Hanson clutched at the scrap he had pocketed, but it showed no sign of leaving, and the tiny blob of sun-stuff remained fixed to the awl.
The scrap in Hanson's pocket was about to leave.
mnli hypothesis: The scrap in Hanson's pocket was about to leave. premise: Hanson clutched at the scrap he had pocketed, but it showed no sign of leaving, and the tiny blob of sun-stuff remained fixed to the awl.