¡¡¡¡Kenton¡¡burns¡¡the¡¡¡¨sacrifice¡¡photos£»¡¨¡¡but¡¡he¡¡can't¡¡forget£»¡¡he¡¡receives¡¡a¡¡letter¡¡from¡¡the¡¡obviously¡¡insane¡¡Carlos¡¡Detweiller£»¡¡promising¡¡revenge¡£¡¡Two¡¡weeks¡¡later£»¡¡he¡¡receives¡¡a¡¡letter¡¡from¡¡one¡¡¡¨Roberta¡¡Solrac£»¡¨¡¡who¡¡purports¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡great¡¡fan¡¡of¡¡Zenith's¡¡second¡hottest¡¡author£»¡¡Anthony¡¡La¡¡Scorbia¡¡£¨La¡¡Scorbia¡¡is¡¡responsible¡¡for¡¡a¡¡series¡¡of¡¡nature¡run¡amok¡¡novels¡¡such¡¡as¡¡Rats¡¡from¡¡Hell£»¡¡Ants¡¡from¡¡Hell£»¡¡and¡¡Scorpions¡¡from¡¡Hell£©¡£¡¡¡¨She¡¨¡¡claims¡¡to¡¡have¡¡sent¡¡La¡¡Scorbia¡¡roses£»¡¡and¡¡wants¡¡to¡¡send¡¡Kenton£»¡¡as¡¡La¡¡Scorbia's¡¡editor£»¡¡a¡¡small¡¡plant¡¡¡¨as¡¡a¡¡token¡¡of¡¡esteem¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡Kenton£»¡¡no¡¡fool£»¡¡realizes¡¡at¡¡once¡¡that¡¡Solrac¡¡is¡¡Carlos¡¡spelled¡¡backward¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡and¡¡Detweiller£»¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¡worked¡¡in¡¡a¡¡greenhouse¡£¡¡Convinced¡¡that¡¡the¡¡¡¨token¡¡of¡¡esteem¡¨¡¡is¡¡apt¡¡to¡¡be¡¡something¡¡like¡¡deadly¡¡nightshade¡¡or¡¡belladonna£»¡¡Kenton¡¡sends¡¡an¡¡interoffice¡¡memo¡¡to¡¡Riddley£»¡¡instructing¡¡him¡¡to¡¡incinerate¡¡any¡¡package¡¡which¡¡es¡¡to¡¡him¡¡from¡¡a¡¡¡¨Roberta¡¡Solrac¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡RIDDLEY¡¡WALKER£»¡¡who¡¡respects¡¡Kenton¡¡more¡¡than¡¡Kenton¡¡himself¡¡would¡¡ever¡¡believe£»¡¡agrees£»¡¡but¡¡privately¡¡adopts¡¡a¡¡wait¡and¡see¡¡attitude¡£¡¡Near¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡February¡¡1981£»¡¡a¡¡package¡¡from¡¡¡¨Roberta¡¡Solrac£»¡¨¡¡addressed¡¡to¡¡John¡¡Kenton£»¡¡actually¡¡does¡¡arrive¡£¡¡Riddley¡¡opens¡¡the¡¡package¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡a¡¡strong¡¡feeling¡¡that¡¡the¡¡sender¡Detweiller¡is¡¡a¡¡terribly¡¡evil¡¡man¡£¡¡If¡¡so£»¡¡the¡¡contents¡¡of¡¡the¡¡package¡¡are¡¡hardly¡¡in¡¡keeping¡¡with¡¡such¡¡notions£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡nothing¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡sickly¡looking¡¡mon¡¡Ivy¡¡with¡¡a¡¡little¡¡plastic¡¡sign¡¡stuck¡¡into¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡of¡¡its¡¡pot¡£¡¡The¡¡sign¡¡reads£º
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡HI£¡
¡¡¡¡MY¡¡NAME¡¡IS¡¡ZENITH
¡¡¡¡I¡¡AM¡¡A¡¡GIFT¡¡TO¡¡JOHN
¡¡¡¡FROM¡¡ROBERTA
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Riddley¡¡puts¡¡it¡¡on¡¡a¡¡high¡¡shelf¡¡of¡¡his¡¡janitor's¡¡room¡¡and¡¡forgets¡¡it¡£
¡¡¡¡For¡¡the¡¡time¡¡being¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡February¡¡25
