TheShining

by

StephenKing

ThisisforJoeHillKing,whoshineson.

Myeditoronthisbook,asontheprevioustwo,
[Link],
[Link]
tothisbookhasbeenlarge,andforit,mythanks

S.K.

Someofthemostbeautiful
resorthotelsintheworld
arelocatedinColorado,but
thehotelinthesepages
isbasedonnoneofthem.
TheOverlookandthepeople
associatedwithitexist
whollywithin
theauthor's
imagination.

Itwasinthisapartment,also,thattherestood...a
giganticclockof
[Link],heavy,
monotonousclang;and
when...thehourwastobestricken,therecamefromthe
brazenlungsofthe
clockasoundwhichwasclearandloudanddeepandexceedingly
musical,butof
sopeculiaranoteandemphasisthat,ateachlapseofanhour,
themusiciansof
theorchestrawereconstrainedtopause...tohearkentothe
sound;andthus
thewaltzersperforceceasedtheirevolutions;andtherewasa
briefdisconcert
ofthewholegaycompany;and;whilethechimesoftheclockyet
rang,itwas
observedthatthegiddiestgrewpale,andthemoreagedand
sedatepassedtheir
handsovertheirbrowsasifinconfusedreverieormeditation.
Butwhenthe
echoeshadfullyceased,alightlaughteratoncepervadedthe
assembly...
and[they]smiledasifattheirownnervousness...andmade
whisperingvows,
eachtotheother,thatthenextchimingoftheclockshould
produceinthemno
similaremotion;andthen,afterthelapseofsixtyminutes...
therecameyet
anotherchimingoftheclock,andthenwerethesamedisconcert
and
tremulousnessandmeditationasbefore.
Butinspiteofthesethings,itwasagayandmagnificent
revel...

[Link]
"TheMasqueof
theRedDeath"

Thesleepofreasonbreedsmonsters.
GOYA

It'llshinewhenitshines
FOLKSAYING

PARTONE

PrefatoryMatters

<<1>>

JOBINTERVIEW

JackTorrancethought:Officiouslittleprick.
Ullmanstoodfivefive,andwhenhemoved,itwaswiththe
prissyspeedthat
[Link]
inhishair
wasexact,[Link]
youcanbring
yourproblemsto,[Link]
hiredhelpit
spokemorecurtly:Thishadbetterbegood,[Link]
carnationin
thelapel,perhapssothatnooneonthestreetwouldmistake
StuartUllmanfor
thelocalundertaker.
AshelistenedtoUllmanspeak,Jackadmittedtohimselfthat
heprobably
couldnothavelikedanymanonthatsideofthedeskunderthe
circumstances.
Ullmanhadaskedaquestionhehadn'[Link];
Ullmanwasthe
typeofmanwhowouldfilesuchlapsesawayinamentalRolodex
forlater
consideration.
"I'msorry?"
"Iaskedifyourwifefullyunderstoodwhatyouwouldbetaking
[Link]
there'syourson,ofcourse."Heglanceddownattheapplication
infrontof
him."[Link]'tabitintimidatedbytheidea?"
"Wendyisanextraordinarywoman."
"Andyoursonisalsoextraordinary?"
Jacksmiled,abigwidePRsmile."Weliketothinkso,I
[Link]'squite
selfreliantforafiveyearold."
[Link]'sapplication
backintothe
[Link]
completelybareexcept
forablotter,atelephone,aTensorlamp,andanin/outbasket.
Bothsidesof
thein/outwereempty,too.
Ullmanstoodupandwenttothefilecabinetinthecorner.
"Steparoundthe
desk,ifyouwill,[Link]'lllookatthefloorplans."
Hebroughtbackfivelargesheetsandsetthemdownonthe
glossywalnutplain
[Link],verymuchawareofthe
scentof
Ullman'[Link]
nothingatall
cameintohismindfornoreasonatall,andhehadtoclamphis
tonguebetween
[Link],
faintly,camethe
soundsoftheOverlookHotel'skitchen,gearingdownfromlunch.
"Topfloor,"Ullmansaidbriskly."[Link]
nothinguptherenow
[Link]
sinceWorldWarII
anditseemsthateachsuccessivemanagerhasputeverythingthey
don'twantup
[Link].
Someofthe
thirdfloorchambermaidssaytheyhaveheardrustlingnoises.I
don'tbelieve
it,notforamoment,buttheremustn'tevenbethatoneina
hundredchance
thatasingleratinhabitstheOverlookHotel."
Jack,whosuspectedthateveryhotelintheworldhadarator
two,heldhis
tongue.
"Ofcourseyouwouldn'tallowyoursonupintheatticunder
any
circumstances."
"No,"Jacksaid,andflashedthebigPRsmileagain.
Humiliatingsituation.
Didthisofficiouslittleprickactuallythinkhewouldallowhis
sontogoof
aroundinarattrapatticfullofjunkfurnitureandGodknew
whatelse?
Ullmanwhiskedawaytheatticfloorplanandputitonthe
bottomofthepile.
"TheOverlookhasonehundredandtenguestquarters,"hesaid
inascholarly
voice."Thirtyofthem,allsuites,arehereonthethirdfloor.
Teninthewest
wing(includingthePresidentialSuite),teninthecenter,ten
moreintheeast
[Link]."
Couldyouatleastsparethesalestalk?
[Link].
Ullmanputthethirdflooronthebottomofthepileandthey
studiedthe
secondfloor.
"Fortyrooms,"Ullmansaid,"thirtydoublesandtensingles.
Andonthefirst
floor,[Link],
andastoreroom
whichisattheextremeeastendofthehotelonthesecondfloor
andthe
[Link]?"
[Link]
away.
"[Link]:Hereinthecenteristheregistrationdesk.
Behinditare
[Link]
fromthedesk.
OverhereinthewestwingistheOverlookDiningRoomandthe
ColoradoLounge.
Thebanquetandballroomfacilityisintheeastwing.
Questions?"
"Onlyaboutthebasement,"Jacksaid."Forthewinter
caretaker,that'sthe
[Link],sotospeak."
"[Link]
theboilerroom
wall."Hefrownedimpressively,perhapstoshowthatasmanager,
hedidnot
concernhimselfwithsuchmundaneaspectsoftheOverlook's
operationasthe
boilerandtheplumbing."Mightnotbeabadideatoputsome
trapsdownthere
[Link]..."
Hescrawledanoteonapadhetookfromhisinnercoatpocket
(eachsheet
borethelegendFromtheDeskofStuartUllmaninboldblack
script),toreit
off,[Link]
[Link]
disappearedbackintoUllman'sjacketpocketliketheconclusion
ofamagician's
[Link],Jackyboy,nowyoudon'[Link]
realheavyweight.
Theyhadresumedtheiroriginalpositions,Ullmanbehindthe
deskandJackin
frontofit,interviewerandinterviewee,supplicantand
reluctantpatron.
Ullmanfoldedhisneatlittlehandsonthedeskblotterand
lookeddirectlyat
Jack,asmall,baldingmaninabanker'ssuitandaquietgray
[Link]
inhislapelwasbalancedoffbyasmalllapelpinontheother
[Link]
simplySTAFFinsmallgoldletters.
"I'llbeperfectlyfrankwithyou,[Link]
Shockleyisapowerful
manwithalargeinterestintheOverlook,whichshowedaprofit
thisseasonfor
[Link]
BoardofDirectors,
butheisnotahotelmanandhewouldbethefirsttoadmit
[Link]
[Link]
youhired.I
[Link],I
wouldnothave
takenyouon."
Jack'shandswereclenchedtightlyinhislap,workingagainst
eachother,
[Link],officious
"Idon'tbelieveyoucaremuchforme,[Link].I
littleprick,officious
don'[Link]
ownbelief
[Link]
fromMay
fifteenthtoSeptemberthirtieth,theOverlookemploysone
hundredandten
peoplefulltime;oneforeveryroominthehotel,youmightsay.
Idon'tthink
manyofthemlikemeandIsuspectthatsomeofthemthinkI'ma
bitofa
[Link].
Ihavetobea
bitofabastardtorunthishotelinthemanneritdeserves."
HelookedatJackforcomment,andJackflashedthePRsmile
again,largeand
insultinglytoothy.
Ullmansaid:"TheOverlookwasbuiltintheyears1907to1909.
Theclosest
townisSidewinder,fortymileseastofhereoverroadsthatare
closedfrom
sometimeinlateOctoberorNovemberuntilsometimeinApril.A
mannamedRobert
TownleyWatsonbuiltit,thegrandfatherofourpresent
maintenanceman.
Vanderbiltshavestayedhere,andRockefellers,andAstors,and
[Link]
[Link],
Harding,Roosevelt,
andNixon."
"Iwouldn'tbetooproudofHardingandNixon,"Jackmurmured.
Ullmanfrownedbutwentonregardless."Itprovedtoomuchfor
[Link],and
hesoldthehotelin1915.Itwassoldagainin1922,in1929,in
[Link]
vacantuntiltheendofWorldWarII,whenitwaspurchasedand
completely
renovatedbyHoraceDerwent,millionaireinventor,pilot,film
producer,and
entrepreneur."
"Iknowthename,"Jacksaid.
"[Link]...except
theOverlook.
Hefunneledoveramilliondollarsintoitbeforethefirst
postwarguestever
steppedthroughitsdoors,turningadecrepitrelicintoa
[Link]
DerwentwhoaddedtheroquecourtIsawyouadmiringwhenyou
arrived."
"Roque?"
"ABritishforebearofourcroquet,[Link]
bastardized
[Link],Derwentlearnedthegamefromhis
socialsecretary
[Link]
courtin
America."
"Iwouldn'tdoubtit,"[Link],a
topiaryfullof
hedgeanimalsoutfront,whatnext?AlifesizedUncleWiggly
gamebehindthe
equipmentshed?[Link],
buthecouldsee
thatUllmanwasn'[Link],every
lastwordof
it.
"Whenhehadlostthreemillion,Derwentsoldittoagroupof
California
[Link].
Justnothotel
people.
"In1970,[Link]
hoteland
[Link]
severalyears,
butI'mhappytosaythatthetrustofthepresentownersinme
hasnever
[Link]'s
accountswere
writteninblackinkforthefirsttimeinalmostsevendecades."
Jacksupposedthatthisfussylittleman'spridewasjustified,
andthenhis
originaldislikewashedoverhimagaininawave.
Hesaid:"IseenoconnectionbetweentheOverlook'sadmittedly
colorful
historyandyourfeelingthatI'mwrongforthepost,Mr.
Ullman."
"OnereasonthattheOverlookhaslostsomuchmoneyliesin
thedepreciation
[Link]
dealmorethan
youmightbelieve,[Link]
[Link]
tocopewiththeproblem,I'veinstalledafulltimewinter
caretakertorunthe
boilerandtoheatdifferentpartsofthehotelonadaily
[Link]
repairbreakageasitoccursandtodorepairs,sotheelements
can'tgeta
[Link].
Duringourfirst
[Link]
[Link]
tragedy."
UllmanlookedatJackcoollyandappraisingly.
"[Link]."
Jackfeltaslow,hotgrinthetotalantithesisofthetoothy
PRgrin
stretchacrosshismouth."Isthatit?I'msurprisedAldidn't
tellyou.I've
retired."
"Yes,[Link]
aboutyour
lastjob...yourlastpositionoftrust,shallwesay?You
wereteaching
[Link],Idon't
believeIneed
[Link]
thatGrady'scase
hasabearing,andthatiswhyIhavebroughtthematterof
your...uh,
[Link]
197071,afterwe
hadrefurbishedtheOverlookbutbeforeourfirstseason,Ihired
this...this
[Link]
andyourwife
[Link]
reservations,
themainonesbeingtheharshnessofthewinterseasonandthe
factthatthe
Gradyswouldbecutofffromtheoutsideworldforfivetosix
months."
"Butthat'snotreallytrue,isit?Therearetelephoneshere,
andprobablya
citizen'[Link]
Parkiswithin
helicopterrangeandsurelyapieceofgroundthatbigmusthave
achopperor
two."
"Iwouldn'tknowaboutthat,"Ullmansaid."Thehoteldoeshave
atwoway
[Link],alongwithalistofthe
correct
[Link]
betweenhere
andSidewinderarestillaboveground,andtheygodownalmost
everywinterat
somepointorotherandareapttostaydownforthreeweekstoa
monthanda
[Link]."
"Thentheplacereallyisn'tcutoff."
[Link]."Supposeyoursonoryourwife
trippedonthestairs
andfracturedhisorherskull,[Link]
placewascut
offthen?"
[Link]
youdownto
Sidewinderinanhourandahalf...[Link]
theParksRescue
Servicecouldgetuphereinthreehours...underoptimum
[Link]
blizzarditwouldneverevenbeabletoliftoffandyoucouldn't
hopetoruna
snowmobileattopspeed,evenifyoudaredtakeaseriously
injuredpersonout
intotemperaturesthatmightbetwentyfivebeloworfortyfive
below,ifyou
addedinthewindchillfactor.
"InthecaseofGrady,"Ullmansaid,"IreasonedmuchasMr.
Shockleyseemsto
[Link].
Betterfortheman
[Link],Ithought,the
oddswerevery
highthatitwouldbesomethinglessurgentthanafractured
skulloran
accidentwithoneofthepowertoolsorsomesortofconvulsion.
Aseriouscase
oftheflu,pneumonia,abrokenarm,[Link]
thosethings
wouldhaveleftenoughtime.
"Isuspectthatwhathappenedcameasaresultoftoomuch
cheapwhiskey,of
whichGradyhadlaidinageneroussupply,unbeknownsttome,and
acurious
[Link]
term?"Ullman
offeredapatronizinglittlesmile,readytoexplainassoonas
Jackadmitted
hisignorance,andJackwashappytorespondquicklyandcrisply.
"It'saslangtermfortheclaustrophobicreactionthatcan
occurwhenpeople
[Link]
claustrophobiais
externalizedasdislikeforthepeopleyouhappentobeshutin
[Link]
casesitcanresultinhallucinationsandviolencemurderhas
beendoneover
suchminorthingsasaburnedmealoranargumentaboutwhose
turnitistodo
thedishes."
Ullmanlookedrathernonplussed,whichdidJackaworldof
[Link]
pressalittlefurther,butsilentlypromisedWendyhewouldstay
cool.
"[Link]?"
"Hekilledthem,[Link],[Link]
murderedthe
littlegirlswithahatchet,hiswifewithashotgun,andhimself
thesameway.
[Link]."
UllmanspreadhishandsandlookedatJackselfrighteously.
"Washeahighschoolgraduate?"
"Asamatteroffact,hewasn't,"Ullmansaidalittlestiffly.
"Ithoughta,
shallwesay,lessimaginativeindividualwouldbeless
susceptibletothe
rigors,theloneliness"
"Thatwasyourmistake,"Jacksaid."Astupidmanismoreprone
tocabinfever
justashe'smorepronetoshootsomeoneoveracardgameor
commitaspurof
[Link],there's
nothingtodo
butwatchTVorplaysolitaireandcheatwhenhecan'tgetall
theacesout.
Nothingtodobutbitchathiswifeandnagatthekidsand
[Link]
tosleepbecausethere'[Link]
sleepand
[Link]
goesoutandthe
TVaerialblowsdownandthere'snothingtodobutthinkand
cheatatsolitaire
[Link]...boom,boom,boom."
"Whereasamoreeducatedman,suchasyourself?"
"[Link],as
AlShockley
[Link],hiscoloringbooks,and
hiscrystal
[Link],andIalsowanttoteachhim
tosnowshoe.
Wendywouldliketolearnhow,[Link],Ithinkwecankeep
busyandoutof
eachother'shairiftheTVgoesonthefritz."Hepaused."And
Alwastelling
[Link],andit
gottobe
[Link]'thadsomuchasaglassofbeerinthelast
fourteen
[Link]'tintendtobringanyalcoholuphere,andIdon't
thinkthere
willbeanopportunitytogetartyafterthesnowflies."
"Inthatyouwouldbequitecorrect,"Ullmansaid."Butaslong
asthethree
ofyouareuphere,thepotentialforproblemsismultiplied.I
havetoldMr.
Shockleythis,andhetoldmehewouldtaketheresponsibility.
NowI'vetold
you,andapparentlyyouarealsowillingtotakethe
responsibility"
"Iam."
"Allright.I'llacceptthat,[Link]
wouldstill
[Link],
perhapsyou'll
[Link]'[Link],whowilltakeyou
throughthebasement
[Link]?"
"[Link]."
Ullmanstood."Ihopetherearenohardfeelings,[Link].
Thereis
[Link]
what'sbestfor
[Link]."
"[Link]."JackflashedthePRgrinagain,buthe
wasgladUllman
didn'[Link]
ofthem.

<<2>>

BOULDER

Shelookedoutthekitchenwindowandsawhimjustsitting
thereonthecurb,
notplayingwithhistrucksorthewagonoreventhebalsaglider
thathad
pleasedhimsomuchallthelastweeksinceJackhadbroughtit
[Link]
justsittingthere,watchingfortheirshopwornVW,hiselbows
plantedonhis
thighsandhischinproppedinhishands,afiveyearoldkid
waitingforhis
daddy.
Wendysuddenlyfeltbad,almostcryingbad.
Shehungthedishtoweloverthebarbythesinkandwent
downstairs,
[Link]
pride!Heyno,
Al,Idon'tneedanadvance.I'[Link]
wallsweregouged
andmarkedwithcrayons,greasepencil,[Link]
weresteepand
[Link],andwhatsort
ofplacewas
thisforDannyafterthesmallneatbrickhouseinStovington?
Thepeopleliving
abovethemonthethirdfloorweren'tmarried,andwhilethat
didn'tbotherher,
theirconstant,[Link]
therewasTom,
andafterthebarshadclosedandtheyhadreturnedhome,the
fightswouldstart
inearnesttherestoftheweekwasjustaprelimincomparison.
TheFriday
NightFights,Jackcalledthem,butitwasn'[Link]
hernamewas
Elainewouldatlastbereducedtotearsandtorepeatingover
andoveragain:
"Don't,[Link]'[Link]'t."Andhewouldshoutat
[Link]
hadevenawakenedDanny,[Link]
morningJack
caughtTomgoingoutandhadspokentohimonthesidewalkat
[Link]
startedtoblusterandJackhadsaidsomethingelsetohim,too
quietlyfor
Wendytohear,andTomhadonlyshakenhisheadsullenlyand
[Link]
hadbeenaweekagoandforafewdaysthingshadbeenbetter,
butsincethe
weekendthingshadbeenworkingbacktonormalexcuseme,
[Link]
fortheboy.
Hersenseofgriefwashedoverheragainbutshewasonthe
walknowandshe
[Link]
thecurbbeside
him,shesaid:"What'sup,doc?"
Hesmiledatherbutitwasperfunctory."Hi,Mom."
Thegliderwasbetweenhissneakeredfeet,andshesawthatone
ofthewings
hadstartedtosplinter.
"WantmetoseewhatIcandowiththat,honey?"
Dannyhadgonebacktostaringupthestreet."[Link]
it."
"Yourdaddymaynotbebackuntilsuppertime,[Link]'salong
driveupinto
thosemountains."
"Doyouthinkthebugwillbreakdown?"
"No,Idon'tthinkso."Buthehadjustgivenhersomethingnew
toworry
[Link],[Link].
"Dadsaiditmight,"Dannysaidinamatteroffact,almost
boredmanner."He
saidthefuelpumpwasallshottoshit."
"Don'tsaythat,Danny."
"Fuelpump?"heaskedherwithhonestsurprise.
Shesighed."No,`Allshottoshit.'Don'tsaythat."
"Why?"
"It'svulgar."
"What'svulgar,Mom?"
"Likewhenyoupickyournoseatthetableorpeewiththe
bathroomdooropen.
Orsayingthingslike`Allshottoshit.'Shitisavulgarword.
Nicepeople
don'tsayit."
"[Link],
`Christthisfuel
pump'sallshottosbit.'Isn'tDadnice?"
Howdoyougetintothesethings,Winnifred?Doyoupractice?
"He'snice,buthe'[Link]'sverycarefulnot
tosaythings
likethatinfrontofpeoplewhowouldn'tunderstand."
"YoumeanlikeUncleAI?"
"Yes,that'sright."
"CanIsayitwhenI'mgrownup?"
"Isupposeyouwill,whetherIlikeitornot."
"Howold?"
"Howdoestwentysound,doc?"
"That'salongtimetohavetowait."
"Iguessitis,butwillyoutry?"
"Hokay."
[Link],as
iftorise,but
thebeetlecomingwasmuchnewer,[Link]
[Link]
wonderedjusthowhardthismovetoColoradohadbeenonDanny.
Hewas
closemouthedaboutit,butitbotheredhertoseehimspendingso
muchtimeby
[Link]'sfellowfacultymembershad
hadchildren
aboutDanny'sageandtherebadbeenthepreschoolbutinthis
neighborhood
[Link]
wereoccupiedby
studentsattendingCU,andofthefewmarriedcoupleshereon
ArapahoeStreet,
[Link]
dozenofhigh
schoolorjuniorhighschoolage,threeinfants,andthatwas
all.
"Mommy,whydidDaddylosehisjob?"
Shewasjoltedoutofherreverieandflounderingforan
[Link]
haddiscussedwaystheymighthandlejustsuchaquestionfrom
Danny,waysthat
hadvariedfromevasiontotheplaintruthwithnovarnishonit.
ButDannyhad
[Link],whenshewasfeelinglowandleast
preparedforsuch
[Link],maybereadingthe
confusiononherface
[Link]
childrenadultmotives
andactionsmustseemasbulkingandominousasdangerousanimals
seeninthe
[Link],
havingonlythe
[Link]
tearsagain,
andwhileshefoughtthemoffsheleanedover,pickedupthe
disabledglider,
andturneditoverinherhands.
"Yourdaddywascoachingthedebateteam,[Link]
rememberthat?"
"Sure,"hesaid."Argumentsforfun,right?"
"Right."Sheturnedtheglideroverandover,lookingatthe
tradename
(SPEEDOGLIDE)andthebluestardecalsonthewings,andfound
herselftelling
theexacttruthtoherson.
"TherewasaboynamedGeorgeHatfieldthatDaddyhadtocut
fromtheteam.
Thatmeanshewasn'[Link]
yourdaddycut
himbecausehedidn'tlikehimandnotbecausehewasn'tgood
[Link]
[Link]."
"Washetheonewhoputtheholesinourbug'stires?"
"Yes,[Link]
doingit."Nowshe
hesitatedagain,buttherewasnoquestionofevasionnow;itwas
reducedto
tellthetruthortellalie.
"Yourdaddy...sometimeshedoesthingshe'ssorryfor
[Link]
doesn'[Link]'thappenveryoften,
butsometimes
itdoes."
"DidhehurtGeorgeHatfieldlikethetimeIspilledallhis
papers?"
Sometimes
(Dannywithhisarminacast)
hedoesthingshe'ssorryforlater.
Wendyblinkedhereyessavagelyhard,drivinghertearsallthe
wayback.
"Somethinglikethat,[Link]
stopcutting
[Link]
oftheschool
saidthatGeorgecouldn'tgothereanymoreandyourdaddy
couldn'tteachthere
anymore."Shestopped,outofwords,andwaitedindreadforthe
delugeof
questions.
"Oh,"Dannysaid,andwentbacktolookingupthestreet.
Apparentlythe
[Link]
her
Shestoodup."I'mgoingupstairsforacupoftea,[Link]
coupleof
cookiesandaglassofmilk?"
"IthinkI'llwatchforDad."
"Idon'tthinkhe'llbehomemuchbeforefive."
"Maybehe'llbeearly."
"Maybe,"sheagreed."Maybehewill."
Shewashalfwayupthewalkwhenhecalled,"Mommy?"
"What,Danny?"
"Doyouwanttogoandliveinthathotelforthewinter?"
Now,whichoffivethousandanswersshouldshegivetothat
one?Thewayshe
hadfeltyesterdayorlastnightorthismorning?Theywereall
different,they
crossedthespectrumfromrosypinktodeadblack.
Shesaid:"Ifit'swhatyourfatherwants,it'swhatIwant."
Shepaused.
"Whataboutyou?"
"IguessIdo,"hesaidfinally."Nobodymuchtoplaywith
aroundhere."
"Youmissyourfriends,don'tyou?"
"[Link]'saboutall."
Shewentbacktohimandkissedhim,rumpledhislightcolored
hairthatwas
[Link],
andsometimes
shewonderedjusthowhewassupposedtosurvivewithherand
Jackforparents.
Thehighhopestheyhadbegunwithcamedowntothisunpleasant
apartment
buildinginacitytheydidn'[Link]
castroseup
[Link]
madeamistake,
oneshesometimesfearedcouldneverbecorrectedandwhichonly
themost
innocentbystandercouldpayfor.
"Stayoutoftheroad,doc,"shesaid,andhuggedhimtight.
"Sure,Mom."
[Link]
andlaida
coupleofOreosonaplateforDannyincasehedecidedtocome
upwhileshewas
[Link]
frontofher,she
lookedoutthewindowathim,stillsittingonthecurbinhis
bluejeansandhis
oversizeddarkgreenStovingtonPrepsweatshirt,theglidernow
lyingbeside
[Link]
cloudburstandshe
leanedintothefragrant,[Link]
griefandloss
forthepast,andterrorofthefuture.

