Charlie Pickering's Attack and Aftermath

The mentally unstable pro-life activist who tries to kill Ralph and later participates in the High Ridge attack.

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The Library Attack

A Knife in the Side The Assault While Ralph is reading in the Derry Public Library, Charlie Pickering, a mentally unstable pro-life activist, sneaks up behind him and presses a hunting knife into his side. He calls Ralph a "Centurion" and threatens to let his guts out. Ralph manages to spray him with Bodyguard, a pepper spray given to him by Gretchen Tillbury. The Aftermath Pickering is arrested. Ralph learns that Pickering has a long history of mental illness and has been in and out of institutions. He was the one who tried to firebomb WomanCare the previous year. Ed Deepneau has been manipulating him, using him as a tool. A Narrow Escape Ralph is treated for a minor wound. He realizes that the Bodyguard spray was placed in his pocket by Dorrance Marstellar, who foresaw the attack. The incident convinces Ralph that he is being guided by forces beyond his understanding.

Pickering's Bail and Return

A Surprise Release Ed Posts Bail Despite Ralph's expectations, Charlie Pickering is released on bail. Ed Deepneau posts the full $80,000 in cash, using money from Atropos's hoard. Ralph is alarmed – Pickering is free and dangerous. The High Ridge Attack Pickering joins Ed's splinter group in the attack on High Ridge. He is the one who shoots Gretchen Tillbury and another woman. During the siege, he fires at the police from a window, killing Officer Chris Nell. Ralph and Lois confront him in the burning house. Pickering's Fate Ralph disables Pickering by using his psychic power to "flip the circuit breakers" in his mind, leaving him catatonic. Pickering is taken into custody, but he is no longer a threat. His mind is gone, a casualty of the war between Purpose and Random.

Sunday, October 3, 1993

Monday, October 4, 1993