¡¡¡¡Dear¡¡Ruth£»
¡¡¡¡I've¡¡got¡¡a¡¡case¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mean¡¡reds£»¡¡so¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡I'd¡¡pass¡¡some¡¡of¡¡them¡¡on¡see¡¡the¡¡enclosed¡¡Xeroxes£»¡¡concluding¡¡with¡¡a¡¡typically¡¡impudent¡¡munication¡¡from¡¡Riddley£»¡¡he¡¡of¡¡the¡¡coal¡black¡¡skin¡¡and¡¡three¡¡hundred¡¡huge¡¡white¡¡teeth¡£
¡¡¡¡You'll¡¡notice¡¡that¡¡Roger¡¡kicked¡¡my¡¡ass¡¡good¡¡and¡¡hardnot¡¡much¡¡like¡¡Roger£»¡¡and¡¡doubly¡¡sobering¡¡for¡¡that¡¡very¡¡reason¡£¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡think¡¡one¡¡has¡¡to¡¡be¡¡very¡¡paranoid¡¡to¡¡see¡¡that¡¡he's¡¡talking¡¡about¡¡the¡¡possibility¡¡of¡¡firing¡¡me¡£¡¡If¡¡I'd¡¡talked¡¡this¡¡out¡¡with¡¡him¡¡over¡¡martinis¡¡at¡¡Flaherty's¡¡after¡¡work£»¡¡I¡¡doubt¡¡very¡¡much¡¡if¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡e¡¡down¡¡so¡¡hard£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡course¡¡I¡¡had¡¡no¡¡idea¡¡he¡¡was¡¡waiting¡¡on¡¡a¡¡call¡¡from¡¡Enders¡£¡¡I¡¡undoubtedly¡¡deserved¡¡the¡¡ass¡kicking¡¡I¡¡got¡I¡¡haven't¡¡really¡¡been¡¡doing¡¡my¡¡job¡but¡¡he¡¡has¡¡no¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡the¡¡scare¡¡that¡¡letter¡¡threw¡¡into¡¡me¡¡when¡¡I¡¡realized¡¡it¡¡was¡¡Detweiller¡¡again¡£¡¡I'm¡¡too¡¡goddam¡¡thin¡skinned¡¡for¡¡my¡¡own¡¡good£»¡¡that's¡¡what¡¡Roger¡¡thinks¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡but¡¡Detweiller¡¡is¡¡scary¡¡for¡¡other£»¡¡less¡¡easily¡¡grasped¡¡reasons¡£¡¡Being¡¡the¡¡idee¡¡that's¡¡gotten¡¡fixe¡¡in¡¡some¡¡crazy's¡¡head¡¡has¡¡got¡¡to¡¡be¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡unfortable¡¡feelings¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡if¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡Jody¡¡Foster£»¡¡I¡¡think¡¡I'd¡¡give¡¡her¡¡a¡¡jingle¡¡and¡¡tell¡¡her¡¡I¡¡know¡¡exactly¡¡how¡¡she¡¡feels¡£¡¡There's¡¡an¡¡almost¡¡palpable¡¡texture¡¡of¡¡slime¡¡about¡¡Detweiller's¡¡munications£»¡¡and¡¡oh¡¡boy£»¡¡oh¡¡yeah£»¡¡I¡¡wish¡¡I¡¡could¡¡get¡¡him¡¡out¡¡of¡¡my¡¡head£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡still¡¡have¡¡nightmares¡¡about¡¡those¡¡pictures¡£
¡¡¡¡Anyway£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡taken¡¡care¡¡of¡¡matters¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡I¡¡can£»¡¡and¡¡no£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡no¡¡intention¡¡of¡¡calling¡¡Central¡¡Falls¡£¡¡We¡¡have¡¡an¡¡editorial¡¡meeting¡¡tomorrow¡£¡¡I'll¡¡try¡¡to¡¡the¡¡best¡¡of¡¡my¡¡limited¡¡abilities¡¡to¡¡get¡¡back¡¡on¡¡the¡¡beam¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡except¡¡at¡¡Zenith¡¡House¡¡the¡¡beam¡¡is¡¡so¡¡narrow¡¡it¡¡almost¡¡doesn't¡¡exist¡£
