“Yeah, for a year, maybe two, then what?” The ranger felt the rage welling up inside him. This man was the kind who would clear out the forest until there wasn’t a single tree left standing. And he’d do it all with that stupid smile on his face.

Sergeant Martin put a hand on Garrett’s shoulder and took a step forward. “You can’t start cutting yet,” he stated.

“Not a branch,” added Ranger Brock.

“Of course not, but there’s no harm in getting ready…is there?”

Sergeant Martin said nothing. His lips pressed into a thin white line and he stared at the trees across the road in search of something to say. “Let’s go,” he said at last, his voice heavy with disappointment.

Ranger Brock sighed, and with the sergeant, headed back to their vehicles.

“What?” cried Donna. “That’s it! You’re just going to let them stay here?”

“They haven’t broken any laws,” the sergeant said.

That was true, thought Ranger Brock. And they probably wouldn’t break any future laws either. It would be left to their lawyers in Victoria, who would bend as many rules as they could in order to convince the chief forester’s office that their version of the survey was the correct one.

“But you can’t just leave them here.” The expression on the old woman’s face was one of panic.

Ranger Brock was going to reassure Donna when Sergeant Martin stepped in front of her and said, “What would you like me to do? Draw my weapon and shoot them if they don’t move their vehicles?”

Donna said nothing as the realization of how complicated the situation was sank in.

Yet, Garrett understood her predicament. If they started cutting here, the peace she’d enjoyed these past few years would be replaced by the constant whine of chainsaws and the rumble of logging trucks rolling past her cabin. “There’s nothing more we can do right now,” he said softly. “At least not until we get the results of the survey, and the chief forester has done all the technical analysis on the area.”

Donna sighed in disgust.

Garrett felt sorry for the old woman. He even felt a little sorry for the lumbermen, who didn’t quite know who they were dealing with here.

“Donna,” he said. “You know a big part of any decision made by the chief forester is public comment. Even the forestry companies must consult the public and consider all forest values before they begin any activity. So, if you don’t like what they’re proposing, you’ve got the right to say your piece as loudly and as forcefully as you please.”

“You mean, like a protest?”

“It worked in Clayoquot Sound.”

Donna took a moment to consider it.