Page 215 of Circle of Days

Katch did not reply, but followed Pia out. As soon as they were out of earshot of Shen, Katch said: “Tell Duff he must call a meeting. He must!”

“All right,” Pia said, noting with dismay that, even now, Katch thought a meeting had to be called by a man.

She related the whole story to Duff and Yana that evening. Duff wanted to call the meeting immediately. “We’ve got to show everyone that things have changed forever here in Farmplace.”

“Slow down,” said Yana. “Let’s not rush into this. Not everyone wants to be told that things have changed forever.”

“You can’t imagine the women want Shen!”

“I’d like to be more sure.”

“I can’t believe—”

Yana interrupted him. “Duff, you’re surrounded by disobedient women: Pia, me, even your Aunt Uda. Think how much trouble we get into because of what we are. Not all women are like us. Some want a quiet life. It takes a lot to get them to rebel. Let’s find out where we stand.”

Duff looked cross. “Herder women aren’t subservient,” he said argumentatively. “They’re like you.”

“But this is a farming community.”

Duff gave in. “All right.”

Pia made up her mind to be decisive. “I’m going to dip my toe in the water,” she said. She looked up at the sky. “There’s still a little light. I’ll call on Rua. She’s independent minded. Let’s see how she feels about Shen.”

Pia circumvented the fields, to avoid trampling the crop, and came to Rua’s house. Rua and her son, Eron, had just finished supper. Rua greeted Pia amiably.

Pia addressed Eron. “How are you getting on working with Liss?”

“It’s all right,” said Eron, who had seen thirteen midsummers. “She gives me nice food.”

Pia turned to Rua. “And are you managing all right without him for a couple of days a week?”

Rua nodded. “I have to work harder, of course, but I’m glad we’re looking after the lone widows. It’s only right.”

“I’ll tell Duff. He’ll be pleased.” Pia paused, then said: “Did you hear that Shen is back?”

“Yes,” said Rua. “Trust him to survive when everyone else was killed. Slippery as an eel.”

So, she doesn’t like Shen, thought Pia. But would she support getting rid of him? Pia said: “I think he wants to take Troon’s place and be the Big Man.”

Rua shrugged. “Someone has to be in charge.”

That was upsetting. Pia said: “I just remember when Troon made my mother accept his son, Stam, as partner. Stam was about thirteen years old.”

“Well,” said Rua, “you can’t expect to get everything you want in life, can you?”

Pia groaned inwardly. Despite everything, it seemed that Rua had little objection to the return of Shen.

Pia took her leave and returned to her family. She reported her conversation with Rua and said: “If we call a meeting, I’m just not confident that the women will do what we want.”

“You’re right,” said Yana. “But we have to call it anyway. If we don’t, there’s a danger that things will drift and Shen will eventually be accepted and become the Big Man just because no one did anything to stop him.”

Duff was horrified. “Could they really be that dumb?”

“They could really be that cautious.”

Duff shook his head in amazement.

Pia said: “Duff, you should go around all the farms tomorrow morning and tell them that the meeting is at noon.”