[ Even an inch or so is enough to draw a frown, somewhat boxy, conscious that his following insistence on yanking out his weapon can't have helped her. When he then commits to letting go should she move much more, or appear to struggle, it isn't a matter of underestimating her ability — any reason he might have had to doubt that she'd have volunteered without believing she could do it (even if he's probably heavier than he looks) necessarily pales against how little choice he'd had — but objective assessment.
Ultimately, an unnecessary (mental) precaution. She's managing, and once she's got him close enough that he could, with a free hand, be able to grasp the "ledge", he altogether casually lobs the nata leftward and over her, listening as it hits the ground with a blunted clunk beyond. (Even if he'd completely screwed up the throw, completely wrapped as it was and without his energy or techique behind it, it wouldn't have cut.)
It's literally as he's tossing it that he answers, ]
Then I assume it wasn't a lab dedicated —
[ Here grasping for that ledge, to contribute to the hauling effort, ]
no subject
Ultimately, an unnecessary (mental) precaution. She's managing, and once she's got him close enough that he could, with a free hand, be able to grasp the "ledge", he altogether casually lobs the nata leftward and over her, listening as it hits the ground with a blunted clunk beyond. (Even if he'd completely screwed up the throw, completely wrapped as it was and without his energy or techique behind it, it wouldn't have cut.)
It's literally as he's tossing it that he answers, ]
Then I assume it wasn't a lab dedicated —
[ Here grasping for that ledge, to contribute to the hauling effort, ]
— to geology, or specifically, speleogy.