The gypsy places a curse on the 246-pound Halleck to make him lose weight at an abnormally fast pace, and the story parallels his shrinking flesh with how quickly sin eats away at us. The main character in Blind Willie , conversely, is well aware of his sin. Bill Shearman is a Vietnam veteran still haunted by his actions in war, spending each day trying to atone for his sins by taking on a second persona. Salvation also marks several of King's stories, most notably The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon , Desperation , and The Stand . Tom Gordon puts her faith in God to deliver her, following the example of her favorite baseball player, Red Sox relief pitcher Tom Gordon, who gives credit to God for every save.
Desperation is a darker tale in which salvation comes at a high price.
Young David Carver is one of a few strangers who find themselves battling a demon in an abandoned mining town. He finds he's God's instrument in the situation, but pressing onward requires more sacrifice and pain than he ever anticipated when he turned his life over to Christ. Desperation affirms that God is in control, but it accurately points out that the Christian life won't necessarily be comfortable. The Stand likewise affirms God's supremacy, as the forces of good battle evil for control of the world after 99 percent of the population falls victim to a plague. God isn't just providing salvation from disaster in this story, but as the disaster makes the characters less reliant on their own power, he's moving them one step closer to a greater salvation.