Kate could see Rob was angry. He took a sip of his drink, seemingly to try and calm himself down before he spoke.

‘I’ve been doing a bit of research myself since you came along. Once you’d persuaded us all to come with you down this road, I thought maybe there’s a chance – Kate seems to think so. I came across this article from a few years ago. A case in New Zealand. An organic farmer had his entire crop contaminated by his neighbouring farmer’s genetically modified seed, which blew over during harvesting. His whole livelihood gone. So, he decides to sue. Quite right too, you’d think. And he’s got all the evidence, all the proof. A no-brainer, right? Except what happens next is that this other farmer, the GM one, he gets a call from some top fancy lawyer offering to help him out. Represent him. Oh no, he says, I can’t afford the likes of you. You don’t have to, says this lawyer, cos someone else is gonna pay my humungous fees. The GM-seed manufacturer heard about your little dilemma and has offered to cover all costs. And, seeing as they have very deep pockets, they could just go on paying and paying –’ Rob waved his arm around – ‘ad infinitum. Or at least for as long as it took to stop the other guy, the organic guy, from winning. All the GM farmer had to do was promise to keep this little arrangement a secret.’

‘I—’ started Kate.

Rob held up a hand. ‘I’m not finished. It would’ve been cheaper to just compensate the organic farmer, but they couldn’t do that as that would mean they’d have to admit to being in the wrong. And that GM-seed manufacturer, well, guess what? They also make herbicides. If they’re going to those lengths to protect their seed business, what do you think they – or any other similar company – is going to do about their herbicide business?’ He paused. ‘So, what happens when Ashdown Farm’s herbicide supplier gets wind of what you’re up to? Realizes you’re planning on making this public – and apportioning blame on their very lucrative product?’ He leaned across the table. ‘What’s gonna happen then?’

Kate was silent. She’d seen the same article and had been as outraged as Rob was now. But she wasn’t going to give up. Hell, they’d hardly started.

Rob stood. ‘I’ll give it a couple of months. Don’t let us down, Kate. No fannying about, it’s not a game.’ He took his coat from the back of his chair and turned to leave. Kate watched as he crossed to the door then, drawing up his hood against the rain, he left without a backward glance.

She sighed. Already the weight of this undertaking was resting heavily on her shoulders. She’d learned quite a bit on her evening course, but it wasn’t anywhere near enough. She was completely out of her depth. As she started to pack up her notebook, a new truth stared her in the face: she needed help.