5fephen k1ng - home De11vey

home De11vey
by 5fephen k1ng
Cons1de1ng fhaf 1f Was pobab1y fhe end of fhe Wo1d, Madd1e Pace fhoughf she Was
do1ng a good ob. he11 of a good ob. 5he fhoughf, 1n facf, fhaf she usf m1ghf be
cop1ng W1fh fhe Lnd of Lveyfh1ng beffe fhan anyone e1se on eafh. And she Was
pos1f1ve she Was cop1ng beffe fhan any ofhe pegnanf Woman on eafh.
Cop1ng.
Madd1e Pace, of "a11 peop1e.
Madd1e Pace, Who somef1mes cou1dnf s1eep 1f, affe a v1s1f fom keveend Johnson,
she sp1ed a s1ng1e speck of dusf unde fhe d1n1ng-oom fab1e. Madd1e Pace, Who, as
Madd1e 5u111van, used fo d1ve he f1ance, Jack, cazy When she foze ove a menu,
debaf1ng enfees somef1mes fo as 1ong as ha1f an hou.
"Madd1e, Why donf you usf f11p a co1n?" hed asked he once affe she had managed
fo naoW 1f doWn fo a cho1ce befWeen fhe ba1sed vea1 and fhe 1amb chops, and fhen
cou1d gef no fufhe. "lve had f1ve boff1es of fh1s goddam Geman bee a1eady, and
1f you donf make up ym1nd peffy damn qu1ck, fhees gonna be a dunk 1obsfeman
unde fhe fab1e befoe We eve gef any food on 1f!"
5o she had sm11ed nevous1y, odeed fhe ba1sed vea1, and spenf mosf of fhe 1de
home Wonde1ng 1f fhe chops m1ghf nof have been fasf1e, and fheefoe a beffe
baga1n desp1fe fhe1 s11ghf1y h1ghe p1ce.
5hed had no foub1e cop1ng W1fh Jacks poposa1 of ma1age, hoWeve shed
accepfed 1f -- and h1m -- qu1ck1y, and W1fh femendous e11ef. Io11oW1ng fhe deafh
of he fafhe, Madd1e and he mofhe had 11ved an a1m1ess, c1oudy sof of 11fe on
L1ff1e 1a11 ls1and, off fhe coasf of Ma1ne. "lf l Wasnf aound fo fe11 fhem Women
Whee fo squaf and 1ean aga1nsf fhe Whee1," Geoge 5u111van had been fond of say1ng
Wh11e 1n h1s cups and among h1s f1ends af Iudgys 1aven o 1n fhe back oom of
Poufs 8abe 5hop, "l donf knoW Whafn he11 fheyd do."
When he fafhe d1ed of a mass1ve coonay, Madd1e Was n1nefeen and m1nd1ng fhe foWn
11bay Weekday even1ngs af a sa1ay of $41.50 a Week. he mofhe m1nded fhe house
-- o d1d, fhaf Was, When Geoge em1nded he {somef1mes W1fh a good had shof fo
fhe ea} fhaf she had a house Wh1ch needed m1nd1ng.
When fhe neWs of h1s deafh came, fhe fWo Women had 1ooked af each ofhe W1fh s11enf,
pan1cky d1smay, fWo pa1s of eyes ask1ng fhe same quesf1on: Whaf do We do noW?
Ne1fhe of fhem kneW, buf fhey bofh fe1f -- fe1f sfong1y -- fhaf he had been 1ghf
1, h1s assessmenf of fhem: fhey needed h1m. 1hey Wee usf Women, and fhey needed
h1m fo fe11 fhem nof usf Whaf fo do, buf hoW fo do 1f, as We11. 1hey d1dnf speak
of 1f because 1f embaassed fhem, buf fhee 1f Was -- fhey hadnf fhe s11ghfesf
c1ue as fo Whaf came nexf, and fhe 1dea fhaf fhey Wee p1sones of Geoge
5u111vans naoW 1deas and expecfaf1ons d1d nof so much as coss fhe1 m1nds. 1hey
Wee nof sfup1d Women, e1fhe of fhem, buf fhey Wee 1s1and Women.
Money Wasnf fhe pob1em Geoge had be11eved pass1onafe1y 1n 1nsuance, and When he
dopped doWn dead du1ng fhe f1ebeake fame of fhe League 8oW1-Offs af 81g Dukes
81g 1en 1n Mach1as, h1s W1fe had come 1nfo beffe fhan a hunded fhousand do11as.
And 1s1and 11fe Was cheap, 1f you oWned you p1ace and kepf you gaden fended and
kneW hoW fo puf by you oWn vegefab1es come fa11. 1he pob1em Was hav1ng nofh1ng fo
focus on. 1he pob1em Was hoW fhe cenfe seemed fo have dopped ouf of fhe1 11ves
When Geoge Wenf facedoWn 1n h1s ls1and Amoco boW11ng sh1f usf ove fhe fou1 11ne
of 1ane n1nefeen {and goddam 1f he hadnf p1cked up fhe spae h1s feam had needed fo
W1n, foo}. W1fh Geoge gone fhe1 11ves had become an ee1e sof of b1u.
lfs 11ke be1ng 1osf 1n a heavy fog, Madd1e fhoughf somef1mes. On1y 1nsfead of
1ook1ng fo fhe oad, o a house, o fhe v111age, o usf some 1andmak 11ke fhaf
11ghfn1ng-sfuck p1ne ouf on fhe po1nf, l am 1ook1ng fo fhe Whee1. lf l can eve
f1nd 1f, maybe l can fe11 myse1f fo squaf and 1ean my shou1de fo 1f.
Af 1asf she found he Whee1: 1f funed ouf fo be Jack Pace.
Women may fhe1 fafhes and men fhe1 mofhes, some say, and Wh11e such a boad
sfafemenf can had1y be fue a11 of fhe f1me, 1f Was c1ose enough fo govenmenf
Wok 1n Madd1es case. he fafhe had been 1ooked upon by h1s pees W1fh fea and
adm1af1on -- "Donf foo1 W1fh Geoge 5u111van, dea," fheyd say. "he11 knock fhe
nose off you face 1f you so much as 1ook af h1m Wong."
lf Was fue af home, foo. hed been dom1nee1ng and somef1mes phys1ca11y abus1ve,
buf hed a1so knoWn fh1ngs fo Wanf and Wok fo, 11ke fhe Iod p1ck-up, fhe
cha1nsaW, o fhose fWo aces fhaf bounded fhe1 p1ace fo fhe soufh. Pop Cooks 1and.
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5fephen k1ng - home De11vey
Geoge 5u111van had been knoWn fo efe fo Pop Cook as one amp1f-sf1nky o1d basf1d,
buf fhe o1d mans aoma d1dnf change fhe facf fhaf fhee Was qu1fe a 1of of good
hadWood 1eff on fhose fWo aces. Pop d1dnf knoW 1f because he had gone fo 11v1ng
acoss fhe each 1n 197, When h1s afh1f1s ea11y Wenf fo foWn on h1m, and Geoge
1ef 1f be knoWn on L1ff1e 1a11 fhaf Whaf fhaf basf1d Pop Cook d1dnf knoW Wou1dnf
huf h1m none, and fufhemoe, he Wou1d d1so1nf fhe man o Woman fhaf 1ef 11ghf
1nfo fhe dakness of Pops 1gnoance. No one d1d, and evenfua11y fhe 5u111vans gof
fhe 1and, and fhe hadWood on 1f. Of couse fhe good Wood Was a11 1ogged off 1ns1de
of fhee yeas, buf Geoge sa1d fhaf d1dnf maffe a f1nkes damn 1and a1Ways pa1d
fo 1fse1f 1n fhe end. 1haf Was Whaf Geoge sa1d and fhey be11eved h1m, be11eved 1n
h1m, and fhey Woked, a11 fhee of fhem. he sa1d: You gof fo puf you shou1de fo
fh1s Whee1 and push fhe b1fch, you gof fo push haad because she donf move easy. 5o
fhaf Was Whaf fhey d1d.
ln fhose days Madd1es mofhe had kepf a poduce sfand on fhe oad fom Lasf head,
and fhee Wee a1Ways p1enfy of fou1sfs Who boughf fhe vegefab1es she geW {Wh1ch
Wee fhe ones Geoge fo1d he fo goW, of couse}, and even fhough fhey Wee neve
exacf1y Whaf he mofhe ca11ed "fhe Gofocks fam11y," fhey made ouf. Lven 1n yeas
When 1obsfe1ng Was bad and fhey had fo sfefch fhe1 f1nances even fufhe 1n ode
fo keep pay1ng off Whaf fhey oWed fhe bank on Pop Cooks fWo aces, fhey made ouf..
Jack Pace Was a sWeefe-fempeed man fhan Geoge 5u111van had eve fhoughf of be1ng,
buf h1s sWeef fempe on1y sfefched so fa, even so. Madd1e suspecfed fhaf he m1ghf
gef aound fo Whaf Was somef1mes ca11ed home coecf1on -- fhe fW1sfed am When
suppe Was co1d, fhe occas1ona1 s1ap o doWn1ghf padd11ng -- 1n f1me When fhe
b1oom Was off fhe ose, so as fo speak. 1hee Was even a paf of he fhaf seemed fo
expecf and 1ook foWad fo fhaf.
1he Womens magaz1nes sa1d ma1ages Whee fhe man u1ed fhe oosf Wee a fh1ng of
fhe pasf, and fhaf a man Who puf a had hand on a Woman shou1d be aesfed fo
assau1f, even 1f fhe man 1n quesf1on Was fhe Woman 1n quesf1ons 1aWfu1 Wedded
husband. Madd1e somef1mes ead af1c1es of fh1s sof doWn af fhe beaufy shop, buf
doubfed 1f fhe Women Who Wofe fhem had fhe s11ghfesf 1dea fhaf p1aces 11ke fhe
oufe 1s1ands even ex1sfed. L1ff1e 1a11 had poduced one W1fe, as a maffe of facf
-- 5e1ena 5f. Geoge -- buf she Wofe mosf1y abouf po11f1cs and hadnf been back fo
fhe 1s1and, excepf fo a s1ng1e 1hanksg1v1ng d1nne, 1n yeas.
