all combine to make the case
against Bradford Knight. She was trying to find other evidence to use against him, when she saw the beam of another flashlight through the greenhouse window. Rose ran to the far door and turned the handle, but the door wouldn’t open. She tugged, looking for a lever or a key to turn, but the door refused to budge. Either it was locked from the outside or the door mechanism was damaged, but there
was no time now.
against Bradford Knight. She was trying to find other evidence to use against him, when she saw the beam of another flashlight through the greenhouse window. Rose ran to the far door and turned the handle, but the door wouldn’t open. She tugged, looking for a lever or a key to turn, but the door refused to budge. Either it was locked from the outside or the door mechanism was damaged, but there
was no time now.
Just a few seconds before the other door to the greenhouse opened, she turned off the flashlight, ducked down, and crawled underneath the closest planter. Crouching low, she made her way on her hands and knees to a hiding spot halfway between the rows.
A moment later, Knight flipped on a row of overhead lights, set the gunnysacks down on a potting bench, then gave in to
a long coughing fit, his body shaking by the time it subsided. Rose recalled his coughing before, and his pale skin, but he seemed even worse now. She wondered if perhaps he was suffering from something far more serious than a summer cold or a virus.
a long coughing fit, his body shaking by the time it subsided. Rose recalled his coughing before, and his pale skin, but he seemed even worse now. She wondered if perhaps he was suffering from something far more serious than a summer cold or a virus.
Peering out of her hiding place, she saw Knight reach into his pocket, take out a medicine vial, and pop some pills into his mouth. He took out
a hip flask from his back pocket and drank something to wash down the pills. After another short coughing spasm, he began to remove the varieties he’d dug up that night from the damp gunnysacks and started to pot them.
a hip flask from his back pocket and drank something to wash down the pills. After another short coughing spasm, he began to remove the varieties he’d dug up that night from the damp gunnysacks and started to pot them.
She recognized the “baby newborn” plants. They weren’t in great shape, but she could see that he’d taken great care not to disturb the roots and had wrapped them carefully in the
damp cloth. Remembering the plants he’d destroyed in the darkness, she realized now that he probably lost a fourth or more of everything he tried to dig up.
damp cloth. Remembering the plants he’d destroyed in the darkness, she realized now that he probably lost a fourth or more of everything he tried to dig up.
As Knight worked on the potting bench, his back to her, Rose decided to crawl down the row of planters toward the door. Her eyes on Knight, she only moved when he was active and making noise. She was one planter away from the end of the row,
almost even with him, when Knight accidentally dropped the small trowel he was using. It bounced on the concrete floor, landing just underneath the edge of the planter between Knight and where she was hiding. Rose froze, trying to melt into the shadows.
almost even with him, when Knight accidentally dropped the small trowel he was using. It bounced on the concrete floor, landing just underneath the edge of the planter between Knight and where she was hiding. Rose froze, trying to melt into the shadows.
Knight reached down for the trowel and looked right at her. “You!”
Rose scrambled out from beneath the planters on the opposite side, placing
a row of plants and tables between them. Instead of ducking beneath to grab at her, Knight ran to the door and blocked her way, holding the trowel in his hand like a knife. “How dare you break in here!”
a row of plants and tables between them. Instead of ducking beneath to grab at her, Knight ran to the door and blocked her way, holding the trowel in his hand like a knife. “How dare you break in here!”
Rose stood straight and calmly brushed the dust off her clothes, trying to keep her heartbeat from going through the roof. She knew that she had only one chance now. She had to convince him that
the game was up.
the game was up.
“A friend of mine and I followed you tonight. You went south past the Dunes in that gas company truck, the one you hide in your garage, then west onto the reservation. We know you’ve been digging up plants from Navajo land. You’ve been leaving marks all over with that military-style shovel of yours. A lot of those plants, the ones you didn’t destroy when you dug them up, are
growing here now. But you’ve taken the life of an old Navajo man too, pushing him off the cliff and trying to make it look like an accident, and it’s no longer just simple theft. The police are on their way here now.”
growing here now. But you’ve taken the life of an old Navajo man too, pushing him off the cliff and trying to make it look like an accident, and it’s no longer just simple theft. The police are on their way here now.”
His eyes narrowed. “You’re here alone. Who are you trying to fool?”
“You didn’t see my car outside, did you?” Rose asked, appealing to his logic. “That’s because I didn’t come
here alone. My friend went to take the evidence we have to the police, then bring them here to arrest you.”
here alone. My friend went to take the evidence we have to the police, then bring them here to arrest you.”
“You’re on
my
property without my permission. If I get arrested, so will you.”
my
property without my permission. If I get arrested, so will you.”
