The Knife of Never Letting Go Part IV
Todd studies the fighting forces of Prentisstown, he is shocked to find the quietest men from his childhood committing brutal acts of violence. He is unable to find Aaron through the Binos, and feeling uneasy they set off toward Haven. Todd allows Viola to read the map that Ben had given him. A note on the map urges Todd to “warn them.” He begins to believe that Prentisstown had a specific plan and that Ben had wanted him to warn the other settlements against Prentisstown. They understand that they can no longer go to any of the other settlements along the way to Haven since they would be attracting the ire of the Prentisstown army towards the settlements. Haven may be the only settlement big enough to withstand an assault from the Prentisstown army. Todd and Viola choose to follow the less traveled road when they encounter a fork. They avoid contact with all other settlements and learn about each other’s lives. Todd talks to Viola about how boys become men at the age of thirteen in the New World, but Viola tells him that he may already be a man as he could be about fourteen according to Old World. Viola tells him a little about her life on the spaceship, which was less than ideal, and shares with him how excited her parents had been to start a new life in New World.
They are dogged by whispers of the army until they run into a large herd of humongous creatures crossing the landscape. The elephant-like creatures fill the world with their Noise of “Here.” They encounter a man on an oxen cart from the closest settlement called Wilf. Viola adopts a mindbogglingly perfect imitation of a Farbranch accent that stupefies Todd. They accept Wilf’s help in crossing the herd of creatures, which puts them further away from the army. Todd struggles to keep his Noise from revealing them as he marvels at Viola’s ability to mirror accents. Viola asks about Aaron, and Todd tells her about his disturbing sermons about Hellfire. The priest that Viola had met aboard the spaceship had been much warmer. They cross the herd of migrating animals and get off the cart before Wilf begins towards the next settlement. They tell Wilf to warn the settlement about the army that had taken Farbranch, and the man promises to try to tell the people that the army is growing larger.
Todd and Viola continue on their way toward Haven, and they keep close to the road. Manchee warns them about the approaching sound of a horse. They hide in the surrounding bush, but Todd’s Noise reveals him to a pursuing Davy Prentiss Jr. The sheriff of Prentisstown had been sent to look for word about Todd along the road and had accidentally stumbled onto him. Viola manages to escape from Davy, but Todd gets tripped by Davy’s thrown bolo. Todd manages to unseat him, and scare the horse away. He beats Davy quite soundly and questions him at knifepoint. Davy reveals that Mayor Prentiss had come with the army to seek out Todd, but he refuses to divulge any further information. He begins to note Todd’s hesitation in using the knife and beats out the knife as soon as he understands that Todd doesn’t want to kill him. Todd is then rescued by Viola, who breaks down her locator to electrocute Davy. Viola and Todd escape, but Todd continues to think about how he had behaved like a coward by not being ready to kill. Viola extols the virtue of empathy in Todd and tells him that this is what sets him apart from the men of Prentisstown. He is unable to believe her. These thoughts are still running through his mind when they suddenly stumble upon a small Spackle. Todd attacks and kills the weak creature as it jumps toward its spear. Viola is horrified at this unjustified murder of a scared creature, but they are unable to discuss the matter due to Aaron’s arrival. The priest subdues Viola, hits Todd with a stick, and then plunges Todd’s knife into him.
Analysis
Todd goes through a critical transformation in this part of the book. He becomes a killer by murdering the frightened Spackle. Todd struggles with the concept of masculinity during his fight with Davy, who is barely older than Todd but has already been initiated as a man. This rite continues to hold some meaning for Todd even though he has learned its true horrific nature. Todd feels like a coward when he isn’t able to bring himself to kill Davy, his pursuer. In his view, he has failed as a man because he had to rely on Viola for saving him instead of being her savior. Viola attempts to change his view on the matter, but Todd has been brainwashed by his time in Prentisstown. He is not able to understand that being a man is not simply about being violent and deadly.
Tragically, Todd encounters the Spackle when he is struggling with the thoughts of being a coward. He is determined to prove himself once and for all, so he attacks the Spackle and kills him. He is horrified by the murder. He realizes that the murder did not make him feel like a man.
For a few short moments in this section, Todd and Viola are given a short reprieve from the constant struggle of being pursued by a hostile army. Their time among the herds of migrating animals allows them to relax and speak to one another with a modicum of safety. The safety of the Noise that the animals make allows them to be present with one another through the reminders of “Here.”
