“But he would have destroyed you.”
“That’s no excuse for murder. Now go back to the jeep and fetch a rope. I’ll go down and get him out.”
“Do we have to bother with him?” Copper asked, and then shrugged. It was an eloquent gesture expressing disgust, resignation, and unwilling compliance in one lift of smoothly muscled shoulders.
“There’s no question about it,” Kennon said. “You’re becoming more human every day.”
He chuckled as he slid over the edge of the pit following the path Douglas had taken a moment before. He found him sitting on a pile of ashes, shaking his head.
“What happened?” Douglas asked querulously. There was fear in his voice.
“Copper hit you on the head with a rock,” Kennon said as he bent over and retrieved the torch, still burning near Douglas’ feet.
“The Lani?” Douglas’ voice was incredulous.
“Not a Lani,” Kennon corrected. “She’s as human as you or I.”
“That’s a lie,” Douglas said.