The Drawing of the Three

Jack Mort finally realizes that someone is inside his head, but Roland refuses to answer Mort’s bewildered questions. Roland was far more empathetic with Eddie and Odetta because they were good people; even Detta Walker could never be as terrible as Mort has been. Roland decides to use Mort as a puppet to achieve his goals, using Mort’s mind as an encyclopedia and dictionary rolled into one. Overwhelmed by Roland’s presence, Mort faints. Roland commandeers Mort’s body in a cab and asks the chauffeur to take him to an ammunition shop. The cops parked close to the shop mock Mort, who is dressed in a blue suit and wears gold-rimmed glasses.

Roland asks the store clerk to show him a catalogue of bullets. He finally sees bullets that match his own and asks the store clerk to pack him three boxes. When the clerk asks Roland to show him a handgun permit, Roland finds himself in a quandary. He improvises a plan, secretly slipping Mort’s wallet under the counter. He tells the clerk he has changed his mind about the sale and walks out.

Roland tells the cops that the store clerk has seized his wallet. The officers sense something robotic about Roland since Roland pauses often in his speech to search Mort’s consciousness for a correct word.