Chapter 23

ALWAYS FACELESS before, but now he knows the eyes that watch him, and he doesn't know what that means, but it's different and he doesn't think that's good. Father sleeps on, won't answer his questions, and sometimes it seems like he's been asking them forever, over and over again, but he can't make himself stop.

"What am I?" he begs. "Why am I here? Why can't I just... stop?"

Father doesn't answer him, and then Father isn't there anymore. He is alone, always alone, friendless and defenseless, heart as raw as his abraded fingertips, with only the silent, brooding Watcher at his back.

"Go away," he says over his shoulder, fingers flying, and he tries to concentrate on what he's doing, but he's afraid and he can't think. "I don't want you here, go away!"