"Many years ago, when the world and I were younger, my family defied the government."
"Many years ago, when the world and I were younger, my family defied the government."
"My name is Stephanie. I'm a tree-climber," the woman said. "I'm researching mamu nests."
"What's a mamu?" asked Maxine.
"Its real name is marbled murrelet, but I like to call it mamu. It's an endangered seabird."
"Why are you looking for seabird nests in the forest?" Maxine asked.
"Because this is where mamus nest, deep in old growth forest." The woman looked at the sign in the roots of the tree.
"Are you Maxine?" she said. Maxine did not answer. She had a question of her own, a very important one. "What do they ... the mamu ... sound like?"
The woman opened her mouth and stretched her lips. "Keer, keer," she said.
Maxine smiled. "That's the sound that my tree calls to me." she said.
