with great effort , jake kept himself from laughing again . they wo n't expect us to be there . the man was nodding , frightened and confused . he stopped walking and pulled a twig off a tree that lined the path . shermans body had filled out a little and he was bigger and stronger now than he was the last time his father beat him up so badly . dark , ugly visions of blood and death . you are free to leave if you want to go . '' 