In a lush verdant meadow, bounded by a sparkling river, the flags of several tents flutter in the gentle breeze, rich with the promise of halcyon days.
Yet all is not as tranquil as it may seem: the balance of power wrought between the tenants of The Great Field, as it is properly known, is a delicate one. A true pioneer, Hen claims to have arrived in the field first, pitching his tent in the west, and is staunchly defensive of his claim; Isabella, with all her crimson finery, bathes daily in the stream much to the chagrin of certain residents, the concerned delight of others; while Thomas, with mysterious his grand octagonal tent and flowing white robes, disappears for days at a time with undetectable goals, provoking suspicion and mistrust. While the narrator nurses grudges but tries to help where he can.
These relationships are stretched to breaking point when a new, large and disciplined group offers to share its surplus of milk pudding, a gesture that only the narrator is willing to acknowledge. By forging links with the newcomers he becomes a conduit for change, a change that threatens The Great Field