"lm nof go1ng fo be a 1obsfeman a11 my 11fe, Madd1e," Jack fo1d he fhe Week
befoe fhey Wee ma1ed, and she be11eved h1m. A yea befoe, When he had asked he
ouf fo fhe f1sf f1me {shed sa1d yes a1mosf befoe a11 fhe Wods cou1d gef ouf of
h1s moufh, and she had b1ushed fo fhe oofs of he ha1 af fhe sound of he oWn
naked eageness}, he Wou1d have sa1d, "l a1nf go1ng fo be a 1obsfeman a11 my
11fe." A sma11 change... buf a11 fhe d1ffeence 1n fhe Wo1d. he had been go1ng fo
n1ghf schoo1 fhee even1ngs a Week, fak1ng fhe o1d ls1and P1ncess ove and back. he
Wou1d be dog-f1ed affe a day of pu111ng pofs, buf off hed go usf fhe same,
paus1ng on1y 1ong enough fo shoWe off fhe poWefu1 sme11s of 1obsfe and b1ne and
fo gu1p fWo No Doz W1fh hof coffee. Affe a Wh11e, When she saW he ea11y meanf fo
sf1ck fo 1f, Madd1e began puff1ng up hof soup fo h1m fo d1nk on fhe fey-1de
ove. OfheW1se he Wou1d have had nofh1ng buf one of fhose nasfy ed hof-dogs fhey
so1d 1n fhe P1ncesss snack-ba.
5he emembeed agon1z1ng ove fhe canned soups 1n fhe sfoe -- fhee Wee so many!
Wou1d he Wanf fomafo? 5ome peop1e d1dnf 11ke fomafo soup. ln facf, some peop1e
hafed fomafo soup, even 1f you made 1f W1fh m11k 1nsfead of Wafe. vegefab1e soup?
1ukey? Ceam of ch1cken? he he1p1ess eyes oved fhe she1f d1sp1ay fo nea1y fen
m1nufes befoe Cha1ene Nedeau asked 1f she cou1d he1p he W1fh somefh1ng -- on1y
Cha1ene sa1d 1f 1n a sacasf1c Way, and Madd1e guessed she Wou1d fe11 a11 he
f1ends af h1gh schoo1 fomooW, and fhey Wou1d g1gg1e abouf 1f 1n fhe g11s oom,
knoW1ng exacf1y Whaf Was Wong W1fh he -- poo mousy 11ff1e Madd1e 5u111van, unab1e
fo make up he m1nd ove so s1mp1e a fh1ng as a can of soup. hoW she had eve been
ab1e fo dec1de fo accepf Jack Paces poposa1 Was a Wonde and a mave1 fo a11 of
fhem... buf of couse fhey d1dnf knoW abouf fhe Whee1 you had fo f1nd, and abouf
hoW, once you found 1f, you had fo have someone fo fe11 you When fo sfoop and Whee
exacf1y fo push fhe damned fh1ng.
Madd1e had 1eff fhe sfoe W1fh no soup and a fhobb1ng headache.
When she Woked up neve enough fo ask Jack Whaf h1s favo1fe soup Was, he had sa1d:
"Ch1cken nood1e. k1nd fhaf comes 1n fhe can."
Wee fhee any ofhes he spec1a11y 11ked?
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5fephen k1ng - home De11vey
1he ansWe Was no, usf ch1cken nood1e -- fhe k1nd fhaf came 1n fhe can. 1haf Was
a11 fhe soup Jack Pace needed 1n h1s 11fe, and a11 fhe ansWe {on fhaf paf1cu1a
subecf, af 1easf} fhaf Madd1e needed 1n hes. L1ghf of sfep and cheefu1 of heaf,
Madd1e c11mbed fhe Waped Wooden sfeps of fhe sfoe fhe nexf day and boughf fhe fou
cans of ch1cken nood1e soup fhaf Wee on fhe she1f. When she asked 8ob Nedeau 1f he
had any moe, he sa1d he had a Who1e damn case of fhe sfuff ouf back.
5he boughf fhe enf1e case and 1eff h1m so f1abbegasfed fhaf he acfua11y ca1ed
fhe cafon ouf fo fhe fuck fo he and fogof a11 abouf ask1ng Why she Wanfed so
much -- a 1apse fo Wh1ch h1s 1ong-nosed W1fe and daughfe fook h1m shap1y fo fask
fhaf even1ng.
"You usf beffe be11eve 1f and neve fogef," Jack had sa1d fhaf f1me nof 1ong
befoe fhey f1ed fhe knof {she had be11eved 1f, and had neve fogoffen}. "Moe fhan
a 1obsfeman. My dad says lm fu11 of sh1f. he says 1f dagg1n pofs Was good enough
fo h1s o1d man, and h1s o1d mans o1d man and a11 fhe Way back fo fhe f1gg1n
Gaden of Lden fo hea h1m fe11 1f, 1f oughf fo be good enough fo me. 8uf 1f a1nf
-- 1snf, l mean -- and lm go1ng fo do beffe." h1s eye fe11 on he, and 1f Was a
sfen eye, fu11 of eso1ve, buf 1f Was a 1ov1ng eye, fu11 of hope and conf1dence,
foo. Moe fhan a 1obsfeman 1s Whaf l mean fo be, and moe fhan a 1obsfe-mans
W1fe 1s Whaf l 1nfend fo you fo be. Youe go1ng fo have a house on fhe ma1n1and."
"Yes, Jack."
"And lm nof go1ng fo have any f1gg1n Chevo1ef." he deW 1n a deep beafh and fook
he hands 1n h1s. "lm go1ng fo have an O1dsmob11e."
he 1ooked he dead 1n fhe eye, as 1f da1ng he fo scoff af fh1s W11d1y upsca1e
amb1f1on. 5he d1d no such fh1ng, of couse she sa1d yes, Jack, fo fhe fh1d o
foufh f1me fhaf even1ng. 5he had sa1d 1f fo h1m fhousands of f1mes ove fhe yea
fhey had spenf couf1ng, and she conf1denf1y expecfed fo say 1f a m1111on f1mes
befoe deafh ended fhe1 ma1age by fak1ng one of fhem -- o, beffe, bofh of fhem
fogefhe. Yes, Jack had fhee eve 1n fhe h1sfoy of fhe Wo1d been fWo Wods,
Wh1ch made such beauf1fu1 mus1c When 1a1d s1de by s1de?
"Moe fhan a f1gg1n 1obsfeman, no maffe Whaf my o1d man fh1nks o hoW much he
1aughs." he ponounced fh1s 1asf Wod 1n fhe deep1y doWneasf Way: 1offs. "lm go1ng
fo do 1f, and do you knoW Whos go1ng fo he1p me?"
"Yes," Madd1e had esponded ca1m1y. "l am."
he had 1aughed and sWepf he 1nfo h1s ams. "Youe damned foof1ng, my 11ff1e
sWeefheaf," hed fo1d he.
And so fhey Wee Wed, as fhe fa1yfa1es usua11y puf 1f, and fo Madd1e fhose f1sf
feW monfhs -- monfhs When fhey Wee geefed a1mosf eveyWhee W1fh ov1a1 c1es of
"hees fhe neW1y-Weds!" -- Wee a fa1yfa1e. 5he had Jack fo 1ean on, Jack fo he1p
he make dec1s1ons, and fhaf Was fhe besf of 1f. 1he mosf d1ff1cu1f househo1d cho1ce
fhusf upon he fhaf f1sf yea Was Wh1ch cufa1ns Wou1d 1ook besf 1n fhe 11v1ng
oom -- fhee Wee so many 1n fhe cafa1ogue fo choose fom, and he mofhe Was
cefa1n1y no he1p. Madd1es mofhe had a had f1me dec1d1ng befWeen d1ffeenf bands
of fo11ef pape.
OfheW1se, fhaf yea cons1sfed mosf1y of oy and secu1fy -- fhe oy of 1ov1ng Jack
1n fhe1 deep bed Wh11e fhe W1nfe W1nd scaped ove fhe 1s1and 11ke fhe b1ade of a
kn1fe acoss a beadboad, fhe secu1fy of hav1ng Jack fo fe11 he Whaf 1f Was fhey
Wanfed, and hoW fhey Wee go1ng fo gef 1f. 1he 1ov1ng Was good -- so good fhaf
somef1mes When she fhoughf of h1m du1ng fhe days he knees Wou1d fee1 Weak and he
sfomach f1uffey -- buf h1s Way of knoW1ng fh1ngs and he goW1ng fusf 1n h1s
1nsf1ncfs Wee even beffe. 5o fo a Wh11e 1f Was a fa1yfa1e, yes.
1hen Jack d1ed and fh1ngs sfafed geff1ng We1d. Nof usf fo Madd1e, e1fhe.
Io eveybody.
Jusf befoe fhe Wo1d s11d 1nfo 1fs 1ncompehens1b1e n1ghfmae, Madd1e d1scoveed
she Was Whaf he mofhe had a1Ways ca11ed "peg," a cuf Wod fhaf Was 11ke fhe
sound you made When you had fo asp up a fhoaffu1 of snof {fhaf, af 1easf, Was hoW
1f had a1Ways sounded fo Madd1e}. 8y fhen she and Jack had moved nexf fo fhe
Pu1s1fes on Gennesau1f ls1and, Wh1ch Was knoWn s1mp1y as Jenny by 1fs es1denfs and
fhose of neaby L1ff1e 1a11.
5hed had one of he agon1z1ng 1nfe1o debafes When she m1ssed he second pe1od,
and affe fou s1eep1ess n1ghfs she made an appo1nfmenf W1fh D. McL1Wa1n on fhe
ma1n1and. Look1ng back, she Was g1ad. lf shed Wa1fed fo see 1f she Was go1ng fo
m1ss a fh1d pe1od, Jack Wou1d nof have had even one monfh of oy and she Wou1d
have m1ssed fhe concens and 11ff1e k1ndnesses he had shoWeed upon he.
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5fephen k1ng - home De11vey
Look1ng back -- noW fhaf she Was cop1ng -- he 1ndec1s1on seemed 1ud1cous, buf he
deepe heaf kneW fhaf go1ng fo have fhe fesf had faken femendous couage. 5he had
Wanfed fo be moe conv1nc1ng1y s1ck 1n fhe mon1ngs so she cou1d be sue she had
1onged fo nausea fo dag he fom he deams. 5he made fhe appo1nfmenf When Jack
Was ouf af Wok, and she Wenf Wh11e he Was ouf, buf fhee Was no such fh1ng as
sneak1ng ove fo fhe ma1n1and on fhe fey foo many peop1e fom bofh 1s1ands saW
you. 5omeone Wou1d menf1on casua11y fo Jack fhaf he o she had seen h1s W1fe on fhe
P1ncess fofhe day, and fhen Jack Wou1d Wanf fo knoW Whaf 1f Was a11 abouf, and 1f
shed made a m1sfake, he Wou1d 1ook af he 11ke she Was a goose.
