"All right then! I'll be back at one."

Anita makes a few phone calls to try to find someone reliable who can pass himself off as a medical professional if she has to give Dr. Solazzio a number which belongs to this made-up doctor, but unfortunately all of her medically inclined friends are busy today.

That afternoon--

"You wanted to speak to me?"

"I did!" haha she was definitely assuming a man that's embarrassing. "I'm an assistant for a doctor who lives in the United States. He said that he'd heard things in passing about a phenomenally powerful new medicine available in Malta. Sent me to see whether any such thing actually existed. See whether it was worth looking into personally, and whether it would be worth investing in obtaining permission to use it in the states. I've been hearing a lot about a new medicine since I got here, and I understand that you're the expert on it?"

"Oh, yes, I'm running our experiments," Dr. Solazzio says. "A substance called Nectar. Fascinating drug. Like an amphetamine without any of the side effects... and of course no addiction risk."

"Sounds like you've found something phenomenally rare, then. And, one imagines, valuable."

"Indeed! But I'm just motivated by the medicine."

"Of course! That's how the doctors back home are, really, they get all excited about possible new medical applications and forget all about the financial side. But I guess they have a point, you know, if this is something really special, something that could be used to help a lot of people who can't be helped by other things, well - would it be possible for me to get some more information about your discoveries here to take back home to them? If there's anything you're comfortable sharing at this stage."

"Of course. So what works best is to dilute the Nectar with saline. Small amounts add energy and pep and accelerate the body's natural healing processes. It's a very natural substance. All it does is gently support the body while it recovers on its own."

She will take out a notebook and take notes for the doctors back home, then. "Does it occur in nature in some form, then, it's not solely created in the laboratory?"

"It's a laboratory creation but it was, I understand, inspired by certain herbs from Central America."

"Fascinating."

"My most interesting case is two girls, both eight years old, I've been seeing for treatment. Lela Donovan and Tereza Doe."

"Oh? Interesting how?"

"They're both quite ill. Low blood pressure, low respiration rate, low pulse, fatigue, weakness. It's tragic to see. But I've found that a regular dose of Nectar supports them in having more normal development. I don't think either of them would be alive without it."

(She is totally leaving shit out, but it seems unlikely she'd tell the truth with any persuasion short of violent threats.)

"And there are no side effects?"

"Not unless you count being too happy. Supporting the body's natural development is very safe."

"Well, I'm sure nobody could complain about that. Do you have any - paper summaries, maybe, notes you feel comfortable sharing copies of about the results you've seen here? I'm always supposed to bring some kind of documentation back, if I can find anyone interested in helping. Just general outlines, I mean."

"Oh, of course." She hands Anita some notes that say basically what she said.

Cools. "Thank you so much, I'm sure they'll be really excited to hear more about this."

She would really like to look at the hospital's official records, but she should probably head back to base and determine whether anyone has a better idea than testing the limits of how bribable the nurses are.

Meanwhile--

All right let's have a day on the town. They can go sightseeing. She hears the opera house and the marina are both Very Scenic.

Opera feels like a later in the day thing. Marina first?

Sounds good to Araari! Other countries: still have not lost any of their novelty.

It's a lovely day. Let's take a walk along the waterfront and go look at boats.

The wind carries the smell of spices and tea down from an open window. Someone is plucking idly at a guitar up there.

The boat is anchored a short distance off the northwestern Valletta coast.

Zoe puts in a coin and look at the boat! Possibly at several boats. At minimum she is hoping they will have their name(s) written on the side somewhere visible?? Maybe she will see People on deck.