A seed hidden in the heart of an apple is an orchard invisible. ~Welsh Proverb

Hank rushed out of ‘The Last Word’, Lucinda's directions for the quickest way to the large sequoia followed him as he waved. He was reasonably certain Elise would pass a comment or two about his tardiness.

Sure enough, as he approached he could see Elise, arms crossed, tapping her foot impatiently. “Come on, hurry up, we’re late.” She indicated something back over her shoulder.

“Late, for what? We’re just looking for seeds.” Hank asked. “Besides, I need a drink and they have red parkon juice back there. It’s fantastic here, much better than what we got at home.”

“Yes, I’m sure the juice from a dirty wayside hovel is genuine and fresh, but we need to go now.” Elise wasn’t interested. “Besides, there is a tea stand right next to Jessie’s flower shop. They have the best parkon juice in Perison. They say adding a splash of green to the red parkon juice lifts the flavour profile. Which is just a snobby way of saying it tastes better that way. But I think it taste the best because they harvest Uncle Jessie’s parkon bushes for it. Come on, you’re being slow.” She grabbed his arm and started tugging.

“Why what’s the rush?”

“Well, it’s a surprise, but on my way back from dad’s favourite brewer, I went and saw uncle Jessie, cos I was early.” An impish grin appeared on Elise’s face as she continued. “I found a surprise, and I made him promise to keep it till I came back. But that was only if we were back there in half an hour. Which was like about 5 minutes ago and it will take us another 5 minutes at least to get there. You’re late, so he might have sold them which would be a shame.”

She glanced back Hank, willing him to move faster. “I can’t pay for them so we should get there before he sells them to someone else. As it is, Dad’s going to kill me! But shhh you mustn’t tell anyone. Not Oto-san, not uncle Ed, uncle Roger or lady Mary but especially Oto-san. It cost me soooo much, I had to promise I would pay the laundry bill next week not this week. Dad hates owing money so really, don’t tell him. Promise. You have to promise.

Hank wasn’t sure he understood half of what she had just said. But something about promises and non payment gave Hank a sense of impending doom. She was entirely too wound up. Promises such as these, in Hank’s experience, invariably led to later problems. His headache was returning for sure. Only this time it came in the form of an entirely too energetic loudmouth with a propensity for trouble that you honestly had to see to believe.

“Why do I get this nervous feeling, I’m going to get stabbed again?” Hank mumbled to himself.

Elise heard, “Nothing like that is going to happen. But you have to promise. Promise you won’t tell. Please.”

“Nope you’re right. No violence. But I can feel a please explain situation with your dad, an uncle or two and a grumpy duke coming on.” Hank paused “On reflection, I think the stabbing is the easier, less painful, option.”

“The duke? No, he likes you so does my uncle. Dad’s the only one to worry about.” Any irony completely escaped Elise.

“Oh Goody!” Hank struggled to keep the sarcasm out of his voice. “Life is peacful when you make enemies of a 200 kg man who totes around 50kg barrels all day. This is going to go fantastically well. I wonder what they make headstone’s out of around here.”

“Stop grumbling and promise. We’re nearly there.” Elise roller her eyes.

She wasn’t going to let up, Hank decided as he answered. “Fine I promise.”

“Yay.” She practically bounced almost knocking over a passerby, anticipation fuelling her excitement. “Here we are.”

Suddenly, their path through the markets opened into a small square. Tables and chairs laid out around a grand old fountain. Small raised boxed plants dotted the whole area. Square was a slight misnomer, there wasn’t a distinct shape to the area and none of the five converging paths met in any semblance of order. Rather is seemed to have morphed organically into a casual meeting area.

Vendors around the edge sold various foods and drinks. There was a proliferation of various trees towards one side, shading the area from the advancing afternoon sun. In front of Hank, directly across the square, stood a slightly older two story wooden building, located on the corner between two of the quieter pathways, appeared to be Elise’s destination as she wended her way between the plants and tables.

