The river was indeed fast, pulling air over its surface as it flowed along, making the banks seem somewhat windy to the two men. The air passing over made the huge cable buzz as it vibrated, sounding like some of the sustained orations chanted by the monks at Halls. They sat on a couple of rocks by the water and observed the river and cable for a few minutes, trying to draw the courage to start across. Suddenly, both men were thrown off the rocks that they sat on but they didn't know by what. They gave one another a couple of curious and worried glances and Boyce hollered. "Was it an earthquake?" he yelled. Lloyd shrugged and they watched the rocks slowly rolling away and then digging themselves into the mud at the water's edge. Lloyd moved over to Boyce and told him in aloud voice, trying to overcome the roar of the river, that the rocks on which they sat on must have been living rock. Neither man had ever seen one of those strange mutations until now. They had always thought that the stories about the strange rocks were nothing but stories, but they really were able to buck a man from off their backs. They became calm now, and they knew that once they crossed to the other side, they would have to become more careful. These rocks that they had encountered were passive, but on the other side of the river the beast were all but shyly submissive. In fact, they would attack their own shadows without the slightest forewarning that they would do so. The day before, Lloyd and Boyce discussed the possible perils that they would encounter, not knowing for certain since very few men had ever successfully passed through the Dark Forest. Now, however, no more discussions could keep them from trying to cross the river, and they knew it. "We can't sit around here forever." yelled Boyce. "We have to cross, so I'll go first!" He put his pack on and tied it to himself and Lloyd grabbed his arm as he moved towards the cable. "Why do you want to go first?" he asked him. Boyce just smiles at him. "I'm lighter than you are. Besides, you went first on the climb." Boyce turned to the escarpment and pointed at it. Lloyd put his other hand on Boyce's shoulder and nodded his head to him, approving the decision that the young man had made. Lloyd tied his own pack to himself and they went over to the cable where it was anchored to a huge boulder. Boyce reached up and pulled on the cable a few times. "Be careful!" Lloyd hollered to him and slapped him on the back. He eased himself along. First sliding one hand out then his other until his hands were together. He kept to this method but half-way across he began to tire and he hung there motionless for a moment. The cable didn't vibrate with that odd tone any more, and Lloyd became worried for Boyce. Within his heart he egged him on and he prayed that God would grant him strength to make it the rest of the way.