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〃You cannot take your horses； the trail be too small for them。 There be places they cannot fit。 You must not wander from the trail…it be very dangerous to do so。 And you must not stop to sleep。 It will take one day； one night； and most of the next day to cross。〃
〃Why can't we stop to sleep？〃 Richard asked。
Adie looked to each of them with her white eyes。 〃There be other things； besides the beasts； in the pass。 They will get you if you stop long enough。〃
〃Things？〃 Kahlan asked。
Adie nodded。 〃I go into the pass often。 If you are careful； it be safe enough。 If you are not careful； there ；be things that will get you。〃 Her raspy voice lowered bitterly。 〃I became overconfident。 One day I was walking a long time； and became very tired。 I was sure of myself； sure I knew the dangers well； so I sat against a tree and took a small nap。 For a few minutes only。〃 She put her hand on her leg； rubbing it slowly。 〃When I was asleep； a gripper fixed itself on my ankle。〃
Kahlan scrunched up her features。 〃What's a gripper？〃
Adie regarded her in silence for a minute。 〃A gripper be an animal that has armor all over his back； spikes all around the bottom edge。 Many legs underneath； each with a sharp； hooked claw at the end； a mouth like a leech with teeth all around。 He wraps himself around； so only his armor is out。 With his claws he digs into the flesh to hold tight so you cannot pull him off； and then he fixes his mouth to you； sucking the blood from you； tightening with the claws all the time。〃
Kahlan put her hand reassuringly on Adie's arm。 The light from the lamp made the old woman's white eyes a pale shade of orange。 Richard didn't move； his muscles tense。
〃I had my axe with me。〃 Kahlan closed her eyes as her head lowered。 Adie went on。 〃I tried to kill the gripper； or at least get him off me。 I knew that if I did not； he would suck all the lifeblood from me。 His armor be harder than the axe。 I was very angry with myself。 The grippers be one of the slowest creatures in the pass； but he be faster than a sleeping fool。〃 She looked into Richard's eyes。 〃There be only one thing I could do to save my life。 I could stand the pain no longer； his teeth were scraping into the bone。 I tied a strip of cloth tight around my thigh； and laid my lower leg across a log。 I used the axe to chop off my foot and ankle。〃
The silence in the small house was brittle。 Only Richard's eyes moved； to meet Kahlan's。 He saw sorrow there for the old woman； saw his own sorrow reflected。 He couldn't imagine the resolve it would take to use an axe to cut off your own foot。 His stomach felt sick。 Adie's thin lips spread in a grim smile。 With one hand she reached across the table to take Richard's hand； and with the other hand； took Kahlan's。 She held their hands in a firm grip。
〃I tell you this story not to have you feel sorry for me。 I tell you only so you two will not bee prey to something in the pass。 Confidence can be a dangerous thing。 Fear can keep you safe； sometimes。〃
〃Then I think we shall be very safe；〃 Richard said。
Adie continued to smile； and gave a single nod。 〃Good。 There be one more thing。 There be a place halfway through the pass； where the two walls of the boundary e very close together； almost touching。 It be called the Narrows。 When you e to a rock the size of this house； split down the middle； that be the place。 You must pass through the rock。 Do not go around it even though you may want to； death be that way。 And then beyond； you must pass between the walls of the boundary。 It be the most dangerous place in the pass。〃 She put a hand on Kahlan's shoulder； and squeezed Richard's hand tighter； looking to each in turn。 〃They will call to you from the boundary。 They will want you to e to them。〃
〃Who？〃 Kahlan asked。
Adie leaned closer to her。 〃The dead。 It could be anyone you know who be dead。 Your mother。〃
Kahlan bit her bottom lip。 〃Is it really them？〃
Adie shook her head。 〃I don't know； child。 But I do not believe it to be。〃
〃I don't think so； either；〃 Richard said； almost more to reassure himself。
〃Good；〃 Adie rasped。 〃Keep thinking so。 It will help you resist。 You will be tempted to go to them。 If you do； you are lost。 And remember； in the Narrows it be even more important to keep on the path the whole way through。 A step or two off to either side and you have gone too far； the walls of the boundary be that close。 You will not be able to step back。 Ever。〃
Richard let out a deep breath。 〃Adie； the boundary is failing。 Before he was struck down； Zedd told me he could see the change。 Chase said you couldn't see into it before； and that now underworld beings were getting out。 Do you think it will still be safe to go through the Narrows？〃
〃Safe？ I never said it be safe。 It never be safe to go through the Narrows。 Many who were keen with greed； but not strong of will； have tried to go through and never e out the other side。〃 She leaned closer to him。 〃As long as the boundary be there still； so too must be the pass。 Stay on the trail。 Keep in mind your purpose。 Help each other if need be； and you will get across。〃
Adie studied his face。 Richard turned to Kahlan's green eyes。 He wondered if Kahlan and he could resist the boundary。 He remembered what it felt like to want to go into it； to long for it。 In the Narrows； it would be on both sides of them。 He knew how frightened Kahlan was of the underworld； with good reason； she had been in it。 He wasn't anxious to go anywhere near it himself。
Richard frowned in thought。 〃You said the Narrows were in the center of the pass。 Won't it be night？ How will we see to stay on the trail？〃
Adie put her hand on Kahlan's shoulder to help herself up。 〃e；〃 she said as she put the crutch under her arm。 They followed slowly behind as she worked her way to the shelves。 Her slender fingers clutched a leather pouch。 She loosened the drawstring and dumped something in her palm。
She turned to Richard。 〃Hold out your hand。〃
He held his hand palm up in front of her。 She put her hand over his； and he felt a smooth weight。 In her native tongue she spoke a few words under he； breath。
‘〃The words say I give you this of my own free will。〃
Richard saw that in his palm rested a rock about the size of a grouse egg。 Smooth and polished； it was so dark it seemed as if it could suck the light from the room。 He couldn't even discern a surface； other than a layer of gloss。 Beneath that was a void of blackness。
〃This be a night stone；〃 she said in a measured rasp。
〃And what do I do with it？〃
Adie hesitated； her gaze darting briefly to the window。 〃When it be dark； and you have need enough； take out the night stone and it will give off light so you may find your way。 It only works for its owner； and then only if it be given of its last owner's free will。 I will tell the wizard you have it。 He has magic to find it； so he will be able to find you。〃
Richard hesitated。 〃Adie； this must be valuable。 I don't feel right accepting it。〃
〃Everything is valuable under the right conditions。 To a man dying of thirst； water be more precious than