Ruby’s Fire

Armonk is up next, and his presentation involves the judges trooping through the parlor and out to the Fireseed field. Fingers crossed for him. I can only suppose that he’s trying to invoke a Fireseed plant to immolate, as he calls it. How does one make a plant burn itself? The last time Armonk spoke about it, he wasn’t sure.

 

When he returns, he walks stiffly with a set jaw. I get an uneasy feeling about it especially when Thorn bounds over to him and he doesn’t say much. I want to ask Armonk, but it feels like bad form while we’re still all waiting for word. I don’t have much time for speculation because I’m called in next. Bea wishes me good luck and Armonk gives me a thumbs-up. Blane offers me a sympathetic grin, which helps steady my quaking knees.

 

I march in, arrange my wares on a table that Nevada’s set up in front of the panel and launch into my speech. Sometimes I can get nervous, but not when I get a chance to delve into my passion—the making of my salves. “Since I was four I’ve been making potions and salves. You could say I’m a modern herbalist. I used to make them from crushed rocks, Dragon Lizard venom and Fireagar.” I pause to smile broadly and gauge the impact of my words. So far so good, the judges are listening intently. “Since Nevada’s taken me in, I’ve noticed new life springing up in the desert, such as this Spatters Lizard.” I reach in my latchbag and place the clear box containing the lizard on the table. It peers out at the panel. “Also these new beetle species I dubbed Antlered Purples for their antler-like protrusions.” I place that box next to the Spatter’s.

 

The chilly female judge, whose name I’ve learned is Stazzi, wags her arm for my attention. “Excuse me, but how is this connected to new applications for Fireseed?” Another judge nods in impatient agreement.

 

“I’m getting to that,” I say cheerily. “Fireseed, as we know, is an incredible plant in so many ways. We know it’s super fertile, and survives without water in high heat. But I found a new talent: for its use as a medicine.” The panelists, now anticipating I’ll put two and two together, relax back in their seats, readying their holo pads for notations.

 

“Elixir #1 is a combination of Spatter Venom and pulverized Fireseed.” I raise my left arm, which I held under a candle flame last night until I was practically screaming. The judges gasp at the sight. “As you see, my left arm is badly burned. It’s runny and blistering.”

 

I take a flattened spoon, dip it into the mixture, and then spread it over the burn. When it touches my skin it stings and tickles all at once. “See how fast it works?” Holding my arm out for everyone to see, the elixir hisses and bubbles and within a matter of seconds my skin is pink and tight with no burn just the way it worked with Armonk’s injury. Everyone starts to ask me for the recipe at once. I hint that I will reveal all if picked as a finalist.

 

For the next demonstration, I’ll be winging it. “Elixir # 2, a mix of pulverized Fireseed and beetle antler powder can be used as a powerful sedative. Who knew that Fireseed also had this property in its leaves!” I announce as I open the vial, and lift the Spatter Lizard from its box. Gripping the flattened spoon in my two-fingered hand, I dredge up a hunk of the buttery mixture and spread it across the Spatter’s arching back. Its madly cycling legs slow dramatically and its snout freezes into a gaping grin. “Now I can safely place him on the table. Elixir #2 renders the patient temporarily motionless, which is handy in a variety of situations.”

 

“Such as?” Axiom twiddles his holo pen.

 

“I know a co-worker I’d use that on,” sniggers a judge.

 

I stifle a laugh. “Well, it could be quite useful during medical procedures, or situations where you need to subdue a person, or—”

 

“Will the lizard snap out of it?” George Axiom frowns at its motionless body.

 

Good question. I hope I didn’t kill it. This mixture’s so new I didn’t have quite enough time to work out the proper dosage. “I, um …” Just then, the lizard slowly raises its head and rotates its beady eyes. By the time I catch it and hold it aloft, it’s again madly cycling its legs.

 

With relieved satisfaction, I see that the panelists are all taking notes. I’d so love to win this competition, and a fledgling dream is forming in me to replace my old Stiles nightmares. My new dream is for a man to love me not for what I look like, but for what I do in the world.

 

Could that be Blane? Way too early to tell, but the excitement over my successful demonstration has my legs wobbling and my heart bouncy with glee.

 

“Thank you, Ruby.” George gestures toward the door. “Please pack up and wait outside for the judge’s decision.”

 

That’s it? No hint of their early response? I could’ve shown the third elixir, a drug similar to Oblivion, but my druggie days are behind me, and I’d hate to encourage anyone else to use.

 

Marching out, I close the door behind me, pricking up my ears as I go. Alas, the judges have reverted back to savvy silence.