[Chapter 398: Searching for Herbal Ingredients]
Linton made his way to the largest establishment he could find -- the Herbal Emporium of Cali. The place dominated one corner of the convention hall, far bigger than the surrounding booths, and seemed promising enough to hold everything he needed.
The Herbal Emporium had a two-level layout. The ground floor alone was sprawling, with glass cases running the length of the walls. Inside, dried roots, powders, bark, flowers, and resins were neatly displayed in jars, each tagged with its name and price.
Behind the counters stood a dozen attendants in matching green dresses, welcoming customers with warm smiles and drawing them in to browse. At the center of the floor sat a consultation table where two older herbalists, in white coats, gave advice on remedies for ailments ranging from stomach troubles to chronic fatigue.
The store was buzzing. Customers left with paper bags full of herbs, bargaining voices mixing with the herbalists' low explanations.
At the stairwell leading up, a striking woman stood guard. She had a tall frame, a narrow waist, and curves made more dramatic by her fitted dress. Next to her, a sign read: "Bulk Orders and Trade Negotiations Upstairs."
Linton didn't hesitate. The woman straightened as he approached.
"Hola, señor," she said, then, realizing he was a foreigner, switched awkwardly to a halting "Hello…"
"No problem," Linton answered smoothly in Spanish.
"Would you take me upstairs?" he asked politely.
"Of course, señor," she replied, handing him a card before leading him up the stairs with a confident sway.
On the second floor, she guided him into a quiet meeting room and served tea before leaving, heels clicking, to fetch the manager.
---
Soon, a stout man with a warm but calculating look entered. He handed over his card.
"Welcome, sir. I'm Diego Alvarez, manager of the Herbal Emporium. How can we help you?"
"Señor Alvarez, I have here a list of 26 herbal functions. Could you help me match them to specific herbs?"
The man frowned slightly, puzzled by the odd request. "You mean… you know the therapeutic effects but not the plant names?"
"That's right."
Alvarez raised his brows, then extended his hand. "Let me see the list."
Linton passed over the printed sheet. Alvarez scanned the lines: replenish energy, strengthen lungs, promote fluids, calm nerves…
"That one sounds like suma root," he said. Then: nourish blood, regulate menstruation, relieve pain… "That's angelica, no doubt."
His knowledge was evident. One after another, he identified 12 herbs with confidence. But the rest gave him pause.
"Señor, I'll admit -- this list goes beyond my expertise. But we have senior consultants at our headquarters in Bogotá. With your permission, I can send this to them immediately."
"Headquarters?" Linton asked.
"Yes. Our Bogotá office employs nationally respected experts in traditional and indigenous herbal medicine. They should be able to identify the rest."
"Any conditions?"
"Only one," Alvarez said frankly. "If we succeed, I hope you'll purchase the herbs from us."
"That's reasonable. But how will I verify the identifications?"
Alvarez smiled knowingly. "I thought of that. Please wait."
He left and soon returned carrying three thick volumes. "This is Compendio de Plantas Medicinales de Sudamérica. It's the most comprehensive catalog of herbs in this part of the world -- 1,800 entries with illustrations and formulas. After my experts suggest names, you can confirm them yourself here."
Linton accepted the volumes, impressed. He had heard of this modern compendium but never held a copy. It was exactly the kind of resource he needed. He made a mental note to purchase a set.
"As long as the identifications check out, I'll buy 10 kilograms of each herb," Linton said.
Alvarez's face lit up. "Ten kilograms each -- including suma root?"
"Yes. Do you carry wild, forest, and cultivated?"
"All three. Prices vary."
"Then five kilograms of each."
Alvarez's smile widened. "Excellent. Please, give me a few minutes while I send your list to Bogotá."
---
While Alvarez handled the fax, Linton leafed through the compendium. The detail amazed him: precise drawings, harvesting methods, preparations, and over 10,000 traditional remedies.
By the time Alvarez returned, the specialists had already replied. The remaining 14 herbs were named and cross-referenced in the compendium. Linton verified them carefully -- each matched the medicinal properties he needed.
Even better, the Emporium had nearly all of them in stock. Alvarez personally arranged to source the two missing items from trusted colleagues in the trade.
The deal was struck: 10 kilograms each of 23 herbs, plus three types of suma root at 5 kilograms apiece. The total came to just over $20,000.
Fortunately, the Emporium's payment system accepted international cards. Linton's Visa cleared without issue.
The only obstacle was shipping -- Cali's fair didn't offer international delivery. But Alvarez had already anticipated this. He escorted Linton to the local post office, which had just launched international parcel services, and oversaw the careful packaging and dispatch.
The entire process had gone far more smoothly than Linton expected. He had braced for days of searching through countless small vendors, but one visit to the Herbal Emporium had accomplished it all.
Carrying the compendium and Alvarez's contact details, Linton left the Emporium satisfied.
*****
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