¡¡¡¡I¡¡love¡¡you£»¡¡I¡¡miss¡¡you£»¡¡I¡¡long¡¡for¡¡your¡¡return¡£¡¡Maybe¡¡you¡¡being¡¡gone¡¡is¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡problem¡£¡¡Not¡¡to¡¡make¡¡you¡¡feel¡¡guilty¡£
¡¡¡¡All¡¡my¡¡love£»
¡¡¡¡John
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡From¡¡the¡¡journals¡¡of¡¡Riddley¡¡Walker
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡2/23/81
¡¡¡¡Like¡¡a¡¡stone¡¡thrown¡¡into¡¡a¡¡large¡¡and¡¡stagnant¡¡pond£»¡¡the¡¡Detweiller¡¡affair¡¡has¡¡caused¡¡any¡¡number¡¡of¡¡ripples¡¡at¡¡my¡¡place¡¡of¡¡employment¡£¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡all¡¡of¡¡them¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡by£»¡¡yet¡¡this¡¡afternoon¡¡one¡¡more¡¡rolled¡¡past£»¡¡and¡¡who¡¡is¡¡to¡¡say¡¡even¡¡that¡¡one¡¡will¡¡be¡¡the¡¡last£¿
¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡included¡¡a¡¡Xerox¡¡of¡¡an¡¡exceedingly¡¡curious¡¡memo¡¡I¡¡received¡¡from¡¡Kenton¡¡at¡¡2£º35¡¡P¡£¡¡M¡£¡¡plus¡¡my¡¡own¡¡reply¡¡£¨the¡¡memo¡¡came¡¡just¡¡after¡¡Gelb¡¡left£»¡¡in¡¡something¡¡of¡¡a¡¡huff£»¡¡why¡¡he¡¡should¡¡have¡¡been¡¡in¡¡a¡¡huff¡¡eludes¡¡me¡¡since¡¡today¡¡he¡¡brought¡¡his¡¡own¡¡dice¡¡and¡¡I¡¡did¡¡him¡¡the¡¡courtesy¡¡of¡¡not¡¡even¡¡checking¡¡them£»¡¡but¡¡Ah¡¡g'iss¡¡Ah¡¡woan¡¡nevuh¡¡understand¡¡dese¡¡white¡¡folks£©¡£¡¡I¡¡think¡¡I¡¡have¡¡covered¡¡the¡¡Detweiller¡¡affair¡¡to¡¡a¡¡nicety¡¡in¡¡these¡¡pages£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡should¡¡add¡¡that¡¡it¡¡never¡¡surprised¡¡me¡¡in¡¡the¡¡least¡¡that¡¡Kenton¡¡was¡¡the¡¡one¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡Detweiller£»¡¡the¡¡rogue¡¡et£»¡¡into¡¡the¡¡erratic¡¡£¨and£»¡¡I¡¡fear£»¡¡degenerating£©¡¡orbit¡¡of¡¡Zenith¡¡House¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡is¡¡brighter¡¡than¡¡Sandra¡¡Jackson£»¡¡brighter¡¡than¡¡that¡¡crapshooting£»¡¡Ivy¡¡League¡¡tie¡wearing¡¡devil¡¡William¡¡Gelb£»¡¡far¡¡brighter¡¡than¡¡Herbert¡¡Porter¡¡£¨Porter£»¡¡as¡¡previously¡¡noted£»¡¡is¡¡not¡¡above¡¡wandering¡¡into¡¡Ms¡£¡¡Jackson's¡¡office¡¡after¡¡she¡¡has¡¡left¡¡for¡¡the¡¡day¡¡and¡¡sniffing¡¡the¡¡seat¡¡of¡¡her¡¡office¡¡chair¡a¡¡strange¡¡man£»¡¡but¡¡be¡¡it¡¡not¡¡for¡¡me¡¡to¡¡judge£©£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡only¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡staff¡¡who¡¡might¡¡be¡¡capable¡¡of¡¡recognizing¡¡a¡¡mercial¡¡book¡¡if¡¡it¡¡came¡¡within¡¡his¡¡purview¡£¡¡Right¡¡now¡¡he¡¡is¡¡eaten¡¡up¡¡with¡¡guilt¡¡and¡¡embarrassment¡¡over¡¡l'affaire¡¡Detweiller£»¡¡and¡¡can¡¡see¡¡only¡¡that¡¡he¡¡made