Environment Bug's Arc

Chapter 5 of 7

Bug sat at the stone counter in the lodge the next afternoon, organizing sample tubes by location. He heard footsteps outside and looked up. The researcher from the university stood in the doorway alone, earlier than expected. She set a leather briefcase on the counter and pulled out a folder. Her institution wanted to claim the site for a long-term study, she said. They'd handle the microplastics and the chemical contamination. Bug asked when her team would arrive. She said they wouldn't—not for remediation. The university planned to seal the area and monitor it as a research project. Public access would be restricted. Bug stared at her. He asked about cleanup. She said containment was more valuable than removal for their data. Bug walked outside to the perimeter. A wooden fence had already been installed along the eastern section, and workers were unloading posts for the rest. A new sign stood near the trailhead: University Testing Site—Keep Away. Bug returned to the lodge. The researcher was labeling sample tubes. He told her the regional crew was scheduled to arrive tomorrow with equipment for full cleanup. She said her institution had already contacted them to cancel. The site was now under academic jurisdiction. Bug picked up his own report from the counter and read through his findings. He'd flagged the contamination, documented both problems, and found someone who wanted to solve it. But he hadn't asked what solving meant to them. He closed the folder and looked at the researcher. He told her he'd forward her institution's claim to the regional team for review, but he wouldn't remove his barriers or stop logging the spread. She said that was fine—her team would be taking over monitoring within the week. Bug said nothing. He'd done his part correctly, but the site wouldn't be cleaned. It would be studied while it kept spreading.