Some of the vendors frown and wave them off as soon as they see where Olivia is headed with her approach, saying they’ve got too much to do for this kind of talk. Most, though, do seem willing to listen. A few of them even seem a little amused by her approach, and trade glances when it comes up that she’s actively willing to do things for them to make them more receptive to peace.

“Three rabbits should do it,” one of them says. “Catch me three rabbits--none of the white ones about town, I mean the brown ones from the field. I think that could really make me come around.”

“And while you’re at it, eight sparrows,” says another. “My daughter’s bird flew away the other day, I think eight sparrows could about make up for it. It’d really open my eyes.”

They don’t really expect her to go through with it, but if she does, they’ll break out into guffaws of laughter and she’ll have them pretty solidly won over. If one human (and her tall bodyguard) is willing to put up with this for them, maybe there’s some hope after all. They’ll be spreading this story to their friends, and for a while anywhere Olivia and Keats go they will find themselves followed by good-natured grinning and laughter from the vendors.