Abbott paused, his face drawn. The chairman said, “You have some concerns, Jake?”
Abbott said, “I hate to say this. It offends me. But I have to recommend we hold off on development. At least for now.”
The board members frowned. A few muttered exclamations circled the table. The chairman said, “This is a surprise. Do you see a problem with development approvals?”
“Approvals are a problem. The processes for getting projects approved is getting more convoluted every day. But that’s just one issue, and it’s not the biggest one.”
“Transport?”
“Yes. Existing pipelines are at capacity. We’ve been using rail, but that’s more expensive and a lot riskier. We need more pipelines, but the political climate is making that tougher.”
“What’s your reading on the politics?”
“There are two major pipeline proposals. Both have received regulatory approval, and one is under construction. But both are being harassed by activists including some politicians.”
“Are you talking about the recent court challenges?”
“That’s part of it, but there have even been threats of violence.”
“Aren’t the authorities prepared to step in?”
“I wish I could say they were. But there is a shift towards accommodating protestors. The governments, both provincial and federal, are more concerned with getting re-elected than with taking action to get these projects done.”
“Jake, give us your honest assessment. Will these pipelines be built?”
Abbott took a deep breath. “If I were a betting man, I’d put my money on no. Right now, there are no good political reasons for the government to do anything other than wring its hands and issue sanctimonious whinges about how it’s everyone else’s—particularly our—fault.”
“But the Pacific West pipeline is well under way, isn’t it?”
“This is not to leave this room, but Montford Pipelines is considering pulling the plug. They’ve already spent over a billion dollars, but given what’s been happening, there are serious doubts the pipeline will ever operate.”
The chairman said, “Montford can’t back out. That would be a major problem. Jake, how serious are they? Are they going to walk away from a billion-dollar investment without a fight?”
“Fight? The entire pipeline has been a fight. And it’s moving from the courts, where Montford has won every challenge, to the field, where they’re facing actual violence and the threat of more from protestors.”
“You said the authorities aren’t willing to protect them.”
“They’re not. The situation may change, but right now I’m not optimistic. That’s why I think we should hold off investing in this project until we get a better idea of how this is going to unfold. After all, the oil isn’t going anywhere.”
“Jake, you know the environment up there. If you recommend that we suspend this project, we won’t override you. Are you sure about this?”
Abbott nodded. “Unfortunately, I am. Investing in this project at this time would be a massive risk.”
One of the directors said, “In this industry, risk is the norm.”
“It is, but sometimes it crosses over into foolhardiness. I’m afraid that right now, this is one of those times. There are projects in other countries that offer safer returns. For now, that’s where we should be investing.”
Another director said, “Jake, I’ve been following what’s been happening in Canada. Frankly, I’m concerned about the investments we already have there. How secure are they?”
“I wish I could say they were reliable. But—”
“But we have a problem. Our operations there are expensive, and our revenues are at risk because it’s getting harder for us to get our products to market. Could this reach the point where we have to consider shutting down our operations?”
“You ask if that is a possibility. Unfortunately, it is.”
“Do we have an exit strategy?”
The chairman said, “I think that’s a topic for another day.”
The director said, “No. Let’s deal with it now. Jake, do we have an exit strategy?”
“I’m working on it. I hope never to have to use it, but I also have to face reality.”
“Can you give us the details?”
“No. Not yet.”
The director frowned. “I think we’re entitled to know what the strategy is. What conditions would trigger it? How would we re-deploy our assets? What costs and penalties would we incur?”
Abbott said, “I don’t need to be told what an exit strategy is. I have a team working on it.”
“When do you expect to present it to the board?”
“When the conditions are such that we need to execute it. Not before.”
“But—”
“Sorry, but as far as I’m concerned, this topic is closed.”
The chairman said, “Okay. Let’s move on to our next agenda item.”
11
THE RESISTANCE
The Peak rover pulled up to a farmhouse, the yard overgrown with weeds, rusted hulks of equipment scattered around the weathered home, the barn roof sagging. Two Peaks hammered on the front door. A girl, no more than sixteen, answered, shrinking back into the room when she saw the uniforms, the weapons. One of the Peaks removed his helmet and leered at her. “You all alone, little lady?”
The girl shook her head.
“Yeah? Where’s your old man?”
She pointed to a field where a man gripped a manual plow behind a plow horse.
The Peaks crossed the field and called out. “Taxes. You ain’t paid yet. We’re here to collect.”
The farmer’s face went slack. “I don’t have any money. I have nothing to pay.”
“Heard that line before. I’m broke. Well, we’ll just have to take what you do have.”
“But I don’t have anything.”
One of the Peaks gestured toward the house. “We’ll take it in trade.” They guffawed.
“No. Please. Don’t hurt us. I’ll do whatever you want. Please.”
“Hurt? Wouldn’t dream of it. But maybe it’s time for your little girl to become a woman.”
The farmer pushed forward. “No. Keep your hands off her.”
One of the Peaks swung the stock of his immobilizer, smashing into the man’s face, knocking him to the ground. “You ain’t in no place to tell us what to do.” They handcuffed him and dragged him to the house.
DARIUS COULDN’T WORK off his rage. Jeanette was his age. A friend. When the villagers described what the Peaks had done to her, he couldn’t shake the images from his head. He was in Mandy’s bar when his anger erupted. He hurled a glass across the room and yelled. “Damn the Peaks. Kill all the bastards. They didn’t have to do this. Jeanette was just a kid.”
He slumped back. “They didn’t have to do this.”
That evening, Josiah knocked on his door. “Come with me.”
“Why? Where are we going?”
“Just shut up and come along.”
Josiah led him into a room lit by a few candles. A group of people dressed in robes, their faces obscured, sat in a circle. Darius pulled back. “What the hell is this?”
“Darius, for once, just shut up and listen. This is for your benefit.” Josiah led Darius to a chair in the middle of the circle and left the room.
One of the figures said, “You are angry at the Peaks.”
“Who are you? What’s going on?”