I began to laugh. I couldn’t help it. It was so damned funny.
‘What the hell are you laughing at?’ Reece demanded angrily. His eyes glanced uncertainly round the ring of faces. ‘What’s the matter with you all?’
A voice called from back down the street. Reece turned, ‘Ah! Here he is. Did you find a way through, Shirer?’ he called out.
‘No. It’s all round us.’
He came up the street, running, his eyes wild. ‘You have not found a way through?’ Reece shook his head. ‘What about those peasants. Perhaps they—’
He stopped then and his mouth fell open. I think it was Zina he’d recognised. He stared at her, then slowly, reluctantly his eyes turned first to Hacket, then to me. We didn’t speak. We were quite motionless, watching and — yes, I’ll admit it — enjoying the way the truth dawned on him and fear spread across his face.
‘What the devil’s the matter, Shirer?’ Reece demanded.
The man gulped and then turned and bolted.
‘Shirer!’ Reece called. ‘Shirer! Come back! What’s the matter?’
The man twisted into the track we’d just left and disappeared. Reece turned and looked at the set anger of our faces. ‘What’s the matter?’ he asked. ‘What’s happened?’ He was bewildered, suddenly unsure of himself.