Betrayed Read Online Free PDF Page B

certainly not applauding this massacre. It’s a terrible tragedy, of course. But it may have never happened if these people hadn’t been breaking the law out there to begin with.”
     
    “So what you’re saying—” Lynn summed up with deceptive sweetness—“is that we’re not talking leftist rebels or out-of-control military out there but maybe some kind of fanatic earth terrorists bent on saving their rain forest? Got any candidates in mind?”
     
    Everyone started talking at once, but Roger’s voice rose above the babble. “Okay, everyone, let’s keep our eyes on the issues here. Yesterday’s events have exposed a major systems failure in our conservation efforts. It’s not going to do us any good to pour our funds and effort into these projects if the locals are just going to come in behind us and erode everything we’ve done. What can be done to protect our perimeters from these kinds of incursions? Who can we get on board?”
     
    The waiter was distributing their food orders now. Dieter inspected his double-bacon cheeseburger before contributing, “For one, let’s get more army patrols into the area.”
     
    Vicki picked at her chef salad as proposals and arguments ebbed and flowed across the table. For all Holly’s insisting on Vicki’s presence, Holly was as deep in the discussion as anyone. Worse, nowhere in all the talk of endangered species, biodiversity, tropical gene banks, and pristine habits did there seem to be any consideration of any human link in the food chain.
     
    Vicki checked her watch. If she didn’t leave soon, she was going to have a hard time making that team meeting at Casa de Esperanza.
     
    “In other words, Mayans aren’t an endangered species; the cloud forests are.”
     
    The ironic drawl startled Vicki. Like her, Joe had remained silent during the debate, though his expression denoted no lack of interest. Was this all one more new “language” to the nomadic wanderer? And how did he keep reading her mind?
     
    Vicki managed a rueful smile. “I’d forgotten you’re not a tree hugger either. They’re great people but a little single-minded. It just seems to me that someone might try asking the human inhabitants their opinion of what’s being planned for them.”
     
    “So tell ’em.”
     
    “Oh no—”
     
    Joe cut off Dieter, who was currently editorializing. “Hey, Greenpeace, put a sock in it and give Vicki a turn. After all, she’s the only one here who actually works with these people.”
     
    Astonishingly, silence immediately reigned. As all heads turned to Vicki, Joe gestured to her. “So what do you think the answer is? How do you balance saving the environment and the complaints of the locals?”
     
    The perennial people hugger/tree hugger debate. “What I think,” Vicki said carefully, “is that while we’re trying to save the rain forest, we need to figure out some way to feed the people as well. Or at least—”she glanced at the crumbs of Dieter’s super-sized burger combo—“be willing to set an example in starving to death.  After all, gringos can hardly claim to be an endangered species either.”
     
    Her smile lightened the comment to a joke as she got to her feet. “Meanwhile, it’s been a real pleasure meeting you all, but I need to get moving. Holly, I’ll catch up with you later.”
     
    “Hey, you can’t go already.” Holly scrambled to her feet, rounding the table as Vicki dropped a bill on the table to cover her lunch. “I thought you came so we could talk. That’s why I invited you, remember?”
     
    And you didn’t think of that earlier? Vicki maneuvered her purse to her shoulder. “I did.”
     
    “Look, my friends didn’t mean—”
     
    “I know. That’s not it at all,” Vicki reassured her as she started toward the exit. “I really am sorry. I had a good time, I promise. But I’ve got to get to Casa de Esperanza. Why don’t you come over this evening, and we can talk as long as you