In the opening story in a volume dedicated to ‘optimistic near-future SF’, Gregory takes a look at the challenges to the old traditional ways that will be made by the new. Set in rural China, in a town devastated by environmental disaster, a young sister has to decide whether to stand by her brother, imprisoned for preaching a pan-national, crowdsourcing, flashmob approach to the challenges they face, or by her father, who is the symbol of the old ways. (Fortunately, the new ways have what amounts to magic dust on their side…)
