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Updated: May 23, 2025
He knew that Jacovik envied him the job; he knew that Jacovik had only missed the appointment by a narrow margin. "Jac," he said, "have you got a man on your crew that you can trust to take over your job?" "Madders could do it, I think," Jacovik said cautiously. "Why?" "This is too big a job for one man," said Anketam quietly. "I'll need help. I want you to help me, Jac."
He paused and looked down at his hands again. "I hope you're right, Ank. I hope you're right." In spite of his personal conviction that he was right, Anketam had to admit that Jacovik had reason for his own opinion. He knew that many of the farmers were uncertain about the ultimate outcome of the war.
"And they want to break up the baronies take everything away from the Chiefs force us farmers to give up the security we've worked all our lives for. That's what they've said, isn't it?" Jacovik nodded again. "Well, then," Anketam continued remorselessly, "do you think the Chiefs would give up easily?
Anketam turned away and started towards his own village. Most of the others had already begun the trek back. But Jacovik, Blejjo, and Basom were waiting for him. They fell into step beside him. After a while, Jacovik broke the silence. "Well, Ank, it looks like you've got a big job on your hands." "That's for sure," said Anketam.
He remembered one year when Jacovik had gotten panicky and put up his shelters, and the storm had been a gentle thing that only lasted a few minutes before it blew over. Anketam had held off, ready to make his men work in the rain if necessary, and when the harvest had come, he'd beaten Jacovik hands down.
Anketam had a great deal of respect for the little, wide-shouldered, barrel-chested man who stood there looking at the scars on the backs of his hands. Jacovik turned his hands over and looked at the calloused palms. "How do we know? Maybe the Council of Chiefs has given up. Maybe they've authorized the President to surrender. After all, we're not fighters; we're farmers.
Meanwhile, the irrigation reservoir was full to brimming, and that would supply all the water the young shoots needed to keep them from being burnt by the sun. He lowered his eyes again, this time to look at the next section over toward the south, where Jacovik and his crew were still working.
The invaders have no right to change our way of living; they have no right to impose their way of doing things on us. No, Jac the Chiefs will never give up. They haven't surrendered yet, and they never will. They'll win. The invaders will be destroyed." Jacovik frowned, completely closing his left eye. "You've always been better at thinking things out that I, Ank."
Anketam called after him. "Tell Jacovik first! And get more runners to spread the word!" And then Anketam headed for his own home. Memi had to be told. On the way, he pounded on the doors of the houses, shouting the news and telling the others to get to the Big Swamp. By the time the Invader troops came, they found the entire Samas barony empty.
Anketam didn't know whether it was that threat, or the emotional reaction Jacovik had suffered from killing a man, or simply that he had had some sense beaten into his head, but from that moment on Jacovik was a different man. He had changed from a thug into a determined, ambitious man.
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