Page 148 of Circle of Days

Duff read her mind and said: “You’ve got plenty of time.”

She asked him: “Do you know what it’s about?”

“No, but I can tell you that the herders’ Spring Rite was poorly attended, and Troon is gloating over that.”

Pia shrugged. “We’ll soon find out.”

Duff got to his feet. “I’ll see you at noon.”

When he was out of earshot, Yana said: “What a nice young man.”

“Yes.”

“Did you know that he puts his Aunt Uda’s shoes on for her every morning, and ties the laces, because she can’t bend?”

Pia laughed. “I didn’t know that. He’s always kind to me.”

“I think he’s more than kind.”

Pia knew what her mother was getting at, but she asked the question anyway. “What do you mean?”

“You told me he saved your life in the great fire.”

“That’s true. I couldn’t run very fast because I was carrying Olin. Then I fell over, and no one helped me up. I was reallydesperate. Duff was ahead of me, but he came back. He carried Olin and we ran together.”

“He came back,” Yana repeated. “Toward the fire instead of away from it. To help you.”

“You think he’s in love with me.”

“I’m sure of it.”

“But I love Han. It’s only a year since he died. I haven’t forgotten him. I never will.” This was true, but not the whole truth. She really liked Duff, and thought about him at night, wondering how it would be to kiss him. But that seemed disloyal to Han, and she felt terribly guilty about it.

“Of course you won’t forget him. But while you remember him, you could open your heart to the possibility of loving someone else, one day.”

Pia looked at Duff walking away across the field. He was so different from Han: small and neat, with curly dark hair that he kept short—she guessed that Aunt Uda cut it for him. Do I love him? Not the way I loved Han, she thought. That was an overwhelming passion, something out of my control. I never examined my feelings, never even thought about them, I was just crazy for him. It will never be like that with Duff. But perhaps I could love him in a different way, and be happy?

She did not know.

She and Yana returned to the field and weeded the rows for the rest of the morning. Then it was time to go and hear what Troon had to say.

Optimism was in the air as the farmer folk gathered in front of Troon’s house. The drought seemed to be over—and they wereall survivors—so they hoped for a good harvest, full bellies, happy children, and well-stocked stores.

Duff and Uda came and stood with Yana, Pia, and Olin.

Troon came out of his house and stepped up onto a tree stump so that everyone could see him. The crowd went quiet.

He said: “The herders’ Spring Rite this year was a washout. Our people who attended did hardly any trading. There were too few people there. Everyone is scared to go there. They think the Monument is cursed. They’re probably right.”

He’s enjoying this, Pia thought, but where is it going?

She soon found out. “This year, on Midsummer Day, we farmers will hold our own feast!”

There was a burst of surprised comment in the crowd. Pia said to Duff: “I wasn’t expecting that.”

“Nor was I.”

“I think he’s worried about inbreeding.”