The Knife of Never Letting Go

Todd wakes to Manchee licking his face. He feels the knife handle in his back where Aaron brought it down. The journal stopped it from penetrating farther. He wonders why Aaron didn’t kill him. Then he understands: Aaron took Viola so that Todd would have to live with the knowledge that he couldn’t protect her.

Todd concentrates, but he can’t hear Aaron’s Noise or feel Viola’s silence. He tells Manchee they have to go back to the army. He takes the knife, even though he doesn’t want to touch it. Manchee says he’s going another way, towards Viola. He has her scent and isn’t ready to quit trying.

Todd thinks they are headed towards Haven. He tries not to think about the Spackle and how frightened it was when he attacked it. After walking all night, he hears Noise. He is near two huts. There are men in one hut and women in the other. Todd hears the word Prentisstown in several of their dreams, a sign that they have heard about the army.