There wasn't much room to do anything at all, and they were right behind him so he couldn't just step back easily or to the side. There wasn't room, and the animal sounds were too real - they didn't have the slight muted sound to them like a recording, there was breath and subtle layers, and he knew that his ears were used to noticing differences thanks to his work. That there was a silver door ahead of them did not make him think that things were easier.

"I think that going directly towards that will be a mistake," he said, shifting his grip on his knife's hilt. "Can you back up a couple steps...?"

And of course there was the hiss of something moving as the panels to their right slid open.