"They found us again." "Another one has found us." "We have to go further." "Not yet." " Mr. Crockett?" " Yes." "My name is Mears." "Ben Mears." "I'm looking for a place to rent." "For how long?" "Six months maybe." "Family?" "No." " Furnished?" " Yes." "I can't think of any." " How about that house on the hill?" " Which house?" "The one as you come into town." "The Marsten house?" "Is that for sale or rent?" "It's sold." "I can't think of anything, not offhand." "You might try Eva Miller's boarding house." "It's real nice." "It's on Railroad Street." "Yeah, I remember." " You remember?" " Thank you very much." "Funny, about the Marsten house." "Vacant over 20 years." "Cully is going to Portland tomorrow." "Good afternoon, Mr. Crockett." "You sure fixed it up." "You think so?" "You like it?" "Fine job." "Sure is different from that doctor's office I sold you." "I'd have to agree with you." "Very tasteful." "Yes?" "Thank you." "Mr. Barlow...?" "Will arrive." "Soon." "A lot of people have been waiting." "For Mr. Barlow." "You know how it is with a small town." "People don't have that much to do." "Yes." "I can assure you that people will find Mr. Barlow well worth the wait." "Especially you, Mr. Crockett." "I've told him how helpful you've been getting us the house and the store." "Yes." "Are you a writer?" "Yes." "What do you write?" "Books." "Have I read any?" "Have you read any books?" "Your books." "I don't know." "How do I get breakfast?" "The kitchen's open to one and all." "Keep your things stored separate." "Do you work at night?" "Sometimes." "You can't work too late..." "I won't." " Well, I hope you like it." " I'm sure I will." "How come you came here?" "The real-estate man sent me." "No, I meant to Salem's Lot." "Strangers don't usually come here this time of year." "Not yet." "I'm not a stranger." "That's no way to leave a book." "A book by Benjamin." "You might rip the binding." "It is you, isn't it?" "It is you." "People ought to respect a book." "Even if it isn't especially well-written." "It's well-written." "Do you mind if I sit down?" "No, not at all." "Why did you call it "Air Dancer"?" "Did you read the book?" "No, not all of it." "In fact, I was just getting into it." "In fact..." "You got bored." "No, not in fact." "I wanted to finish this first." "I'm going to read it." "You don't have to." "What's your name?" "Susan." "Norton." "I teach art at Holly Elementary." "My father's a doctor in town." "You know, the reason that I actually took your book out of the library is because I read your other one." "Title?" "I don't remember." "Do you want to have some dinner?" "You got a boyfriend." "Well, not exactly." "It says here you're married, no children." "Still married?" "Still no children?" "She died." "I've got no children." "Got some memories." "Some good and some not so good." "You didn't answer my question." "Which one?" "Dinner." "I'd love to." "Good evening." "Good night." "See you tomorrow." "And tomorrow night." "You're sure?" "You're absolutely sure?" "He's got to make a delivery and a pickup." "Besides, he always calls." "You know that." "Good night, honey." "What are you doing out here, Weasel?" "Sitting." "Spying more like, huh?" "Oh, no, Parkins." "Cully set you to it?" "No." "Better not." "That writer who moved into Eva's..." "Right down the hall." "I heard." "Can you keep an eye on him?" "What's he done?" "Keep your eye on him and your mouth shut." "Got that?" "What's he done?" "Murdered 18 people." "Eighteen people!" "Every one of them an old man who kept asking:" "'"What's he done?" "'"" "Keep an eye on him for me." "Hi, honey." "What are you watching?" "Nothing." "You want to stay home tonight?" "Sure, why not?" "Well, don't get drunk." "I want some fun in tonight." "You know what happens when you drink too much." "I'm gonna get something out of the freezer." "Twenty minutes?" "Bring me a beer." "Thank you." "So, you're staying at Eva Miller's." "I'll tell you, she was quite a dish." "We kids used to watch her sashaying down the street." "Well, we did." "Men." "Men." " Would you like some coffee, Mr. Mears?" " Yes, please." " How do you take it?" " Black." "Dad?" "You know what I think." "You still drink coffee." "Mornings only, and I don't recommend it." "Yeah, Eva married this fellow called Weasel Phillips." "He came up to about here on her." "Thin as a heron's leg." "Never made a decent living." "Nobody could figure out why." "They got divorced, but he's still living over there." "Life in a small town." "What's his book about?" "Well, his latest one is about two men." "Not one of those!" " What are you doing in here?" " Nothing." "What's that?" "It's just a piece of paper." "There's nothing on it." "He got a lot of scribbling here, too." "Something about a boy..." "A boy and a house." "'"The house was a monument to evil..." "'"...sitting there all these years..." "'"...holding the essence of evil in its smoldering bones.'"" "Monument?" "Who's monument?" "The Marsten house?" "I don't know." "He stopped in the middle of the sentence." "'"Sitting there all these years..." "'"...holding the essence of evil.'"" "Writes real good." "Thank you for the dinner." "Good to meet you, Mr. Mears." "I'll get you a copy of that book." "Sorry about the peas." "She's done better." "'Bye, Dad." "They liked you." "Well, your father maybe." "My mother doesn't like anyone except Ned Tebbets." "Who's he?" "Someone I've been seeing." "Have been or had been?" "A little of both." "What is he really doing in Salem's Lot?" "Writing a book, he says." "Did he say about what?" "No, he didn't say, and I didn't ask him." "Tell me about Ned Tibet." "Tebbets." "After college?" "New York." "I worked in an ad agency." "I was a junior." "I did layouts mostly and things like that." "You liked it?" "I loved it." "But then something happened." "The agency lost a big account and had to cut back and there I was on the street looking for a job." "It's a cruel city." "Anyway..." "You had to come home." "Retreat." "Sanctuary." "I was all beat up." "Glad to have a little loving care." "How long since your wife died?" "Two years." "Are you writing about that?" "No." "I'm writing about a house." "A house?" "The Marsten house." "The Marsten house?" "I see." "No, I don't see." "Where are we going?" "Well, there is the Del." "The movies in Bangor." "And then there is the lake." "And where do you want to go?" "Let's go to the lake." "Are you uncomfortable with me?" "Why, should I be?" "No, I just have a habit of asking questions." "Well, I have a habit of evading them." "Perfect match." "I like you, Ben." "Modern, aggressive female, partially liberated, states her feelings." "Well." "Does that make you uncomfortable?" "No, it makes me feel good." "How long will you be staying?" "We'll see how the book comes." "Are you a slow writer?" "I'm medium." "I hope it's a long book." "Crockett Realty." "Yes, sir." "Yes." "Yes, sir." "Right away." "I will be right back." "Okay, honey." "Please don't say that." "Someday you will forget." "All right, honey." "I forgot." "Getting warmer!" "It's good of you to come over, Mr. Crockett." "I need your help again." "Always glad to be of assistance." "Yes, I appreciate that." "And as I've told you, you will be amply rewarded." "I'd like you to have your truck at the Portland docks tonight." "7:00 sharp." "At the custom house wharf." "All arrangements have been made." "7:00, custom