It makes Global Harvest happy, Haynes said. I‘m just doing my job. Haynes was devouring the plate of cookies as if she wasn‘t expecting to eat ever again. She was thin to the point of gauntness, something that hadn‘t registered on Kate at their first meeting, which gave Haynes the hollow-eyed look of either an insomniac or a fanatic. Not a job after your own heart? Kate said.

Haynes paused in the act of reaching for a fifth cookie, met Kate‘s eyes, and seemed to recollect herself. Oh yes. I love geology, I never wanted to study or work at anything else. It‘s just—

Yes? Kate said, when Haynes hesitated.

Haynes shrugged. I just don‘t know if the world needs another gold mine. It‘s a pretty useful metal, Kate said.

Haynes shrugged again. Jewelry.

A good conductor of electricity, too, Kate said.

Embroidery thread, Haynes said, wincing around a bite of cookie.

Reflects electromagnetic radiation, Kate said, they use it on satellites, and astronauts‘ space suits, and airplanes. An inner voice did wonder who she was trying to convince.

Haynes polished off the last cookie, licked her forefinger, and used it to pick the plate clean of crumbs. I know.

What would you rather be mining, and why aren‘t you? Kate had no time at all for anyone who worked at a job they didn‘t like.

Haynes looked up at that. Oh, I love my job. Especially the travel. I get to go all over the world, places I‘d never get to on my own. Russia, China, Peru, Madagascar. A couple of times we were the first Americans the people we met had ever seen. Kate had heard avowals with more conviction, but then Haynes wouldn‘t be the first person talking herself into believing that she didn‘t hate her job. Hard to bite the hand that feeds you, and Global Harvest fed very well indeed.

Haynes brushed her hands, gulped down the rest of her drink, and sat up straight in her chair, folding her hands on the table in front of her. The cookies were great, thanks.

Kate made a deprecating noise, and waited.

Vern gave most of the nonessential personnel the day off and brought us into town on George‘s Otter. He wanted me to drop by and, well, touch base, so to speak, with the chair of the board of the Niniltna Native Association. Which would be you. She smiled. Kate smiled back. Both smiles lacked conviction.

I didn‘t want to come, Haynes said, it being a holiday and all.

And being uninvited and all, Kate thought.

But Vern insisted. He—We want to assure you that you‘re welcome out at the mine at any time, that there is no question you have that we won‘t answer. We know there are plenty of people in the Park who aren‘t necessarily overjoyed about the mine going in here. Vern wants you to know that we‘re prepared to be completely transparent about the operation.

She picked up her glass, forgetting that she‘d already drained it, and sucked at the one or two remaining drops. She declined Kate‘s honor-bound offer of another. Vern wants you to know that you‘re our first call when something happens at the site.