The Talisman: A Novel
Chapter 15: Buddy Parkins
by King, StephenThe chapter opens with Jack Sawyer, disoriented and physically ill, finding himself near a highway after what seems like a detour in his journey. The environment is bleak, filled with industrial odors and exhaustion, and he struggles to pinpoint his location—initially mistaking Lake Erie for Lake Ontario. A road sign reveals he is near Angola, a small, smoky town. Despite his confusion, Jack realizes he has gained travel time rather than lost it. Determined to assess the situation, he decides to venture into Angola, though his appearance—unkempt and weary—reflects the toll his journey has taken on him.
Later, the narrative shifts to Buddy Parkins, a man who picks up a hitchhiking boy named Lewis Farren (later revealed to be Jack in disguise). Buddy senses something off about the boy—his clothes are ragged, his accent doesn’t match his claimed Ohio upbringing, and he carries a newspaper from Angola, New York. Despite Jack’s fabricated story about his sick mother and dead father, Buddy’s instincts tell him the boy is lying. The boy’s demeanor is heavy with worry, yet he occasionally displays unexpected humor, which momentarily lightens the tension between them.
Buddy’s suspicions grow as he notices inconsistencies in Jack’s story, particularly the Angola newspaper, which doesn’t align with the boy’s supposed origins. When confronted, Jack claims he found the paper at a bus station, but Buddy remains unconvinced. The chapter highlights Buddy’s internal conflict—his desire to help the boy clashes with his growing certainty that Jack is a runaway hiding something. The tension culminates when Buddy directly asks if Jack is running away, prompting an unexpected, genuine smile from the boy.
In a fleeting moment, Buddy sees past Jack’s grime and lies, recognizing an almost ethereal beauty in him. This brief connection unsettles Buddy, challenging his assumptions and leaving him uncertain about how to proceed. The chapter ends with an unresolved tension, emphasizing Jack’s enigmatic nature and the emotional complexity of their interaction. Buddy’s mix of suspicion and compassion underscores the chapter’s themes of deception, survival, and the fleeting moments of human connection.
FAQs
1. How does the chapter establish Jack Sawyer’s physical and emotional state at the beginning of the section?
Answer:
The chapter vividly portrays Jack’s disoriented and weakened condition through sensory details. Physically, he vomits “a thin purple drool,” struggles to stand (“wobbled to his feet”), and is surrounded by foul odors of gasoline and exhaustion. Emotionally, his face shows “too much worry,” and he appears “uncared-for,” suggesting prolonged stress. The hostile environment (gray sky, polluted air, roaring highway) mirrors his internal turmoil. His confusion about location (“Angola? Where was that?”) and time (“lost a hundred miles or more”) further emphasizes his vulnerable state as he begins his journey into the unfamiliar town.2. Analyze how Buddy Parkins’ observations create tension around Jack’s true identity.
Answer:
Buddy serves as a skeptical foil, noticing inconsistencies that hint Jack (posing as “Lewis Farren”) is hiding something. He detects Jack’s farm-like smell and worn, dirty clothing, which clash with Jack’s story of being a town resident. Buddy also questions Jack’s non-Ohio accent and the incongruous Angola Herald newspaper, which Jack unconvincingly claims to have “found.” These details build tension as Buddy’s suspicions mount (“somewhere along the line this Farren kid was jiving him”), creating dread that Jack’s deception—and thus his safety—might unravel during their interaction.3. What thematic significance does Jack’s momentary beauty hold when Buddy observes it?
Answer:
When Jack genuinely smiles at the idea of running away, Buddy perceives him as “beautiful”—a transformative moment that contrasts with Jack’s grimy exterior. This underscores themes of hidden nobility and resilience: despite Jack’s dire circumstances (his mother’s illness, his perilous journey), his spirit briefly shines through. The beauty also symbolizes the duality of Jack’s identity (ordinary boy vs. hero on a quest) and foreshadows his capacity to inspire others. Buddy’s atypical use of “beautiful” suggests Jack has an intangible quality that transcends his ragged appearance.4. How does the chapter use environmental descriptions to reflect Jack’s journey and the novel’s darker themes?
Answer:
The bleak setting mirrors Jack’s physical and psychological strain. Lake Erie’s “malignant luminescence” and air reeking of “metal filings and tired breath” evoke a world decaying morally and ecologically, aligning with the novel’s themes of corruption across dimensions. The “dying air” and highway noises that “punished” the atmosphere parallel Jack’s exhaustion and the oppressive forces (like Morgan) chasing him. Yet, the revelation that Jack has gained time (“instead of losing days… he had gained them”) introduces a glimmer of hope, suggesting resilience amid darkness.5. Why might Buddy Parkins’ character be significant beyond his role as a temporary companion to Jack?
Answer:
Buddy represents both a threat (his scrutiny could expose Jack) and a testament to human decency. His instinct to “lighten up, son” shows compassion, and his hesitation to confront Jack harshly (“almost sorry he had not given… agreement”) hints at empathy. As a working-class farmer, he grounds the story in realism, contrasting with Jack’s fantastical journey. His brief but pivotal role emphasizes how ordinary people can inadvertently shape a hero’s path—through kindness or suspicion—and reflects the novel’s exploration of how worlds (Territories vs. America) intersect via human connections.
Quotes
1. “The world, this world, stank. Jack pushed himself backward, away from the threads of puke settling over the blades of grass, and the stench altered but did not diminish. Gasoline, other nameless poisons floated in the air; and the air itself stank of exhaustion, fatigue—even the noises roaring up from the highway punished this dying air.”
This vivid description captures Jack’s visceral reaction to the polluted, decaying environment, symbolizing both the physical and metaphysical corruption of the world he’s traversing. It sets the tone for the chapter’s exploration of harsh realities.
2. “For a second, for two seconds, three … for however long that moment lasted, Buddy Parkins saw that this unwashed boy sitting beside him was beautiful.”
This moment of revelation shows Buddy’s unexpected recognition of Jack’s inner light beneath his ragged exterior. It’s a pivotal moment where perception cuts through deception, hinting at Jack’s special nature.
3. “This boy smelled like Cambridge, and Cambridge was country. Buddy had grown up with the smell of farmland and barnyard, of manure and growing corn and pea vineries, and the unwashed clothes of this boy beside him had absorbed all these familiar odors.”
This passage demonstrates Buddy’s sharp observational skills and the tension between Jack’s fabricated story and the physical evidence that contradicts it. The sensory detail reveals how deeply Buddy is analyzing his mysterious passenger.
4. “The kid’s voice was all wrong, too pushed-together and full of the wrong ups and downs. It wasn’t an Ohio voice at all. It wasn’t an Ohio voice at all. It especially was not a rural Ohioan’s voice. It was an accent.”
This highlights Buddy’s growing suspicion about Jack’s true identity, emphasizing the theme of deception and the difficulty of maintaining a false persona. The repetition underscores Buddy’s certainty about the vocal inconsistencies.
5. “He thought the whole notion of running away from home was funny. It tickled him.”
This reaction reveals Jack’s complex perspective - his journey is far more serious than mere running away, yet he finds humor in the simplistic interpretation. It shows his maturity and the weight of his actual mission.