Read Online The Dark Tower Companion: A Guide to Stephen King’s Epic Fantasy by Bev Vincent - Free Book Online
Authors: Bev Vincent
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they were when he fell in the dream.
The next morning, when he sets out, he knows he will probably never see his parents again. Reuniting with Roland is more important. He takes a few belongings and steals his fatherâs gun and ammunition. He wanders Manhattan, unconsciously following the Path of the Beam southeast, killing time until his appointment in Brooklyn and trying to keep from getting picked up for being truant.
He makes his way to Brooklyn and finds Markey Avenue, an address that popped into his head unbidden. There he sees Eddie and Henry shooting hoops. He studies the two boys long enough to understand their dynamics. Eddie is smarter and more skilled than Henry, but he knows that his older brother is insecure and knows how to handle him to keep him from lashing out. The two boys set out on an adventure to go see the Mansion in Dutch Hill, an abandoned house several blocks away that is supposedly haunted.
Jake follows. Henry and Eddie canât make themselves get close to the house, but Jake knows it is where he needs to be. Thereâs a demon insideâa doorkeeper who wants to prevent anyone from crossing over. The house is a physical manifestation of this doorkeeper and once Jake is inside, it turns on him, seeking to devour him.
Eddie senses that Jake is getting ready to cross over, so he redoubles his effort to finish the key. Years of insecurity caused by Henryâs constant put-downs have him doubting his ability to get it right, but Roland has faith in him and both encourages and chides him. Susannah isnât happy with the way Roland treats her husband, but they are growing to accept his coldness and single-mindedness.
Their route along the Path of the Beam gradually becomes a coach road and then one of the Great Roads. They see signs of past civilization and encounter a number of billy-bumblers. The designated place for Jakeâs return is a Stonehenge-like circle of stones where a demon dwells. Roland knows these places are âthin,â a common theme in Kingâs books. Eddie finalizes his key and draws a door in the ground, labeling it THE BOY like the doors on the beach and the one in the Mansion are marked.
Roland and Susannah have to distract the demon to keep it from going after Eddie. The only way to do this is with sex, and which one of them gets called into action will depend on the demonâs gender. When it proves to be male, Susannah relies on the Detta aspect of her personality to get her through this ordeal. Roland gets his chance to atone for letting Jake fall by jumping through the doorway once it is open on both sides. He seizes the Speaking Demon and crams it into the mouth of the doorkeeper, thus taking care of both threats, and pulls Jake upward to safety. He promises he will never let Jake fall again, though heâs not entirely sure he believes himself. The success of this mission is a personal victory for Eddie. He thinks heâs defeated the voice in his head, tooâthat of his nagging older brother.
The
ka-tet
is completeâin human form, that is. The quartet acquires a fifth member with the arrival of a billy-bumblerâa doglike animal that has been cast out from its herd, probably for being too smart. It is a rare exampleof its kind that remembers when bumblers were friends of men. Jake dubs him Oy after the bumblerâs efforts to mimic the word âboy.â He and Jake become fast friends. Oy tolerates the others but is nervous around themâespecially Roland.
They are now in the geographic region called Mid-World. Roland remembers hearing about a huge city at the edge of Mid-World when he was young. That city, Lud, is 160 wheels (approximately 175 miles) down the Great Road. They see its skyline from the top of a ridge, and Eddie hopes they will find someone there who will tell them what theyâre supposed to do. The ominous drumbeats they hear in the distance arenât encouraging.
Before they get there, they
The next morning, when he sets out, he knows he will probably never see his parents again. Reuniting with Roland is more important. He takes a few belongings and steals his fatherâs gun and ammunition. He wanders Manhattan, unconsciously following the Path of the Beam southeast, killing time until his appointment in Brooklyn and trying to keep from getting picked up for being truant.
He makes his way to Brooklyn and finds Markey Avenue, an address that popped into his head unbidden. There he sees Eddie and Henry shooting hoops. He studies the two boys long enough to understand their dynamics. Eddie is smarter and more skilled than Henry, but he knows that his older brother is insecure and knows how to handle him to keep him from lashing out. The two boys set out on an adventure to go see the Mansion in Dutch Hill, an abandoned house several blocks away that is supposedly haunted.
Jake follows. Henry and Eddie canât make themselves get close to the house, but Jake knows it is where he needs to be. Thereâs a demon insideâa doorkeeper who wants to prevent anyone from crossing over. The house is a physical manifestation of this doorkeeper and once Jake is inside, it turns on him, seeking to devour him.
Eddie senses that Jake is getting ready to cross over, so he redoubles his effort to finish the key. Years of insecurity caused by Henryâs constant put-downs have him doubting his ability to get it right, but Roland has faith in him and both encourages and chides him. Susannah isnât happy with the way Roland treats her husband, but they are growing to accept his coldness and single-mindedness.
Their route along the Path of the Beam gradually becomes a coach road and then one of the Great Roads. They see signs of past civilization and encounter a number of billy-bumblers. The designated place for Jakeâs return is a Stonehenge-like circle of stones where a demon dwells. Roland knows these places are âthin,â a common theme in Kingâs books. Eddie finalizes his key and draws a door in the ground, labeling it THE BOY like the doors on the beach and the one in the Mansion are marked.
Roland and Susannah have to distract the demon to keep it from going after Eddie. The only way to do this is with sex, and which one of them gets called into action will depend on the demonâs gender. When it proves to be male, Susannah relies on the Detta aspect of her personality to get her through this ordeal. Roland gets his chance to atone for letting Jake fall by jumping through the doorway once it is open on both sides. He seizes the Speaking Demon and crams it into the mouth of the doorkeeper, thus taking care of both threats, and pulls Jake upward to safety. He promises he will never let Jake fall again, though heâs not entirely sure he believes himself. The success of this mission is a personal victory for Eddie. He thinks heâs defeated the voice in his head, tooâthat of his nagging older brother.
The
ka-tet
is completeâin human form, that is. The quartet acquires a fifth member with the arrival of a billy-bumblerâa doglike animal that has been cast out from its herd, probably for being too smart. It is a rare exampleof its kind that remembers when bumblers were friends of men. Jake dubs him Oy after the bumblerâs efforts to mimic the word âboy.â He and Jake become fast friends. Oy tolerates the others but is nervous around themâespecially Roland.
They are now in the geographic region called Mid-World. Roland remembers hearing about a huge city at the edge of Mid-World when he was young. That city, Lud, is 160 wheels (approximately 175 miles) down the Great Road. They see its skyline from the top of a ridge, and Eddie hopes they will find someone there who will tell them what theyâre supposed to do. The ominous drumbeats they hear in the distance arenât encouraging.
Before they get there, they
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