"Do you know how high it is?"
He shook his head.
"I didn't measure it."
"Did an engineer inspect it?"
The man looked away.
"I don't know."
She stepped closer.
"Then why are you telling me?"
For several seconds, he remained silent.
Then he spoke quietly.
"Because your father warned us about that place."
The young woman stopped.
The older farmer continued.
"He said the upper reservoir needed somewhere to breathe when the water rose."
She stared at him.
The phrase was familiar.
It appeared in her father's notebook.
The farmer looked toward the northern woods.
Then added.
"I told them not to block it."
She felt anger rising.
"And what happened?"
He gave a bitter smile.
"They laughed."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then the older farmer returned his cap to his head.
"I don't want anyone hurt."
The young woman looked directly at him.
"Then help me get the county to inspect it."
He hesitated.
His loyalty to the larger grower was written across his face.
The young woman waited.
Finally, he shook his head.
"I can't get involved."
She felt disappointment settle heavily inside her.
He'd come to warn her.
But he wasn't willing to stand beside her.
The farmer turned toward his truck.
Before leaving, he looked back.
"Keep an eye on the upper woods."
Then he drove away.
The young woman watched him disappear down the gravel road.
For several seconds, she stood motionless.
Then she reached for her phone.
She needed to speak with the retired hydrologist immediately.
The older woman arrived after dark.
They sat at the farmhouse kitchen table, surrounded by maps and water-level records.
The young farmer described everything the quiet neighbor had told her.
The hydrologist listened carefully.
Then examined the recent rainfall data.
For several minutes, she said nothing.
Finally, she looked toward the old survey.
"We need an engineer with current responsibility for the reservoir to inspect that embankment."
The young farmer nodded.
"I've asked."
"Then ask again. In writing. Make the concern specific."
They prepared another report.
This one described the information concerning the filled relief corridor and requested urgent technical assessment of the upper reservoir's overflow capacity.
The retired hydrologist also contacted a former colleague who worked with regional water infrastructure.