Noble Mold

Also available in Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 103**

Mendoza and Joseph attempt to secure a special plant from a Native American family living in 19th century Mission California.

For a while I lived in this little town by the sea. Boy, it was a soft job. Santa Barbara had become civilized by then: no more Indian rebellions, no more pirates storming up the beach, nearly all the grizzly bears gone. Once in a while some bureaucrat from Mexico City would raise hell with us, but by and large the days of the old Missions were declining into forlorn shades, waiting for the Yankees to come.