“How does it spread?”
“Either by wind or direct contact. They need to perform tests.”
Harthon rubbed at the scruff on his chin. “Did you stop all potato trades?”
Ana nodded, and I noticed the dark circles that marred the skin beneath her eyes. “It takes time for word to spread. There’s little chance that we stopped all diseased crops from making their rounds. They won’t enter the city center, at least, but that’s our only guarantee.”
My skin turned cold as the weight of the situation crashed over me. Even with Harthon’s animal preservation efforts, there simply wasn’t enough meat to feed everyone. Root vegetables and grains were our main sources of food, and they were already difficult enough to grow healthily in this environment. Having one completely demolished by disease was catastrophic.
“What kinds of potatoes do you grow in this Territory?” I asked. While Merelda and I mostly relied on purchased grains, she’d always made it a point to share pieces of knowledge regarding the natural world. Animals, plants, crops, earth-born diseases—it was a part of the education she bestowed upon me. I wasn’t always attentive, but Iunderstood potatoes.
To my surprise, it was Harthon who answered my question. “Goldens are the most popular. Sometimes the red variety, if I’m not mistaken.”
The man never ceased to confound me. Not only did he fight and dance, but he knew of plants, as well. Next, he would serenade us on the flute.
North, ratherunsurprisingly, harshly yanked me from my wonder. “Is there a point, or do you just enjoy discussing potatoes?”
I pinned him with a glare. “Not all potato varieties are the same.Obviously,” I added before the bearded man could snark. “Diseases that affect some won’t affect others. Reds and goldens are prone to being afflicted by similar diseases. Russets aren’t in the same category. They’re also more expensive, which is why not many people grow them.”
Harthon tapped his finger on the table, considering the information before addressing Ana. “Have our scientists examined other species?”
“Not that I know of. They’re focused on mitigation right now, not solutions.”
“That needs to change.” He threw me a glance. “Have them look at other varieties, beginning with russets.”
The relief I hoped to see didn’t fall upon Ana’s face. “I will. It’s a possible long-term solution, but we don’t have enough here in the Citadel to feed an entire Territory. Even if russets are the answer, it’ll take months to grow new ones, and people won’t last that long. Hundreds, maybe thousands will die.”
Harthon nodded, apparently already aware of this somber fact. “Is the disease visible to the eye?”
“Yes.”
“Then we’ll be sending soldiers to every village to burn any infected farms,” he decided grimly. “We’ll need regular inspections of healthyvegetable fields as well as our grains to stop any spread. We’ll also need to commandeer grain and vegetable farms to ration food.”
“We all know how that went last time,” North muttered, crossing his arms.
“We don’t have a choice.”
“What do you mean, last time?” I interjected. Second had never experienced crop issues, at least in our area. Was this a common occurrence?
“Our largest grain growers were affected by bad river water last year. Rationing provisions didn’t go over well,” Ana explained.
That was probably an understatement. Rationing already-meager resources would strain even the most understanding and practical of people.
“They’ll be fairly compensated again. We need to make an example of how the Citadel is participating in the rationing, too,” Harthon said.
Nodding her agreement, Ana proposed, “The Conquering Day celebration will be a good time to showcase that. We need to take advantage of that opportunity.”
North regarded her with doubt. “Example or not, they’re still going to fight us on it. What do we do with those who rebel?”
Harthon didn’t hesitate. “Anyone who is too selfish to help the common good, to help save babies and children who are starving to death, will be handled appropriately.” Based on the unmoving conviction in his tone, it was rather apparent what he meant by “handled appropriately.”
Handled with the ruthlessness that made his name.
Blood and violence and general dismay were likely involved.
Good,declared the voice in my head, appreciating Harthon’s position. Thousands didn’t deserve to die because of the uncooperative and selfish few. I knew what it was like to be part of those thousands.I always had been one of them, except no one—no Princeps—had looked out for me.
Callen chose that moment to chime in. “I’m glad that we have some kind of solution here, but as our lovely scientists have told us many times, crop diseases will continue happening, thanks to the Domus. Our resources are screwed. Getting inside Centralis is the only solution that offers real help.” Bright green irises landed on me expectantly. “Fish Eyes? That crazy hag offer any sort of hope?”
