~ Chapter 21, 22, 23 ~

In these chapters Jonas finds out that Gabe would be released. Jonas could not believe what he was hearing. To save Gabe, Jonas will take Gabe with him on his journey. When leaving, Jonas broke three rules. Two of which were stealing. Gabe was sleeping soundly in the seat on the back of the bike. Jonas circled the outlying communities with there dark streets. When it was morning Jonas stopped to eat breakfast. Now it was time to sleep. They would sleep during the day in with the cover of trees and bushes, and ride at night so they would not be seen.

Now days had passed and there were search planes flying overhead. When the drone of the engines came, Jonas putted over to take cover so they would not be seen. Gabe had taught himself to yell "Plane. Plane" when he heard the drone or saw one of the planes. The longer they were gone, the less planes there were so they had to hide less often.

The roads started to change now along with the scenery. Dark and thick forests formed on the sides of the roads. The roads were getting narrower and harder to ride on. One night, Jonas fell when he hit a rock. Gabe was fine, but Jonas twisted his ankle and it soon became swollen. Since there were no more planes, Jonas biked in the daylight. Soon they ran out of food and Jonas had to catch fish in order to survive. The weather was changing. It was becoming colder. Jonas could see that Gabe was becoming weaker due to lack of food. Jonas was not sure if he could save him.

Jonas was determined to keep going. Even though it was getting colder, he did not turn back. Both Jonas and Gabe were getting weak. It started snowing when Jonas came to a steep hill, one that he could not bike, so Jonas started to climb.To keep warm Jonas shared his memories of warmth with Gabe. Step by step Jonas climbed, stopping every few steps to warm them both with a memory. When they reached the top, Jonas realized that he had been there before. This was the same hill from the sledding memory. Jonas fumbled for the rope and places Gabe on the sled in front of him. They started down. The place that would be their future was in front of them.

'Downward, downward, faster and faster. Suddenly he was aware with certainly and joy that below, ahead, they were waiting for him;and they were waiting, too, for the baby. For the first time, he heard something that he knew to be music. He heard people singing.

Behind him, across the distances of space and time, from the place he had left, he thought he heard music too. But perhaps it was only an echo.'