Page 10 of Half Blind

They stood side by side for a moment, both wanting to share, but the connection between them was yet to be established. Helen had three months with the lady and in time, they would find a groove, or at least an understanding. Lemon led Helen out the back door of the lab where a greenhouse stood nestled in the direct path of the sun. She opened the door to allowing them both inside.

“On the left side of the greenhouse is every plant known that can kill a human or a pet,” she said. “Yes, there are times when we have to put down Fido. The right side is plants with medicinal values. Here is the watering and feeding schedule for each.”

“Feeding schedule?”

“Yes, plants need nutrition as well,” she told her. “This will be your responsibility while you're here.”

“And if I kill all the plants in your greenhouse by over or under watering?”

“Then your pathto being a Technician ends with me,” Lemon said. “In the meantime, get a notebook. I want you to create a binder listing every plant in this greenhouse, the benefits, the drawbacks, and values. If you can sketch, make a drawing. If you can't doodle, take a pic, go get yourself an inkless printer. The binder needs to be done by the end of the month.”

“Will there be an exam, Professor?”

“Yes, I am going to ask you to make compounds, cold remedies, and natural teas for the flu season and runny noses,” Lemon replied.

“May I ask for you to teach me how to make a love potion as well?”

“If you want, but use the skills you learn for good,” Lemon said as if it were a precursor for what came next.

****

ATAP CAME AT THE BACKdoor from Jared simultaneously, and the doorbell rang at the front entrance. Helen let Jared in the back door, watching him as he came to the table and took a seat facing the front door. He gave her a side eye and she instinctively went to grab a paring knife from the butcher block. She too took a view of the front door Lemon went to open.

From the device on the wall, Lemon could see the two people at the door. “May I help you?”

“Delivery fromLas Tierras,” the deep male voice said.

“I'm sorry; I don't know what that is,” Lemon replied.

“You ordered a supply of 80 vials,” the male voice said. “I am delivering 8, two of each specimen and to collect payment for the supply in hand.”

Lemon didn't hesitate to open the door wide, providing entry to the two visitors. Helen stood silent as the young man entered after the young woman, who had nearly blocked his body from view. In her opinion, they looked like teens who ran a tourist robbing gang in South Central America, but were well dressed and properly fed. The young man stood at nearly six feet, tan skin, dark hair, combed off his face, with dark eyes. The girl’s demeanor was chilling, and Helen wasn’t scared easily.

The young man's eyes scanned the room, moving first to Jared. “Señor, so there are no misunderstandings between us, please place your hands on the table and have them remain in clear view at all times.”

Jared did as asked. However, the young man’s eyes made contact with Helen’s. He held the gaze until she flinched, and he gave a slight smile at the corner of his lip. “The knife, Señorita...it should return to the block in the next five seconds.”

Helen also did as she was told. His eyes were back to the woman who had opened the door. Lemon's hands were on her hips as she was ready to scold them for not bringing what she ordered.

“Pardon me, but you only brought 8; I ordered 80,” Lemon said.

The young man didn't speak. His eyes went to Jared, then Helen, and back to Lemon. He paused, cocked his head, then maintained eye contact with Jared, who, unlike Helen, didn't flinch. The young man gave a nod of his head.

“Correct,” the young man said. “We will not provide that quantity of toxins to anyone without understanding the intent and usage of the material.”

Lemon appeared offended at his words, “I'm paying for it; why does it concern you how I use it?”

“I would no more wish to sell Sarin gas to a disgruntled employee than I would a maniac desiring to harm a group of people whom he felt wronged him,” the young man said. “Las Tierraswould not want to place such material in the wrong hands; therefore, until I understand your intentions for the product, I shall only provide you with samples.”

Jared spoke, “Las Tierras, as in the Delgados?”

“Correct,” the young man said.

“Are you a Delgado?”

“Si, I am Micah,” he replied, looking at Lemon. “Señora, or Señorita, please clarify your intended usage of the materials.”

Lemon, still out of sorts, replied, “It is Doctor, or rather a doctor of letters in chemistry. Hold on, young man, are you implying, that if my use of the materials is for nefarious reasons, you will not sell the venoms to me? Or, so, there are no misunderstandings between us, are you standing before me indicating my life is in harm’s way?”

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