Because there are no consequences.

A second excerpt from "For Fear of Worse" found in "The Warlords at:

The deck beneath them lifted out of the water and bodies at the fore tumbled down onto them. For one perilous moment they were in the air while the old man grinned up at them from below and then Tsuri was back in the water with Kojessa and more people were falling on top of them.
15/15

Then, with Tsuri gaping at the face of his nightmares, he snapped his rotten teeth together and the barge split in two, pitching dozens into the murky water along one side. They were left on the larger section but it was over-balanced with so many in the stern and more rushing from breach.
14/15

“Quiet, man!” Tsuri hissed. “We are still in danger!”

This only drew an even louder outburst from him. “Danger!” He bawled as if it were the best joke he’d ever heard. His face suddenly sharpened, attention fixed on Tsuri and the bloodshot eyes went black as the shark’s in his dreams.
13/15

The old man’s throat worked unpleasantly before he barked out another laugh. “Enemy ’ere? Right y’are. ’is here!” He slipped the tip of one finger into his ear and twisted it around. Still he leered and cackled at Tsuri who tried to hush him with a gesture. The man laughed all the louder.
12/15

His eyes were not so much full of dementia as unhinged mirth. He was the only one laughing and others were staring and shuffling away.

“We should be quiet,” Tsuri leaned over to scold him. “If the invaders are on boats they could be near and hear us.” He dare not speak of the things below.
11/15

“Yar! Luck!” The old man rocked in place then he reached out with one boney old hand and poked at Kojessa where she was huddled in Tsuri’s arms. “Hear that, gilly? Luck! Fadder’s a lucky man. Naught to fear now!” She stiffened with each prodding.
10/15

When he looked up he found the withered old Khoman looking at him with bleary eyes. Rotted teeth clicked together as he pretended to smile. “Nice boat ride, eh? Ain’t that a peach, Sif man? We gorn git ’way?”

“We’re very lucky,” Tsuri agreed but his scalp was crawling unpleasantly.
9/15

The poles were worked along the soft swamp bottom so that in no time Querccis was little more than a smudge behind a curtain of pursuing smoke. The ancient tub creaked beneath them. He hoped whoever was calling the orders had a nearby landing in mind as this old crate was likely to fall apart.
8/15

For his own part he rested his cheek on Jessa’s head and rubbed her back vigorously. Her shivering, he knew, was not from cold but it would feel that way all the same. Koneen would have sung but Tsuri never had that in him so he just grumbled aimlessly to keep her attention anchored to him.
7/15

He began to make a prayer to Do Welo but let it dry up on his tongue.

It will get worse.

An old geezer next to them began laughing as the last hardwood fasteners were broken away and the barge lurched. Sifeh and Khomani alike were trying to keep their balance while moaning in relief.
6/15

He realized that there were a hundred people on the barge if there were a dozen. The stern was sitting low even with many shuffling forward. Then he sighed in relief as long poles were being run out along the sides, bracing against the desiccated pilings that tethered the docks to either side.
5/15