house." "Two movers will be sufficient, I think." "Two men." "I have a very valuable sideboard that has to be picked up." "It's to be taken to the house." "Do you understand?" "Sideboard taken to house." "And your movers will put it down in the cellar." "They can get in through the outside bulkhead below the kitchen window, as you know." "You won't be there?" "No, I must drive into Boston." "I'll be back tomorrow morning." "And there's just one other thing:" "You will procure four stout padlocks." "Four?" "Four." "Your men will leave the keys for all four locks on the basement table." "When they leave, they will padlock the bulkhead door, the front door the back door, and the shed... garage." "You have that?" "I have it." "Thank you very much, Mr. Crockett." "I'm extremely pleased that I can always call on you." "That you can." "And Mr. Barlow?" "You should be meeting him soon." "Very soon, Mr. Crockett, and I'm sure that you'll find it a pleasure." "1776." "The winds of revolt swept through the township of Jerusalem's Lot soon to be known as Salem's Lot." "Down with the British." "Hurray for freedom." "Men took out their long rifles, kissed their wives and children goodbye and marched off to join George Washington." "Daddy, come back safe." "Daddy, let me come with you." "I'm old enough to fight." "I'll be back." "But not until we've won the right to be free men." "The war was long and bitter." "Some men from Salem's Lot fought at Valley Forge suffering through that long, cold winter." "Others helped gain victory at Saratoga and triumph over Cornwallis." "And when the war ended..." "Where is Daddy?" "Won't he ever come home?" "Yes, Salem's Lot had its share of heroes, living and dead but they had fought for the greatest treasure of all:" "Liberty." "Mr. Berk?" "Are the kids still running the pageant?" "What?" "Are the kids still running the school pageant?" "With a little editorial help from me." "Very little as I remember." "My name is Ben Mears." "You probably don't remember me." "Of course I do." "I've read your books." "I wouldn't have written them if it hadn't been for you." "You just said a very large thing." "I'd like you to explain it to me." "Can we talk about it tonight?" "Sure." "I don't know how you can work here." "It'd scare the hell out of me." "It's kind of nice here, during the day." "It's pretty and quiet, you know." "Too quiet." "Especially at night." "I'm hardly ever here at night." "They are." "What's up?" "I need a strong back tonight." "Want to make $50?" "$50?" "That's for two of you." "You're going to need another strong back." "What about you?" "Me?" "I've got something else planned for tonight." "Hey there, Teacher." "Can I carry your books for you?" "Oh, sorry." "No, that's all right." "Do you have your car with you?" "No, I came by to see Jason Berk." "Told me to wait around." "Take a walk home." "I won't do it again." "Hey, come on." "Will you wait for me here, please?" "Get in." "No." "You have no right to do this." "You said you loved me." "You said it." "That was a hundred years ago." "It has nothing to do with him." "So you were doing something up at the lake." "Oh, please." "What time do you think you'll get home, honey?" "With all the junking around, locking up..." "Those things take five, six hours." "Be back midnight or after." "You stay away from her, you hear?" "I'll try." "Well, you try real hard." "She's all mine." "Right, honey?" "You big bad bear." "Go on." "He was just kidding." "Look, if he suspected anything, would he kid?" "You shouldn't leave your truck double-parked like this." "Would you want me to go to Portland without saying goodbye to Bonnie?" "What's in Portland?" "I've got to make a pickup." "For him." "Custom wharf." "Do you know what it is?" "A lot of old junk from Europe, I guess." "I don't know why anybody would want to open an antique shop here." "You?" "They know what they're doing." "Don't leave the truck sitting here like this." "I might have to ticket you." "I'll be back to get you." "Come on now, Faithful." "Just calm down." "I'll be back soon." "Go play with the people." "I wouldn't leave a dog in there." "He's all right." "He'll go to sleep in a while." "He's a good old dog." "Faithful, come on." "I said I'd be back soon." "Is that dog going to whine all night?" "He'll be all right." " You know where to go, what to do?" " Sure." "Leave the truck here when you get back." "I'll pick it up in the morning." "You bet." "Shut up!" "What's this all about anyway?" "You got any idea?" "He wants Boom-Boom Bonnie to think he's going to Portland." "As a matter of fact, Crockett himself set up this trip." "Larry Crockett?" "What's he got to do with this?" "Larry Crockett and Boom-Boom Bonnie?" "What's he going to do?" "What would you do if you had a 12-gauge sitting in your garage?" "Have a drink?" "I don't mind." "Canadian on the rocks." "Got us a native, huh?" "That's what he is." "The Return of the Native." "Or is it the Prodigal Son?" "What did you say was in this?" "A sideboard." "Sideboard." "It's funny." "This crate feels very cold." "It's been sitting out here." "I don't like it." "I mean, it's really strange." "It feels cold." "You want to pry it open?" "You want to pry it open?" "Let's move it out, fellows." "All right, we're going." " Do you want to pry it open?" " No." "Let's just get it to the Marsten place." "Get rid of it." "Hell of a way to make $50." "It's cold in here." "Yeah." "It sure is." "It shouldn't be." "It's a warm night." "Turn on the heater." "That thing is moving." "What thing?" "Stop the truck." " We should open that thing up." " We can't do that." "Something is wrong." "It's getting cold in here." "Let's just get it delivered." "I want to open it." "Come on." "Just let me drive, will you?" "Honey, it's safe." "Oh, Tiger, I'm going to lose respect for you." "No." "I don't want to go to a motel again." "I want you right here in my own little bed." "It's more exciting to me that way." "No." "No, I'm not going to talk like that on the phone." "You just get over here and I'll whisper things in your ear that will make your hair stand up." "You get here, or else." "'"1951." "A fire started in the old mill." "'"It spread rapidly on both sides of Griffin Road..." "'"...and burned toward the Marsten house on Pabscuitti Hill." "'"1951." "A fire started in the old mill." "'"It spread rapidly on both sides of Griffin Road..." "'"...and burned toward the Marsten house on Pabscuitti Hill." "'"The wind turned the fire back toward town." "'"Volunteer fire companies came from all... '"" "Mark!" "Whatever are you doing?" "Rehearsing for the pageant." "Keep it down." "Your father's trying to figure his quarterly taxes." "All right." "Mother, Danny and Ralphie Glick are coming over after they finish their homework." "We'll rehearse." "Have you finished your homework?" "Yes, a long time ago." "All right." "Just as long as you and the Glick boys don't disturb your father." "'"...the Marsten house on Pabscuitti Hill." "'"The wind turned the fire back toward town." "'"Volunteer fire companies came from all over the county..." "'"...to help fight the threatening flames.'"" "Bright boy, Mark Petrie." "Wrote most of the pageant this year, just as you did." "Both talented." "Another writer." "Very possibly." "I'd certainly be proud if I'd helped develop two authors." "It will make a lifetime of teaching worthwhile." "You