Plant Them Deep (30 page)
Authors: Aimee & David Thurlo
Then he pulled out a silver lighter from his pocket. “They
always said that being around someone who smoked was dangerous to your health.” Knight flicked the wheel with his thumb, and a long blue flame appeared.
always said that being around someone who smoked was dangerous to your health.” Knight flicked the wheel with his thumb, and a long blue flame appeared.
“No!” Rose grabbed the closest pot, which contained a small cactus, and threw it at him.
The blow caught Knight on the head and he dropped the lighter. But he steadied
himself quickly and reached for the large shovel resting against the greenhouse wall to his right. “It’ll be more merciful if I knock you out first. You’ll never feel the fire, because the smoke will probably kill you before then.”
himself quickly and reached for the large shovel resting against the greenhouse wall to his right. “It’ll be more merciful if I knock you out first. You’ll never feel the fire, because the smoke will probably kill you before then.”
Rose looked around for a weapon, but there was none. In desperation, she casually scooped up some potting soil and held it in her fist as she stepped back, giving
ground. As he raised the shovel to swing at her, she threw the soil right into his eyes.
ground. As he raised the shovel to swing at her, she threw the soil right into his eyes.
Knight staggered back coughing, and Rose ducked past him, bolting for the door. As she yanked it open, she ran right into Sheriff Taylor and Ella.
“Mom!” Ella yelled as she reached out to steady her. “Are you okay?”
Looking over Rose’s shoulder, Ella suddenly saw Bradford Knight burst through the doorway,
his shovel raised. Pushing Rose behind her, Ella and Sheriff Taylor both reached for their pistols.
his shovel raised. Pushing Rose behind her, Ella and Sheriff Taylor both reached for their pistols.
As Knight lowered the shovel, Rose took an unsteady breath. “I don’t think I’ve ever been happier to see you, daughter.”
R
ose was sitting in her daughter’s office at the Shiprock Tribal Police Station when Big Ed Atcitty, the police chief, appeared at the doorway.
ose was sitting in her daughter’s office at the Shiprock Tribal Police Station when Big Ed Atcitty, the police chief, appeared at the doorway.
“I’ve seen the videotape,” he said, “and when the crucial frames are viewed one at a time, it’s easy to identify Knight as the person doing the digging.”
“If he’d been able to complete his work, he might have been a rich man,” Ella
said. “From what we saw, he was creating quality samples of the herbs the tribe commonly uses for medicinal purposes. He intended on providing dried specimens for lab extraction, then selling those pure extracts to the pharmaceutical company he worked with along with the information on their health applications. Herbal remedies don’t have to go through the same rigorous testing program that prescription
drugs do, and he would have saved the company years of trial-and-error research. But then things went wrong.”
said. “From what we saw, he was creating quality samples of the herbs the tribe commonly uses for medicinal purposes. He intended on providing dried specimens for lab extraction, then selling those pure extracts to the pharmaceutical company he worked with along with the information on their health applications. Herbal remedies don’t have to go through the same rigorous testing program that prescription
drugs do, and he would have saved the company years of trial-and-error research. But then things went wrong.”
Rose nodded, understanding. “Cancer shows no mercy,” she said. “I just wish I knew how he managed to learn about so many of our collection sites.”
“I can answer that,” Ella said. “He admitted that he’d followed several medicine men when they were gathering their
herb medicines, and though
they may not readily admit it, according to Knight several medicine men talked freely about the collection sites their ‘competition’ used.”
herb medicines, and though
they may not readily admit it, according to Knight several medicine men talked freely about the collection sites their ‘competition’ used.”
“I wonder if my friend, the man I knew as Charlie, found out he was being followed and that’s why they’d argued that day.”
Ella nodded. “Knight has been plea-bargaining in order to get better prison accommodations and medical care. He told us that Charlie
spotted the phony utility truck, remembered having seen it several times before, and decided to sneak up on whoever was inside. When he saw it was Knight, Charlie confronted him. They got into a scuffle that escalated and your friend suddenly collapsed and died. Knight told you the truth, he didn’t kill him, and the autopsy supports his story. Charlie did die of a heart attack. The most we’ll be
able to pin on Knight is the theft of reservation plants and tampering with evidence at the scene of a crime. Involuntary manslaughter is a possibility, but the prosecutor doesn’t think it’ll stick. Knight made it look like Charlie had fallen off the cliff because he didn’t want to report it and get involved in an investigation.” Ella paused, taking a breath. “He’ll have to answer for a lot in court.
