Book 1, Part 8 Summary

Kenny Stearns and his drunken friends are all passed out in Kenny's basement. Kenny and Cross hallucinate, Kenny imagining his wife with a well-dressed, wealthy man from the city. He tries to follow them, but can't. He tries to hack his way out the door, but cuts his foot badly. Kenny again loses consciousness.

Kenny and the other men are taken to the little Peyton Place hospital by Doc Swain. Mary tells Lucy not to take Swain's jokes seriously. A crowd gathers and gossips as Lucas is brought out, still hallucinating the bugs. Selena is furious and humiliated as her father thrashes his way into the ambulance. Ted Carter appears and offers comfort, which she angrily rejects. He offers it to Joey, who accepts. At the Cross' shack, Joey goes in to tell Mrs. Cross what happened. Ted takes Selena in...