At the south edge of camp, an enormous crowd had gathered. When Abrial squeezed out of the tents to join, there were at least a few hundred members of the Wei camp crowding and bustling, trying to get a clear view of whatever was approaching from the south. By now, the bursts of stars had petered out, and the sky had begun to lighten again, gradually returning to the soft blue of morning—which was comforting, because it was utterly disorienting seeing a night sky in the middle of the freaking day.
"Coming through!" Abrial called. "Watch out!" Using her elbows, aggressive pushing, and no manners at all, she managed to squeeze through the thick crowd to the front.
From this viewpoint, she could finally see what all the commotion was about.
