Page 30 of Tiger's Curse
“Hmm. Your bird is very beautiful.”
He nodded and worked quietly.
“May I help you with the leaves?” I asked.
He grinned widely, revealing a broken smile with several missing teeth. His eyes almost disappeared amid the deep brown wrinkles. “You want assist me? Yes, Kahl-see. Watch Phet. Follow. You try.”
He held the stem of a plant and pulled downward with his fingers until he had stripped off all of the leaves. He handed me a branch with tiny leaves, which looked like a type of rosemary. I plucked off the fragrant green leaves and piled them up on the table. We worked companionably together for a while.
Apparently, he harvested the herbs for a living. He showed me the different plants that he’d collected and told me their names and what they were used for. He also had the dry collection, which was hanging from the ceiling, and he spent some time describing each one of those. Some of the names I was familiar with, but others I’d never heard of before.
The more interesting ones were arjuna, the ground bark of a tree used medicinally to aid circulation and digestion; turmeric, good for circulation as well but also provided aid to the respiratory system; and neem leaves, which did something to aid digestion. I didn’t ask any detailed questions about that one.
Others were gotu kola, which smelled bitter and sweet. Phet said it gave long life and lots of energy. Brahmi leaves helped a person think better, and shatavari was a root good for female problems.
He stood on a little step stool, took down some of the dry plants, and replaced them with fresh ones, and then he got out a mortar and pestle. After teaching me how to crumble the herbs and grind them, he turned the job over to me so I could grind several different types.
Phet opened one jar that had hard, golden drops of resin inside. I smelled it and exclaimed, “I remember that smell from the jungle. It’s that gummy stuff that drips from the tree, right?”
“Very good Kahl-see. It name olibanum. Come from Boswellia tree, but maybe you call frankincense.”
“Frankincense? I always wondered what that was.”
He took out a small chip and handed it to me. “Here, Kahl-see, taste.”
“You want me toeatthat? I thought it was a perfume.”
“Take, Kahl-see, you try.” He put a piece on his own tongue, and I followed suit.
It smelled spicy, and its flavor was sweet and warm. Its texture was like sticky gum. Phet chewed with his few teeth and grinned at me.
“Good taste, Kahl-see? Now breathe long.”
“Breathe long?”
He demonstrated by sucking in a deep breath, so I did too. He thumped me on the back, which would have caused me to spit out the gum if it wasn’t permanently stuck to my teeth. “You see? Good you stum-ack, good breathe, no worries.” He handed me the small jar of frankincense. “You keep, good value meant for you.”
I thanked him, and after placing the jar in my backpack, returned to the mortar and pestle.
He asked, “Kahl-see, you travel lengthy way, yes?”
“Oh, yes, a very long way.” I told him about meeting Ren in Oregon and then journeying to India with Mr. Kadam. I also described the loss of the truck, our trek through the jungle, and ended with finding his home.
Phet nodded and listened intently. “And your tiger is not as always tiger. Am I correct in this saying?”
I looked at Ren. “Yes, you are correct.”
“You wish to help the tiger?”
“Yes, I wish to help him. I’m angry that he tricked me, but I understand why he did.” I ducked my head and shrugged my shoulders. “I just want him to be free.” At that moment, the little red bird burst into a lovely song and continued to sing for the next few minutes.
Phet closed his eyes, listened with an expression of pure rapture, and hummed quietly along. When the bird stopped singing, he opened his eyes and looked at me with a delighted smile.
“Kahl-see! You very special! Joyful is my feeling! Phet to perceive song of Durga!” He got up gleefully and began bustling away all the plants and jars. “At the present, you must respite. Important sunrise is tomorrow. Phet must pray in the dark hours, and you necessity sleep. Embark on your traverse tomorrow. It’s hard as difficult. In first light, Phet assist you in the company of tiger. Durga’s secret to unveil. Now go drowse.”
“I just had a long nap, and I’m not sleepy yet. Can’t I stay with you and ask more questions?”
“No. Phet go pray. Necessary express thanks Durga in favor of unforeseen blessing. You essential slumber. Phet assemble brew expand Kahl-see sleep.”
