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led and the voice rose and rose and for a short time Jack was unaware that he could not see； but then he could again）。
Lily's eyes opened wide。 They stared up into Jack's face with a startled where…am…I expression。 It was the expression of a newborn infant who has just been spanked into the world。 Then she jerked in a startled breath…
…and a river of worlds and tilted galaxies and universes were pulled up and out of the Talisman as she did。 They were pulled up in a stream of rainbow colors。 They streamed into her mouth and nose 。 。 。 they settled； gleaming； on her sallow skin like droplets of dew； and melted inward。 For a moment his mother was all clothed in radiance…
…for a moment his mother was the Talisman。
All the disease fled from her face。 It did not happen in the manner of a time…lapse sequence in a movie。 It happened all at once。 It happened instantly。 She was sick 。 。 。 and then she was well。 Rosy good health bloomed in her cheeks。 Wispy； sparse hair was suddenly full and smooth and rich； the color of dark honey。
Jack stared at her as she looked up into his face。
'Oh 。 。 。 oh 。 。 。 my GOD 。 。 。' Lily whispered。
That rainbow radiance was fading now…but the health remained。
'Mom？' He bent forward。 Something crumpled like cellophane under his fingers。 It was the brittle husk of the Talisman。 He put it aside on the nighttable。 He pushed several of her medicine bottles out of the way to do it。 Some crashed on the floor； and it didn't matter。 She would not be needing the medicines anymore。 He put the husk down with gentle reverence； suspecting…no； knowing…that even that would be gone very soon。
His mother smiled。 It was a lovely； fulfilled； somewhat surprised smile…Hello； world； here I am again！ What do you know about that？
'Jack； you came home；' she said at last； and rubbed her eyes as if to make sure it was no mirage。
'Sure；' he said。 He tried to smile。 It was a pretty good smile in spite of the tears that were pouring down his face。 'Sure； you bet。'
'I feel 。 。 。 a lot better； Jack…O。'
'Yeah？' He smiled； rubbed his wet eyes with the heels of his palms。 'That's good； Mom。'
Her eyes were radiant。
'Hug me； Jacky。'
In a room on the fourth floor of a deserted resort hotel on the minuscule New Hampshire seacoast； a thirteen…year…old boy named Jack Sawyer leaned forward； closed his eyes； and hugged his mother tightly； smiling。 His ordinary life of school and friends and games and music； a life where there were schools to go to and crisp sheets to slide between at night； the ordinary life of a thirteen…year…old boy （if the life of such a creature can ever； in its color and riot； be considered ordinary） had been returned to him； he realized。 The Talisman had done that for him； too。 When he remembered to turn and look for it； the Talisman was gone。
EPILOGUE
In a billowing white bedroom filled with anxious women； Laura DeLoessian； Queen of the Territories； opened her eyes。
CONCLUSION
So endeth this chronicle。 It being strictly the history of a boy； it must stop here； the story could not go much further without being the history of a man。 When one writes a novel about grown people； he knows exactly where to stop…that is； with a marriage； but when he writes of juveniles； he must stop where he best can。
Most of the characters who perform in this book still live； and are prosperous and happy。 Some day it may seem worthwhile to take up the story again and see what 。 。 。 they turned out to be； therefore； it will be wisest not to reveal any of that part of their lives at present。
…Mark Twain； Tom Sawyer
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