"Kagig? Is it truly you?" Their eyes were still blinded by the blaze.
"Shut that door again, and bolt it! Aye—Kagig, Kagig, is it you!"
"It is Kagig! Behold him! Look!"
They clustered close to see, smelling infernally of sweaty garments and of the mud from unholy lurking places.
"Kagig it is! And has all happened as I, Kagig, warned you it would happen?"
"Aye. All. More. Worse!"
"Had you acted beforehand in the manner I advised?"
"No, Kagig. We put it off. We talked, and disagreed. And then it was too late to agree. They were cutting throats while we still argued. When we ran into the street to take the offensive they were already shooting from the roofs!"
"Hah!"
That bitter dry expletive, coughed out between set teeth, could not be named a laugh.