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You realize that if you want the protest to have its desired effect—raising awareness about the potential environmental dangers of the developments—you'll need a clear way to send a message. Fortunately, once you get to work, you realize you have a talent for writing simple slogans and coming up with memorable images.

At the same time, you try to be careful not to use up too much of the available cardboard—but once some of the others notice your signs, some of them start to copy them anyway, doubling up on the effectiveness of your designs by keeping the message simple and straightforward.

After almost an hour of preparations has gone by, you find yourself standing near Rana, who is taking a couple of minutes to herself to drink some water. When she catches your eye, however, she immediately straightens up, as if not wanting to seem as if she's slowing down. You notice she even lowers her bottle of water like she's worried what you'll think of it.

"Things are going pretty well," she says, nodding quite insistently as she turns to look around at the transforming sidewalk. You wonder if she might be trying to convince herself as much as you that things are going to be okay—you remember that sense of self-doubt after the incident with the cooler, and part of you thinks there might be more of it in Rana than she shows—but she looks fully confident as she turns back to you with a smile, so you can't be quite sure.

"So, Huknock—I was just curious—since you're so new in town, what is it that made you want to protest the developments? I know why a lot of people here are worried about them, but it must be kind of different for someone who's just moved in. Or do you feel like it doesn't make a difference?"