I’ve heard that the natural gas company is thinking of suing Knight for pretending to be one of their employees too.”
spotted the phony utility truck, remembered having seen it several times before, and decided to sneak up on whoever was inside. When he saw it was Knight, Charlie confronted him. They got into a scuffle that escalated and your friend suddenly collapsed and died. Knight told you the truth, he didn’t kill him, and the autopsy supports his story. Charlie did die of a heart attack. The most we’ll be
able to pin on Knight is the theft of reservation plants and tampering with evidence at the scene of a crime. Involuntary manslaughter is a possibility, but the prosecutor doesn’t think it’ll stick. Knight made it look like Charlie had fallen off the cliff because he didn’t want to report it and get involved in an investigation.” Ella paused, taking a breath. “He’ll have to answer for a lot in court.
I’ve heard that the natural gas company is thinking of suing Knight for pretending to be one of their employees too.”
“At least Knight can’t dig up any more plants,” Rose said.
“But you will have to answer for a few things also, Mom. What you did was illegal. What’ll make the evidence stand is that Sheriff Taylor and I went there to investigate a disturbance and we both saw the plants and their
labels. All the plants were linked to tribal land because we found his codes in a logbook.”
labels. All the plants were linked to tribal land because we found his codes in a logbook.”
“And he’s confessed, right?”
“Yes, but that doesn’t exonerate
you
.”
you
.”
“Then so be it. My granddaughter’s father will defend me if Knight presses charges. But I think Knight will be too busy
defending himself to do that. Especially if he’s trying to bargain for a better jail cell.”
defending himself to do that. Especially if he’s trying to bargain for a better jail cell.”
Ella glared at her.
“Mom, doesn’t
anything
scare you?”
“Mom, doesn’t
anything
scare you?”
“Sometimes,” Rose admitted softly. “But it’s what we end up doing in spite of it that defines who we are.”
Big Ed laughed. “Like daughter, like mother. Right, ladies?”
Ella sighed. “I give up.”
Rose stood. “Unless the police are pressing charges now, I have a Song of Blessing to attend.”
Big Ed shrugged, then shook his head, turning to look at Ella.
“Go
see Lena at the hospital. If we have any questions, I know where you live,” Ella said.
see Lena at the hospital. If we have any questions, I know where you live,” Ella said.
Ten days later, Rose, Maria, Willie, and Sadie gathered on Lena’s porch for a visit. Although Lena tired easily, she was obviously well on the road to recovery, and had prepared dessert for all of them.
“I thought I was going to lose you, old friend. Don’t you ever scare me like that again,” Rose said.
“I wouldn’t have made it if it hadn’t been for all of you.” Lena smiled at Rose and the others. “You kept searching and finally found the plants the
hataalii
needed. That’s why I’m here right now.”
hataalii
needed. That’s why I’m here right now.”
Maria poured herself another glass of iced tea from the pitcher. “I heard this morning that the tribal council has asked the Navajo nursery to separate a section of land and dedicate it to cultivating
the endangered Plant People. There, they’ll increase in numbers until they can be reintroduced into the areas of the Rez where their kind have diminished or disappeared.”
the endangered Plant People. There, they’ll increase in numbers until they can be reintroduced into the areas of the Rez where their kind have diminished or disappeared.”
Lena smiled, approving.
“After you get better,” Rose said, “you and I will go to the
schools and teach both teachers and kids about the Plant People. They’ve become very curious about medicinal plants ever since they heard
that a huge pharmaceutical company was interested in our herbs.”
schools and teach both teachers and kids about the Plant People. They’ve become very curious about medicinal plants ever since they heard
that a huge pharmaceutical company was interested in our herbs.”
Lena chuckled. “Isn’t that the way it always is? No one appreciates what they’ve got until someone else wants it.”
“I’ve also suggested that the tribe work hand in hand with the mining companies’ reclamation efforts, and the tribe has agreed that this should be done. All the Plant Watchers will be monitoring and reporting what
the Anglo companies do from now on,” Rose said.
the Anglo companies do from now on,” Rose said.
Lena laughed. “Oh, I bet they just loved you for that.”
Rose smiled. The afternoon with friends was just what Lena—and she—needed.
They passed the time pleasantly. Then, after the others had all left and only Rose remained, Lena stood up. “I want to go to my family’s shrine. It’s not far from here, just behind the house and up that canyon. Will
you help me walk up there?”
you help me walk up there?”