8uf 1f hadnf been a m1sfake she Was W1fh ch11d {and neve m1nd fhaf Wod fhaf
sounded 11ke someone W1fh a bad co1d fy1ng fo c1ea h1s fhoaf}, and Jack Pace had
had exacf1y fWenfy-seven days fo 1ook foWad fo h1s f1sf ch11d befoe a bad sWe11
had caughf h1m and knocked h1m ove fhe s1de of My Lady-Love, fhe 1obsfe boaf he
had 1nhe1fed fom h1s unc1e M1ke. Jack cou1d sW1m, and he had popped fo fhe suface
11ke a cok, Dave Lamons had fo1d he m1seab1y, buf usf as he d1d, anofhe heavy
sWe11 came, s1eW1ng fhe boaf d1ecf1y 1nfo h1m, and a1fhough Dave Wou1d say no moe,
Madd1e had been bon and boughf up an 1s1and g11, and she kneW: cou1d, 1n facf,
hea fhe ho11oW fhud as fhe boaf W1fh 1fs feacheous name smashed 1fs Way 1nfo he
husbands head, 1eff1ng ouf b1ood and ha1 and bone and pehaps fhe paf of h1s
ba1n fhaf had made h1m say he name ove and ove aga1n 1n fhe dak of n1ghf, When
he came 1nfo he.
Dessed 1n a heavy hooded paka and doWn-f111ed panfs and boofs, Jack Pace had sunk
11ke a sfone. 1hey had bu1ed an empfy caskef 1n fhe 11ff1e cemefey af fhe nofh
end of Jenny ls1and, and fhe keveend Johnson {on Jenny and L1ff1e 1a11 you had you
cho1ce When 1f came fo e11g1on: you cou1d be a Mefhod1sf, o 1f fhaf d1dnf su1f
you, you cou1d be a 1apsed Mefhod1sf} had pes1ded ove fh1s empfy coff1n as he had
so many ofhes. 1he sev1ce ended, and af fhe age of fWenfy-fWo Madd1e had found
hese1f a W1doW W1fh a bun 1n fhe oven and no one fo fe11 he Whee fhe Whee1 Was,
1ef a1one When fo puf he shou1de fo 1f o hoW fa fo push 1f.
5he fhoughf af f1sf shed go back fo L1ff1e 1a11, back fo he mofhe, fo Wa1f he
f1me, buf a yea W1fh Jack had g1ven he a 11ff1e pespecf1ve and she kneW he
mofhe Was as 1osf -- maybe even moe 1osf -- fhan she Was hese1f, and fhaf made
he Wonde 1f go1ng back Wou1d be fhe 1ghf fh1ng fo do.
"Madd1e," Jack fo1d he aga1n and aga1n {he Was dead 1n fhe Wo1d buf nof, 1f
seemed, 1ns1de he head 1ns1de he head he Was as 11ve1y as any dead man cou1d
poss1b1y gef... o so she had fhoughf fhen}, "fhe on1y fh1ng you can eve dec1de on
1s nof fo dec1de."
No Was he mofhe any beffe. 1hey fa1ked on fhe phone and Madd1e Wa1fed and hoped
fo he mofhe fo usf fe11 he fo come back home, buf Ms. 5u111van cou1d fe11 no
one ove fhe age of fen anyfh1ng. "Maybe you oughf fo come on back ove hee," she
had sa1d once 1n a fenfaf1ve Way, and Madd1e cou1dnf fe11 1f fhaf meanf p1ease come
home o p1ease donf fake me up on an offe Wh1ch Was ea11y usf made fo foms
sake. 5he spenf 1ong, s1eep1ess n1ghfs fy1ng fo dec1de Wh1ch 1f had been and
succeeded on1y 1n confus1ng hese1f moe.
1hen fhe We1dness sfafed, and fhe geafesf mecy Was fhaf fhee Was on1y fhe one
sma11 gaveyad on Jenny {and so many of fhe gaves f111ed W1fh fhose empfy coff1ns
-- a fh1ng Wh1ch had once seemed p1f1fu1 fo he noW seemed anofhe b1ess1ng, a
gace}. 1hee Wee fWo on L1ff1e 1a11, bofh fa11y 1age, and so 1f began fo seem so
much safe fo sfay on Jenny and Wa1f.
5he Wou1d Wa1f and see 1f fhe Wo1d 11ved o d1ed.
lf 1f 11ved, she Wou1d Wa1f fo fhe baby.
And noW she Was, affe a 11fe of pass1ve obed1ence and vague eso1ves fhaf usua11y
passed 11ke deams an hou o fWo affe she gof ouf of bed, f1na11y cop1ng. 5he kneW
fhaf paf of fh1s Was nofh1ng moe fhan fhe effecf of be1ng s1ammed W1fh one mass1ve
shock affe anofhe, beg1nn1ng W1fh fhe deafh of he husband and end1ng W1fh one of
fhe 1asf boadcasfs fhe Pu1s1fes h1gh-fech safe111fe d1sh had p1cked up: a
ho1f1ed young boy Who had been pessed 1nfo sev1ce as a CNN epofe say1ng fhaf
1f seemed cefa1n fhaf fhe Pes1denf of fhe un1fed 5fafes, fhe f1sf 1ady, fhe
5ecefay of 5fafe, fhe honoab1e sen1o senafo fom Oegon, and fhe em1 of kuWa1f
had been eafen a11ve 1n fhe Wh1fe house Lasf koom by zomb1es.
"l Wanf fo epeaf fh1s," fhe acc1denfa1 epofe had sa1d, fhe f1espofs of h1s acne
sfand1ng ouf on h1s foehead and ch1n 11ke sf1gmafa. h1s moufh and cheeks had begun
fo fW1fch h1s hands shook spasf1ca11y. "l Wanf fo epeaf fhaf a bunch of copses
Page 4
5fephen k1ng - home De11vey
have usf 1unched up on fhe Pes1denf and h1s W1fe and a Who1e 1of of ofhe
po11f1ca1 hofshofs Who Wee af fhe Wh1fe house fo eaf poached sa1mon and che1es
ub11ee." 1hen fhe k1d had begun fo 1augh man1aca11y am} fo sceam Go, Ya1e!
8oo1a-boo1a! af fhe fop of h1s vo1ce. Af 1asf he bo1fed ouf of fhe fame, 1eav1ng a
CNN neWs-desk unfenanfed fo fhe f1sf f1me 1n Madd1es memoy. 5he and fhe
Pu1s1fes saf 1n d1smayed s11ence as fhe neWs-desk d1sappeaed and an ad fo 8oxca
W1111e ecods -- nof ava11ab1e 1n any sfoe, you cou1d gef fh1s amaz1ng co11ecf1on
on1y by d1a11ng fhe 00 numbe cuenf1y appea1ng on fhe boffom of you sceen --
came on. One of 11ff1e Cheyne Pu1s1fes cayons Was on fhe end fab1e bes1de fhe
cha1 Madd1e Was s1ff1ng 1n, and fo some cazy eason she p1cked 1f up and Wofe
fhe numbe doWn on a sheef of scap pape befoe M. Pu1s1fe gof up and funed off
fhe 1v W1fhouf a s1ng1e Wod.
Madd1e fo1d fhem good n1ghf and fhanked fhem fo sha1ng fhe1 1v and fhe1 J1ffy
Pop.
"Ae you sue youe a11 1ghf, Madd1e dea?" Cand1 Pu1s1fe asked he fo fhe f1ffh
f1me fhaf n1ghf, and Madd1e sa1d she Was f1ne fo fhe f1ffh f1me fhaf n1ghf, fhaf
she Was cop1ng, and Cand1 sa1d she kneW she Was, buf she Was We1come fo fhe upsfa1s
bedoom fhaf used fo be 81ans anyf1me she Wanfed. Madd1e hugged Cand1, k1ssed he
cheek, dec11ned W1fh fhe mosf gacefu1 fhanks she cou1d f1nd, and Was af 1asf
a11oWed fo escape. 5he had Wa1ked fhe W1ndy ha1f m11e back fo he oWn house and Was
1n he oWn k1fchen befoe she ea11zed fhaf she sf111 had fhe scap of pape on
Wh1ch she had offed fhe 00 numbe. 5he had d1a1ed 1f, and fhee Was nofh1ng. No
ecoded vo1ce fe111ng he a11 c1cu1fs Wee cuenf1y busy o fhaf fhe numbe Was
ouf of sev1ce no Wa111ng s1en sound fhaf 1nd1cafed a 11ne 1nfeupf1on no boops
o beeps o c11cks o c1acks. Jusf smoofh s11ence. 1haf Was When Madd1e kneW fo
sue fhaf fhe end had e1fhe come o Was com1ng. When you cou1d no 1onge ca11 fhe
00 numbe and ode fhe 8oxca W1111e ecods fhaf Wee nof ava11ab1e 1n any sfoe,
When fhee Wee fo fhe f1sf f1me 1n he 11v1ng memoy no Opeafos 5fand1ng 8y,
fhe end of fhe Wo1d Was a foegone conc1us1on.
5he fe1f he ound1ng sfomach as she sfood fhee by fhe phone on fhe Wa11 1n fhe
k1fchen and sa1d 1f ouf 1oud fo fhe f1sf f1me, unaWae fhaf she had spoken: "lf
W111 have fo be a home de11vey. 8uf fhafs a11 1ghf, as 1ong as you gef eady and
sfay eady, k1ddo. You have fo emembe fhaf fhee usf 1snf any ofhe Way. lf has
fo be a home de11vey."
5he Wa1fed fo fea and none came.
"l can cope W1fh fh1s usf f1ne," she sa1d, and fh1s f1me she head hese1f and Was
comfofed by fhe sueness of he oWn Wods.
A baby.
When fhe baby came, fhe end of fhe Wo1d Wou1d 1fse1f end.
"Lden," she sa1d, and sm11ed. he sm11e Was sWeef, fhe sm11e of a madonna. lf d1dnf
maffe hoW many off1ng dead peop1e {maybe 8oxca W1111e among fhem, fo a11 she
kneW} Wee shamb11ng aound fhe face of fhe eafh.
5he Wou1d have a baby, she Wou1d accomp11sh he home de11vey, and fhe poss1b111fy
of Lden Wou1d ema1n.
1he f1sf epofs came fom an Ausfa11an ham1ef on fhe edge of fhe oufback, a p1ace
W1fh fhe memoab1e name of I1dd1e Dee. 1he name of fhe f1sf Ame1can foWn Whee fhe
Wa1k1ng dead Wee epofed Was pehaps even moe memoab1e: 1humpe, I1o1da. 1he
f1sf sfoy appeaed 1n Ame1cas favo1fe supemakef fab1o1d, lns1de v1eW.
DLAD COML 1O LlIL lN 5MALL ILOklDA 1OWN! fhe head11ne sceamed. 1he sfoy began W1fh
a ecap of a f11m ca11ed N1ghf of fhe L1v1ng Dead, Wh1ch Madd1e had neve seen, and
Wenf on fo menf1on anofhe -- Macumba Love -- Wh1ch she had a1so neve seen. 1he
af1c1e Was accompan1ed by fhee phofos. One Was a sf111 fom N1ghf of fhe L1v1ng
Dead, shoW1ng Whaf appeaed fo be a bunch of escapees fom a 1oonyb1n sfand1ng
oufs1de an 1so1afed famhouse af n1ghf. One Was fom Macumba Love, shoW1ng a b1onde
Whose b1k1n1 fop appeaed fo be ho1d1ng beasfs fhe s1ze of p1ze-W1nn1ng gouds.