<<3>>

WATSON
Youlostyourtemper,Ullmanhadsaid.
"Okay,here'syourfurnace,"Watsonsaid,turningonalightin
thedark,
[Link],
whiteshirt,
[Link]
thefurnace's
bellyandheandJackpeeredintogether."Thishere'sthepilot
light."A
steadybluewhitejethissingsteadilyupwardchanneled
destructiveforce,but
thekeyword,Jackthought,wasdestructiveandnotchanneled:if
youstuckyour
handinthere,thebarbecuewouldhappeninthreequickseconds.
Lostyourtemper.
(Danny,areyouallright?)
Thefurnacefilledtheentireroom,byfarthebiggestand
oldestJackhad
everseen.
"Thepilot'sgotafailsafe,"Watsontoldhim."Littlesensor
inthere
[Link],itsets
offabuzzerin
[Link]'sontheothersideofthewall.I'lltake
youaround."He
slammedthegratingshutandledJackbehindtheironbulkofthe
furnacetoward
[Link],andfor
somereason
Jackthoughtofalarge,[Link]
whistled.
Lostyour
(WhenhewentbackintohisstudyandsawDannystandingthere,
wearing
nothingbuthistrainingpantsandagrin,aslow,redcloudof
ragehad
eclipsedJack'[Link],inside
hishead,butit
[Link]
thewaysome
[Link]
studyseemedto
[Link],
cupboards,thesliding
[Link]
manuscript,thethree
actplayhehadbeenslowlydevelopingfromanovelettehehad
writtenseven
yearsagoasanundergraduate,wasscatteredalloverthefloor.
Hehadbeen
drinkingabeeranddoingtheActIIcorrectionswhenWendysaid
thephonewas
forhim,andDannyhadpouredthecanofbeeralloverthepages.
Probablyto
[Link],seeitfoam,thewordsplayedoverand
overinhis
mindlikeasinglesickchordonanoutoftunepiano,completing
thecircuitof
[Link],
whowaslooking
upathimwiththatpleasedgrin,hispleasureatthejobofwork
so
successfullyandrecentlycompletedinDaddy'sstudy;Dannybegan
tosay
somethingandthatwaswhenhehadgrabbedDanny'shandandbent
ittomakehim
dropthetypewritereraserandthemechanicalpencilhewas
clenchinginit.
Dannyhadcriedoutalittle...no...no...tellthe
truth...he
[Link],
thesicksingle
[Link],askingwhat
[Link]
voicefaint,[Link]
[Link]
whirledDannyaroundtospankhim,hisbigadultfingersdigging
intothescant
meatoftheboy'sforearm,meetingarounditinaclosedfist,
andthesnapof
thebreakingbonehadnotbeenloud,notloudbutithadbeen
veryloud,HUGE,
[Link]
likeanarrow
butinsteadoflettinginsunlight,thatsoundletinthedark
cloudsofshame
andremorse,theterror,theagonizingconvulsionofthespirit.
Acleansound
withthepastononesideofitandallthefutureontheother,
asoundlikea
breakingpencilleadorasmallpieceofkindlingwhenyou
broughtitdownover
[Link],in
respecttothe
beginningfuturemaybe,[Link]'s
facedrainof
coloruntilitwaslikecheese,seeinghiseyes,alwayslarge,
growlarger
still,andglassy,Jacksuretheboywasgoingtofaintdeadaway
intothe
puddleofbeerandpapers;hisownvoice,weakanddrunk,slurry,
tryingtotake
itallback,tofindawayaroundthatnottooloudsoundofbone
crackingand
intothepastisthereastatusquointhehouse?saying:
Danny,areyouall
right?Danny'sansweringshriek,thenWendy'sshockedgaspasshe
camearound
themandsawthepeculiarangleDanny'sforearmhadtohiselbow;
noarmwas
[Link]
ownscreamas
sheswepthimintoherarms,andanonsensebabble:OhGodDanny
ohdearGodoh
sweetGodyourpoorsweetarm;andJackwasstandingthere,
stunnedandstupid,
tryingtounderstandhowathinglikethiscouldhavehappened.
Hewasstanding
thereandhiseyesmettheeyesofhiswifeandhesawthatWendy
[Link]
didnotoccurtohimwhatthehatemightmeaninpracticalterms;
itwasonly
laterthatherealizedshemighthavelefthimthatnight,gone
toamotel,
gottenadivorcelawyerinthemorning;[Link]
sawonlythat
hiswifehatedhimandhefeltstaggeredbyit,[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
telephoneanddialed
thehospitalwiththeirscreamingboywedgedinthecrookofher
armandJack
didnotgoafterher,heonlystoodintheruinsofhisoffice,
smellingbeer
andthinking)
Youlostyourtemper.
HerubbedhishandharshlyacrosshislipsandfollowedWatson
intotheboiler
[Link],butitwasmorethanthehumidity
thatbroughtthe
[Link]
rememberingdid
that,itwasatotalthingthatmadethatnighttwoyearsago
seemliketwo
[Link]
back,thesense
ofhavingnoworthatall,andthatfeelingalwaysmadehimwant
tohavea
drink,andthewantingofadrinkbroughtstillblackerdespair
wouldheever
haveanhour,notaweekorevenaday,mindyou,butjustone
wakinghourwhen
thecravingforadrinkwouldn'tsurprisehimlikethis?
"Theboiler,"[Link]
bandannafromhis
backpocket,blewhisnosewithadecisivehonk,andthrustit
backoutofsight
afterashortpeekintoittoseeifhehadgottenanything
interesting.
Theboilerstoodonfourcementblocks,alongandcylindrical
metaltank,
[Link]
confusionofpipesand
ductswhichzigzaggedupwardintothehigh,cobwebfestooned
basementceiling.
ToJack'sright,twolargeheatingpipescamethroughthewall
fromthefurnace
intheadjoiningroom.
"Pressuregaugeishere."Watsontappedit."Poundspersquare
inch,psi.I
guessyou'[Link],andthe
roomsgetalittle
[Link],[Link]'re
crazytocomeup
[Link],[Link]
patchesonher
thanapairofwelfareoveralls."[Link].
[Link]
went.
"Igotmeafuckincold,"Watsonsaidconversationally."Iget
oneevery
[Link],thenI
beoutcuttin
[Link]
cold,myoldmum
[Link],[Link]
[Link]
cancergetsyou,youmightaswellmakeyourwill.
"You'llwanttokeepyourpressuptonomorethanfifty,maybe
[Link].
Ullman,besaystoheatthewestwingoneday,centralwingthe
next,eastwing
[Link]'theacrazyman?Ihatethatlittle
[Link]
allthelivelongday,he'sjustlikeoneathoselittledogsthat
bitesyouon
[Link]
blackpowderhe
couldn'[Link]'sapitythethingsyouseewhen
youain'tgota
gun.
"[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
wing,yougot
torememberthat'sthesideofthehotelthatreallycatchesthe
[Link]
itwhoops,thoseroomsgetascoldasafrigidwomanwithanice
cubeupher
[Link]
[Link],
anyway."
"Thethermostatsupstairs"Jackbegan.
Watsonshookhisbeadvehemently,makinghisfluffyhairbounce
onhisskull.
"Theyain'[Link]'[Link]
peoplefrom
California,theydon'tthinkthingsisrightunlesstheygotit
hotenoughto
[Link]
[Link]
towatchthepress,[Link]?"
Hetappedthemaindial,whichhadcreptfromahundredpounds
persquareinch
[Link]
shivercrosshis
backinahurryandthought:Thegoosejustwalkedovermygrave.
ThenWatson
gavethepressurewheelaspinanddumpedtheboileroff:There
wasagreat
hissing,[Link]
twistedthevalve
shutandthehissingdiedreluctantly.
"Shecreeps,"Watsonsaid."Youtellthatfatlittlepeckerwood
Ullman,he
dragsouttheaccountbooksandspendsthreehoursshowinghowhe
can'tafforda
[Link],thiswholeplaceisgonnagosky
highsomeday,
andIjusthopethatfatfuck'[Link],I
wishIcouldbe
[Link]
[Link],I'mjust
[Link],amancan't
helphis
nature.
"Nowyougottoremembertocomedownheretwiceadayandonce
atnight
[Link],
it'lljustcreep
andcreepandlikeasnotyouanyourfambly'llwakeuponthe
[Link]
justdumpheroffalittleandyou'llhavenotrouble."
"What'stopend?"
"Oh,she'sratedfortwofifty,butshe'dblowlongbeforethat
[Link]
couldn'tgetmetocomedownanstandnexttoherwhenthatdial
wasuptoone
hundredandeighty."
"There'snoautomaticshutdown?"
"No,thereain'[Link]
[Link]
government'sintoeverythingthesedays,ain'tit?FBIopenin
mail,CIAbuggin
thegoddamphones...andlookwhathappenedtothatNixon.
Wasn'tthata
sorrysight?
"Butifyoujustcomedownhereregularancheckthepress,
you'[Link]
[Link]'tnone
oftheroomsget
[Link]
you'llhaveyour
ownapartmentjustaswarmasyoulikeit."
"Whatabouttheplumbing?"
"Okay,[Link]
arch."
Theywalkedintoalong,rectangularroomthatseemedto
stretchformiles.
Watsonpulledacordandasingleseventyfivewattbulbcasta
sickish,swinging
[Link]
bottomofthe
elevatorshaft,heavygreasedcablesdescendingtopulleystwenty
feetin
diameterandahuge,[Link]
everywhere,bundled
[Link]
InvoicesorReceipts
SAV$[Link]
fallingapart,
spillingyellowflimsysheetsthatmighthavebeentwentyyears
oldoutontothe
[Link],[Link]'sentire
historymightbe
here,buriedintheserottingcartons.
"Thatelevator'sabitchtokeeprunnin,"Watsonsaid,jerking
histhumbat
it."IknowUllman'sbuyingthestateelevatorinspectorafew
fancydinnersto
keeptherepairmanawayfromthatfucker.
"Now,here'syourcentralplumbincore."Infrontofthemfive
largepipes,
eachofthemwrappedininsulationandcinchedwithsteelbands,
roseintothe
shadowsandoutofsight.
Watsonpointedtoacobwebbyshelfbesidetheutilityshaft.
Therewerea
numberofgreasyragsonit,andalooseleafbinder."Thatthere
isallyour
plumbinschematics,"hesaid."Idon'tthinkyou'llhaveany
troublewith
[Link]
waytostopthat
istorunthefaucetsalittlebitdurinthenights,butthere's
overfour
[Link]
screamallthe
[Link]'tthatright?"
"I'dsaythat'saremarkablyastuteanalysis."
Watsonlookedathimadmiringly."Say,youreallyareacollege
fellaaren't
you?[Link],aslongasthefella
ain'toneof
[Link]
thosecollege
riotsafewyearsago?Thehommasexshuls,that'[Link]
frustratedan
[Link],[Link]
shit,Idon't
knowwhattheworld'scominto.
"Now,ifshefreezes,shemostlikelygonnafreezerightupin
[Link]
heat,[Link],usethis."Hereachedintoabroken
orangecrate
andproducedasmallgastorch.
"Youjustunstraptheinsulationwhenyoufindtheiceplugand
puttheheat
[Link]?"
"[Link]?"
"Thatwon'thappenifyou'redoinyourjobandkeepintheplace
[Link]
can'[Link]'tyoufretaboutit.
You'llhaveno
[Link],
itdoes."
"Ullmansaidthefirstwintercaretakerkilledhisfamilyand
himself."
"Yeah,[Link],Iknewthatthe
minuteIsawhim.
[Link]
startinout
hereandthatfatfuckUllman,hewouldahiredtheBoston
Stranglerifhe'd've
[Link]
foundem;the
[Link],
frozesolid.
[Link],[Link]
cutbuttons.
Oh,[Link],hemanagessome
honkytonkyresort
placedowninFloridaintheoffseason,andhecaughtaplaneup
toDenverand
hiredasleightotakehimupherefromSidewinderbecausethe
roadswere
closedasleigh,canyoubelievethat?Heaboutsplitagut
tryintokeepit
[Link],[Link]
wasanitemin
theDenverPost,andofcoursethebituaryinthatpissantlittle
ragtheyhave
downinEstesPark,[Link],
considerinthe
[Link]
itallup
againandjustsortaputGradyinitasanexcusetorakeover
thescandals."
"Whatscandals?"
Watsonshrugged."Anybighotelshavegotscandals,"hesaid.
"Justlikeevery
[Link]?Hell,peoplecomeandgo.
Sometimesoneofem
willpopoffinhisroom,heartattackorstrokeorsomething
[Link]
[Link],
nomirrorson
thebackofthedooryoucomeinthrough,[Link],
welostalady
[Link],andyoucan
betyourass
[Link]'swhattheypayhimtwentytwothousandbucksa
seasonfor,andas
muchasIdislikethelittleprick,[Link]'slikesome
peoplejustcome
heretothrowupandtheyhireaguylikeUllmantocleanupthe
[Link]'s
thiswoman,mustbesixtyfuckinyearsoldmyage!andher
hair'sdyedjustas
redasawhore'sstoplight,titssagginjustaboutdowntoher
bellybuttonon
accountofsheain'twearinnobrassyear,bigvarycoarseveins
allupanddown
herlegssotheylooklikeacoupleofgoddamroadmaps,thejools
drippinoff
[Link]'sgotthiskid
withher,he
can'tbenomorethanseventeen,withhairdowntohisasshole
andhiscrotch
bulgin'[Link]'reherea
week,tendays
maybe,andeverynightit'[Link]
Loungefrom
fivetoseven,hersuckinupsingaporeslingslikethey'regonna
outlawem
tomorrowandhimwithjusttheonebottleofOlympia,suckinit,
makinitlast.
Andshe'dbemakinjokesandsayinallthesewittythings,and
everytimeshe
saidonehe'dgrinjustlikeafuckinape,likeshehadstrings
tiedtothe
[Link]
gettinharder
anharderforhimtogrin,andGodknowswhathehadtothink
abouttogethis
[Link],they'dgoinfordinner,himwalkin
andher
staggerin,drunkasacoot,youknow,andhe'dbepinchinthe
waitressesand
grinninatemwhenshewasn'[Link],weevenhadbetson
howlonghe'd
last."
Watsonshrugged.
"Thenhecomesdownonenightaroundten,sayinhis'wife'is
'indisposed'
whichmeantshewaspassedoutagainlikeeveryothernightthey
wasthereand
he'[Link]
littlePorsche
theycomein,andthat'[Link]
comesdownand
triestoputonthisbigact,butalldayshe'sgettinpaleran
paler,andMr.
Ullmanasksher,sortadiplomaticlike,wouldshelikehimto
notifythestate
cops,justincasemaybehehadalittleaccidentorsomething.
She'sonhim
[Link],he'safinedriver,sheisn'tworried,
everything'sunder
control,he'[Link]
intotheColorado
[Link]
roomaroundten
thirty,andthat'sthelasttimeanybodysawheralive."
"Whathappened?"
"Countycoronersaidshetookaboutthirtysleepinpillsontop
ofallthe
[Link],somebigshotlawyer
fromNewYork.
HegaveoldUllmanfourdifferentshadesofholyhell.I'llsue
thisanI'llsue
thatanwhenI'mthroughyouwon'tevenbeabletofindaclean
pairof
underwear,[Link]'sgood,[Link]
gothim
[Link]'dliketosee
hiswifesplashed
allovertheNewYorkpapers:WifeofProminentNewYorkBlah
BlahFoundDead
[Link]
withakidyoung
enoughtobehergrandson.
"ThestatecopsfoundthePorscheinthebackofthisallnight
burgerjoint
downinLyons,andUllmanpulledafewstringstogetitreleased
tothat
[Link],which
isthecounty
coroner,andgothimtochangetheverdicttoaccidentaldeath.
Heartattack.
NowoleArcher'[Link]'tbegrudgehim.A
man'sgottotake
itwherehefindsit,especiallywhenhestartsgettinalongin
years."
[Link].
"Sowhathappens?Aboutaweeklaterthisstupidcuntofa
chambermaid,
DeloresVickerybyname,shegivesoutwithahelluvashriek
whileshe'smakin
uptheroomwherethosetwostayed,andshefaintsdeadaway.
Whenshecomesto
shesayssheseenthedeadwomaninthebathroom,layinnakedin
thetub.'Her
facewasallpurpleanpuffy.'shesays,'anshewasgrinninat
me.'SoUllman
gavehertwoweeks'worthofwalkingpapersandtoldhertoget
[Link]
there'smaybefortyfiftypeoplediedinthishotelsincemy
grandfatheropened
itforbusinessin1910."
HelookedshrewdlyatJack.
"Youknowhowmostofemgo?Heartattackorstroke,while
they'rebanginthe
ladythey'[Link]'swhattheseresortsgetalotof,old
typesthatwant
[Link]
they'retwenty
[Link],andnotalltheguyswhoran
thisplacewasas
[Link]
Overlook'sgota
reputation,yeah.I'llbetthefuckinBiltmoreinNewYorkCity
hasgota
reputation,ifyouasktherightpeople."
"Butnoghosts?"
"[Link],I'[Link]
Iwasakidno
older'[Link]
seenaghost
[Link],I'llshowyouthe
equipmentshed."
"Fine."
AsWatsonreacheduptoturnoffthelight,Jacksaid,"There
surearealot
ofpapersdownhere."
"Oh,you'[Link]
[Link]
andoldinvoicesandbillsofladingandChristknowswhatelse.
Mydadusedto
keepupwiththemprettygoodwhenwehadtheoldwoodburning
furnace,butnow
they'[Link]
themdownto
[Link]
hewillifI
holler`rat'loudenough."
"Thentherearerats?"
"Yeah,Iguessthere'[Link].
Ullmanwants
[Link]
yourboy,Mr.
[Link]'twantnothingtohappentohim."
"No,Isurewouldn't."ComingfromWatsontheadvicedidn't
sting.
Theywenttothestairsandpausedthereforamomentwhile
Watsonblewhis
noseagain.
"You'llfindallthetoolsyouneedoutthereandsomeyou
don't,[Link]
there'[Link]?"
"Yes,hewantspartofthewestroofreshingled."
"Hellgetalltheforfreeoutofyouthathecan,thefat
littleprick,and
thenwhinearoundinthespringabouthowyoudidn'tdothejob
halfright.I
toldhimoncerighttohisface,Isaid..."
Watson'swordsfadedawaytoacomfortingdroneastheymounted
thestairs.
JackTorrancelookedbackoverhisshoulderonceintothe
impenetrable,musty
smellingdarknessandthoughtthatiftherewaseveraplacethat
shouldhave
ghosts,[Link],lockedinbythesoft,
implacable
snow,[Link]
scream?he
[Link],feelingitcloseinonhimmoreeveryday,
andknowingat
[Link]'thavebeen
[Link]
shouldn'thavelosthistemper.
AshefollowedWatsonthroughthedoor,thewordsechoedback
tohimlikea
knell,accompaniedbyasharpsnaplikeabreakingpencillead.
DearGod,he
[Link].

<<4>>
SHADOWLAND

Dannyweakenedandwentupforhismilkandcookiesatquarter
[Link]
gobbledthemwhilelookingoutthewindow,thenwentintokiss
hismother,who
[Link]"Sesame
Street"the
timewouldpassfasterbutheshookhisheadfirmlyandwent
backtohisplace
onthecurb.
Nowitwasfiveo'clock,andalthoughhedidn'thaveawatch
andcouldn'ttell
timetoowellyetanyway,hewasawareofpassingtimebythe
lengtheningofthe
shadows,andbythegoldencastthatnowtingedtheafternoon
light.
Turningtheglideroverinhishands,hesangunderhisbreath:
"Skiptom
Lou,nIdon'tcare...skiptomLou,nIdon'tcare...my
master'sgone
away...Lou,Lou,skiptoInLou..."
TheyhadsungthatsongalltogetherattheJackandJill
NurserySchoolhe
[Link]'tgotonurseryschool
outherebecause
Daddycouldn'[Link]
fatherworried
aboutthat,worriedthatitwasaddingtohisloneliness(and
evenmoredeeply,
unspokenbetweenthem,thatDannyblamedthem),buthedidn't
reallywanttogo
[Link]'t
quiteabigkid
yet,buthewasn'[Link]
schoolandgotahot
[Link]
beingababyand
[Link]
Scottbutitwas
[Link]
happennext.
Heunderstoodagreatmanythingsabouthisparents,andhe
knewthatmany
timestheydidn'tlikehisunderstandingsandmanyothertimes
refusedto
[Link]
contenttowait.
Itwastoobadtheycouldn'tbelievemore,though,especially
attimeslike
[Link],justabout
cryingshewasso
[Link]
weretoogrownup
forDannytounderstandvaguethingsthathadtodowith
security,withDaddy's
selfimagefeelingsofguiltandangerandthefearofwhatwasto
becomeof
thembutthetwomainthingsonhermindrightnowwerethat
Daddyhadhada
breakdowninthemountains(thenwhydoesn'thecall?)orthat
Daddyhadgone
[Link]
Thingwassince
ScottyAaronson,whowassixmonthsolder,hadexplaineditto
[Link]
becausehisdaddydidtheBadThing,[Link],Scottytoldhim,
hisdaddyhad
[Link],
Scotty'sdadand
momhadgottenaDIVORCEovertheBadThing,andwhenDannyhad
knownhim,
Scottylivedwithhismotherandonlysawhisdaddyonweekends.
Thegreatest
terrorofDanny'slifewasDIVORCE,awordthatalwaysappeared
inhismindasa
signpaintedinredletterswhichwerecoveredwithhissing,
poisonoussnakes.
InDIVORCE,[Link]
ofwarover
youinacourt(tenniscourt?badmintoncourt?Dannywasn'tsure
whichorifit
wassomeother,butMommyandDaddyhadplayedbothtennisand
badmintonat
Stovington,soheassumeditcouldbeeither)andyouhadtogo
withoneofthem
andyoupracticallyneversawtheotherone,andtheoneyouwere
withcould
marrysomebodyyoudidn'[Link]
most
terrifyingthingaboutDIVORCEwasthathehadsensedthewordor
concept,or
whateveritwasthatcametohiminhisunderstandingsfloating
aroundinhis
ownparents'heads,sometimesdiffuseandrelativelydistant,
sometimesasthick
[Link]
wayafterDaddy
punishedhimformessingthepapersupinhisstudyandthe
doctorhadtoput
[Link],butthememory
oftheDIVORCE
[Link]
mommythat
time,andhehadbeeninconstantterrorthatshewouldpluckthe
wordfromher
brainanddragitoutofhermouth,[Link]
wasaconstant
undercurrentintheirthoughts,oneofthefewhecouldalways
pickup,likethe
[Link],thecentralthoughtformed
onlythespine
ofmorecomplexthoughts,thoughtshecouldnotasyetevenbegin
tointerpret.
[Link]'sDIVORCE
thoughtscentered
aroundwhatDaddyhaddonetohisarm,andwhathadhappenedat
Stovingtonwhen
[Link]
offatDaddy
andputtheholesintheirbug'[Link]'sDIVORCEthoughts
weremore
complex,coloreddarkvioletandshotthroughwithfrightening
veinsofpure
[Link].
Thatthingswould
[Link],mostlyabout
theBadThing.
Dannycouldalmostalwayspickthatuptoo:Daddy'sconstant
cravingtogointo
adarkplaceandwatchacolorTVandeatpeanutsoutofabowl
anddotheBad
Thinguntilhisbrainwouldbequietandleavehimalone.
Butthisafternoonhismotherhadnoneedtoworryandhe
wishedhecouldgo
[Link]
notoff
[Link],put
puttingalongthe
[Link]
wasn'teventhinking
[Link]...about...
Dannylookedfurtivelybehindhimatthekitchenwindow.
Sometimesthinking
[Link]
thingsgoaway,
andthenhesawthingsthatweren'[Link],notlongafter
theyputthe
castonhisarm,[Link]
weren'ttalking
[Link]
thoughtsofDIVORCE
hungoverthekitchentablelikeacloudfullofblackrain,
pregnant,readyto
[Link]'[Link]
allthatblack
[Link]
seemeddesperately
important,hehadthrownhimselffullyintoconcentrationand
somethinghad
[Link],hewaslyingonthe
floorwithbeans
andmashedpotatoesinhislapandhismommywasholdinghimand
cryingand
[Link],hadtriedto
explainto
[Link]
tohimwhenhe
concentratedonunderstandingmorethanwhatnormallvcameto
[Link]
explainaboutTony,whotheycalledhis"invisibleplaymate."
Hisfatherhadsaid:"He'[Link]
okay,butI
wantthedoctortolookathimanyway."
Afterthedoctorleft,Mommyhadmadehimpromisetoneverdo
thatagain,to
neverscarethemthatway,[Link]
frightenedhimself.
Becausewhenhebadconcentratedhismind,ithadflownoutto
hisdaddy,and
forjustamoment,beforeTonyhadappeared(faraway,asbe
alwaysdid,calling
distantly)andthestrangethingshadblottedouttheirkitchen
andthecarved
roastontheblueplate,forjustamomenthisownconsciousness
hadplunged
throughhisdaddy'sdarknesstoanincomprehensiblewordmuch
morefrightening
thanDIVORCE,[Link]
acrossitagainin
hisdaddy'smind,andhehadcertainlynotgonelookingforit.
Hedidn'tcare
ifheneverfoundoutexactlywhatthatwordmeant.
Buthedidliketoconcentrate,becausesometimesTonywould
[Link]
[Link]
thencleared
mosttimes,infactbutatothertimesTonywouldappearatthe
verylimitof
hisvision,callingdistantlyandbeckoning...
IthadhappenedtwicesincetheymovedtoBoulder,andhe
rememberedhow
surprisedandpleasedhehadbeentofindTonyhadfollowedhim
allthewayfrom
[Link]'tbeenleftbehindafterall.
Thefirsttimehehadbeenoutinthebackyardandnothing
muchhadhappened.
JustTonybeckoningandthendarknessandafewminuteslaterhe
hadcomeback
torealthingswithafewvaguefragmentsofmemory,likea
[Link]
secondtime,twoweeksago,[Link],
beckoning,calling
fromfouryardsover:"Danny...comesee..."Itseemedthat
hewasgetting
up,thenfallingintoadeephole,likeAliceintoWonderland.
Thenhehadbeen
inthebasementoftheapartmenthouseandTonyhadbeenbeside
him,pointing
intotheshadowsatthetrunkhisdaddycarriedallhisimportant
papersin,
especially"THEPLAY."
"See?"Tonyhadsaidinhisdistant,musicalvoice."It'sunder
thestairs.
[Link]...under...
thestairs."
Dannyhadsteppedforwardtolookmorecloselyatthismarvel
andthenhewas
fallingagain,thistimeoutofthebackyardswing,wherehehad
beensitting
[Link],too.
Threeorfourdayslaterhisdaddyhadbeenstompingaround,
tellingMommy
furiouslythathehadbeenalloverthegoddambasementandthe
trunkwasn't
thereandhewasgoingtosuethegoddammoverswhohadleftit
somewhere
[Link]
finish"THE
PLAY"ifthingslikethiskeptcroppingup?
Dannysaid,"No,[Link]'[Link]
itrightunder
thestairs."
Daddyhadgivenhimastrangelookandhadgonedowntosee.
Thetrunkhad
beenthere,[Link]
aside,hadsat
himonhislap,[Link]
itbeenTom
fromupstairs?Thecellarwasdangerous,[Link]
thelandlord
[Link],Daddywanted
[Link]
gladtohavehispapersandhis"PLAY"butitwouldn'tbeworth
ittohim,he
said,ifDannyfelldownthestairsandbrokehis...hisleg.
Dannytoldhis
fatherearnestlythathehadn'[Link]
doorwasalways
[Link],
shesaid,
[Link]'ttell
lies.
"Thenbowdidyouknow,doc?"Daddyasked.
"Tonyshowedme."
[Link]
hadhappened
before,[Link],theyswept
itquickly
[Link],Mommy
especially,andhe
wascarefulaboutthinkingthewaythatcouldmakeTonycome
whereshemight
[Link],notmovingaboutin
thekitchenyet,
andsoheconcentratedhardtoseeifhecouldunderstandwhat
Daddywas
thinkingabout.
Hisbrowfurrowedandhisslightlygrimyhandsclenchedinto
tightfistson
[Link]'tnecessarybuthe
squinchedthem
downtoslitsandimaginedDaddy'svoice,Jack'svoice,John
DanielTorrance's
voice,deepandsteady,sometimesquirkingupwithamusementor
deepeningeven
morewithangerorjuststayingsteadybecausehewasthinking.
Thinkingof.
[Link]..
(thinking)
Dannysighedquietlyandhisbodyslumpedonthecurbasifall
themuscles
[Link];hesawthestreetand
thegirland
boywalkingupthesidewalkontheotherside,holdinghands
becausetheywere
(?inlove?)
[Link]
sawautumn
leavesblowingalongthegutter,yellowcartwheelsofirregular
[Link]
thehousetheywerepassingandnoticedhowtheroofwascovered
with
([Link]'llbenoproblemiftheflashing'sok
yeahthat'llbe
[Link]
placeforhim
in"THEPLAY."i'llendupwiththewholefuckinghumanracein
itifidon't
[Link]?ohshit
forgottoaskhim
wellthey'[Link].
they'renesting
[Link]
casethey're
[Link])
[Link]'[Link]
thejobandwas
[Link]'tknowwhoWatsonwas,but
everythingelse
[Link]'[Link]
assureashis
namewas
"Danny...Dannee..."
HelookedupandtherewasTony,farupthestreet,standingby
astopsign
[Link],asalways,feltawarmburstofpleasureat
seeinghisold
friend,butthistimeheseemedtofeelaprickoffear,too,as
ifTonyhad
[Link]
whichwhen
releasedwouldstingdeeply.
Buttherewasnoquestionofnotgoing.
Heslumpedfurtherdownonthecurb,hishandsslidinglaxly
fromhisthighs
[Link]
[Link]
therewasadim,painlesstugaspartofhimgotupandranafter
Tonyinto
funnelingdarkness.
"Dannee"
[Link],
whoopingsound
andbending,torturedshadowsthatresolvedthemselvesintofir
treesatnight,
[Link]
everywhere.
"Toodeep,"Tonysaidfromthedarkness,andtherewasa
sadnessinhisvoice
thatterrifiedDanny."Toodeeptogetout."
Anothershape,looming,[Link].A
slopingroof.
[Link].
Alongbuilding
[Link],newer.
Hisdaddyput
[Link]
snowwas
[Link].
Agreenwitchlightglowedintobeingonthefrontofthe
building,flickered,
andbecameagiant,grinningskullovertwocrossedbones:
"Poison,"Tonysaidfromthefloatingdarkness."Poison."
Othersignsflickeredpasthiseyes,someingreenletters,
someofthemon
[Link].
DANGER!LIVE
[Link]
[Link]
[Link].
Heunderstood
noneofthemcompletelyhecouldn'tread!butgotasenseof
all,andadreamy
terrorfloatedintothedarkhollowsofhisbodylikelightbrown
sporesthat
woulddieinsunlight.
[Link],
aroomthat
[Link].
Hismouthwas
dry,hiseyeslikehotmarbles,hishearttriphammeringinhis
[Link]
therewasahollowboomingnoise,likeadreadfuldoorbeing
thrownwide.
[Link],anddeepdowninits
silverbubblea
singlewordappearedingreenfireandthatwordwas:REDRUM.
[Link]
(wouldknow)
[Link]
swirlingin;already
[Link]
freeandhungon
[Link].
Morehollowboomingnoises,steady,rhythmic,horrible.
Smashingglass.
[Link],thevoiceofamadman,
madethemore
terriblebyitsfamiliarity:
Comeout!Cameout,youlittleshit!Takeyourmedicine!
[Link]
satisfaction.
[Link].
[Link]
player
(?Mommy'srecordplayer'!)
[Link],Grieg,Handel,the
Beatles,Art
Garfunkel,Bach,Liszt,[Link]
blackpiewedges.
Ashaftoflightcomingfromanotherroom,thebathroom,harsh
whitelightanda
wordflickeringonandoffinthemedicinecabinetmirrorlikea
redeye,
REDRUM,REDRUM,REDRUM
"No,"hewhispered."No,Tonyplease"
And,danglingoverthewhiteporcelainlipofthebathtub,a
[Link].A
slowtrickleofblood(REDRUM)tricklingdownoneofthefingers,
thethird,
drippingontothetilefromthecarefullyshapednail
Noohnoohno
(ohplease,Tony,you'rescaringme)
REDRUMREDRUMREDRUM
(stopit,Tony,stopit)
Fading.
Inthedarknesstheboomingnoisesgrewlouder,louderstill,
echoing,
everywhere,allaround.
Andnowhewascrouchedinadarkhallway,crouchedonablue
rugwithariot
oftwistingblackshapeswovenintoitspile,listeningtothe
boomingnoises
approach,andnowaShapeturnedthecornerandbegantocome
towardhim,
lurching,[Link]
anditwas
swingingit(REDRUM)fromsidetosideinviciousarcs,slamming
itintothe
walls,cuttingthesilkwallpaperandknockingoutghostlybursts
of
plasterdust:
Comeonandtakeyourmedicine!Takeitlikeaman!
TheShapeadvancingonhim,reekingofthatsweetsourodor,
gigantic,the
malletheadcuttingacrosstheairwithawickedhissingwhisper,
thenthegreat
hollowboomasitcrashedintothewall,sendingthedustoutin
apuffyou
couldsmell,[Link]
monsterwas
uponhim,ithaddiscoveredhim,coweringherewithablankwall
athisback.
Andthetrapdoorintheceilingwaslocked.
[Link].
"Tony,pleasetakemeback,please,please"
Andhewasback,sittingonthecurbofArapahoeStreet,his
shirtsticking
damplytohisback,[Link]
couldstillhear
thathuge,contrapuntalboomingsoundandsmellhisownurineas
hevoided
[Link]
handdangling
overtheedgeofthetubwithbloodrunningdownonefinger,the
third,andthat
inexplicablewordsomuchmorehorriblethananyoftheothers:
REDRUM.
[Link],nowsixblocks
up,onlya
speck,standingonthecorner,hisvoicefaintandhighand
sweet."Becareful,
doc..."
Then,inthenextinstant,TonywasgoneandDaddy'sbattered
redbugwas
turningthecornerandchatteringupthestreet,fartingblue
smokebehindit.
Dannywasoffthecurbinasecond,waving,jivingfromonefoot
totheother,
yelling:"Daddy!Hey,Dad!Hi!Hi!"
HisdaddyswungtheVWintothecurb,killedtheengine,and
openedthedoor.
Dannyrantowardhimandthenfroze,[Link]
crawledup
[Link],
intheother
frontseat,wasashorthandledmallet,itsheadclottedwith
bloodandhair.
Thenitwasjustabagofgroceries.
"Danny...youokay,doc?"
"Yeah.I'mokay."Hewenttohisdaddyandburiedhisfacein
Daddy's
sheepskinlineddenimjacketandhuggedhimtighttighttight.
Jackhuggedhim
back,slightlybewildered.
"Hey,youdon'twanttositinthesunlikethat,[Link]'re
drippinsweat."
"[Link],[Link]
waiting."
"Iloveyoutoo,[Link]'re
bigenoughto
carryitupstairs?"
"Suream!"
"DocTorrance,theworld'sstroneestman,"Jacksaid,and
ruffledhishair.
"Whosehobbyisfallingasleeponstreetcorners."
ThentheywerewalkinguptothedoorandMommyhadcomedown
totheporchto
meetthemandhestoodonthesecondstepandwatchedthemkiss.
Theywereglad
[Link]
outoftheboy
[Link].
Thebagofgroceriesjustabagofgroceriescrackledinhis
arms.
[Link].
Therewereno
[Link].
Butfearhadsettledaroundhisheart,deepanddreadful,
aroundhisheartand
aroundthatindecipherablewordhehadseeninhisspirit's
mirror.

