Jacob was back in Happy Valley, at a point where he had felt that the final decay of the village had set in and quickened its pace, culminating in Jacob being the last man standing by September of that year. It was morning and Jacob was leading the prayers before the communal breakfast. The other seven villagers had grown accustomed to this. Many were more than happy to allow someone else to make the spiritual decisions for them. When Happy Valley had been established, there were no leaders, just followers. But leaders always emerge and Jacob filled that role. Sat at a long wooden table, which now seemed to engulf the eight people as it had been built for more than twice that number, Jacob began his prayers.