“For what, trespassing inside the greenhouse of a criminal? It will be dismissed automatically once the evidence we’ve obtained reaches the district attorney. You’re the thief, and you’re the one who’s committed
murder. The hybrid plants
back there, the sweet-smelling dark blue ones you took from my friend’s trailer, are the link between you two. He would have never given you his special plants—something he’d spent years developing one step at a time. The gas company truck you’ve been driving—is it a phony or did you steal it—also links you to him. Witnesses who were in the area at the time he died saw
that truck turn off the road and head straight toward where he was, below that mesa. It’s over for you now. The evidence is all here for the police.”
murder. The hybrid plants
back there, the sweet-smelling dark blue ones you took from my friend’s trailer, are the link between you two. He would have never given you his special plants—something he’d spent years developing one step at a time. The gas company truck you’ve been driving—is it a phony or did you steal it—also links you to him. Witnesses who were in the area at the time he died saw
that truck turn off the road and head straight toward where he was, below that mesa. It’s over for you now. The evidence is all here for the police.”
“You’re misinterpreting the so-called evidence you have. I didn’t murder anyone.” He looked down at the trowel in his hand and lowered it. “Charlie and I were having an argument over business and he fell. It was an accident. That’s all.”
When he
didn’t say anything more, Rose pressed him. “You were arguing about the plants?”
didn’t say anything more, Rose pressed him. “You were arguing about the plants?”
“No, the company I work for funded his research, which is why I have the plants here. The hybrids he developed would have been a great natural, completely safe dye, especially for food coloring.”
“You’re telling me that you two worked together?” Her jaw dropped. It would explain some puzzling things about Charlie’s
income and his generally secretive personal life. Still, it was a bit hard to take.
income and his generally secretive personal life. Still, it was a bit hard to take.
“Yes, we worked for the same company, though technically Charlie Dodge was my employee. I paid him cash because he didn’t believe in checks. How do you think he managed to buy that new mobile home? At first he and I worked together well. We both needed the work and the income it provided, so we shared our expertise.
He told me about the medicinal plants your medicine men used so I could research them. I stood to make a great deal of money selling the results of my research to the pharmaceutical company. But then I was diagnosed with an advanced stage of lung cancer.
That’s when I remembered the stories people all around the reservation had told me about a miracle plant that cured cancer patients. I knew
I had to find it.”
He told me about the medicinal plants your medicine men used so I could research them. I stood to make a great deal of money selling the results of my research to the pharmaceutical company. But then I was diagnosed with an advanced stage of lung cancer.
That’s when I remembered the stories people all around the reservation had told me about a miracle plant that cured cancer patients. I knew
I had to find it.”
Rose had hated the thief who’d damaged or destroyed so many plants with his careless, hurried digging, but now all she could feel was pity. “There is no such plant. Rumors like that have been going around as long as I can remember, but the truth is our people die of cancer too.”
“You’re wrong. The plant’s uses and preparation were described to me in detail by an old man who
lives out by Mount Taylor. They called him
Hosteen
Natoni—Mr. Natoni.”
lives out by Mount Taylor. They called him
Hosteen
Natoni—Mr. Natoni.”
Rose nodded. “I know him, and I have no doubt he heard that story from someone else. It’s something that has been passed down for generations—like what people in the cities call an urban legend. But it’s false hope. There is no such plant.”
“Natoni told me that only a few could identify the plant because that knowledge had
nearly been lost over time. One of them was Charlie Dodge. But Charlie wouldn’t talk about it, so I stepped up my research with the plants I knew your medicine men used, trying to find the ones with known anti-tumor compounds. I worked day and night, but I haven’t been able to find the right plant.”
nearly been lost over time. One of them was Charlie Dodge. But Charlie wouldn’t talk about it, so I stepped up my research with the plants I knew your medicine men used, trying to find the ones with known anti-tumor compounds. I worked day and night, but I haven’t been able to find the right plant.”
“You’re searching for a mythical plant,” she said softly. “I’m truly sorry.”
He focused his gaze
on her. “So it’s all over for me, is that what you’re saying?” Knight didn’t wait for an answer. “If that’s the case, then so be it. But I won’t spend the last few months of my life in jail. This greenhouse, and you, have to go.” He reached behind him and brought a can of spray lubricant down from a shelf, then sprayed the pungent liquid up and down a wooden structural beam which reached all the
way to the roof.
on her. “So it’s all over for me, is that what you’re saying?” Knight didn’t wait for an answer. “If that’s the case, then so be it. But I won’t spend the last few months of my life in jail. This greenhouse, and you, have to go.” He reached behind him and brought a can of spray lubricant down from a shelf, then sprayed the pungent liquid up and down a wooden structural beam which reached all the
way to the roof.
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Harp's Song by Shine, Cassie
Gigi by Nena Duran
An Unwilling Baroness by Harris Channing
Brooklyn Zoo by Darcy Lockman
Vengeance (SSU Trilogy Book 1) by Kier, Vanessa
Pull (Deep Darkness Book 1) by Stephen Landry