“Are you sure you’re ready for it?”
“Yes, if you’re willing to help me.”
“Of course I will.”
Ten minutes later, Rose and Lena were a hundred yards up the narrow canyon. Rose’s gaze swept the area automatically, always alert for the Plant People.
“Look over to your right,” Rose told Lena, pointing to a plant with gray flowers.
“‘Mind medicine,’” Lena whispered.
“And growing beside it is ‘cone toward water.’” Both plants were used to work spells—“frenzy medicine,” they were called. “What if the kids get hold of those!” Rose reached down, intending on pulling them up, but Lena stepped in the way.
“No. Even these plants have a part in the path of harmony. Everything is interconnected. The absence of one plant can
lead to the loss of others and we’ve all
learned the hard way how one tiny plant can make all the difference in the world.”
lead to the loss of others and we’ve all
learned the hard way how one tiny plant can make all the difference in the world.”
Rose nodded slowly. “You’re right. Everything in nature has two sides, and accepting both is the only way to walk in beauty.”
With the sun high over the Chuska Mountains far to the west, Rose and Lena continued their walk to the shrine.
ELLA CLAH NOVELS
Blackening Song
Death Walker
Bad Medicine
Enemy Way
Shooting Chant
Red Mesa
Changing Woman
Tracking Bear
Wind Spirit
White Thunder
Death Walker
Bad Medicine
Enemy Way
Shooting Chant
Red Mesa
Changing Woman
Tracking Bear
Wind Spirit
White Thunder
LEE NEZ NOVELS
Second Sunrise
Blood Retribution
Pale Death (forthcoming)
Blood Retribution
Pale Death (forthcoming)
SISTER AGATHA NOVELS
Bad Faith
Thief in Retreat
Thief in Retreat
Plant Them Deep
The Spirit Line
The Spirit Line
“A hair-raising opening. The Thurlos hit all the right notes: they have an intriguing, growing character at the center of a series that combines fast-moving plots and a wealth of fascinating cultural information.”
—Booklist
on
Wind Spirit
on
Wind Spirit
“Cultural differences between the traditional and modern Navajo way of life show up in every description. With almost
nonstop action and plenty of complications, this eighth Ella Clah title offers yet another skillfully mixed and expertly designed story.”
nonstop action and plenty of complications, this eighth Ella Clah title offers yet another skillfully mixed and expertly designed story.”
—School Library Journal
on
Tracking Bear
on
Tracking Bear
“The Thurlos’ insights into the sociology of the reservation are authentic and persuasive.”
—Kirkus Reviews
on
Changing Woman
on
Changing Woman
“The authors deliver an intense, spellbinding family drama in which the battle between
good and evil affects both modernist and traditionalist Navajo. Prime reading for fans of Tony Hillerman and other Southwestern mysteries.”
good and evil affects both modernist and traditionalist Navajo. Prime reading for fans of Tony Hillerman and other Southwestern mysteries.”
—Library Journal
on
Red Mesa
on
Red Mesa
“If it’s just too long between Tony Hillerman novels, the mysteries of Aimée and David Thurlo will help you bridge the canyons. If you prefer your mysteries with a little green chile and New Mexico grit, you’ll want to add
the Thurlos to your reading list.”
the Thurlos to your reading list.”
—Rocky Mountain News
on
Shooting Chant
on
Shooting Chant
This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this novel are either fictitious or are used fictitiously.
PLANT THEM DEEP
Copyright © 2003 by Aimée and David Thurlo
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form.
A Forge Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
Forge
®
is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.
®
is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.
eISBN 9781429914932
First eBook Edition : March 2011
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Thurlo, Aimée.
Plant them deep/ Aimée Thurlo and David Thurlo. p. cm.
“A Forge book”—T.p. verso.
ISBN 0-765-31413-4
EAN 978-0-765-31413-0
1. Clah, Ella (Fictitious character)—Fiction. 2. Mothers and daughters—Fiction.
3. Police—New Mexico—Fiction. 4. Navajo Indians—Fiction. 5. Navajo women—Fiction. 6. Policewomen—Fiction. 7. New Mexico—Fiction. I. Thurlo, David. II. Title.
3. Police—New Mexico—Fiction. 4. Navajo Indians—Fiction. 5. Navajo women—Fiction. 6. Policewomen—Fiction. 7. New Mexico—Fiction. I. Thurlo, David. II. Title.
PS3570.H82P57 2003
813'.54—dc21
813'.54—dc21
2003009216
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