and the wall of water slams into the ruins of the cathedral , finally knocking over the bell tower that stood on its own- it disappears in a flash of water and brick- and i 'm realizing something- the water 's slowing- as it tears thru new prentisstown , as it erases new prentisstown , all the junk and the buildings are slowing it down , just a little , just a bit , making the wall of water a little bit shorter , a little bit slower- `` but not nearly enough , '' the mayor says- and he 's in the room behind me- i whirl round to face him- `` i 'm sorry that she 'll die , todd , '' he says .