. Edkim continued, “Now the time has come to harvest the root. Gather around the shrubs. I’ll show you the proper way to approach the plants. We always harvest the tubers in the dark period while the light is dim. That’s when they have greatest potency. Now the Approximation makes the dark time even grayer. Our ancestors’ experience proved the Approximation grants even greater potency to the tubers.”
The Teacher went to the first plant on the downward sloping terrain. The older Drelve sang in a low soothing voice. The plant curled its leaves and retracted its barely visible needle-like thorns. The Drelve then tenderly touched the spine of the upper leaves of the plant. The enhancing plant pulled its limbs upward and inward. This in effect changed the plant from a full bush to a thin narrow plant. Edkim then removed a small spade from his pack and knelt at the base of the plant. The Teacher delicately inserted the spade into the ground, moved the digging instrument around the base of the plant, gently pulled the entire plant from the soil, held it aloft, and exposed the roots to the graying light. The gray light from Andreas concentrated on the roots. The entire plant emitted a gray aura. Edkim expertly exposed several thumbnail sized tubers dangling from the uncovered roots. He gently pulled the tubers from the roots, but very carefully left one of the tubers undisturbed. He then gently stroked the roots of the plant and carefully placed the plant back on the soft dark ground. The enhancing plant’s roots plunged back into the soil. The Teacher Edkim sang again, and the little bush expanded its branches and reopened its red flowers.
“That’s how it’s done,” the Teacher said matter-of-factly. “Disturb only the plants with flowers. That’s the sign that their roots bear mature tubers. Once we have harvested, I’ll tell you more of the Thirttene.”
benjamintowe 