"Albert, Susan Wittig - An Unthymley Death" - читать интересную книгу автора (Albert Susan Wittig)

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Notes for Episode Five:

WILLOW is another herbal tree. The white willow (Salix alba) grew on the banks of the Nile and was thought by ancient Egyptians to be a symbol of joy. Since 500 B.C., Chinese herbalists have used it to relieve pain. But it took five whole centuries for that important knowledge to make its way into our Western medicine cabinets -- in the form of aspirin! Contemporary herbalists recommend white willow bark for headache, fever, arthritis, pain, and inflammation.

ECHINACEA (Echinacea angustifolia or E. purpurea) is a beautiful native American herb that should be in every garden. It is easy to grow from seed or root divisions, and (prepared as a tincture or tea) can help boost the immune system and fight colds, flu, and yeast infections.

TANSY (Tanacetum vulgare) is an old-fashioned cottage garden herb that has naturalized in many areas of this country. The plant's rhizomes yield a green dye and its flowers a yellow dye. At one time it was used medicinally as a tonic and in "tansy cakes" that were baked and eaten during Lent as a blood cleanser and tonic. The yellow button-shaped flowers, atop tall stems, are a pretty accent in the garden.

JOE-PYE WEED (Eupatorium purpureum) is another native American herb. An astringent and diuretic, its roots were boiled to treat diseases of the genitourinary tract. Other names for this easy-grow perennial are purple boneset and queen-of-the-meadow. It grows five to six feet tall in ordinary garden soil, and can be naturalized in the wild garden. It was named for an Indian doctor called Joe Pye, who publicized its medicinal uses.

GARLIC (Allium sativum) has been called the "herbal wonder drug" for its many medicinal uses. It has been found in Sumarian caves, where humans lived over 12 millennia ago, and modern gardeners prize it for its wonderful flavor. It is has powerful antibiotic properties and has been used to treat heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Start garlic from cloves planted two inches deep and six inches apart in early spring, in deeply cultivated, well-drained soil in full sun. Harvest in late summer and dry for later use.

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EPISODE SIX

"Do you think Hannah's brother could have killed her?" Ruby asked, as we drove back to Cedar Crossing.

"He seems to have had a motive," I said. "According to Barbara, he was furious about the will."

"He had the means, too," Ruby said grimly. "Did you see that can of chewing tobacco he took out of his pocket? And he admitted that he was with Hannah the day before she died, so he had opportunity, as well!"

"It's certainly something to think about," I agreed.

Mildred Rawlins lived across the street from Hannah. Her garden was much smaller, but very pretty and bordered with a clipped germander hedge. Ruby and I were knocking at the front door when she came around the house, carrying a tray of lemon thyme seedlings. She was a tall, thin woman with gray hair in short, tight curls all over her head. We introduced ourselves, but she already seemed to know who we were and asked us to come in.

Ruby and I went into the living room while Mildred went for tea and cookies. Mildred Rawlins obviously enjoyed garden crafts, and the room was full of her work -- bowls of rose potpourri, bouquets of dried flowers, and some beautiful botanical plates made with pressed pansies, lavender, and dried herbs.

Mildred came back with a tray. "Hannah talked about you two often," she said, pouring tea out of a china pot. "She was anxious for your visit. She hoped you could help her." She sighed heavily. "I certainly do miss her. We were good friends -- it's hard to believe she's gone."

"Did she tell you what she wanted to talk to us about?" I asked, taking a gingersnap from the plate she offered me.

"Not directly," Mildred said. "But I got the idea that something crooked was going on and she hoped you could help her straighten it out."

"Her death was tragic," Ruby said with a sigh. "I'm glad they've caught the killer."

"I wouldn't be too sure about that if I was you," Mildred replied darkly. "Jessica Powell isn't much liked around here. Folks don't forget or forgive the past. But Hannah gave her a job and a place to live when she got out of prison. She was sweet and generous. Jessica would never have done anything to harm her."

"They found a can of tobacco in her room," I pointed out.

"So what?" Mildred tossed her head scornfully. "Lots of folks in this town have tobacco in their houses, one way or another. Cigarettes, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco. Even nicotine patches. I read that five or six of those patches can kill a person."

"But if Jessica didn't do it," Ruby asked, "who did?"

Mildred shook her head, tight-lipped. "I'm not one to accuse people, mind you. But that brother of hers -- he's a devious old man, with a terrible temper. And he was here the day before Hannah died. I know because I walked in on them. They were having a fight."

"What about?" I asked.