Roadwork November 20, 1973 Review: Bart Dawes Buys Guns and Starts Hiding
Bart stops at a gun shop on his way to work and makes a choice he cannot explain.
Book: Roadwork
Author: Richard Bachman (Stephen King)
ISBN: 978-1-101-13813-7
He invents a fake cousin story, buys a .44 Magnum and a heavy rifle, and orders a large amount of ammo. He fake-calls Mary by dialing a weather line and pretending she approved the cost. He signs real federal paperwork with his real name and address, then rants about eminent domain and the road project that is tearing up his life. Back home, normal household details keep moving forward, but Bart is already somewhere else. He and Mary argue about finding a new house before time runs out.
This section feels creepy because the lies are so smooth. Some moments almost read like dark comedy, then turn cold fast. The key point is not just that Bart lies to others. It is that he keeps blocking his own questions too. That is what makes this opening chapter scary.
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