¡¡a¡¡rather¡¡ic¡¡faux¡¡pas¡£¡¡He¡¡would¡¡be¡¡incapable¡¡of¡¡seeing¡¡that¡¡his¡¡decision¡¡to¡¡even¡¡look¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Detweiller¡¡book¡¡demonstrated¡¡that¡¡his¡¡editorial¡¡ears¡¡are¡¡still¡¡open£»¡¡and¡¡still¡¡attuned¡¡to¡¡that¡¡sweetest¡¡of¡¡all¡¡tones¡the¡¡celestial¡¡notes¡¡of¡¡Sweda¡¡cash¡¡registers¡¡in¡¡drugstores¡¡and¡¡book¡¡emporia¡¡ringing¡¡up¡¡sales£»¡¡even¡¡if¡¡it¡¡was¡¡pointed¡¡out¡¡to¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¡Incapable¡¡of¡¡seeing¡¡that¡¡it¡¡proves¡¡he's¡¡still¡¡trying¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡others¡¡have¡¡given¡¡up¡£
¡¡¡¡Anyway£»¡¡here¡¡is¡¡this¡¡enchanting¡¡memo¡between¡¡its¡¡lines¡¡I¡¡hear¡¡a¡¡man¡¡whose¡¡nerve¡¡is¡¡temporarily¡¡shot£»¡¡a¡¡man¡¡who¡¡might¡¡be¡¡capable¡¡of¡¡facing¡¡a¡¡lion¡¡but¡¡who¡¡now¡¡cannot¡¡even¡¡look¡¡at¡¡a¡¡mouse£»¡¡a¡¡man¡¡who¡¡is£»¡¡in¡¡consequence£»¡¡shrieking¡¡¡¨Eeeek£¡¡¡Get¡¡rid¡¡of¡¡it£¡¡¡Get¡¡rid¡¡of¡¡it£¡¡¨¡¡and¡¡swatting¡¡at¡¡it¡¡with¡¡the¡¡handiest¡¡broom£»¡¡which¡¡in¡¡dis¡¡case¡¡jus¡¡happen¡¡t'be¡¡Riddley£»¡¡who¡¡dus'¡¡de¡¡awfishes¡¡an¡¡wipe¡¡de¡¡windows¡¡an¡¡delivah¡¡de¡¡mail¡£¡¡Yassuh£»¡¡Mist¡¡Kenton£»¡¡I¡¡git¡¡rid¡¡of¡¡it¡¡fo¡¡you£¡¡¡I¡¡sholy¡¡goan¡¡get¡¡rid¡¡of¡¡dat¡¡hoodoo¡¡Solrac¡¡woman's¡¡package¡¡if¡¡she¡¡sen¡¡one£¡
¡¡¡¡Maybe¡£
¡¡¡¡On¡¡the¡¡other¡¡hand£»¡¡maybe¡¡John¡¡Kenton¡¡should¡¡have¡¡to¡¡face¡¡up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡consequences¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡actions¡swat¡¡his¡¡own¡¡mouse¡£¡¡After¡¡all£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡don't¡¡swat¡¡your¡¡own£»¡¡maybe¡¡you¡¡never¡¡really¡¡know¡¡what¡¡a¡¡harmless¡¡little¡¡thing¡¡a¡¡mouse¡¡is¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡and¡¡is¡¡it¡¡not¡¡possible¡¡that¡¡Kenton's¡¡useful¡¡days¡¡as¡¡an¡¡editor¡¡may¡¡be¡¡over¡¡if¡¡he¡¡cannot¡¡stare¡¡down¡¡such¡¡occasional¡¡crazies¡¡as¡¡Carlos¡¡¡¨Roberta¡¨¡¡Detweiller£¿
¡¡¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡ponder¡¡the¡¡matter¡£¡¡I¡¡think¡¡there¡¡is¡¡a¡¡very¡¡good¡¡chance¡¡no¡¡package¡¡will¡¡e£»¡¡but¡¡I'll¡¡ponder¡¡it¡¡all¡¡the¡¡same¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡2/27/81
