Forgiftetstadt, late May "Mrs. Naess-Schjelderup", Sigeweard said, "we have arrived". Adalwynda observed the contrast along the town main street, consisting in new building projects and what it looked like many abandoned houses and closed business.
"We have gathered a few people", Sigeweard explained, "the leadership from local associations and small business will attend, as well as relatives and witnesses of some of the families affected by the situation".
"Good morning", Adalwynda greeted as soon as they arrived. "First of all, I have come to hear your concerns and, of course, have a direct contact with the situation. We promise to help as much as you come".
"You are not the first one to come here", a woman said. "Representatives from the state government, as well as the town council, and other political parties, came here. But so far, we had no explanations and no solutions".
"Thora, calm down", another man said, while posing his hand on that women's shoulder. "At least they promised to bring the issue to the National Assembly".
"That's right", Adalwynda replied. "But I can understand your feeling. Obviously, it's not we can do much in the National Assembly, but I promise that we will address the issue, both in the chamber and any related commission where this situation may be addressed and, in case it was required, to address the issue publically, in either Midtenstadt and other places, as much as we can".
"I read some of the details in the communications you wrote and sent, of course", Adalwynda continued. "However, I have some questions".
"Go ahead", a man declared, who later identified himself as owner of a local packaging company.
"Thank you", Adalwynda replied. "When did exactly this situation start?".
"It was about two, three months I'd say", Grimwald said, "when the
first effects appeared, when the animals started to die, wild animals first and soon the cattle started to get sick, without clear explanation".
"That's right", intervened the man from before, "plants and trees started to be affected as well, but a few weeks later, soon people started to get sick as well, here and other areas".
"Yes, I remember that", Adalwynda replied. "Is that when the situation started to get worse?".
"That's right", a third man said. "At first, it seemed simply an increase in allergies, but many people in the area started to be affected of respiratory issues, problems with sight and so on. However, in the last three weeks, things started to worse considerably, people started to get sick, inflammatory problems as well, and about twenty of them died. Then, the children started to get sick as well".
"What kind of help and assistance was offered?", she inquired.
"We have been visited several times", the man continued, "the last time, a large visit from the regional hospital. They did many tests and the state government later helped us with an increase of pharmaceutical supplies. However, we were offered no explanations. And more people got sick. It continues getting worse".
"I see", Adalwynda replied.
"Some people in the valley started to say that it could be related to Omrade", another woman intervened.
"Omrade...?", Adalwynda intervened.
"That's", a man explained, "it's a rumour that spread a few months ago...It's a place nearby a lake, a few counties from here", he continued. "I heard that some trees were affected by a strange illness and most animals in the nearby natural park died...The area was closed by the authorities, allegedly to do some testing. There were some rumours, some people said that some terrorist groups were attempting to poison the area, other spoke that it could be related to the nuclear plant that is being built 80 kms from here...".
"I see...", Adalwynda replied, not sure what to believe about such stories. "The best thing is that we pressure the government so a serious and independent investigation is launched about all this situation".
"But before that", Grimwald said, "we have more important problems. Many people are leaving the town, and the situation is increasingly affected the agriculture, which is the main source of work here. These predictions about possible coming bad harvest are worrying many, and consumption since then has decreased. The state government has promised aid to deal with the situation, but it won't be enough. More and more people have decided to leave the area. The health situation is concerning, indeed, but we will need a solution about the economic situation immediately as well".
"I underestand...", Adalwynda replied, in the middle of increasing voices that Grimwald's words have generated, particularly from relatives of some of the first people to be hospitalized, "that's important too, and we'll work to address that too. It's necessary that both the state and federal governments offer enough funds to all those affected areas".
"Let me to show Mrs. Naess", Sigeweard told Grimwald, "some of the documents and pictures that your people have collected, they could be useful to explain better the dimension of the problem".
"Yes, of course", Grimwald replied. "It's there I believe, give us just a minute". The visit lasted for another two hours, in which she was almost overwhelmed with questions, contradictory answers, and demands. There was a combination of both expectation and hopelessness, with a trend toward the latter, but she left the town with more doubts that she had when her travel -her first visit to Austland since she returned to Jugland- started.