Eggenberger blinked in surprise. Both men knew that Jivan had put more work into creating this farm than anyone else. Jivan had helped build a wing of the house. He had leveled the eastern field. He had helped harvest every crop and had raised the second shed for the animals.

“I had not thought that you have the money,” Eggenberger said.

“I have money,” Jivan said. Ram’s eyes traveled from one man to the other. Karak clenched his jaw.

“You are—” Eggenberger hesitated. “You are Hindu. I thought it was not allowed.” He said the words with no malice.

“I will buy and hold the land in Leela’s name. She was born here. Or I will place it in Amarjeet’s name. Right now, one hundred percent legal, it is legal. What happens after election, no one is knowing, but if you sell now, no question will be asked.”

Eggenberger nodded. “Ja. I will sell to you, my friend.” His eyebrows flashed up in admiration. “Naturally, I will sell to you.” He hesitated again. Eighty acres was a lot of land. “I am in need of mon—”

“I will not haggle with you, Stephen.” Jivan cut him off. “Not after all that has happened between us. Whatever Consolidated Fruit is paying, I am able to pay the same.”

28

October 1920

IN SIX WEEKS, JIVAN HAD SIGNED THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND OWNED 80 acres of land that he had been farming for thirteen years. The other 80 acres, on which the Eggenberger house sat, were transferred to Consolidated Fruit. Moriyama’s land was sold to the company also. Two miles away, the 160 acres on which Karak and Ram had grown cotton were also transferred, as was the adjacent land on which Roubillard competed with them. The company kept all the leases. Overnight, reality had changed, the stability of the earth seemed lost.

“I wish you had purchased this land too, like my uncle did,” Amarjeet said to Mr. Moriyama. He had been helping with repairs around the farm. They were eating Mrs. Moriyama’s rice balls for lunch, seated on the bench near the water’s headgate.

“Attorney general already say. Japanese cannot be citizen.”

“You could still have bought the land.”

“No matter, Amarjeet,” Mr. Moriyama said.

Amarjeet could not tolerate his passivity. He got up abruptly, to control his tongue. “Ain’t you going to the Japanese Association meeting? They put up signs everywhere. They want to speak to the Valley residents. Convince them to vote no on the law.”

“I aware of meeting.”

“At my old high school.” He did not need to add, Harry’s old high school too. “I’ll come to fetch you. We’ll go together.” He did not know why he cared so much. Was it because of Harry? Was it because he smelled the danger to the Hindus too? Was it because of the injustice of it all?