Rouri's Moment Of Realization

"The Sky People."

We knew it had to happen. The Sky People have attacked and begun to sack the city. The Maurai explorers who had been guests in the city have fought to their boat, taking with them a bunch of noble Meycan women. The commander of the accompanying Meycan men urges the Maurai captain, Ruori, to carry the women to safety elsewhere while he and his men return to the battle. Ruori, not wanting to flee, would prefer to pull the enemy aircraft from the sky.

"Ruori stopped dead." (p. 38)

Of course he does. He has just thought of something. He stops his men from casting off, runs to the main Meycan woman and says that he has an idea but we must read on to learn what it is. Regular Anderson readers could see this moment of realization coming a long way back.