This was the beaver who supported the fire, so Ariel expected to hear a summary of that argument. Instead: the opposite. Red described the danger and uncertainty inherent in the project. “Has this beaver’s opinion been changed so easily?” he whispered to Agassiz. “No, no,” she said. “Red states Black’s opinion; Black will do the same for Red. And they must both agree that the summary is fair. This is the assurance of an argument in good faith. The reeds demand it.”
