Leonard kept his lighter burning in his hand. That was understandable; he was, after all, a healthy man. Expecting him to adjust immediately to total darkness was unrealistic.
Barn, by contrast, wore a faint smile. He was not secretly pleased that he had long since grown used to complete darkness, but excited at the prospect of seeing World again...
Oh, right, there was also a bird. Fitz stood on Barn's head, no longer squawking, with its wings neatly folded at its sides. It had no need to adjust to this environment, since it had its own personal mount, Barn. Who knew how Barn would react if he found out what Fitz was thinking...
"Huh? There's light up ahead."
Perhaps because he had spent so long walking through the darkness, Leonard had become especially sensitive to light. He quickly spotted a faint glow ahead. Just as he switched off his lighter and prepared to run out of the tunnel, the tunnel began to shake!
More precisely, only the slab of stone beneath Leonard and Barn's feet was moving, and moving fast.
Almost instantly, the two men and the bird were delivered out of the tunnel.
"Captain, I've brought them."
Gairam's voice suddenly rang out around them.
World merely gave a quiet grunt of acknowledgment.
"Hiss! Ah!"
The sudden bright light stung Leonard's eyes, but Barn showed no reaction. That faint smile remained on his face, his unfocused eyes staring straight ahead at World.
"Long time no see, World."
Barn spoke with a smile.
"Mm."
World did not immediately answer Barn's greeting. He merely grunted, then suddenly leaped down from the command platform and landed beside Barn.
Almost simultaneously, Barn turned his head, his unfocused eyes once again finding World with unerring accuracy.
"Yes, it's been a long time, Barn Bashut. Oh?