"Everyone, back away," called a firm, almost cold voice — Instructor Wei's? Instructor Wei's!, Abrial realized with a leap in her heart. Why was he here?
Most of the crowd respected Instructor Wei's uncharacteristically harsh words and created a perimeter around Abrial, murmuring and glancing from a distance, many dispersing now that the dramatic critical danger was gone. But a few people ignored him completely, converging on Abrial like desperate waves crashing into one another in a storm.
The first to reach Abrial's bedrollside was Wu Dafu, his scarlet headband sticking to his warm forehead from the sheen of anxious sweat that had formed there.