<<5>>

PHONEBOOTH

JackparkedtheVWinfrontoftheRexallintheTableMesa
shoppingcenter
[Link]'tgo
aheadandgetthe
fuelpumpreplaced,andtoldhimselfagainthattheycouldn't
[Link]
littlecarcouldkeeprunninguntilNovember,itcouldretire
withfullhonors
[Link]
higherthanthe
beetle'sroof...maybehigherthanthreebeetlesstackedon
topofeach
other.
"Wantyoutostayinthecar,doe.I'llbringyouacandybar."
"Whycan'tIcomein?"
"[Link]'sprivatestuff."
"Isthatwhyyoudidn'tmakeitathome?"
"Check."
Wendyhadinsistedonaphoneinspiteoftheirunraveling
[Link]
arguedthatwithasmallchildespeciallyaboylikeDanny,who
sometimes
sufferedfromfaintingspellstheycouldn'taffordnottohave
[Link]
forkedoverthethirtydollarinstallationfee,badenough,anda
ninetydollar
securitydeposit,[Link]
beenmuteexcept
fortwowrongnumbers.
"CanIhaveaBabyRuth,Daddy?"
"[Link]'tplaywiththegearshift,right?"
"Right.I'lllookatthemaps."
"Youdothat."
AsJackgotout,Dannyopenedthebug'sgloveboxandtookout
thefive
batteredgasstationmaps:Colorado,Nebraska,Utah,Wyoming,New
[Link]
lovedroadmaps,lovedtotracewheretheroadswentwithhis
[Link]
hewasconcerned,newmapswerethebestpartofmovingWest.
Jackwenttothedrugstorecounter,gotDanny'scandybar,and
newspaper,and
acopyoftheOctoberWriter'[Link]
andaskedforhis
[Link]
thetelephone
[Link]
couldseeDanny
[Link]'sheadwasbent
studiouslyover
[Link].
Theemotion
showedonhisfaceasastonygrimness.
Hesupposedhecouldhavemadehisobligatorythankyoucallto
Alfromhome;
hecertainlywasn'tgoingtosayanythingWendywouldobjectto.
Itwashis
[Link]
hispridetold
himtodo,becausealongwithhiswifeandson,sixhundred
dollarsina
checkingaccount,andoneweary1968Volkswagen,hispridewas
allthatwas
[Link]
[Link]
agohehadbeenteachingEnglishinoneofthefinestprep
schoolsinNew
[Link]
oneshe'dhad
beforegoingonthewagonsomelaughs,fellowfacultymembers
whoadmiredhis
defttouchintheclassroomandhisprivatededicationto
[Link]
[Link]
leftoverat
theendofeachtwoweekpayperiodtostartalittlesavings
[Link]
drinkingdaystherehadneverbeenapennyleftover,eventhough
AlShockley
[Link]
talkcautiously
aboutfindingahouseandmakingadownpaymentinayearorso.
Afarmhousein
thecountry,takesixoreightyearstorenovateitcompletely,
whatthehell,
theywereyoung,theyhadtime.
Thenhehadlosthistemper.
GeorgeHatfield.
Thesmellofhopehadturnedtothesmellofoldleatherin
Crommert'soffice,
thewholethinglikesomescenefromhisownplay:theoldprints
ofprevious
Stovingtonheadmastersonthewalls,steelengravingsofthe
schoolasithad
beenin1879,whenitwasfirstbuilt,andin1895,when
Vanderbiltmoneyhad
enabledthemtobuildthefieldhousethatstillstoodatthe
westendofthe
soccerfield,squat,immense,[Link]
rustling
outsideCrommert'sslitwindowandthedrowsysoundofsteamheat
camefromthe
[Link],[Link]
[Link]
couldhehavefuckeditupsobadly?
"Thisisaserioussituation,[Link]
hasaskedme
toconveyitsdecisiontoyou."
TheBoardwantedlack'sresignationandJackhadgivenitto
[Link]
differentcircumstances,hewouldhavegottentenurethatJune.
WhathadfollowedthatinterviewinCrommert'sofficehadbeen
thedarkest,
[Link],theneedingtoget
drunkhadnever
[Link]
wantingto
[Link]
animalonafrayed
[Link].
Hadendedup
outsideabar,andtheonlythingthathadkepthimfromgoingin
wasthe
knowledgethatifhedid,Wendywouldleavehimatlast,andtake
Dannywith
[Link].
Insteadofgoingintothebar,wheredarkshadowssatsampling
thetasty
watersofoblivion,hehadgonetoAlShockley'[Link]
Board'svotehad
[Link].
Nowhedialedtheoperatorandshetoldhimthatforadollar
eightyfivehe
couldbeputintouchwithAltwothousandmilesawayforthree
[Link]
relative,baby,hethought,[Link]
hecouldhear
theelectronicboopsandbeepsofhisconnectionsniffingitsway
eastward.
Al'sfatherhadbeenArthurLongleyShockley,thesteelbaron.
Hehadlefthis
onlyson,Albert,afortuneandahugerangeofinvestmentsand
directorships
[Link]
ofDirectors
forStovingtonPreparatoryAcademy,theoldman'sfavorite
[Link]
andAlbertShockleywerealumniandAllivedinBarre,close
enoughtotakea
personalinterestintheschool'[Link]
hadbeen
Stovington'stenniscoach.
JackandAlhadbecomefriendsinacompletelynaturaland
uncoincidentalway:
atthemanyschoolandfacultyfunctionstheyattendedtogether,
theywere
[Link]
hiswife,and
Jack'sownmarriagewasskiddingslowlydownhill,althoughhe
stilllovedWendy
andhadpromisedsincerely(andfrequently)toreform,forher
sakeandforbaby
Danny's.
Thetwoofthemwentonfrommanyfacultyparties,hittingthe
barsuntilthey
closed,thenstoppingatsomemom'n'pot)storeforacaseof
beertheywould
[Link]
whenJackwould
stumbleintotheirleasedhousewithdawnseepingintothesky
andfindWendy
andthebabyasleeponthecouch,Dannyalwaysontheinside,a
tinyfistcurled
undertheshelfofWendy'[Link]
selfloathing
wouldbackuphisthroatinabitterwave,evenstrongerthanthe
tasteofbeer
andcigarettesandmartinismartians,[Link]
werethetimes
thathismindwouldturnthoughtfullyandsanelytothegunor
theropeorthe
razorblade.
Ifthebenderhadoccurredonaweeknight,hewouldsleepfor
threehours,get
up,dress,chewfourExcedrins,andgoofftoteachhisnine
o'clockAmerican
[Link],kids,todaytheRedEyedWonder
isgoingto
tellyouabouthowLongfellowlosthiswifeinthebigfire.
Hehadn'tbelievedhewasanalcoholic,JackthoughtasAl's
telephonebegan
[Link],
stillreeking
oflastnight'[Link],[Link]
heandWendy
[Link],I'[Link].
SureI'mokayto
[Link]
fromhis
colleaguesatanypartywherealcoholwasserved,[Link]
slowlydawning
[Link]
wasproducing
nothingathisUnderwoodbutballsofmostlyblankpaperthat
endedupinthe
[Link],a
slowlyblooming
Americanwriterperhaps,andcertainlyamanwellqualifiedto
teachthatgreat
mystery,[Link]
[Link]
workingonaplay,andthoughttheremightbeanovelincubating
insomemental
[Link]
becomeerratic.
IthadfinallyendedonenightlessthanamonthafterJackhad
brokenhis
son'[Link],itseemedtohim,[Link]
thatremainedwas
forWendytogatherherwill...ifhermotherhadn'tbeensuch
agradeA
bitch,heknew,WendywouldhavetakenabusbacktoNew
Hampshireassoonas
[Link].
[Link]
intoBarreonU.S.
31,AlbehindthewheelofhisJag,shiftingfancilyonthe
curves,sometimes
[Link];the
martianshad
[Link]
beforethebridgeat
seventy,andtherewasakid'sbikeintheroad,andthenthe
sharp,hurt
squealingasrubbershreddedfromtheJag'stires,andJack
rememberedseeing
Al'sfaceloomingoverthesteeringwheellikearoundwhite
[Link]
jinglingcrashingsoundastheyhitthebikeatforty,andithad
flownuplike
abentandtwistedbird,thehandlebarsstrikingthewindshield,
andthenitwas
intheairagain,leavingthestarredsafetyglassinfrontof
Jack'sbulging
[Link]
landedontheroad
[Link]
[Link]
Jagdriftedaroundbroadside,Alstilljockeyingthewheel,and
fromfaraway
Jackheardhimselfsaying:"Jesus,[Link]
it."
[Link],[Link]
getthisover
with.
Alhadbroughtthecartoasmokinghaltnotmorethanthree
feetfroma
[Link]'[Link]
zigzagging
[Link]
ateachother
foramomentandthenranbackinthecolddarkness.
[Link],andlooking
backoverhis
shoulderAlhadseenitlyinginthemiddleoftheroad,halfa
dozenspokes
[Link]:"Ithink
that'swhatweran
over,Tackyboy."
"Thenwhere'sthekid?"
"Didyouseeakid?"
[Link]
aroundthe
[Link]'[Link]
[Link]
collisionandthelongskid.
[Link]
totheJagand
[Link]
searchedthesidesof
theroad,[Link].
Althoughitwaslate,
severalcarspassedthebeachedJaguarandthetwomenwiththe
bobbing
[Link]
queerprovidence,
bentongivingthembothalastchance,hadkeptthecopsaway,
hadkeptanyof
thepassersbyfromcallingthem.
AtquarterpasttwotheyreturnedtotheJag,soberbutqueasy.
"Iftherewas
nobodyridingit,whatwasitdoinginthemiddleoftheroad?"
Aldemanded."It
wasn'tparkedontheside;itwasrightinthefuckingmiddle!"
Jackcouldonlyshakehishead.
"Yourpartydoesnotanswer,"theoperatorsaid."Wouldyou
likemetokeepon
trying?"
"Acouplemorerings,[Link]?"
"No,sir,"thevoicesaiddutifully.
Comeon,Al!
Alhadhikedacrossthebridgetothenearestpayphone,called
abachelor
friendandtoldhimitwouldbeworthfiftydollarsifthefriend
wouldgetthe
Jag'ssnowtiresoutofthegarageandbringthemdowntothe
Highway31bridge
[Link],
wearingapairof
[Link].
"Killanybody?"heasked.
AlwasalreadyjackingupthebackofthecarandJackwas
looseninglugnuts.
"Providentially,noone,"Alsaid.
"IthinkI'[Link]."
"Fine,"Alsaidwithoutlookingup.
Thetwoofthemhadgottenthetiresonwithoutincident,and
togetherthey
drovebacktoAIShockley'[Link]
andkilledthe
motor.
Inthedarkquiethesaid:"I'moffdrinking,[Link]'s
allover.I've
slainmylastmartian."
Andnow,sweatinginthisphonebootb,itoccurredtolackthat
hehadnever
doubtedAl'[Link]
ownhousein
theVWwiththeradioturnedup,andsomediscogroupchanted
overandover
again,talismanicinthehousebeforedawn:Doitanyway...
youwantadoit.
..doitanywayyouwant...Nomatterhowloudheheardthe
squealingtires,
[Link],hesawthatsingle
crushedwheelwith
itsbrokenspokespointingatthesky.
Whenhegotin,[Link]
Danny'sroomand
Dannywasinhiscribonhisback,sleepingdeeply,hisarmstill
buriedinthe
[Link]
couldseethe
darklinesonitsplasteredwhitenesswhereallthedoctorsand
nursesin
pediatricshadsignedit.
[Link].
(oyoudirtyliar)
[Link].
(youfuckingdrunkenwastegodwipedsnotoutofhisnoseand
thatwasyou)
Listen,hey,comeon,please,justanaccident
Butthelastpleawasdrivenawaybytheimageofthatbobbing
flashlightas
theyhuntedthroughthedrylateNovemberweeds,lookingforthe
sprawledbody
thatbyallgoodrightsshouldhavebeenthere,waitingforthe
[Link]
didn'[Link]
nightswhenhehad
beendriving.
HepulledthecoversupoverDanny,wentintotheirbedroom,
andtookthe
[Link]
inashoebox.
Hesatonthebedwithitfornearlyanhour,lookingatit,
fascinatedbyits
deadlyshine.
Itwasdawnwhenheputitbackintheboxandputtheboxback
inthecloset.
ThatmorninghehadcalledBruckner,thedepartmenthead,and
toldhimto
[Link],with
lessgoodgrace
[Link]
thefluinthe
lastyear.
[Link].
Theonlysound
camefromthebackyard,whereDannywasgleefullyrunninghis
trucksacrossthe
sandpilewithhisgoodhand.
[Link],shesaid:"Jack.
I'vebeen
thinking."
"Haveyou?"[Link]
hangoverthismorning,
[Link]'s
darknessthebike
flewupagainstthewindshield,[Link]
[Link]
flashlightbobbed.
"Iwanttotalktoyouabout...aboutwhat'sbestformeand
[Link]
too,[Link]'[Link],
Iguess."
"Wouldyoudosomethingforme?"heasked,lookingatthe
waveringtipofhis
cigarette."Wouldyoudomeafavor?"
"What?"[Link].
"Let'[Link]..,
Nowsheturnedtohim,herhandslacywithsuds,herpretty
facepaleand
disillusioned."Jack,promisesdon'[Link]
rightonwith"
Shestopped,lookinginhiseyes,fascinated,suddenly
uncertain.
"Inaweek,"[Link]
droppedtoa
whisper."Please.I'[Link]
totalkthen,
we'[Link]."
Theylookedacrossthesunnykitchenateachotherforalong
time,andwhen
sheturnedbacktothedisheswithoutsayinganythingmore,he
begantoshudder.
God,[Link]
theirtrue
perspective
"Dannysaidhedreamedyouhadacaraccident,"shesaid
abruptly."Hehas
[Link],whenIgothim
[Link]
you,Jack?Didyouhaveanaccident?"
"No."
Bynoonthecravingforadrinkhadbecomealowgradefever.
HewenttoAl's.
"Youdry?"[Link].
"[Link]."
"Comeonin."
[Link]'tdrink.
[Link]'[Link]
waswatching,
[Link]
[Link]
drankawholesixpackofCokeandthenranintothebathroomand
vomiteditup.
Thelevelofthebottlesintheliquorcabinetdidnotgodown.
Afterhis
classeshewentovertoAlShockley'sshehatedAlShockleyworse
thanshehad
everhatedanyoneandwhenhecamehomeshewouldswearshe
smelledscotchor
ginonhisbreath,buthewouldtalklucidlytoherbefore
supper,drinkcoffee,
playwithDannyaftersupper,sharingaCokewithhim,readhima
bedtimestory,
thensitandcorrectthemeswithcupaftercupofblackcoffeeby
hishand,and
shewouldhavetoadmittoherselfthatshehadbeenwrong.
Weekspassedandtheunspokenwordretreatedfurtherfromthe
backofher
[Link]
completely.
[Link]
losthis
temperagain,thistimestonesober.
"Sir,yourpartystilldoesn't"
"Hello?"Al'svoice,outofbreath.
"Goahead,"theoperatorsaiddourly.
"Al,thisisJackTorrance."
"Jackyboy!"Genuinepleasure."Howareyou?"
"[Link]'s
[Link]'t
finishthatgoddamplaysnowedinallwinter,I'llneverfinish
it."
"You'llfinish."
"Howarethings?"Jackaskedhesitantly.
"Dry,"Alresponded."You?"
"Asabone."
"Missitmuch?"
"Everyday."
Allaughed."[Link]'tknowhowyoustayed
dryafterthat
Hatfieldthing,[Link]."
"Ireallybitchedthingsupformyself,"hesaidevenly.
"Oh,hell.I'[Link]'s
alreadysaying
[Link]
something"
"[Link],myboy'soutinthecar,[Link]
mightbegetting
restless"
"[Link],[Link]
tohelp."
"Thanksagain,Al."Hehungup,closedhiseyesinthehot
booth,andagain
sawthecrashingbike,[Link]
squibinthe
paperthenextday,nomorethanaspacefillerreally,butthe
ownerhadnot
[Link]
beamysteryto
them,andperhapsthatwasasitshouldbe.
HewentbackouttothecarandgaveDannyhisslightlymelted
BabyRuth.
"Daddy?"
"What,doc?"
Dannyhesitated,lookingathisfather'sabstractedface.
"WhenIwaswaitingforyoutocomebackfromthathotel,Ihad
abaddream.
Doyouremember?WhenIfellasleep?"
"Umhm."
[Link]'smindwassomeplaceelse,notwith
[Link]
abouttheBadThingagain.
(Idreamedthatyouhurtme,Daddy)
"Whatwasthedream,doc?"
"Nothing,"Dannysaidastheypulledoutintotheparkinglot.
Heputthemaps
backintotheglovecompartment.
"Yousure?"
"Yes."
Jackgavehissonafaint,troubledglance;andthenhismind
turnedtohis
play.

<<6>>

NIGHTTHOUGHTS

Lovewasover,andhermanwassleepingbesideher.
Herman.
Shesmiledalittleinthedarkness,hisseedstilltrickling
withslowwarmth
frombetweenherslightlypartedthighs,andhersmilewasboth
ruefuland
pleased,becausethephrasehermansummonedupahundred
[Link]
[Link],inthisdarkness
floatingtosleep,
theywerelikeadistantbluestuneheardinanalmostdeserted
nightclub,
melancholybutpleasing.

Lovin'youbaby,isjustlikerollin'offalog,
ButifIcan'tbeyourwoman,Isureain'tgoin'tobeyour
dog.

HadthatbeenBillieHoliday?Orsomeonemoreprosaiclike
PeggyLee?Didn't
[Link],andinthesilenceofherheadit
played
mellowly,asifissuingfromoneofthoseoldfashioned
jukeboxes,aWurlitzer,
perhaps,halfanhourbeforeclosing.
Now,movingawayfromherconsciousness,shewonderedhowmany
bedsshehad
[Link]
hadfirstmade
loveinhisapartment...thathadbeenlessthanthreemonths
afterher
motherdroveherfromthehouse,toldhernevertocomeback,
thatifshewanted
togosomewhereshecouldgotoherfathersinceshehadbeen
responsiblefor
[Link]?Asemesterlater
theyhadmoved
intogether,hadfoundjobsforthesummer,andhadkeptthe
apartmentwhen
[Link]
clearly,abigdouble
[Link],therustybox
springhadcounted
[Link]
[Link]
[Link],[Link]
moretimesyou
phoneher,themoretimesyoucrawlbackbeggingforgiveness,the
moreshecan
[Link]'sgoodforher,Wendy,becauseshe
cangoon
[Link]'[Link]
hadtalkedit
overagainandagaininthatbed,thatyear.
(Jacksittingupwiththecoverspooledaroundhiswaist,a
cigaretteburning
betweenhisfingers,lookingherintheeyehehadahalf
humorous,half
scowlingwayofdoingthattellingher:Shetoldyouneverto
comeback,right?
Nevertodarkenherdooragain,right?Thenwhydoesn'tshehang
upthephone
whensheknowsit'syou?Whydoessheonlytellyouthatyou
can'tcomeinif
I'mwithyou?BecauseshethinksImightcrampherstylealittle
[Link]
tokeepputtingthethumbscrewsrighttoyou,[Link]'reafool
ifyoukeep
[Link],sowhydon't
youtakeherat
herword?[Link]'dseenithisway.)
IthadbeenJack'sideatoseparateforawhiletoget
perspectiveonthe
relationship,[Link]
interestedinsomeone
[Link]'[Link]
thespringand
[Link]
ifhe'dstruck
herwithaquirt.
Howdidyouknowthat?
TheShadowknows.
Haveyoubeenspyingonme?
Andhisimpatientlaughter,whichhadalwaysmadeherfeelso
awkwardasif
shewereeightandhewasabletoseehermotivationsmore
clearlythanshe.
Youneededtime,Wendy.
Forwhat?
Iguess...toseewhichoneofusyouwantedtomarry.
Jack,whatareyousaying?
IthinkI'mproposingmarriage.
[Link],hermotherhadnot
[Link]
discoveredshecouldlivewiththat,[Link]
hadcome,her
fineson.
Thathadbeenthebestyear,[Link]
born,Jackhad
gottenherajobtypingforhalfadozenEnglishDepartment
profsquizzes,
exams,classsyllabi,studynotes,[Link]
tvpinganovel
foroneofthem,anovelthatnevergotpublished...muchto
Jack'svery
[Link]
week,and
skyrocketedallthewayuptosixtyduringthetwomonthsshe
spenttypingthe
[Link],afiveyearold
Buickwithababy
[Link],[Link]
forceda
reconciliationbetweenherandhermother,areconciliationthat
wasalways
tenseandneverhappy,[Link]
shetookDannyto
thehouse,[Link]'ttellJackthat
hermother
alwaysremadeDanny'sdiapers,frownedoverhisformula,could
alwaysspotthe
accusatoryfirstsignsofarashonthebaby'sbottomor
[Link]
neversaidanythingovertly,butthemessagecamethroughanyway:
thepriceshe
hadbeguntopay(andmaybealwayswould)forthereconciliation
wasthefeeling
[Link]'swayof
keepingthe
thumbscrewshandy.
DuringthedaysWendywouldstayhomeandhousewife,feeding
Dannyhisbottles
inthesunwashedkitchenofthefourroomsecondstoryapartment,
playingher
recordsonthebatteredportablestereoshehadhadsincehigh
[Link]
wouldcomehomeatthree(orattwoifhefelthecouldcuthis
lastclass),and
whileDannyslepthewouldleadherintothebedroomandfearsof
inadequacy
wouldbeerased.
Atnightwhileshetyped,hewoulddohiswritingandhis
[Link]
thosedaysshesometimescameoutofthebedroomwherethe
typewriterwasto
findbothofthemasleeponthestudiocouch,Jackwearing
nothingbuthis
underpants,Dannysprawledcomfortablyonherhusband'schest
withhisthumbin
[Link],thenreadwhatever
Jackhadwritten
thatnightbeforewakinghimupenoughtocometobed.
Thebestbed,thebestyear.

Sungonnashineinmybackyardsomeday...
Inthosedays,Jack'[Link]
Saturdaynights
abunchofhisfellowstudentswoulddropoverandtherewouldbe
acaseofbeer
anddiscussionsinwhichsheseldomtookpartbecauseherfield
hadbeen
sociologyandhiswasEnglish:argumentsoverwhetherPepys's
diarieswere
literatureorhistory;discussionsofCharlesOlson'spoetry;
sometimesthe
[Link],a
[Link]
feltnorealurgetotakepart;itwasenoughtositinher
rockingchairbeside
Jack,whosatcrossleggedonthefloor,onehandholdingabeer,
theother
gentlycuppinghercalforbraceletingherankle.
ThecompetitionatUNHhadbeenfierce,andJackcarriedan
extraburdenin
[Link]
hisroutine.
[Link]
outofhimthat
mightotherwisehaveswelledandswelleduntilheburst.
Attheendofhisgradworkhehadlandedthejobat
Stovington,mostlyonthe
strengthofhisstoriesfourofthempublishedatthattime,one
ofthemin
[Link];itwouldtake
morethanthree
[Link],
thinkingitwasa
[Link],shehadfoundinsteadthatitwas
aletter
sayingthatEsquirewouldliketouseJack'sstory"Concerning
theBlackHoles"
[Link],
noton
[Link]'stake
typingpapers
andshehadflowntothetelephone,leavingDannyinhishigh
chairtogoggle
comicallyafterher,hisfacelatheredwithcreamedpeasandbeef
puree.
Jackhadarrivedfromtheuniversityfortyfiveminuteslater,
theBuick
[Link]
ceremonialtoast
(Wendyalsohadaglass,althoughsheordinarilyhadnotastefor
beer),Jack
hadsignedtheacceptanceletter,putitinthereturnenvelope,
andwentdown
[Link]
stoodgravelyin
thedoorandsaid,"Veni,vidi,vici."Therewerecheersand
[Link]
kegwasemptyateleventhatnight,Jackandtheonlytwoothers
whowerestill
ambulatorywentontohitafewbars.
[Link]
twowerealready
outinthecar,drunkenlysingingtheNewHampshirefightsong.
Jackwasdownon
oneknee,owlishlyfumblingwiththelacingsofhismoccasins.
"Jack,"shesaid,"youshouldn'[Link]'teventieyour
shoes,letalone
drive."
Hestoodupandputhishandscalmlyonhershoulders."Tonight
Icouldflyto
themoonifIwantedto."
"No,"shesaid."NotforalltheEsquirestoriesintheworld."
"I'llbehomeearly."
Buthehadn'tbeenhomeuntilfourinthemorning,stumbling
andmumblinghis
wayupthestairs,[Link]
tosoothethe
[Link],thinking
ofwhather
motherwouldthinkifshesawthebruisebeforeshethoughtof
anythingelse
Godhelpher,GodhelpthembothandthenpickedDannyup,sat
intherocking
chairwithhim,[Link]
formostofthe
fivehoursJackhadbeengone,hermother'sprophecythatJack
wouldnevercome
[Link],[Link]
linesarefullof
[Link]
motherwrongor
right?Winnifred,you'[Link]
[Link]
shenotholdingherhusbandright?Whyelsewouldhetakehisjoy
outofthe
house?Ahelplesskindofterrorhadrisenupinheranditnever
occurredto
herthathehadgoneoutforreasonsthathadnothingtodowith
her.
"Congratulations,"shesaid,rockingDannyhewasalmost
asleepagain."Maybe
yougavehimaconcussion."
"It'sjustabruise."Hesoundedsulky,wantingtobe
repentant:alittleboy.
Foraninstantshehatedhim.
"Maybe,"shesaidtightly."Maybenot."Sheheardsomuchof
hermother
talkingtoherdepartedfatherinherownvoicethatshewas
sickenedand
afraid.
"Likemotherlikedaughter,"Jackmuttered.
"Gotobed!"shecried,herfearcomingoutsoundinglike
anger."Gotobed,
you'redrunk!"
"Don'ttellmewhattodo."
"Jack...please,weshouldn't...it..."Therewereno
words.
"Don'ttellmewhattodo,"herepeatedsullenly,andthenwent
intothe
[Link],who
wassleeping
[Link]'ssnorescamefloatingouttothe
livingroom.
Thathadbeenthefirstnightshehadsleptonthecouch.
Nowsheturnedrestlesslyonthebed,[Link],
freedofany
linearorderbyencroachingsleep,floatedpastthefirstyearat
Stovington,
pastthesteadilyworseningtimesthathadreachedlowebbwhen
herhusbandhad
brokenDanny'sarm,tothatmorninginthebreakfastnook.
Dannyoutsideplayingtrucksinthesandpile,hisarmstillin
[Link]
sittingatthetable,pallidandgrizzled,acigarettejittering
betweenhis
[Link]
ponderedthequestion
fromahundreddifferentangles,hadbeenponderingitinfact
forthesix
[Link]
madethedecision
longagoifithadn'tbeenforDanny,butnoteventhatwas
necessarilytrue.
ShedreamedonthelongnightswhenJackwasout,andherdreams
werealwaysof
hermother'sfaceandofherownwedding.
(Whogiveththiswoman?Herfatherstandinginhisbestsuit
whichwasnone
toogoodhewasatravelingsalesmanforalineofcannedgoods
thateventhen
wasgoingbrokeandhistiredface,howoldhelooked,howpale:
Ido.)
Evenaftertheaccidentifyoucouldcallitanaccidentshe
hadnotbeen
abletobringitallthewayout,toadmitthathermarriagewas
alopsided
[Link],dumblyhopingthatamiraclewouldoccur
andJackwould
seewhatwashappening,[Link]
beenno
[Link]
beerswithlunch
[Link].
Fiveorsixmore
[Link]
withAlShockley
[Link]
paininalife
[Link].
Howmuchofit
washerfault?[Link]
[Link]
[Link],whenshefeltlikeherselfshewonderedwhat
itwouldbelike
forDanny,andshedreadedthedaywhenhegrewoldenoughtolay
[Link]
[Link]
takeherin,and
nodoubtthatafterayearofwatchingherdiapersremade,
Danny'smeals
recookedand/orredistributed,ofcominghometofindhisclothes
changedorhis
haircutorthebookshermotherfoundunsuitablespiritedaway
tosomelimboin
theattic...afterhalfayearofthat,shewouldhavea
completenervous
[Link]
comfortingly,Althoughit's
notyourfault,it'[Link].
Youshowedyour
truecolorswhenyoucamebetweenyourfatherandme.
Myfather,Danny'[Link],his.
(Whogiveththiswoman?[Link]
later.)
Thenightbeforethatmorningshehadlainawakealmostuntil
hecamein,
thinking,comingtoherdecision.
Thedivorcewasnecessary,[Link]
fatherdidn't
[Link]
theirmarriage
[Link]
herson's
sake,andforherself,ifshewastosalvageanythingatallfrom
herearly
[Link]
husbandwasa
[Link],onehecouldnolongerkeepwholly
undercontrolnow
thathewasdrinkingsoheavilyandhiswritingwasgoingso
[Link]
ornotaccidentally,hehadbrokenDanny'[Link]
losehisjob,if
[Link]
sympatheticlooks
[Link]
withthemessy
[Link]
toleaveit.
Jackcouldhavefullvisitationrights,andshewouldwant
supportfromhimonly
untilshecouldfindsomethingandgetonherfeetandthat
wouldhavetobe
fairlyrapidlybecauseshedidn'tknowhowlongJackwouldbe
abletopay
[Link]
[Link]
toend.
Sothinking,shehadfallenoffintoherownthinandunrestful
sleep,haunted
[Link]'renothingbuta
homewrecker,
[Link],woman?[Link],
herfather
[Link]
backtohim,
herhandsplungedinwarmdishwateruptothewrists,shehad
commencedwiththe
unpleasantness.
"Iwanttotalktoyouaboutsomethingthatmightbebestfor
[Link]
youtoo,[Link],Iguess."
[Link]
hisanger,to
provokethebitterness,[Link]
maddashforthe
[Link],almosttonelessreplythatwas
sounlikehim.
ItwasalmostasthoughtheJackshehadlivedwithforsixyears
hadnevercome
backlastnightasifhehadbeenreplacedbysomeunearthly
doppelgangerthat
shewouldneverknoworbequitesureof.
"Wouldyoudosomethingforme?Afavor?"
"What?"Shehadtodisciplinehervoicestrictlytokeepit
fromtrembling.
"Let'[Link]"
[Link]
thatweekhehad
seenAlShockleymorethanever,buthecamehomeearlyandthere
wasnoliquor
[Link],butknewitwasn't
[Link].
Andanother.
Divorcewentbacktocommittee,unvotedon.
Whathadhappened?Shestillwonderedandstillhadnotthe
slightestidea.
[Link]
leanedarounda
cornerandhadseenanunexpectedmonsterlyinginwait,
crouchingamongthe
[Link],
buthedidn't
[Link]
intheend
alwaysbackedawayfromtheidea,asifsomeunknowncharmwould
bebrokenby
theact.
AndtherewasDanny'spartinittoconsider.
Ifshefeltshedidn'tknowherhusband,thenshewasinaweof
herchildawe
inthestrictmeaningofthatword:akindofundefined
superstitiousdread.
Dozinglightly,theimageoftheinstantofhisbirthwas
presentedtoher.
Shewasagainlyingonthedeliverytable,bathedinsweat,her
hairinstrings,
herfeetsplayedoutinthestirrups
(andalittlehighfromthegastheykeptgivingherwhiffsof;
atonepoint
shehadmutteredthatshefeltlikeanadvertisementforgang
rape,andthe
nurse,anoldbirdwhohadassistedatthebirthsofenough
childrentopopulate
ahighschool,foundthatextremelyfunny)
thedoctorbetweenherlegs,thenurseofftooneside,
arranginginstruments
[Link],glassypainshadbeencomingatsteadily
shortening
intervals,andseveraltimesshehadscreamedinspiteofher
shame.
ThenthedoctortoldherquitesternlythatshemustPUSH,and
shedid,and
[Link]
distinct
feeling,[Link]
doctorheldher
sonupbythelegsshehadseenhistinysexandknownhewasa
boyimmediately
andasthedoctorgropedfortheairmask,shehadseensomething
else,something
sohorriblethatshefoundthestrengthtoscreamagainaftershe
hadthought
allscreamswereusedup:
Hehasnoface!
Butofcoursetherehadbeenaface,Danny'sownsweetface,
andthecaulthat
hadcovereditatbirthnowresidedinasmalljarwhichshehad
kept,almost
[Link],butshehad
keptthecaul
[Link]'tales,buttheboyhad
beenunusual
[Link]
DidDaddyhaveanaccident?IdreamedDaddyhadanaccident.
[Link]'tbelieveitwasjusther
gettingreadyto
[Link]
thatmorning.
[Link]
saidthat
nothinghadhappened,nothingatall,buthehadavertedhiseyes
whenhesaid
it,andifyoubelievedfacultygossip,Alhadalsoclimbed
aboardthefabled
wagon.
DidDaddyhaveanaccident?
Maybeachancecollisionwithfate,surelynothingmuchmore
[Link]
readthatday'spaperandthenextday'swithaclosereyethan
usual,butshe
[Link],shehad
beenlookingfor
ahitandrunaccidentorabarroombrawlthathadresultedin
seriousinjuries
or...whoknew?Whowantedto?Butnopolicemancametocall,
eithertoask
questionsorwithawarrantempoweringhimtotakepaint
scrapingsfromtheWV's
[Link]'sonehundredandeighty
degreechangeand
herson'ssleepyquestiononwaking:
DidDaddyhaveanaccident?Idreamed...
ShehadstuckwithJackmoreforDanny'ssakethanshewould
admitinher
wakinghours,butnow,sleepinglightly,shecouldadmitit:
Dannyhadbeen
Jack'sfortheasking,[Link]
beenherfather's,
[Link]'trememberDannyeverspitting
abottleback
onJack'[Link]
indisgust,
evenwhenDannywasteethinganditgavehimvisiblepainto
[Link]
hadastomachache,shewouldrockhimforanhourbeforehebegan
toquiet;Jack
hadonlytopickhimup,walktwicearoundtheroomwithhim,and
Dannywouldbe
asleeponlack'sshoulder,histhumbsecurelycorkedinhis
mouth.
Hehadn'tmindedchangingdiapers,eventhosehecalledthe
special
[Link],bouncinghimon
hislap,playing
fingergameswithhim,makingfacesathimwhileDannypokedat
hisnoseand
[Link]
administeredthem
faultlessly,[Link]
Dannywithhim
inthecartogetthepaperorabottleofmilkornailsatthe
hardwarestore
[Link]
Stovington
KeenesoccermatchwhenDannywasonlysixmonthsold,andDanny
hadsat
motionlesslyonhisfather'slapthroughthewholegame,wrapped
inablanket,a
smallStovingtonpennantclutchedinonechubbyfist.
Helovedhismotherbuthewashisfather'sboy.
Andhadn'tshefelt,timeandtimeagain,herson'swordless
oppositiontothe
wholeideaofdivorce?Shewouldbethinkingaboutitinthe
kitchen,turningit
overinhermindassheturnedthepotatoesforsupperoverin
herhandsforthe
peeler'[Link]
crossleggedina
kitchenchair,lookingatherwitheyesthatseemedboth
frightenedand
[Link],hewouldsuddenlyseize
bothherhands
andsayalmostdemand:"Doyouloveme?Doyoulovedaddy?"And,
confused,she
wouldnodorsay,"OfcourseIdo,honey."Thenhewouldrunto
theduckpond,
sendingthemsquawkingandscaredtotheotherend,flapping
theirwingsina
panicbeforethesmallferocityofhischarge,leavingherto
stareafterhim
andwonder.
Therewereeventimeswhenitseemedthatherdeterminationto
atleast
discussthematterwithJackdissolved,notoutofherown
weakness,butunder
thedeterminationofherson'swill.
Idon'tbelievesuchthings.
Butinsleepshedidbelievethem,andinsleep,withher
husband'sseedstill
dryingonherthighs,shefeltthatthethreeofthemhadbeen
permanently
weldedtogetherthatiftheirthree/onenesswastobedestroyed,
itwouldnot
bedestroyedbyanyofthembutfromoutside.
MostofwhatshebelievedcenteredaroundherloveforJack.
Shehadnever
stoppedlovinghim,exceptmaybeforthatdarkperiodimmediately
following
Danny's"accident."[Link]
themtogether,
walkingorridingoronlysitting,Jack'slargeheadandDanny's
smallone
poisedalertlyoverthefansofoldmaidhands,sharingabottle
ofCoke,
[Link],andshe
hopedtodear
GodthatthishotelcaretakingjobAlhadgottenforJackwould
bethebeginning
ofgoodtimesagain.

