A mocking cry circled around them. Pinnatte clamped his hands over his ears.
‘They don’t care what we do,’ he said, breathing heavily and obviously struggling to retain control of himself. ‘I’ve had to deal with people like that before. This is their place, their territory. All of it. Wherever we go, they’ll find us, and there’s nothing we can do about it.’ He seized Vredech’s arm. ‘Are you sure you can’t get us back?’
‘I told you, I don’t know how,’ Vredech snapped, snatching his arm free.
Pinnatte put his hand to his face momentarily, then swore and began scrabbling about, gathering more stones.
‘Perhaps we can talk to them,’ Vredech said weakly. ‘Perhaps we’re worrying unnecessarily. Maybe they can help us find a way back.’
Pinnatte was openly scornful. ‘Use your ears, man,’ he sai
