The Knife of Never Letting Go

Todd uses the binoculars. He sees men shooting Farbranch men and women in the back. He doesn’t understand why the least violent men from Prentisstown are in the army. He searches the scene until he is sure Ben and Cillian aren’t there. He thinks they must have been killed.

Viola asks if Todd saw Aaron in the crowd. Aaron wasn’t there. They come to a forked path and take the path that has fewer signs of travel, hoping the army will think they took the other way. Viola says that they can’t lead the army into other settlements. Once they get to Haven, she hopes there will be enough to fight the army. Viola tells Todd that her last name is Eade, and she helps him pronounce it. They shake hands.

They are desperate with thirst and finally find the river again. Viola fills some expandable water bottles she keeps in her pack. She opens the journal and reads the warning note again. It says that Todd has to warn the world about Prentisstown. Todd knows that the men in Prentisstown have a plan, and Todd’s becoming a man is crucial to its success.