“I’m not sure,” she said, but she had an idea, and it wasn’t good. “How do we get inside?”
“We must return to get my father—if Kaley can spare him, that is—then he’ll take you over by soaring.”
She gave him a look to cut it out.
“Unless you thinkIcan take you over. No! That’s not possible.”
Aradella stepped close to him and put her arms up for him to take her.
He gave a chuckle, embraced her, then they soared up and over the wall. He took his time landing. “You smell good,” he said. “Like earth and water and rather strongly of fox.”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “It’s the smelly company I’ve been keeping.”
Smiling, he floated down with her and they broke apart.
Aradella began walking and looking at the plants. When she realized what they were, her face became solemn.This is what Jobi foresaw, she thought.He knew that someday I’d see this and I’d need to know what these plants are.
She became more alarmed with every step she took. It was a garden of poisonous plants. Every tree, bush, and flower could kill. There was one plant that she looked for. She’d seen picturesand drawings of it, had read about it, but had certainly never seen one. At the back, against the stone wall, she saw three little plants inside a short barbed fence. For a moment, she just stared, knowing that even touching the leaves could cause death. She should get away from them! But then, some instinct told her she might need some of the noxious poison of these plants. Cautiously, she stepped inside. Hale had sewn a deep pocket inside Aradella’s voluminous skirt. With her hand covered, she gathered a dozen leaves and concealed them in the pocket.
She left the enclosure, then looked for Mekos, but she didn’t see him.
A large bird was sitting on the tall wall. “I wish Jobi had sent me some bird books,” she muttered. The bird started rapidly moving back and forth, then it gave a squawk that sounded like an alarm—a warning.
Aradella grabbed her big skirt and ran toward the bird. Standing just below it was Mekos—and he was about to bite into a big green fruit. She didn’t take time to yell a warning. She just went into a running jump and hit Mekos with all the force she had.
The hit was unexpected and he staggered back. “What the fark are you doing?” he demanded.
She struck out with her fist and knocked the fruit out of his hand. The bird on the wall flew down and put itself between the fruit on the ground and Mekos. “That is a sea mango. It’s the suicide plant. It’sdeadly.” She stepped back, trying to calm her shaking body. “That bird was warning you. Why didn’t youlistento it? IfIhadn’t understood it, you might be dead now.”
Mekos was watching her intently, then he pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry. It was stupid of me. I should have listened but I was hungry.” He was stroking her hair. “It’s all right,” he whispered. “I’m safe. You saved me.”
They stood together for minutes and she was gradually able to get herself under control. Hale had taught her how to slow her breath to quiet her heartbeat.
Mekos held her at arm’s length and looked into her eyes. “Are you all right now?”
She nodded.
“Will you tell me about this garden?”
Again, she nodded, then looked at the bird, still guarding the poisonous piece of fruit. “He saved you.”
Mekos stepped away and held out his arm. The bird landed on his forearm. “Thank you, my friend,” he said. “I am indebted to you.”
The bird did a little bow then flew away.
“Doallbirds come to you?”
“If I ask them to, yes.” His eyes sparkled. “They go to my father without asking.”
Aradella’s eyes showed her laughter. “But then, Tanek is—”
Mekos groaned. “You’ve recovered too much! Show me this place.”
Turning, Aradella looked around her. Her voice was solemn, serious. “This is a garden of death.” He followed her as she pointed out the plants. “Sea mango, gympie-gympie, wolfsbane, snakeroot, belladonna, oleander, hemlock, foxglove. They’re all poisonous plants. Every one of them.”
Abruptly, Mekos jerked his head upward and looked toward the far side of the garden. The hair over his ears twitched. “Someone comes,” he whispered.
Aradella stepped toward the near wall, meaning to get out of there, but Mekos didn’t move. “This is who I’ve been smelling,” he said softly. “Following and watching us.”
