Hurmaz explains that the emergency Circle meeting is to solve the problem of the southern ship refugees that have fled to Oxan and built a temporary floating harbour attached to the island. The refugees come from five marginal but crucial ships of the area: Tiraje, Ariana, Susana, Summer and Hoot. All five are fishing ships and the Oxan Island has not allowed the refugees to enter the land. Most of the refugees are women and children who claim that schools of large fish have attacked their fishing boats and killed their fishermen. The Oxan Island does not have the capacity to provide them with shelter, food and water and according to the Saviour Rules, they are not allowed to let the sea residents enter the island without permits, in this case permits granted by the Circle. On the other hand, the refugees claim that they have been put in this position because of obeying the Saviour Rules that stops them from fighting and killing the giant fish. Now it all lies in the hands of the Circle to find a way out of this situation. Hurmaz emphasises that this problem has to be taken care of before the dry season ends or the storms and rainfalls of the rain season might take the lives of the refuges.

A grave silence takes over for a minute. Hurmaz speaks again breaking the silence and asks the second-tier disciples of the Circle to come up with a plan. The first to speak is Chooman, the youngest member of the Circle, a man with a full, black beard and curly hair.

“I believe that Oxan is right not to let the refugees in! The Sea residents should not beholden us or Oxan for obliging the Saviour Rules! They have to go back to their ships and live their lives as before…” says Chooman, but his words are clipped by the eldest member of the Circle.

“This isn’t about who is right and who is not. We shouldn’t take any sides. The refugees wouldn’t abandon their homes if they didn’t have any real problems. I believe we should send our missionaries to the whereabouts of their ships to investigate. We need to know what the main reason of their fleet is,” says Akhgar.

“We don’t have enough time,” replies Hurmaz.

“If we wait for our boats to go and come back, the rain season has already started,” he continues. The men nod agreeing with him. Tirad is trying to come up with something, although he is not sure if he is allowed to give his opinion; whether he is invited as a consultant in the matter or for some other reason. He doesn’t even have the confidence to break the silence and ask if he is allowed to speak. He is unsure of the probable reaction of the men. Would they laugh at him or scorn? What he is most afraid of is to disappoint Hurmaz.

Chooman breaks out the silence asking, “Why didn’t they go to another island? Harlan is closer to them and they are not committed to the Savoir Rules. Harlan would have taken them in.”