The Stand: Complete and Uncut Edition/Chapter 1

Chapter 1 is the first chapter of Book One of the Complete and Uncut Edition of The Stand by Stephen King. It contains the first appearance of Stuart Redman, Bill Hapscomb and the other regulars at Hapscomb's Texaco, the only appearance of several minor characters - many in flashback for Stu's backstory - and the last appearance of Charles Campion. It is also the first appearance (in the Standverse) of Arnette, Texas and references nearby Braintree. It is the chapter which concludes the Flight of the Campions.

Summary
Stu Redman and his friends Norm Bruett, Tommy Wannamaker, Hank Carmichael and Vic Palfrey are sitting around their friend Bill "Hap" Hapscomb's Texaco station just outside of Arnette, Texas, drinking beers and talking politics, as they so often do nights. Hap believes printing more money will curb inflation, and Vic is explaining why that won't work.

Stu, as usual, says almost nothing. The strong, silent type, he is a former high school football player and Vietnam War veteran who, upon the death of his mother, found himself stuck in this tiny town 110 miles outside Houston. He has long ago stopped dreaming of getting out, although his younger brother, Bryce, has.

While Hap and Vic argue and Stu reminisces, Stu notices an old Chevy moving 15 miles an hour but not slowing toward the fuel pumps. Stu shuts them off just in time, as the car crashes into them. The men rush out of the gas station to find the driver is very sick with some kind of infection that has apparently already killed his wife and daughter. Although Vic says it looks like cholera, the telltale black bulges on the neck and under the eyes - which are developing on the driver - make him one of the first people to witness victims of Captain Trips. The stench of death in the car makes Norm and Hank vomit.

Hap and Tommy take the driver into the station, where in delirium, he asks after his family. They lie and tell him everyone is fine as they call an ambulance, which arrives with friends of theirs, Billy Verecker, Monty Sullivan and Carlos Ortega. Hap asks to ride with the EMTs and has Stu call the Texas State Patrol and Hap's wife Mary.

On the ambulance ride to nearby Braintree, the Chevy driver dies. Hap checks his wallet to find his name was Charles D. Campion.