but he could n't bring himself to do it . they dragged her across the snow , away from the prismatic barrier . i 'd never bothered to learn any of their names . `` oh , '' he said , and i felt myself go cold at his flat tone . and who 's to say that i ca n't be barefoot ? judging by his hands , he appeared to be an old man . amelia spoke of him from time to time , as one would expect . go back outside , and fight like a man , he said . 