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nto the Narrows。
Richard had put the night stone away； it was useless for following the trail； as there was no trail to follow； and it made it difficult to tell where the boundary light changed to… the green wall。 He hadn't put it back into its leather pouch； in case it was needed again in a' hurry； but had simply dropped it into his pocket。
〃Let the walls of the boundary show us the way；〃 he had said； his quiet voice echoing back from the blackness。 〃Go slow。 If one wall turns dark； don't take another step； go a little more to the other side。 That way we can stay between them； and get through the pass。〃
Kahlan had not hesitated； the grippers and shadows being a sure death； she had taken Richard's hand as they had stepped back into the green glow。 Shoulder to shoulder； they had entered the invisible passage。 Richard's heart pounded； he tried not to think about what it was they were doing…walking blindly between the walls of the boundary。
He knew what the boundary looked like from when he had been close to it with Chase； and again when the dark thing had tried to pull Kahlan in。 He knew that if they stepped into the 。 dark wall； there would be no return； but that if they could stay in the green glow before the wall； then they at least had a chance。
Kahlan stopped。 She pushed him to the right。 She was close to the wall。 Then it appeared on his right。 They centered themselves and continued forward； finding that if they went slowly； carefully； they could stay between the walls； walking a thin line of life； with death to each side。 Years of being a guide were of no help to him。 Richard finally stopped trying to find a trace of the trail； and let himself feel the force of the walls pressing from each side； let the pressure be his guide。 It was slow going； with no sign of the trail in sight； no view of the hillside around them； only the tight world of the luminous green light； like a bubble of life floating helplessly through an endless sea of darkness and death。
Mud sucked at his boots； fear at his mind。 Any obstacle they encountered had to be crossed； they couldn't go around； the boundary walls dictated where they went。 Sometimes it was over fallen trees； sometimes over boulders； sometimes through washouts where they had to use exposed roots to pull themselves up the other side。 They helped each other silently； giving only a squeeze of the hand for encouragement。 Never was there more than a step or two to either side of their way that didn't bring up the dark walls。 Each time the trail turned； the dark wall appeared； sometimes several times； until they could decipher which way it turned。 Each time the wall loomed up； they pulled back as quickly as possible； and each time it scared him with a cold jolt。
Richard realized his shoulders ached。 The tension of what they were doing was making his muscles tighten； his breathing shallow。 He relaxed； took a deep breath； let his arms hang loose； shook his wrists to ease the stress away； and then took Kahlan's hand again。 He smiled down at her face lit by the haunting green light。 She smiled back； but he could see the controlled terror in her eyes。 At least； he thought； the bones were keeping the shadow things and the beasts away from them； and nothing appeared beyond the walls when they accidentally encountered them。
Richard could almost feel his will to live draining from his soul with each careful step。 Time took on an abstract dimension； holding no solid meaning。 He could have been in the Narrows for hours； or days； he had trouble telling anymore。 He found himself wishing only for peace； for it to be over； to be safe again。 His fear was beginning to dull from the sheer level of tension he had maintained as they probed their way ahead。
Movement caught his attention： He looked behind。 Shadow things； a flush of green light around each； floated in a line between the walls； close at their backs； following the two of them down the path； skimming above the ground； each lifting in turn to pass over a tree trunk that lay across the way。 Richard and Kahlan stopped； frozen； watching。 The shadows didn't stop。
〃Lead the way；〃 he whispered； 〃and keep hold of my hand。 I'll watch them。〃
He could see that her shirt was soaked with sweat； same as his； even though it wasn't a warm night。 Without so much as a nod； she started off。 He walked backward； his back to hers； his eyes to the shadows； his mind in a panic。 Kahlan went as fast as she could； having to stop and change direction several times； pulling him after by the hand。
She stopped again； at last groping her way to the right； when the unseen path made a sharp turn down the hill。 Walking backward downhill was difficult； he stepped carefully to avoid falling。 The shadows followed in a single file； turning with the path。 Richard resisted his urge to tell Kahlan to go faster； as he didn't want her to make a mistake； but the shadows were getting closer
It would only be a matter of minutes before they closed the distance； before they were on him。
Muscles tense； his hand gripped the hilt of his sword。 He debated in his mind whether or not to draw it； not knowing if it could help them； or if it would bring them to harm。 Even if the sword worked against the shadows； a fight in the confines of the Narrows would be a big risk； at best。 But if there was no choice； if they came too close； he would have to use the sword。
The shadows seemed as if they had taken on faces。 Richard tried to remember if they had faces before； but couldn't。 His fingers gripped the hilt of the sword tighter as he walked backward； Kahlan's soft hand warm in his。 The faces appeared sad； gentle； in the green glow。 They regarded him with kind； pleading countenances。 The raised lettering of the word 〃Truth〃 on the sword seemed to burn painfully into his fingers as he clutched it tighter。 Anger seeped from the sword； searching his mind； searching for his own anger； but； finding only fear and confusion； the anger wilted。 The forms no longer gained on him； but paced along； keeping him pany in the lonely darkness。 Somehow； they made him feel less afraid； less tense。
Their whispers calmed him。 Richard's hand relaxed on the sword as he strained to make out the words。 The slow； easy smiles reassured him； gentled his caution； his alarm； making him want to hear more； to understand the murmurs。 Green light around the faint forms shimmered fortingly。 His heart pounded with the need for rest； for peace； for their pany。
Like the shadows； his mind drifted； smoothly； quietly； gently。 Richard thought of his father； longed for him。 He remembered joyful； easy times with him； times of love； sharing； caring； times of safety when nothing threatened him； nothing ；frightened him； nothing worried him。 He longed for those times again。 He realized that that was what the whispers were saying； that it could be like that again。 They wanted to help him reach that place again； that was all。
Small warnings burgeoned deep in his mind； but then withered and were gone。 His hand slipped from the sword。
He had been so wrong； so blind； and hadn't been able to see it before。 They weren't there to harm him；