This is one of those virulent gut-clenchers which you read, ineluctably, and which belongs roughly in the category of carno (epitomizing violence -- an alternate to porno -- as coined recently in Time). Whatever its justification, it has a terrible, terrifying hold from the time when Joe Grant, his wife, and youngster are on the road and are brought to a standstill when two cans of oil are thrown at the windshield by three toughs on motorbikes. Joe is beaten with a chain; his wife and child are ...