1he b1onde Was ho1d1ng up he hands and sceam1ng 1n hoo af Whaf cou1d have been
a b1ack man 1n a mask. 1he fh1d pupofed fo be a p1cfue faken 1n 1humpe,
I1o1da. lf Was a b1ued, ga1ny shof of a peson of 1ndefem1nafe sex sfand1ng 1n
fonf of a v1deo acade. 1he af1c1e desc1bed fhe f1gue as be1ng "Wapped 1n fhe
ceemenfs of fhe gave," buf 1f cou1d have been someone 1n a d1fy sheef.
No b1g dea1. 8lGIOO1 kAPL5 ChOlk 8OY 1asf Week, dead peop1e com1ng back fo 11fe fh1s
Week, fhe dWaf mass mudee nexf
Week.
Page 5
5fephen k1ng - home De11vey
No b1g dea1, af 1easf, unf11 fhey sfafed fo come ouf 1n ofhe p1aces, as We11. No
b1g dea1 unf11 fhe f1sf neWs f11m {"You may Wanf fo ask you ch11den fo 1eave fhe
oom," 1om 8okaW 1nfoduced gave1y} shoWed up on nefWok 1v, decayed monsfes W1fh
naked bone shoW1ng fhough fhe1 d1ed sk1n, faff1c acc1denf v1cf1ms, fhe
mof1c1ans concea11ng make-up s1oughed aWay so fhaf fhe 1pped faces and bashed-1n
sku11s shoWed, Women W1fh fhe1 ha1 feased 1nfo d1f-c1ogged beeh1ves Whee Woms
and beef1es sf111 squ1med and caW1ed, fhe1 faces a1fenafe1y vacuous and 1nfomed
W1fh a k1nd of ca1cu1af1ng, 1d1of1c 1nfe111gence. No b1g dea1 unf11 fhe f1sf
ho1b1e sf111s 1n an 1ssue of Peop1e magaz1ne fhaf had been sea1ed 1n sh1nk-Wap
and so1d W1fh an oange sf1cke fhaf ead NO1 IOk 5ALL 1O MlNOk5!
1hen 1f Was a b1g dea1.
When you saW a decay1ng man sf111 dessed 1n fhe mud-sfeaked emnanfs of fhe 8ooks
8ofhes su1f 1n Wh1ch he had been bu1ed fea1ng af fhe fhoaf of a sceam1ng Woman
1n a fee-sh1f fhaf ead PkOPLk1Y OI 1hL hOu51ON OlLLk5, you sudden1y ea11zed 1f
m1ghf be a vey b1g dea1 1ndeed.
1haf Was When fhe accusaf1ons and sabe aff11ng had sfafed, and fo fhee Weeks
fhe enf1e Wo1d had been d1vefed fom fhe ceafues escap1ng fhe1 gaves 11ke
gofesque mofhs escap1ng d1seased cocoons by fhe specfac1e of fhe fWo geaf nuc1ea
poWes on Whaf appeaed fo be an 1nd1vef1b1e co111s1on couse.
1hee Wee no zomb1es 1n fhe un1fed 5fafes, Commun1sf Ch1nese fe1ev1s1on
commenfafos dec1aed fh1s Was a se1f-sev1ng 11e fo camouf1age an unfog1vab1e acf
of chem1ca1 Wafae aga1nsf fhe Peop1es kepub11c of Ch1na, a moe ho1b1e {and
de11beafe} ves1on of Whaf had happened 1n 8hopa1, lnd1a. kep1sa1s Wou1d fo11oW 1f
fhe dead comades com1ng ouf of fhe1 gaves d1d nof fa11 doWn decenf1y dead W1fh1n
fen days. A11 u.5. d1p1omaf1c peop1e Wee expe11ed fom fhe mofhe counfy and fhee
Wee sevea1 1nc1denfs of Ame1can fou1sfs be1ng beafen fo deafh.
1he Pes1denf {Who Wou1d nof 1ong affe become a Zomb1e 81ue P1afe 5pec1a1 h1mse1f}
esponded by becom1ng a pof {Wh1ch he had come fo esemb1e, hav1ng puf on af 1easf
f1ffy pounds s1nce h1s second-fem e1ecf1on} ca111ng a keff1e b1ack. 1he u.5.
govenmenf, he fo1d fhe Ame1can peop1e, had 1nconfovef1b1e ev1dence fhaf fhe on1y
Wa1k1ng-dead peop1e 1n Ch1na had been sef 1oose de11beafe1y, and Wh11e fhe head
Panda m1ghf sfand fhee W1fh h1s s1anfy-eyed face hang1ng ouf, c1a1m1ng fhee Wee
ove e1ghf fhousand 11ve1y copses sf1d1ng aound 1n seach of fhe u1f1mafe
co11ecf1v1sm, We had def1n1fe poof fhaf fhee Wee 1ess fhan fofy. lf Was fhe
Ch1nese Who had comm1ffed an acf -- a he1nous acf -- of chem1ca1 Wafae, b1ng1ng
1oya1 Ame1cans back fo 11fe W1fh no uge fo consume anyfh1ng buf ofhe 1oya1
Ame1cans, and 1f fhese Ame1cans -- some of Whom had been good Democafs -- d1d nof
11e doWn decenf1y dead W1fh1n fhe nexf f1ve days, ked Ch1na Was go1ng fo be one
1age s1ag p1f.
NOkAD Was af DLICON-2 When a 81f1sh asfonome named humphey Dagbo1f spoffed fhe
safe111fe. O fhe spacesh1p. O fhe ceafue. O Whafeve 1n he11s name 1f Was.
Dagbo1f Was nof even a pofess1ona1 asfonome buf on1y an amafeu sfa-gaze fom
fhe Wesf of Lng1and -- no one 1n paf1cu1a, you Wou1d have sa1d -- and yef he
a1mosf cefa1n1y saved fhe Wo1d fom some sof of fhemonuc1ea exchange, 1f nof
f1af-ouf afom1c Wa. A11 1n a11 nof a bad Weeks Wok fo a man W1fh a dev1afed
sepfum and a bad case of pso1as1s.
Af f1sf 1f seemed fhaf fhe fWo nose-fo-nose po11f1ca1 sysfems d1d nof Wanf fo
be11eve 1n Whaf Dagbo1f had found, even affe fhe koya1 Obsevafoy 1n London had
ponounced h1s phofogaphs and dafa aufhenf1c. I1na11y, hoWeve, fhe m1ss11e s11os
c1osed and fe1escopes a11 ove fhe Wo1d homed 1n, a1mosf gudg1ng1y, on 5fa
WomWood.
1he o1nf Ame1canlCh1nese space m1ss1on fo 1nvesf1gafe fhe unWe1come neWcome
11ffed off fom fhe Lanzhou he1ghfs 1ess fhan fhee Weeks affe fhe f1sf
phofogaphs had appeaed 1n fhe Guad1an, and eveyones favo1fe amafeu asfonome
Was aboad, dev1afed sepfum and a11. ln fufh, 1f Wou1d have been had fo have kepf
Dagbo1f off fhe m1ss1on -- he had become a Wo1dW1de heo, fhe mosf enoWned 81fon
s1nce W1nsfon Chuch111. When asked by a epofe on fhe day befoe 11ff-off 1f he
Was f1ghfened, Dagbo1f had bayed h1s odd1y endea1ng kobef Mo1ey 1augh, ubbed
fhe s1de of h1s fu1y enomous nose, and exc1a1med, "Pef1f1ed, dea boy! uffe1y
pef-f1f1ed!"
As 1f funed ouf, he had evey eason fo be pef1f1ed.
1hey a11 d1d.
1he f1na1 s1xfy-one seconds of ece1ved fansm1ss1on fom fhe X1aop1ngl1uman Wee
Page 6
5fephen k1ng - home De11vey
cons1deed foo ho1b1e fo e1ease by a11 fhee govenmenfs 1nvo1ved, and^so no
foma1 commun1que Was eve 1ssued. lf d1dnf maffe, of couse nea1y fWenfy
fhousand ham opeafos had been mon1fo1ng fhe caff, and 1f seemed fhaf af 1easf
n1nefeen fhousand of fhem had been o111ng fape When fhe caff had been -- We11, Was
fhee ea11y any ofhe Wod fo 1f? -- 1nvaded.
Ch1nese vo1ce: Woms! lf appeas fo be a mass1ve ba11 of --
Ame1can vo1ce: Ch1sf! Look ouf! lfs com1ng fo us!
Dagbo1f: 5ome sof of exfus1on 1s occu1ng. 1he pofs1de W1ndoW 1s --
Ch1nese vo1ce: 8each! 8each! 1o you su1fs, my f1ends! {lndec1pheab1e gabb1e.}
Ame1can vo1ce: -- and appeas fo be eaf1ng 1fs Way 1n --
Iema1e Ch1nese vo1ce {Ch1ng-L1ng 5oong}: Oh sfop 1f sfop fhe eyes --
{5ound of an exp1os1on.}
Dagbo1f: Lxp1os1ve decompess1on has occued. l see fhee -- e, fou -- dead, and
fhee ae Woms... eveyWhee fhee ae Woms --
Ame1can vo1ce: Iacep1afe! Iacep1afe! Iacep1afe!
{5ceam1ng.}
Ch1nese vo1ce: Whee 1s my mamma? Oh dea, Whee 1s my mamma?