got me started." "You had the gift." "I wanted the opportunity to continue, but you moved away." "Let's see, you were..." "Eleven." "Tell me, why the Marsten house?" "I remember that figured in your pageant, too." "Maybe because my aunt worked there." "Did she ever tell you anything about what went on inside the house?" "No, never." "Or Hubie Marsten?" "No, she never talked about him." "But you remember that even then that house had a reputation for being a haunted house." "Every town has one." "I went up there once." "On a dare." "You know how kids are." "I was sweating scared." "I sneaked around." "Got into the house." "What did you see?" "Ghosts, everything." "Every sound, every shadow." "I'm not sure what I saw." "I think I saw Hubie Marsten hanging by his neck." "His face green, his eyes puffed shut his hands livid." "It was ghastly." "And then he opened his eyes and he looked at me." "He looked at me and I took off and I ran." "I ran as fast as I could." "I've never forgotten that." "And there was something." "A feeling of..." "Jason, do you believe a thing can be inherently evil?" "I've seen trees that look like tortured spirits." "A house." "The Marsten house for instance." "Can it be evil in its stone foundations, in its wooden beams?" "In the glass of its windows?" "In the plaster of its ceilings?" "Evil." "The man who built that house..." "Yeah, Joshua Von." "...killed his wife and a servant and hanged himself in his bedroom closet." "Hubie Marsten's sister and wife died mysteriously." "Rumors of poison, never proved." "Then he came here." "And the young boys in the area started to disappear." "Some people suspected Hubie Marsten, but it was never proved." "Never proved." "And now we have a Mr. Straker." "And a Mr. Barlow." "Whom no one has ever seen." "And you think..." "I think that an evil house attracts evil men." "But if a house attracts evil men..." "Why did it attract me?" "It is moving." "Look at it!" "We're almost there." "Now shut up." "Shut up!" "What's this one?" "It's a ghoul." "Girl?" "Ghoul." "Like in school." "We don't have anybody like that in our school." "Mr. Peterson." "What is a ghoul?" "A ghoul is an evil demon who preys on corpses feeds on human beings, robs graves." "Things like that." "Why are you so hung up on this stuff?" "I don't know, I just am." "It's weird." "Let's try this." "Danny, Ralphie, your mom called." "Wants you home." "Okay, Mr. Petrie." "We know our lines okay, don't we?" "Most of them." "Why don't you come over to our house tomorrow night, okay?" " Okay, Mr. Petrie?" " Sure." " See you later." " Bye-bye." "See you." "Good night, boys." "Mark, when are you going to outgrow all this?" "Soon, I guess." "Well, I'd better fix this." "Well?" "Look." "The road." "The road, nothing." "It sure is cold." "Come on, let's get it done." "It's freezing!" "I'm telling you, it's not natural." "It just ain't natural." "We've got to get it out." "Just grab ahold." "Let's get it done." "What was that?" "It's just an owl." "I've never heard one before." "Sure you have." "Hundreds of times." "Millions." "We shouldn't have gone through the woods." "It's a shortcut." "Look, you can even see the lights of Jordan Avenue." "See them?" "No." "Hey, I'm going." "Wait." "Danny, wait!" "Hey, I want to know." "Come on." "Come on." "I want to pry it open." "We can't." "He'll hear." "Who?" "Him." "Straker." "Well, I want to do it anyway." "I'll get something from the truck." "Listen." "You hear that?" "Somebody's up there." "There's somebody up there." "Rats probably." "You heard rats." "It was someone." "Let's split." "The padlocks." "We forgot to padlock..." "Throw them down there." "Here are the keys, throw them down too." "Close the doors." "Did you happen to notice the time when the boys left?" "You did?" "They should have been here a half hour ago." "Ask Mark if the boys said anything to him." "You know how kids are." "Henry!" "Danny, what happened?" "What happened, Son?" "Where's Ralphie?" "Where's your brother?" "I don't know." "Get Dr. Norton." "See ya." "Yeah." "Faithful." "Here, boy." "Is that better?" "It's better here, isn't it?" "Well, well, well." "I guess I owe Weasel Phillips a case of beer after all." "Cully, look, this isn't..." "He broke in." "He tried to rape me." "He was?" "He broke in." "A rapist." "Is that it?" "I'll take care of him." "I didn't." "Shut up, rapist!" "Get up!" "Out of the bed." "Out of the bed!" "Out!" "Get up." "Shut up!" "Please don't do anything." "You don't want to go to jail, do you?" "I'm not going to jail for killing the man who raped my wife." "That is what he did, isn't it, honey?" "Yes." "No!" "She invited me, I swear." "You invited him?" "No!" "He called me and he said that he had to talk to me and..." "So you invited him over?" "Cully, no." "Cully, you don't want to go to jail for the rest of your life for what is a lie." "Come here." "Come on." "Come in the living room." "We've got to talk this over." "Right, let's talk it over." "We'll go in the living room and we'll talk it over." "And then I'm coming back, hear me?" "Come on, Larry." "In the living room." "Man-to-man stuff." "I like your shorts." "You must too, keeping them on like that." "Where did you get them?" "Boston." "They sure look good on you." "Stay right there, puss." "Turn around, Larry." "Look, I know how this must look to you." "I can understand how upset you are but let me explain what happened." "Grab the barrel, Larry." "The barrel." "Grab the barrel." "Easy!" "Very easy." "That's it." "Now, this shotgun's got a five-pound pull on it and I've got about three on it now." "Good boy." "Now hold it up in front of your face." "That's it." "Right in front." "That's it." "Right in front." "Careful." "You move that barrel, Larry, and I'll blow you away." "Good." "Just hold it, Larry." "Hold it steady." "Steady, Larry." "Don't move!" "Don't move!" "There." "You see how much self-control you can have?" "It's terrific." "You're doing fine, Larry." "Just fine." "Close your eyes, Larry." "Close them." "Here I come, puss." "Here comes big bad bear." "I know you're going to say, '"Don't make a big thing out of this.'"" "No, I wasn't going to say that." "Maybe '"Look, I can't make any commitments right now.'"" "I wasn't going to say that either." "What were you going to say?" "I wasn't going to say anything." "I told you, I ask too many questions." "And I don't give enough answers." "Maybe we talk too much." "Maybe we do." "Sounds like a traffic jam." "Maybe they saw our car." "I'm going to take a look." "Crockett?" "You heard another car drive off." "Then?" "Car or truck." "Which one?" "I don't know." "You don't know." "Do you?" "No." "Where were you people?" "We were over there." "Over there?" "Parkins?" "Come here, will you?" "You heard two cars." "Or a car and a truck." "One drove off, and then?" "One more thing." "I think I heard someone get out of one car." "I'm only supposing that because I didn't see it." "And get in the other car, or truck." "That's what I think." "That's what you think." "Quite a night, huh?" "First the kid disappears, then this." "You're not leaving Salem's Lot, are you?" "I'm not leaving." "Don't." "It's late." "Where are you going?" "To the hospital." "Danny Glick has collapsed." "What?" "Ralphie Glick, Danny and Larry Crockett all in one night." "Quiet little town of Salem's Lot." "It's only all just happened since..." "Since I