Messenger

On his way to Trade Mart, Matty notices a seriousness in the air that is rarely felt in Village. He also notes that no one has brought anything to trade. Mentor notices Matty, and they talk and joke, just like old times. But as soon as the event begins, Mentor completely ignores Matty.

Matty later explains the event to Seer. He says that a man called Trademaster, who came to the Village a few years ago, led the event. Mentor pushed others aside to trade first. With every trade, Trademaster would ask what they wanted and what they would trade away. The person trading would loudly answer the first question but quietly answer the second. People did not always get what they wanted. Ramon’s mother went to the stage and asked for a fur jacket, but Trademaster said, “Maybe another time” (62).

Seer is troubled by what Matty saw and asks if anyone walked away with anything material. While Trademaster gave some people delivery times for furniture or a Gaming Machine, he didn’t give anyone anything material. Seer then asks if anyone seemed or looked different. Matty recalled that a very kind woman, who traded for a Gaming Machine, suddenly began to mock her husband for walking slowly even though he had a twisted back that wouldn’t allow him to walk any faster. Matty suddenly realizes that Mentor’s birthmark was completely gone after his trade.

Matty walks to Mentor’s house to pick up the puppy he healed from Jean. Jean is distraught by the changes she has seen in her father and confides in Matty that he has “traded his deepest self” for Stocktender’s widow (69). This confirms what Matty had suspected. Mentor’s birthmark is gone, his bald spots have grown hair, and his posture has straightened. He isn’t the same Mentor that was so patient and kind to Matty. He is irritable and mean. Jean said that she knew he was different when he kicked the puppy, as he would have never done that before. Matty wonders if his healing powers might be able to heal Mentor.

Later, Matty visits Leader to pick up messages about the upcoming meeting and ask what he ought to name his new puppy. The two of them discuss Trade Mart, and Leader confesses that he wishes it would end for good. Matty tells Leader about the changes in Mentor, and Leader listens closely but does not say much. Instead, he suggests the true name “Frolic” for Matty’s puppy.

The entire town is anxious about the upcoming meeting. Matty converses with a woman who is new to Village. She brought her oldest son with her but had to leave the rest of her children behind until she establishes a place for herself in Village. She is nervous about the meeting and whether she will still be able to bring the rest of her children. Matty understands and encourages her to attend the meeting the next day even though neither of them can vote because they have not yet received their true names.

Matty then visits Jean. She again tells him how much her father has changed. Instead of talking about poetry, books, languages, and art, he only ever talks to her about Stocktender’s widow and closing Village. Matty is discouraged and forgets about his gift of healing.

Matty attends the meeting even though he cannot vote. For the first time, he can clearly observe changes in the people he had seen at Trade Mart. His friend Ramon and Ramon’s sister are obviously ill, and their once-caring mother only shakes them and tells them to be quiet when they cough.

As the meeting goes on, Matty recognizes each person who argues in favor of closing Village is someone who made a trade at Trade Mart. He notices that those wanting to close the town frequently use the word “we,” and speak of not wanting to share “our” fish with “them,” saying that “we” don’t want to care for “them” (84). Occasionally, a villager who had not made a trade would speak in favor of keeping Village open. Seer makes an eloquent speech telling his story as well as Matty’s, noting that neither of them would be there had it not been for the kindness of the townspeople.

To Matty’s embarrassment, his neighbor speaks up and turns on him, calling him a thief and braggart and complaining about the lice he brought with him. This woman then starts chanting, “close the village,” and the rest of the supporters join her. They vote to close Village.

After the meeting, Seer and Matty walk home. Seer tells Matty that Leader has a special gift called “seeing beyond.” Occasionally, people are born with special abilities, and his daughter, Kira, has one as well, though it is different from Leader’s. Seer stops and realizes that Kira must come to the Village before the borders close in three weeks. Matty promises that he will visit his old village, where Kira lives, and bring her back with him.