Roland and his group continue their journey along the beach, and meet one of the twelve guardians, Shardik, a diseased mechanical bear. Once the bear is defeated, Roland and his ka-tet follow the path of the beam towards the centre, and the Dark Tower.
On their way they make a startling discovery - a doorway into Jake's world, and Jake is once again united with Roland. But once they reach Lud, Jake is cruelly ripped from the group. Roland and Oy, Jake's pet, work to find Jake, who is being kept by the Tick-Tock man, a twisted individual.
They all meet once again and again to ride with Blaine the nasty monorail, who insists on taking them to their deaths at the far end of his track.
Published by Donald M. Grant, 1991
Dedication: This third volume of the tale is gratefully dedicated to my son: Owen Phillip King: Khef, Ka, and Ka-tet.