Andthewindgonnariseup,baby,
andblowmybluesaway...

Softandsweetandmellow,thesongcamebackandlingered,
followingherdown
intoadeepersleepwherethoughtceasedandthefacesthatcame
indreamswent
unremembered.
<<7>>

INANOTHERBEDROOM

Dannyawokewiththeboomingstillloudinhisears,andthe
drunk,savagely
pettishvoicecryinghoarsely:Comeouthereandtakeyour
medicine!I'llfind
you!I'llfindyoul
Butnowtheboomingwasonlyhisracingheart,andtheonly
voiceinthenight
wasthefarawaysoundofapolicesiren.
Helayinbedmotionlessly,lookingupatthewindstirred
shadowsofthe
[Link],
makingshapes
likethevinesandcreepersinajungle,likepatternswoveninto
thenapofa
[Link],butbetween
thepajamasuit
andhisskinhehadgrownamorecloselyfittingsingletof
perspiration.
"Tony?"hewhispered."Youthere?"
Noanswer.
Heslippedoutofbedandpaddedsilentlyacrosstothewindow
andlookedout
onArapahoeStreet,[Link]
[Link]
nothingouttherebutemptysidewalksdriftedwithfallenleaves,
parkedcars,
andthelongneckedstreetlightonthecorneracrossfromthe
CliffBricegas
[Link],the
streetlightlookedlike
amonsterinaspaceshow.
Helookedupthestreetbothways,straininghiseyesfor
Tony'sslight,
beckoningform,buttherewasnoonethere.
Thewindsighedthroughthetrees,andthefallenleaves
rattledupthe
[Link]
faintand
sorrowfulsound,andtheboythoughtthathemightbetheonly
oneinBoulder
[Link],[Link]
wasnowayof
knowingwhatelsemightbeoutinthenight,slinkinghungrily
throughthe
shadows,watchingandscentingthebreeze.
I'llfindyou!I'llfindyou!
"Tony?"hewhisperedagain,butwithoutmuchhope.
Onlythewindspokeback,gustingmorestronglythistime,
scatteringleaves
[Link]
intothe
raingutterandcametorestthereliketireddancers.
Danny...Danneee...
Hestartedatthesoundofthatfamiliarvoiceandcranedout
thewindow,his
[Link]'svoicethewhole
nightseemed
tohavecomesilentlyandsecretlyalive,whisperingevenwhen
thewindquieted
againandtheleaveswerestillandtheshadowshadstopped
[Link]
hesawadarkershadowstandingbythebusstopablockdown,but
itwashardto
tellifitwasarealthingoraneyetrick.
Don'tgo,Danny..
Thenthewindgustedagain,makinghimsquint,andtheshadow
bythebusstop
wasgone...[Link]
windowfor
(aminute?anhour?)
sometimelonger,[Link]
intohisbed
andpulledtheblanketsupandwatchedtheshadowsthrownbythe
alien
streetlightturnintoasinuousjunglefilledwithflesheating
plantsthat
wantedonlytosliparoundhim,squeezethelifeoutofhim,and
draghimdown
intoablacknesswhereonesinisterwordflashedinred:
REDRUM.
PARTTWO

ClosingDay

<<8>>

AVIEWOFTHEOVERLOOK

Mommywasworried.
Shewasafraidthebugwouldn'tmakeitupanddownallthese
mountainsand
thattheywouldgetstrandedbythesideoftheroadwhere
somebodymightcome
[Link];if
Daddythought
thebugwouldmakethisonelasttrip,thenprobablyitwould.
"We'rejustaboutthere,"Jacksaid.
Wendybrushedherhairbackfromhertemples."ThankGod."
Shewassittingintherighthandbucket,aVictoriaHolt
paperbackopenbut
[Link],theone
Dannythoughtwas
[Link]
young,likeagirl
[Link]
puttinghishand
highuponherlegandshekeptlaughingandbrushingitoff,
sayingGetaway,
fly.
[Link]
themupinthe
onesnearBoulder,theonestheycalledtheFlatirons,butthese
weremuch
bigger,andonthetallestofthemyoucouldseeafinedusting
ofsnow,which
Daddysaidwasoftenthereyearround.
Andtheywereactuallyinthemountains,nogoofingaround.
Sheerrockfaces
roseallaroundthem,sohighyoucouldbarelyseetheirtops
evenbycraning
[Link],thetemperature
hadbeenin
[Link],justafternoon,theairupherefelt
crispandcold
likeNovemberbackinVermontandDaddyhadtheheater
going...notthatit
[Link]
FALLINGROCKZONE
(Mommyreadeachonetohim),andalthoughDannyhadwaited
anxiouslytosee
somerockfall,[Link].
HalfanhouragotheyhadpassedanothersignthatDaddysaid
wasvery
[Link],andDaddy
saidthatsignwas
[Link]
roadgottoo
[Link]
Sidewinder,
whichtheyhadgonethroughjustbeforetheygottothatsign,
allthewayto
Buckland,Utah.
Nowtheywerepassinganothersign.
"What'sthatone,Mom?"
"[Link]."
"Thebugwillmakeit,"Dannysaid.
"Please,God,"Mommysaid,[Link]
lookeddownather
opentoedsandalsandsawthatshehadcrossedhertoesaswell.
[Link]
smiledback,butheknewthatshewasstillworried.
TheroadwoundupandupinaseriesofslowScurves,andJack
droppedthe
bug'sstickshiftfromfourthgeartothird,thenintosecond.
Thebugwheezed
andprotested,andWendy'seyefixedonthespeedometerneedle,
whichsankfrom
fortytothirtytotwenty,whereithoveredreluctantly.
"Thefuelpump..."shebegantimidly.
"Thefuelpumpwillgoanotherthreemiles,"Jacksaidshortly.
Therockwallfellawayontheirright,disclosingaslash
valleythatseemed
togodownforever,linedadarkgreenwithRockyMountainpine
[Link]
pinesfellawaytograycliffsofrockthatdroppedforhundreds
offeetbefore
[Link],the
early
afternoonsunsparklinginitlikeagoldenfishsnaredinablue
[Link]
[Link]
wouldforgive
[Link]
westinthe
SierraNevadatheDonnerPartyhadbecomesnowboundandhad
resortedto
[Link]
mistakes.
Withapunchoftheclutchandajerk,Jackshifteddownto
firstgearand
theylaboredupward,thebug'senginethumpinggamely.
"Youknow,"shesaid,"Idon'tthinkwe'veseenfivecarssince
wecame
[Link]."
Jacknodded."ItgoesrighttoStapletonAirportinDenver.
There'salready
someicypatchesupbeyondthehotel,Watsonsays,andthey're
forecastingmore
[Link]
nowwantstobe
ononeofthemainroads,[Link]
stillbeup
[Link]."
"You'resurethelarderisfullystocked?"sheasked,still
thinkingofthe
Donners.
"[Link].
Hallorann'sthe
cook."
"Oh,"shesaidfaintly,[Link]
droppedfrom
fifteentotenmilesanhour.
"There'sthetop,"Jacksaid,pointingthreehundredyards
ahead."There'sa
scenicturnoutandyoucanseetheOverlookfromthere.I'mgoing
topulloff
theroadandgivethebugachancetorest."Hecranedoverhis
shoulderat
Danny,whowassittingonapileofblankets."Whatdoyouthink,
doc?Wemight
[Link]."
"Sure,Dad."
[Link]
thefivemile
anhourhashmarkandwasbeginningtohitchwhenJackpulledoff
theroad
("What'sthatsign,Mommy?""SCENICTURNOUT,"sheread
dutifully.)
andsteppedontheemergencybrakeandlettheVWrunin
neutral.
"Comeon,"hesaid,andgotout.
Theywalkedtotheguardrailtogether.
"That'sit,"Jacksaid,andpointedateleveno'clock.
ForWendy,itwasdiscoveringtruthinacliche:herbreathwas
takenaway.
Foramomentshewasunabletobreatheatall;theviewhad
knockedthewind
[Link]
fromthemwho
knewhowfar?aneventallermountainrearedintothesky,its
jaggedtiponly
asilhouettethatwasnownimbusedbythesun,whichwas
beginningitsdecline.
Thewholevalleyfloorwasspreadoutbelowthem,theslopesthat
theyhad
climbedinthelaboringbugfallingawaywithsuchdizzying
suddennessthatshe
knewtolookdowntherefortoolongwouldbringonnauseaand
eventual
[Link]
clearair,beyond
thereinofreason,andtolookwastohelplesslyseeone'sself
plungingdown
anddownanddown,skyandslopeschangingplacesinslow
cartwheels,thescream
driftingfromyourmouthlikealazyballoonasyourhairand
yourdress
billowedout...
Shejerkedhergazeawayfromthedropalmostbyforceand
followedJack's
[Link]
cathedralspire,
switchingbackonitselfbutalwaystendingnorthwest,still
climbingbutata
[Link],seeminglysetdirectlyintothe
slopeitself,she
sawthegrimlyclingingpinesgivewaytoawidesquareofgreen
lawnand
standinginthemiddleofit,overlookingallthis,thehotel.
TheOverlook.
Seeingit,shefoundbreathandvoiceagain.
"Oh,Jack,it'sgorgeous!"
"Yes,itis,"hesaid."Unmansayshethinksit'sthesingle
mostbeautiful
[Link]'tcaremuchforhim,butIthinkhe
mightbe...
Danny!Danny,areyouallright?"
Shelookedaroundforhimandhersuddenfearforhimblotted
outeverything
else,[Link]
ontothe
guardrailandlookingupatthehotel,hisfaceapastygray
[Link]
theblanklookofsomeoneonthevergeoffainting.
Shekneltbesidehimandputsteadyinghandsonhisshoulders.
"Danny,
what's"
Jackwasbesideher."Youokay,doc?"HegaveDannyabrisk
littleshakeand
hiseyescleared.
"I'mokay,Daddy.I'mfine."
"Whatwasit,Danny?"sheasked."Wereyoudizzy,honey?"
"No,Iwasjust...thinking.I'[Link]'tmeanto
scareyou."He
lookedathisparents,kneelinginfrontofhim,andofferedthem
asmall
puzzledsmile."[Link]."
"We'llgetyouuptothehotelandgiveyouadrinkofwater,"
Daddysaid.
"Okay."
Andinthebug,whichmovedupwardmoresurelyonthegentler
grade,hekept
lookingoutbetweenthemastheroadunwound,affording
occasionalglimpsesof
theOverlookHo:.tel,itsmassivebankofwestwardlooking
windowsreflecting
[Link]
blizzard,the
darkandboomingplacewheresomehideouslyfamiliarfigure
soughthimdownlong
[Link]
[Link]
[Link],itwashere.

<<9>>

CHECKINGITOUT

Ullmanwaswaitingforthemjustinsidethewide,oldfashioned
frontdoors.
HeshookhandswithJackandnoddedcoollyatWendy,perhaps
noticingtheway
headsturnedwhenshecamethroughintothelobby,hergolden
hairspilling
[Link]
dressstoppeda
modesttwoinchesabovetheknee,butyoudidn'thavetoseemore
toknowthey
weregoodlegs.
UllmanseemedtrulywarmtowardDannyonly,butWendyhad
experiencedthat
[Link]
[Link]'
[Link]
offeredDannyhis
[Link],withoutasmile.
"MysonDanny,"Jacksaid."AndmywifeWinnifred."
"I'mhappytomeetyouboth,"Ullmansaid."Howoldareyou,
Danny?"
"Five,sir."
"Sir,yet."UllmansmiledandglancedatJack."He'swell
mannered."
"Ofcoursebeis,"Jacksaid.
"[Link]."Heofferedthesamelittlebow,andfora
bemusedinstant
[Link]
didtakeit,
butonlyforamoment,[Link]
smallanddryand
smooth,andsheguessedthathepowderedthem.
[Link]
oldfashioned
[Link]
suitcasesand
therewasalineatthedesk,whichwasdominatedbyahugebrass
cashregister.
TheBankAmericardandMasterChargedecalsonitseemedjarringly
anachronistic.
Totheirright,downtowardapairoftalldoubledoorsthat
werepulled
closedandropedoff,therewasanoldfashionedfireplacenow
blazingwith
[Link]
thehearth
[Link]
toeitherside,
[Link]
themthey
burstintoachordoftinkling,[Link]
smiletouchherown
lips;notoneofthemcouldbeundersixty.
Inthebackgroundwastheconstanthumofconversation,the
mutedding!ofthe
silverplatedbellbesidethecashregisterasoneofthetwo
clerksonduty
struckit,theslightlyimpatientcallof"Front,please!"It
broughtback
strong,warmmemoriesofherhoneymooninNewYorkwithJack,at
theBeekman
[Link]
beexactly
whatthethreeofthemneeded:aseasontogetherawayfromthe
world,asortof
[Link],who
wasgoggling
[Link],asgrayasabanker's
vest,had
pulledupoutfront
"Thelastdayoftheseason,"Ullmanwassaying."Closingday.
Alwayshectic.
Ihadexpectedyoumorearoundthree,[Link]."
"IwantedtogivetheVolkstimeforanervousbreakdownifit
decidedtohave
one,"Jacksaid."Itdidn't."
"Howfortunate,"Ullmansaid."I'dliketotakethethreeof
youonatourof
theplacealittlelater,andofcourseDickHallorannwantsto
showMrs.
TorrancetheOverlook'[Link]'mafraid"
Oneoftheclerkscameoverandalmosttuggedhisforelock.
"Excuseme,[Link]"
"Well?Whatisit?"
"It'[Link],"theclerksaiduncomfortably."Sherefuses
topayherbill
[Link]
stoppedtaking
AmericanExpressattheendoftheseasonlastyear,butshe
won't..."His
eyesshiftedtotheTorrancefamily,[Link]
shrugged.
"I'lltakecareofit."
"Thankyou,[Link]."Theclerkcrossedbacktothedesk,
wherea
dreadnoughtofawomanbundledintoalongfurcoatandwhat
lookedlikeablack
featherboawasremonstratingloudly.
"IhavebeencomingtotheOverlookHotelsince1955,"shewas
tellingthe
smiling,shruggingclerk."Icontinuedtocomeevenaftermy
secondhusbanddied
ofastrokeonthattiresomeroquecourtItoldhimthesunwas
toohotthat
dayandIhavenever...Irepeat:never...paidwith
anythingbutmy
[Link]!Have
themdragme
away!IwillstillrefusetopaywithanythingbutmyAmerican
Expresscredit
[Link]:..."
"Excuseme,"[Link].
Theywatchedhimcrossthelobby,[Link]'selbow
deferentially,and
[Link]
listened
sympathetically,noddedagain,[Link].
Brantsmiled
triumphantly,turnedtotheunhappydeskclerk,andsaidloudly:
"ThankGod
thereisoneemployeeofthishotelwhohasn'tbecomeanutter
Philistinel"
SheallowedUllman,whobarelycametothebulkyshoulderof
herfurcoat,to
takeherarmandleadheraway,presumablytohisinneroffice.
"Whooo!"Wendysaid,smiling."There'sadudewhoearnshis
money."
"Buthedidn'tlikethatlady,"Dannysaidimmediately."Hewas
just
pretendingtolikeher."
Jackgrinneddownathim."I'msurethat'strue,[Link]
flatteryisthe
stuffthatgreasesthewheelsoftheworld."
"What'sflattery?"
"Flattery,"Wendytoldhim,"iswhenyourdaddysayshelikes
mynewyellow
slacksevenifhedoesn'torwhenhesaysIdon'tneedtotake
offfivepounds."
"[Link]?"
"Somethingverylikethat."
Hehadbeenlookingathercloselyandnowsaid:"You're
pretty,Mommy."He
frownedinconfusionwhentheyexchangedaglanceandthenburst
intolaughter.
"Ullmandidn'twastemuchflatteryonme,"Jacksaid."Comeon
overbythe
window,[Link]
middlewithmy
[Link]'tthinkthere'dbeanybody
muchhereon
[Link]."
"Youlookveryhandsome,"shesaid,andthentheylaughed
again,Wendyputting
[Link]'tunderstand,butitwas
[Link]
[Link]
somewhereelse
(thebeakmanplace)
[Link]
did,buthe
kepttellinghimselfoverandoverthatthethingsTonyshowed
himdidn'talways
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
theywerehappy,
theyhadbeenlaughing,andtherewerenobadthoughts.
"Lookatthisview,"Jacksaid.
"Oh,it'sgorgeouslDanny,Iookl"
ButDannydidn'[Link]'t
likeheights;
[Link],whichranthe
lengthofthe
hotel,abeautifullymanicuredlawn(therewasaputtinggreenon
theright)
slopedawaytoalong,[Link]
stoodona
littletripodatoneendofthepool;closedwasonesignhe
couldreadby
himself,alongwithStop,Exit,Pizza,andafewothers.
Beyondthepoolagraveledpathwoundoffthroughbabypines
andsprucesand
[Link]'tknow:[Link]
arrowbelow
it.
"What'sROQUE,Daddy?"
"Agame,"Daddysaid."It'salittlebitlikecroquet,onlyyou
playitona
gravelcourtthathassideslikeabigbilliardtableinsteadof
[Link]'sa
veryoldgame,[Link]."
"Doyouplayitwithacroquetmallet?"
"Likethat,"Jackagreed."Onlythehandle'salittleshorter
andtheheadhas
[Link]."
(Comeout,youlittleshit!)
"It'spronouncedroke,"Daddywassaying."I'llteachyouhow
toplay,ifyou
want."
"Maybe,"Dannysaidinanoddcolorlesslittlevoicethatmade
hisparents
exchangeapuzzledlookoverhishead."Imightnotlikeit;
though."
"Wellifyoudon'tlikeit,doc,youdon'[Link]
right?"
"Sure."
"Doyouliketheanimals?"Wendyasked."That'scalleda
topiary."Beyondthe
pathleadingtoroquetherewerehedgesclippedintotheshapes
ofvarious
[Link],whoseeyesweresharp,madeoutarabbit,adog,
ahorse,acow,
andatrioofbiggeronesthatlookedlikefrolickinglions.
"ThoseanimalswerewhatmadeUncleAlthinkofmeforthe
job,"Jacktold
him."HeknewthatwhenIwasincollegeIusedtoworkfora
landscaping
[Link]'sabusinessthatfixespeople'slawnsandbushes
andhedges.I
usedtotrimalady'stopiary."
[Link],
Jacksaid,
"Yes,Iusedtotrimhertopiaryatleastonceaweek"
"Getaway,fly,"Wendysaid,andsnickeredagain.
"Didshehavenicehedges,Dad?"Dannyasked,andatthisthey
bothstifled
[Link]
streameddownher
cheeksandshehadtogetaKleenexoutofherhandbag.
"Theyweren'tanimals,Danny,"Jacksaidwhenhehadcontrolof
himself."They
[Link]
thehedges
grow,yousee"
(Theycreep,Watsonhadsaid...no,notthehedges,the
[Link]
watchitallthetimeoryouandyourfamblywillenduponthe
fuckinmoon.)
Theylookedathim,[Link].
"Dad?"Dannyasked.
Heblinkedatthem,asifcomingbackfromfaraway."They
grow,Danny,and
[Link]'llhavetogivethemahaircutonceor
twiceaweekuntil
itgetssocoldtheystopgrowingfortheyear."
"Andaplayground,too,"Wendysaid."Myluckyboy."
[Link],abigswing
setwithhalfa
dozenswingssetatvaryingheights,ajunglegym,atunnelmade
ofcement
rings,asandbox,andaplayhousethatwasanexactreplicaof
theOverlook
itself.
"Doyoulikeit,Danny?"Wendyasked.
"Isuredo,"hesaid,hopinghesoundedmoreenthusedthanhe
felt."It's
neat."
Beyondtheplaygroundtherewasaninconspicuouschainlink
securityfence,
beyondthatthewide,macadamizeddrivethatleduptothehotel,
andbeyond
thatthevalleyitself,droppingawayintothebrightbluehaze
ofafternoon.
Dannydidn'tknowthewordisolation,butifsomeonehad
explainedittohimhe
[Link],lyinginthesunlikealong
blacksnake
thathaddecidedtosnoozeforawhile,wastheroadthatled
backthrough
[Link]
closedall
[Link],and
almostjumpedwhen
Daddydroppedhishandonhisshoulder.
"I'llgetyouthatdrinkassoonasIcan,[Link]'rea
littlebusyright
now."
"Sure,Dad."
[Link].A
fewmoments
latertwobellboys,strugglingwitheightsuitcasesbetweenthem,
followedher
[Link]
watched
throughthewindowasamaninagrayuniformandahatlikea
captaininthe
Armybroughtherlongsilvercararoundtothedoorandgotout.
Hetippedhis
captoherandranaroundtoopenthetrunk.
Andinoneofthoseflashesthatsometimescame,hegota
completethought
fromher,onethatfloatedabovetheconfused,lowpitchedbabble
ofemotions
andcolorsthatheusuallygotincrowdedplaces.
(i'dliketogetintohispants)
Danny'sbrowwrinkledashewatchedthebellboysputhercases
intothetrunk.
Shewaslookingrathersharplyatthemaninthegrayuniform,
whowas
[Link]'s
pants?Wasshe
cold,evenwiththatlongfurcoaton?Andifshewasthatcold,
whyhadn'tshe
justputonsomepantsofherown?Hismommyworepantsjust
aboutallwinter.
Themaninthegrayuniformclosedthetrunkandwalkedbackto
helpherinto
[Link]
abouthispants,
[Link]
latershewas
guidingthebigsilvercardownthedriveway.
[Link]
thecarman's
pants,[Link]
inawholelot
[Link].
Soinsteadhesqueezedinbetweenthemonthesmallsofathey
weresharingand
[Link]
mommyanddaddy
werehappyandlovingeachother,buthecouldn'thelpbeinga
littleworried.
Hecouldn'thelpit.

