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"We'll not go up to the Cave of the Voices in the dark," Henchick said

"Wehave to!" Eddie burst out "You don't understand! It's not just a question of how long the ic will or won't last, it's a question of tioes faster over there, and once it's gone, it's gone! Christ, Susannah could be having that baby right now, and if it's some kind of cannibal - "

"Listen tofellow," Henchick said, "and hear one "

This was true Never in Roland's experience had a day run so quickly through his fingers There had been the battle with the Wolves early, not long after dawn, then celebration there on the road for the victory and sorrow for their losses (which had been as had fallen) Then had coone, the trek to the cave, their discoveries there By the tiotten back to the East Road battlefield, it had been past noon Most of the townsfolk had left, bearing their saved children hoh to this palaver, but by the tiotten back to the rectory, the sun had been on the wrong side of the sky

We're going to get a night's rest, after all,Roland thought, and didn't knohether to be glad or disappointed He could use sleep; that much he did know

"I listen and hear," Eddie said, but Roland's hand was still on his shoulder, and he could feel the younger

"Even illing to go, we couldn't persuade enough of the others to come wi' us," Henchick said

"You're their dinh - "

"Aye, so you call it, and so I suppose I as they'd follow me, and they know the debt they owe your ka-tet out of this day's work and would say thank ya any way they could But they wouldn't go up that path and into that haunted place after dark " Henchick was shaking his head slowly and with great certainty "No - that they will not do

"Listen, young man Cantab and I can be back at Redpath Kra-ten well before full dark There we'll call ourHall is to the forgetful folk " He glanced briefly at Callahan "Say pardon, Pere, if the term offends ye "

Callahan nodded absently without looking up fro over and over in his hands It had been covered in protective plastic, as valuable first editions often are The price lightly penciled on the flyleaf was950 So man's second novel He wondered what made it so valuable If they ran into the book's owner, a man named Calvin Tower, he would surely ask And that would only be the start of his questioning

"We'll explain what it is ye want, and ask for volunteers Of the sixty-eight ree to help - to blend their forces together It will ?"

"Yes," Roland said "The sharing of water, we say "

"You couldn't fit anywhere that number of men in the mouth of that cave," Jake said "Not even if half of them sat on the other half's shoulders "

"No need," Henchick said "We'll put the most powerful inside - e call the senders The others can line up along the path, linked hand to hand and bob to bob They'll be there before the sun goes rooftop tomorrow I set my watch and warrant on it "

"We'll need tonight to gather ourat Eddie apologetically, and with so unslinger A gunslinger ht strike out, and when one did, it was never blindly

"It could be too late," Eddie said, low He looked at Roland with his hazel eyes They were now bloodshot and dark with exhaustion "Toone away "

Roland opened his er

"Don't say ka, Roland If you say ka one more time, I swear my head'll explode "

Roland closed his mouth

Eddie turned back to the two bearded men in their dark, Quakerish cloaks "And you can't be sure the ht could be closed against us forever tonets and plumb-bobs in Manni creation could open it "

"Aye," Henchick said "But your woic ball with her, and whatever'ee may think, Mid-World and the Borderlands are well shed of it "

"I'd sell my soul to have it back, and in my hands," Eddie said clearly

They all looked shocked at this, even Jake, and Roland felt a deep urge to tell Eddie he must take that back, ainst their quest for the Tower, dark ones, and Black Thirteen was their clearest sigul What could be used could also be misused, and the bends o' the rainbow had their own lammer, Thirteen most of all Was the sum of all, perhaps Even if they had possessed it, Roland would have fought to keep it out of Eddie Dean's hands In his current state of sorrowing distraction, the ball would either destroy him or make him its slave in minutes