SPIDER DANCE

In November 1965, ten-year-old Jeff Emerson goes ghost hunting in the Waller House in Athens, Ohio, a haunted mansion on the hill behind his home. He is chased by what he thinks is a large animal and attacked by a host of Black Widow spiders. Ron Emerson, Jeff's father, returns to destroy the spider nest, but ends up starting a fire and is killed. Jeff is found--by Dr. Goldberg, a family friend--outside the burning house. He suffers from traumatic amnesia. Ron Emerson's body shows up in the debris, along with the remains of three small children. He is suspected of perversion and kidnapping. Regina Perry, who rules the spiders, follows Jeff to the hospital to kill him. She changes her mind when hampered by a doctor. Deciding not to kill the boy until he's old enough to appreciate what he's done, she leaves, preparing for a lengthy period of playing cat and mouse with Jeff.Regina and her husband move to San Antonio, Texas--where Jeff Emerson now lives with his wife and daughter--preparing to enter the final phase of her plan to exact her long-delayed revenge. Jeff Emerson, now a major in the United States Air Force, experiences recurring dreams about the Waller House incident, attracting attention to himself and making him fear loss of his sanity.Experiencing recurring nightmares, Jeff realizes he must resolve his continuing internal conflict or jeopardize his career in the military. He visits Dr. Goldberg in Athens, Ohio, for help. The visit, however, produces more problems than it solves. Jeff leaves in a quandary--even more concerned about his past.Returning to Athens again, Jeff is there to see a deputy sheriff enter a tunnel under the burnt out Waller house. He returns suffering from a lack of oxygen with an amazing story of a giant spider. No one believes him, thinking he is hallucinating.Is there truly a “Spider Queen” with a huge pet Black Widow, or is Jeff dreaming it all? Maybe the pet spider is simply a mechanical contrivance? Jeff, trying to protect hs daughter, confronts his fears at last. Will he or the “Spider Queen” win their final contest?

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