84

Once they've left the store, Zoe looks up from the counter once again, and meets your eye with a welcoming expression.

"Hi, Huknock—you're here to meet Tobias, isn't that right? He's just helping Maxie with something, but I think they should be here in a minute or so."

There are a few moments' quiet as she types something on her computer. Then, looking up at you again, she says:

"I know that you were opposed to the developments yourself, Huknock, but as somebody who has lived in Silvertree all my life—as somebody with a business here that depends on the people in this town—I have a lot of hope that these developments could make a big difference here. The fact is that I've seen more people leaving Silvertree than ever over the past few years, and not many people coming in their place. This store is just about hanging, but I've known probably half a dozen people whose stores have had to shut down at one point or another, and it's not because they're bad with business. The fact is that there just aren't enough local customers to keep them going, and not enough out-of-towners either. But the Town Council never seems willing to do anything about it. And Dina…"

She lets out a long breath.

"I used to have a lot of faith in Dina," she tells you. "She always had good intentions, of course; and I'm sure she still does. But for the past few years, all she's really seemed to want to do is fight to keep everything the same. She has made some improvements, absolutely—but when it comes to things like jobs, and industries, and just anything that would allow people to keep living here in the long-term, she's always seemed reluctant to actually do anything. She's said in the past that she doesn't want any 'extreme changes'; but she doesn't seem to realize that things will be changing regardless. And if she thinks that sticking with the status quo is the least extreme option, I'd like to know what's more extreme than sitting back and watching as people lose their jobs and the place becomes a ghost town."