“Don’t worry about me!”

She fired twice, squeezing the shots as Roland had taught her. The heavy reports cut across the sound of the bear shaking the tree like the cracks of a bullwhip. She saw both bullets strike home in the left cheek of the bear’s rump, less than two inches apart.

It shrieked in surprise, pain, and outrage. One of its huge front paws came out of the dense screen of branches and needles and slapped at the hurt place. The hand came away dripping scarlet and rose back out of sight. Susannah could imagine it up there, examining its bloody palm. Then there was a rushing, rustling, snapping sound as the bear turned, bending down at the same time, dropping to all fours in order to achieve maximum speed. For the first time she saw its face, and her heart quailed. Its muzzle was lathered with foam; its huge eyes glared like lamps. Its shaggy head swung to the left . . . back to the right . . . and centered upon Roland, who stood with his legs apart and Susannah Dean balanced on his shoulders.

With a shattering roar, the bear charged.

Continue Reading…

The Dark Tower III

Stephen King

Keep reading for a preview of

Sleeping Beauties

by

Stephen King and Owen King

It makes no difference if you’re rich or poor

Or if you’re smart or dumb.

A woman’s place in this old world

Is under some man’s thumb,

And if you’re born a woman

You’re born to be hurt.

You’re born to be stepped on,

Lied to,

Cheated on,

And treated like dirt.

—Sandy Posey, “Born a Woman” Lyrics by Martha Sharp

I say you can’t not be bothered by a square of light!

—Reese Marie Dempster, Inmate #4602597-2 Dooling Correctional Facility for Women

She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.

—Sen. Addison “Mitch” McConnell, speaking of Sen. Elizabeth Warren

CHARACTERS

TOWN OF DOOLING, SEAT OF DOOLING COUNTY

• Truman “Trume” Mayweather, 26, a meth cook

• Tiffany Jones, 28, Truman’s cousin

• Linny Mars, 40, dispatcher, Dooling Sheriff’s Department

• Sheriff Lila Norcross, 45, of the Dooling Sheriff’s Department

• Jared Norcross, 16, a junior at Dooling High School, son of Lila and Clint

• Anton Dubcek, 26, owner and operator of Anton the Pool Guy, LLC

• Magda Dubcek, 56, Anton’s mother

• Frank Geary, 38, animal control officer, Town of Dooling

• Elaine Geary, 35, a Goodwill volunteer and Frank’s spouse

• Nana Geary, 12, a sixth grader at Dooling Middle School

• Old Essie, 60, a homeless woman

• Terry Coombs, 45, of the Dooling Sheriff’s Department

• Rita Coombs, 42, Terry’s spouse

• Roger Elway, 28, of the Dooling Sheriff’s Department

• Jessica Elway, 28, Roger’s spouse

• Platinum Elway, 8 months old, daughter of Roger and Jessica

• Reed Barrows, 31, of the Dooling Sheriff’s Department