53
- 53 -
Daventree’s heart sunk. As weak sunlight fell on the thug’s blade, those behind brought their weapons up, stood ready to fight.
Kester stepped forward, arms raised in surrender. “We’re not looking for trouble,” he said. “We’re just passing through.”
“Yeah?” the man said, eyes running over Kester’s body. “Where from?”
Kester waved a hand vaguely. “Back there. We’ve…we’ve been walking all night.”
That wasn’t too far from the truth, if one included climbing up air shafts and along ducts.
The man glanced behind Kester and Daventree. “Back there? Nothing back there. Except the Dome.” He grinned. “That where you’re from?”
Murmuring rose all around, interspersed with low laughter.
Kester shook his head. “No, no. We’ve been…travelling. Had to leave our home.”
“Travelling.”
