She was old. Haunched down by the ground, she was quiet. Her fingers selected the argan tree nuts one by one. The nuts were brown and dry and lifeless. But inside lay the pale, smooth kernels that would give birth to something precious: coveted Moroccan argan oil.

She cracked the nuts, and she set aside the kernels. She cracked the nuts, and she set aside the kernels. She cracked the nuts, and she set aside the kernels.