The building itself looked a little dilapidated on the sides but someone had painted the front reasonably recently. The green paint made the sign “Jessie’s Flower Shop” in large flowing gold lettering seem to float above the large glass windows and French doors which were all open to let the late summer sun in and a heavenly scent of flowers out.

Hank was still taking it all in as Elise dragged him in through the store and up to the counter. A middle-aged gentleman stood behind the counter, serving a rather portly looking gentleman. So Hank and Elise stoped a polite couple of steps behind the customer.

Hank expected Elise to start dancing on the spot or even to interrupt. But instead her demeanour seemed to morph into something more serious, but she couldn’t help a grin popping out on occasion. Hank was on the point of wandering off to browse through the store, but the gentleman finished with his customer. Immediately Elise pulled Hank up to the counter instead.

“Still in a hurry young lady?” The voice was soft.

“Yes, uncle Jessie?” Elise replied.

Earning a wry smile. “It’s just Jessie as I’ve said many times.”

“I understand.” Elise wasn’t perturbed. “Do you still have the surprises I asked you to keep for me?”

“I certainly do. Put them out of sight just after you left.” He smiled down at her.

“Good. As I said previously I’m representing this gentleman, Hank.” She half turned gesturing towards Hank as she spoke.

“Welcome to my flower shop. I’m Jessie.” The man introduced himself to Hank. “How did you meet this young lady?”

“Nice to meet you, Jessie, I’m Hank.” Hank replied. “As for meeting Elise, I’m sure she’s more than willing to talk your ear off and give it the full verbiage it deserves. I’ve been told I can’t do it justice.” A wry smile appeared on Hank’s face as he continued. “In short we helped each other out of a rather awkward spot. But I understand you are the person to talk to about plants and seeds.”

Before Jessie could respond Elise spoke up. “See, he just never tells the tale right. I'll tell you later ‘cos we ought to head home for dinner soon. He has a list of things he's looking for, but I bet it’s not right. He’s journeying north, so he is looking for plants that will thrive in the cold wet climate north of the Tillerman.”

“Well as I said to you before there aren’t many places which stock plants hardy enough to survive the northern climes.” Jessie turned to Hank. “What are you looking for? Grasses, vegetables or smelly fripperies?”

Hank cleared his throat, nervous now that his plan was subject to someone else’s efforts as well as his own. “Actually no. I have no need for, what did you call them, smelly fripperies. And I don’t envisage large swathes of cleared land so no row vegetables or grasses for the moment. What I’m really interested in are fruit, nut and vegetable trees or bushes. Perhaps the odd medicinal plant. Those sorts of things.”

“Ahh, much more interesting. What’s the rainfall or snow like?” Jessie asked.

“Not sure at this stage.” Hank replied.

“Hmm, strawberries, here’s a variety that likes the cold and will do well in a variety of moisture levels.” Jessie thought for a moment before turning to the cupboard behind him, pulling open a draw, grabbing a packet and tossed it onto the table. “Adam’s elderberries will do well and they’re great for elixirs.” A second packet joined the first. “Got a dwarf blueberry bush variety that absolutely loves the cold.” A small bush from a nearby beach joined the seeds. “Yep let’s grab a sea buckthorn and these two varieties of lingonberry. That should do the berries. Oh, and those Wolfberries.” He was almost talking to himself as he tossed another four packets onto the counter.

He faced Elise and Hank, “trees? We don’t usually carry seeds so it’ll have to be sprouts or saplings. Those two Jungen apples will be a reasonable place to start. I have a variety of cherry that loves the cold and wet so take them. Those Koenig Plums will work as well. Ooo mulberries will love it. Better add some walnut, buartnut and chestnuts to get the nuts there.” Jessie seemed to be in his element as he pottered around the store piling up sapling’s, seeds and small packets on the counter.

Continuing to Hank,Jessie spoke as he rummaged. “Whilst you’re at it take some Rhubarb, Maca, chives should survive and thyme. I think that does it. Obviously, there will be more at other times of the year but that’s the extent of my current cold weather stock.”