¡¡¡¡Something¡¡from¡¡the¡¡mysterious¡¡¡¨Roberta¡¡Solrac¡¨¡¡actually¡¡came¡¡today£¡¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡know¡¡whether¡¡to¡¡be¡¡amused¡¡or¡¡disgusted¡¡by¡¡my¡¡own¡¡reaction£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡staring£»¡¡elemental¡¡gut¡terror¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡an¡¡almost¡¡insane¡¡urge¡¡to¡¡put¡¡the¡¡thing¡¡down¡¡the¡¡incinerator£»¡¡exactly¡¡as¡¡Kenton's¡¡note¡¡had¡¡instructed¡£¡¡The¡¡physicality¡¡of¡¡my¡¡reaction¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡my¡¡eye¡¡fell¡¡on¡¡the¡¡return¡¡address¡¡and¡¡connected¡¡the¡¡name¡¡there¡¡with¡¡Kenton's¡¡memo¡¡was¡¡striking¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡spasm¡¡of¡¡shudders¡£¡¡Goosebumps¡¡raced¡¡up¡¡my¡¡back¡£¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡a¡¡clear£»¡¡ringing¡¡tone¡¡in¡¡my¡¡ears£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡could¡¡feel¡¡the¡¡hair¡¡stiffening¡¡on¡¡my¡¡head¡£¡¡This¡¡symphony¡¡of¡¡physiological¡¡atavism¡¡lasted¡¡no¡¡more¡¡than¡¡five¡¡seconds¡¡and¡¡then¡¡it¡¡subsided¡but¡¡it¡¡left¡¡me¡¡as¡¡shaken¡¡as¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡deep¡¡lance¡¡of¡¡pain¡¡in¡¡the¡¡area¡¡of¡¡the¡¡heart¡£¡¡Floyd¡¡would¡¡sneer¡¡and¡¡call¡¡it¡¡¡¨a¡¡nigger¡¡reaction£»¡¨¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡no¡¡such¡¡thing¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡human¡¡reaction¡£¡¡Not¡¡to¡¡the¡¡thing¡¡itself¡the¡¡contents¡¡of¡¡the¡¡package¡¡were¡¡something¡¡of¡¡an¡¡anticlimax¡¡after¡¡all¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡and¡¡fury¡but£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡convinced£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡which¡¡placed¡¡the¡¡lid¡¡on¡¡the¡¡small¡¡white¡¡cardboard¡¡box¡¡in¡¡which¡¡the¡¡plant¡¡came£»¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡which¡¡tied¡¡twine¡¡around¡¡that¡¡box¡¡and¡¡then¡¡cut¡¡a¡¡brown¡¡paper¡¡shopping¡¡bag¡¡in¡¡which¡¡to¡¡wrap¡¡the¡¡box¡¡for¡¡mailing£»¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡which¡¡taped¡¡and¡¡labelled¡¡and¡¡carried¡£¡¡Detweiller's¡¡hands¡£
¡¡¡¡Am¡¡I¡¡speaking¡¡of¡¡telepathy£¿¡¡Yes¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡and¡¡no¡£¡¡It¡¡might¡¡be¡¡fairer¡¡to¡¡say¡¡that¡¡I¡¡am¡¡speaking¡¡of¡¡a¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡passive¡¡psychokinesis¡£¡¡Dogs¡¡shy¡¡away¡¡from¡¡people¡¡with¡¡cancer£»¡¡they¡¡smell¡¡it¡¡on¡¡them¡£¡¡So£»¡¡at¡¡least£»¡¡claims¡¡my¡¡dear¡¡old¡¡Aunt¡¡Olympia¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡same¡¡way¡¡I¡¡smelled¡¡Detweiller¡¡all¡¡over¡¡that¡¡box£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡I¡¡understand¡¡Kenton's¡¡upset¡¡better¡¡and¡¡have¡¡a¡¡good¡¡deal¡¡more¡¡sympathy¡¡for¡¡him¡£¡¡I¡¡think¡¡Carlos¡¡Detweiller¡¡must¡¡be¡¡dangerously¡¡insane¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡but¡¡the¡¡plant¡¡itself¡¡