Gregori grabbed on to Abigail. “Keep talking,” he told J.L. on the phone, then he teleported.
They landed on a dirt path that weaved through a forest of bamboo. Gregori handed Abigail a flashlight and turned on the second one.
“I thought you had excellent night vision,” she said as she clicked on her flashlight.
“I do. I’m just making more light for you.” Gregori noticed that Russell had already started down the path. Typical Marine. He had to be on the front line.
J.L. motioned for them to follow. “The local healer said Tiger Paw grows on the other side of this forest. Close to a canola field.”
“Healer very nice old man,” Rajiv added. “He like little blue pills J.L. give him for gift.”
Gregori chuckled.
“Wait a minute.” Abigail stepped over a fallen bamboo log. “Are you giving the locals Viagra?”
J.L. shrugged. “They like it. It helps them be more . . . helpful.”
She snorted. “You mean you’re bribing them.”
“Could be worse,” J.L. muttered.
Rajiv nodded. “Village people like J.L. very much.”
They reached the edge of the forest. Gregori’s flashlight beam caught the bright yellow color of a canola field to the left.
“Oh, how pretty,” Abigail breathed.
“This way.” J.L. led them toward the canola field. “The healer said it grew in great clumps in this area.”
They spread out to search for it, although Gregori stayed close to Abby. Their flashlight beams moved back and forth over the green vegetation.
She gasped. “There it is!” She grinned at Gregori, then flung her arms around him. “I found it!”
Rajiv, J.L., and Russell rushed toward her.
“Here.” Rajiv dug into his canvas bag and handed her clippers and a plastic bag.
“There’s a trowel in there, too, and some plastic pots.” J.L. motioned to the canvas bag. “We weren’t sure if you wanted clippings or the whole plant.”
“Oh, the whole plant would be wonderful. Sometimes the root is the best part. And then I can get a soil sample, too.” Abigail grinned. “You guys are the best!”
Gregori grabbed the trowel and located a cluster of small Tiger Paw plants. Soon they had three unearthed and planted in the plastic pots.
“Let me see if I can get through to Angus.” J.L. called on his phone. “Hey, boss. We’ve got a pickup for you. Three plants.”
Angus, Robby, and Kyo materialized close by.
“Are ye all right, lass?” Angus asked Abigail.
“Yes.” She smiled. “We’re making wonderful progress!”
“We’ll have Mikhail teleport these to Moscow.” Robby lifted one of the pots. “And then he can take them on to London. We’ll have them safe at Romatech within twenty-four hours.”
“That’s fantastic.” Her smile widened. “Thank you!”
Gregori wrapped an arm around her and squeezed her shoulder. “One down, and two to go.”
Russell turned to J.L. “Did the healer tell you where the second plant is located?”
J.L. exchanged a worried look with Rajiv. “He said the Demon Herb is west of here. Close to the village that’s three miles away on the other side of the lake.”
“Let’s go get it,” Gregori said. “Then we’ll be done here tonight, and we can move on to the next base.”
Rajiv shook his head. “We should not look for it. It is very bad.”
“What do you mean?” Gregori asked. “Is it some kind of narcotic?”
“I’m not sure,” J.L. replied. “The healer just told us to stay away. Apparently it’s called the Demon Herb because it’s so powerful. People say it’s cursed.”
“Surely that’s just an old superstition,” Abigail said.
Rajiv shook his head again. “It is very bad.”
“What makes it so bad?” Robby asked.
J.L. sighed. “Those who go looking for it are never seen again.”
Chapter Twenty-three
“Abby, is that you?” Madison asked on the phone. “Are you in China?”
“I was about thirty minutes ago. Is Mom okay?”
“She’s asleep, so I answered her phone. I’m in her hospital room. Where are you?”
“I’m close to Tokyo,” Abigail explained. “Kyo’s place. I needed to use the bathroom, and Gregori said I could either try the bamboo forest or he’d teleport me to a real bathroom. Guess which one I chose?”
Madison laughed. “That teleporting sure does come in handy.”
“Yes.” Abigail suspected Gregori had a hidden motive for offering to take her back to Kyo’s house. The guys were worried about the accursed Demon Herb. Instead of spending the rest of the night going after the plant, they were trying to keep her safely ensconced at Kyo’s luxurious estate.