“Clive is an honest man,” Karak said. His shoulders and back were wet with perspiration. He worked the shovel with a soldier’s bearing. “Hitchcock is right. The market is so high now. If we make a success this season, it will save me from ruin. You cannot do this little thing for your friend, after all the money I have helped you make?”

It was true, Karak had helped him make a lot of money. But he had helped Karak too.

“Three hundred twenty acres in lettuce, bhai,” Karak said. “Both fields. A fortune. Rosa will come back if the crop goes well, if I pay every debt. The children will be back.” He paused. Something caught in his throat. “Don’t you miss them, Ram? The way they used to run and laugh here.”

So that was Karak’s hope.

“I barely know the twins and already they are three years old. At least Federico remembers a little.”

Yes, Ram had missed the children. Without them, the farm seemed a place of misfortune.

“We need more protection,” Ram said. “We can keep a written lease in someone else’s name.” He knew he was stepping on unsteady ground.

Karak snorted. “Whose?”

“Rosa’s,” Ram said.

“Are you mad?” Karak said.

“She doesn’t come under the Land Law,” Ram said. “The lease can’t be taken from her.” But that was not the only thing. “She’s white,” he added, knowing the statement would enrage Karak.

“We are white,” Karak snapped, spinning to face him.

“They don’t think so,” Ram said.

“What is white? What is white!” Karak’s eyes had grown wide.

“What?” Ram said, not understanding.

“It is not only the color of skin!”

Ram was exasperated. “The children, then,” he said. “Put the lease in Federico’s name.”

“She would have full control still,” Karak said. “Women have too much freedom in this country.”

“You want her to return to you, but you will not allow her to hold the lease?” Ram asked. Four years ago, before Adela, this would not have seemed absurd to him. But now it did.

“I will not,” Karak said.

“Then Jasper Davis at the bank! Or the lawyer! Damn it! Someone who will protect us. Do you think we will survive just going on as before?”

“I won’t go to another man and beg him to protect me.”

“How do you think some Japanese have stayed?” He did not mention the Moriyamas.

“I am not so desperate. You think the sheriff would kick me out? Do you think Clive would betray me? For all these nine years he’s made a living only because of me. I grow the crops from which he profits.”