Jade, meanwhile, was not knee deep in swamp water. He was standing back on the shore they had come from, his boots only mildly wet, watching Adachi with what appeared to be benevolent interest. This was the face of a man who thought his companion was being extraordinarily silly, but who wasn't about to interfere with other people's idea of fun.

"Oh, trust me," he said, with great empathy, "it can always get worse."

As if on cue, there was a distant roar that made it clear its owner should not be allowed to possess vocal cords of any kind.