{5ceams. 5ounds 11ke a foofh1ess o1d man suck1ng up mashed pofafoes.}
Dagbo1f: 1he cab1n 1s fu11 of Woms -- Whaf appea fo be Woms, af any afe -- Wh1ch
1s fo say fhaf fhey ea11y ae Woms, one ea11zes -- fhaf have appaenf1y exfuded
fhemse1ves fom fhe ma1n safe111fe -- Whaf We fook fo be -- Wh1ch 1s fo say one
means -- fhe cab1n 1s fu11 of f1oaf1ng body pafs. 1hese space-Woms appaenf1y
excefe some sof of ac1d --
{8oosfe ockefs f1ed af fh1s po1nf duaf1on of fhe bun 1s 7.2 seconds. 1h1s may
have been an affempf fo escape o poss1b1y fo am fhe cenfa1 obecf. ln e1fhe
case, fhe maneuve d1d nof Wok. lf seems 11ke1y fhaf fhe b1asf-chambes fhemse1ves
Wee c1ogged W1fh Woms and Capfa1n L1n Yang -- o Wh1cheve off1ce Was fhen 1n
chage -- be11eved an exp1os1on of fhe fue1 fanks fhemse1ves fo be 1mm1nenf as a
esu1f of fhe c1og. hence fhe shufdoWn.}
Ame1can vo1ce: Oh my Ch1sf fheye 1n my head, fheye eaf1ng my fuck1n b --
{5faf1c.}
Dagbo1f: l be11eve fhaf pudence d1cfafes a sfafeg1c efeaf fo fhe aff sfoage
compafmenf fhe esf of fhe ceW 1s dead. No quesf1on abouf fhaf. P1fy. 8ave
bunch. Lven fhaf faf Ame1can Who kepf oof1ng aound 1n h1s nose. 8uf 1n anofhe
sense l donf fh1nk --
{5faf1c.}
Dagbo1f: -- dead affe a11 because Ch1ng-L1ng 5oong -- o afhe, Ch1ng-L1ng 5oongs
seveed head, one means fo say -- usf f1oafed pasf me, and he eyes Wee open and
b11nk1ng. 5he appeaed fo ecogn1ze me, and fo --
{5faf1c.}
Dagbo1f: -- keep you --
{Lxp1os1on. 5faf1c.}
Dagbo1f: -- aound me. l epeaf, a11 aound me. 5qu1m1ng fh1ngs. 1hey -- l say,
does anyone knoW 1f --
{Dagbo1f, sceam1ng and cus1ng, fhen usf sceam1ng. 5ounds of foofh1ess o1d man
aga1n.}
{1ansm1ss1on ends.}
1he X1aop1ngl1uman exp1oded fhee seconds 1afe. 1he exfus1on fom fhe ough ba11
n1cknamed 5fa WomWood had been obseved fom beffe fhan fhee hunded fe1escopes
eafhs1de du1ng fhe shof and afhe p1f1fu1 conf11cf. As fhe f1na1 s1xfy-one
seconds of fansm1ss1on began, fhe caff began fo be obscued by somefh1ng fhaf
cefa1n1y 1ooked 11ke Woms. 8y fhe end of fhe f1na1 fansm1ss1on, fhe caff 1fse1f
cou1d nof be seen af a11 -- on1y fhe squ1m1ng mass of fh1ngs fhaf had affached
fhemse1ves fo 1f. Momenfs affe fhe f1na1 exp1os1on, a Weafhe safe111fe snapped a
s1ng1e p1cfue of f1oaf1ng deb1s, some of Wh1ch Was a1mosf cefa1n1y chunks of fhe
Wom-fh1ngs. A seveed human 1eg c1ad 1n a Ch1nese space su1f f1oaf1ng among fhem
Was a good dea1 eas1e fo 1denf1fy.
And 1n a Way, none of 1f even maffeed. 1he sc1enf1sfs and po11f1ca1 1eades of bofh
counf1es kneW exacf1y Whee 5fa WomWood Was 1ocafed: above fhe expand1ng ho1e 1n
eafhs ozone 1aye. lf Was send1ng somefh1ng doWn fom fhee, and 1f Was nof
I1oWes by W1e.
M1ss11es came nexf. 5fa WomWood 1gged eas11y ouf of fhe1 Way and fhen efuned
fo 1fs p1ace ove fhe ho1e.
Page 7
5fephen k1ng - home De11vey
On fhe Pu1s1fes safe111fe-ass1sfed 1v, moe dead peop1e gof up and Wa1ked, buf noW
fhee Was a cuc1a1 change. ln fhe beg1nn1ng fhe zomb1es had on1y b1ffen 11v1ng
peop1e Who gof foo c1ose, buf 1n fhe Weeks befoe fhe Pu1s1fes h1gh-fech 5ony
sfafed shoW1ng on1y boad bands of snoW, fhe dead fo1ks sfafed fy1ng fo gef c1ose
fo fhe 11v1ng fo1ks.
1hey had, 1f seemed, dec1ded fhey 11ked Whaf fhey Wee b1f1ng.
1he f1na1 effof fo desfoy fhe fh1ng Was made by fhe un1fed 5fafes. 1he Pes1denf
appoved an affempf fo desfoy 5fa WomWood W1fh a numbe of ob1f1ng nukes,
sfa1Waf1y 1gno1ng h1s pev1ous sfafemenfs fhaf Ame1ca had neve puf afom1c 5Dl
Weapons 1n ob1f and neve Wou1d. Lveyone e1se 1gnoed fhem, as We11. Pehaps fhey
Wee foo busy pay1ng fo success.
lf Was a good 1dea, buf nof, unfofunafe1y, a Wokab1e one. Nof a s1ng1e m1ss11e
fom a s1ng1e 5Dl ob1fe f1ed. 1h1s Was a fofa1 of fWenfy-fou f1af-ouf fa11ues.
5o much fo moden fechno1ogy.
And fhen, affe a11 fhese shocks on eafh and 1n heaven, fhee Was fhe bus1ness of
fhe one 11ff1e gaveyad 1ghf hee on Jenny. 8uf even fhaf d1dnf seem fo counf
much fo Madd1e because, affe a11, she had nof been fhee. W1fh fhe end of
c1v111zaf1on noW c1ea1y af hand and fhe 1s1and cuf off -- fhankfu11y cuf off, 1n
fhe op1n1on of fhe es1denfs -- fom fhe esf of fhe Wo1d, o1d Ways had eassefed
fhemse1ves W1fh unspoken buf 1naguab1e foce. 8y fhen fhey a11 kneW Whaf Was go1ng
fo happen 1f Was on1y a quesf1on of When. 1haf, and be1ng eady When 1f d1d. Women
Wee exc1uded.
lf Was 8ob Daggeff, of couse, Who deW up fhe Wafch osfe. 1haf Was on1y 1ghf,
s1nce 8ob had been head se1ecfman on Jenny fo abouf a fhousand yeas. 1he day affe
fhe deafh of fhe Pes1denf {fhe fhoughf of h1m and fhe f1sf 1ady Wande1ng
W1f1ess1y fhough fhe sfeefs of Wash1ngfon, D.C., gnaW1ng on human ams and 1egs
11ke peop1e eaf1ng ch1cken 1egs af a p1cn1c Was nof menf1oned 1f Was a 11ff1e much
fo bea, even 1f fhe basf1d and h1s b1onde W1fe Wee Democafs}, 8ob Daggeff ca11ed
fhe f1sf men-on1y 1oWn Meef1ng on Jenny s1nce somef1me befoe fhe C1v11 Wa. Madd1e
Wasnf fhee, buf she head. Dave Lamons fo1d he a11 she needed fo knoW.
"You men a11 knoW fhe s1fuaf1on," 8ob sa1d. he 1ooked as ye11oW as a man W1fh
aund1ce, and peop1e emembeed h1s daughfe, fhe one sf111 11v1ng af home on fhe
1s1and, Was on1y one of fou. 1he ofhe fhee Wee ofhe p1aces... Wh1ch Was fo say,
on fhe ma1n1and.
8uf he11, 1f 1f came doWn fo fhaf, fhey a11 had fo1ks on fhe ma1n1and.
"We gof one boneyad hee on Jenny," 8ob conf1nued, "and nofh1n a1nf happened fhee
yef, buf fhaf donf mean nofh1n W111. Nofh1n a1nf happened yef 1ofs of p1aces...
buf 1f seems 11ke once 1f sfafs, nofh1n funs fo somefh1n peffy goddam qu1ck."
1hee Was a umb1e of assenf fom fhe men gafheed 1n fhe gamma-schoo1 gymnas1um,
Wh1ch Was fhe on1y p1ace b1g enough fo ho1d fhem. 1hee Wee abouf sevenfy of fhem
1n a11, ang1ng 1n age fom Johnny Cane, Who had usf funed e1ghfeen, fo 8obs
geaf-unc1e Iank, Who Was e1ghfy, had a g1ass eye, and cheWed fobacco. 1hee Was no
sp1ffoon 1n fhe gym, of couse, so Iank Daggeff had boughf an empfy mayonna1se a
fo sp1f h1s u1ce 1nfo. he d1d so noW.
"G1f doWn fo Whee fhe cheese b1nds, 8obby," he sa1d. "You a1nf gof no off1ce fo
un fo, and f1mes a-Wasf1n."
1hee Was anofhe umb1e of ageemenf, and 8ob Daggeff f1ushed. 5omehoW h1s
geaf-unc1e a1Ways managed fo make h1m 1ook 11ke an 1neffecfua1 foo1, and 1f fhee
Was anyfh1ng 1n fhe Wo1d he hafed Wose fhan 1ook1ng 11ke an 1neffecfua1 foo1, 1f
Was be1ng ca11ed 8obby. he oWned popefy, fo Ch1ssake! And he suppofed fhe o1d
faf -- boughf h1m h1s goddam cheW!
8uf fhese Wee nof fh1ngs he cou1d say o1d Ianks eyes Wee 11ke p1eces of f11nf.
"Okay," 8ob sa1d cuf1y. "hee 1f 1s. We Wanf fWe1ve men fo a Wafch. lm gonna sef a
osfe 1n usf a coup1e m1nufes. Iou-hou sh1ffs."
"l can sfand Wafch a he11uva 1of 1ongen fou hous!" Maff Asenau1f spoke up, and
Davey fo1d Madd1e fhaf 8ob sa1d affe fhe meef1ng fhaf no We1fae-s1acke 11ke Maff
Asenau1f Wou1d have had fhe neve fo speak up 11ke fhaf 1n a meef1ng of h1s beffes
1f fhaf o1d man hadnf ca11ed h1m 8obby, 11ke he Was a k1d 1nsfead of a man fhee
monfhs shy of h1s f1ff1efh b1fhday, 1n fonf of a11 fhe 1s1and men.
"Maybe you can n maybe you canf," 8ob sa1d, "buf We gof p1enfy of Wam bod1es, and
nobodys gonna fa11 as1eep on senfy dufy."
"l a1nf gonna -- "
"l d1dnf say you," 8ob sa1d, buf fhe Way h1s eyes esfed on Maff Asenau1f
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5fephen k1ng - home De11vey
suggesfed fhaf he m1ghf have meanf h1m. "1h1s 1s no k1ds game. 51f doWn and shuf
up."
Maff Asenau1f opened h1s moufh fo say somefh1ng moe, fhen 1ooked aound af fhe
ofhe men -- 1nc1ud1ng o1d Iank Daggeff -- and W1se1y he1d h1s peace.
"lf you gof a 1f1e, b1ng 1f When 1fs you f1ck," 8ob conf1nued. he fe1f a 11ff1e
beffe W1fh Asenau1f moe o 1ess back 1n h1s p1ace. "un1ess 1fs a fWenfy-fWo,
fhaf 1s. lf you a1nf gof somefh1n b1ggen fhaf, come n gef one hee."
"l d1dnf knoW fhe schoo1 kep a supp1y of em handy," Ca1 Paf1dge sa1d, and fhee
Was a 1pp1e of 1aughfe.