came here." "You didn't have anything to do with it." "You didn't even know the Glick boys." "Or Larry Crockett." "I met Larry Crockett." "I did see the boys rehearsing for the school play." "That's not what I'm thinking." "You remember I came here to rent the Marsten house?" "Yeah." "Somehow I..." "I think that my coming here has acted as a kind of catalyst awakening evil in this town." "That's..." "Nonsense." "How is he?" "Danny's never had an attack of asthma, has he?" "No." "His file's with Dr. Goldring." "All right." "I'll get the file from Goldring, but for now..." "Any history of rheumatic fever?" "Danny?" "No." "He's a healthy boy." "No major problems." "Has he had a TB skin test this year?" "TB?" "Danny's got TB?" "No, no." "Marjorie, we're just trying to find out." "He's a healthy boy." "He's athletic." "He's a normal boy." "We want to keep him here for some more tests." "What tests?" "We just don't know yet." "Have you seen my dog?" "No, I ain't seen him." "Have two men cover this area." "Come on, move it." "Let's go." "That's it." "Don't touch that." "Noah, get me an envelope!" "He always wears a black suit." "Who?" "Straker." "Inspector." "How nice of you to drop in." "Plain old constable." "I see you're just about ready to open." "Not quite." "Just about." "Everything in?" "Everything that's important, yes." "Coffee?" "Tea?" "A glass of sherry perhaps?" "No, thanks." "Never drink on duty?" "You are on duty." "I'm always on duty." "That makes me feel safe and snug." "Mr. Barlow arrived yet?" "Mr. Barlow's in New York." "Coming soon?" "Hard to tell." "He may go to Europe on a buying trip." "So, you'll be opening without him?" "If necessary, yes." "Of course." "What's Mr. Barlow's first name, by the way?" "Official question?" "No." "Just curious." "My partner's full name is Kurt Barlow." "Kurt with a '"K.'"" "We've been working together in London and Hamburg." "This is our retirement." "Modest, comfortable." "We're hoping to build a reputation for ourselves in this area." "Perhaps throughout New England." "Do you think that's possible?" "Anything's possible." "How do you like that old house?" "Needs work." "But we have time." "Not bothered by '"yowens'"?" "'"Yowens?" "'"" "Kids." "Local word." "You know how kids like to devil new folks." "No, no." "No children." "No." "We seem to have misplaced one." "Is that so?" "Yes." "Yes, it is so." "The thinking now is that we may not find him." "Not alive." "That's a shame." "Is there anything I can do to help you?" "I don't suppose so." "By the way, what happened to your black suit?" "My black suit?" "The one I always see you wear." "I have two black suits." "They're up at the house." "Am I breaking some town ordinance?" "No." "I'd like to see those suits." "Could we go to the house and get them?" "I'll bring them down tomorrow." "They need cleaning anyway." "Any reason?" "Some." "'Bye." ""Ciao", Constable." ""Ciao"?" ""Ciao." That's a familiar Italian expression meaning '"goodbye.'"" "I didn't know you're Italian." "I'm not." "The word is." "You learn something new every day." "No, it is not a kidnap." "The boy is missing." "Probable foul play." "Yeah, I'd like to check a couple of feelers." "The first is Benjamin Mears." "Writer." "The book is called "Air Dancer"." "And the other one is "Conwey's Daughter"." "No, I haven't read them." "I don't know if many have." "The other two are sort of stapled together." "There is a Richard K. Straker." "No, I don't know what that stands for." "And Kurt, with a '"K,'" Barlow." "S-T-R-A-K-E-R." "B-A-R-L-O-W." "Any connection between Mears and the others?" "That's one of the things I want to find out." "I understand what you're saying, Ben." "I'm not given to unscientific belief, but I will admit that there are many things that science hasn't yet answered." "If ever." "But I can't, for the life of me understand any connection between Crockett's death and the Marsten house." "He rented the house to them." "But he died of a heart attack." " You're sure of that?" " Absolutely." "The autopsy left no doubt whatsoever." "None." "It could've happened at the Marsten house and he was taken to the lake." "Let me tell you, the local gossip leans in a different direction." "All right, what about the Glick boys?" "That could be something else." "What is wrong with Danny Glick?" "We haven't completed our tests yet but it could be, and I'm trusting you to keep this to yourself it could be pernicious anemia." "Coming on overnight?" "We don't know how sudden it is." "You don't really believe that?" "Ready?" "We're going to a movie in Bangor." "Can I say something to you?" "Don't make it too long, Dad." "Now everybody knows that you and Susan were up at the lake." "Yeah." "I want you to know..." "You seem like a pretty nice fellow to me and I think you respect Susan, and I believe she respects herself but you could've been more discreet." "When may I expect them back?" "A couple of days." "No more than that, please." "I'll try." "I don't have to do this, you know." "Understand." "Appreciate it." "I'm under some suspicion?" "Well, yes." "The disappearance of the boy." "Yes." "Because I'm a stranger." "I guess so." "And a little odd." "You know how we are here." "No different from people in small towns all over the world." "I appreciate your candor." "Am I being charged?" "No, but I'd like you to stay around." "I fully intend to." "Now, the suits." "Don't forget." "As soon as Crime Lab..." "FBI." "In Bangor." "And no damage, please." "I want them back in excellent condition." "And cleaned." "I'll see to it." ""Ciao." That's Italian for..." "I remember." "Goodbye, Constable." "Playing hooky?" "No." "It's my hour break of which exactly 26 minutes is left." "I just wanted to say hello." "My father asked you to be discreet." "I didn't tell you that." "No, he did." "And he told me to go ahead and show my feelings." "Yeah, the man contradicts himself." "Well, Dad's a New Englander." "He has been taught one thing, and feels another." "Classic conflict." "I have one too." "I got a phone call this morning." "Ned?" "Not that easy." "From Boston." "A job interview." "They saw my portfolio." "It will only be for two days." "No, thanks." "So it's off to Boston." "It's not that far." "When do you leave?" "Tomorrow after class." "Can you come with me?" "Danny Glick's funeral is tomorrow." "I want to stay for that." "Why?" "I just need to be there." "I wish you weren't going." "Me, too." "I have to." "Where are you staying?" "With a friend." "A girlfriend." "I'll give you the number if you'd like." "Yeah, okay." "It's only an interview." "If I get the job, I wouldn't have to start until June." "That's not so bad, is it?" "Well, I guess it'll have to do." "Let us pray." "'"Lord God, through Your mercy, may those who have lived in faith find eternal peace." "'"Bless this grave and send Your angel to watch over it." "'"As we bury the body of Danny Glick welcome him into Your presence..." "'"...and with Your saints let him rejoice in Your presence forever." "'"We ask this through Christ our Lord." "Amen." "'"Amen." "'"With faith in Jesus Christ, we reverently bring the body of this child..." "'"...to be buried in its human imperfection.'"" "Have plans for tonight?" "More or less." "Susan's gone to Boston." "I heard." "I hope she gets it." "Do you?" "Whatever is best." "Should I believe that?" "Not entirely, but that's what I want to