The next night, the evening meeting was a bit dull. One after another the leaders, or at least influential members, of various work crews gave progress reports about their projects. The winter vegetables had been planted in the vast new garden, the irrigation system construction was complete and had been run for two days to get the growth period of the new crops started. A separate crew of weeders would begin making regular passes over the ground in a week. The windmill electricity project was still under study because of the high cost of the machines required. Besides the financing problem, there was also a question of how much additional visibility would be caused by mounting a windmill in a high place.

Lee Wolf was at the meeting, but he didn’t say much or seem to be anything more than one of the members of the community. While one of the reports was delivered, he would nod in approval at everything and then clap his hands like everyone else.

As Ed Leonard watched Wolf, he developed a greater respect for his talent for leadership. That night he saw that Wolf was underscoring his humility and the purity of his motives. He behaved as though the accomplishments all belonged to the laborers and their crew chiefs. He didn’t act as their leader complimenting them. Instead he knew when to listen and shut up. Four leaders gave reports during that meeting, and every one of them left the tent that night thinking that Lee Wolf was pure benevolence and wisdom, and was a personal supporter of theirs. When the meeting was over, he watched Wolf shake hands with each of the four and thank them simply and quietly, but with a big, generous smile.

Edison Leonard started to leave along with Lonny Mann, but Wolf spotted them and trotted after them. As he walked with them toward the storage building, he said, “How are you guys doing these days? Catch me up.”

Ed said, “I’m doing fine. I think I’m slowly making some friends. I’m not in any hurry to go back out to the world again.”

Wolf patted his back. “That’s what I’ve been hearing, and when I’ve seen you, it seemed you were happy.” He turned. “How about you, Lonny?”

“I don’t know,” said Mann. “I’m getting by. I figure that as long as the time keeps passing, I’m getting safer.”

“We all are,” Wolf said. “Just hang in as well as you can, smile at people, and speak when spoken to. There will be people who appreciate it and come to like you for your quiet ways. Just make sure you keep contributing. They’re sharing with us, and so we have to share too—money, work, ideas.”

“I will,” said Lonny.

They reached the storage building and went inside. Wolf said, “I don’t want to forget to tell you what I’m up to.”