EN F

with the land but from forces outside his control. Strange visitors began appearing in the village-men in dark suits who seemed out of place

lling out into the silence. No one answered, but as he moved through the house, he noticed small things out of place-drawers left slightly open, papers s

ting for him by the barn. "We have a problem, lad," Jasper muttered

ran cold. "

than you think. Word's out that you're growing somethin

The success of his farm had drawn attention, but not all of it was welcome. He knew he needed

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ith questions. Why were people suddenly so interested in his farm? What was it about the

ght on the situation. Her small cottage, tucked away on the edge of the village,

harp eyes studying him with concern. "You look troubled,

searched, how men had been lurking in the villag

a plant. It's a piece of history. Back in Ukraine, it was part of a project to develop crops that could survive the harshest conditions-drought, fro

se quickening. "But why woul

ar drags on, crops are failing, supply lines are being disrupted, and people are desperate. If these seeds can produce a

m could be caught up in something so global, so political. But now he realized that he