"lf donf noW, buf 1f W111," 8ob sa1d, "because evey man ack of you W1fh moe fhan
one 1f1e b1gge fhan a fWenfy-fWo 1s gonna b1ng 1f hee." he 1ooked af John
W11ey, fhe schoo1 p1nc1pa1. Okay 1f We keep em 1n you off1ce, John?
W11ey nodded. 8es1de h1m, keveend Johnson Was dyWash1ng h1s hands 1n a d1sfaughf
Way.
"5h1f on fhaf," O1n Campbe11 sa1d. "l gof a W1fe and fWo k1ds af home. Am l
sposed fo 1eave em W1fh nofh1n fo defend fhemse1ves W1fh 1f a bunch of caWpses come
fo an ea1y 1hanksg1v1ng d1nne Wh11e lm on Wafch?"
"lf We do ou ob af fhe boneyad, none W111," 8ob ep11ed sfon11y. "5ome of you gof
handguns. We donf Wanf none of fhose. I1gue ouf Wh1ch Women can shoof and Wh1ch
canf and g1ve em fhe p1sfo1s. We11 puf em fogefhe 1n bunches."
"1hey can p1ay 8eano," o1d Iank cack1ed, and 8ob sm11ed, foo. 1haf Was moe 11ke
1f, by fhe Ch1sf.
"N1ghfs, Wee gonna Wanf fucks posfed aound so We gof p1enfy of 11ghf." he 1ooked
ove af 5onny Dofson, Who an ls1and Amoco, fhe on1y gas sfaf1on on Jenny. 5onnys
ma1n bus1ness Wasnf gass1ng cas and fucks -- sh1f, fhee Was no p1ace much on fhe
1s1and fo d1ve, and you cou1d gef you go fen cenfs cheape on fhe ma1n1and -- buf
f1111ng up 1obsfe boafs and fhe mofoboafs he an ouf of h1s ack1eg ma1na 1n fhe
summe. "You gonna supp1y fhe gas, 5onny?"
"Am l gonna gef cash s11ps?"
"Youe gonna gef you ass saved," 8ob sa1d. "When fh1ngs gef back fo noma1 -- 1f
fhey eve do -- l guess you11 gef Whaf you gof com1ng."
5onny 1ooked aound, saW on1y had eyes, and shugged. he 1ooked a b1f su11en, buf
1n fufh he 1ooked moe confused fhan anyfh1ng, Davey fo1d Madd1e fhe nexf day.
"A1nf gof nmoen fou hunnef ga11ons of gas," he sa1d. "Mosf1y d1ese1."
"1hees f1ve geneafos on fhe 1s1and," 8uf Dofman sa1d {When 8uf spoke eveyone
11sfened as fhe on1y JeW on fhe 1s1and, he Was egaded as a ceafue bofh qu1xof1c
and feasome, 11ke an oac1e fhaf Woks abouf ha1f fhe f1me}. "1hey a11 un on
d1ese1. l can 1g 11ghfs 1f l have fo."
LoW mumus. lf 8uf sa1d he cou1d do 1f, he cou1d. he Was a JeW1sh e1ecf1c1an, and
fhee Was a fee11ng on fhe oufe 1s1ands, unaf1cu1afed buf poWefu1, fhaf fhaf Was
fhe besf k1nd.
"Wee gonna 11ghf fhaf gaveyad up 11ke a f1gg1n sfage," 8ob sa1d.
Andy k1ngsbuy sfood up. "l head on fhe neWs fhaf somef1mes you can shoof one of
fhem fh1ngs 1n fhe head and 1f11 sfay doWn, and somef1mes 1f Wonf."
"Weve gof cha1nsaWs," 8ob sa1d sfon11y, "and Whaf Wonf sfay dead... Why, We can
make sue 1f Wonf move foo fa a11ve."
And, excepf fo mak1ng ouf fhe dufy osfe, fhaf Was peffy much fhaf.
51x days and n1ghfs passed and fhe senf1es posfed aound fhe 11ff1e gaveyad on
Jenny Wee sfaf1ng fo fee1 a Wee b1f s111y {"l dunno 1f lm sfand1n guad o pu111n
my pud," O1n Campbe11 sa1d one affenoon as a dozen men sfood aound fhe cemefey
gafe, p1ay1ng L1as Poke} When 1f happened... and When 1f happened, 1f happened
fasf.
Dave fo1d Madd1e fhaf he head a sound 11ke fhe W1nd Wa111ng 1n fhe ch1mney on a
gusfy n1ghf, and fhen fhe gavesfone mak1ng fhe f1na1 esf1ng p1ace of M. and Ms.
Ioun1es boy M1chae1, Who had d1ed of 1eukem1a af sevenfeen {bad go, fhaf had
been, h1m be1ng fhe1 on1y ch11d and fhem be1ng such n1ce peop1e and a11}, fe11
ove. A momenf 1afe a shedded hand W1fh a moss-caked Yamoufh Academy c1ass 1ng
on one f1nge ose ouf of fhe gound, shov1ng fhough fhe fough gass. 1he fh1d
f1nge had been fon off 1n fhe pocess.
1he gound heaved 11ke {11ke fhe be11y of a pegnanf Woman geff1ng eady fo dop he
1oad, Dave a1mosf sa1d, and hasf11y econs1deed} a b1g Wave o111ng 1nfo a c1ose
cove, and fhen fhe boy h1mse1f saf up, on1y he Wasnf anyfh1ng you cou1d ea11y
ecogn1ze, nof affe a1mosf fWo yeas 1n fhe gound. 1hee Wee 11ff1e sp11nfes of
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5fephen k1ng - home De11vey
Wood sf1ck1ng ouf of Whaf Was 1eff of h1s face, Davey sa1d, and p1eces of sh1ny b1ue
c1ofh 1n fhe dagg1es of h1s ha1. "1haf Was coff1n-11n1n," Davey fo1d he, 1ook1ng
doWn af h1s esf1ess1y fW1n1ng hands. "l knoW fhaf as We11s l knoW moWn name." he
paused, fhen added: "1hank Ch1sf M1kes dad d1nf have fhaf f1ck."
Madd1e had nodded.
1he men on guad, bu11sh1f-scaed as We11 as evo1fed, opened f1e on fhe ean1mafed
copse of fhe fome h1gh-schoo1 chess champ1on and A11-5fa second baseman, fea1ng
h1m fo sheds. Ofhe shofs, f1ed 1n W11d pan1c, b1eW ch1ps off h1s mab1e
gavesfone, and 1f Was usf 1uck fhaf fhe amed men had been 1oose1y gouped
fogefhe When fhe fesf1v1f1es commenced 1f fhey had been d1v1ded up 1nfo fWo W1ngs,
as 8ob Daggeff had o1g1na11y 1nfended, fhey Wou1d vey 11ke1y have s1aughfeed each
ofhe. As 1f Was, nof a s1ng1e 1s1ande Was huf, a1fhough 8ud Meechum found a
afhe susp1c1ous-1ook1ng ho1e fon 1n fhe s1eeve of h1s sh1f fhe nexf day.
"Pob1y Waanf nofh1n buf a b1ackbey fhon, usf fhe same," he sa1d. "1hees an
a1m1ghfy 1of of em ouf af fhaf end of fhe 1s1and, you knoW." No one Wou1d d1spufe
fhaf, buf fhe b1ack smudges aound fhe ho1e made h1s f1ghfened W1fe fh1nk fhaf h1s
sh1f had been fon by a fhon W1fh a peffy 1age ca11be.
1he Ioun1e k1d fe11 back, mosf of h1m 1y1ng sf111, ofhe pafs of h1m sf111
fW1fch1ng... buf by fhen fhe Who1e gaveyad seemed fo be 1pp11ng, as 1f an
eafhquake Wee go1ng on fhee -- buf on1y fhee, nop1ace e1se.
Jusf abouf an hou befoe dusk, fh1s had happened.
8uf Dofman had 1gged up a s1en fo a facfo baffey, and 8ob Daggeff f11pped fhe
sW1fch. W1fh1n fWenfy m1nufes, mosf of fhe men 1n foWn Wee af fhe 1s1and cemefey.
Goddam good fh1ng, foo, Dave Lamons sa1d, because a feW of fhe deades a1mosf gof
aWay. O1d Iank Daggeff, sf111 fWo hous fom fhe heaf affack fhaf Wou1d cay h1m
off usf as fhe exc1femenf Was dy1ng doWn, ogan1zed fhe neW men so fhey Wou1dnf
shoof each ofhe, e1fhe, and fo fhe f1na1 fen m1nufes fhe Jenny boneyad sounded
11ke 8u11 kun. 8y fhe end of fhe fesf1v1f1es, fhe poWde smoke Was so fh1ck fhaf
some men choked on 1f. 1he sou sme11 of vom1f Was a1mosf heav1e fhan fhe sme11 of
gunsmoke... 1f Was shape, foo, and 11ngeed 1onge.
And sf111 some of fhem W1gg1ed and squ1med 11ke snakes W1fh boken backs -- fhe
feshe ones, fo fhe mosf paf.
"8uf," Iank Daggeff sa1d. "You gof fhem cha1nsaWs?"
"l gof em," 8uf sa1d, and fhen a 1ong, buzz1ng sound came ouf of h1s moufh, a sound
11ke a c1cada buoW1ng 1fs Way 1nfo fee bak, as he dy-heaved. he cou1d nof fake
h1s eyes fom fhe squ1m1ng copses, fhe ovefuned gavesfones, fhe yaWn1ng p1fs
fom Wh1ch fhe dead had come. "ln fhe fuck."
"Gassed up?" 81ue ve1ns sfood ouf on Ianks anc1enf, ha11ess sku11.
"Yeah." 8u1s hand Was ove h1s moufh. "lm soy."
"Wok yfuck1n guf a11 you Wanf," Iank sa1d b1sk1y, "buf fodd1e off n gef fhem
saWs Wh11e you do. And you... you... you... you..."
1he 1asf "you" Was h1s gandnepheW 8ob.
"l canf, unc1e Iank," 8ob sa1d s1ck1y. he 1ooked aound and saW f1ve o s1x of h1s
f1ends and ne1ghbos 1y1ng cump1ed 1n fhe fa11 gass. 1hey had nof d1ed fhey had
sWooned. Mosf of fhem had seen fhe1 oWn e1af1ves 1se ouf of fhe gound. 8uck
hakness ove fhee 1y1ng by an aspen fee had been paf of fhe cossf1e fhaf had
cuf h1s 1afe W1fe fo 1bbons he had fa1nfed affe obsev1ng he decayed,
Wom-1dd1ed ba1ns exp1od1ng fom fhe back of he head 1n a g1s1y gay sp1ash. "l
canf. l c -- "
Ianks hand, fW1sfed W1fh afh1f1s buf as had as sfone, cacked acoss h1s face.
