At a distance, it looked like a giant bubble of ice rising out of the ground. As they drew closer, Jay could see that it was in fact a massive glass dome, the size of a small city. Eventually, he could make out that the dome was composed of triangular glass facets, and reached up hundreds of meters at its peak. He could barely make out the entrance at the end of the winding path they followed.

So that's the Shumi Farm, Tycho breathed.

Incredible, isn't it? Darian asked. The Shumis may be poor with names, but they certainly have a gift for understatement. It was built nearly three centuries ago, one of the first buildings of its kind. And it still is the largest.

As usual, Jay could detect no emotion in the other's voice. Between his attitude — or rather his complete lack of any — and his self-heating left hand, Darian certainly made interesting company.

And this is where you think the Raiders are going to strike? Jay asked.

This is their next target.

They fell back into silence, as Jay turned that over in his head. Assuming the raiders really are coming here, why? The Farm provides more than half the food for the region, but there's nothing there worth stealing. He couldn't help a small smile. Maybe they're getting hungry?

Stop it! he instantly admonished himself. This is serious. People are dead! I need to focus on the mission.

Okay. So, why would a group of outlaws want to attack a giant farm?


He still hadn't come up with an answer when the tall door slid open, allowing entry into the vast interior of the building.

If it had looked impressive from the outside, inside it was spectacular. The sunlight played across the facets of the dome, creating a brilliant light show all along the roof. Below, simple earth paths wound between crops of every kind of plant imaginable; there were even groves of fruit-bearing trees scattered throughout. Between the dazzling brightness of the dome and the lush greenness of the floor, the dull brown structures of the Shumi buildings interspaced throughout the Farm were difficult for Jay to see at first. A frog croaked at him from a nearby pond.

It was also about twenty-five degrees warmer inside the dome. Jay immediately began to sweat, and quickly removed his uniform jacket and tied it around his waist. Tycho mimicked the move, but Darian did not seem to notice the change at all.

a voice said from behind Jay, and he turned to see a short, yellow-skinned Shumi standing behind him. He (She? It?) wore a trailing, blue-grey robe, dusty and a bit wet. It seemed to fit the general atmosphere. I am Irrigator. May I help you?

Irrigator, Jay thought. Darian's right; they really aren't good with names. he started, unsure of what exactly to say. We would like to speak with whoever's in charge here, if it's not inconvenient.

Irrigator blinked slowly. Charge? We have one Elder, but aside from that we work together. We have no leader, in the way you mean.

Jay said. Well, could we maybe speak to your Elder?

The Shumi made a gesture with his huge hands. Elder is busy right now, but he should be able to see you in time. Would you like to stay?

Jay nodded. he said.

Farmer will show you to the hotel, Irrigator said. Jay glanced over as one of the numerous Shumi farmers detached himself from his work and began to move over across the dirt paths.

said the other Shumi. The hotel is just this way.

Jay and the others fell into step behind him. When will we be able to see the Elder? he asked. This is important.

Elder is rarely busy for more than a few days at a time, Farmer replied.

DAYS?

So, you're all named after your jobs, is that it? Tycho asked, before Jay could protest.

Of course. A name should express an individual's identity. And what better way than by stating what we do?

Tycho glanced over the long rows of farmers. But doesn't it get confusing? I mean, with a whole lot of Shumis with the same name?

There was a pause. Farmer said, sounding a bit confused. Why should it?

Tycho raised his eyebrows, but did not reply. Darian simply nodded slowly.

This is the hotel. Farmer motioned to a large brown building that looked exactly like every other one Jay could see. Feel free to stay here until you are prepared to see Elder.

Until we are prepared...? We need to talk to your Elder as soon as possible, he stressed.

Then you will. Apparently feeling the conversation was over, the Shumi turned and walked back to the farmland.

What was that about? Tycho asked, addressing no one in particular.

The Shumis have their own way, Darian said simply. They can't be rushed.

Jay said. Well, let's check in, then.


At least the hotel didn't charge them.

They remained in the farm for three days before they saw the Elder, all the while receiving the same answer: That they would see him when they were ready. No one would explain what that meant.

It was only part boredom that drove Jay to explore the town. It was a complete village, he realized. There was even a shop, run by a middle-aged human. He claimed that one of his ancestors had evolved from a Shumi, and Jay could not make up his mind whether or not to believe him. All in all, the Farm had about a hundred permanent residents.

He spent a fair amount of time in the Workshop, talking with the various Artisans, Sculptors and Assistants. They had quite an impressive collection of statues of various figures, some of which Jay had heard of, some he had not. He even saw one of the near-legendary Commander Squall Leonhart. However, he was too preoccupied with the raider attack that Darian warned of to pay any real attention.

On the third morning, Jay went out to see several Shumis struggling with a large, fallen tree. It was growing too large, one explained, and beginning to steal water from others nearby. Now, we will have to cut it up for storage. He did not sigh, but Jay definitely saw the implication. The work will probably take us most of the day.

It was, indeed, a big tree. Not having anything better to do, Jay offered to help.

he asked, taking one of the oddly shaped saws. ...what kind of tree is this? Great topic, he snorted at himself. Why does everything I say come out so stupid?

The Shumi to his left pulled a saw through a layer of bark. It was a large one.

...Was that a joke, or did they really not get my question? he wondered. The Shumis were difficult to read.

It may be made into a statue when we have finished with it, the one on Jay's right said. The core is hard enough.

Really? Uhm...a statue of what? Jay asked, still trying to find something to talk about.

Who can guess? the first one said. Of you, perhaps.

Me!? Jay jumped.

The Shumi either ignored him or didn't hear him. Pulling the saw through the wood again, he separated a large amount of bark from the trunk of the giant tree.

Why would you want to make a statue of me? Jay asked, an odd feeling in his stomach.

a Shumi across from Jay said, a Moomba found a human outside our Village. The human was hurt and bleeding badly. The Moomba took him to our Village, where he was treated. The Moomba remembered the human's blood, in case it ever saw the human again. The Shumi stopped, leaving Jay to wonder if the story had any relevance whatsoever.

The man stayed with our Village for many long weeks, another Shumi continued. But he could not stay; he had other things to do, so he left.

This man, another Shumi said, had a quality about him. One that attracted people to him. We did not understand this quality. We thought, perhaps, if we made a statue of him we could learn of this quality better.

The Shumi trailed off, and Jay wondered it that was the end of the story or if another Shumi was going to take it up. No one spoke, however, so Jay just glanced at the Shumi who had started it. And this has...what to do with me?

The Shumi moved a branch he had severed onto a small pile of twigs. Silently, he looked at Jay.

I think you may see the Elder now, he said.