The Talisman Trilogy, #3
Other Worlds Than These
by Stephen King and Peter Straub
Contents
Chapter 9
Overview
Jack buries Pay with respect, salvages essentials, and confirms Kinneston and Speckhoffer’s violent passage. After a harrowing night, he rides to Riven and is received by Manni Clan Deepa. Fed and counseled, Jack learns Dale is now a vampire—both dead and alive—and that Jack’s painful choice may free him.
Summary
Jack, sleepless and grieving Pay’s death, assesses the devastation at Riven Depot and the stables. He retrieves Golden Boy, gathers a screwdriver and spade, and resolves to honor Pay. He digs a grave behind the train shed, wraps Pay’s remains in canvas, and buries him, invoking a brief prayer.
Jack salvages what he can from the ruins: a few canned goods, baked apples, a bridle, and some scattered oats for Golden Boy. On the road he finds ATV tracks pointing toward Pernil, a beer bottle, and a Ritz cracker wrapper—signs Kinneston and Speckhoffer crossed over and attacked for thrill and destruction, likely stealing Jack’s gun and leaving Pay to suffer.
Fearing wompies and dreading the possibility of finding Dale’s body en route, Jack camps in the train shed, cooks beans, shares some with Golden Boy, and sleeps fitfully. A nightmare of Pay turning wompie jolts him awake; later he senses Sophie’s comforting presence at the fire before dozing again.
At dawn, Jack rides Golden Boy toward Riven through a scorched, abandoned landscape that shows fresh signs of the teens’ rampage. He reflects that his flipping aligns with his will and sight more than geography. On a rise above Riven, four hooded Manni approach; Jack greets them.
Anda of Clan Deepa, with Jeryman and grandsons Paul and Andan, welcome Jack, gifting him dark glasses that ease his pain and sharpen his clarity. They stable Golden Boy and bring Jack to the Centra, where maidens serve nourishing drink and popkins. Jack asks about Dale.
Anda and Jeryman say Jack has come for his friend and to see the Gullet—the Great Gorge—and hint Youngblood is “growing the worm.” After ritual blessings, they answer: Dale is both dead and alive; Jack’s pain will set Dale free, but the choice is Jack’s. They finally name it—Dale is now a wympi, a vampire.
Who Appears
- JackProtagonist; buries Pay, salvages supplies, tracks attackers’ trail, journeys to Riven, and learns Dale is a vampire.
- AndaElder of Manni Clan Deepa; gifts Jack dark glasses, leads the palaver, reveals Dale’s dead-and-alive state.
- JerymanAnda’s son; hosts Jack in Riven, conducts the palaver, confirms Dale is wympi and speaks of Jack’s choice.
- Golden BoyJack’s palomino; survives the blast, follows Jack, carries him to Riven, then is stabled by the Manni.
- Payton OrvilleJack’s ally; body is buried with respect. Appears in Jack’s nightmare as a threatening wompie.
- KinnestonTeen attacker; likely led ATV assault, stole Jack’s gun, blasted Depot and stables, left American trash.
- SpeckhofferTeen accomplice; participated in attacks along Riven Road and likely in Riven town.
- PaulManni youth of Clan Deepa; handles Golden Boy, assists welcoming Jack, expresses sorrow about Dale.
- AndanManni youth; Paul’s brother, helps with Golden Boy, echoes sorrow regarding Dale.
- SophieJack’s late wife; comforting presence in the night, reassuring but doubtful about Dale’s survival.
- Dale GilbertsonJack’s old friend; revealed by the Manni to be both dead and alive, now a vampire (wympi).