<<10>>

HALLORANN
Thecookdidn'tconformtoWendy'simageofthetypicalresort
hotelkitchen
[Link],suchapersonagewascalleda
chef,nothingso
mundaneasacookcookingwaswhatshedidinherapartment
kitchenwhenshe
threwalltheleftoversintoagreasedPyrexcasseroledishand
addednoodles.
Further,theculinarywizardofsuchaplaceastheOverlook,
whichadvertised
intheresortsectionoftheNewYorkSundayTimes,shouldbe
small,rotund,and
pastyfaced(ratherlikethePillsburyDoughBoy);heshouldhave
athinpencil
linemustachelikeafortiesmusicalcomedystar,darkeyes,a
Frenchaccent,
andadetestablepersonality.
[Link]
blackmanwitha
[Link]
southernaccent
andhelaughedalot,disclosingteethtoowhiteandtooevento
beanythingbut
[Link]
pair,whichhe
calledRoebuckers,andfromtimetotimehewouldpushthemout
athercomically
atthesuppertable...always,Wendyrememberednow,whenher
motherwasout
inthekitchengettingsomethingelseoronthetelephone.
Dannyhadstaredupatthisblackgiantinblueserge,andthen
hadsmiled
whenHallorannpickedhimupeasily,sethiminthecrookofhis
elbow,and
said:"Youain'tgonnastayuphereallwinter."
"YesIam,"Dannysaidwithashygrin.
"No,you'[Link]'swithmeandlearnto
cookandgoout
[Link]?"
[Link]
himdown.
"Ifyou'regonnachangeyourmind,"Hallorannsaid,bending
overhimgravely,
"[Link]'minmy
[Link]
halfhoursafterthat,I'msittingatGate32,ConcourseB,
Stapleton
InternationalAirport,inthemilehighcityofDenver,Colorado.
Threehours
afterthat,I'mrentinacarattheMiamaAirportandonmyway
tosunnySt.
Pete's,waitingtogetiotamyswimtrunksandjustlaaafinupmy
sleeveat
[Link],myboy?"
"Yes,sir,"Dannysaid,smiling.
HallorannturnedtoJackandWendy."Lookslikeafineboy
there."
"Wethinkhe'lldo,"Jacksaid,[Link]
tookit."I'm
[Link]'vemet."
"[Link]'am,areyouaWinnieoraFreddie?"
"I'maWendy,"shesaid,smiling.
"[Link]'sbetterthantheothertwo,[Link]
[Link]
wantsyoutohavethetour,thetouryou'llget."Heshookhis
beadandsaid
underhisbreath:"Andwon'tIbegladtoseethelastofhim."
Halloranncommencedtotourthemaroundthemostimmense
kitchenWendyhad
[Link]
coaxedtoa
[Link];[Link]
walkedat
Hallorann'ssidewhileJack,whollyoutofhiselement,hungback
alittlewith
[Link]
alltheway
fromparingknivestotwohandedcleavershungbesideafourbasin
[Link]
wasabreadboardasbigastheirBoulderapartment'skitchen
[Link]
arrayofstainlesssteelpotsandpanshungfromfloorto
ceiling,coveringone
wholewall.
"IthinkI'llhavetoleaveatrailofbreadcrumbseverytimeI
comein,"she
said.
"Don'tletitgetyoudown,"Hallorannsaid."It'sbig,but
it'sstillonlya
[Link]'[Link]
itclean,
that'[Link]'sthestoveI'dbeusing,ifIwasyou.
Therearethree
oftheminall,butthisisthesmallest.
Smallest,shethoughtdismally,lookingatitThereweretwelve
burners,two
regularovensandaDutchoven,aheatedwellontopinwhichyou
couldsimmer
saucesorbakebeans,abroiler,andawarmerplusamillion
dialsand
temperaturegauges.
"Allgas,"Hallorannsaid."You'vecookedwithgasbefore,
Wendy?"
"Yes..:'
"Ilovegas,"hesaid,[Link]
flamepopped
intolifeandheadjusteditdowntoafaintglowwithadelicate
touch."Ilike
tobeabletoseetheflameyou'[Link]
thesurface
burnerswitchesare?"
"Yes."
"[Link],Ifavorthemiddle
onebecauseit
seemstoheatthemosteven,butyouusewhicheveroneyoulike
orallthree,
forthatmatter."
"ATVdinnerineachone,"Wendysaid,andlaughedweakly.
Hallorannroared."Gorightahead,[Link]
ofeverything
[Link]?"
"Hereitis,Mommyl"Dannybroughtovertwosheetsofpaper,
writtenclosely
onbothsides.
"Goodboy,"Hallorannsaid,takingitfromhimandrufflinghis
hair."You
sureyoudon'twanttocometoFloridawithme,myboy?Learnto
cookthe
sweetestshrimpcreolethissideofparadise?"
Dannyputhishandsoverhismouthandgiggledandretreatedto
hisfather's
side.
"Youthreefolkscouldeatuphereforayear,Iguess,"
Hallorannsaid."We
gotacoldpantry,awalkinfreezer,allsortsofvegetable
bins,andtwo
[Link]."
ForthenexttenminutesHallorannopenedbinsanddoors,
disclosingfoodin
[Link]
amazedherbut
didnotreassureherasmuchasshemighthavethought:the
DonnerPartykept
recurringtoher,notwiththoughtsofcannibalism(withallthis
fooditwould
indeedbealongtimebeforetheywerereducedtosuchpoor
rationsaseach
other),butwiththereinforcedideathatthiswasindeeda
seriousbusiness:
whensnowfell,gettingoutofherewouldnotbeamatterofan
hour'sdriveto
[Link]
desertedgrand
hotel,eatingthefoodthathadbeenleftthemlikecreaturesin
afairytale
[Link]
Vermont,when
Dannyhadbrokenhisarm
(whenJackbrokeDanny'sarm)
shehadcalledtheemergencyMedixsquad,dialingthenumber
fromthelittle
[Link]
minuteslater.
[Link]
haveapolice
carinfiveminutesandafiretruckinevenlesstimethanthat,
becausethe
[Link]
wasamanto
callifthelightswentout,amantocalliftheshowerstopped
up,amanto
[Link]
ifDannyhadone
ofhisfaintingspellsandswallowedhistongue?
(ohGodwhatathought!)
Whatiftheplacecaughtonfire?IfJackfelldownthe
elevatorshaftand
fracturedhisskull?Whatif?
(whatifwehaveawonderfultimenowstopft,Winnifred!)
Hallorannshowedthemintothewalkinfreezerfirst,where
theirbreath
[Link]
winterhad
alreadycome.
Hamburgerinbigplasticbags,tenpoundsineachbag,adozen
[Link]
wholechickenshangingfromarowofhooksinthewoodplanked
[Link]
hamsstackeduplikepokerchips,[Link]
chickens,ten
roastsofbeef,tenroastsofpork,andahugelegoflamb.
"Youlikelamb,doe?"Hallorannasked,grinning.
"Iloveit,"[Link].
"[Link]'snothinliketwogoodslicesoflambon
acoldnight,
[Link],
[Link]
[Link]'sanoncontentioussortofmeat."
FrombehindthemJacksaidcuriously:"Howdidyouknowwe
calledhimdoe?"
Hallorannturnedaround."Pardon?"
"Danny:[Link]
cartoons."
"Lookssortoflikeadoe,doesn'tbe?"Hewrinkledhisnoseat
Danny,smacked
hislips,andsaid,"Ehhhh,what'sup,doe?"
DannygiggledandthenHallorannsaidsomething
(Sureyoudon'twanttogotoFlorida,doe?)
tohim,[Link]
Hallorann,startled
[Link]
thefood.
Wendylookedfromthecook'sbroad,sergecladbacktoherson.
Shehadthe
oddestfeelingthatsomethinghadpassedbetweenthem,something
shecouldnot
quitefollow.
"Yougottwelvepackagesofsausage,twelvepackagesofbacon,"
Hallorann
said."[Link],twentypoundsof
butter."
"Realbutter?"Jackasked.
"TheAnumberone."
"Idon'tthinkI'vehadrealbuttersinceIwasakidbackin
Berlin,New
Hampshire."
"Well,you'lleatituphereuntiloleoseemsatreat,"
Hallorannsaid,and
laughed."Overinthisbinyougotyourbreadthirtyloavesof
white,twentyof
[Link],don'tyou
[Link]
fiftyloaveswon'ttakeyouthrough,butthere'splentyof
makingsandfreshis
betterthanfrozenanydayoftheweek.
"[Link],right,doe?"
"Isit,Mom?"
"[Link],honey."Shesmiled.
Dannywrinkledhisnose."Idon'tlikefish."
"You'redeadwrong,"Hallorannsaid."Youjustneverhadany
fishthatliked
[Link]
trout,tenpounds
ofturbot,fifteencansoftunafish"
"Ohyeah,Iliketuna."
"andfivepoundsofthesweetesttastingsolethateverswamin
[Link]
boy,whennextspringrollsaround,you'regonnathankold..."
Hesnappedhis
fingersasifhehadforgottensomething."What'smyname,now?I
guessitjust
slippedmymind."
"[Link],"Dannysaid,grinning."Dick,toyourfriends."
"That'sright!Andyoubeinafriend,youmakeitDick."
Asheledthemintothefarcorner,JackandWendyexchangeda
puzzledglance,
bothofthemtryingtorememberifHallorannhadtoldthemhis
firstname.
"AndthishereIputinspecial,"Hallorannsaid."Hopeyou
folksenjoyit."
"Ohreally,youshouldn'thave,"Wendysaid,[Link]
twentypound
turkeywrappedinawidescarletribbonwithabowontop.
"YougottohaveyourturkeyonThanksgiving,Wendy,"Hallorann
saidgravely.
"Ibelievethere'sacaponbackheresomewhereforChristmas.
Doubtlessyou'll
[Link]'scomeonoutofherenowbeforeweallcatch
thepeenumonia.
Right,doc?"
"Right!"
[Link]
driedmilk
(Hallorannadvisedhergravelytobuyfreshmilkfortheboyin
Sidewinderas
longasitwasfeasible),fivetwelvepoundbagsofsugar,a
gallonjugof
blackstrapmolasses,cereals,glassjugsofrice,macaroni,
spaghetti;ranked
cansoffruitandfruitsalad;abusheloffreshapplesthat
scentedthewhole
roomwithautumn;driedraisins,prunes,andapricots("Yougot
toberegularif
youwanttobehappy,"Hallorannsaid,andpealedlaughteratthe
coldpantry
ceiling,whereoneoldfashionedlightglobehungdownonaniron
chain);adeep
binfilledwithpotatoes;andsmallercachesoftomatoes,onions,
turnips,
squashes,andcabbages.
"Myword,"[Link]
freshfoodafter
herthirtydollaraweekgrocerybudgetsostunnedherthatshe
wasunableto
sayjustwhatherwordwas.
"I'mrunninabitlate,"Hallorannsaid,checkinghiswatch,
"soI'lljustlet
yougothroughthecabinetsandthefridgesasyougetsettled
[Link]'s
cheeses,cannedmilk,sweetenedcondensedmilk,yeast,bakin
soda,awhole
bagfulofthoseTableTalkpies,afewbunchesofbananasthat
ain'tevennear
toripeyet"
"Stop,"shesaid,holdingupahandandlaughing."I'llnever
rememberitall.
It'[Link]."
"That'sallIask."HeturnedtoJack."[Link]
therundownon
theratsinhisbelfry?"
Jackgrinned."Hesaidtherewerepossiblysomeintheattic,
[Link]
[Link]
twotonsof
paperdownthere,butIdidn'tseeanyshredded,asifthey'd
beenusingitto
makenests."
"ThatWatson,"Hallorannsaid,shakinghisheadinmocksorrow.
"Ain'thethe
foulesttalkingmanyoueverranon?"
"He'squiteacharacter,"[Link]
thefoulest
talkingmanJackhadeverrunon.
"It'ssortofapity,"Hallorannsaid,leadingthembacktoward
thewide
swingingdoorsthatgaveontheOverlookdiningroom."Therewas
moneyinthat
family,[Link]'sgranddadorgreatgranddadI
can'tremember
whichthatbuiltthisplace."
"SoIwastold,"Jacksaid.
"Whathappened?"Wendyasked.
"Well,theycouldn'tmakeitgo,"Hallorannsaid."Watsonwill
tellyouthe
wholestorytwiceaday,[Link]
inhisbonnet
[Link],[Link]
boysandoneof
themwaskilledinaridingaccidentonthegroundswhilethe
hotelwasstilla
building.Thatwouldhavebeen1908or'[Link]'swife
diedoftheflu,
[Link]
upgetting
tookbackonascaretakersinthesamehoteltheoldmanhad
built."
"Itissortofapity,"Wendysaid.
"Whathappenedtohim?Theoldman?"Jackasked.
"Hepluggedhisfingerintoalightsocketbymistakeandthat
wastheendof
him,"Hallorannsaid."Sometimeintheearlythirtiesbeforethe
Depression
closedthisplacedownfortenyears.
"Anyway,Jack,I'dappreciateitifyouandyourwifewould
keepaneyeout
forratsinthekitchen,[Link]...
traps,not
poison."
Jackblinked."[Link]'dwanttoputratpoisoninthe
kitchen?"
Hallorannlaughedderisively."[Link],that'[Link]
hisbright
[Link],Isaid:`Whatifweallgetup
herenextMay,
[Link],andIservethetraditionalopeningnightdinner'
whichjust
happenstobesalmoninaverynicesauce'andeverybodygits
sickandthe
doctorcomesandsaystoyou,"Ullman,whathaveyoubeendoing
uphere?You've
goteightyoftherichestfolksinAmericasufferingfromrat
poisoning!""'
Jackthrewhisheadbackandbellowedlaughter."Whatdid
Ullmansay?"
Halloranntuckedhistongueintohischeekasiffeelingfora
bitoffoodin
there."Hesaid:`Getsometraps,Hallorann.'"
Thistimetheyalllaughed,evenDanny,althoughhewasnot
completelysure
whatthejokewas,[Link],
whodidn't
knoweverythingafterall.
Thefourofthempassedthroughthediningroom,emptyand
silentnow,with
[Link]
thewhitelinen
tableclothshadbeencoveredwithasheetoftoughclearplastic.
Therug,now
rolledupfortheseason,stoodinonecornerlikeasentinelon
guardduty.
Acrossthewideroomwasadoublesetofbatwingdoors,and
overthemanold
fashionedsignletteredingiltscript:TheColoradoLounge.
Followinghisgaze,Hallorannsaid,"Ifyou'readrinkinman,I
hopeyou
[Link]'s
partylast
night,[Link]
aroundwitha
headachetoday,meincluded."
"Idon'tdrink,"[Link]
lobby.
Ithadclearedgreatlyduringthehalfhourthey'dspentinthe
[Link]
longmainroomwasbeginningtotakeonthequiet,desertedlook
thatJack
[Link]
backedchairs
[Link],
andthefire
[Link]
glancedoutinto
theparkinglotandsawthatallbutadozencarshad
disappeared.
ShefoundherselfwishingtheycouldgetbackintheVWandgo
backto
Boulder...oranywhereelse.
JackwaslookingaroundforUllman,buthewasn'tinthelobby.
Ayoungmaidwithherashblondhairpinneduponherneckcame
over."Your
luggageisoutontheporch,Dick."
"Thankyou,Sally."Hegaveherapeckontheforehead."You
haveyourselfa
[Link],Ihear."
HeturnedtotheTorrancesasshestrolledaway,backside
twitchingpertly.
"I'vegottohurryalongifI'[Link]
towishyouall
[Link]'llhaveit."
"Thanks,"Jacksaid."You'vebeenverykind."
"I'lltakegoodcareofyourkitchen,"Wendypromisedagain.
"EnjoyFlorida."
"Ialwaysdo,"[Link]
andbentdownto
Danny."Lastchance,[Link]?"
"Iguessnot,"Dannysaid,smiling.
"[Link]?"
"IfmymommysaysIcan."
"Youcan,"Wendysaid,"butyou'llhavetohavethatjacket
buttoned."She
leanedforwardtodoitbutHallorannwasaheadofher,hislarge
brownfingers
movingwithsmoothdexterity.
"I'llsendhimrightbackin,"Hallorannsaid.
"Fine,"Wendysaid,[Link]
stilllooking
[Link]
outatthe
desk.
<<11>>

THESHINING

[Link]
themwere
giant,batteredoldsuitcasescoveredwithblackimitation
[Link]
lastwasanoversizedzipperbagwithafadedtartanskin.
"Guessyoucanhandlethatone,can'tyou?"Hallorannasked
[Link]
twoofthebigcasesinonehandandhoistedtheotherunderhis
arm.
"Sure,"[Link]
followedthecook
downtheporchsteps,tryingmanfullynottogruntandgiveaway
howheavyit
was.
Asharpandcuttingfallwindhadcomeupsincetheyhad
arrived;itwhistled
acrosstheparkinglot,makingDannywincehiseyesdowntoslits
ashecarried
thezipperbaginfrontofhim,[Link]
errantaspenleaves
rattledandturnedacrossthenowmostlydesertedasphalt,making
Dannythink
momentarilyofthatnightlastweekwhenhehadwakenedoutof
hisnightmareand
hadheardorthoughtheheard,atleastTonytellinghimnotto
go.
HallorannsethisbagsdownbythetrunkofabeigePlymouth
Fury."Thisain't
muchcar,"heconfidedtoDanny,"[Link]'s
ontheother
[Link]'sacar.1950Cadillac,anddoessherunsweet?I'll
telltheworld.I
keepherinFloridabecauseshe'stoooldforallthismountain
[Link]
needahandwiththat?"
"No,sir,"[Link]
twelvesteps
withoutgruntingandsetitdownwithalargesighofrelief.
"Goodboy,"[Link]
thepocketof
[Link]
bagsinhesaid:
"Youshineon,[Link]
I'msixty
yearsoldthisJanuary."
"Huh?"
"Yougotaknack,"Hallorannsaid,turningtohim."Me,I've
alwayscalledit
[Link]'swhatmygrandmothercalledit,[Link].
Weusedtosit
inthekitchenwhenIwasaboynoolderthanyouandhavelong
talkswithout
evenopeninourmouths."
"Really?"
HallorannsmiledatDanny'sopenmouthed,almosthungry
expressionandsaid,
"[Link]
talktoyou."
Heslammedthetrunk.
InthelobbyoftheOverlook,WendyTorrancesawhersonget
intothe
passengersideofHallorann'scarasthebigblackcookslidin
behindthe
[Link]
totellJack
thatHallorannhadnotbeenlyingabouttakingtheirsonto
Floridatherewasa
[Link]
barelyseethe
smallsilhouetteofherson'shead,turnedattentivelytoward
Hallorann'sbig
[Link]
sherecognized
itwasthewayhersonlookedwhentherewassomethingontheTV
that
particularlyfascinatedhim,orwhenheandhisfatherwere
playingoldmaidor
[Link],whowasstilllookingaroundforUllman,
hadn'tnoticed.
Wendykeptsilent,watchingHallorann'scarnervously,wondering
whattheycould
possiblybetalkingaboutthatwouldmakeDannycockhishead
thatway.
InthecarHallorannwassaying:"Getyoukindalonely,thinkin
youwerethe
onlyone?"
Danny,whohadbeenfrightenedaswellaslonelysometimes,
nodded."AmIthe
onlyoneyouevermet?"heasked.
Hallorannlaughedandshookhishead."No,child,[Link]
shinethe
hardest."
"Aretherelots,then?"
"No,"Hallorannsaid,"[Link]
folks,theygota
[Link]'[Link]
alwaysseemto
showupwithflowerswhentheirwivesarefeelinbluewiththe
monthlies,they
dogoodonschoolteststheydon'tevenstudyfor,theygota
goodideahow
[Link]
fiftyorsixty
[Link],countinmygram,thatknew
theywasshinin."
"Wow,"Dannysaid,[Link]:"Doyouknow
[Link]?"
"Her?"Hallorannaskedscornfully."Shedon'[Link]
hersupper
backtwothreetimeseverynight."
"Iknowshedoesn't,"Dannysaidearnestly."Butdoyouknow
themaninthe
grayuniformthatgetsthecars?"
"Mike?Sure,[Link]?"
"[Link],whywouldshewanthispants?"
"Whatareyoutalkingabout,boy?"
"Well,whenshewaswatchinghim,shewasthinkingshewould
sureliketoget
intohispantsandIjustwonderedwhy"
[Link],and
rich,dark
laughterissuedfromhischest,rollingaroundinthecarlike
[Link]
[Link],puzzled,andat
lastthestorm
[Link]
handkerchieffrom
hisbreastpocketlikeawhiteflagofsurrenderandwipedhis
streamingeyes.
"Boy,"hesaid,stillsnortingalittle,"youaregonnaknow
everythingthere
[Link]
iftoenvyyou
ornot."
"[Link]"
"Younevermindher,"hesaid."Anddon'tgoaskinyourmom,
[Link]'d
onlyupsether,digwhatI'msayin?"
"Yes,sir,"[Link]
hismotherthat
wayinthepast.
"[Link],that's
allyouhave
toknow."HelookedatDannyspeculatively."Howhardcanyou
hit,doc?"
"Huh?"
"[Link]
muchasIthink
youdo."
"Whatdoyouwantmetothink?"
"[Link]."
"Okay,"[Link],then
gatheredhis
[Link]
anything
preciselylikethisbefore,andatthelastinstantsome
instinctivepartofhim
roseupandbluntedsomeofthethought'srawforcehedidn't
wanttohurtMr.
[Link]
neverwouldhave
[Link]
onit.
(GeeIhopeIdon'thurthim)
Andthethoughtwas:
(!!!HI,DICK!!!)
[Link]
cametogether
withahardclick,drawingbloodfromhislowerlipinathin
[Link]
flewupinvoluntarilyfromhislaptothelevelofhischestand
thensettled
[Link],withno
conscious
control,andDannywasfrightened.
"[Link]?Dick?Areyouokay?"
"Idon'tknow,"Hallorannsaid,andlaughedweakly."Ihonest
toGoddon'[Link]
God,boy,you'reapistol."
"I'msorry,"Dannysaid,morealarmed."ShouldIgetmydaddy?
I'llrunand
gethim."
"No,hereIcome.I'mokay,[Link].I
feelalittle
scrambled,that'sall."
"Ididn'tgoashardasIcould,"Dannyconfessed."Iwas
scaredto,atthe
lastminute."
"Probablymygoodluckyoudid...mybrainswouldbeleakin
outmyears."
HesawthealarmonDanny'sfaceandsmiled."[Link]
diditfeel
liketoyou?"
"LikeIwasNolanRyanthrowingafastball,"hereplied
promptly.
"Youlikebaseball,doyou?"Hallorannwasrubbinghistemples
gingerly.
"DaddyandmeliketheAngels,"Dannysaid."TheRedSoxinthe
American
[Link]
againstCincinnatiin
[Link]..."
Danny'sface
wentdarkandtroubled.
"Waswhat,Dan?"
"Iforget,"[Link]
mouthtosuckit,
[Link].
"Canyoutellwhatyourmomanddadarethinking,Danny?"
Hallorannwas
watchinghimclosely.
"Mosttimes,[Link]'ttry."
"Whynot?"
"Well..."hepausedamoment,troubled."Itwouldbelike
peekingintothe
bedroomandwatchingwhilethey'redoingthethingthatmakes
[Link]
knowthatthing?"
"Ihavehadacquaintancewithit,"Hallorannsaidgravely.
"Theywouldn'[Link]'tlikemepeekingat
theirthinks.
Itwouldbedirty."
"Isee."
"ButIknowhowthey'refeeling,"Dannysaid."Ican'thelp
[Link]
you'refeeling,[Link].I'msorry."
"It'sjustaheadache.I'[Link]
youreadother
people,Danny?"
"Ican'treadyetatall,"Dannysaid,"[Link]
Daddy'sgoing
[Link]
writinginabig
[Link],butheknowsreading,too."
"Imean,canyoutellwhatanybodyisthinking?"
Dannythoughtaboutit.
"Icanifit'sloud,"hesaidfinally."[Link]
[Link]
once,whenmeandMommywereinthisbigstoretogetmesome
shoes,therewas
thisbigkidlookingatradios,andhewasthinkingabouttaking
onewithout
[Link]'dthink,whatifIgetcaught?Thenhe'd
think,Ireallywant
[Link]'[Link]
himselfsickabout
it,[Link]
sellstheshoes
soIwentoverandsaid,`Kid,don'[Link].'
Andhegot
[Link]."
Hallorannwasgrinningbroadly."[Link]
anythingelse,
Danny?Isitonlythoughtsandfeelings,oristheremore?"
Cautiously:"Istheremoreforyou?"
"Sometimes,"Hallorannsaid."[Link]...
sometimesthereare
[Link],Danny?"
"Sometimes,"Dannysaid,"IdreamwhenI'[Link]
comes."Histhumb
[Link]
MommyandDaddy
[Link].
"Who'sTony?"
AndsuddenlyDannyhadoneofthoseflashesofunderstanding
thatfrightened
himmostofall;itwaslikeasuddenglimpseofsome
incomprehensiblemachine
[Link]
toknowwhich.
Hewastooyoungtounderstand.
"What'swrong?"hecried."You'reaskingmeallthisbecause
you'reworried,
aren'tyou?Whyareyouworriedaboutme?Whyareyouworried
aboutus?"
Hallorannputhislargedarkhandsonthesmallboy's
shoulders."Stop,"he
[Link]'[Link]...well,
you'vegotalarge
thinginyourhead,[Link]'llhavetodoalotofgrowinyet
beforeyou
catchuptoit,[Link]."
"ButIdon'tunderstandthingsl"Dannyburstout."IdobutI
don't!People.
..theyfeelthingsandIfeelthem,butIdon'tknowwhatI'm
feeling!"He
lookeddownathislapwretchedly."IwishIcouldread.
SometimesTonyshowsme
signsandIcanhardlyreadanyofthem."
"Who'sTony?"Hallorannaskedagain.
"MommyandDaddycallhimmy`invisibleplaymate,"'Dannysaid,
recitingthe
wordscarefully."Buthe'[Link],Ithinkheis.
Sometimes,when
Itryrealhardtounderstandthings,[Link],'Danny,
Iwanttoshow
yousomething.'Andit'[Link]...thereare
dreams,likeyou
said."HelookedatHallorannandswallowed."Theyusedtobe
[Link]..
.Ican'trememberthewordfordreamsthatscareyouandmake
youcry."
"Nightmares?"Hallorannasked.
"[Link]'[Link]."
"Aboutthisplace?AbouttheOverlook?"
Dannylookeddownathisthumbsuckinghandagain."Yes,"he
[Link]
hespokeshrilly,lookingupintoHallorann'sface:"ButIcan't
tellmydaddy,
andyoucan't,either!Hehastohavethisjobbecauseit'sthe
onlyoneUncle
Alcouldgetforhimandhehastofinishhisplayorhemight
startdoingthe
BadThingagainandIknowwhatthatis,it'sgettingdrunk,
that'swhatitis,
it'swhenheusedtoalwaysbedrunkandthatwasaBadThingto
do!"He
stopped,onthevergeoftears.
"Shh,"Hallorannsaid,andpulledDanny'sfaceagainstthe
roughsergeofhis
[Link]."That'sallright,son.
Andifthat
thumblikesyourmouth,letitgowhereitwants."Buthisface
wastroubled.
Hesaid:"Whatyougot,son,Icallitshininon,theBible
callsithaving
visions,andthere'sscientiststhatcallitprecognition.I've
readuponit,
son.I'[Link]
understand
that?"
DannynoddedagainstHallorann'scoat.
"IrememberthestrongestshineIeverhadthatway...I'm
notliableto
[Link],stationed
overseasinWest
[Link],andIwasstandinbythe
sink,givinone
oftheKPshellfortakintoomuchofthepotatoalongwiththe
[Link],
'Here,lemmeshowyouhowthat'sdone.'Heheldoutthepotato
andthepeeler
[Link],[Link]
sayyouseethis
guyTonybefore...beforeyouhavedreams?"
Dannynodded.
Hallorannputanarmaroundhim."Withmeit'ssmellinoranges.
Allthat
afternoonI'dbeensmellinthemandthinkinnothinofit,because
theywereon
themenuforthatnightwehadthirtycratesofValencias.
Everybodyinthedamn
kitchenwassmellinorangesthatnight.
"[Link]
heardanexplosion
[Link]
thishissin
[Link]
littlecloserto
whateveritwasandIsawarailroadcaroffthetracksand
layingonitsside
withGeorgiaacedSouthCarolinaRailroadwrittenonit,andI
knewlikeaflash
thatmybrotherCarlwasonthattrainanditjumpedthetracks
andCarlwas
[Link]'sthisscared,
stupidlittleKP
infrontofme,[Link]
says,'Areyou
okay,Sarge?'AndIsays,`[Link]'sjustbeenkilleddown
inGeorgia'
AndwhenIfinallygotmymommaontheoverseastelephone,she
toldmehowit
was.
"Butsee,boy,Ialreadyknewhowitwas."
Heshookhisheadslowly,asifdismissingthememory,and
lookeddownatthe
wideeyedboy.
"Butthethingyougottoremember,myboy,isthis:Those
thingsdon'talways
[Link]
boys'campup
[Link]
LoganAirportin
Boston,justwaitingtogetonmyflight,andIstarttosmell
[Link]
[Link],'MyGod,
what'scominon
thiscrazylateshownow?'andIgotdowntothebathroomandsat
ononeofthe
[Link],butIstartedto
getthisfeelin,
strongerandstronger,[Link]
feelingwent
away,andthesmelloforanges,[Link]
backtotheDelta
[Link]
doyouknow
whathappened?"
"What?"Dannywhispered.
"Nothin!"Hallorannsaid,[Link]
theboysmilea
little,too."NotonesinglethinglThatoldplanelandedright
ontimeand
[Link]...sometimesthose
feelinsdon't
cometoanything."
"Oh,"Dannysaid.
"[Link],andIusuallydo
[Link]
bytherailwhentheygobythestartinggate,andsometimesI
getalittle
[Link]
getrealwell.
IalwaystellmyselfthatsomedayI'mgonnagetthreeatonceon
threelong
[Link]'t
happenedyet.
Butthere'splentyoftimesI'vecomehomefromthetrackon
shank'smare
[Link]
onallthe
time,exceptmaybeforGodupinheaven."
"Yes,sir,"Dannysaid,thinkingofthetimealmostayearago
whenTonyhad
showedhimanewbabylyinginacribattheirhousein
[Link]
veryexcitedaboutthat,andhadwaited,knowingthatittook
time,butthere
hadbeennonewbaby.
"Nowyoulisten,"Hallorannsaid,andtookbothofDanny's
handsinhisown.
"I'vehadsomebaddreamshere,andI'vehadsomebadfeelins.
I'veworkedhere
twoseasonsnowandmaybeadozentimesI'vehad...well,
[Link]
maybehalfadozentimesI'vethoughtI'[Link],I
won'[Link]
ain'[Link]
somethingtodo
[Link]
therewasa
maid,DeloresVickeryhernamewas,andshehadalittleshineto
her,butI
don'[Link]...doyouknow
whatthatis,
doc?"
"Yes,sir,"Dannysaidcandidly,"mydaddygotfiredfromhis
teachingjoband
that'swhywe'reinColorado,Iguess."
"Well,Ullmanfiredheronaccountofhersayingshe'dseen
somethinginone
oftheroomswhere...well,[Link]
wasinRoom217,
andIwantyoutopromisemeyouwon'tgointhere,[Link]
[Link]
rightclear."
"Allright,"Dannysaid."Didtheladythemaidendidsheask
youtogo
look?"
"Yes,[Link]...I
don'tthinkitwas
abadthingthatcouldhurtanyone,Danny,that'swhatI'mtryin
[Link]
whoshinecansometimesseethingsthataregonnahappen,andI
thinksometimes
[Link]'rejustlike
picturesinabook.
Didyoueverseeapictureinabookthatscaredyou,Danny?"
"Yes,"hesaid,thinkingofthestoryofBluebeardandthe
picturewhere
Bluebeard'snewwifeopensthedoorandseesalltheheads.
"Butyouknewitcouldn'thurtyou,didn'tyou?"
"Yeess..."Dannysaid,alittledubious.
"Well,that'[Link]'tknowwhy,butit
seemsthatall
thebadthingsthateverhappenedhere,there'slittlepiecesof
thosethings
stilllayinaroundlikefingernailclippinsortheboogersthat
somebodynasty
[Link]'tknowwhyitshouldjustbe
here,there'sbad
goingsoninjustabouteveryhotelintheworld,Iguess,and
I'veworkedina
[Link],Idon't
thinkthosethings
canhurtanybody."Heemphasizedeachwordinthesentencewitha
mildshakeof
theboy'sshoulders."Soifyoushouldseesomething,ina
hallwayoraroomor
outsidebythosehedges...justlooktheotherwayandwhen
youlookback,
it'[Link]?"
"Yes,"[Link],[Link]
hisknees,
kissedHallorann'scheek,[Link]
huggedhim
back.
Whenhereleasedtheboyheasked:"Yourfolks,theydon't
shine,dothey?"
"No,Idon'tthinkso."
"ItriedthemlikeIdidyou,"Hallorannsaid."Yourmomma
jumpedthetiniest
[Link],youknow,atleastuntil
theirkids
[Link]..."
[Link]'sfather
andhejust
didn'[Link]'tlikemeetingsomeonewhohadtheshine,or
someonewho
[Link]'sfatherhadbeen...
strange,asifJack
[Link]
hewasholding
insodeeplysubmergedinhimselfthatitwasimpossibletoget
to.
"Idon'tthinkheshinesatall,"Hallorannfinished."Soyou
don'tworry
[Link]'tthinkthere's
anythingherethat
[Link],okay?"
"Okay."
"Danny!Hey,doc!"
Dannylookedaround."That'[Link]."
"Iknowyoudo,"Hallorannsaid."Youhaveagoodtimehere,
[Link]
can,anyway."
"[Link],[Link]."
Thesmilingthoughtcameinhismind:
(Dick,tomyfriends)(Yes,Dick,okay)
Theireyesmet,andDickHallorannwinked.
Dannyscrambledacrosstheseatofthecarandopenedthe
passengersidedoor.
Ashewasgettingout,Hallorannsaid,"Danny?"
"What?"
"IfthereIstrouble...[Link]
liketheoneyou
[Link]
[Link],
I'llcomeontherun."
"Okay,"Dannysaid,andsmiled.
"Youtakecare,bigboy."
"Iwill."
Dannyslammedthedoorandranacrosstheparkinglottoward
theporch,where
[Link]
watched,the
biggrinslowlyfading.
Idon'tthinkthere'sanythingherethatcanhurtyou.
Idon'tthink.
Butwhatifhewaswrong?Hehadknownthatthiswashislast
seasonatthe
OverlookeversincehehadseenthatthinginthebathtubofRoom
[Link]
beenworsethananypictureinanybook,andfromheretheboy
runningtohis
motherlookedsosmall...
Idon'tthink
Hiseyesdrifteddowntothetopiaryanimals.
Abruptlyhestartedthecarandputitingearanddroveaway,
tryingnotto
[Link],andofcoursetheporchwas
[Link]
[Link].

