by Robin Furth
Upon reaching Debaria, Roland and Jamie met with Sheriff Peavy to discuss who the skin-man might be when in human form. Based upon the pattern of attacks, the three decided the perpetrator was probably one of the SALTIES, or salt miners, based near LITTLE DEBARIA. They also came to realize that though the monster only struck at night, the phase of the moon seemed to have little effect upon its powers. (It attacked Sister Fortuna at Full Peddlar, but at TIMBERSMITH farm it struck at the dark of the moon.) Roland and Jamie had been in Debaria less than twenty-four hours when the skin-man struck again. This time the massacre was at the JEFFERSON RANCH, where he killed sixteen proddies, the COOK (BILL STREETER), sai JEFFERSON, Jefferson’s WIFE, and his two DAUGHTERS. While following the monster’s backtrail (and tracking its morphs from eight-hundred-pound bear, to giant bull, to monstrous cat), Roland and Jamie realized that the skin-man’s killing spree had been premeditated. (It rode to the ranch in human form, and only morphed into a monster when it was ready to kill.)
During their search of the ranch, the two young gunslingers discovered YOUNG BILL STREETER hiding in a pile of old tack in a disused hostelry. The boy had been sleeping under the stars when the skin-man attacked, but had been woken by screams. He’d run down to the ranch and had witnessed the slaughter in the bunkhouse. Later, while hiding under the pile of tack, Young Bill had seen the skin-man transform back into a human being. Unfortunately, he only saw the man’s lower legs and feet. However, he did give Roland one important piece of information: the skin man had a broken blue ring tattooed around his ankle.
The evidence that Roland and Jamie discovered at the ranch allowed them to deduce the following: the skin-man was a saltie who could ride a horse, and who had done time in the BEELIE STOCKADE. (The blue ankle ring was tattooed on anyone who did time in the stockade.) Roland sent Jamie, Sheriff Peavy, the deputy KELLIN FRYE, and Kellin’s son VIKKA to round up all the salties who fit that description. He also gave young Vikka a more sinister job. He wanted the boy to spread the word that Young Bill had seen the skin-man in human form, and would be able to identify him. Roland hoped that this exaggeration might help to flush out the murderer.
While Jamie and the others went to LITTLE DEBARIA to round up all the suspects, Roland locked Young Bill in Debaria’s JAIL to keep him safe. Before returning to the cell to keep Bill company, Roland had the local blacksmith cast a very special bullet, the only kind which, according to legend, could kill a skin-man. That bullet was cast from pure silver.
Thanks to the knowledge of WILL WEGG, Little Debaria’s constable, Jamie and the others returned with twenty-one suspects who could ride horses. In the BUSTED LUCK saloon, Roland has the miners roll up their trouser legs to show whether or not they’d been marked at the stockade. Ten had been. One of these men, an old graybeard called STEG LUKA, confided an important piece of information. He told Roland that deep in the SALT PLUG there was a CRACK with a green light shining through, bright then dim, like a heartbeat. According to Luka, the light had a bitter voice which called the miners to come to it. Most wanted the crack plugged up, but Luka believed that one of the men had listened to the call, entered the crack between midnight and 6 A.M. when all was quiet, and had been transformed into a shapeshifting monster. Luka was certain that both light and voice belonged to one of the OLD PEOPLE’s artifacts. In the end, he proved to be right.
As Young Bill waited in his protective cell, the salt miners lined up according to age and paraded past. Steg Luka passed by, as did BOBBY FRANE, JAKE MARSH, and OLLIE ANG, a thin, balding, bookish-looking fellow whose arms were nevertheless slabbed with muscle, and who wore a strange wrist-clock with a rusty string-mended band. At Young Bill’s request, all the men walked by a second time, but this time with their pants legs hiked up so that the boy could see their ankles. Bill recognized OLLIE ANG’s blue ankle ring, which was broken by a thick line of white scar tissue which ran all the way up to Ang’s knee.