feel." "They found us again." "Another one has found us." "We have to go further." "Not yet." " Mr. Crockett?" " Yes." "My name is Mears." "Ben Mears." "I'm looking for a place to rent." "For how long?" "Six months maybe." "Family?" "No." " Furnished?" " Yes." "I can't think of any." " How about that house on the hill?" " Which house?" "The one as you come into town." "The Marsten house?" "Is that for sale or rent?" "It's sold." "I can't think of anything, not offhand." "You might try Eva Miller's boarding house." "It's real nice." "It's on Railroad Street." "Yeah, I remember." " You remember?" " Thank you very much." "Funny, about the Marsten house." "Vacant over 20 years." "Cully is going to Portland tomorrow." "Good afternoon, Mr. Crockett." "You sure fixed it up." "You think so?" "You like it?" "Fine job." "Sure is different from that doctor's office I sold you." "I'd have to agree with you." "Very tasteful." "Yes?" "Thank you." "Mr. Barlow...?" "Will arrive." "Soon." "A lot of people have been waiting." "For Mr. Barlow." "You know how it is with a small town." "People don't have that much to do." "Yes." "I can assure you that people will find Mr. Barlow well worth the wait." "Especially you, Mr. Crockett." "I've told him how helpful you've been getting us the house and the store." "Yes." "Are you a writer?" "Yes." "What do you write?" "Books." "Have I read any?" "Have you read any books?" "Your books." "I don't know." "How do I get breakfast?" "The kitchen's open to one and all." "Keep your things stored separate." "Do you work at night?" "Sometimes." "You can't work too late..." "I won't." " Well, I hope you like it." " I'm sure I will." "How come you came here?" "The real-estate man sent me." "No, I meant to Salem's Lot." "Strangers don't usually come here this time of year." "Not yet." "I'm not a stranger." "That's no way to leave a book." "A book by Benjamin." "You might rip the binding." "It is you, isn't it?" "It is you." "People ought to respect a book." "Even if it isn't especially well-written." "It's well-written." "Do you mind if I sit down?" "No, not at all." "Why did you call it "Air Dancer"?" "Did you read the book?" "No, not all of it." "In fact, I was just getting into it." "In fact..." "You got bored." "No, not in fact." "I wanted to finish this first." "I'm going to read it." "You don't have to." "What's your name?" "Susan." "Norton." "I teach art at Holly Elementary." "My father's a doctor in town." "You know, the reason that I actually took your book out of the library is because I read your other one." "Title?" "I don't remember." "Do you want to have some dinner?" "You got a boyfriend." "Well, not exactly." "It says here you're married, no children." "Still married?" "Still no children?" "She died." "I've got no children." "Got some memories." "Some good and some not so good." "You didn't answer my question." "Which one?" "Dinner." "I'd love to." "Good evening." "Good night." "See you tomorrow." "And tomorrow night." "You're sure?" "You're absolutely sure?" "He's got to make a delivery and a pickup." "Besides, he always calls." "You know that." "Good night, honey." "What are you doing out here, Weasel?" "Sitting." "Spying more like, huh?" "Oh, no, Parkins." "Cully set you to it?" "No." "Better not." "That writer who moved into Eva's..." "Right down the hall." "I heard." "Can you keep an eye on him?" "What's he done?" "Keep your eye on him and your mouth shut." "Got that?" "What's he done?" "Murdered 18 people." "Eighteen people!" "Every one of them an old man who kept asking:" "'"What's he done?" "'"" "Keep an eye on him for me." "Hi, honey." "What are you watching?" "Nothing." "You want to stay home tonight?" "Sure, why not?" "Well, don't get drunk." "I want some fun in tonight." "You know what happens when you drink too much." "I'm gonna get something out of the freezer." "Twenty minutes?" "Bring me a beer." "Thank you." "So, you're staying at Eva Miller's." "I'll tell you, she was quite a dish." "We kids used to watch her sashaying down the street." "Well, we did." "Men." "Men." " Would you like some coffee, Mr. Mears?" " Yes, please." " How do you take it?" " Black." "Dad?" "You know what I think." "You still drink coffee." "Mornings only, and I don't recommend it." "Yeah, Eva married this fellow called Weasel Phillips." "He came up to about here on her." "Thin as a heron's leg." "Never made a decent living." "Nobody could figure out why." "They got divorced, but he's still living over there." "Life in a small town." "What's his book about?" "Well, his latest one is about two men." "Not one of those!" " What are you doing in here?" " Nothing." "What's that?" "It's just a piece of paper." "There's nothing on it." "He got a lot of scribbling here, too." "Something about a boy..." "A boy and a house." "'"The house was a monument to evil..." "'"...sitting there all these years..." "'"...holding the essence of evil in its smoldering bones.'"" "Monument?" "Who's monument?" "The Marsten house?" "I don't know." "He stopped in the middle of the sentence." "'"Sitting there all these years..." "'"...holding the essence of evil.'"" "Writes real good." "Thank you for the dinner." "Good to meet you, Mr. Mears." "I'll get you a copy of that book." "Sorry about the peas." "She's done better." "'Bye, Dad." "They liked you." "Well, your father maybe." "My mother doesn't like anyone except Ned Tebbets." "Who's he?" "Someone I've been seeing." "Have been or had been?" "A little of both." "What is he really doing in Salem's Lot?" "Writing a book, he says." "Did he say about what?" "No, he didn't say, and I didn't ask him." "Tell me about Ned Tibet." "Tebbets." "After college?" "New York." "I worked in an ad agency." "I was a junior." "I did layouts mostly and things like that." "You liked it?" "I loved it." "But then something happened." "The agency lost a big account and had to cut back and there I was on the street looking for a job." "It's a cruel city." "Anyway..." "You had to come home." "Retreat." "Sanctuary." "I was all beat up." "Glad to have a little loving care." "How long since your wife died?" "Two years." "Are you writing about that?" "No." "I'm writing about a house." "A house?" "The Marsten house." "The Marsten house?" "I see." "No, I don't see." "Where are we going?" "Well, there is the Del." "The movies in Bangor." "And then there is the lake." "And where do you want to go?" "Let's go to the lake." "Are you uncomfortable with me?" "Why, should I be?" "No, I just have a habit of asking questions." "Well, I have a habit of evading them." "Perfect match." "I like you, Ben." "Modern, aggressive female, partially liberated, states her feelings." "Well." "Does that make you uncomfortable?" "No, it makes me feel good." "How long will you be staying?" "We'll see how the book comes." "Are you a slow writer?" "I'm medium." "I hope it's a long book." "Crockett Realty." "Yes, sir." "Yes." "Yes, sir." "Right away." "I will be right back." "Okay, honey." "Please don't say that." "Someday you will forget." "All right, honey." "I forgot." "Getting warmer!" "It's good of you to come over, Mr. Crockett." "I need your help again." "Always glad to be of assistance." "Yes, I appreciate that." "And as I've told you, you will be amply rewarded." "I'd like you to have your truck at the Portland docks tonight." "7:00 sharp." "At the custom house wharf." "All arrangements have been made." "7:00, custom