Kurloz adopted a surprised face when Mr. D started signing to go along with his speaking. He'd run into plenty of people who know what sign language was, since coming to Vatheon, but he'd never encountered a person who actually knew how to sign. He'd resigned himself to teaching people, and being secretly pleased at his ability to say things to people that they wouldn't understand.

Yet he doesn't use signing to answer in return. He points to his ears and nods, then points towards Mr. D's hands, and nods again. He can understand both perfectly well. The only thing he can't (won't) do is talk, which he emphasizes by pretending to zip his mouth closed.

And now, for the point of approaching in the first place. He points in the direction that Mr. D was going, then shakes his head and makes a little "x" with his hands. The coral isn't that way.