“We can,” Strauss said, bold and clear, in response to the
rumbled question.
My wife, who until this moment had looked completely out of it,
suddenly looked very startled, a deep frown settling on her forehead.
“Oh,” was all she said, the “Oh, okay.” But she kept
looking round the room, tense and unsettled.
“Are you okay?” I asked her, reaching out to touch her shoulder.
“What!?!” she replied, startled, “Yes....yes,” she mumbled,
“I'm fine.” Confused look again. “It's just not what I was
expecting.”
“Speak then, strange creature,” earth ground to Strauss, “What
would the Weave say to us?”
“The Forest exists to protect the Warp,” Strauss said, “To
maintain the delicate balance. We are correct in that summary?”
“You are,” air wheezed, “It does. What of it?”
“Our master wonders,” Strauss continued, “”Why it is you have
always ignored the greatest of threats to the Warp? Why you
continually allow that balance to be at risk?”
“What threat?” Fire demanded, “What risk?”
“Isn't it obvious?” Strauss asked, “The threat from mankind
itself.”
