As if saying good-bye to George wasn’t enough, Pia’s morning at work had been a disappointment. First she found out that none of the programmers associated with the microbivores project was available, at least until the following day and maybe not even for the rest of the week. Next, Mariel had the same chip on her shoulder that had epitomized her behavior on Monday. Pia had to work closely with her, and that was difficult when Mariel was in one of her passive-aggressive moods.

But the worst event of the morning was the sudden appearance of Berman in an uncharacteristically jovial and expansive mood. To Pia’s chagrin it seemed that the previous evening’s festivities had not dampened his interests in pursuing a social relationship. Pia had hoped to convey the proper message by showing up with a boyfriend, but it was apparently not to be. If anything, Berman had seemed emboldened, even in Mariel’s presence, making Pia wonder exactly what George had said to Whitney Jones during their conversations.

Berman had invited Pia to a festive dinner for the visiting Chinese delegation and maybe even a movie over the following weekend. On both accounts, Pia had begged off, saying she was going to be busy entertaining her houseguest, which, as it turned out, was not the right thing to say. Berman had responded with: “Didn’t he take an early flight to L.A. this morning?”

Pia had tried to cover her tracks as best she could. Berman had actually helped by finding enough humor in the situation to laugh. “You’ll have to come up with something better than that. And factor this into your thinking: I promise no repeat of my boorish behavior before my China trip. Scout’s honor.” He’d held up his three middle fingers in the form of a scout salute as convincing proof of his sincerity. “You don’t have to respond immediately,” he had added. “Think it over. I’d just like to show some appreciation for your contribution here at Nano. No strings attached.”

Pia had sheepishly agreed to think about the invitations but felt foolish not to have guessed that George couldn’t be trusted not to blab when he had too much to drink.

When noon had rolled around and Pia was able to clear her lab bench, she was relieved to leave and go out for a run. This was part of the new Pia, the Pia who had begun to embrace exercise and outdoor pursuits, as advocated by the company’s healthy-lifestyle policy. If employees exercised and didn’t smoke there was a significantly lower premium on health insurance.

As often as Pia was able, and weather permitting, she would change into her company running gear, most of it emblazoned with the Nano logo, and head out for an hour or so in the middle of the day. As a creature of habit, she always took the same unpaved public road up the mountain and away from the Nano complex.

Running helped Pia center herself. On this particular day she maintained a steady metronomic pace and focused on the physical acts of running and breathing. Her work, and the distinct and different social problems that Berman and George presented her, were forced to the back of her mind. Breathing in the crisp mountain air, she pushed herself to greater effort, reveling in the sensations coming from her quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves. The sun was out and felt strong against her face in the 5,000-foot-plus elevation.