What next transpired happened so quickly that neither Roland nor any of the others were able to prevent it. Steg Luka grabbed Ang by the shoulders and bore him back against the bars across from the drunk-and-disorderly cell. Spitting in Ang’s face, Steg called the man a murdering, skin-changing bastard. But even as Steg Luka attacked, Ang transformed into a giant snake and rammed his body into Steg’s mouth and then tore his way out through the nape of Steg’s neck. Next, the snake battened down on Constable Wegg’s arm, injecting him with poison. As it lunged at Roland, our gunslinger shot his silver bullet into the creature’s yawning mouth. In death, the skin-man transformed once again into his human form. After midnight, Roland, Jamie, and Sheriff Peavy doused Ang’s body with coal oil and burned it.
W:40, W:42, W:44–47 (attacks described: 45 wolf that runs upright; lion; 46 tyger), 48 (monster from deep cracks), W:48–53 (attack on Fortuna and Delores); W:54, W:55, W:56, W:57 (looked like a wolf); W:61, W:62, W:63–83 (62–63: victim list and map; 66 moon phases; 69–83 Jefferson attack reported and investigated; 72 bear; 75 eight hundred pounds running on hind legs; 76 ull-shape, cat shape; 78 knows what he is and rides a horse), W:85 (as saltie), W:86, W:91–97 (Bill Streeter’s memory), W:99, W:100, W:248 (legend), W:268, W:271–93 (he is among the salties who can ride; mentioned directly on 274, 276, 289, 283; on 289 we learn his name), W:294, W:297–98 (possibly as Walter’s work? He cursed Serenity)
SKIN-MAN’S VICTIMS: All of the skin-man’s victims were torn to pieces. Many of them were also partially eaten. W:45
ALORA FARM VICTIMS: The skin-man killed seven people at the Alora Farm. W:63
COWPUNCHERS (WITNESSES): Two cowpunchers camped on DEBARIA STREAM heard the screams of a young MANNI COUPLE on marriage retreat and rode toward the sound. They saw the killer loping off with the woman’s lower leg in its jaws. They swore the beast ran upright like a man. W:45–46 (witnesses), W:46 (as rope-swingers), W:46–47 (drunk or not)
DOLORES OF SERENITY: See SERENITY, SISTERS OF
FORTUNA OF SERENITY: See SERENITY, SISTERS OF
GAMBLER AND WOMAN: This man had been caught cheating at Watch Me in one of the local pits. He and his moll had been given a Bill of Circulation and were told to leave town by nightfall or be whipped. They were headed for either the rail tracks or LITTLE DEBARIA when they were beset by the beast. The man fought, which gave the woman just enough time to get clear. She hid in some rocks until the skin-man was gone. According to her testimony, the monster looked like a lion. W:45, W:64
JEFFERSON RANCH CHARACTERS: See also STREETER, BILL, listed separately; DEBARIA CHARACTERS: JEFFERSON RANCH CHARACTERS: CANFIELD, BILL; DEBARIA CHARACTERS: JEFFERSON RANCH CHARACTERS: CANFIELD, BILL: ARN; DEBARIA CHARACTERS: JEFFERSON RANCH CHARACTERS: CANFIELD, BILL: SNIP; DEBARIA CHARACTERS: JEFFERSON RANCH CHARACTERS: ROSIE & MOZIE
