Page 91 of Circle of Days

At that point Ilian broke in. He had now seen thirteen midsummers, and his voice had changed from a childish treble to a shaky bass.

He had learned a lot and was already a competent carpenter, and Seft was proud of him, but perhaps he was not yet ready to interrupt an adult discussion of a problem. However, Seft let him speak.

Ilian said: “Remember the peg-and-hole joints we made for the timber crossbars in the old Monument?”

“Yes, but that was different,” Seft said. “We needed to secure the wooden crossbars so that they wouldn’t slip off, for example in a high wind. The stone crossbars are far too heavy to be shifted by wind or anything else. Once we get them up, they’ll be there forever.”

Ilian persisted. “I’m thinking about getting the crossbar in exactly the right position, square on top of the upright.

If there were pegs on the uprights and sockets in the crossbars, both carefully positioned, then each crossbar would just naturally slide onto the upright in the correct spot; in fact it could hardly rest on the top without slipping into place. ”

“Oh,” said Seft. He thought about it. “That might work.” He looked at Ilian. “Good thinking.”

Ilian said: “And we could carve the pegs on the uprights while they’re here, lying down, more easily than later, when they’ll be standing up.”

Seft nodded. “Go and tell the men.”

Ilian went off.

Joia said: “That was amazing, for one who is hardly more than a child. You must be proud of him.”

“Very proud.” Seft smiled and nodded. “Though what I’m most proud of is the way he’s been raised. He’s never been beaten. Never been told he’s a fool. No one played mean tricks on him. He was a happy child, and now he’s turning into a happy adult.”

“Not the way you were raised.”

“That’s right,” said Seft. “Not the way I was raised.”

Pia was surprised and dismayed at the return of Shen. I shouldn’t be surprised that he survived the war, she thought; it would be like him to slither away when things got tough.

He had moved into Troon’s old house, sharing it with Katch: Pia wondered how Katch felt about that.

The wheat stood high in the fields, almost ready to be reaped, and Pia was making a scythe, fixing sharp flint flakes into a curved stick, ready for the harvest, with Olin watching her. She discussed Shen with Duff and Yana when they came back to the house for the midday meal.

Duff was angry. “How dare he show his face here? He was the closest ally of the Big Man who was responsible for the deaths of more than half the men in Farmplace!”

Yana said: “I suppose this is his only home. It’s about four weeks since the stampede: he may have tried to find somewhere else to live, and failed.”

“No one would have him,” Duff said, speculating. “And we won’t either. He must be thrown out.”

Pia said firmly: “Let’s not start acting like Troon.”

Duff saw sense immediately. He calmed down and said: “You’re right. Those days are over. All the same, we’ve got to do something. He’s sly and mean and we don’t know what he may have planned.”

Pia said: “Surely we can’t allow a return to the old ways?” The prospect was chilling.

Yana said: “I don’t know…”

“We need to know more,” Pia said. “I’ll talk to Katch. I’m her niece, she likes me, she’ll tell me what Shen is up to. I’ll go after we eat.”

Katch and Shen were in Troon’s big rectangular house. Shen was sitting cross-legged, eating what looked like a roast swan, dark oily meat on a bony carcass. He was wearing a long-sleeved tunic that must have belonged to Troon, the only person in Farmplace who owned more than one tunic.

When Katch saw Pia, she looked nervous, perhaps fearing a quarrel between Pia and Shen. Shen continued eating, taking no notice of Pia, but she could see by the way he sat that he, too, had tensed up.

Pia spoke to Katch. “How are you?”

“I’m all right,” Katch said.

“Your wheat is ripening nicely.”

“Yes.”

Everyone’s wheat was ripening nicely. Pia was making small talk in the hope of getting Katch to relax.

Without looking up from his food, Shen said: “Get me some water, woman.”

Pia watched as Katch filled a bowl from a jar and gave it to Shen. He took it without thanking her.

This is awful, Pia thought. He’s just walked right in and started to behave as if nothing has changed. We can’t let this happen.

She concealed her worry and said: “Katch, you must be glad to have Shen to help you bring in the harvest. Life will be easier for you now.”

Katch made a noncommittal noise, and Shen looked cross.

Pia decided to push. “Shen, as well as helping Katch you must work with Liss, my neighbor, one or two days a week.”

He gave her a look that said: You cannot be serious.

She persisted. “We’re all doing this now, to support the women who have been widowed by Troon’s stupid war. If we all do our part, then perhaps no one will starve this winter.”

Shen looked disdainful. “I see you’ve been giving orders, as if you were the Big Man,” he sneered. “Well, that’s over. Women can’t give orders.”

“Is that so?”

“You know it is.”

“So, Shen, who do you imagine will be giving the orders now?”

“If you don’t know that, you’re even more stupid than most women.”

Pia caught Katch’s eye and smiled, but Katch looked away anxiously. Well, Pia thought, after living with Troon as long as she did it’s going to take her a while to realize she doesn’t have to be a slave to the next man that walks in the door.

She said: “Katch, just let me know if you need anything, won’t you?”

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.”

“Where shall we meet?”

That was a conundrum. “The usual place is outside Troon’s house. I’m afraid that might give Shen an aura of authority. But if we hold it anywhere else, that may be taken to signify that we lack authority.”

Duff said: “Let’s hold it where meetings are always held.”

“All right.”

Pia thought they were finished for the day, but just then they heard a child’s voice. “Hello?”

In the dusk they saw a boy of about eleven midsummers. Yana recognized him. “You’re Laine’s son, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I’m Arp.” He was panting as if he had run there.

He came closer and they saw that his face was red and bruised around his left eye. Yana said gently: “You’d better tell us what’s happened.”

“Shen came to our house,” he said. “Mamma told him to go away but he wouldn’t. Then he wanted to kiss her and everything, and she tried to stop him, but he was too strong. Then I tried to pull him off her and he punched my face. Then I came here. Would you help her, please?”

Pia was so racked by pity for the poor child that she could not speak.

Yana said: “Of course we’ll help her.” She stood up. “You sit down and Pia will give you a drink of water. I’ll go and see your mother. It might be a good idea if the two of you sleep here tonight.”

“Thank you,” he said.