The Long Walk

by Richard Bachman

“I’m gonna see my girl in Freeport,” Garraty said rapidly. “And I’m not gonna have any warnings and I’m gonna kiss her, God I miss her, God, Jesus, did you see his legs? They were still warning him, Pete, like they thought he was gonna get up and walk—” “Another boy has gone ober to dat Silver City, lawd, lawd,” Barkovitch intoned. “Shut up, killer,” McVries said absently. “She pretty, Ray? Your girl?” “She’s beautiful. I love her.” McVries smiled. “Gonna marry her?” “Yeah,” Garraty babbled. “We’re gonna be Mr. and Mrs. Norman Normal, four kids and a collie dog, his legs, he didn’t have any legs, they ran over him, they can’t run over a guy, that isn’t in the rules, somebody ought to report that, somebody—” “Two boys and two girls, that what you’re gonna have?” “Yeah, yeah, she’s beautiful, I just wish I hadn’t—” “And the first kid will be Ray Junior and the dog’ll have a dish with its name on it, right?”