5
He went down into the cellar to get Jimmy’s body, and that was the hardest trip of all. The coffin lay where it had the night before, empty even of dust. Yet… not entirely empty. The stake was in there, and something else. He felt his gorge rise. Teeth. Barlow’s teeth-all that was left of him. Ben reached down, picked them up-and they twisted in his hand like tiny white animals, trying to come together and bite.
With a disgusted cry he threw them outward, scattering them.
‘God,’ he whispered, rubbing his hand against his shirt ‘Oh, my dear God. Please let that be the end. Let it be the end of him.’