Really, he's not surprised. She hasn't exactly struck him as the sort to, when there's another option around. Sadly, that other option is him and if he were any less decent he'd just let her fend for herself and damn the consequences. But such is the life of being a sort-of-decent person.

Fortunately, the land isn't all that far away, although he's bound and determined to grumble and swear his way through as much of it as he can. The introduction of a conversational gambit, however, puts something of an end to that.

"Decent way t' keep people from gettin' somewhere," he answered. "'F they can't stay up there all that long it keeps 'em from exploring wht else is out there." Not to mention it made a decent deterrent from repeat trips, but he wouldn't mention that part.