many were already holding their hands before their faces , taking fearful peeks between their fingers , but their overall anticipation , like a hum that , although silent , still made the air vibrate , was no help whatsoever to yonfi , who seemed all the more angered by the fact that , no matter how urgently he kicked and rubbed and punched the accursed stone , it failed to give off the tiniest gleam , and , what was worse , was making him look like an incompetent fool in front of all these people .