house." "Two movers will be sufficient, I think." "Two men." "I have a very valuable sideboard that has to be picked up." "It's to be taken to the house." "Do you understand?" "Sideboard taken to house." "And your movers will put it down in the cellar." "They can get in through the outside bulkhead below the kitchen window, as you know." "You won't be there?" "No, I must drive into Boston." "I'll be back tomorrow morning." "And there's just one other thing:" "You will procure four stout padlocks." "Four?" "Four." "Your men will leave the keys for all four locks on the basement table." "When they leave, they will padlock the bulkhead door, the front door the back door, and the shed... garage." "You have that?" "I have it." "Thank you very much, Mr. Crockett." "I'm extremely pleased that I can always call on you." "That you can." "And Mr. Barlow?" "You should be meeting him soon." "Very soon, Mr. Crockett, and I'm sure that you'll find it a pleasure." "1776." "The winds of revolt swept through the township of Jerusalem's Lot soon to be known as Salem's Lot." "Down with the British." "Hurray for freedom." "Men took out their long rifles, kissed their wives and children goodbye and marched off to join George Washington." "Daddy, come back safe." "Daddy, let me come with you." "I'm old enough to fight." "I'll be back." "But not until we've won the right to be free men." "The war was long and bitter." "Some men from Salem's Lot fought at Valley Forge suffering through that long, cold winter." "Others helped gain victory at Saratoga and triumph over Cornwallis." "And when the war ended..." "Where is Daddy?" "Won't he ever come home?" "Yes, Salem's Lot had its share of heroes, living and dead but they had fought for the greatest treasure of all:" "Liberty." "Mr. Berk?" "Are the kids still running the pageant?" "What?" "Are the kids still running the school pageant?" "With a little editorial help from me." "Very little as I remember." "My name is Ben Mears." "You probably don't remember me." "Of course I do." "I've read your books." "I wouldn't have written them if it hadn't been for you." "You just said a very large thing." "I'd like you to explain it to me." "Can we talk about it tonight?" "Sure." "I don't know how you can work here." "It'd scare the hell out of me." "It's kind of nice here, during the day." "It's pretty and quiet, you know." "Too quiet." "Especially at night." "I'm hardly ever here at night." "They are." "What's up?" "I need a strong back tonight." "Want to make $50?" "$50?" "That's for two of you." "You're going to need another strong back." "What about you?" "Me?" "I've got something else planned for tonight." "Hey there, Teacher." "Can I carry your books for you?" "Oh, sorry." "No, that's all right." "Do you have your car with you?" "No, I came by to see Jason Berk." "Told me to wait around." "Take a walk home." "I won't do it again." "Hey, come on." "Will you wait for me here, please?" "Get in." "No." "You have no right to do this." "You said you loved me." "You said it." "That was a hundred years ago." "It has nothing to do with him." "So you were doing something up at the lake." "Oh, please." "What time do you think you'll get home, honey?" "With all the junking around, locking up..." "Those things take five, six hours." "Be back midnight or after." "You stay away from her, you hear?" "I'll try." "Well, you try real hard." "She's all mine." "Right, honey?" "You big bad bear." "Go on." "He was just kidding." "Look, if he suspected anything, would he kid?" "You shouldn't leave your truck double-parked like this." "Would you want me to go to Portland without saying goodbye to Bonnie?" "What's in Portland?" "I've got to make a pickup." "For him." "Custom wharf." "Do you know what it is?" "A lot of old junk from Europe, I guess." "I don't know why anybody would want to open an antique shop here." "You?" "They know what they're doing." "Don't leave the truck sitting here like this." "I might have to ticket you." "I'll be back to get you." "Come on now, Faithful." "Just calm down." "I'll be back soon." "Go play with the people." "I wouldn't leave a dog in there." "He's all right." "He'll go to sleep in a while." "He's a good old dog." "Faithful, come on." "I said I'd be back soon." "Is that dog going to whine all night?" "He'll be all right." " You know where to go, what to do?" " Sure." "Leave the truck here when you get back." "I'll pick it up in the morning." "You bet." "Shut up!" "What's this all about anyway?" "You got any idea?" "He wants Boom-Boom Bonnie to think he's going to Portland." "As a matter of fact, Crockett himself set up this trip." "Larry Crockett?" "What's he got to do with this?" "Larry Crockett and Boom-Boom Bonnie?" "What's he going to do?" "What would you do if you had a 12-gauge sitting in your garage?" "Have a drink?" "I don't mind." "Canadian on the rocks." "Got us a native, huh?" "That's what he is." "The Return of the Native." "Or is it the Prodigal Son?" "What did you say was in this?" "A sideboard." "Sideboard." "It's funny." "This crate feels very cold." "It's been sitting out here." "I don't like it." "I mean, it's really strange." "It feels cold." "You want to pry it open?" "You want to pry it open?" "Let's move it out, fellows." "All right, we're going." " Do you want to pry it open?" " No." "Let's just get it to the Marsten place." "Get rid of it." "Hell of a way to make $50." "It's cold in here." "Yeah." "It sure is." "It shouldn't be." "It's a warm night." "Turn on the heater." "That thing is moving." "What thing?" "Stop the truck." " We should open that thing up." " We can't do that." "Something is wrong." "It's getting cold in here." "Let's just get it delivered." "I want to open it." "Come on." "Just let me drive, will you?" "Honey, it's safe." "Oh, Tiger, I'm going to lose respect for you." "No." "I don't want to go to a motel again." "I want you right here in my own little bed." "It's more exciting to me that way." "No." "No, I'm not going to talk like that on the phone." "You just get over here and I'll whisper things in your ear that will make your hair stand up." "You get here, or else." "'"1951." "A fire started in the old mill." "'"It spread rapidly on both sides of Griffin Road..." "'"...and burned toward the Marsten house on Pabscuitti Hill." "'"1951." "A fire started in the old mill." "'"It spread rapidly on both sides of Griffin Road..." "'"...and burned toward the Marsten house on Pabscuitti Hill." "'"The wind turned the fire back toward town." "'"Volunteer fire companies came from all... '"" "Mark!" "Whatever are you doing?" "Rehearsing for the pageant." "Keep it down." "Your father's trying to figure his quarterly taxes." "All right." "Mother, Danny and Ralphie Glick are coming over after they finish their homework." "We'll rehearse." "Have you finished your homework?" "Yes, a long time ago." "All right." "Just as long as you and the Glick boys don't disturb your father." "'"...the Marsten house on Pabscuitti Hill." "'"The wind turned the fire back toward town." "'"Volunteer fire companies came from all over the county..." "'"...to help fight the threatening flames.'"" "Bright boy, Mark Petrie." "Wrote most of the pageant this year, just as you did." "Both talented." "Another writer." "Very possibly." "I'd certainly be proud if I'd helped develop two authors." "It will make a lifetime of teaching worthwhile." "You