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No one was home in her three-roo the doorway Beyond, reen plants, reaching up to the stark, white-yellow sun To the side, a large cauldron hung over ashes Over it, a little roof held up by four posts was eround

“Maryanne, is it?” I asked from her back door

She startled and stood, a woe brown eyes and a small nose Beads of sweat shone on her rich bronze skin, and a large hole in her tatty pants gave limpse of her knee

“I already paid rent,” she said with a lovely cadence to her voice She could sing, I bet Probably when she was dancing naked in the ht

I looked down at reat I wonder if the people in the expensive part of toould hand over rent if I just wandered into their houses When’s rent time?”

Her eyebrows sank

“Yeah, I’m not from here Listen, you have a lot of sick people in these parts” I pointed to the cauldron “Do you use that for brews or draughts or anything ?”

Her expression soured further, and she turnedto su I don’t even dance around it! I just make a few natural remedies to try to help with the sickness It doesn’t even work! I’”

“Clearly you are doing so if your rearden, identifying the various plants Dabnye pushed up next to the screen door, watching

“Who…who are you?” Maryanne asked me

“Someone who could use your help” I pointed down at the everlass “Where did you get that?”

Guilt crossed her expression before it cleared and she lifted her chin “It grows everywhere around here I replanted thee They ild I didn’t do anything wrong”

“Crap on a cracker, this place has done a nuet you in trouble Don’t let these fine clothes fool you” I bent to the everlass and plucked off the dying leaves She ue It wasn’t because she realized I was pruning

That done, I stood and glanced back at the dead fire Then at the house

“Have you harvested any of this everlass?” I asked “Have you dried it?”