COOKIE (BILL STREETER, YOUNG BILL STREETER’S FATHER): Bill Streeter—cook at the JEFFERSON RANCH—was YOUNG BILL STREETER’s beloved father. According to VIKKA FRYE, Cookie was very proud of his son. When Billy won the Goose Dash at Reap Fairday, the elder Streeter cheered loud enough to bust his throat. Cookie died beside his stove, his rent and bloodstained apron thrown over his face like a shroud. W:69 (dead), W:75, W:80, W:81, W:82, W:83, W:84, W:86, W:87, W:88, W:90, W:91, W:95, W:96, W:97, W:100, W:101, W:106, W:268 (da), W:285 (indirect), W:286 (indirect)
JEFFERSON FAMILY: sai Jefferson, his lady wife, and his two daughters were slaughtered by the skin-man. His two sons survived, since they were in GILEAD when the attack took place. W:69 (dead), W:93 (womenfolk), W:97 (womenfolk)
JEFFERSON (RANCHER): sai Jefferson faced the skin-man (in the shape of a bear) ten feet in front of the bunkhouse. The rancher got off a few rounds before the monster tore the gun from his hands and bent the barrel. Then the skin-man picked sai Jefferson up and threw him into the bunkhouse. Inside the bunkhouse, Roland and JAMIE DeCURRY found Jefferson’s body, which had been torn limb from limb. His severed head stared up at the rafters with a fearful grin that showed only his top teeth. The skin-man had ripped the rancher’s lower
jaw right out of his mouth. KELLIN FRYE found it under a bunk. W:69 (dead), W:70–72, W:74 (rancher), W:75 (torn limbless), W:81, W:83, W:92, W:93, W:101
DAUGHTERS: The bodies of sai Jefferson’s two daughters were found in the dirt between the house and the barn. One had gotten three or four dozen running steps ahead of her sissa, but they were both equally dead, with their nightdresses torn off and their backs carved open right down to their spines.W:70, W:72 (killing described), W:73 (indirect), W:74, W:75, W:93 (womenfolk), W:97 (womenfolk)
SONS: sai Jefferson’s two sons were attending auctions in Gilead when the attacks took place. Hence, they survived. W:74
WIFE: Jefferson’s lady-sai’s body was found under the kitchen table. Her half-eaten head had rolled up against the pantry door. W:70, W:72, W:73 (indirect), W:74, W:93 (womenfolk), W:97 (womenfolk)
NUTTER, ELROD (FOREMAN): Elrod Nutter was the foreman of the Jefferson Ranch. He was an excellent rider and roper, but when he was in drink he got mean. According to YOUNG BILL STREETER, Elrod once twirled the bunkhouse cat by her tail and she never came back. When he was drunk, Elrod liked to drag Young Bill around by his boots. (According to SHERIFF PEAVY, Elrod had been in lockup numerous times because of his wicked drunken temper.) Elrod kept a knife in his boot, but as Young Bill pointed out, neither Elrod’s temper nor his knife saved him from the skin-man. (When Elrod was cornered by the bunkhouse’s back door he’d turned to fight off the skin-man with his knife. But as he’d stabbed at the monstrous bear-shape, the creature grabbed his arm and tore it off his shoulder. It then hit Elrod with his own arm and bit into his neck.) W:81 (nasty in drink), W:91, W:92 (death), W:94, W:97
PRODDIES: A number of the proddies—or permanent hands—at the Jefferson Ranch were friends with YOUNG BILL STREETER. W:69, W:75 (16 killed), W:80, W:93, W:100, W:101