“Let's take everything, well except the second strain of lingonberries. Don’t need both.” Hank said.

“Right you are, but two varieties cross pollinate for larger fruit. I think that will be of benefit.” Jessie was nothing if not agreeable.

“Fine, both then.” Hank winced thinking about the cost.

“So, uncle Jessie, if we add all of those to my surprise what are you going to charge.” Elise was almost dancing she was so excited.

“Well…” Jessie paused to think. “With everything included I wouldn’t be able to take a Doim less than 7 Suiden 5, 3 and 40.”

Hank coughed as Elise responded. “Not a Doim less, you say. How long has dad being buying his special barley mix from you?” There was a slight pause. “And you want to charge us more than a Suiden for that lot.” She was gesturing at the collection of seeds and saplings.

“No, it’s not that. Your surprise is worth a lot.”

“Well bring it out and we can discuss it.” Elise attempted to conceal her excitement.

Hank raised a finger to say something, and Elise cut him off cold. “Not now. Leave this with me.” Hank was about to grumble anyway when the shopkeeper came back with a small pot holding a sprout about 4 cm tall. Then he proceeded to pull two large seeds out of his pocket.

Hank starred at the seeds. They were the about 3 cm across and had a silvery sheen to them. “Are they what I think they are?” H e asked.

“That depends” Jessie responded. “If you think they are the paired seeds of a Nakarosta planting then you are correct.” There was an understandable note of pride the shopkeepers voice. After all Nakarosta hadn’t been planted in Miylan in about 20 years.

Hank didn’t know what to think. He wanted those seeds badly, but he just did not have seven Suiden. He managed to keep his cool long enough to say, “I’ve read about Nakarosta never thought I would see one.”

“Well if this young lady has her way, it will only be the second strangest plant you will have. Do you know what Nakarosta are?” Jessie asked him.

“Well only what people say.” Hank answered.

Jessie probed. “Which is?”

“Supposedly they adapt their fruit to suit the place they are planted.” Hank replied.

“So, nothing at all.” Jessie commented with a snort.

Hank thought that was a bit much however rather than argue he decided to let Jessie continue.

“Nakarosta, like many plants will not produce fruit via self-pollination. At least two trees are required. Now any Nakarosta will produce fruit but only a pair will produce viable seeds. Most Nakarosta will produce a single seed from a viable pair once, occasionally twice a year. They do not produce many. A Nakarosta planting may produce a pair once in 40 or 50 years, sometimes, if you are lucky, twice. In short single Nakarostee produce sterile seeds in all fruits. A planting will have a special fruit once or twice a year that hold viable Nacarosta seeds. That is why pairs are so ridiculously expensive.”

“And do they really change their fruit to suit their surrounds?” Hank asked.

“A much harder question to answer.” Jessie replied. “The Kingdom’s horticulturists took a long time to acknowledge that Nakarosta aren’t a family of species but rather a single species. We don’t really like acknowledging other countries research here.” There was obviously some slight bitterness that came with the observation.

He continued. “Still, the short version is this. The trunks are different, leaves are different, fruit is different, but the seeds are always the same. It's the seeds that gave the game away. All living things reproduce after their own kind. The theory was, taking a Nakarosta seed from one planting and planting it at another the fruit would be the same as its parent Nakarosta. But no, it grew up exactly as its neighbouring Nakarostee.”

“Such an amazing plant. We now believe the Nakarosta, due to its very limited seed production, must ensure viability no matter what the environment is. It adapts perfectly to its environment without changing its nature.”

Jessie paused his explanation for a moment of introspection. “Perhaps we too should be like the Nakarosta, adapting to the situation we find ourselves in without changing who we are,” it was an interesting thought of Jessie’s. Worth remembering for sure.

An icon started blinking in the corner of Hank’s vision which he ignored, the conversation was too interesting.

Jessie continued. “People have also speculated that the Nakarosta also detects cultivation and consequently improves its desirability by improving the yields of surrounding crops.”

