Needful Things - Stephen King [298]
"And this collar?"
"Somebody put them inside the main doors," Don said, "just before everything went to he-" The vestibule door boomed again, making them all jump, only this time it was not opening but closing.
"Hope you like the smell, you Baptist faggots!" someone shouted.
This was followed by a burst of shrill, nasty laughter.
The congregation stared at Rev. William Rose with frightened eyes. He stared back at them with eyes which were equally frightened.
And that was when the box hidden ill the choir suddenly began to hiss.
Like the box placed in the Daughters of Isabella Hall by the late Myrtle Keeton, this one (planted by Sonny jackett, now also late) contained a timer which had ticked all afternoon.
Clouds of incredibly potent stink began to pour out of the grilles set into the sides of the box.
At The United Baptist Church of Castle Rock, the fun had just begun.
3
Babs Miller skulked along the side of the Daughters of Isabella Hall, freezing in place each time a blue-white flash of lightning smoked across the sky. She had a crowbar in one hand and one of Mr.
Gaunt's automatic pistols in the other. The music box she had bought at Needful Things was tucked into one pocket of the man's overcoat she wore, and if anyone tried to steal it, that person was going to eat an ounce or so of lead.
Who would want to do such a low, nasty, mean thing? Who would want to steal the music box before Babs could even find out what tune it played?
Well, she thought, let's just put it this way-I hope Cyndi Rose Martin doesn't show her face in front of mine tonight. If she does, she isn't ever going to show her face again anywhere-not on this side of hell, anyway. What does she think I am stupid?
Meanwhile, she had a little trick to perform. A prank. At Mr.
Gaunt's request, of course.
Do you know Betsy Vigue? Mr. Gaunt had asked. You do, don't you?
Of course she did. She had known Betsy ever since grade school, when they were often hall-monitors together and inseparable comrades.
Good. Watch through the window. She will sit down. She will pick up a piece of paper, and see something beneath it.
What? Babs had asked, curious.
Never mind what. If you ever expect to find the key that unlocks the music box, you had better just shut your mouth and open your ears-do you understand, dear?
She had understood. She understood something else, as well.
Mr. Gaunt was a scary man sometimes. A very scary man.
She'll pick up the thing she's found. She'll examine it. She'll begin to open i't. By then you should be by the door to the building.
Walt until e eryone looks around toward the left rear of the hall.
Babs had wanted to ask why they would all do that, but decided it would be safer not to ask.
When they turn to look, you will slip the crowbar's split end under the doorknob. Prop the other end against the ground. Wedge it firmly.
When do I shout? Babs had asked.
You'll know. They'll all look like somebody stuck Flit-guns full of red pepper up thef'r butts, Do you remember what you're supposed to shout, Babs?
She had. It seemed like sort of a mean trick to pull on Betsy Vigue, with whom she had skipped hand-in-hand to school, but it also seemed harmless (well fairly harmless), and they were not children anymore, she and the little girl she had for some reason always called Betty La-La; all of that had been a long time ago. And, as Mr. Gaunt had pointed out, no one would ever connect it with her. Why should they? Babs and her husband were, after all, Seventh-Day Adventists, and as far as she was concerned, the Catholics and the Baptists deserved just what they got-Betty La -La included.
Lightning flashed. Babs froze, then scurried a window closer to the door, peering in to make sure Betsy wasn't sitting down at the head table yet.
And the first hesitant drops of that mighty storm began to patter down around her.
4
The stench which began to fill the Baptist Church was like the stench which had clung to Don Hemphill but a thousand times worse.
"Oh shit."' Don roared. He had completely forgotten where he was,