How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"I know. I know. I meant to give them freedom. You understand how it is. First they're babies. Then, when they walk, you worry about them falling into swimming pools and so forth. It was so easy to keep them here, hire tutors—don't look at me like that! I have lots of enemies." (5.10)
As the General explains his reasoning for confining the kids to the police chief, he realizes he's been too strict. He might want to keep them safe, but confinement isn't the way to do that. It occurs to him that his kids need more freedom at home. Too bad it's already too late for that…
Quote #8
Tendai also saw, in the larger tunnels, a system of rails going off into the dark. An ancient handcar allowed Fist and Knife to move quickly through the system. Clearly, Dead Man's Vlei had been inhabited a long time. He considered using the car to escape but decided he knew too little about the system. There must be miles of tunnels down there, he thought with a thrill of fear. (10.4)
The vlei people are trapped in Dead Man's Vlei—or so Tendai thinks. Later, he figures out that they want to be there and actually respect the She Elephant. Sometimes things aren't what they appear to be, especially when it comes to who is trapped and who is free.
Quote #9
The rage for freedom struck him most forcefully when he was deep underground. It was almost as though a voice called to him: Run! Run now! (12.8)
Tendai knows he won't get many chances to escape, so he has to take his shot while he can. Notice how he says freedom called out to him from inside and encouraged him to do it. It's almost as though freedom itself has a voice here, and it wants Tendai to experience what it means to no longer be trapped.