The Running Man
by Stephen King
Contents
…Minus 061 and COUNTING… Bradley had not dared drill any hole
Overview
Richards begins his escape from Boston hidden in Bradley’s trunk, armed and nearly suffocating as the car heads toward police roadblocks. Bradley’s polished disguise shows the planning behind the escape, but the immediate arrival at a checkpoint turns the plan into a gamble. The chapter heightens the stakes by placing Richards one inspection away from capture or violence.
Summary
Ben Richards hides in the trunk of Bradley’s car, curled tightly with his face near the keyhole for air. Bradley has removed some insulation to create a draft but has not drilled holes, leaving Richards cramped, miserable, and dependent on the small opening.
Before closing the trunk, Bradley gives Richards a large revolver and warns that roadblocks will likely include occasional trunk searches. Bradley estimates that only every tenth or twelfth car gets a serious inspection; if Richards is unlucky, Richards must shoot his way out.
As the car moves through rough inner-city streets, Richards remembers Bradley’s disguise: a respectable business suit, maroon tie, and N.A.A.C.P. pin. Bradley jokingly presents himself as a district manager for Raygon Chemicals, impressing Richards and amusing Ma and Stacey before Bradley slips back into street language to silence Stacey’s teasing.
The car enters a smoother expressway ramp, and Richards grows increasingly tense as the escape moves into the most dangerous stage. Almost immediately, traffic slows at a roadblock, and a nearby voice orders drivers to pull over with license and registration ready. Richards grips the revolver, realizing the odds may be worse than Bradley guessed.
Who Appears
- Ben RichardsHides in Bradley’s trunk, armed and tense as the car approaches a roadblock.
- BradleyOrganizes Richards’s escape, disguises himself as a respectable businessman, and provides a revolver.
- StaceyTeases Bradley about his convincing respectable disguise before the escape begins.
- MaPresent during Bradley’s transformation and reacts approvingly to his disguise.