“How does that work?” Hank was intrigued

“Well, the theory holds that plants emit pheromones for all sorts of reasons and purposes. So, we speculate Nakarosta trees both interpret pheromones released during pruning and planting before emitting pheromones to manipulate insects. Both discouraging undesirables and encouraging pollinating species. Bees love them, for instance, though snails and aphids can’t stand them.” Jessie explained.

Hank’s thoughts started to run away with him. He ran through all the possibilities, trying to work out how to get his hands on those seeds. Almost dispmissively he glanced at the small sapling brought out with the seeds. All previous thoughts suddenly fled from his mind as he looked more closely at the sapling.

The florist grinned seeing the direction of Hank’s attention.

“I’m not entirely sure but… is that… no it can’t be… that’s not a Singtree is it?” Hank peered closer.

“Well, not yet, but one day it certainly will be.” The florist really smiled now.

Hank was gob smacked. Nobody he knew had ever seen a living one let alone owned one, even a sapling like the one before him. He was quite literally speechless.

The silence was broken by Elise. “So you’re going to sell all of this to us for 3 Suiden and not a Tsuki more.” She gestured at everything on the bench.

“No, I am not. Have you any idea how much that Singtree cost me.” The smile had been wiped off Jessie’s face, he seemed incensed.

“Yes, you are.” Elise retorted. “You keep complaining about it at your gambling nights with dad. You bought it for 1 Suiden and 3 and the poor thing hasn’t grown since. Let’s face it Singtrees aren’t normal and you don’t know why it won’t grow for a supposed green thumb like yourself. So, we’ll take it and these other seeds and saplings on the counter for 1 Suiden and 6.”

“2 Suiden and 4 and I’m being done over by a 15-year-old.” Jessie wined.

“You are not, stop complaining. So, we agree, 2 Suiden 1 and you’ll toss the Nakarosta seeds in for free because you like me and want to remain on Dad’s good side.” Elise pushed.

“I most certainly will not. I’ll do the 2 and 1 but those Nakarosta seeds are worth a Suiden each alone. As a planting they are worth three times that.” Jessie snapped back.

“Fine, we’ll take the left one for 1 and you can keep the one on the right.” Elise affected a tone of resignation.

“You can’t buy them separately,” Jessie sounded incensed.

“Why not? I know about them, they grow just fine as single trees.” Elise acted belligerent.

“But they lose most of their value.” Jessie snapped back.

“Which is nothing if they remain in your shop. Fine, 1 and 5 for the both of them.” Elise sounded like she was conceding point.

“Are you nuts? That’s not even half price!” Jessie seemed to have problems forming words.

“Course I’m not nuts but you haven’t done anything but look outraged. So, what’s it to be everything for 3 Suiden 6, 6 and 25.” Elise sounded perfectly reasonable.

“Trying to confuse the bid with a Do price. I taught you that trick and I couldn’t go less than 5, 5, 11 and 30,” the thunderclouds on Jessie’s brow started to lift as he got into the spirit of the negotiation.

“Now we have a price you seem to have retrieved it from dreamland. I suggest you return to reality and agree to 4 Suiden, 5, 6 and 5.”

“Ha, I see what you did there. Pretend you were halving the difference and then trying to get me on the Tsuki. Also taught you that one.” Jessie took a breath and sighed. “In all seriousness, I know he hasn’t got a lot of money, and we are all glad you’re safe, but I won’t budge from 5 Suiden and 6 Tsuki even.”

Elise turned to Hank. “It’s the best I can do. I can’t get him any lower. I know the look.”

Hank was crest fallen. He had four Suiden, 1 Gohan and change. He was going to have to start taking items out. Mentally he started removing some nuts, maybe the crabapple could go he need to find 11 Gohan in savings. However, given the way the bidding was going all the value was in the Nakarosta seeds and the Singwood tree. There was nothing else he could takeout that could get him those three. It broke his heart, but he was going to have to leave the Singwood tree behind. Hank opened his mouth to say something when his eyes lit on a girl that looked like she was about to cry.