The adults may have left, but they didn’t go far.  They came prepared and retreated to their camp which Yakov realised must not have been far.  As the sun rose beyond the hill over which their attackers had marched, he saw two dark figures shrouded by the morning fog standing, waiting.  Watching.

     Yakov watched the adults stand still for what seemed an eternity; he ordered Evan to take the youngest and hide in the barn.  They were not to come out under any circumstances.
     “If I don’t come back, you’re the leader,” he started, “don’t let them take us back.” Yakov made for the two adults, fighting the urge to head back and cower with Pietra, who resumed sobbing.  During the restless night he had toyed with the idea of setting up an ambush, but he understood nothing of such things and figured it would end up in disaster.  Setting aside the dead had been terrible enough.

     He neared the two adults, they extended their arms upwards and outwards to show Yakov they meant no harm.  The tall dark man on the left lurched forward; Yakov gasped and slunk back, tripping and falling backwards.  The dark man caught Yakov’s arm and spoke in a deep, gravelly voice, “Sorry mate.  Didn’t mean to scare ya.  We just want to talk.”
     “Talk?  You tried to kill us!”
     “Look, things got out of hand; we didn’t want this to happen.  There were two groups of us and the group I’m representing tried to talk everyone — including your Dad — out of taking you home by force.”  Yakov looked at him skeptically.
     “What is it you want?”
     “When Abdul told us where you were we wanted to,” the man blushed, though it was difficult to see, “that is to say we do want to,” he stopped mid-sentence.
     “Oh you big girl’s blouse,” chastised the woman, her flowery voice chirped with restrained excitement.  She bent down to meet Yakov face to face, “Yakov, we think you’re right.  You’ve ignited hope in us; we realise there’s a better way and we want to be a part of it.”
     “I don’t believe you,” Yakov snorted.  He knew they needed protection.  He knew they needed help.  “Wait here,” he ordered, returning down the hill.

* * *

     That the others had voted to accept the adults into Eden had not surprised Yakov.  That they maintained he continue leading had.  Even the adults accepted the decision; whether or not they liked it he dared not guess.  Some of the kids returned to Kilda, deciding the mistake had been theirs and not the adults’, but there were more than enough hands to work the land.  Over the following months, the harvest had been long and ardous, but the results were worth the extended hours and aching backs.  The crop they yielded was more than enough to feed all and to celebrate they danced all night around a large bonfire. Yakov’s leg was still weak but the fresh air and sun made him feel alive.

     Life was good.