Riddley Walker

On the night after his father was cremated, Riddley takes part in a ceremony to announce him as the new connexion man. Goodparley and Orfing arrive in the village with a large retinue of bodyguards. Riddley accompanies them into his father’s workshop to officially welcome the men to the village. They exchange formal greetings, just as Riddley watched his father do before him. Riddley hands the important men a wad of cigarette rolling papers and they smoke marijuana together. After offering their condolences, the officials turn to business. They inform Riddley that the people of his village may have their foraging area restricted. Feeling the effects of the marijuana, Riddley takes a firm stance against this.

Goodparley quizzes Riddley on the story of Eusa, making him quote verses from his memory and asking for interpretations of certain parts of the story. The official then reveals that he believes that the story of Eusa is more than just a story: Goodparley says that he has been searching for the Littl Shynin Man, though Orfing seems doubtful about the plan to rediscover the secrets of nuclear bombs. Riddley watches the two men argue back and forth about the merits of the plan before the conversation turns back to him.