got me started." "You had the gift." "I wanted the opportunity to continue, but you moved away." "Let's see, you were..." "Eleven." "Tell me, why the Marsten house?" "I remember that figured in your pageant, too." "Maybe because my aunt worked there." "Did she ever tell you anything about what went on inside the house?" "No, never." "Or Hubie Marsten?" "No, she never talked about him." "But you remember that even then that house had a reputation for being a haunted house." "Every town has one." "I went up there once." "On a dare." "You know how kids are." "I was sweating scared." "I sneaked around." "Got into the house." "What did you see?" "Ghosts, everything." "Every sound, every shadow." "I'm not sure what I saw." "I think I saw Hubie Marsten hanging by his neck." "His face green, his eyes puffed shut his hands livid." "It was ghastly." "And then he opened his eyes and he looked at me." "He looked at me and I took off and I ran." "I ran as fast as I could." "I've never forgotten that." "And there was something." "A feeling of..." "Jason, do you believe a thing can be inherently evil?" "I've seen trees that look like tortured spirits." "A house." "The Marsten house for instance." "Can it be evil in its stone foundations, in its wooden beams?" "In the glass of its windows?" "In the plaster of its ceilings?" "Evil." "The man who built that house..." "Yeah, Joshua Von." "...killed his wife and a servant and hanged himself in his bedroom closet." "Hubie Marsten's sister and wife died mysteriously." "Rumors of poison, never proved." "Then he came here." "And the young boys in the area started to disappear." "Some people suspected Hubie Marsten, but it was never proved." "Never proved." "And now we have a Mr. Straker." "And a Mr. Barlow." "Whom no one has ever seen." "And you think..." "I think that an evil house attracts evil men." "But if a house attracts evil men..." "Why did it attract me?" "It is moving." "Look at it!" "We're almost there." "Now shut up." "Shut up!" "What's this one?" "It's a ghoul." "Girl?" "Ghoul." "Like in school." "We don't have anybody like that in our school." "Mr. Peterson." "What is a ghoul?" "A ghoul is an evil demon who preys on corpses feeds on human beings, robs graves." "Things like that." "Why are you so hung up on this stuff?" "I don't know, I just am." "It's weird." "Let's try this." "Danny, Ralphie, your mom called." "Wants you home." "Okay, Mr. Petrie." "We know our lines okay, don't we?" "Most of them." "Why don't you come over to our house tomorrow night, okay?" " Okay, Mr. Petrie?" " Sure." " See you later." " Bye-bye." "See you." "Good night, boys." "Mark, when are you going to outgrow all this?" "Soon, I guess." "Well, I'd better fix this." "Well?" "Look." "The road." "The road, nothing." "It sure is cold." "Come on, let's get it done." "It's freezing!" "I'm telling you, it's not natural." "It just ain't natural." "We've got to get it out." "Just grab ahold." "Let's get it done." "What was that?" "It's just an owl." "I've never heard one before." "Sure you have." "Hundreds of times." "Millions." "We shouldn't have gone through the woods." "It's a shortcut." "Look, you can even see the lights of Jordan Avenue." "See them?" "No." "Hey, I'm going." "Wait." "Danny, wait!" "Hey, I want to know." "Come on." "Come on." "I want to pry it open." "We can't." "He'll hear." "Who?" "Him." "Straker." "Well, I want to do it anyway." "I'll get something from the truck." "Listen." "You hear that?" "Somebody's up there." "There's somebody up there." "Rats probably." "You heard rats." "It was someone." "Let's split." "The padlocks." "We forgot to padlock..." "Throw them down there." "Here are the keys, throw them down too." "Close the doors." "Did you happen to notice the time when the boys left?" "You did?" "They should have been here a half hour ago." "Ask Mark if the boys said anything to him." "You know how kids are." "Henry!" "Danny, what happened?" "What happened, Son?" "Where's Ralphie?" "Where's your brother?" "I don't know." "Get Dr. Norton." "See ya." "Yeah." "Faithful." "Here, boy." "Is that better?" "It's better here, isn't it?" "Well, well, well." "I guess I owe Weasel Phillips a case of beer after all." "Cully, look, this isn't..." "He broke in." "He tried to rape me." "He was?" "He broke in." "A rapist." "Is that it?" "I'll take care of him." "I didn't." "Shut up, rapist!" "Get up!" "Out of the bed." "Out of the bed!" "Out!" "Get up." "Shut up!" "Please don't do anything." "You don't want to go to jail, do you?" "I'm not going to jail for killing the man who raped my wife." "That is what he did, isn't it, honey?" "Yes." "No!" "She invited me, I swear." "You invited him?" "No!" "He called me and he said that he had to talk to me and..." "So you invited him over?" "Cully, no." "Cully, you don't want to go to jail for the rest of your life for what is a lie." "Come here." "Come on." "Come in the living room." "We've got to talk this over." "Right, let's talk it over." "We'll go in the living room and we'll talk it over." "And then I'm coming back, hear me?" "Come on, Larry." "In the living room." "Man-to-man stuff." "I like your shorts." "You must too, keeping them on like that." "Where did you get them?" "Boston." "They sure look good on you." "Stay right there, puss." "Turn around, Larry." "Look, I know how this must look to you." "I can understand how upset you are but let me explain what happened." "Grab the barrel, Larry." "The barrel." "Grab the barrel." "Easy!" "Very easy." "That's it." "Now, this shotgun's got a five-pound pull on it and I've got about three on it now." "Good boy." "Now hold it up in front of your face." "That's it." "Right in front." "That's it." "Right in front." "Careful." "You move that barrel, Larry, and I'll blow you away." "Good." "Just hold it, Larry." "Hold it steady." "Steady, Larry." "Don't move!" "Don't move!" "There." "You see how much self-control you can have?" "It's terrific." "You're doing fine, Larry." "Just fine." "Close your eyes, Larry." "Close them." "Here I come, puss." "Here comes big bad bear." "I know you're going to say, '"Don't make a big thing out of this.'"" "No, I wasn't going to say that." "Maybe '"Look, I can't make any commitments right now.'"" "I wasn't going to say that either." "What were you going to say?" "I wasn't going to say anything." "I told you, I ask too many questions." "And I don't give enough answers." "Maybe we talk too much." "Maybe we do." "Sounds like a traffic jam." "Maybe they saw our car." "I'm going to take a look." "Crockett?" "You heard another car drive off." "Then?" "Car or truck." "Which one?" "I don't know." "You don't know." "Do you?" "No." "Where were you people?" "We were over there." "Over there?" "Parkins?" "Come here, will you?" "You heard two cars." "Or a car and a truck." "One drove off, and then?" "One more thing." "I think I heard someone get out of one car." "I'm only supposing that because I didn't see it." "And get in the other car, or truck." "That's what I think." "That's what you think." "Quite a night, huh?" "First the kid disappears, then this." "You're not leaving Salem's Lot, are you?" "I'm not leaving." "Don't." "It's late." "Where are you going?" "To the hospital." "Danny Glick has collapsed." "What?" "Ralphie Glick, Danny and Larry Crockett all in one night." "Quiet little town of Salem's Lot." "It's only all just happened since..." "Since I