Summary

As Tony explored Korowai National Park, he saw a drone sweeping the area. He remembered the research he had done that morning: He learned that the New Zealand government had commissioned Autonomo to do a comprehensive elemental survey in 2010. The government had experienced public outcry regarding mining in public parks and failed to pass a bill permitting it. Regardless, the report indicated that there were no deposits of economic interest in Korowai. Mulling over the research, Tony wondered “Could the report that he was reading have been faked?” (237). He recognized that there should be some information available in the public domain “because something was definitely going on in Korowai” (237). Tony concluded that the government decided to mine on its own, disregarding public opinion and the law, and faked the report.

Back in the present, Tony continued to hike until he noticed a drone...