"The gunslinger came awake from a confused dream which seemed to consist of a single image: that of the Sailor in the Tarot deck from which the man in black had dealt (or purported to deal) the gunslinger's own moaning future." (Prologue)

"He still had his purse. That was one thing. He put it in his lap and then slowly dissembled his guns and performed the ritual of cleaning. By the time he was finished, two hours had passed and his pain was so intense his head reeled with it; conscious thought had become difficult. He wanted to sleep. He had never wanted that more in his life. But in the service of duty there was never any acceptable reason for denial." (Part 1, Chapter 1)

"Either the creature which had attacked him or any of the others could have torn this or the other open with one casual bite...