came here." "You didn't have anything to do with it." "You didn't even know the Glick boys." "Or Larry Crockett." "I met Larry Crockett." "I did see the boys rehearsing for the school play." "That's not what I'm thinking." "You remember I came here to rent the Marsten house?" "Yeah." "Somehow I..." "I think that my coming here has acted as a kind of catalyst awakening evil in this town." "That's..." "Nonsense." "How is he?" "Danny's never had an attack of asthma, has he?" "No." "His file's with Dr. Goldring." "All right." "I'll get the file from Goldring, but for now..." "Any history of rheumatic fever?" "Danny?" "No." "He's a healthy boy." "No major problems." "Has he had a TB skin test this year?" "TB?" "Danny's got TB?" "No, no." "Marjorie, we're just trying to find out." "He's a healthy boy." "He's athletic." "He's a normal boy." "We want to keep him here for some more tests." "What tests?" "We just don't know yet." "Have you seen my dog?" "No, I ain't seen him." "Have two men cover this area." "Come on, move it." "Let's go." "That's it." "Don't touch that." "Noah, get me an envelope!" "He always wears a black suit." "Who?" "Straker." "Inspector." "How nice of you to drop in." "Plain old constable." "I see you're just about ready to open." "Not quite." "Just about." "Everything in?" "Everything that's important, yes." "Coffee?" "Tea?" "A glass of sherry perhaps?" "No, thanks." "Never drink on duty?" "You are on duty." "I'm always on duty." "That makes me feel safe and snug." "Mr. Barlow arrived yet?" "Mr. Barlow's in New York." "Coming soon?" "Hard to tell." "He may go to Europe on a buying trip." "So, you'll be opening without him?" "If necessary, yes." "Of course." "What's Mr. Barlow's first name, by the way?" "Official question?" "No." "Just curious." "My partner's full name is Kurt Barlow." "Kurt with a '"K.'"" "We've been working together in London and Hamburg." "This is our retirement." "Modest, comfortable." "We're hoping to build a reputation for ourselves in this area." "Perhaps throughout New England." "Do you think that's possible?" "Anything's possible." "How do you like that old house?" "Needs work." "But we have time." "Not bothered by '"yowens'"?" "'"Yowens?" "'"" "Kids." "Local word." "You know how kids like to devil new folks." "No, no." "No children." "No." "We seem to have misplaced one." "Is that so?" "Yes." "Yes, it is so." "The thinking now is that we may not find him." "Not alive." "That's a shame." "Is there anything I can do to help you?" "I don't suppose so." "By the way, what happened to your black suit?" "My black suit?" "The one I always see you wear." "I have two black suits." "They're up at the house." "Am I breaking some town ordinance?" "No." "I'd like to see those suits." "Could we go to the house and get them?" "I'll bring them down tomorrow." "They need cleaning anyway." "Any reason?" "Some." "'Bye." ""Ciao", Constable." ""Ciao"?" ""Ciao." That's a familiar Italian expression meaning '"goodbye.'"" "I didn't know you're Italian." "I'm not." "The word is." "You learn something new every day." "No, it is not a kidnap." "The boy is missing." "Probable foul play." "Yeah, I'd like to check a couple of feelers." "The first is Benjamin Mears." "Writer." "The book is called "Air Dancer"." "And the other one is "Conwey's Daughter"." "No, I haven't read them." "I don't know if many have." "The other two are sort of stapled together." "There is a Richard K. Straker." "No, I don't know what that stands for." "And Kurt, with a '"K,'" Barlow." "S-T-R-A-K-E-R." "B-A-R-L-O-W." "Any connection between Mears and the others?" "That's one of the things I want to find out." "I understand what you're saying, Ben." "I'm not given to unscientific belief, but I will admit that there are many things that science hasn't yet answered." "If ever." "But I can't, for the life of me understand any connection between Crockett's death and the Marsten house." "He rented the house to them." "But he died of a heart attack." " You're sure of that?" " Absolutely." "The autopsy left no doubt whatsoever." "None." "It could've happened at the Marsten house and he was taken to the lake." "Let me tell you, the local gossip leans in a different direction." "All right, what about the Glick boys?" "That could be something else." "What is wrong with Danny Glick?" "We haven't completed our tests yet but it could be, and I'm trusting you to keep this to yourself it could be pernicious anemia." "Coming on overnight?" "We don't know how sudden it is." "You don't really believe that?" "Ready?" "We're going to a movie in Bangor." "Can I say something to you?" "Don't make it too long, Dad." "Now everybody knows that you and Susan were up at the lake." "Yeah." "I want you to know..." "You seem like a pretty nice fellow to me and I think you respect Susan, and I believe she respects herself but you could've been more discreet." "When may I expect them back?" "A couple of days." "No more than that, please." "I'll try." "I don't have to do this, you know." "Understand." "Appreciate it." "I'm under some suspicion?" "Well, yes." "The disappearance of the boy." "Yes." "Because I'm a stranger." "I guess so." "And a little odd." "You know how we are here." "No different from people in small towns all over the world." "I appreciate your candor." "Am I being charged?" "No, but I'd like you to stay around." "I fully intend to." "Now, the suits." "Don't forget." "As soon as Crime Lab..." "FBI." "In Bangor." "And no damage, please." "I want them back in excellent condition." "And cleaned." "I'll see to it." ""Ciao." That's Italian for..." "I remember." "Goodbye, Constable." "Playing hooky?" "No." "It's my hour break of which exactly 26 minutes is left." "I just wanted to say hello." "My father asked you to be discreet." "I didn't tell you that." "No, he did." "And he told me to go ahead and show my feelings." "Yeah, the man contradicts himself." "Well, Dad's a New Englander." "He has been taught one thing, and feels another." "Classic conflict." "I have one too." "I got a phone call this morning." "Ned?" "Not that easy." "From Boston." "A job interview." "They saw my portfolio." "It will only be for two days." "No, thanks." "So it's off to Boston." "It's not that far." "When do you leave?" "Tomorrow after class." "Can you come with me?" "Danny Glick's funeral is tomorrow." "I want to stay for that." "Why?" "I just need to be there." "I wish you weren't going." "Me, too." "I have to." "Where are you staying?" "With a friend." "A girlfriend." "I'll give you the number if you'd like." "Yeah, okay." "It's only an interview." "If I get the job, I wouldn't have to start until June." "That's not so bad, is it?" "Well, I guess it'll have to do." "Let us pray." "'"Lord God, through Your mercy, may those who have lived in faith find eternal peace." "'"Bless this grave and send Your angel to watch over it." "'"As we bury the body of Danny Glick welcome him into Your presence..." "'"...and with Your saints let him rejoice in Your presence forever." "'"We ask this through Christ our Lord." "Amen." "'"Amen." "'"With faith in Jesus Christ, we reverently bring the body of this child..." "'"...to be buried in its human imperfection.'"" "Have plans for tonight?" "More or less." "Susan's gone to Boston." "I heard." "I hope she gets it." "Do you?" "Whatever is best." "Should I believe that?" "Not entirely, but that's what I want to feel."