I don't know, Joe said. Why are there wooden sticks down the middle of the crop?'
"One half is GM, the other one isn't, Anna explained. Scientists test them both. They have to produce results for the government
"That's good, surely, Joe said Anna moved closer to Joe, until her face was next to his. He half closed his eyes and waited.
I want to ask you something, Anna said quietly. "You must promise not to
Hi Joe, what are you doing here?
Kate's voice came from behind them. They turned round in surprise.
Hi, Kate, Joe said. is Anna. We've been for a walk on "This Cloud Hill.
Anna and Kate looked at each other in silence. Anna spoke first.
"What's it like, living on a GM farm?' Her voice was hard.
Anna took hold of one of the maize plants and bent it between her fingers
Do you realize that this plant will be in flower next week?' she asked. "Do you know how much pollen it will produce?"
No, not exactly, Kate replied. Why should I?
"Because this plant is genetically different, that's why, Anna said. 'And the wind will carry its pollen over to Dave and Jenny's organic maize and they won't be able to sell it.
"You don't know that, Kate said.
Even if that doesn't happen, Anna said, "there's another problem. How do you know GM maize won't be bad for you in the future? Or for the animals that eat it?
My father trusts the scientists, Kate said.
I don't, Anna replied. They make mistakes.
"There are a lot of people like you who come here, Kate said. She laughed unkindly. You don't have all the answers. You're not a
Scientist. why don't you ask me what I think? I was at the protest last week. Where were you?'
Anna threw the maize plant onto the ground and walked angrily away.
"It's too late for protesting," she shouted.
She has very strong opinions, doesn't she?' Kate said.
"Yes, Joe agreed, "but you do too. So you were the potato with the green eyes! Why didn't you tell me?'
"I don't need to talk about it, Kate replied. "I take action.
"You both talk a lot of sense and I still don't know what I think, Joe said. "I'm glad I've seen you. I planned to phone you when I got back. It's a good day for surfing. I'm free after five o'clock. Do you want to go
"Great, Kate replied. "I'll take you in my car. See you later, Joe.
He ran after Anna.
"Can't you talk about GM crops without being so rude?" he asked. "You didn't have to go to the Ladocks' farm. And we were on their land
Anna continued walking and Joe had to hurry after her again.
What did you want to ask me?" he said.
Anna stopped.
"Are you free tonight?" she asked.
"No, Joe replied. "I've just agreed to go surfing with Kate. Why didn't you ask me earlier? Is it important?'
"Important?' Anna cried. Just a matter of life and death, that's all!'
And she refused to say any more.
It was fun at Fistral Beach. Joe only had one problem. He fell off his surfboard a number of times. After he hit his face on it twice Kate told him to stop.
"The best surfer is the one who's having fun, shelsaid. That's
'