<<12>>

THEGRANDTOUR

"Whatwereyoutalkingabout,hon?"Wendyaskedhimasthey
wentbackinside.
"Oh,nothingmuch."
"Fornothingmuchitsurewasalongtalk."
HeshruggedandWendysawDanny'spaternityinthegesture;
Jackcouldhardly
[Link].
Shefeltstrong
exasperationmixedwithanevenstrongerlove:thelovewas
helpless,the
exasperationcamefromafeelingthatshewasdeliberatelybeing
[Link]
thetwoofthemaroundshesometimesfeltlikeanoutsider,abit
playerwhohad
accidentallywanderedbackonstagewhilethemainactionwas
[Link],
theywouldn'tbeabletoexcludeherthiswinter,hertwo
exasperatingmales;
[Link]
suddenlyrealizedshe
wasfeelingjealousoftheclosenessbetweenherhusbandandher
son,andfelt
[Link]
felt...too
closeforcomfort.
ThelobbywasnowemptyexceptforUllmanandtheheaddesk
clerk(theywere
attheregister,cashingup),acoupleofmaidswhohadchanged
towarmslacks
andsweaters,standingbythefrontdoorandlookingoutwith
theirluggage
pooledaroundthem,andWatson,[Link]
herlookingat
himandgaveherawink...[Link]
lookedaway
[Link]
restaurant,studyingthe
[Link].
Thecashregisterapparentlycheckedout,becausenowUllman
ranitshutwith
[Link]
smallzippercase.
Wendysilentlyapplaudedtheheadclerk,wholookedgreatly
[Link]
lookedlikethetypeofmanwhomighttakeanyshortageoutof
theheadclerk's
hide...[Link]'t
muchcarefor
Ullmanorhisofficious,[Link]
likeeveryboss
she'deverhad,[Link]
theguests,a
[Link]
wasoutandthe
headclerk'[Link]
foreveryonebut
sheandJackandDanny,anyway.
"[Link],"Ullmancalledperemptorily."Wouldyoucome
overhere,please?
"
Jackwalkedover,noddingtoWendyandDannythattheywereto
cometoo.
Theclerk,whohadgoneintotheback,nowcameoutagain
wearinganovercoat.
"Haveapleasantwinter,[Link]."
"Idoubtit,"Ullmansaiddistantly."Maytwelfth,Braddock.
Notaday
[Link]."
"Yes,sir."
Braddockwalkedaroundthedesk,hisfacesoberanddignified,
asbefittedhis
position,butwhenhisbackwasentirelytoUllman,hegrinned
likeaschoolboy.
Hespokebrieflytothetwogirlsstillwaitingbythedoorfor
theirride,and
hewasfollowedoutbyabriefburstofstifledlaughter.
[Link]
fallenoverthe
hotellikeaheavyblanketmutingeverythingbutthefaintpulse
ofthe
[Link]
throughtheinner
office,nowneattothepointofsterilitywithitstwobare
desksandtwosets
[Link]'s
spotlesskitchen,
thebigportholeddoubledoorsproppedopenbyrubberwedges.
"IthoughtIwouldtakeafewextraminutesandshowyou
throughtheHotel,"
Ullmansaid,andWendyreflectedthatyoucouldalwayshearthat
capitalHin
Ullman'[Link]."I'msureyour
husbandwillgetto
knowtheinsandoutsoftheOverlookquitewell,[Link],
butyouand
yoursonwilldoubtlesskeepmoretothelobbylevelandthe
firstfloor,where
yourquartersare."
"Doubtless,"Wendymurmureddemurely,andJackshothera
privateglance.
"It'sabeautifulplace,"Ullmansaidexpansively."Irather
enjoyshowingit
off."
I'llbetyoudo,Wendythought.
"Let'sgouptothirdandworkourwaydown,"[Link]
sounded
positivelyenthused.
"Ifwe'rekeepingyou"Jackbegan.
"Notatall,"Ullmansaid:"[Link],for
thisseason,at
[Link],of
[Link]
decenthotelthissideofDenver...exceptfortheOverlook
itself,of
[Link]."
[Link]
scrolledincopper
andbrass,butitsettledappreciablybeforeUllmanpulledthe
gateacross.
Dannystirredalittleuneasily,andUllmansmileddownathim.
Dannytriedto
smilebackwithoutnotablesuccess.
"Don'tyouworry,littleman,"Ullmansaid."Safeashouses."
"SowastheTitanic,"Jacksaid,lookingupatthecutglass
globeinthe
[Link]
tokeepthe
smileaway.
[Link]
rattleandabang.
"TheTitanicmadeonlyonevoyage,[Link]
hasmade
thousandsofthemsinceitwasinstalledin1926."
"That'sreassuring,"[Link]'shair."The
planeain'tgonna
crash,doc."
Ullmanthrewtheleverover,andforamomenttherewasnothing
buta
shudderingbeneaththeirfeetandthetorturedwhineofthemotor
belowthem.
Wendyhadavisionofthefourofthembeingtrappedbetween
floorslikeflies
inabottleandfoundinthespring...withlittlebitsand
piecesgone...
liketheDonnerParty...
(Stopit!)
Theelevatorbegantorise,withsomevibrationandclashing
andbangingfrom
[Link]
Ullmanbrought
themtoabumpystop,retractedthegate,andopenedthedoor.
Theelevatorcar
[Link]
differenceinheight
betweenthethirdfloorhallandtheelevatorfloorasifhehad
justsensedthe
[Link]
throatand
raisedthecaralittle,broughtittoastopwithajerk(still
twoinches
low),[Link]
reboundedalmost
tofloorlevel,somethingWendydidnotfindreassuringatall.
Safeashouses
ornot,sheresolvedtotakethestairswhenshehadtogoupor
downinthis
[Link]
togetintothe
ricketythingtogether.
"Whatareyoulookingat,doc?"Jackinquiredhumorously."See
anyspots
there?"
"Ofcoursenot,"Ullmansaid,nettled."Alltherugswere
shampooedjusttwo
daysago."
[Link],but
definitelynot
anythingshewouldchooseforherownhome,ifthedayevercame
whenshehad
[Link],itwasentwinedwithwhatseemedtobea
surrealistic
junglescenefullofropesandvinesandtreesfilledwithexotic
[Link]
hardtotelljustwhatsortofbirds,becauseallthe
interweavingwasdonein
unshadedblack,givingonlysilhouettes.
"Doyouliketherug?"WendyaskedDanny.
"Yes,Mom,"hesaidcolorlessly.
Theywalkeddownthehall,[Link]
wallpaperwassilk,
[Link]
tenfoot
[Link]
Londongas
lamps,thebulbsweremaskedbehindcloudy,creamhuedglassthat
wasboundwith
crisscrossingironstrips.
"Ilikethoseverymuch,"shesaid.
Ullmannodded,pleased."[Link]
throughouttheHotel
afterthewarnumberTwo,[Link]
allofthethird
floordecoratingschemewashisidea.Thisis300,the
PresidentialSuite."
Hetwistedhiskeyinthelockofthemahoganydoubledoorsand
swungthem
[Link]'swidewesternexposuremadethemall
gasp,whichhad
probablybeenUllman'[Link]."Quiteaview,isn't
it?"
"Itsureis,"Jacksaid.
Thewindowrannearlythelengthofthesittingroom,and
beyonditthesun
waspoiseddirectlybetweentwosawtoothedpeaks,castinggolden
lightacross
[Link]
aroundand
behindthispicturepostcardviewwerealsotintedgold,anda
sunbeamglinted
duskilydownintothedarklypooledfirsbelowthetimberline.
JackandWendyweresoabsorbedintheviewthattheydidn't
lookdownat
Danny,whowasstaringnotoutthewindowbutattheredand
whitestripedsilk
wallpapertotheleft,whereadooropenedintoaninterior
[Link]
gasp,whichhadbeenmingledwiththeirs,hadnothingtodowith
beauty.
Greatsplashesofdriedblood,fleckedwithtinybitsof
grayishwhitetissue,
[Link]
crazypicture
drawninblood,asurrealisticetchingofaman'sfacedrawnback
interrorand
pain,themouthyawningandhalftheheadpulverized
(Soifyoushouldseesomething...justlooktheotherway
andwhenyou
lookback,it'[Link]?)
Hedeliberatelylookedoutthewindow,beingcarefultoshowno
expressionon
hisface,andwhenhismommy'shandclosedoverhisownhetook
it,being
carefulnottosqueezeitorgiveherasignalofanykind.
Themanagerwassayingsomethingtohisdaddyaboutmakingsure
toshutter
thatbigwindowsoastrongwindwouldn'[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
littlegraywhiteflecksthathadbeenscatteredallthroughit,
theyweregone,
too.
[Link]
themountains
[Link],althoughhedidn'treallycare
forthe
mountains,[Link]
behindthem,
[Link],
onlynowit
[Link],lookingdirectlyatit,went
onwithhis
runningcommentaryaboutthefamousmenwhohadstayedhere.
Dannydiscovered
thathehadbittenhisliphardenoughtomakeitbleed,andhe
hadnevereven
[Link],hefellalittle
bitbehindthe
othersandwipedthebloodawaywiththebackofhishandand
thoughtabout
(blood)
([Link]?)
(Idon'tthinkthosethingscanhurtyou.)
Therewasanironscreambehindhislips,buthewouldnotlet
[Link]
mommyanddaddycouldnotseesuchthings;[Link]
wouldkeepquiet.
Hismommyanddaddywerelovingeachother,andthatwasareal
[Link]
[Link]
scary,butthey
couldn'[Link]...couldn't...hurtyou.
[Link],
leadingthem
[Link]
allsweetsup
here,[Link],althoughDannydidn'[Link]
showedthemsome
roomswherealadynamedMarilynMonroeoncestayedwhenshewas
marriedtoa
mannamedArthurMiller(Dannygotavagueunderstandingthat
MarilynandArthur
hadgottenaDIVORCEnotlongaftertheywereintheOverlook
Hotel).
"Mommy?"
"What,honey?"
"Iftheyweremarried,whydidtheyhavedifferentnames?You
andDaddyhave
thesamenames."
"Yes,butwe'renotfamous,Danny,"Jacksaid."Famouswomen
keeptheirsame
namesevenaftertheygetmarriedbecausetheirnamesaretheir
breadand
butter."
"Breadandbutter,"Dannysaid,completelymystified.
"WhatDaddymeansisthatpeopleusedtoliketogotothe
moviesandsee
MarilynMonroe,"Wendysaid,"buttheymightnotliketogoto
seeMarilyn
Miller."
"Whynot?She'[Link]'teveryoneknow
that?"
"Yes,but"ShelookedatJackhelplessly.
"TrumanCapoteoncestayedinthisroom,"Ullmaninterrupted
[Link]
openedthedoor."[Link].
Continental
manners."
Therewasnothingremarkableinanyoftheserooms(exceptfor
theabsenceof
sweets,[Link]),nothingthatDanny
wasafraidof.
Infact,therewasonlyoneotherthingonthethirdfloorthat
botheredDanny,
[Link]
thewalljust
beforetheyturnedthecornerandwentbacktotheelevator,
whichstoodopen
andwaitinglikeamouthfulofgoldteeth.
Itwasanoldfashionedextinguisher,aflathosefoldedbacka
dozentimes
uponitself,oneendattachedtoalargeredvalve,theother
endinginabrass
[Link]
[Link]
caseofafireyoucouldknockthesteelslatupandoutofthe
waywithone
[Link];he
wasgoodat
[Link]
hadbeen
unlockingtheprotectivegatehisfatherhadinstalledatthetop
ofthestairs
[Link]
daddysaiditwas
[Link]'t.
Thisfireextinguisherwasalittleolderthanothershehad
seentheonein
thenurseryschool,forinstancebutthatwasnotsounusual.
Nonethelessit
filledhimwithfaintunease,curledupthereagainstthelight
bluewallpaper
[Link]
aroundthe
corner.
"Ofcourseallthewindowshavetobeshuttered,"[Link]
saidasthey
[Link]
beneaththeir
feet."ButI'mparticularlyconcernedabouttheoneinthe
PresidentialSuite.
Theoriginalbillonthatwindowwasfourhundredandtwenty
dollars,andthat
[Link]
replacetoday."
"I'llshutterit,"Jacksaid.
Theywentdowntothesecondfloorwherethereweremorerooms
andevenmore
[Link]
beguntofade
[Link]
showedthemone
ortworoomsandthatwasall.Hewalkedpast217,theoneDick
Hallorannhad
warnedhimabout,[Link]
numberplateonthe
doorwithuneasyfascination.
[Link]'tshowtheminto
anyroomshere
untiltheyhadalmostreachedthethicklycarpetedstaircasethat
leddowninto
thelobbyagain."Hereareyourquarters,"hesaid."Ithink
you'llfindthem
adequate."
[Link].
Therewasnothing.
[Link]
Suite,withits
coldelegance,hadmadeherfeelawkwardandclumsyitwasall
verywellto
visitsomerestoredhistoricalbuildingwithabedroomplaque
thatannounced
[Link],but
anotherthing
entirelytoimagineyouandyourhusbandlyingbeneathacreages
oflinenand
perhapsmakinglovewherethegreatestmenintheworldhadonce
lain(themost
powerful,anyway,sheamended).Butthisapartmentwassimpler,
homier,almost
[Link]
withnogreat
difficulty.
"It'sverypleasant,"shesaidtoUllman,andheardthe
gratitudeinher
voice.
Ullmannodded."[Link],this
suitequarters
thecookandhiswife,orthecookandhisapprentice."
"[Link]?"Dannybrokein.
[Link]."Quite
[Link].
Nevers."HeturnedbacktoJackandWendy."Thisisthesitting
room."
Therewereseveralchairsthatlookedcomfortablebutnot
expensive,acoffee
tablethathadoncebeenexpensivebutnowhadalongchipgone
fromtheside,
twobookcases(stuffedfullofReader'sDigestCondensedBooks
andDetective
BookClubtrilogiesfromtheforties,Wendysawwithsome
amusement),andan
anonymoushotelTVthatlookedmuchlesselegantthanthebuffed
woodconsoles
intherooms.
"Nokitchen,ofcourse,"Ullmansaid,"butthereisadumb
[Link]
apartmentisdirectlyoverthekitchen."Heslidasideasquare
ofpanelingand
disclosedawide,[Link]
disappeared,trailing
ropebehindit.
"It'sasecretpassage!"Dannysaidexcitedlytohismother,
momentarily
forgettingallfearsinfavorofthatintoxicatingshaftbehind
thewall."Just
likeinAbbottandCostelloMeettheMonsters!"
[Link]
tothedumb
waiterandpeereddowntheshaft.,
"Thisway,please."
[Link]
onthebedroom,
[Link]
atherhusband,
smiled,shrugged.
"Noproblem,"Jacksaid."We'llpushthemtogether."
[Link],honestlypuzzled."Beg
pardon?"
"Thebeds,"Jacksaidpleasantly."Wecanpushthemtogether."
"Oh,quite,"Ullmansaid,[Link]
clearedanda
redflushbegantocreepupfromthecollarofhisshirt.
"Whateveryoulike."
Heledthembackintothesittingroom,whereaseconddoor
openedonasecond
bedroom,[Link]
onecorner,and
therugonthefloorwasahideousembroideryofwesternsageand
cactusDanny
badalreadyfalleninlovewithit,[Link]
smallerroom
werepaneledinrealpine.
"Thinkyoucanstanditinhere,doc?"Jackasked.
"SureIcan.I'[Link]?"
"Ifthat'swhatyouwant."
"Iliketherug,[Link],whydon'tyouhaveallthe
rugslikethat?"
[Link]
[Link]
hesmiledandpattedDanny'shead."Thoseareyourquarters,"he
said,"except
forthebath,[Link]'snotahuge
apartment,but
ofcourseyou'[Link]
lobby
fireplaceisingoodworkingorder,orsoWatsontellsme,and
youmustfeel
freetoeatinthediningroomifthespiritmovesyoutodoso."
Hespokein
thetoneofamanconferringagreatfavor.
"Allright,"Jacksaid.
"Shallwegodown?"[Link].
"Fine,"Wendysaid.
Theywentdownstairsintheelevator,andnowthelobbywas
whollydeserted
exceptforWatson,whowasleaningagainstthemaindoorsina
rawhidejacket,a
toothpickbetweenhislips.
"Iwouldhavethoughtyou'dbemilesfromherebynow,"Mr.
Ullmansaid,his
voiceslightlychill.
"[Link]
boiler,"Watsonsaid,
straighteningup."Keepyourgoodweathereyeonher,fella,and
she'llbefine.
[Link]."
Shecreeps,Dannythought,andthewordsechoeddownalongand
silent
corridorinhismind,acorridorlinedwithmirrorswherepeople
seldomlooked.
"Iwill,"hisdaddysaid.
"You'llbefine,"Watsonsaid,[Link]
shookit.
WatsonturnedtoWendyandinclinedhishead."Ma'am,"hesaid.
"I'mpleased,"Wendysaid,andthoughtitwouldsoundabsurd.
Itdidn'[Link]
hadcomeoutherefromNewEngland,whereshehadspentherlife,
anditseemed
toherthatinafewshortsentencesthismanWatson,withhis
fluffyfringeof
hair,hadepitomizedwhattheWestwassupposedtobeallabout.
Andnevermind
thelecherouswinkearlier.
"YoungmasterTorrance,"Watsonsaidgravely,andputouthis
[Link],who
hadknownallabouthandshakingforalmostayearnow,puthis
ownhandout
gingerlyandfeltitswallowedup."Youtakegoodcareofem,
Dan."
"Yes,sir."
WatsonletgoofDanny'[Link]
lookedatUllman.
"Untilnextyear,Iguess,"hesaid,andheldhishandout.
[Link]
lobby'selectric
lightsinabalefulsortofwink.
"Maytwelfth,Watson,"hesaid."Notadayearlierorlater."
"Yes,sir,"Watsonsaid,andJackcouldalmostreadthecodicil
inWatson's
mind:...youfuckinglittlefaggot.
"Haveagoodwinter,[Link]."
"Oh,Idoubtit,"Ullmansaidremotely.
Watsonopenedoneofthetwobigmaindoors;thewindwhined
louderandbegan
toflutterthecollarofhisjacket."Youfolkstakecarenow,"
hesaid.
ItwasDannywhoanswered."Yes,sir,wewill."
Watson,whosenotsodistantancestorhadownedthisplace,
slippedhumbly
[Link],mufflingthewind.
Togethertheywatched
himclopdowntheporch'sbroadfrontstepsinhisbatteredblack
cowboyboots.
Brittleyellowaspenleavestumbledaroundhisheelsashe
crossedthelotto
[Link]
jettedfromthe
[Link]
heldamongthemas
hebacked,[Link]
disappearedoverthe
browofthehillandthenreappeared,smaller,onthemainroad,
headingwest.
ForamomentDannyfeltmorelonelythanheeverhadinhis
life.

<<13>>

THEFRONTPORCH

TheTorrancefamilystoodtogetheronthelongfrontporchof
theOverlook
Hotelasifposingforafamilyportrait,Dannyinthemiddle,
zipperedinto
lastyear'sfalljacketwhichwasnowtoosmallandstartingto
comeoutatthe
elbow,Wendybehindhimwithonehandonhisshoulder,andJack
tohisleft,his
ownhandrestinglightlyonhisson'shead.
[Link],buttonedintoanexpensive
lookingbrown
[Link],
edgingthemwith
goldfire,makingtheshadowsaroundthingslooklongandpurple.
Theonlythree
vehiclesleftintheparkinglotswerethehoteltruck,Ullman's
Lincoln
Continental,andthebatteredTorranceVW.
"You'vegotyourkeys,then;"UllmansaidtoJack,"andyou
understandfully
aboutthefurnaceandtheboiler?"
Jacknodded,[Link]
wasdonefor
theseason,theballofstringwasneatlywrappedupuntilnext
May12nota
dayearlierorlaterandUllman,whowasresponsibleforallof
itandwho
referredtothehotelintheunmistakabletonesofinfatuation,
couldnothelp
lookingforlooseends.
"Ithinkeverythingiswellinhand,"Jacksaid.
"Good.I'llbeintouch."Buthestilllingeredforamoment,
asifwaiting
forthewindtotakeahandandperhapsgusthimdowntohiscar.
Hesighed.
"[Link],[Link],[Link]
too,Danny."
"Thankyou,sir,"Dannysaid."Ihopeyoudo,too."
"Idoubtit,"Ullmanrepeated,andhesoundedsad."Theplace
inFloridaisa
dump,[Link]
Overlookismy
[Link],[Link]."
"Ithinkitwillbeherewhenyougetbacknextspring,"Jack
said,anda
thoughtflashedthroughDanny'smind
(butwillwe?)
andwasgone.
"[Link]"
Ullmanlookedouttowardtheplaygroundwherethehedgeanimals
were
[Link]
businesslikeway.
"Goodby,then."
Hewalkedquicklyandprissilyacrosstohiscararidiculously
bigonefor
[Link]'smotor
purredinto
lifeandthetaillightsflashedashepulledoutofhisparking
[Link]
carmovedaway,Jackcouldreadthesmallsignattheheadofthe
stall:
[Link],MGR.
"Right,"Jacksaidsoftly.
Theywatcheduntilthecarwasoutofsight,headeddownthe
easternslope.
Whenitwasgone,thethreeofthemlookedateachotherfora
silent,almost
[Link]
skitteredin
aimlesspacksacrossthelawnthatwasnowneatlymowedand
tendedforno
guest'[Link]
acrossthegrass
[Link],
asifhislife
forcehaddwindledtoameresparkwhilethehotelandthe
groundsbadsuddenly
doubledinsizeandbecomesinister,dwarfingthemwithsullen,
inanimatepower.
ThenWendysaid:"Lookatyou,[Link]
firehose.
Let'sgetinside."
Andtheydid,closingthedoorfirmlybehindthemagainstthe
restlesswhine
ofthewind.

