no-one spoke as the dragon crept to the dais , and heaved himself upon it ; he raised his trembling head , his speech a thin and fragile lament which silenced all the crowd , and made the women draw to them their children , the dragons curl anxious tails around the clustered knots of their nearest tribesmen ; one of the escort wept silently , with his hand over his face , his fellows giving him the courtesy of pretending they did not see .