reflexes aren’t quick enough to avoid Prentiss’s bullet, which enters above his right eye and exits from the back of his head. Gran-Pere Jaffords would have said it was the only end that a gunslinger such as him could expect. Prentiss is struggling to get off a second shot when Roland kills him.
Roland and Jake take care of the remaining guards while Ted andDinky help Susannah comfort Eddie. Roland kills only those who shoot at them. The others he disarms and frees, giving them until sundown to get out of Dodge. “You’ve done bad work here, hell’s work, but hell’s shut, and I mean to see it will never open these doors again.” This is a far different gunslinger from the one who obliterated every living soul in Tull and offered no quarter to those who chased Jake from the Dixie Pig.
To Jake, Eddie’s lingering death is pointless and endless. He didn’t want to remember his wisecracking friend looking frail, old and stupid. He’s afraid that even kissing Eddie might be enough to kill him. Roland tells him they attend Eddie for Susannah’s sake because “later on she’ll remember who was there, and be grateful.” Jake wonders how grateful she’ll be to Roland, without whom Eddie wouldn’t be dying. On the other hand, Susannah would never have met Eddie without him. No one says “better to have loved and lost,” but this is what Jake thinks.
Though they’ve saved the Beams and prevented the fall of the Tower, Roland and Jake can take no pleasure in their victory. Their fourteen-hour bedside vigil puts the pressure on. King will meet his own destiny in less than a day, but Roland won’t leave until Eddie dies. On his deathbed, Eddie promises Susannah he will await her in the clearing at the end of the path. His message to Jake is more cryptic, telling him his job (and Oy’s) is to protect his dinh from Mordred and Dandelo. He calls Roland Father and, with his final words, thanks Roland for the better life he has had since the gunslinger drew him from New York.
“The rest of the tale will be short compared to all that’s gone before. Because when ka-tet breaks, the end comes quickly.”
Roland had planned to destroy Devar-Toi, but he leaves it for the Breakers who wish to stay. There’s enough food to last them a lifetime. He tells them how to get to the Callas, where the people will likely forgive them. He urges them to go that way if only to find absolution for what they’ve done. “If you prefer purgatory to redemption, then stay here.”
Susannah stays with Ted to bury Eddie, while Sheemie sends Jake, Oy and Roland to Maine to save King. Teleporting is dangerous business for Sheemie. Ted estimates he can only do it one or two more times before it kills him. They don’t know that he’s already dying from an infected foot wound he suffered during the battle.
Roland arranges to meet Susannah in Fedic in two days. She agrees torejoin them because Eddie wanted her to, but Jake thinks she still wants to see the Tower as much as he and Roland do. The ka-tet might be broken, but ka remains.
Roland and Jake arrive outside the general store twenty-two years after Andolini’s ambush. Roland has no time for pleasantries. He pulls his gun and demands the store owner’s truck keys, but they also need a driver; Jake can’t drive, and Roland’s hip aches too much. For the second time, Roland finds a useful person in the general store. Irene Tassenbaum agrees to take them where they need to go. She’s afraid, but she also enjoys being at the center of something important.
King is on one of the country-road walks his wife nags him about. He reaches a crucial point, a crossroads. If he takes the shorter route back home, he will start working on the next Dark Tower book. By choosing the longer road, he announces his intention to procrastinate. Ka decides he’s outlived his usefulness.
His fate lies in the hands of Bryan Smith, a local in a blue minivan who is on his way into town to satisfy his
Roland and Jake take care of the remaining guards while Ted andDinky help Susannah comfort Eddie. Roland kills only those who shoot at them. The others he disarms and frees, giving them until sundown to get out of Dodge. “You’ve done bad work here, hell’s work, but hell’s shut, and I mean to see it will never open these doors again.” This is a far different gunslinger from the one who obliterated every living soul in Tull and offered no quarter to those who chased Jake from the Dixie Pig.
To Jake, Eddie’s lingering death is pointless and endless. He didn’t want to remember his wisecracking friend looking frail, old and stupid. He’s afraid that even kissing Eddie might be enough to kill him. Roland tells him they attend Eddie for Susannah’s sake because “later on she’ll remember who was there, and be grateful.” Jake wonders how grateful she’ll be to Roland, without whom Eddie wouldn’t be dying. On the other hand, Susannah would never have met Eddie without him. No one says “better to have loved and lost,” but this is what Jake thinks.
Though they’ve saved the Beams and prevented the fall of the Tower, Roland and Jake can take no pleasure in their victory. Their fourteen-hour bedside vigil puts the pressure on. King will meet his own destiny in less than a day, but Roland won’t leave until Eddie dies. On his deathbed, Eddie promises Susannah he will await her in the clearing at the end of the path. His message to Jake is more cryptic, telling him his job (and Oy’s) is to protect his dinh from Mordred and Dandelo. He calls Roland Father and, with his final words, thanks Roland for the better life he has had since the gunslinger drew him from New York.
“The rest of the tale will be short compared to all that’s gone before. Because when ka-tet breaks, the end comes quickly.”
Roland had planned to destroy Devar-Toi, but he leaves it for the Breakers who wish to stay. There’s enough food to last them a lifetime. He tells them how to get to the Callas, where the people will likely forgive them. He urges them to go that way if only to find absolution for what they’ve done. “If you prefer purgatory to redemption, then stay here.”
Susannah stays with Ted to bury Eddie, while Sheemie sends Jake, Oy and Roland to Maine to save King. Teleporting is dangerous business for Sheemie. Ted estimates he can only do it one or two more times before it kills him. They don’t know that he’s already dying from an infected foot wound he suffered during the battle.
Roland arranges to meet Susannah in Fedic in two days. She agrees torejoin them because Eddie wanted her to, but Jake thinks she still wants to see the Tower as much as he and Roland do. The ka-tet might be broken, but ka remains.
Roland and Jake arrive outside the general store twenty-two years after Andolini’s ambush. Roland has no time for pleasantries. He pulls his gun and demands the store owner’s truck keys, but they also need a driver; Jake can’t drive, and Roland’s hip aches too much. For the second time, Roland finds a useful person in the general store. Irene Tassenbaum agrees to take them where they need to go. She’s afraid, but she also enjoys being at the center of something important.
King is on one of the country-road walks his wife nags him about. He reaches a crucial point, a crossroads. If he takes the shorter route back home, he will start working on the next Dark Tower book. By choosing the longer road, he announces his intention to procrastinate. Ka decides he’s outlived his usefulness.
His fate lies in the hands of Bryan Smith, a local in a blue minivan who is on his way into town to satisfy his
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