ee of ；us would laugh； sometimes until we got tears in our eyes。〃
The boy's eyes brightened； he smiled a little。 〃Why do you miss her？ Is she gone away？〃
〃No；〃 Rahl sighed； 〃she and my father died a few years ago。 They were both old。 They both had a good life together； but I still miss them。 So I understand how you miss your parents。〃
The boy nodded a little。 His lip had stopped quivering。 The ant walked up the bridge of his nose。 He scrunched up his face trying to get it off。
〃Let's just try to have as good a time as we can for now； and you will be back with them before you know it。〃
The boy nodded again。 〃My name is Carl。〃
Rahl smiled。 〃Honored to meet you； Carl。〃 He reached out and carefully picked the ant off the boy's face。
〃Thanks；〃 Carl said with relief。
〃That's what I'm here for； Carl； to be your friend and help you in any way I can。〃
〃If you're my friend； then dig me up and let me go home？〃 His eyes glistened wetly。
〃Soon enough； my son； soon enough。 I wish I could right now； but the people expect me to protect them from evil people who would kill them； so I must do what I can to help。 You are going to be a part of that help。 You are going to be an important part of the ceremony that will save your mother and father from the evil ores who would kill mum。 …〃You do want to protect your mother from harm； don't you？〃
The torches flickered and hissed as Carl thought。
〃Well； yes。 But I want to go home。〃 His lip began quivering again。
Darken Rahl reached out and stroked the boy's hair reassuringly； bing it back with his fingers； then smoothing it down。 〃I know； but try to be brave。 I won't let anyone harm； you； I promise。 I will guard you and keep you safe。〃 He gave Carl a warm smile。 〃Are you hungry？ Would you like something to eat？〃
Carl shook his head。
〃All right； then。 It is late； I will leave you to rest。〃 He stood； straightening his robes； brushing off grass。
〃Father Rahl？〃
Rahl stopped； and looked back down。 〃Yes； Carl？〃
A tear rolled down Carl's cheek。 〃I'm afraid to be here alone。 Could you stay with me？〃
The Master regarded the boy with a forting expression。 〃Why； of course； my son。〃 Father Rahl lowered himself back down to the grass。 〃For as long as you want； even all night if you want me。〃
CHAPTER 20
GREEN LIGHT GLOWED ALL about as they cautiously shuffled their feet through the rubble of the hillside； climbing over or under tree trunks； kicking limbs aside when necessary。 The iridescent green sheet of the boundary walls pressed against' them from both sides as they groped their way ahead。 Blackness lay thick all about except for the uncanny illumination that made them feel as if they were in a cave。
Richard and Kahlan had e to the same decision at the same time。 No choice had been left to the two of them； they couldn't go back； and they couldn't stay at the split rock； not with the grippers and shadow things ing for them； and so they were forced ahead； into 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 know