Chapter 12

           Thenextnightthebarwasclosed.ItwaswhateverpassedfortheSabbathinTull.Thegunslingerwenttothetiny,leaningchurchbythegraveyardwhileAlliewashedtableswithstrongdisinfectantandrinsedkerosenelampchimniesinsoapywater.

           Anoddpurpleduskhadfallen,andthechurch,litfromtheinside,lookedalmostlikeablastfurnacefromtheroad.

           "Idon’tgo,"Alliehadsaidshortly."Thewomanwhopreacheshaspoisonreligion.Lettherespectableonesgo.

           Hestoodinthevestibule,hiddeninashadow,lookingin.Thepewsweregoneandthecongregationstood(hesawKennerlyandhisbrood;Castner,ownerofthetown’sscrawnydry-goodsemporiumandhisslat-sidedwife;afewbarflies;afew"town"womenhehadneverseenbefore;and,surprisingly,Sheb).Theyweresingingahymnraggedly,acappella.Helookedcuriouslyatthemountainouswomanatthepulpit.Alliehadsaid:"Shelivesalone,hardlyeverseesanybody.OnlycomesoutonSundaytoserveupthehellfire.HernameisSylviaPittston.She’scrazy,butshe’sgotthehoodooonthem.Theylikeitthatway.Itsuitsthem."

           Nodescriptioncouldtakethemeasureofthewoman.

           Breastslikeearthworks.Ahugepillarofaneckovertoppedbyapastywhitemoonofaface,inwhichblinkedeyessolargeandsodarkthattheyseemedtobebottomlesstarns.Herhairwasabeautifulrichbrownanditwaspiledatopherheadinahaphazard,lunaticsprawl,heldbyahairpinbigenoughtobeameatskewer.Sheworeadressthatseemedtobemadeofburlap.Thearmsthatheldthehymnalwereslabs.