The People in the Trees

Content Warning: This section discusses sexual assault of a minor and suicide.

The group, now followed by the dreamers, continues to explore the island and stumbles upon a village. Tallent joins Fa’a, who works as a translator, and they gain permission to stay in the area. As they settle in for the night, Norton realizes that there are no old people in the village. The next day, Norton returns to the village and explores its layout. One hut in particular puzzles him, for he sees no clear purpose to it. All it contains are a sleeping mat big enough for two and a decorative opa’ivu’eke carapace hanging on the pole.

The village is small, and the women spend their days preparing and sorting food while the men hunt and care for their spears, followed constantly by their boars. When Norton returns to the group later, Tallent tells him and Esme that they may observe the villagers but cannot speak to them unless the chief allows it. They cannot touch the hogs or spears and cannot take food unless it is offered to them. The researchers’ own settlement must be out of sight of the village, and they must follow the same sleep schedule as the village.