FREDDY TWO-STEP: Freddy Two-Step had promised to teach YOUNG BILL STREETER how to brand in the fall. Sadly, he didn’t live long enough to fulfill his promise. W:81
ROSCOE: Before he died, Roscoe was teaching YOUNG BILL STREETER the bow. W:81
TINY BRADDOCK: Before he was killed by the skin-man, Tiny Braddock taught YOUNG BILL STREETER how to make a lasso. W:81
UNNAMED COWBOY: This unnamed cowboy had his face ripped off by the skin-man. W:75
MANNI COUPLE: This young couple was on their marriage retreat when they were attacked by the skin-man. Two COWPUNCHERS who went to investigate the screaming saw the skin-man loping off with the woman’s lower leg in its jaws. W:45–46
SALTIES: A number of salties were torn up by the skin-man, although we’re not told about these attacks in detail. W:64
SHEPHERD VICTIM (YON CURRY): This sheepherder was killed by something that looked like a wolf, but ran upright like a man. His two dogs were torn to pieces by the monstrous attacker. W:45, W:57, W:63, W:64
SHEPHERD WITNESS: This shepherd saw his partner attacked by the skin-man. The man’s two dogs, who tried to protect their master, were torn apart too. According to this witness, the attacking monster looked like a wolf but ran upright like a man W:45
TIMBERSMITH FARM: Nine people were killed at the Timbersmith farm. SHERIFF PEAVY also found a little boy’s head stuck onto a pole. There were tracks all around it. The tracks were those of a big cat, but when Peavy’s posse followed the tracks, they changed into hoofs, then into the prints of a giant human being. Finally, they became the prints of a small man. W:63
BOY: The skin-man stuck this young boy’s head on pole. The boy’s skull was smashed and his brain was scooped out. W:45, W:47, W:63
SKÖLDPADDA
See GUARDIANS OF THE BEAM: TURTLE
SLEEPY JOHN’S
See CALIFORNIA (STATE OF): SACRAMENTO: SLEEPY JOHN’S, in OUR WORLD PLACES
SLIDELL, POKEY
See CALLA BRYN STURGIS CHARACTERS: WOLF POSSE
SLIGHTMAN, BEN
See CALLA BRYN STURGIS CHARACTERS: RANCHERS: EISENHART, VAUGHN
SLIGHTMAN, BENNY
See CALLA BRYN STURGIS CHARACTERS: RANCHERS: EISENHART, VAUGHN
SLIGHTMAN, EDNA
See CALLA BRYN STURGIS CHARACTERS: RANCHERS: EISENHART, VAUGHN: SLIGHTMAN, BEN (EISENHART’S FOREMAN)
SLOW MUTANTS
See MUTANTS
SMACK, ARDELIA
See WIDOW SMACK
SMA’ LADY MUFFIN
See MID-WORLD FOLKLORE
S’MANA
See GODS OF MID-WORLD
SMASHER
See ELURIA CHARACTERS: GREEN FOLK
SMA’ TOOT
When Roland was a boy, Sma’ Toot was a special two-car train that ran along MID-WORLD’S WESTERN LINE. Once the Western Line ran a thousand wheels or more to the MOHAINE DESERT, but in the years before GILEAD fell, it ran to DEBARIA and no farther. Beyond that, many tracklines had been destroyed by washouts and ground-shakers. Others had been taken up by harriers and roving bands of outlaws.
To the people of Gilead, Sma’ Toot looked like little more than a steam-driven toy, and they laughed to see it puffing over the bridge to the west of the PALACE. However, the small train with its isinglass windows and velveteen seats that folded out into uncomfortable beds did serve an important purpose. It brought Roland and JAMIE to Debaria, where they investigated the vicious murders committed by the SKIN-MAN.
