The Ballad of Black Tom

As the story’s climax begins, 75 officers with heavy artillery block off access Red Hook’s main street. Just like in Harlem and Queens, Red Hooks’ residents crowd around to witness the events. The police are armed with rifles, pistols, and anti-aircraft machine guns. Officers storm Suydam’s tenement buildings, kicking open doors and arresting people at random. Chaos ensues, and though most of the onlookers are concerned, the young men seem thrilled by the weaponry and violence.

Night has fallen, and the police still have not located the alleged kidnapping victims, who they presume are Norwegian children. Malone is the only one who knows the true purpose of the raid. When he enters the last tenement building, he sees a strange door marked with an “O,” the fifteenth letter of the Supreme Alphabet. When Malone opens the door, he sees Black Tom and Suydam but realizes they are not in the apartment building. He notices that Black Tom seems younger and more innocent. Confused, Malone pulls out his revolver, but Suydam slams the door before he can shoot. When Malone opens the door again, it leads into the building’s basement.

The smell of dank river water wafts up the stairs, and Malone hears Suydam call him.