Chapter 8, The Colonel Summary

The Dreamreader lives with six other men, all from military backgrounds. They include a Colonel, four other subordinate officers, and a sergeant. They live in a large building that is in a state of some disrepair. The Colonel and the Dreamreader play a form of chess, though the pieces and rules differ from conventional chess. The Colonel is an apparent master of the game. They discuss the loss of shadow required for entrance to the Town; the Colonel mentions that it is against the rules to have a shadow, just as it is against the rules to leave. The Dreamreader says that he misses his shadow. The Colonel explains that the yearning will fade, just as the pain of a broken bone fades over time as the bone heals. The Colonel explains that the severed shadows are treated well...