How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
But this silence was different. It coiled around Matt and reached into his stomach to settle there in a hard knot. (1.3)
Ooh… comparing fear to a snake. That really packs a punch, doesn't it? Shudder.
Quote #2
An Indian? Matt felt a curl of alarm against his backbone. He stood waiting, his muscles tense. (3.4)
The Indians become Matt's greatest friends… yet he fears them at first. Why? Because all he has to go on is his prejudice… and, of course, his fear of the unknown. It makes for a pretty scary concoction.
Quote #3
It was only later, when his rage began to die down, that he felt a prickle of fear. Now he had no protection. And no way to get meat. (3.59)
Emotion number one? Anger. Then comes the reality check, and the real problem stares Matt in the face: he's unprotected and without food. Think about how it feels when you realize you left your lunch money on the kitchen table. Now multiply that by a million. Pretty scary, right?
Quote #4
Gradually he realized that they were gentle hands, probing and rubbing at one tender spot after another. His panic began to die away. (5.9)
Kindness almost always kills fear. It's pretty cool that way.
Quote #5
[Matt] was walking behind Attean, swinging the rabbit carelessly by the ears as Attean always did, when the Indian suddenly halted, his whole body tensed. Matt could see nothing and he had opened his mouth to speak, when Attean silenced him with a jerk of his hand. (15.3)
Did Attean see the baby bear? Hear the mother bear? Or just sense that something was very wrong?
Quote #6
Matt would never know why he acted as he did. He could not remember thinking at all, only staring with numb horror at the creature about to charge. (15.8)
Fear can make you do crazy things or nothing at all. The trouble is though, that it's hard to know how you'll react without being in the situation. Unless, of course, you're Batman.
Quote #7
Thinking of his father, he felt that snake of worry crawling about behind every other thought. That worry was becoming more frequent every day. What could have kept his father so long? (16.1)
Matt can't focus on his worry about his family, or he'll go crazy. He becomes an expert snake-charmer as a result, controlling the snake of worry while focusing on his personal survival.
Quote #8
Only one dog in the world looked like that. It was caught by its foreleg, […] and it was frantic with pain and fear. Its eyes were glazed, and white foam dripped from its open jaws. (18.7)
Interestingly enough, despite its intense fear the dog still doesn't let Matt touch him. Or perhaps its fear has only made the dog even wilder. What do you think?