Wasteland

Author: Stephen King (USA)/Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: In an instant, the white skeleton lay in the fire, looking like a half-smirk of a ghost. Suddenly, it began to emit a dazzling red light, illuminating the entire clearing. Eddie and Susan yelled, quickly raising their hands to cover their eyes. The bones began to change. Not melt, but transform. The teeth that originally stuck out like tombstones began to gradually gather into a pile, the gentle curve of the upper jaw straightening, then collapsing at the tip. Eddie stood beside her, leaning on his thighs, staring in disbelief at something that was no longer bone. At this moment, it looked like a red-hot brand, the teeth forming three inverted V-shaped marks, with the middle one slightly larger than the ends. Suddenly, Eddie saw its final shape, just as he had seen a knuckle of a stump turn into a slingshot. He thought it was a key. You have to remember this shape, he thought excitedly. You have to remember, you have to remember. His gaze locked tightly onto the object—three V-shaped marks, the middle one slightly larger and deeper than the ends. Three grooves the outer groove had a slight curve, resembling a lowercase letter s. Then, the shape in the flames changed again. The bone, already shaped like a key, began to contract toward the center, coalescing into overlapping, bright petals, the folds resembling black velvet, like a moonless midsummer night. In an instant, Eddie saw a rose—victoriously blooming in the morning light of the world's creation, its beauty piercing through time and space. At this moment, he opened his heart, greedily embracing the illusion before him, as if all love and life suddenly radiated from this dead object of Roland's; the burning flames emitted victory and challenge, as if claiming that all despair was merely a mirage and all death was but a fleeting dream. Rose! His thoughts became disjointed. First a key, then a rose! Look closely! Look closely at the entrance to the Dark Tower! Suddenly, a coughing sound came from the fire, and a cluster of flames shot outward. Susan ran away, constantly brushing orange sparks off her skirt. The flames rose higher, leaping toward the starry night sky. Eddie remained motionless, still immersed in the illusion, completely stunned by the magnificent yet terrifying vision, not even noticing the sparks jumping on his skin. Then, the flames dimmed. The bones disappeared. The key disappeared. The rose disappeared. Remember, he thought. Remember this rose. Remember the shape of the key. P50-51