The Talisman: A Novel
Chapter 18: nterlude: Sloat in This World (II)
by King, StephenMorgan Sloat, a man driven by compulsion and self-assurance, retrieves a small steel safe from his parka. The safe, purchased in Zurich and touted as indestructible, contains a tarnished tin key he has possessed for over twenty years. The key originally belonged to a mechanical toy soldier he bought in Point Venuti, California, though he discarded the soldier and kept only the key. Sloat’s obsession with the key stems from its mysterious allure, hinting at its significance beyond its mundane appearance.
The key holds a hidden power, transforming into something else in the Territories, an alternate world. Sloat recalls an incident where the key, dropped in his office lobby, seemingly caused a fatal accident to a handyman named Jerry Bledsoe. Despite the chaos and destruction in the lobby, the key remained unharmed, reinforcing its supernatural resilience. Sloat remains indifferent to Jerry’s death, focusing only on the key’s retrieval, which his colleague Phil Sawyer returned to him without question.
The key’s durability and latent magic suggest its role as a conduit between worlds. In the Territories, it functions as a “lightning-rod,” though its exact purpose remains ambiguous. Sloat now wears it around his neck on a silver chain, treating it as both a talisman and a tool. His possession of the key underscores his ruthless pragmatism and willingness to exploit supernatural forces for his ends.
Sloat’s final words reveal his intent to confront Jack, the “odious little brat” he blames for his troubles. His tone is almost affectionate, yet menacing, as he vows to end their conflict decisively. The chapter highlights Sloat’s calculating nature, his reliance on mystical objects, and his determination to wield power across both worlds. The key symbolizes his connection to the Territories and his unshakable resolve to dominate the unfolding events.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of the tin key that Morgan Sloat carries, and how did he acquire it?
Answer:
The tin key is a powerful artifact that transforms into “a queer kind of lightning-rod” in the Territories, suggesting it holds magical properties. Sloat acquired it over twenty years ago from a mechanical toy soldier in a junkshop in Point Venuti, California. He was drawn to the key by an irresistible compulsion, purchased the soldier for five dollars, and immediately discarded the toy after pocketing the key. The key’s durability is notable—it survived a fiery explosion unscathed when Jerry Bledsoe died, hinting at its supernatural resilience and importance to Sloat’s plans.2. How does the chapter characterize Morgan Sloat’s personality and motivations?
Answer:
Sloat is portrayed as ruthless, calculating, and driven by dark compulsions. He takes pride in acting on his impulses (“he had always made a virtue of compulsion”) and shows no remorse for others’ suffering, as seen when he dismisses Jerry Bledsoe’s death. His obsession with the key and his vendetta against Jack (“the odious little brat”) reveal a vindictive nature. The tender yet threatening tone of his final words (“Coming for you, Jacky”) underscores his chilling determination to end their conflict, prioritizing his goals over human life.3. What role does the “world’s smallest safe” play in the chapter, and what does it reveal about Sloat’s preparedness?
Answer:
The steel safe, purchased in Zurich, symbolizes Sloat’s meticulousness and paranoia. Marketed as indestructible (even against a “crematory oven”), it safeguards the tin key, emphasizing the item’s value. Sloat’s use of a complex locking mechanism (a 10-button code) highlights his caution. However, his impractical parka—bought under the mistaken belief that America is frigid—contrasts with this preparedness, suggesting arrogance or flawed judgment in non-critical matters. The safe underscores his prioritization of power (the key) over comfort.4. Analyze the symbolic contrast between the tin key’s humble appearance and its true power.
Answer:
The key’s tarnished, mundane exterior belies its supernatural significance, mirroring themes of hidden power and deception. While it seems like a trivial trinket (originally part of a toy soldier), it becomes a “lightning-rod” in the Territories, capable of harnessing destructive forces. This duality reflects the novel’s broader exploration of dual worlds and concealed truths. Its survival of the lobby explosion—while everything else was “blackened and twisted”—further emphasizes that true power often lies beneath unassuming surfaces, much like Sloat’s veneer of sophistication masking his brutality.5. How does the chapter foreshadow impending conflict between Sloat and Jack?
Answer:
Sloat’s closing threat (“Coming for you, Jacky”) directly signals escalation, but earlier details deepen the foreshadowing. The key’s transformation into a destructive tool in the Territories suggests Sloat plans to wield it against Jack. Additionally, Jerry Bledsoe’s death—linked to the key’s “magic”—hints at the lethal consequences of Sloat’s pursuit. The juxtaposition of Sloat’s sweaty discomfort (in his misguided parka) and his cold determination implies he will stop at nothing, setting the stage for a violent confrontation driven by obsession and territorial magic.
Quotes
1. “Acting under a compulsion much too strong to deny (he hadn’t even wanted to deny it, not really; he had always made a virtue of compulsion, had Morgan Sloat), he had gone in and paid five dollars for the dusty, dented soldier … and it wasn’t the soldier he had wanted, anyway. It was the key that had caught his eye and then whispered to him.”
This quote reveals Morgan Sloat’s character—his surrender to dark compulsions and the supernatural pull of the tin key, which becomes a pivotal object. It underscores his malevolent nature and the key’s mysterious power.
2. “Like Jack’s croaker, the tin key became something else in the Territories. Once, when coming back, he had dropped that key in the lobby of the old office building. And there must have been some Territories magic left in it, because that idiot Jerry Bledsoe had gotten himself fried not an hour later.”
Here, the quote highlights the key’s transformative and lethal magic in the Territories, tying it to the novel’s dual-world mythology. It also shows Sloat’s callous disregard for human life.
3. “Except for this humble tin key. Which, in the other world, was a queer kind of lightning-rod—and which Sloat now hung around his neck on a fine silver chain.”
This passage emphasizes the key’s paradoxical nature—mundane in one world, a powerful artifact in another. Sloat’s decision to wear it symbolizes his embrace of its destructive potential.
4. “‘Coming for you, Jacky,’ said Sloat in a voice that was almost tender. ‘Time to bring this entire ridiculous business to a crashing halt.’”
The closing quote chillingly foreshadows Sloat’s impending confrontation with Jack. His mock-tenderness contrasts with his violent intent, encapsulating the chapter’s tension and his role as a menacing antagonist.