"No, let me keep trying," Johnny clicked. "Friend-pets, friend-pets, bother me not."
At this, the birds hovered about him making squeaking noises, their heads still in striking position.
"They're puzzled," Baba clicked. "They sense something's wrong. They expect to be shot at by people. I'll tell them to go and it will be all right. In a second they could kill you."
"I've still got my armor," said Johnny. "Maybe if I tell them to come here they'll trust me." Johnny spoke the last in English and the words sent the birds fluttering farther away. They seemed to be on the point of making another dive.
Johnny was pale under his headglobe, but clicked, "Friend-pets, come to your friend."
The flying lizards slowly quieted, squeaking among themselves. Their wings humming, they hovered closer and closer. There were five of them. Finally their heads snapped out of arrow position. One of them hovered in very close.
"Come to me, friend-pet," Johnny clicked to it, and held out his hand.