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The Ask and the Answer

Book by Patrick Ness · 16 quotes · The Ask And The Answer, Chaos Walking, Patrick Ness

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AllThe Ask And The AnswerChaos WalkingPatrick NessToddTodd HewittLoveStrengthViolaAbyssAliveBandBeggingBitchesBrotherhoodDavyDavy PrentissDeadDeathDeceptionForgive

The Ask and the Answer Quotes

“And then Lee says, “I know something I shouldn't. ” [...] “They were talking about where the attack will come from tomorrow.” [...] “It's from the hill to the south of town”, he presses on, opening his Noise so we can't not hear it, “the one with the notch in it, the one with the smaller road that leads right into the town square.” Wilf's eyes bulge. “Yoo shouldn'ta said. If Hildy gets caught-” But Lee's only looking at me. “If you get into trouble”, he says. “You come running toward that hill. You come running and that's where you'll find help.” And his Noise says, That's where you'll find me.”

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“Fine, fine, you just stay at home, read yer book–” He stops himself suddenly. “Oh, damn, sorry, no, I didn’t mean that. I forgot.” And the weird thing is, he seems sincere. There’s a moment of quiet where his Noise pulses again with that strong feeling he’s hiding– That something he’s trying to bury that makes him feel– And then he says, “You know . . .” and I can see the offer coming and I don’t think I can bear it, I don’t think I could live another minute if he says it out loud. “If you ever wanted me to read it for–” “No, Davy,” I say quickly. “No, thanks, no.” “You sure?” “Yes.” “Well, the offer’s there.” His Noise goes bright again, blooming as he thinks about his new title, about women, about me and him as brothers. And he whistles happily all the way back to town.”

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“He is sorry- For everything- For Prentisstown- For Viola- For Ben- For every failure and every wrong- For letting his pa down- And he's looking up at me- And he's begging me- He's begging me- Like I'm the only one who can forgive him- Like it's only me who's got the power- Todd?- Please- And all I can say is "Davy-" And the fright and the terror in his Noise is too much- It's too much- And then it stops. Davy slumps, eyes still open, eyes still staring back at me, eyes still asking (I swear) for me to forgive him. And he lies there, still. Davy Prentiss is dead.”

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“He looks up and the loss in his Noise is so great it feels like I'm standing on the edge of an abyss, that I'm about to fall down into him, into blackness so empty and lonely there'd never be a way out. "Todd," I say again, a catch in my voice. "On the ledge, under the waterfall, do you remember what you said to me? Do you remember what you said to save me?" He's shaking his head slowly. "I've done terrible things, Viola. Terrible things-" "We all fall, you said." I'm gripping his hand now. "We all fall but that's not what matters. What matters is picking yourself up again.”

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“Who told you that?" I say. "Davy Prentiss?" He blinks. "What?" "What do you mean what?" My voice is harder now. "Your new best friend. The man who shot me, Todd, and who you ride to work with laughing every morning." He clenches his hands into fists. "You've been spying on me?" he says. "Three months I don't see you, three months I don't hear nothing from you and you been spying? Is that what yer doing in your spare time when yer not blowing people up?" "Yeah," I yell, my voice getting louder to match his. "Three months of defending you to people who'd only be too happy to call you enemy, Todd. Three months of wondering why the hell you're working so hard for the Mayor and how he knew to go right for the ocean the day after we spoke." He winces, but I keep going, thrusting out my arm and pulling up on the sleeve. "Three months wondering why you put these on women!" His face changes in an instant. He actually calls out as if he felt the pain himself. He puts a hand to his mouth to stifle it but his Noise is suddenly washed with blackness. He moves his fingertips of his other hand within reach of the band, hovering over my skin, over the band that'll never be removed unless I lose my arm. The skin is still red, and band 1391 still trobs, despite the healing of three mistresses. "Oh, no," he says. "Oh, no." The side door opens and the man who let me in leans out. "Everything all right out there, Lieutenant?" "Lieutenant?" I say. "We're fine," Todd chokes a little. "We're fine." The man waits for a second, then goes back inside. "Lieutenant?" I say again, lowering my voice. Todd's leant down, his hands on his knees, staring at the floor. "It wasn't me, was it?" he says, his voice quiet, too. "I didn't-" He gestures again at the band without looking up. "I didn't do it without knowing it was you, did I?”

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