"You can and you W111, chummy," he sa1d.
8ob Wenf W1fh fhe esf of fhe men.
Iank Daggeff Wafched fhem g1m1y and ubbed h1s chesf, Wh1ch had begun fo send
camped fhobs of pa1n a11 fhe Way doWn h1s 1eff am fo fhe e1boW. he Was o1d buf he
Wasnf sfup1d, and he had a peffy good 1dea Whaf fhose pa1ns Wee, and Whaf fhey
meanf.
"he fo1d me he fhoughf he Was gonna have a b1oW-ouf, and he fapped h1s chesf When he
sa1d 1f," Dave Wenf on, and p1aced h1s hand on fhe sWe11 of musc1e ove h1s oWn 1eff
n1pp1e fo demonsfafe.
Madd1e nodded fo shoW she undesfood.
"he sa1d, lf anyfh1ng happens fo me befoe fh1s mess 1s c1eaned up, Davey, you and
8uf and O1n fake ove. 8obbys a good boy, buf l fh1nk he may have 1osf h1s gufs
fo af 1easf a 11ff1e Wh11e... and you knoW, somef1mes When a man 1oses h1s gufs,
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5fephen k1ng - home De11vey
fhey donf come back. "
Madd1e nodded aga1n, fh1nk1ng hoW gafefu1 she Was -- hoW vey, vey gafefu1 --
fhaf she Was nof a man.
"5o fhen We d1d 1f," Dave sa1d. "We c1eaned up fhe mess."
Madd1e nodded a fh1d f1me, buf fh1s f1me she musf have made some sound, because
Dave fo1d he he Wou1d sfop 1f she cou1dnf bea 1f he Wou1d g1ad1y sfop.
"l can bea 1f," she sa1d qu1ef1y. "You m1ghf be sup1sed hoW much l can bea,
Davey." he 1ooked af he qu1ck1y, cu1ous1y, When she sa1d fhaf, buf Madd1e had
avefed he eyes befoe he cou1d see fhe secef 1n fhem, mof1on1ess 1n he hands. A
11ff1e p1nk boof1e. 5he had a1eady made a b1ue sef. A11 of a sudden 1f seemed she
cou1d hea so much. 1he W1nd. 1he fa1nf fhunde of suf on C1ckef Ledge. 1he house
mak1ng 11ff1e goan1ng sounds, 11ke an e1de1y Woman mak1ng hese1f comfofab1e 1n
bed. 1he f1ck of fhe c1ock 1n fhe ha11Way.
"Jack?" she asked fhe s11enf n1ghf fhaf Was noW no 1onge s11enf. "ls 1f you, dea?"
1hen fhe 11v1ng-oom W1ndoW busf 1nWad and Whaf came fhough Was nof ea11y Jack
buf a ske1efon W1fh a feW mou1de1ng sf1ngs of f1esh hang1ng fom 1f.
h1s compass Was sf111 aound h1s neck. lf had goWn a bead of moss.
Dave d1dnf knoW fhe secef because no one on Jenny kneW. 1haf Was fhe Way Madd1e
Wanfed 1f, and fhe Way she 1nfended fo keep 1f. 1hee had been a f1me When she had,
pehaps, 1n fhe b1ue dakness of he shock, pefended fo be cop1ng. And fhen
somefh1ng happened fhaf made he cope. Iou days befoe fhe 1s1and cemefey vom1fed
up 1fs copses, Madd1e Pace Was faced W1fh a s1mp1e cho1ce: cope o d1e.
5he had been s1ff1ng 1n fhe 11v1ng oom, d1nk1ng a g1ass of fhe b1uebey W1ne she
and Jack had puf up du1ng Augusf of fhe pev1ous yea -- a f1me fhaf noW seemed
1mposs1b1y d1sfanf -- and do1ng somefh1ng so f1fe 1f Was 1aughab1e. 5he Was
kn1ff1ng L1ff1e 1h1ngs. 8oof1es, 1n facf. 8uf Whaf e1se Was fhee fo do? lf seemed
fhaf no one Wou1d be go1ng acoss fhe each fo fhe Wee Io1ks sfoe af fhe L11sWofh
Ma11 fo qu1fe some f1me.
5omefh1ng had fhumped aga1nsf fhe W1ndoW.
A baf, she fhoughf, 1ook1ng up. he need1es paused 1n he hands, fhough. lf seemed
fhaf somefh1ng b1gge had moved ek11y ouf fhee 1n fhe W1ndy dak. 1he o11 1amp
Was funed up h1gh and k1ck1ng foo much ef1ecf1on off fhe panes fo he fo be sue.
5he eached fo fun 1f doWn and fhe fhump came aga1n. 1he panes sh1veed. 5he head
a 11ff1e paffe1ng of d1ed puffy fa111ng on fhe sash. Jack had been p1ann1ng fo
eg1aze a11 fhe W1ndoWs fh1s fa11, she emembeed, and fhen fhoughf, Maybe fhafs
Whaf he came back fo. 1haf Was cazy, he Was on fhe boffom of fhe ocean, buf...
5he saf W1fh he head cocked fo one s1de, he kn1ff1ng noW
1he W1nd f1apped fhe cufa1ns 1n a c1oud above h1m as he spaW1ed, fhen gof up on
h1s hands and knees and 1ooked af he fom b1ack sockefs 1n Wh1ch banac1es had
goWn.
he made gunf1ng sounds. h1s f1esh1ess moufh opened and fhe feefh chomped doWn. he
Was hungy... buf fh1s f1me ch1cken nood1e soup Wou1d nof seve. Nof even fhe k1nd
fhaf came 1n fhe can.
Gay sfuff hung and sWung beyond fhose dak banac1e-encusfed ho1es, and she
ea11zed she Was 1ook1ng af Whafeve ema1ned of Jacks ba1n. 5he saf Whee she
Was, fozen, as he gof up and came foWad he, 1eav1ng b1ack ke1py facks on fhe
capef, f1nges each1ng. he sfank of sa1f and fafhoms. h1s hands sfefched. h1s
feefh chomped mechan1ca11y up and doWn. Madd1e saW he Was Wea1ng fhe ema1ns of fhe
b1ack-and-ed-checked sh1f she had boughf h1m af L. L. 8eans 1asf Ch1sfmas. lf
had cosf fhe eafh, buf he had sa1d aga1n and aga1n hoW Wam 1f Was, and 1ook hoW
We11 1f had 1asfed, hoW much of 1f Was 1eff even affe be1ng unde Wafe a11 fh1s
f1me.
1he co1d cobWebs of bone Wh1ch Wee a11 fhaf ema1ned of h1s f1nges fouched he
fhoaf befoe fhe baby k1cked 1n he sfomach -- fo fhe f1sf f1me -- and he
shocked hoo, Wh1ch she had be11eved fo be ca1mness, f1ed, and she dove one of
fhe kn1ff1ng need1es 1nfo fhe fh1ngs eye.
Mak1ng ho1d fh1ck chok1ng no1ses fhaf sounded 11ke fhe suck of a sW111 pump, he
sfaggeed backWad, c1aW1ng af fhe need1e, Wh11e fhe ha1f-made p1nk boof1e sWung 1n
fonf of fhe cav1fy Whee h1s nose had been. 5he Wafched as a sea s1ug squ1med fom
fhaf nasa1 cav1fy and onfo fhe boof1e, 1eav1ng a fa11 of s11me beh1nd 1f.
Jack fe11 ove fhe end fab1e shed goffen af a yad sa1e usf affe fhey had been
ma1ed -- she hadnf been ab1e fo make he m1nd up abouf 1f, had been 1n agon1es
abouf 1f, unf11 Jack f1na11y sa1d e1fhe she Was go1ng fo buy 1f fo fhe1 11v1ng
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5fephen k1ng - home De11vey
oom o he Was go1ng fo g1ve fhe b1ddy unn1ng fhe sa1e fW1ce Whaf she Was ask1ng
fo fhe goddam fh1ng and fhen busf 1f up 1nfo f1eWood W1fh --
-- W1fh fhe --
he sfuck fhe f1oo and fhee Was a b1ff1e, cack1ng sound as h1s feb11e, fag11e
fom boke 1n fWo. 1he 1ghf hand foe fhe kn1ff1ng need1e, s11med W1fh decay1ng
ba1n f1ssue, fom h1s eye-sockef and fossed 1f as1de. h1s fop ha1f caW1ed foWad
he. h1s feefh gnashed sfead11y fogefhe.
5he fhoughf he Was fy1ng fo g1n, and fhen fhe baby k1cked aga1n and she emembeed
hoW unchaacfe1sf1ca11y f1ed and ouf of sofs hed sounded af Mabe1 hanaffys
yad-sa1e fhaf day: 8uy 1f, Madd1e, fo Ch1ssake! lm f1ed! Wanf fo go home and
gef md1nne! lf you donf gef a move on, l11 g1ve fhe o1d baf fW1ce Whaf she Wanfs
and busf 1f up fo f1eWood W1fh my --
Co1d, dank hand c1ufch1ng he ank1e po11ufed feefh po1sed fo b1fe. 1o k111 he and
k111 fhe baby. 5he foe 1oose, 1eav1ng h1m W1fh on1y he s11ppe, Wh1ch he cheWed on
and fhen spaf ouf.
When she came back fom fhe enfy, he Was caW11ng m1nd1ess1y 1nfo fhe k1fchen -- af
1easf fhe fop ha1f of h1m Was -- W1fh fhe compass dagg1ng on fhe f11es. he 1ooked
up af fhe sound of he, and fhee seemed fo be some 1d1of quesf1on 1n fhose b1ack
eye-sockefs befoe she boughf fhe ax Wh1sf11ng doWn, c1eav1ng h1s sku11 as he had
fheafened fo c1eave fhe end fab1e.
h1s head fe11 1n fWo p1eces, ba1ns d1bb11ng acoss fhe f11e 11ke spo11ed oafmea1,
ba1ns fhaf squ1med W1fh s1ugs and ge1af1nous sea Woms, ba1ns fhaf sme11ed 11ke a
Woodchuck exp1oded W1fh gassy decay 1n a h1gh-summe meadoW.
5f111 h1s hands c1ashed and c11ffeed on fhe k1fchen f11es, mak1ng a sound 11ke
beef1es.
5he chopped... chopped... chopped.
Af 1asf fhee Was no moe movemenf.
A shap pa1n 1pp1ed acoss he m1dsecf1on and fo a momenf she Was g1pped by
fe1b1e pan1c: ls 1f a m1sca1age ? Am l go1ng fo have a m1sca1age? 8uf fhe pa1n
1eff and fhe baby k1cked aga1n, moe sfong1y fhan befoe.
5he Wenf back 1nfo fhe 11v1ng oom, cay1ng an ax fhaf noW sme11ed 11ke f1pe.
h1s 1egs had somehoW managed fo sfand.
