Contents
Forty-Six
Overview
On December 23, Arthur returns from England and reunites with friends at the Briars to decorate for Christmas. Colin reports a relatively calm night for Llewellyn, offering brief relief. Gwen arrives shaken, revealing King Sorrow appeared at her house and demanded they choose the next victim, reigniting the threat.
Summary
On December 23, nearly six months later, Arthur flies from Heathrow to Logan, where Colin Wren meets him. They drive north toward Maine in Colin’s ’49 Cadillac, listening to NPR reports of the Gulf buildup, and plan to spend the night at the Briars before Arthur continues to Montpelier for Christmas Eve with his mother.
At the Briars, most of the friends are already gathered. Donna has a fire roaring and a towering blue spruce stands ready for lights and ornaments. Van pours Scotch as they begin decorating, the mood calm and companionable amid falling snow.
While Arthur works from a ladder hanging snowflake lights, Gwen arrives from plowing for her father, tracking in snow, her face gray and tense. Colin shares that Llewellyn had a relatively good night—six hours’ sleep and a Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes video—offering a small comfort.
Gwen cuts through the moment with grim news: King Sorrow appeared that morning in her basement, under the stairs. He declared that it’s time again, that “a deal’s a deal,” and demanded they decide who to kill next. Her announcement shatters the brief holiday peace and thrusts the group back under Sorrow’s coercive deadline.
Who Appears
- GwenArrives shaken after seeing King Sorrow in her basement; delivers his demand to choose the next victim.
- ArthurReturns from England, reunites at the Briars, and braces as Gwen announces Sorrow’s renewed ultimatum.
- Colin WrenPicks up Arthur from the airport, drives to the Briars, and reports Llewellyn’s relatively good night.
- King SorrowAppears to Gwen under her stairs and insists they honor the deal by selecting the next person to kill.
- DonnaMaintains the Briars’ warmth and cheer, building the fire as friends decorate the tree.
- VanHelps host the gathering, pouring Scotch while the group decorates.
- Llewellyn WrenOffstage; has a rare good night’s sleep and watches Sherlock Holmes, offering brief relief to friends.