The Talisman Trilogy, #3
Other Worlds Than These
by Stephen King and Peter Straub
Contents
Chapter 37
Overview
Mary briefly returns to 1976, dazzles on live TV with her palm-eye reveal, and mourns the fast-fading memory of a parallel life. In 1981, a younger Jack Sawyer senses cross-world aftershocks, discovers a mysterious KA-marked paperweight, and rushes to protect his mother, foreshadowing his destined path and ties to The Talisman.
Summary
In April 1976, Mary Klee snaps awake on a toilet at ABC before a Good Morning America segment, her vivid desert-and-trucks dream already draining of color. Ushered to makeup, she flirts lightly with Michael Douglas and notices she is, impossibly, far younger than she felt in the dream.
On air with David Hartman, Mary explains her palm-eye “sight,” resists showing a lucky 9mm bullet in her pocket, and correctly identifies a concealed photo of Michael Douglas. The triumph brings a stab of homesickness for a place she never knew; she longs to return and silently misses Richard. Off-air, she casually foretells Nancy Dussault’s future sitcom role, then hurries away, still aching for the fading dream.
The scene shifts to New Hampshire in September 1981. Twelve-year-old Jack Sawyer stands on a beach, disoriented by powerful echoes of another life and a dream of a glowing, dangerous healer. His mother, Lily Cavanaugh, has fled Los Angeles, and Jack wonders why Morgan Sloat hunts them—and why he feels twinned across worlds.
Jack finds a small leather bag containing a white box labeled inside with “I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE.” Inside is a glass paperweight showing pink-terraced streets and bright-sailed boats; on its base is a single word: KA. Feeling the pull of destiny, Speedy Parker on his mind, Jack pockets the paperweight and sprints to check on Lily, driven by dread and a flicker of remembered purpose.
Who Appears
- Mary KleePsychic who awakens in 1976 on GMA; performs a reveal; aches for fading otherworld memories and misses Richard.
- Jack SawyerIn 1981, age twelve on a New Hampshire beach; experiences cross-world disorientation; finds KA-marked paperweight; runs to his mother.
- David HartmanGMA host who tests Mary on-air with a concealed photo of Michael Douglas.
- Michael DouglasCelebrity guest; exchanges banter with Mary; his photo is Mary’s successful on-air reveal.
- Nancy DussaultColleague on GMA; provides the test photo; receives Mary’s offhand prediction about a future sitcom.
- Lily CavanaughJack’s mother, the “Queen of the Bs”; fleeing Los Angeles; Jack worries for her safety.
- Speedy ParkerJack’s new friend at Arcadia Funworld, briefly on Jack’s mind as destiny stirs.
- Morgan SloatAntagonist pursuing Lily and Jack; his threat frames Jack’s urgency.
- RichardJack’s friend; also the name Mary yearns for as her dream fades.