They were cutting into the resin? Mo squinted at his orchid, at the individual flowers, and at the hardened resin on the stalk, trying to figure out exactly where they were going with this. Why not just collect it before it hardened?

It was hard to use a scalpel when wearing gloves, but Mo didn't dare remove them after the warnings they'd received. Instead, he snugged them tight again and picked up the scalpel, applying it directly to the resin as directed. Or to the stalk just beyond it. It was difficult NOT to cut the stalk, and, in fact, Mo was sure he'd damaged it a bit as he sliced down the stalk.