He breathed out and relaxed both his body and his mind for the impending onslaught.
An eerie silence suddenly filled the cleft, then the leader’s eyes signalled his intention to throw the stone.
‘Ho, the camp!’
A cheerful voice rang out powerfully over the shuffling silent menace of the two closing groups. The would-be stone thrower faltered.
‘Ho, the camp!’ the voice repeated. ‘Where are your look-outs, Tybek? All asleep again?’
A little ironic cheering floated gently in the wake of this remark.
The attackers began to look at one another uncertainly. Tybek craned up to look over their heads. Strolling leisurely between the neat rows of shelters was Loman, smiling broadly. Just behind him was Jenna. Then came a group of men and women laughing and joking as though they were arriving a
