Nancy was about to respond when she noticed a flicker of movement from inside the enclosure. She saw a small head peering out of one of the burrows. As she watched, delighted, a marmot emerged. Another was close behind. They were reddish brown with yellow abdomens and black rings near their bushy tails.

"Meet Click and Clack, our most sociable specimens," Jennifer said.

"They're adorable." Nancy glanced at Jennifer. "You must have been in on this project from the very beginning."

Jennifer laughed. "Since before the very beginning," she replied.

The two marmots finished eating. One sat up on its hind legs. The furry creature had a wide head with short, rounded ears, large eyes, and a black button nose. It cocked its head sideways as if to ask Nancy what she was doing there and then began grooming itself.

"Wait until Bess sees these. She'll go crazy," Nancy said. "It looks like they'd be really fun to work with."

"Oh, they are!" Jennifer exclaimed. "Right now I'm monitoring the day care center."

"Day care center?" Nancy echoed.

"While the parents are out foraging for food, the older members of the community stay in the entrances to the burrows, making sure the babies are safe," Jennifer explained. "If they sense danger, they give a shrill ear-piercing whistle."

"Did many marmots disappear from this feeding station?" Nancy asked.

Jennifer raised her eyebrows.

"It's okay," Ned said quickly. "I told Nancy about what happened. She can be trusted- she's my girlfriend."

"Oh," Jennifer said smoothly. "How long are you here for?"

"A few days," Nancy replied.

"Great," Jennifer said, though Nancy doubted her sincerity. "Well, I'd better get back to work," she went on without answering Nancy's question. "See you later."

            As Jennifer walked away, Nancy turned to Ned. "She's incredibly pretty," she said.