Roadwork December 19, 1973 Review: The Arson Hangover
Book: Roadwork
Author: Richard Bachman (Stephen King)
ISBN: 978-1-101-13813-7
Bart wakes late, physically wrecked, and still smelling of gasoline. He hears the local news report on the roadwork fires and learns police are looking for a station wagon, but details are still fuzzy. That gives him a thin layer of relief.
He starts planning cleanup, cover stories, and how to act if police visit. He even tells himself jail could be easier than this waiting. Later he calls Mary about presents. She sounds steadier than before. He lies about calling psychiatrists, and she clearly does not believe him.
The chapter ends with Bart seeing that Mary is rebuilding herself and drifting toward divorce.
This is a great aftermath chapter. There is no glory left, just logistics, fear, and emotional distance. It shows how quickly an extreme act turns into ordinary panic.
Key Topics
- Physical fallout
- Police pressure
- Mary’s distance
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