W:40–44, W:48, W:51, W:62, W:63, W:294, W:303
ENGINEER TRAVIS (ENG, ENJIE): Sma’ Toot’s engineer was a broad-shouldered, bow-legged plug of a man. After Sma’ Toot went off her rails, Roland and JAMIE DeCURRY rode to get help. But before they left, Engineer Travis warned the boys not to stop at the women’s retreat of SERENITY. The Eng maintained that the SISTERS OF SERENITY ate men. (Obviously, he was wrong.) Engineer Travis made another brief appearance later in our tale. He traveled with SHERIFF PEAVY, KELLIN FRYE, VIKKA FRYE, Roland, and Jamie to the JEFFERSON RANCH, just after the massacre. He didn’t have the stomach for all the blood he saw there. W:43–44, W:48, W:62, W:63, W:70–74 (present at Ranch; mentioned on 70, 72; 74 says “seen enough”), W:294
FIXING CREW: W:44 (mentioned), W:63, W:294
SERVANT: This old man served Roland and JAMIE their meals while they traveled on Sma’ Toot toward DEBARIA. When the train derailed he was flung all the way back to the door between the car and his little kitchen. His false teeth flew out of his mouth and into his lap.W:41, W:42–43, W:62, W:63
WIFE: After Sma’ Toot derailed, the old servant decided to quit his job. Otherwise he feared he wouldn’t outlive his nag of a wife. W:43
SMITH, BRYAN
See KING, STEPHEN
SNEETCHES
See APPENDIX I
SNIP
See DEBARIA CHARACTERS: JEFFERSON RANCH CHARACTERS
SNUGGLEBUT
See CALLAHAN, FATHER DONALD FRANK: CALLAHAN’S PRESENT ASSOCIATES
SOBIESKI, MARY JEAN
See DEAN, EDDIE: EDDIE’S PAST ASSOCIATES
SOLDIERS OF THE CRIMSON KING
See WARRIORS OF THE SCARLET EYE
SOMBRA CORPORATION (SOMBRA GROUP)
NORTH CENTRAL POSITRONICS, LaMERK INDUSTRIES, and MILLS CONSTRUCTION AND SOMBRA REAL ESTATE are all part of the Sombra Group, a corporate conglomerate which serves the CRIMSON KING. Like its subsidiary North Central Positronics, Sombra has been a leader in mind-to-mind communication since the ten thousands. Mills Construction and North Central Positronics were responsible for building the MIND-TRAP under the DIXIE PIG. They are also refurbishing the PLAZA–PARK HYATT hotel where SUSANNAH-MIO stays during her trip to 1999 NEW YORK.
Incorporated in NASSAU, Sombra is a closed corporation that deals in technology, real estate, and construction. This dangerous conglomerate is after both the Vacant LOT and the magical ROSE which grows there. As CALVIN TOWER realizes when he hesitates at selling the Vacant Lot to them, if Sombra can’t appeal to a person’s greed, they will resort to terrorizing them. Just as the servants of the Red King use the WOLVES of END-WORLD to steal the children of the BORDERLANDS, the Red King’s men use BALA
ZAR and his thugs to intimidate those who stand in their way in our world.
Not only are Sombra’s employees determined to destroy the DARK TOWER, the Lot, and the Rose, but they also bear grudges against those who hunt down the VAMPIRES who serve the Outer Dark. When the vampire-killer FATHER CALLAHAN is working at the LIGHTHOUSE SHELTER in DETROIT, the Sombra Corporation lays a trap for him. Telling Callahan and his associates that their shelter has been awarded a million dollars, they lure the unsuspecting men to the TISHMAN BUILDING (982 Michigan Avenue), so that they can pick up their check. However, rather than receiving the money, Callahan finds himself in the hands of the evil RICHARD P. SAYRE, the LOW MAN who is also Sombra’s executive vice president. Rather than submitting to the bites of Sayre’s AIDS-infected TYPE THREE VAMPIRES, Callahan jumps out the window. He awakes in MID-WORLD’s WAY STATION.
V:68–69, V:95–106 (and rose), V:188 (Mills Construction and Sombra), V:451, V:453–57, V:503, V:522, V:527, V:528, V:539, V:550, VI:91–92, VI:109, VI:202, VI:219, VI:269, VI:336, VI:359, VI:381, VII:37, VII:48, VII:75, VII:125, VII:127, VII:492
SAYRE, RICHARD P.: See CAN-TOI, listed separately
SKANK, BANGO: See SKANK, BANGO, listed separately
SOMBRA ESCORT: V:451
SOMBRA SECRETARIES: V:454
SOMBRA SUBSIDIARIES:
LAMERK INDUSTRIES: Listed separately
MILLS CONSTRUCTION AND SOMBRA REAL ESTATE: Listed separately
NORTH CENTRAL POSITRONICS: Listed separately
SONESH, TASSA OF