The Unlucky Turn by Mark Twain 142
Once the treatment ended, the doctors crowded around.
“Dr. Cheney, what is that technique called?”
“That was incredible! How did you achieve such a high level of medical skill at such a young age?”
“Can we ask you a few questions?”
After witnessing her skill firsthand, the doctors realized Leilani was the real deal. They had seen the efficacy of traditional medicine with their own eyes.
Leilani remained unfazed by the flattery. Calmly, she picked up a pen and paper, the tip gliding quickly across the page as she listed several medicinal herbs.
Mr. Dillon leaned in to look, raising an eyebrow. “These herbs…”
“They are warming agents to neutralize the aggressive nature of the toxin,” Leilani said without looking up, continuing to write. “Combined with the acupuncture, this prescription. will keep Mr. Chilton’s condition within a safe range, buying us enough time to develop the
antidote.”
She wrote down the last ingredient and handed the prescription to Mr. Dillon.
For the next few days in Brass City, Leilani performed acupuncture on Mr. Chilton at set times every day to manage the poison. The rest of the time, she and Mr. Dillon worked around the clock on their research.
Finally, she found a lead in a book about flora of Eldoria. The pages described a rare plant called “Blood Vine,” the sap of which was dark red and shared extremely similar characteristics with the toxin they were fighting.
Leilani had intended to study local plant properties to find a cure, but she hadn’t expected to actually stumble upon the key.
Her gaze locked onto the small print under the description of the Blood Vine, reading every word carefully.
“The Blood Vine grows deep in the rainforests of Eldoria. Its sap can cause comas, but if countered with ‘Moonlight Herb,’ the toxicity can be neutralized…”
A spark of excitement lit up Leilani’s eyes, and she shouted for Mr. Dillon.
“You found something?”
Mr. Dillon pushed the door open upon hearing her shout. He was holding a takeout container. Seeing her excited expression, he felt a surge of anticipation.
“It’s already dinner time. Eat something first. You haven’t had a proper meal in days. We
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can talk about the discovery in a minute.”
They had both been working tirelessly, and Mr. Dillon thought he was pushing himself hard, but Leilani was on another level. When she got into research mode, she forgot to eat or sleep. It turned him-someone who usually needed to be reminded to take breaks-into the one reminding her.
Leilani took the food but didn’t open it. She excitedly shared her new finding. “Mr. Dillon, I need ‘Moonlight Herb.’ Preferably fresh.”
“Moonlight Herb? That won’t be easy to find.”
“I know.” Leilani opened the book to the page about the Blood Vine and showed him. “But this is our most likely breakthrough.”
Mr. Dillon studied it carefully. Years of medical practice and research experience allowed him to keenly perceive that this herb was indeed the key.
With hope renewed, Mr. Dillon laughed. “Alright I’ll have someone look into it.”
He paused, looking at Leilani’s bloodshot eyes and the mountain of documents on her desk. He couldn’t help but sigh. “You really work yourself to the bone, kid.”
Leilani forced a smile but didn’t reply. She had barely slept these past few days. But Mr. Dillon was no exception; he had been right there with her, working just as hard.
Mr. Dillon had witnessed Leilani’s dedication to solving this medical mystery over the last few days, and he deeply admired her spirit. It was rare, but Mr. Dillon felt the urge to take on an apprentice.
The N the
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Cedella
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