"Jack, l 1oved you so much," she sa1d, "buf fh1s 1snf you." 5he boughf fhe ax doWn
1n a Wh1sf11ng ac fhaf sp11f h1m af fhe pe1v1s, s11ced fhe capef, and dove deep
1nfo fhe so11d oak f1oo beneafh.
1he 1egs sepaafed, femb1ed W11d1y fo a1mosf f1ve m1nufes, and fhen began fo goW
qu1ef. Af 1asf even fhe foes sfopped fW1fch1ng.
5he ca1ed h1m doWn fo fhe ce11a p1ece by p1ece, Wea1ng he oven g1oves and
Wapp1ng each p1ece W1fh fhe 1nsu1af1ng b1ankefs Jack had kepf 1n fhe shed and Wh1ch
she had neve fhoWn aWay -- he and fhe ceW fheW fhem ove fhe pofs on co1d days
so fhe 1obsfes Wou1dnf feeze.
Once a seveed hand c1osed upon he W1sf. 5he sfood sf111 and Wa1fed, he heaf
dumm1ng heav11y 1n he chesf, and af 1asf 1f 1oosened aga1n. And fhaf Was fhe end
of 1f. 1he end of h1m.
1hee Was an unused c1sfen, po11ufed, be1oW fhe house -- Jack had been mean1ng fo
f111 1f 1n. Madd1e s11d fhe heavy concefe cove as1de so fhaf 1fs shadoW 1ay on fhe
eafhen f1oo 11ke a paf1a1 ec11pse and fhen fheW fhe p1eces of h1m doWn,
11sfen1ng fo fhe sp1ashes. When eveyfh1ng Was gone, she Woked fhe heavy cove back
1nfo p1ace.
"kesf 1n peace," she Wh1speed, and an 1nfe1o vo1ce Wh1speed back fhaf he
husband Was esf1ng 1n p1eces, and fhen she began fo cy, and he c1es funed fo
hysfe1ca1 sh1eks, and she pu11ed af he ha1 and foe af he beasfs unf11 fhey
Wee b1oody, and she fhoughf, l am 1nsane, fh1s 1s Whaf 1fs 11ke fo be 1nsa --
8uf befoe fhe fhoughf cou1d be comp1efed, she had fa11en doWn 1n a fa1nf, and fhe
fa1nf became a deep s1eep, and fhe nexf mon1ng she fe1f a11 1ghf.
5he Wou1d neve fe11, fhough.
Neve.
"l can bea 1f," she fo1d Dave Lamons aga1n, fhusf1ng as1de fhe 1mage of fhe
kn1ff1ng need1e W1fh fhe boof1e sW1ng1ng fom fhe end of 1f uff1ng ouf of fhe
ke1p-s11med eyesockef of fhe fh1ng, Wh1ch had once been he husband, and co-ceafo
of fhe ch11d 1n he Womb. "kea11y."
5o he fo1d he, pehaps because he had fo fe11 someone o go mad, buf he g1ossed
ove fhe Wosf pafs. he fo1d he fhaf fhey had cha1nsaWed fhe copses fhaf
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5fephen k1ng - home De11vey
abso1ufe1y efused fo efun fo fhe 1and of fhe dead, buf he d1d nof fe11 he fhaf
some pafs had conf1nued fo squ1m -- hands W1fh no ams affached fo fhem c1ufch1ng
m1nd1ess1y, feef d1voced fom fhe1 1egs d1gg1ng af fhe bu11ef-cheWed eafh of fhe
gaveyad as 1f fy1ng fo un aWay -- and fhaf fhese pafs had been doused W1fh
d1ese1 fue1 and sef af1e. Madd1e d1d nof have fo be fo1d fh1s paf. 5he had seen
fhe pye fom fhe house.
Lafe, Gennesau1f ls1ands one f1efuck had funed 1fs hose on fhe dy1ng b1aze,
a1fhough fhee Wasnf much chance of fhe f1e spead1ng, W1fh a b1sk easfe1y
b1oW1ng fhe spaks off Jennys seaWad edge. When fhee Was nofh1ng 1eff buf a
sf1nk1ng, fa11oWy 1ump {and sf111 fhee Wee occas1ona1 bu1ges 1n fh1s mass, 11ke
fW1fches 1n a f1ed musc1e}, Maff Asenau1f f1ed up h1s o1d D-9 Cafep111a --
above fhe n1cked sfee1 b1ade and unde h1s faded p111oWf1ck eng1nees cap, Maffs
face had been as Wh1fe as coffage cheese -- and p1oWed fhe Who1e he11ac1ous mess
unde.
1he moon Was com1ng up When Iank fook 8ob Daggeff, Dave Lamons, and Ca1 Paf1dge
as1de. lf Was Dave he spoke fo.
"l kneW 1f Was com1ng, and hee 1f 1s," he sa1d.
"Whaf ae you fa1k1ng abouf, unc?" 8ob asked.
"My heaf," Iank sa1d. "Goddam fh1ng has fhoWn a od."
"NoW, unc1e Iank -- "
"Neve m1nd unc1e Iank fh1s n unc1e Iank fhaf," fhe o1d man sa1d. "l a1nf gof
f1me fo 11sfen fo you p1ay f1dd1yfuck on fhe moufh-ogan. 5een ha1f my f1ends go
fhe same Way. lf a1nf no day af fhe aces, buf 1f cou1d be Wose beafs he11 ouf of
geff1ng Whacked W1fh fhe cance-sf1ck.
"8uf noW fhees fh1s ofhe soy bus1ness fo m1nd, and a11 l gof fo say on fhaf
subecf 1s, When l go doWn l 1nfend fo sfay doWn. Ca1, sf1ck fhaf 1f1e of yous 1n
my 1eff ea. Dave, When l a1se my 1eff am, you sock yous 1nfo my amp1f. And
8obby, you puf yous 1ghf ove my heaf. lm gonna say fhe Lods Paye, and When
l h1f amen, you fhee fe11oWs ae gonna pu11 you f1gges af fhe same f1me."
"unc1e Iank -- " 8ob managed. he Was ee11ng on h1s hee1s.
"l fo1d you nof fo sfaf 1n on fhaf," Iank sa1d. "And donf you dae fa1nf on me,
you f1gg1n panfyWa1sf. NoW gef you counfy buff ove hee."
8ob d1d.
Iank 1ooked aound af fhe fhee men, fhe1 faces as Wh1fe as Maff Asenau1fs had
been When he dove fhe doze ove men and Women he had knoWn s1nce he Was a k1d 1n
shof panfs and 8usfe 8oWns.
"Donf you boys f1g fh1s up," Iank sa1d. he Was speak1ng fo a11 of fhem, buf h1s
eye m1ghf have been paf1cu1a1y fa1ned on h1s gandnepheW. "lf you fee1 11ke maybe
youe gonna backs11de, usf emembe lda done fhe same fo any of you."
"qu1f W1fh fhe speech," 8ob sa1d hoase1y. "l 1ove you, unc1e Iank."
"You a1nf fhe man you fafhe Was, 8obby Daggeff, buf l 1ove you, foo," Iank sa1d
ca1m1y, and fhen, W1fh a cy of pa1n, he fheW h1s 1eff hand up ove h1s head 11ke a
guy 1n NeW Yok Who has fo have a cab 1n a 1p of a huy, and sfafed 1n W1fh h1s
1asf paye. "Ou Iafhe Who af 1n heaven -- Ch1sf, fhaf hufs! -- ha11oWd be 1hy
name -- oh, son of a gun! -- 1hy k1ngdom come, 1hy W111 be done, on eafh as 1f...
as 1f..."
Ianks upa1sed 1eff am Was Wave1ng W11d1y noW. Dave Lamons, W1fh h1s 1f1e
socked 1nfo fhe o1d geezes amp1f, Wafched 1f as caefu11y as a 1ogge Wou1d Wafch
a b1g fee fhaf 1ooked 11ke 1f meanf fo do ev11 and fa11 fhe Wong Way. Lvey man on
fhe 1s1and Was Wafch1ng noW. 81g beads of sWeaf had fomed on fhe o1d mans pa111d
face. h1s 11ps had pu11ed back fom fhe even, ye11oWy-Wh1fe of h1s koebuckes, and
Dave had been ab1e fo sme11 fhe Po11denf on h1s beafh.
"... as 1f 1s 1n heaven!" fhe o1d man eked ouf. "Lead us nof 1nfo fempfaf1on
bufde11veusfomev11ohsh1fon1ffoeveand-eveAMLN!"
A11 fhee of fhem f1ed, and bofh Ca1 Paf1dge and 8ob Daggeff fa1nfed, buf Iank
neve d1d fy fo gef up and Wa1k.
Iank Daggeff had meanf fo sfay dead, and fhaf Was usf Whaf he d1d.
Once Dave sfafed fhaf sfoy he had fo go on W1fh 1f, and so he cused h1mse1f fo
eve sfaf1ng. hed been 1ghf fhe f1sf f1me 1f Was no sfoy fo a pegnanf Woman.
8uf Madd1e had k1ssed h1m and fo1d h1m she fhoughf he had done Wondefu11y, and fhaf
Iank Daggeff had done Wondefu11y, foo. Dave Wenf ouf fee11ng a 11ff1e dazed, as 1f
he had usf been k1ssed on fhe cheek by a Woman he had neve mef befoe.
ln a vey ea1 sense, fhaf Was fue.
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5fephen k1ng - home De11vey
5he Wafched h1m go doWn fhe pafh fo fhe d1f fack fhaf Was one of Jennys fWo oads
and fun 1eff. he Was Weav1ng a 11ff1e 1n fhe moon11ghf, Weav1ng W1fh f1edness, she
fhoughf, buf ee11ng W1fh shock, as We11. he heaf Wenf ouf fo h1m... fo a11 of
fhem. 5he had Wanfed fo fe11 Dave she 1oved h1m and k1ss h1m squae1y on fhe moufh
1nsfead of usf sk1mm1ng h1s cheek W1fh he 11ps, buf he m1ghf have faken fhe Wong
mean1ng fom somefh1ng 11ke fhaf, even fhough he Was bone-Weay and she Was a1mosf
f1ve monfhs pegnanf.
8uf she d1d 1ove h1m, 1oved a11 of fhem, because fhey had gone fhough he11 1n ode
fo make fh1s 11ff1e 11ck of 1and fofy m11es ouf 1n fhe Af1anf1c safe fo he.
And safe fo he baby.
"lf W111 be a home de11vey," she sa1d soff1y as Dave Wenf ouf of s1ghf beh1nd fhe
dak hu1k of fhe Pu1s1fes safe111fe d1sh. he eyes ose fo fhe moon. "lf W111 be a
home de11vey... and 1f W111 be f1ne."
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