iabi could scarcely hide his happiness and pride at the blessed honour of being the one to first set eyes upon the long-awaited people of the blinding stone , and the way he gesticulated widly with his tiny hands and stood at the tips of his toes when the verve overtook him made him so look like an eager , trusting boy , no one had the heart to say that , despite their unusual appearance , they might not be the ones his tribe expected .