John landed in the grass outside the wall and ran.
Almond had never seen him run. In all the years he had known John, through wars and calamities and the end of a world, John had walked.
He had walked into battles with his hands in his pockets. He had walked off the edge of the road into the nothing.
Now he ran. He ran across the north field like a boy.
"Big D," said Almond.
"Go," said Big D. He was already at the stairs. "Kael. Rudra."
Lily caught Almond's sleeve at the top of the stairs.
"I'm staying," she said, before he could say it. "I'm staying right here, on this wall, where Hessa can see me. Go and get him."
Almond went.
The four of them came out through the north gate and over the white stones at a run. The field was gray with dawn. The great body of the Lull lay against the line where it had died, with its eye still open.
Far ahead, the old woman was almost at the tide.
