Chapter 272
"Let's ask Dr. Evan first," I said.
Dr. Nora nodded. "He should be here any minute."
The lab fell silent. The fluorescent lights hummed their endless song. Somewhere down the hall, a cart rattled past. The world kept moving, indifferent to the tension coiling in my chest.
I leaned against the counter, my fingers wrapped around the edge. The cold metal pressed against my palms and the vial sat in front of me.
"Let me take a bit of the sample then, while we wait for him," I said. "May I?"
Dr. Nora raised an eyebrow. "You want to run the test yourself?"
"I want to see it with my own eyes. My grandmother's notes mentioned a simple litmus test. Not the high-tech equipment you use here. Just turmeric and honey."
"Turmeric and honey?"
"To check for light damage. If the binding agent has degraded, the mixture will separate instead of binding. The honey won't hold. The turmeric will clump."
Dr. Nora stared at me. Then she laughed. It was a short, surprised sound.
