“Life equals running and when we stop running maybe that's how we'll know life is finally finished.”

“I don't think so," the Mayor buzzes -And my feet stop running -But then I pick up one -And then the other -And I'm running for it again -I hear the Mayor laugh behind me. "Well done," he says.”

“We run down the right fork, Manchee at our heels, the night and a dusty road stretching out in front of us, an army and a disaster behind us, me and Viola, running side by side.”

“Too much talking," I say. "Not enough running.”

“The only crime, the only crime is to take a life. There is nothing else.''And that's why you don't fight,'I say.She turns to me sharply. 'To preserve life is to fight everything that man stands for.”

“And I know I’ve lost.Everything is lost.Everything is over.“As the newly appointed President of this fair planet of ours,” the Mayor says, holding out his hands as if to show me the world for the first time,” let me be the very first to welcome you to its new capital city.”“Todd?” Viola whispers, her eyes closed.I hold her tightly to me.“I’m sorry,” I whisper to her. “I’m so sorry.”We’ve run right into a trap.We’ve run right off the end of the world.“Welcome,” says the Mayor,” to the New Prentisstown.”

“Maybe probably ain’t all that comforting a word when it’s maybe yer not dying.”