Under the Dome

'Do you know how many cops he's got now?' Stewart asked.

'I don't give a tin shit.'

T think about thirty. By tomorrow it's apt to be fifty. And half the damn town's wearing blue support-armbands. If he tells em to posse up, it won't be no trouble.'

'It won't be no help, either,' Chef said. 'Our faith is in the Lord, and our strength is that of ten.'

'Well,' Roger said, flashing his math skills, 'that's twenty, but you're still outnumbered.'

'Shut up, Roger,' Fern said.

Stewart tried again. 'Phil - Chef, I mean - you need to chill the f**k out, because this ain't no thang. He don't want the dope, just the propane. Half the gennies in town are out. By the weekend it'll be three-quarters. Let us take the propane.'

'I need it to cook with. Sorry.'

Stewart looked at him as if he had gone mad. He probably has, Andy thought. We probably both have. But of course Jim Rennie was mad, too, so that was a wash.

'Go on, nowj Chef said, 'And tell him that if he tries sending troops against us, he will regret it.'

Stewart thought this over, then shrugged. 'No skin off my rosy red chinchina. Come on, Fern. Roger, I'll drive.'

'Fine by me,' Roger Killian said. T hate all them gears.' He gave Chef and Andy a final look rich with mistrust, then started back to the second truck.

'God bless you fellas,' Andy called.

Stewart threw a sour dart of a glance back over his shoulder. 'God bless you, too. Because God knows you're gonna need it.'

The new proprietors of the largest meth lab in North America stood side by side, watching the big orange truck back down the road, make a clumsy K-turn, and drive away.

'Sanders!'

'Yes, Chef?'

'I want to pep up the music, and immediately. This town needs some Mavis Staples. Also some Clark Sisters. Once I get that shit cued up, let's smoke.'

Andy's eyes filled with tears. He put his arm around the former Phil Bushey's bony shoulders and hugged. 'I love you, Chef.'

'Thanks, Sanders. Right back atcha. Just keep your gun loaded. From now on we'll have to stand watches.'

15

Big Jim was sitting at his son's bedside as approaching sunset turned the day orange. Douglas Twitchell had come in to give Junior a shot. Now the boy was deeply asleep. In some ways, Big Jim knew, it would be better if Junior died; alive and with a tumor pressing down on his brain, there was no telling what he might do or say. Of course the kid was his own flesh and blood, but there was the greater good to think about; the good of the town. One of the extra pillows in the closet would probably do it -

That was when his phone rang. He looked at the name in the window and frowned. Something had gone wrong. Stewart would hardly be calling so soon if it were otherwise. 'What.'

He listened with growing astonishment. Andy out there? Andy with a gun?

Stewart was waiting for him to answer. Waiting to be told what to do. Get in line, pal, Big Jim thought, and sighed. 'Give me a minute. I need to think. I'll call you back.'

He ended the call and considered this new problem. He could take a bunch of cops out there tonight. In some ways it was an attractive idea: whip them up at Food City, then lead the raid himself. If Andy died, so much the better. That would make James Rennie, Senior, the entire town government.

On the other hand, the special town meeting was tomorrow night. Everyone would come, and there would be questions. He was sure he could lay the meth lab off on Barbara and the Friends of Barbara (in Big Jim's mind, Andy Sanders had now become an official Friend of Barbara), but still... no.

No.

He wanted his flock scared, but not in an outright panic. Panic wouldn't serve his purpose, which was to establish complete control of the town. And if he let Andy and Bushey stay - where they were for a little while, what harm? It might even do some good. They'd grow complacent. They might fancy themselves forgotten, because drugs were full ofVitamin Stupid.

Friday, on the other hand - the day after tomorrow - was that cotton-picker Cox's designated Visitors Day. Everybody would stream out to the Dinsmore farm again. Burpee would no doubt set up another hotdog stand. While that clustermug was going on, and while Cox was conducting his one-man press conference, Big Jim himself could lead a force of sixteen or eighteen police up to the radio station and wipe those two troublesome stoners out.

Yes. That was the answer.

He called Stewart back and told him to leave well enough alone.

'But I thought you wanted the propane,' Stewart said.

'We'll get it,' Big Jim said. 'And you can help us take care of those two, if you want to.'

'You're damn right I want to. That sonofabitch - sorry, Big Jim - that sonofabuck Bushey needs a payback.'

'He'll get it. Friday afternoon. Clear your schedule.'

Big Jim felt fine again, heart beating slowly and steadily in his chest, nary a stutter or flutter. And that was good, because there was so much to do, starting with tonight's police pep talk at Food City: just the right. environment in which to impress the importance of order on a bunch of new cops. Really, there was nothing like a scene of destruction to get people playing follow-the-leader.

He started out of the room, then went back and kissed his sleeping son's cheek. Getting rid of Junior might become necessary, but for the time being, that too could wait.

16

Another night is falling on the little town of Chester's Mill; another night under the Dome. But there is no rest for us; we have two meetings to attend, and we also ought to check up on Horace the Corgi before we sleep. Horace is keeping Andrea Grinnell company tonight, and although he is for the moment biding his time, he has not forgotten the popcorn between the couch and the wall.

So let us go then, you and I, while the evening spreads out against the sky like a patient etherized upon a table. Let us go while the first discolored stars begin to show overhead. This is the only town in a four-state area where they're out tonight. Ram has overspread northern New England, and cable-news viewers will soon be treated to some remarkable satellite photographs showing a hole in the clouds that exactly mimics the sock-shape of Chester's Mill. Here the stars shine down, but now they're dirty stars because the Dome is dirty.