19. Miranda and Susan

About two-thirds of the way through 'Salem's Lot, Stephen King implied that there was some sort of connection between Miranda (Ben's late wife) and Susan Norton. Ben Mears had just given Susan Norton a cross to keep with her because he feared for her safety as they were about to go their separate ways. At that same moment, Ben Mears had a flashback.

pg.258

"For no reason at all he thought of Miranda and Miranda's dying: the motorcycle hitting the wet patch, going into a skid, the sound of her scream, his own brute panic, and the side of the truck growing and growing as they approached broadside."

"Susan."

"Yes."

"Take good care of yourself. Please."

Although Ben Mears appeared to have no reason as to why he was thinking about the accident, it is obvious that he had the same feelings for Susan Norton as he had for Miranda. He loved Susan Norton. He was subconsciously going back to a time where he felt the responsiblity of taking care of the one he loved and now that someone was Susan Norton.

At the end of the novel Ben Mears had another flashback of Miranda's body after the accident. Right after he killed Barlow, he thought about Miranda. I think that he subconsciously was thinking about his love for Susan at the same time. He was thinking about his revenge on Barlow for killing his new love, Susan Norton. Ben Mears had his love taken away from him not once, but two times. Ben Mears was blending his two loves together as one person.