The Running Man
by Stephen King
Contents
…Minus 060 and COUNTING… “Step out your vehicle, sir,” the bo
Overview
Bradley and Richards reach the roadblock, where Richards comes within moments of being discovered in the trunk. Bradley’s calm lie prevents a search, and the officer lets the car pass.
The escape preserves Richards’s flight but shows how close he is to capture and how quickly he is prepared to kill to survive.
Summary
At the roadblock, an authoritative officer orders Bradley out of the car and asks for license and registration. Hidden in the trunk, Ben Richards listens as Bradley tries to pass himself off as a district manager for Raygon Chemicals, and Richards fears the story may not withstand inspection.
The officer searches the back seat and then moves toward the trunk. Richards grips his revolver, panics over the possibility of discovery, and imagines shooting the officer at point-blank range if the trunk is opened.
When the officer asks what is in the trunk, Bradley calmly says it contains a faulty spare cylinder and offers to get the key. The officer refuses to open it, abruptly tells Bradley to drive on, and adds that he hopes Bradley gets Richards.
Bradley accelerates away from the checkpoint. Richards, exhausted by fear and the strain of staying silent, realizes the immediate danger has passed.
Who Appears
- Ben RichardsHides in Bradley’s trunk, terrified of discovery and ready to shoot if exposed.
- BradleyCalmly bluffs at the roadblock and prevents the officer from opening the trunk.
- Unnamed officerStops Bradley’s car, searches briefly, questions the trunk, then waves them through.