Charles wiped his sweaty palms on his clothes, his mind racing.
Are they talking about a disaster? What disaster could there be on the surface? Could the heat on the surface have been caused by humans?
"Smooth-skins, go back! You'll only bring disaster if you go up!"
The giant mantises kept beating their wings, repeating the same words.
Facing the six-meter-long giant mantises all around him, Charles knew the most important thing right now was not to anger them.
He carefully considered his words, then spoke, "Who are you? Why won't you let us go up?"
Since they could communicate, perhaps he could coax some information out of them.
But these mantises had no intention of conversing with Charles. The sound of their flapping wings grew more frequent.
"Smooth-skins, go down! Immediately! You caused the last disaster! The contract is over! We will never believe your words again! Ever!" All the mantises snapped out their scythe blades.
