Status Updates From The Dead Zone

King just referenced W.W. Jacob's story "The Monkey's Paw." Guessing King had been thinking about writing his own version for a while, as he published "Pet Sematary" in '83. ("Dead Zone" was '79).

- Why did God have to have Johnny Smith to do his dirty work? It wasn't his responsibility to save the world, that was for the psychos and only psychos would presume to try it. He suddenly decided he would let Greg Stillson live and spit in Gods eye.

Johnny found himself abruptly wishing himself dead. If this talent was a gift from God, then God was a dangerous lunatic who ought to be stopped. If God wanted Greg Stillson dead, why hadn't he sent him down the birth canal with the umbilical cord wrapped around his throat?

Johnny sat like a stone. He found himself wondering if he would ever move again. Outside, thunder rumbled. And followed on its heels like an inner clap, he heard his dying mother's voice:
Do your duty, Jobn.