How is the character of James important in the story, An Infestation of Unicorns?

James is the figure who starts the chain of events that result in the unicorns leaving the apple trees alone—for one season, anyway. He is the catalyst of the story, the element that makes all the other elements work together. After at first dismissing James's idea to write to a hero named Sandy, Abbot Aelian "a week later, after having gone over the abbey's accounts one last time," "summoned" James and asks James to write to Sandy for help. Even though he is essential for bringing Sandy and Abbot Aelian together, James is not fleshed out, but instead remains a fairly ordinary, goodhearted boy throughout An Infestation of Unicorns.