Thorn contemplated the crowd of Hunters, now edging forward and spreading out to encircle him. He ruthlessly rammed down the panic gibbering in the back of his mind and sought the tranquility that Nitobe- sensei had tried to teach him years ago. T he worrier is fulfilled only when he resolutely accepts death , the old man had said. A random glint of light flashed up the blade of a knife as death came closer.