Pamela was against the idea of involving Nantucket with the primitive people of Alba, believing that Nantucket will exploit the Albans. However, her argument fell short as pointed out the facts by Ian Arnstein and Joseph Starbuck that they don't have the technology needed for farming and limited resources, such as metal. In the long run of her abortive mission to "protect" the Olmecs, Pamela's brother unwittingly gave the Olmecs the mumps, thus destroying the civilization he and his sister were trying to save.