Again there was a silence.
"Blejjo," Anketam said after a time, "do you mind coming out of retirement for a while?"
"Not if you need me, Ank," said the old man.
"It won't be hard work," Anketam said. "I just want you to take care of the village when I'm not there. Settle arguments, assign the village work, give out punishment if necessary—things like that. As far as the village is concerned, you'll be supervisor."
"What about the field work, Ank?" Blejjo asked. "I'm too old to handle that. Come spring, and—"
"I said, as far as the village is concerned," Anketam said. "I've got another man in mind for the field work."
And no one was more surprised than Basom when Anketam said: "Basom, do you think you could handle the crew in the field?"
Basom couldn't even find his tongue for several more paces. When he discovered at last that it was still in his mouth, where he'd left it, he said: "I ... I'll try, Ank. I sure will try, if you want me to. But ... well ... I mean, why pick me?"
Old Blejjo chuckled knowingly. Jacovik, who hardly knew the boy, just looked puzzled.
"Why not you?" Anketam countered.