Alex Weller’s Reviews > Night Shift > Status Update

At 5 in the morning on October 27, Calvin is unable to persuade Charles not to return to 'Salem's Lot (which was a HORRIBLE sequel, by the way; almost laughably bad!) and decides to go with him. So at least Charles has a form of support during his mission. Let's hope these two can do it!

On October 26, Charles wakes up and reiterates his plan to return to Jerusalem's Lot. He has to do it tomorrow, because he's starting to feel a recurrence of the brain fever he felt after his wife died. Meanwhile, the whippoorwills won't shut up, and Randolph and Marcella are moving around again. Will Charles succeed and end the Boone family curse? God, I hope so!

On October 25, while Charles rests for the day, Calvin reads Charles' previous letter and finds out his plan to return to 'Salem's Lot. Knowing none of this is safe for Charles, Calvin gives him tea laced with sleeping powder and goes into town to get a buggy to take him away. But when he arrives in town, the townfolk throw stones at him and refuse him service, leaving the two trapped as the whippoorwills show up.

After finishing the diary, Charles finally concludes that his bloodline is cursed, and some evil force knows he is the last of the Boones. With the anniversary of whatever happened in Jerusalem's Lot a week away, Charles decides to return once more to 'Salem's Lot so he can learn everything about the curse. Let's hope all goes well!

On October 27, 1789, Robert sneakily followed Philip to 'Salem's Lot but did not enter the town. The church was filled with an evil red glow and the Satanic chants of the cult, as the ground started groaning, causing Robert to flee in terror. He ended his final entry by saying he didn't want to sleep or be awake, and was feeling beckoned to return to 'Salem's Lot, finishing by saying "cursed" several times.

Charles deduces that this book is indeed a Satanic Bible that Boon and Philip planned to use for their own deeds, and the cause of Robert and Philip's falling-out. On October 26, 1789, Robert reported that several omens started occurring that spooked the townfolk, Philip started roaming around the cellar, and whippoorwills took up residence outside Chapelwaite. Sounds like Boon and Philip already started their job.

On September 16, 1789, the book arrived, and Robert described it as feeling warm and vibrating. Philip was excited to finally have it. But when Robert reminded him of his promise to recant, Philip simply laughed and ran away with the book. Yeah, I knew he was spouting bullshit!

Philip was baptized into Boon's church on September 1, which unsettled Robert. But before that, on July 23, Philip mentioned that Boon was asking about "De Vermis Mysteriis", and Robert promised to ask a publisher about it. The publisher replied on August 12, saying there were only five copies available in the country. Philip was elated and said Boon wanted to get his hands on one, though Robert questioned why.

On October 24, Charles starts reading the deciphered diary. It turns out, Jerusalem's Lot was founded in 1710 by James Boon, a promiscuous, Satanic preacher who must be an ancestor of Charles's. The town was built around the church where Boon preached, and inhabited by his incestuous cult. In 1789, Philip Boone became acquainted with Boon, and Robert met Boon on August 4 but became unnerved by him and his cult.

On October 23, Calvin discovers Robert Boone's bedroom and finds what appears to be the key to deciphering the text in the locked book from the library. Now we'll finally learn what's in the diary! Awesome!