PARTTHREE

TheWasps'Nest

<<14>>
UPONTHEROOF

"Ohyougoddamfuckingsonofabitch!"
JackTorrancecriedthesewordsoutinbothsurpriseandagony
asheslapped
hisrighthandagainsthisbluechambrayworkshirt,dislodging
thebig,slow
[Link]
roofasfastashe
could,lookingbackoverhisshouldertoseeifthewasp's
brothersandsisters
[Link]
were,itcould
bebad;thenestwasbetweenhimandhisladder,andthetrapdoor
leadingdown
[Link]
feetfromthe
rooftothecementpatiobetweenthehotelandthelawn.
Theclearairabovethenestwasstillandundisturbed.
Jackwhistleddisgustedlybetweenhisteeth,satstraddlingthe
peakofthe
roof,[Link]
already,andhe
supposedhewouldhavetotryandcreeppastthatnesttohis
laddersohecould
godownandputsomeiceonit.
[Link]
inthehotel
truck(anelderly,rattlingDodgethatwasstillmoretrustworthy
thantheVW,
whichwasnowwheezinggravelyandseemedterminal)togetthree
gallonsofmilk
[Link],butthere
wasnotelling
[Link]
flurries,andinsome
placestheroaddownfromtheOverlookwasslickwithpatchice.
[Link]
thethreeweeks
theyhadbeenhere,[Link],
thirtydegree
morningsgavewaytoafternoontemperaturesinthelowsixties,
theperfect
temperatureforclimbingaroundontheOverlook'sgentlysloping
westernroof
[Link]
hecouldhave
finishedthejobfourdaysago,buthefeltnorealurgeto
[Link]
upherewasspectacular,evenputtingthevistafromthe
PresidentialSuitein
[Link],[Link]
roofhefelt
himselfhealingfromthetroubledwoundsofthelastthreeyears.
Ontheroofhe
[Link]
nightmare.
Theshingleshadbeenbadlyrotted,someofthemblownentirely
awaybylast
winter'[Link],yelling"Bombsaway!"
ashedropped
themovertheside,notwantingDannytogethitincasehehad
wanderedover.
Hehadbeenpullingoutbadflashingwhenthewasphadgotten
him.
Theironicpartwasthathewarnedhimselfeachtimeheclimbed
ontotheroof
tokeepaneyeoutfornests;hehadgottenthatbugbombjustin
[Link]
morningthestillnessandpeacehadbeensocompletethathis
watchfulnesshad
[Link]
creating,
roughingoutwhateverscenehewouldbeworkingonthatevening
[Link]
playwasgoingverywell,andalthoughWendyhadsaidlittle,he
knewshewas
[Link]
Denker,the
sadisticheadmaster,andGaryBenson,hisyounghero,duringthe
lastunhappy
sixmonthsatStovington,monthswhenthecravingforadrinkhad
beensobad
thathecouldbarelyconcentrateonhisinclasslectures,let
alonehis
extracurricularliteraryambitions.
Butinthelasttwelveevenings,asheactuallysatdownin
frontofthe
officemodelUnderwoodhehadborrowedfromthemainoffice
downstairs,the
roadblockhaddisappearedunderhisfingersasmagicallyas
cottoncandy
[Link]
theinsightsinto
Denker'scharacterthathadalwaysbeenlacking,andhehad
rewrittenmostof
thesecondactaccordingly,makingitrevolvearoundthenew
[Link]
progressofthethirdact,whichhehadbeenturningoverinhis
mindwhenthe
waspputanendtocogitation,wascomingclearerallthetime.
Hethoughthe
couldroughitoutintwoweeks,andhaveacleancopyofthe
wholedamnedplay
byNewYear's.
HehadanagentinNewYork,atoughredheadedwomannamed
PhyllisSandler
whosmokedHerbertTareytons,drankJimBeamfromapapercup,
andthoughtthe
literarysunroseandsetonSeanO'[Link]
ofJack's
shortstories,[Link]
abouttheplay,
whichwascalledTheLittleSchool,describingthebasicconflict
between
Denker,agiftedstudentwhohadfailedintobecomingthebrutal
andbrutalizing
headmasterofaturnofthecenturyNewEnglandprepschool,and
GaryBenson,
[Link]
writtenback
expressinginterestandadmonishinghimtoreadO'Caseybefore
sittingdownto
[Link]
wastheplay?
HehadwrittenbackwrylythatTheLittleSchoolhadbeen
indefinitelyand
perhapsinfinitelydelayedbetweenhandandpage"inthat
interesting
intellectualGobiknownasthewriter'sblock."Nowitlookedas
ifshemight
[Link]
wouldeversee
[Link]'tseemtocare
agreatdeal
[Link],the
wholething,was
theroadblock,acolossalsymbolofthebadyearsatStovington
Prep,the
marriagehehadalmosttotaledlikeanuttykidbehindthewheel
ofanold
jalopy,themonstrousassaultonhisson,theincidentinthe
parkinglotwith
GeorgeHatfield,anincidenthecouldnolongerviewasjust
anothersuddenand
[Link]
drinkingproblem
hadstemmedfromanunconsciousdesiretobefreeofStovington
andthesecurity
[Link]
stoppeddrinking,but
[Link]
[Link]
remainedofthosedayswastheplayonthedeskinhisand
Wendy'sbedroom,and
whenitwasdoneandsentofftoPhyllis'sholeinthewallNew
Yorkagency,he
[Link],hewasnotreadyto
stumbleintothe
swampofanotherthreeyearundertaking,butsurelymoreshort
[Link]
abookofthem.
Movingwarily,hescrambledbackdowntheslopeoftheroofon
hishandsand
kneespastthelineofdemarcationwherethefreshgreenBird
shinglesgaveway
[Link]
theedgeonthe
leftofthewasps'nesthehaduncoveredandmovedgingerly
towardit,readyto
backtrackandboltdownhisladdertothegroundifthingslooked
toohot.
Heleanedoverthesectionofpulledoutflashingandlooked
in.
Thenestwasinthere,tuckedintothespacebetweentheold
flashingandthe
[Link].
Thegrayish
paperballlookedtoJackasifitmightbenearlytwofeet
throughthecenter.
Itsshapewasnotperfectbecausethespacebetweentheflashing
andtheboards
wastoonarrow,buthethoughtthelittlebuggershadstilldone
apretty
[Link]
lumbering,slow
[Link],notyellowjackets,
whichare
smallerandcalmer,[Link]
andstupidby
thefalltemperatures,butJack,whoknewaboutwaspsfromhis
childhood,
[Link],he
thought,if
Ullmanhadhiredthejobdoneintheheightofsummer,the
workmanwhotoreup
thatparticularsectionoftheflashingwouldhavegottenone
hellofa
[Link]
onceandstart
stingingyourfaceandhandsandarms,stingingyourlegsright
throughyour
pants,itwouldbeentirelypossibletoforgetyouwereseventy
[Link]
mightjustchargerightofftheedgeoftheroofwhileyouwere
tryingtoget
[Link],thebiggestofthem
onlyhalfthe
lengthofapencilstub.
HehadreadsomeplaceinaSundaysupplementpieceoraback
ofthebook
newsmagazinearticlethat7percentofallautomobile
fatalitiesgo
[Link],noexcessivespeed,nobooze,
nobad
[Link],one
deadoccupant,
thedriver,[Link]
articlehadincluded
aninterviewwithastatetrooperwhotheorizedthatmanyof
thesesocalled
"foocrashes"[Link],abee,
possiblyevena
[Link],triestoswatitor
unrollawindowto
[Link]
losescontrol.
Eitherwayit'sbang!.,.[Link],usually
completely
unharmed,wouldbuzzmerrilyoutofthesmokingwreck,looking
forgreener
[Link]
lookforinsect
venomwhileautopsyingsuchvictims,Jackrecalled.
Now,lookingdownintothenest,itseemedtohimthatitcould
serveasboth
aworkablesymbolforwhathehadbeenthrough(andwhathehad
draggedhis
hostagestofortunethrough)[Link]
elsecouldyou
explainthethingsthathadhappenedtohim?Forhestillfelt
thatthewhole
rangeofunhappyStovingtonexperienceshadtobelookedatwith
JackTorrance
[Link];thingshadbeendone
[Link]
knownplentyofpeopleontheStovingtonfaculty,twoofthem
rightinthe
EnglishDepartment,[Link]
thehabitof
pickingupafullkegofbeeronSaturdayafternoon,plonkingit
inabackyard
snowbankovernight,andthenkillingdamnnearallofiton
Sundaywatching
[Link]
soberasa
judgeaweakcocktailwithlunchwasanoccasion.
[Link]
otheroutlike
twocastoffswhowerestillsocialenoughtopreferdrowning
togethertodoing
[Link],thatwas
[Link]
downatthewasps,astheyslowlywentabouttheirinstinctual
businessbefore
wintercloseddowntokillallbuttheirhibernatingqueen,he
wouldgofurther.
Hewasstillanalcoholic,alwayswouldbe,perhapshadbeen
sinceSophomore
[Link]
hadnothingto
dowithwillpower,orthemoralityofdrinking,ortheweakness
orstrengthof
[Link],or
acircuit
breakerthatdidn'twork,andhehadbeenpropelleddownthe
chutewillynilly,
slowlyatfirst,thenacceleratingasStovingtonappliedits
pressuresonhim.A
biggrease&slideandatthebottomhadbeenashattered,
ownerlessbicycleand
[Link]
histemper,same
[Link]
[Link]
rememberhimselfatseven,spankedbyaneighborladyforplaying
withmatches.
[Link]
hadseenthat,
andhehaddescendedonlittleJacky,[Link]
Jack'sbehind..
.[Link]
house,
muttering,toseewhatwasontelevision,Jackhadcomeupona
straydogandhad
[Link]
grammarschool,
evenmoreoftheminhighschool,warrantingtwosuspensionsand
uncounted
[Link]
partialsafety
valve,althoughherememberedperfectlywellthathehadspent
almostevery
minuteofeverygameinastateofhighpissoff,takingevery
opposingblock
[Link],makingAll
Conferenceinhis
juniorandsenioryears,andheknewperfectlywellthathehad
hisownbad
tempertothank...[Link].
Everygamewasa
grudgematch.
Andyet,throughitall,hehadn'tfeltlikeasonofabitch.
Hehadn'tfelt
[Link],areally
niceguywhowas
justgoingtohavetolearnhowtocopewithhistempersomeday
beforeitgot
[Link]
copewithhis
[Link]
ashehadbeena
physicalonethetwoofthemwerenodoubttiedtogether
somewheredeepinside
him,whereyou'[Link]'tmuchmatter
tohimifthe
rootcauseswereinterrelatedorseparate,sociologicalor
psychologicalor
[Link]:the
spankings,thebeatings
fromhisoldman,thesuspensions,withtryingtoexplainthe
schoolclothes
torninplaygroundbrawls,andlaterthehangovers,theslowly
dissolvingglue
ofhismarriage,thesinglebicyclewheelwithitsbentspokes
pointingintothe
sky,Danny'[Link],ofcourse.
HefeltthathehadunwittinglystuckhishandintoTheGreat
Wasps'Nestof
[Link],hefeltitwas
serviceable.
Hehadstuckhishandthroughsomerottedflashinginhighsummer
andthathand
andhiswholearmhadbeenconsumedinholy,righteousfire,
destroying
consciousthought,makingtheconceptofcivilizedbehavior
[Link]
beexpectedtobehaveasathinkinghumanbeingwhenyourhand
wasbeingimpaled
onredhotdarningneedles?Couldyoubeexpectedtoliveinthe
loveofyour
nearestanddearestwhenthebrown,furiouscloudroseoutofthe
holeinthe
fabricofthings(thefabricyouthoughtwassoinnocent)and
arrowedstraight
atyou?Couldyoubeheldresponsibleforyourownactionsasyou
rancrazily
aboutontheslopingroofseventyfeetabovetheground,not
knowingwhereyou
weregoing,notrememberingthatyourpanicky,stumblingfeet
couldleadyou
crashingandblunderingrightovertheraingutteranddownto
yourdeathonthe
concreteseventyfeetbelow?Jackdidn'[Link]
youunwittingly
stuckyourhandintothewasps'nest,youhadn'tmadeacovenant
withthedevil
togiveupyourcivilizedselfwithitstrappingsofloveand
respectandhonor.
[Link],withnosay,youceasedtobe
acreatureof
themindandbecameacreatureofthenerveendings;from
collegeeducatedman
towailingapeinfiveeasyseconds.
HethoughtaboutGeorgeHatfield.
Tallandshaggilyblond,Georgehadbeenanalmostinsolently
beautifulboy.
InhistightfadedjeansandStovingtonsweatshirtwiththe
sleevescarelessly
pusheduptotheelbowstodisclosehistannedforearms,hehad
remindedJackof
ayoungRobertRedford,andhedoubtedthatGeorgehadmuch
troublescoringno
morethanthatyoungfootballplayingdevilJackTorrancehadten
yearsearlier.
Hecouldsaythathehonestlydidn'tfeeljealousofGeorge,or
envyhimhis
goodlooks;infact,hehadalmostunconsciouslybegunto
visualizeGeorgeas
thephysicalincarnationofhisplayhero,GaryBensonthe
perfectfoilforthe
dark,slumped,andagingDenker,whogrewtohateGarysomuch.
Buthe,Jack
Torrance,[Link],he
wouldhaveknown
[Link].
[Link]
andbaseball
star,hisacademicprogramhadbeenfairlyundemandingandhehad
beencontent
withC'[Link]
fiercefield
contenderbutalackadaisical,amusedsortofstudentinthe
classroomsJackwas
familiarwiththetype,morefromhisowndaysasahighschool
andcollege
studentthanfromhisteachingexperience,whichwasatsecond
[Link]
[Link],undemandingfigurein
theclassroom,
butwhentherightsetofcompetitivestimuliwasapplied(like
electrodesto
thetemplesofFrankenstein'smonster,Jackthoughtwryly),he
couldbecomea
juggernaut.
InJanuary,Georgehadtriedoutwithtwodozenothersforthe
[Link]
[Link]
lawyer,andhe
[Link],whofeltno
burningcallto
doanythingelse,[Link],but
thiswas,after
all,[Link]
cametomust
be,[Link]'sownathletic
abilitywouldopen
[Link]
onthedebate
[Link],anditwassomethingthatlawschool
admissions
[Link],andin
lateMarchJack
cuthimfromtheteam.
ThelatewinterintersquaddebateshadfiredGeorgeHatfield's
competitive
[Link],preppinghisproor
conposition
[Link]'tmatterifthesubjectwaslegalizationof
marijuana,
reinstatingthedeathpenalty,ortheoildepletionallowance.
Georgebecame
conversant,andhewasjustjingoistenoughtohonestlynotcare
whichsidehe
wasonarareandvaluabletrait',eveninhighleveldebaters,
[Link]
soulsofatruecarpetbaggerandatruedebaterwerenotfar
removedfromeach
other;theywerebothpassionatelyinterestedinthemainchance.
Sofar,so
good.
ButGeorgeHatfieldstuttered.
Thiswasnotahandicapthathadevenshownupinthe
classroom,whereGeorge
wasalwayscoolandcollected(whetherhehaddonehishomework
ornot),and
certainlynotontheStovingtonplayingfields,wheretalkwas
notavirtueand
theysometimeseventhrewyououtofthegamefortoomuch
discussion.
WhenGeorgegottightlywoundupinadebate,thestutterwould
[Link]
moreeagerhebecame,[Link]
anopponentdead
inhissights,anintellectualsortofbuckfeverseemedtotake
placebetween
hisspeechcentersandhismouthandhewouldfreezesolidwhile
theclockran
[Link].
"SSSoIthththinkwehavetosaythatthefuhfuhfactsin
theccaseMr.
DDDDorskycitesarerenrenrenderedobsoletebytheruh
recentduhduh
decisionhandeddownininin..."
ThebuzzerwouldgooffandGeorgewouldwhirlaroundtostare
furiouslyat
Jack,[Link]'sfaceatthosemomentswouldbe
flushed,his
notescrumpledspasmodicallyinonehand.
JackhadheldontoGeorgelongafterhehadcutmostofthe
obviousflat
tires,[Link]
afternoonabouta
[Link]
afterthe
othershadfiledout,andthenhadconfrontedJackangrily.
"Youssetthetimerahead."
Jacklookedupfromthepapershewasputtingbackintohis
briefcase.
"George,whatareyoutalkingabout?"
"Iddidn'[Link].I
waswuh
watchingtheclock."
"Theclockandthetimermaykeepslightlydifferenttimes,
George,butI
[Link]'shonor."
"Yuhyuhyoudid!"
Thebelligerent,I'mstickingupformyrightswayGeorgewas
lookingathim
hadsparkedJack'[Link]
beenoffthesaucefortwomonths,twomonthstoolong,andhe
[Link]
madeonelastefforttoholdhimselfin."IassureyouIdidnot,
[Link]'s
[Link]?Youdon't
stutterinclass."
"Iduhduhdon'tssstststutterl"
"Loweryourvoice."
"YouwwanttoggetmetYouduhdon'twwantmeonyourgg
goddamteam!"
"Loweryourvoice,[Link]'sdiscussthisrationally."
"Ffuhfuckththat!"
"George,ifyoucontrolyourstutter,I'dbegladtohaveyou.
You'rewell
preppedforeverypracticeandyou'regoodatthebackground
stuff,whichmeans
you'[Link]'tmeanmuchifyou
can'tcontrol
that"
"I'venehnehneverstuttered!"hecriedout."It'syuhyou!I
iifsuh
someoneelsehadthedddebdebatetteam,Icould"
Jack'stemperslippedanothernotch.
"George,you'renevergoingtomakemuchofalawyer,
corporationor
otherwise,ifyoucan'[Link]'[Link]
hoursof
practiceeverynightwon'[Link],
standupinfront
ofaboardmeetingandsay,`Nuhnuhnow,ggentlemen,aboutthis
tttort'?"
Hesuddenlyflushed,notwithangerbutwithshameathisown
[Link]
wasnotamaninfrontofhimbutaseventeenyearoldboywho
wasfacingthe
firstmajordefeatofhislife,andmaybeaskingintheonlyway
hecouldfor
Jacktohelphimfindawaytocopewithit.
Georgegavehimafinal,furiousglance,hislipstwistingand
buckingasthe
wordsbottledupbehindthemstruggledtofindtheirwayout.
"YuhyuhyousssetitaheadlYouhuhhatemebbecauseyou
nuhnuhnuhknow
...youknow...nuhnuh"
Withanarticulatecryhehadrushedoutoftheclassroom,
slammingthedoor
hardenoughtomakethewirereinforcedglassrattleinits
[Link]
stoodthere,feeling,ratherthanhearing,theechoofGeorge's
Adidasinthe
[Link]
mockingGeorge's
stutter,hisfirstthoughthadbeenasicksortofexultation:
Forthefirst
timeinhislifeGeorgeHatfieldhadwantedsomethinghecould
[Link]
firsttimetherewassomethingwrongthatallofDaddy'smoney
couldnotfix.
Youcouldn'[Link]'tofferatongue
anextrafiftya
weekandabonusatChristmasifitwouldagreetostopflapping
likearecord
[Link]
buriedinshame,
andhefeltthewayhehadafterhehadbrokenDanny'sarm.
DearGod,[Link].
ThatsickhappinessatGeorge'sretreatwasmoretypicalof
Denkerintheplay
thanofJackTorrancetheplaywright.
Youhatemebecauseyouknow...
Becauseheknewwhat?
WhatcouldhepossiblyknowaboutGeorgeHatfieldthatwould
makehimhate
him?Thathiswholefuturelayaheadofhim?Thathelookeda
littlebitlike
RobertRedfordandallconversationamongthegirlsstoppedwhen
hedidadouble
gainerfromthepooldivingboard?Thatheplayedsoccerand
baseballwitha
natural,unlearnedgrace?
[Link]
[Link]
wasknown,hefeltworseaboutGeorge'sunfortunatestutterthan
Georgehimself,
[Link]
ifJackhadset
thetimeraheadandofcoursehehadn'titwouldhavebeen
becausebothheand
theothermembersofthesquadwereembarrassedforGeorge's
struggle,theyhad
agonizedoveritthewayyouagonizewhentheClassNightspeaker
forgetssome
[Link],itwouldhavebeen
justto...to
putGeorgeoutofhismisery.
Buthehadn'[Link].
Aweeklaterhehadcuthim,andthattimehehadkepthis
[Link]
andthethreatshadallbeenonGeorge'[Link]
hehadgoneout
totheparkinglothalfwaythroughpracticetogetapileof
sourcebooksthathe
hadleftinthetrunkoftheVWandtherehadbeenGeorge,down
ononekneewith
hislongblondhairswinginginhisface,ahuntingknifeinone
[Link]
sawingthroughtheVW'[Link]
alreadyshredded,
andthebugsatonthefiatslikeasmall,tireddog.
Jackhadseenred,andrememberedverylittleoftheencounter
thatfollowed.
Herememberedathickgrowlthatseemedtoissuefromhisown
throat:"All
right,[Link]'showyouwantit,justcomehereandtake
your
medicine."
HerememberedGeorgelookingup,[Link]
said:"Mr.
Torrance"asiftoexplainhowallthiswasjustamistake,the
tireshadbeen
flatwhenhegotthereandhewasjustcleaningdirtoutofthe
fronttreads
withthe
tipofthisguttingknifehejusthappenedtohavewithhim
and
Jackhadwadedin,hisfistsheldupinfrontofhim,andit
seemedthathe
[Link]'tsureofthat.
ThelastthingberememberedwasGeorgeholdinguptheknife
andsaying:"You
betternotcomeanycloser"
AndthenextthingwasMissStrong,theFrenchteacher,holding
Jack'sarms,
crying,screaming:"Stopit,Jack!Stopit!You'regoingtokill
him!"
[Link],
glittering
[Link]
hisVolkswagen,
hispooroldbatteredbug,veteranofmanywildmidnightdrunken
rides,sitting
[Link]
fender,hesaw,and
therewassomethinginthemiddleofthedentthatwaseitherred
paintor
[Link],histhoughts
(jesuschristalwehithimafterall)
[Link],
Georgelyingdazed
[Link]
theywerehuddled
togetherbythedoor,[Link]
facefroma
scalplacerationthatlookedminor,buttherewasalsoblood
runningoutofone
ofGeorge'[Link]
Georgetriedtoget
up,[Link]
cringed.
JackputhishandsonGeorge'schestandpushedhimbackdown.
"Liestill,"he
said."Don'ttrytomove."HeturnedtoMissStrong,whowas
staringatthem
bothwithhorror.
"Pleasegocalltheschooldoctor,MissStrong,"betoldher.
Sheturnedand
[Link],
lookedthemrightin
theeyebecausehewasinchargeagain,fullyhimself,andwhen
hewashimself
therewasn'[Link]
theyknewthat.
"Youcangohomenow,"hetoldthemquietly."We'llmeetagain
tomorrow."
Butbytheendofthatweeksixofhisdebatershaddropped
out,twoofthem
theclassoftheact,butofcourseitdidn'tmattermuchbecause
hehadbeen
informedbythenthathewouldbedroppingouthimself.
Yetsomehowhehadstayedoffthebottle,andhesupposedthat
wassomething.
[Link]
hadnotacted
buthadbeenactedupon.
Youhatemebecauseyouknow...
[Link]
theThroneof
AlmightyGod,justashewouldswearthathehadsetthetimer
aheadnomore
[Link].
Twowaspswerecrawlingsluggishlyaboutontheroofbesidethe
holeinthe
flashing.
Hewatchedthemuntiltheyspreadtheiraerodynamicallyunsound
butstrangely
efficientwingsandlumberedoffintotheOctobersunshine,
perchancetosting
[Link]
supposedtheyhad
tousethemonsomebody.
Howlonghadhebeensittingthere,lookingatthatholewith
itsunpleasant
surprisedowninside,rakingoveroldcoals?Helookedathis
[Link]
anhour.
Helethimselfdowntotheedgeoftheroof,droppedoneleg
over,andfelt
arounduntilhisfootfoundthetoprungoftheladderjustbelow
theoverhang.
Hewouldgodowntotheequipmentshedwherehehadstoredthe
bugbombona
highshelfoutofDanny'[Link],comebackup,
andthenthey
[Link],butyoucould
alsostingback.
[Link]
justsomuch
chewedpaperandDannycouldhaveitinhisroomifhewanted
toJackhadhad
oneinhisroomwhenhewasjustakid,ithadalwayssmelled
faintlyof
[Link]
[Link]
wouldn'thurthim.
"I'mgettingbetter."
Thesoundofhisownvoice,confidentinthesilentafternoon,
reassuredhim
eventhoughhehadn'[Link]
[Link]
possibletograduatefrompassivetoactive,totakethething
thathadonce
drivenyounearlytomadnessasaneutralprizeofnomorethan
occasional
[Link]
bedone,this
wassurelyit.
[Link].
Theywouldpay
forstinginghim.

<<15>>

DOWNINTHEFRONTYARD

Jackhadfoundahugewhitepaintedwickerchairinthebackof
theequipment
shedtwoweeksago,andhaddraggeditaroundtotheporchover
Wendy's
objectionsthatitwasreallytheugliestthingshehadeverseen
inherwhole
[Link],amusinghimselfwithacopyofE.
[Link]'s
WelcometoHardTimes,whenhiswifeandsonrattledupthe
drivewayinthe
hoteltruck.
Wendyparkeditintheturnaround,racedtheenginesportily,
andthenturned
[Link]'[Link]
grumpilywith
[Link]
ambleddownto
meetthem.
"Hi,Dad!"Dannycalled,[Link]
onehand.
"LookwhatMommyboughtme!"
Jackpickedhissonup,swunghimaroundtwice,andkissedhim
heartilyonthe
mouth.
"JackTorrance,theEugeneO'Neillofhisgeneration,the
American
Shakespeare!"Wendysaid,smiling."Fancymeetingyouhere,so
farupinthe
mountains."
"Thecommonruckbecametoomuchforme,dearlady,"hesaid,
andslippedhis
[Link]."Howwasyourtrip?"
"[Link]
didn'tstallthe
truckonceand...oh,Jack,youfinishedit!"
Shewaslookingattheroof,andDannyfollowedhergaze.A
faintfrown
touchedhisfaceashelookedatthewideswatchoffresh
shinglesatopthe
Overlook'swestwing,alightergreenthantherestoftheroof.
Thenhelooked
[Link]
thepictures
Tonyhadshowedhimcamebacktohauntinalltheiroriginal
clarity,butin
sunnydaylighttheywereeasiertodisregard.
"Look,Daddy,look!"
[Link],oneofthe
BigDaddyRoth
caricaturesthatDannybadexpressedanadmirationforinthe
[Link]
theViolentVioletVolkswagen,andthepictureontheboxshowed
ahugepurple
VW`withlong'59CadillacCoupedeVilletaillightsburningupa
dirttrack.
TheVWhadasunroof,andpokingupthroughit,clawedhandson
thewheeldown
below,wasagiganticwartymonsterwithpoppingbloodshoteyes,
amaniacal
grin,andagiganticEnglishracingcapturnedaroundbackward.
Wendywassmilingathim,andJackwinkedather.
"That'swhatIlikeaboutyou,doc,"Jacksaid,handingthebox
back."Your
tasterunstothequiet,thesober,[Link]
definitelythe
childofmyloins."
"Mommysaidyou'dhelpmeputittogetherassoonasIcould
readallofthe
firstDickandJane."
"Thatoughttobebytheendoftheweek,"Jacksaid."What
elsehaveyougot
inthatfinelookingtruck,ma'am?"
"Uhuh."Shegrabbedhisarmandpulledhimback."Nopeeking.
Someofthat
[Link]
[Link]'sonthe
floorofthecab."
"That'sallIamtoyou,"Jackcried,clappingahandtohis
forehead."Justa
drayhorse,[Link],draythere,
dray
everywhere."
"Justdraythatmilkrightintothekitchen,mister."
"It'stoomuch!"hecried,andthrewhimselfontheground
whileDannystood
overhimandgiggled.
"Getup,youox,"Wendysaid,andproddedhimwiththetoeof
hersneaker.
"See?"hesaidtoDanny."[Link]'rea
witness."
"Witness,witness!"Dannyconcurredgleefully,andbroadjumped
hisprone
father.
Jacksatup."Thatremindsme,chumly.I'vegotsomethingfor
[Link]
porchbymyashtray."
"Whatisit?"
"[Link]."
Jackgotupandthetwoofthemstoodtogether,watchingDanny
chargeupthe
[Link]
armaround
Wendy'swaist.
"Youhappy,babe?"
Shelookedupathimsolemnly."ThisisthehappiestI'vebeen
sincewewere
married."
"Isthatthetruth?"
"God'shonest."
Hesqueezedhertightly."Iloveyou."
Shesqueezedhimback,[Link]
wordswithJohn
Torrance;shecouldcountthenumberoftimeshehadsaidthemto
her,both
beforeandaftermarriage,onbothherhands.
"Iloveyoutoo."
"Mommy!Mommyl"Dannywasontheporchnow,shrillandexcited.
"Comeandsee!
Wow!It'sneat!"
"Whatisit?"Wendyaskedhimastheywalkedupfromthe
parkinglot,handin
hand.
"Forgot,"Jacksaid.
"Oh,you'llgetyours,"shesaid,andelbowedhim."Seeifyou
don't."
"IwashopingI'dgetittonight,"heremarked,andshe
[Link]
laterheasked,"IsDannyhappy,doyouthink?"
"[Link]'retheonewhohasalongtalkwithhim
everynight
beforebed."
"That'susuallyaboutwhathewantstobewhenhegrowsupor
ifSantaClaus
[Link]'sgettingtobeabigthingwithhim.I
thinkhisoldbuddy
[Link],hehasn'tsaidmuch
ofanything
abouttheOverlooktome."
"Meeither,"[Link].
"Buthe'svery
[Link]'slostweight,Jack,I
reallydo."
"He'sjustgettingtall."
Danny'[Link]
tablebyJack's
chair,butWendycouldn'tseewhatitwas.
"He'snoteatingaswell,[Link]
steamshovel.
Rememberlastyear?"
"Theytaperoff,"hesaidvaguely."IthinkIreadthatin
[Link]'llbe
usingtwoforksagainbythetimehe'sseven."
Theyhadstoppedonthetopstep.
"He'spushingawfullyhardonthosereaders,too,"shesaid."I
knowhewants
tolearnhow,topleaseus...topleaseyou,"sheadded
reluctantly.
"Topleasehimselfmostofall,"Jacksaid."Ihaven'tbeen
pushinghimon
[Link],Idowishhewouldn'tgoquitesohard."
"WouldyouthinkIwasfoolishifImadeanappointmentforhim
tohavea
physical?There'[Link],ayoungmanfromwhatthe
checkerinthe
marketsaid"
"You'realittlenervousaboutthesnowcoming,aren'tyou?"
Sheshrugged."[Link]'sfoolish"
"Idon'[Link],youcanmakeappointmentsforallthreeof
[Link]'llget
ourcleanbillsofhealthandthenwecansleepeasyatnight."
"I'llmaketheappointmentsthisafternoon,"shesaid.
"Mom!Look,Mommy!"
Hecamerunningtoherwithalargegraythinginhishands,
andforone
[Link]
itreallywas
andrecoiledinstinctively.
Jackputanarmaroundher."It'[Link]
didn'tflyaway
[Link]."
Shelookedatthelargewasps'nesthersonwasholdingbut
wouldnottouch
it."Areyousureit'ssafe?"
"[Link]
[Link]
toputitinyourroom,Danny?"
"Yeah!Rightnow!"
[Link]
hearhis
muffled,runningfeetonthemainstairs.
"Therewerewaspsupthere,"shesaid."Didyougetstung?"
"Where'smypurpleheart?"heasked,anddisplayedhisfinger.
Theswelling
hadalreadybeguntogodown,butsheooohedoveritsatisfyingly
andgaveita
small,gentlekiss.
"Didyoupullthestingerout?"
"Waspsdon'[Link]'[Link]
[Link]
[Link]'[Link]
canstingagain
andagain."
"Jack,areyousurethat'ssafeforhimtohave?"
"[Link]
tokillevery
singlebugintwohours'timeandthendissipatewithno
residue."
"Ihatethem,"shesaid.
"What...wasps?"
"Anythingthatstings,"[Link]
andcupped
them,herarmscrossedoverherbreasts.
"Idotoo,"hesaid,andhuggedher.

