59 pages 1 hour read

Stephen King, Peter Straub

The Talisman

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1984

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Part 4, Chapters 44-EpilogueChapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 4: “The Talisman”

Part 4, Chapter 44 Summary: “The Earthquake”

As the black hotel is crumbling, Jack sees many realms during the destruction and feels as if he is everywhere. When the power feels too immense, he realizes that he does not want to be God, he just wants to save his mother. Nearby, the earthquake destroys the Wolfs at Camp Readiness, and ruins most of the structures at the facility.

Jack hears Richard scream. He goes to him as the building continues falling around them. Richard is covered in bugs and the talking spider mocks them both. Jack burns the spider with the Talisman, and heals Richard with its light. The sphere turns black for a moment, but when he lets Richard hold it, the light returns. They say they love each other and prepare for a fight with Gardener and Sloat. Outside, Sloat sees them leave the hotel and tells Gardener to shoot the Talisman with his rifle. In a fit of rage and frenzy, Sloat bites off the tip of his own tongue.

The Talisman picks up the flash of Gardener’s rifle scope and amplifies it, shooting the light back at him and pushing glass into Gardener’s eyes as the gun explodes, tearing Gardener’s cheeks and blowing off the fingers of his left hand.