contents prologue a stranger on the bus three strikes the red demon underwater grandpa tuckers house eddie maupin sabotage branches illiana the onyx sneaking out emi sneaking in the chase the old man the memory snoop kidnapped reminders of home alistair resistance holding on patience lost explanations joshuas ascent ralmaghar searchlights secrets revealed meruzilak morning visitors traveling companions handstands joshuas wait joshuas escape the chasm epilogue to lose the earth you know , for greater knowing ; to lose the life you have , for greater life ; to leave the friends you loved , for greater loving ; to find a land more kind than home , more large than earth -- -- -- whereon the pillars of this earth are founded .