THE evening sun hung low, painting streaks of gold and amber across the sky as Xaniyah walked slowly along the narrow bush path. Her empty basket swayed lightly in her hand, bumping against her hip with each step. Today she hadn’t harvested fruits or gathered vegetables; she had only gone to sow seeds in that farmland. The task had been easier than most days, but her body still carried the dull ache of endless labor.

Just as she began to hum quietly to herself, a sudden rustle came from the ...