<<16>>

DANNY

Downthehall,inthebedroom,Wendycouldhearthetypewriter
Jackhad
carriedupfromdownstairsburstintolifeforthirtyseconds,
fallsilentfora
minuteortwo,[Link]
listeningtomachine
[Link]
ears;Jackhadnot
beenwritingsosteadilysincethesecondyearoftheirmarriage,
whenhewrote
[Link]
wouldbedone
bytheendoftheyear,forbetterorworse,andhewouldbe
movingonto
[Link]'tcareifTheLittleSchool
stirredany
excitementwhenPhyllisshoweditaround,didn'tcareifitsank
withouta
trace,andWendybelievedthat,[Link]
writingmadeher
immenselyhopeful,notbecausesheexpectedgreatthingsfromthe
playbut
becauseherhusbandseemedtobeslowlyclosingahugedoorona
roomfulof
[Link]
now,butatlast
itwasswingingshut.
Everykeytypedcloseditalittlemore.
"Look,Dick,look."
Dannywashunchedoverthefirstofthefivebatteredprimers
Jackhaddugup
bycullingmercilesslythroughBoulder'smyriadsecondhand
[Link]
takeDannyrightuptothesecondgradereadinglevel,aprogram
shehadtold
[Link]
intelligent,theyknew
that,butitwouldbeamistaketopushhimtoofartoofast.
Jackhadagreed.
[Link]
fast,theywouldbe
[Link]'tbeenrightabout
that,too.
Danny,preparedbyfouryearsof"SesameStreet"andthree
yearsof"Electric
Company,"[Link]
[Link]
hunchedovertheinnocuouslittlebooks,hiscrystalradioand
balsaglideron
theshelfabovehim,asthoughhislifedependedonlearningto
[Link]
facewasmoretenseandpalerthanshelikedinthecloseand
cozyglowofthe
[Link]
seriously,both
thereadingandtheworkbookpageshisfathermadeupforhim
everyafternoon.
[Link]
inJack'slarge,
[Link],theonethatwent
withtheword.
Andtheirsonwouldstarefromthewordtothepictures,hislips
moving,
soundingout,actuallysweatingitout,Andwithhisdoublesized
redpencil
curledintohispudgyrightfist,hecouldnowwriteaboutthree
dozenwordson
hisown.
[Link]
themwasa
pictureWendyhalfrememberedfromherowngrammarschooldays,
nineteenyears
[Link]
dress,herhair
[Link]
runningaftera
[Link],Jane,and
Jip.
"SeeJiprun,"Dannyreadslowly."Run,Jip,[Link],run,
run."Hepaused,
droppinghisfingerdownaline."Seethe..."Hebentcloser,
hisnosealmost
touchingthepagenow."Seethe..."
"Notsoclose,doc,"Wendysaidquietly."You'llhurtyour
[Link]'s"
"Don'ttellme!"hesaid,[Link]
alarmed.
"Don'ttellme,Mommy,Icangetit!"
"Allright,honey,"shesaid."Butit'[Link]
it'snot."
Unheeding,[Link]
expressionthatmight
bemorecommonlyseenhoveringoveragraduaterecordexamina
collegegym
[Link].
"Seethe...[Link]?Seethe
[Link]!"
[Link]
her."Seethe
ball!"
"That'sright,"shesaid."Honey,Ithinkthat'senoughfor
tonight."
"Acouplemorepages,Mommy?Please?"
"No,doc."Sheclosedtheredboundbookfirmly."It's
bedtime."
"Please?"
"Don'tteasemeaboutit,[Link]'stired."
"Okay."Buthelookedlonginglyattheprimer.
"[Link]'tforgettobrush."
"Yeah."
Heslouchedout,asmallboyinpajamabottomswithfeetanda
largeflannel
topwithafootballonthefrontandNEWENGLANDPATRIOTSwritten
ontheback.
Jack'stypewriterstopped,andsheheardDanny'sheartysmack.
"Night,Daddy."
"Goodnight,[Link]'dyoudo?"
"Okay,[Link]."
"[Link]'[Link]
bathroom?"
"Yeah."
"[Link]'[Link]
andcarrotsand
chivesand"
Danny'sgiggle,fading,thencutoffbythefirmclickofthe
bathroomdoor.
Hewasprivateabouthisbathroomfunctions,whilebothsheand
Jackwerepretty
[Link]
allthetime
thattherewasanotherhumanbeingintheplace,notjusta
carboncopyofone
[Link].
Somedayherchild
wouldbeastrangertoher,andshewouldbestrangetohim...
butnotas
[Link]'tletit
bethatway,
[Link].
Jack'stypewriterbeganitsirregularburstsagain.
StillsittinginthechairbesideDanny'sreadingtable,she
lethereyes
wanderaroundherson'[Link]'swinghadbeenneatly
[Link]
waspiledhighwithpicturebooks,coloringbooks,oldSpiderman
comicbooks
withthecovershalftornoff,Crayolas,andanuntidypileof
[Link]
VWmodelwasneatlyplacedabovetheselesserthings,itsshrink
wrapstill
[Link]
tomorrownightor
thenightafterifDannywentonatthisrate,andnevermindthe
endofthe
[Link]
tackedneatlyto
thewall,soonenoughtobereplacedwithpinupsandphotographs
ofdope
smokingrocksingers,[Link].
Humannature,baby.
[Link]
inschooland
shewouldloseatleasthalfofhim,maybemore,tohisfriends.
SheandJack
hadtriedtohaveanotheroneforawhilewhenthingshadseemed
tobegoing
wellatStovington,[Link]
weretoo
[Link].
Hereyesfellonthewasps'nest.
ItheldtheultimatehighplaceinDanny'sroom,restingona
largeplastic
[Link]'tlikeit,evenifitwas
[Link]
wonderedvaguelyifitmighthavegerms,thoughttoaskJack,
thendecidedhe
[Link],ifshe
couldcatch
[Link]'tliketheideaofthat
thing,
constructedfromthechewingsandsalivaofsomanyalien
creatures,lying
withinafootofhersleepingson'shead.
Thewaterinthebathroomwasstillrunning,andshegotupand
wentintothe
[Link]'tlook
up;hewaslost
intheworldhewasmaking,staringatthetypewriter,afilter
cigarette
clampedinhisteeth.
Sheknockedlightlyontheclosedbathroomroom."Youokay,
doc?Youawake?"
Noanswer.
"Danny?"
[Link].
"Danny?"[Link]
steadily
runningwatermadeheruneasy."Danny?Openthedoor,honey."
Noanswer.
"Danny!"
"JesusChrist,Wendy,Ican'tthinkifyou'regoingtopoundon
thedoorall
night."
"Danny'slockedhimselfinthebathroomandhedoesn'tanswer
me!"
Jackcamearoundthedesk,[Link]
dooronce,hard.
"Openup,[Link]."
Noanswer.
Jackknockedharder."Stopfooling,[Link]'sbedtime.
Spankingifyou
don'topenup."
He'slosinghistemper,shethought,[Link]
hadnottouched
Dannyinangersincethateveningtwoyearsago,butatthis
momenthesounded
angryenoughtodoit.
"Danny,honey"shebegan.
[Link].
"Danny,ifyoumakemebreakthislockIcanguaranteeyou
you'llspendthe
nightsleepingonyourbelly,"Jackwarned.
Nothing.
"Breakit,"shesaid,andsuddenlyitwashardtotalk.
"Quick."
Heraisedonefootandbroughtitdownhardagainstthedoorto
therightof
[Link];itgaveimmediatelyandthe
doorshuddered
open,bangingthetiledbathroomwallandreboundinghalfway.
"Danny!"shescreamed.
[Link],a
tubeofCrestwith
[Link]
theroom,his
toothbrushclaspedlimplyinhislefthand,athinfoamof
toothpastearoundhis
[Link],trancelike,intothemirroronthefront
ofthemedicine
[Link]
ofdrugged
horror,andherfirstthoughtwasthathewashavingsomesortof
epileptic
seizure,thathemighthaveswallowedhistongue.
"Danny!"
Dannydidn'[Link].
Thenshewaspushedasidesohardthatshecrashedintothe
towelrack,and
Jackwaskneelinginfrontoftheboy.
"Danny,"hesaid."Danny,Danny!"Hesnappedhisfingersin
frontofDanny's
blankeyes.
"Ahsure,"Dannysaid."[Link]..."
"Danny"
"Roque!"Dannysaid,hisvoicesuddenlydeep,almostmanlike.
"[Link].
Theroquemallet...[Link]"
"OhJackmyGodwhat'swrongwithhim?"
Jackgrabbedtheboy'[Link]'shead
rolledlimply
backwardandthensnappedforwardlikeaballoononastick.
"[Link]."
Jackshookhimagain,andDanny'[Link]
toothbrushfell
outofhishandandontothetiledfloorwithasmallclick.
"What?"heasked,[Link]
beforehim,Wendy
standingbythewall."What?"Dannyaskedagain,withrising
alarm."WWWuh
What'swrrr"
"Don'tstutter!"[Link]
criedoutin
shock,hisbodygoingtense,tryingtodrawawayfromhisfather,
andthenhe
[Link],Jackpulledhimclose."Oh,
honey,I'msorry.
I'msorry,[Link]'tcry.I'[Link]'sokay."
Thewaterranceaselesslyinthebasin,andWendyfeltthatshe
hadsuddenly
steppedintosomegrindingnightmarewheretimeranbackward,
backwardtothe
timewhenherdrunkenhusbandhadbrokenherson'sarmandhad
thenmewledover
himinalmosttheexactsamewords.
(Ohhoney.I'msorry.I'msorry,[Link].)
Sherantothemboth,priedDannyoutofJack'sarmssomehow
(shesawthelook
ofangryreproachonhisfacebutfileditawayforlater
consideration),and
[Link],
Danny'sarmsclasped
aroundherneck,Jacktrailingthem.
ShesatdownonDanny'sbedandrockedhimbackandforth,
soothinghimwith
[Link]
andtherewas
[Link]
[Link]
headfaintly.
"Danny,"shesaid."Danny,Danny,Danny.'Sokay,doc.'S
fine."
AtlastDannywasquiet,onlyfaintlytremblinginherarms.
YetitwasJack
hespoketofirst,Jackwhowasnowsittingbesidethemonthe
bed,andshefelt
theoldfaintpang
(It'shimfirstandit'salwaysbeenhimfirst)
[Link],shehadcomfortedhim,
yetitwastohis
fatherthatDannysaid,
"I'msorryifIwasbad."
"Nothingtobesorryfor,doc."Jackruffledhishair."What
thehellhappened
inthere?"
Dannyshookhisheadslowly,dazedly."I...Idon'tknow.
Whydidyoutell
metostopstuttering,Daddy?Idon'tstutter."
"Ofcoursenot,"Jacksaidheartily,butWendyfeltacold
fingertouchher
[Link],asifhe'dseensomething
thatmightjust
havebeenaghost.
"Somethingaboutthetimer..."Dannymuttered.
"What?"Jackwasleaningforward,andDannyflinchedinher
arms.
"Jack,you'rescaringhim!"shesaid,andhervoicewashigh,
[Link]
[Link]?
"Idon'tknow,Idon'tknow,"Dannywassayingtohisfather.
"What...what
didIsay,Daddy?"
"Nothing,"[Link]
backpocketand
[Link]
timeisrunning
[Link]
hisdrinking
days.
"Whydidyoulockthedoor,Danny?"sheaskedgently."Whydid
youdothat?"
"Tony,"hesaid."Tonytoldmeto."
Theyexchangedaglanceoverthetopofhishead.
"DidTonysaywhy,son?"Jackaskedquietly.
"IwasbrushingmyteethandIwasthinkingaboutmyreading,"
Dannysaid.
"[Link]...andIsawTonywaydowninthe
[Link]
hadtoshowmeagain."
"Youmeanhewasbehindyou?"Wendyasked.
"No,hewasinthemirror."Dannywasveryemphaticonthis
point."Waydown
[Link]
rememberDaddywas
shakingmeandIthoughtIwasbeingbadagain."
Jackwincedasifstruck.
"No,doc,"hesaidquietly.
"Tonytoldyoutolockthedoor?"Wendyasked,brushinghis
hair.
"Yes."
"Andwhatdidhewanttoshowyou?"
Dannytensedinherarms;itwasasifthemusclesinhisbody
hadturnedinto
somethinglikepianowire."Idon'tremember,"hesaid,
distraught."Idon't
[Link]'taskme.I...Idon'tremembernothing!"
"Shh,"Wendysaid,[Link]."It's
allrightif
youdon'tremember,[Link]."
AtlastDannybegantorelaxagain.
"Doyouwantmetostayalittlewhile?Readyouastory?"
"[Link]."Helookedshylyathisfather.
"Wouldyoustay,
Daddy?Foraminute?"
"Sure,doc."
Wendysighed."I'llbeinthelivingroom,Jack."
"Okay."
[Link]
seemedverysmall.
"Areyousureyou'reokay,Danny?"
"I'[Link],Mom."
"Sure."
Shepluggedinthenightlight,whichshowedSnoopylyingfast
asleepontop
[Link]
movedintothe
Overlook,[Link]
offthelamp
andtheoverheadandlookedbackatthem,thesmallwhitecircle
ofDanny's
face,andJack'[Link]
(andthenIwentthroughthemirror)
andthenleftthemquietly.
"Yousleepy?"Jackasked,brushingDanny'shairoffhis
forehead.
"Yeah."
"Wantadrinkofwater?"
"No..."
[Link]
[Link]
theboyhaddroppedoff,hewasabouttogetupandleavequietly
whenDanny
saidfromthebrinkofsleep:
"Roque.,'
Jackturnedback,allzeroatthebone.
"Danny?"
"You'dneverhurtMommy,wouldyou,Daddy?"
"No."
"Orme?"
"No."
Silenceagain,spinningout.
"Daddy?"
"What?"
"Tonycameandtoldmeaboutroque."
"Didhe,doc?Whatdidhesay?"
"Idon'[Link]
[Link]'t
thatfunny?"
"Yes."Jack'[Link]
theboy
possiblyknowathinglikethat?Roquewasplayedbyinnings,not
likebaseball
butlikecricket.
"Daddy...?"Hewasalmostasleepnow.
"What?"
"What'sredrum?"
"Reddrum?SoundslikesomethinganIndianmighttakeonthe
warpath."
Silence.
"Hey,doc?"
ButDannywasalseep,breathinginlong,[Link]
lookingdown
athimforamoment,andarushoflovepushedthroughhimlike
[Link]
hadheyelledattheboylikethat?Itwasperfectlynormalfor
himtostuttera
[Link]
trance,and
stutteringwasperfectlynormalunderthosecircumstances.
[Link]
hadn'[Link],nonsense,
gibberish.
Howhadheknownroquewasplayedininnings?Hadsomeonetold
him?Ullman?
Hallorann?
[Link],
clenchedfistsof
tension
(godhowineedadrink)
andthenailswerediggingintohispalmsliketinybrands.
Slowlyheforced
themtoopen.
"Iloveyou,Danny,"hewhispered."GodknowsIdo."
[Link],onlyalittle,
butenoughto
[Link],
[Link]
wouldbluntthat
(Somethingaboutthetimer)
[Link]
[Link]
[Link],looking
back,and
automaticallywipedhislipswithhishandkerchief.

***
Theirshapeswereonlydarksilhouettesintheglowofthe
[Link],
wearingonlypanties,wenttohisbedandtuckedhiminagain;he
hadkickedthe
[Link],watchingassheputher
innerwrist
againsthisforehead.
"Ishefeverish?"
"No."Shekissedhischeek.
"ThankGodyoumadethatappointment,"hesaidasshecameback
tothe
doorway."Youthinkthatguyknowshisstuff?"
"[Link]'sallIknow."
"Ifthere'ssomethingwrong,I'mgoingtosendyouandhimto
yourmother's,
Wendy."
"No."
"Iknow,"hesaid,puttinganarmaroundher,"howyoufeel."
"Youdon'tknowhowIfeelatallabouther."
"Wendy,there'[Link]."
"Ifyoucame"
"Withoutthisjobwe'redone,"hesaidsimply."Youknowthat."
[Link].
"WhenIhadthatinterviewwithUllman,Ithoughthewasjust
blowingoffhis
[Link]'[Link]'thavetried
thiswithyou
[Link]."
"Iloveyou,"shesaid."AndDannylovesyouevenmore,if
that'[Link]
wouldhavebeenheartbroken,[Link],ifyousendus
away."
"Don'tmakeitsoundthatway."
"Ifthedoctorsaysthere'ssomethingwrong,I'lllookfora
jobin
Sidewinder,"shesaid."IfIcan'tgetoneinSidewinder,Danny
andIwillgoto
[Link]'tgotomymother,[Link]'t
askme.I..
.Ijustcan't."
"[Link]'snothing."
"Maybe."
"Theappointment'sattwo?"
"Yes."
"Let'sleavethebedroomdooropen,Wendy."
"[Link]'llsleepthroughnow."
Buthedidn't.

***

Boom...boom..boomboomBOOMBOOM
Hefledtheheavy,crashing,echoingsoundsthroughtwisting,
mazelike
corridors,hisbarefeetwhisperingoveradeeppilejungleof
blueandblack.
Eachtimeheheardtheroquemalletsmashintothewallsomewhere
behindhimhe
[Link]'[Link]'[Link]
wouldgivehimaway
andthen
(thenREDRUM)
(Comeouthereandtakeyourmedicine,youfuckingcrybaby!)
Ohandhecouldheartheownerofthatvoicecoming,comingfor
him,charging
[Link]
eater.
(Comeouthere,youlittlesonofabitch!)
Ifhecouldgettothestairsgoingdown,ifhecouldgetoff
thisthird
floor,[Link]
rememberwhathad
[Link]
orientation.
Hehadturneddownonecorridorandthenanother,hisheart
leapingintohis
mouthlikeahot'lumpofice,fearingthateachturnwouldbring
himfaceto
facewiththehumantigerinthesehalls.
Theboomingwasrightbehindhimnow,theawfulhoarse
shouting.
Thewhistletheheadofthemalletmadecuttingthroughtheair
(roque...stroke...roque...stroke...REDRUM)
[Link]
thejungle
[Link].
(Youwillrememberwhatwasforgotten...butwouldhe?What
wasit?)
Hefledaroundanothercornerandsawwithcreeping,utter
horrorthathewas
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
whoopingand
screaming,seemingtochokeonitsowndarkthroatfilledwith
snow.
Hebackedupagainstthewall,weepingwithterrornow,his
heartracinglike
[Link]
againstthelight
bluesilkwallpaperwiththeembossedpatternofwavylines,his
legsgaveway
andhecollapsedtothecarpet,handssplayedonthejungleof
wovenvinesand
creepers,thebreathwhistlinginandoutofhisthroat.
[Link].
Therewasatigerinthehall,andnowthetigerwasjust
aroundthecorner,
stillcryingoutinthatshrillandpetulantandlunaticrage,
theroquemallet
slamming,becausethistigerwalkedontwolegsanditwas
Hewokewithasuddenindrawngasp,sittingboltuprightin
bed,eyeswideand
staringintothedarkness,handscrossedinfrontofhisface.
[Link].
[Link].
Theystunghimthen,seemingtoneedleallatonce,andthat
waswhenallthe
imagesbrokeapartandfellonhiminadarkfloodandhebegan
toshriekinto
thedark,thewaspsclingingtohislefthand,stingingagainand
again.
ThelightswentonandDaddywasstandingthereinhisshorts,
hiseyes
[Link],sleepyandscared.
"Getthemo$me!"Dannyscreamed.
"OhmyGod,"[Link].
"Jack,what'swrongwithhim?What'swrong?"
Hedidn'[Link],scoopedupDanny's
pillow,and
slappedDanny'[Link]
sawlumbering,
insectileformsriseintotheair,droning.
"Getamagazine!"heyelledoverhisshoulder."Killthem!"
"Wasps?"shesaid,andforamomentshewasinsideherself,
almostdetachedin
[Link],andknowledgewas
connectedto
emotion."Wasps,ohJesus,Jack,yousaid"
"Shutthefuckupandkillthem!"heroared."Willyoudowhat
Isay!"
OneofthemhadlandedonDanny'[Link]
coloringbookoff
[Link]
brownsmear.
"There'sanotheroneonthecurtain,"hesaid,andranoutpast
herwithDanny
inhisarms.
HetooktheboyintotheirbedroomandputhimonWendy'sside
ofthe
makeshiftdouble."Lierightthere,[Link]'tcomebackuntil
Itellyou.
Understand?"
Hisfacepuffedandstreakedwithtears,Dannynodded.
"That'smybraveboy."
[Link]
thecoloring
bookslaptwice,[Link]'t
slowbutwent
[Link]
throughUllman's
officeintothekitchen,slammingtheheavypartofhisthigh
intothecornerof
Ullman'soakdesk,[Link]
overheadsand
[Link]
heapedupinthe
drainer,[Link]
bigPyrexbowl
[Link],
heturnedand
ranbackthroughtheofficeandupthestairs.
WendywasstandingoutsideDanny'sdoor,[Link]
facewasthe
[Link];herhairhung
damplyagainst
herneck."Igotallofthem,"shesaiddully,"butonestungme.
Jack,yousaid
theywerealldead."Shebegantocry.
HeslippedpastherwithoutansweringandcarriedthePyrex
bowlovertothe
nestbyDanny'[Link],
[Link]
slammedthebowldownoverthenest.
"There,"hesaid."Comeon."
Theywentbackintotheirbedroom.
"Wherediditgetyou?"heaskedher.
"My...onmywrist."
"Let'ssee."
[Link]
wristandpalm,
[Link]
up.
"Areyouallergictostings?"heasked."Thinkhard!Ifyou
are,Dannymight
[Link]."
"No,"shesaid,morecalmly."I...Ijusthatethem,that's
[Link]
them."
Dannywassittingonthefootofthebed,holdinghislefthand
andlookingat
[Link],circledwiththewhiteofshock,lookedatJack
reproachfully.
"Daddy,[Link]...itreally
hurts."
"Let'sseeit,doe...no,I'[Link]
wouldmakeit
[Link]."
HedidandWendymoaned."OhDanny...oh,yourpoorhand!"
[Link]
theysawwasa
dottingofsmallholes,asifhispalmandfingershadbeen
sprinkledwith
[Link]
looklikeone
ofthosecartoonimageswhereBugsBunnyorDaffyDuckhadjust
slammedhimself
withahammer.
"Wendy,gogetthatspraystuffinthebathroom,"hesaid.
Shewentafterit,andhesatdownnexttoDannyandslippedan
armaroundhis
shoulders.
"Afterwesprayyourhand,IwanttotakesomePolaroidsofit,
[Link]
sleeptherestofthenightwithus,Tay?"
"Sure,"Dannysaid."Butwhyareyougoingtotakepictures?"
"Somaybewecansuetheassoutofsomepeople."
Wendycamebackwithaspraytubeintheshapeofachemical
fire
extinguisher.
"Thiswon'thurt,honey,"shesaid,takingoffthecap.
Dannyheldouthishandandshesprayedbothsidesuntilit
[Link]
outalong,shudderysigh.
"Doesitsmart?"sheasked.
"[Link]."
"[Link]."Sheheldoutfiveorangeflavored
babyaspirin.
Dannytookthemandpoppedthemintohismouthonebyone.
"Isn'tthatalotofaspirin?"Jackasked.
"It'salotofstings,"shesnappedathimangrily."Yougoand
getridof
thatnest,[Link]."
"Justaminute."
HewenttothedresserandtookhisPolaroidSquareShooterout
ofthetop
[Link].
"Jack,whatareyoudoing?"sheasked,alittlehysterically.
"He'sgonnatakesomepicturesofmyhand,"Dannysaidgravely,
"andthen
we'[Link],Dad?"
"Right,"[Link],
andhejabbedit
ontothecamera."Holditout,[Link]
dollarsa
sting."
"Whatareyoutalkingabout?"Wendynearlyscreamed.
"I'lltellyouwhat,"hesaid."Ifollowedthedirectionson
thatfuckingbug
[Link]'[Link]
tohavebeen.
Howelsecanyouexplainthis?"
"Oh,"shesaidinasmallvoice.
Hetookfourpictures,pullingouteachcoveredprintforWendy
totimeonthe
[Link],fascinated
withtheidea
thathisstunghandmightbeworththousandsandthousandsof
dollars,beganto
[Link]
throbbeddully,
andhehadasmallheadache.
WhenJackhadputthecameraawayandspreadtheprintsouton
topofthe
dressertodry,Wendysaid:"Shouldwetakehimtothedoctor
tonight?"
"Notunlesshe'sreallyinpain,"Jacksaid."Ifapersonhasa
strongallergy
towaspvenom,ithitswithinthirtyseconds."
"Hits?Whatdoyou"
"[Link]."
"[Link]."Shecuppedherhandsoverherelbowsand
huggedherself,
lookingpaleandwan.
"Howdoyoufeel,son?Thinkyoucouldsleep?"
[Link],
featureless
backgroundinhismind,buthewasstillfrightened.
"IfIcansleepwithyou."
"Ofcourse,"Wendysaid."Ohhoney,I'msosorry."
"It'sokay,Mommy."
Shebegantocryagain,andJackputhishandsonher
shoulders."Wendy,I
sweartoyouthatIfollowedthedirections."
"Willyougetridofitinthemorning?Please?"
"OfcourseIwill."
Thethreeofthemgotinbedtogether,andJackwasaboutto
snapoffthe
lightoverthebedwhenhepausedandpushedthecoversback
instead."Wanta
pictureofthenest,too."
"Comerightback."
"Iwill."
Hewenttothedresser,gotthecameraandthelastflashcube,
andgaveDanny
[Link]
backwithhis
goodhand.
QuiteakidhethoughtashewalkeddowntoDanny'[Link]
ofthatandthen
some.
[Link],and
asheglanced
atthetablebesideit,[Link]
shorthairson
hisneckprickledandtriedtostanderect.
[Link]
insideofthe
[Link].
Fiftyatleast.
Maybeahundred.
Hisheartthuddingslowlyinhischest,hetookhispictures
andthensetthe
[Link]
thepalmofhis
[Link],echoingwith
([Link]
temper.)
[Link]
killedthewaspsbut
theyhadcomeback.
Inhismindheheardhimselfscreamingintohisfrightened,
cryingson'sface:
Don'tstutter/
Hewipedhislipsagain.
HewenttoDanny'sworktable,rummagedinitsdrawers,andcame
upwithabig
[Link]
bedtableand
[Link]
angrilyinside
[Link],puttinghishandfirmlyontopofthebowlso
itwouldn't
slip,hewentoutintothehall.
"Comingtobed,Jack?"Wendyasked.
"Comingtobed,Daddy?"
"Havetogodownstairsforaminute,"hesaid,makinghisvoice
light.
Howhadithappened?HowinGod'sname?
Thebombsurehadn'[Link]
smokestartto
[Link]
uptwohours
later,hehadshakenadriftofsmalldeadbodiesoutofthehole
inthetop.
Thenhow?Spontaneousregeneration?
[Link]'t
[Link]
evenifwaspeggscouldmaturefullgrowninsectsintwelve
hours,thiswasn't
[Link]
[Link]
theirdyingtime.
Alivingcontradiction,thewaspsbuzzedfuriouslyunderthe
bowl.
[Link]
wasadoor
[Link]
nearlynakedbody,
andhisfeetwentnumbalmostinstantlyagainstthecoldconcrete
ofthe
platformhewasstandingon,theplatformwheremilkdeliveries
weremadeduring
thehotel'[Link]
carefully,and
whenhestooduphelookedatthethermometernailedoutsidethe
[Link]
WITH7up,thethermometersaid,andthemercurystoodataneven
twentyfive
[Link]
thedoor
[Link]'sthoughthelockedit,too.
[Link]
inthedarkness
foramoment,thinking,[Link]
seemedfullofa
thousandstealthysounds:creakingsandgroansandtheslysniff
ofthewind
undertheeaveswheremorewasps'nestsmightbehanginglike
deadlyfruit.
Theyhadcomeback.
Andsuddenlyhefoundthathedidn'tliketheOverlooksowell
anymore,asif
itwasn'twaspsthathadstunghisson,waspsthathad
miraculouslylived
throughthebugbombassault,butthehotelitself.
Hislastthoughtbeforegoingupstairstohiswifeandson
([Link].)
wasfirmandhardandsure.
Ashewentdownthehalltothemhewipedhislipswiththe
backofhishand.

<<17>>
THEDOCTOR'SOFFICE

Strippedtohisunderpants,lyingontheexaminationtable,
DannyTorrance
[Link].("JustcallmeBill")
Edmonds,who
[Link]
hiseyestogeta
betterlookatit.
"Don'tletitscareyou,guy,"BillEdmondssaid."It'san
electroencephalograph,anditdoesn'thurt."
"Electro"
"WecallitEEGforshort.I'mgoingtohookabunchofwires
toyourhead
no,notstickthemin,onlytapethemandthepensinthispart
ofthegadget
willrecordyourbrainwaves."
"Likeon`TheSixMillionDollarMan'?"
"[Link]
yougrowup?"
"Noway,"Dannysaidasthenursebegantotapethewirestoa
numberoftiny
shavedspotsonhisscalp."Mydaddysaysthatsomedayhe'llget
ashortcircuit
andthenhe'llbeupsh...he'llbeupthecreek."
"Iknowthatcreekwell,"[Link]."I'vebeen
upitafew
timesmyself,[Link],
Danny."
"Likewhat?"
"[Link]'salittle
problemwhere"
"Yeah,Iknowwhatepilespyis."
"Really?"
"[Link]
wenttonursery
[Link]'tsupposed
tousethe
flashboard."
"Whatwasthat,Dan?"[Link]
begantotrace
theirwayacrossgraphpaper.
"Ithadalltheselights,[Link]
turnediton,
[Link]
colorsandifyou
pushedtherightbutton,[Link]'t
usethat."
"That'sbecausebrightflashinglightssometimescausean
epilepticseizure."
"Youmeanusingtheflashboardmight'vemadeBrentpitcha
fit?"
Edmondsandthenurseexchangedabrief,amusedglance.
"Inelegantlybut
accuratelyput,Danny."
"What?"
"Isaidyou'reright,exceptyoushouldsay`seizure'instead
of`pitcha
fit.'That'snotnice...okay,liejustasstillasamouse
now."
"Okay."
"Danny,whenyouhavethese...whatevertheyares,doyou
everrecall
seeingbrightflashinglightsbefore?"
"No..,
"Funnynoises?Ringing?Orchimeslikeadoorbell?"
"Huhuh."
"Howaboutafunnysmell,maybelikeorangesorsawdust?Ora
smelllike
somethingrotten?"
"No,Sir."
"Sometimesdoyoufeellikecryingbeforeyoupassout?Even
thoughyoudon't
feelsad?"
"Noway."
"That'sfine,then."
"HaveIgotepilepsy,[Link]?"
"Idon'tthinkso,[Link]."
Themachinehummedandscratchedforanotherfiveminutesand
[Link]
shutitoff.
"Alldone,guy,"Edmondssaidbriskly."LetSallygetthose
electrodesoffyou
[Link]
[Link]?"
"Sure."
"Sally,yougoaheadandgivehimatinetestbeforehecomes
in."
"Allright."
Edmondsrippedoffthelongcurlofpaperthemachinehad
extrudedandwent
intothenextroom,lookingatit.
"I'mgoingtoprickyourarmjustalittle,"thenursesaid
afterDannyhad
pulleduphispants."It'stomakesureyoudon'thaveTB."
"Theygavemethatatmyschooljustlastyear,"Dannysaid
withoutmuchhope.
"Butthatwasalongtimeagoandyou'reabigboynow,right?"
"Iguessso,"Dannysighed,andofferedhisarmupfor
sacrifice.
Whenhehadhisshirtandshoeson,hewentthroughthesliding
doorandinto
[Link]'[Link]
desk,swinginghis
legsthoughtfully.
"Hi,Danny."
"Hi."
"How'sthathandnow?"HepointedatDanny'slefthand,which
waslightly
bandaged.
"Prettygood."
"[Link]'mgoingto
sendittoa
friendofmineinDenverwhomakeshislivingreadingthose
[Link]
tomakesure."
"Yes,Sir."
"TellmeaboutTony,Dan."
Dannyshuffledhisfeet."He'sjustaninvisiblefriend,"he
said."Imadehim
[Link]."
EdmondslaughedandputhishandsonDanny'sshoulders."Now
that'swhatyour
[Link],guy.I'myour
[Link]
truthandI'llpromisenottotellthemunlessyousayIcan."
[Link],witha
smalleffortof
concentration,hetriedtocatchEdmonds'sthoughtsoratleast
thecolorofhis
[Link]:
filecabinets,
theirdoorsslidingshutoneafteranother,lockingwithaclick.
Writtenonthe
smalltabsinthecenterofeachdoorwas:AC,SECRET;DG,
SECRET;andsoon.
ThismadeDannyfeelalittleeasier.
Cautiouslyhesaid:"Idon'tknowwhoTonyis."
"Isheyourage?"
"[Link]'[Link].I've
neverseenhim
[Link]."
"Youjustseehimatadistance,huh?"
"Yes,Sir."
"Andhealwayscomesjustbeforeyoupassout?"
"Well,Idon'[Link]'[Link]
methings."
"Whatkindofthings?"
"Well..."DannydebatedforamomentandthentoldEdmonds
aboutDaddy's
trunkwithallhiswritinginit,andabouthowthemovershadn't
lostit
betweenVermontand
[Link]
along.
"AndyourdaddyfounditwhereTonysaidhewould?"
"Ohyes,[Link]'[Link]."
"[Link],whatdidTonyshowyoulastnight?When
youlocked
yourselfinthebathroom?"
"Idon'tremember,"Dannysaidquickly.
"Areyousure?"
"Yes,sir."
"[Link]
wasn'tright,was
it?Tonylockedthedoor."
"No,[Link]'tlockthedoorbecauseheisn'[Link]
wantedmeto
doit,[Link]."
"DoesTonyalwaysshowyouwherelostthingsare?"
"No,[Link]
happen."
"Really?"
"[Link]
[Link]
totakeme
[Link],too."
"Whatelsedoesheshowyou?"
Dannyfrowned."[Link]'salwaysshowingmestupidoldsigns.
AndIcan't
readthem,hardlyever."
"WhydoyousupposeTonywoulddothat,Danny?"
"Idon'tknow."Dannybrightened."Butmydaddyandmommyare
teachingmeto
read,andI'mtryingrealhard."
"SoyoucanreadTony'ssigns."
"Well,[Link],yeah."
"DoyoulikeTony,Danny?"
Dannylookedatthetilefloorandsaidnothing.
"Danny?"
"It'shardtotell,"Dannysaid."[Link]
he'dcomeevery
day,becausehealwaysshowedmegoodthings,especiallysince
MommyandDaddy
don'tthinkaboutDIVORCEanymore."[Link]'sgazesharpened,
butDanny
didn'[Link],concentratingon
expressing
himself."[Link]
[Link]
[Link],theystingme
likethose
[Link]'sthingsstingmeuphere."Hecockeda
fingergravely
athistemple,asmallboyunconsciouslyburlesquingsuicide.
"Whatthings,Danny?"
"Ican'tremember!"Dannycriedout,agonized."I'dtellyouif
Icould!It's
likeIcan'trememberbecauseit'ssobadIdon'twantto
[Link]
rememberwhenIwakeupisREDRUM."
"Reddrumorredrum?"
"Rum.,'
"What'sthat,Danny?"
"Idon'tknow."
"Danny?"
"Yes,sir?"
"CanyoumakeTonycomenow?"
"Idon'[Link]'[Link]'tevenknowifI
wanthimtocome
anymore."
"Try,Danny.I'llberighthere."
[Link]
encouragement.
Dannyletoutalong,sighingbreathandnodded."ButIdon't
knowifitwill
[Link]
doesn'talways
come,anyway."
"Ifhedoesn't,hedoesn't,"Edmondssaid."Ijustwantyouto
try."
"Okay."
HedroppedhisgazetoEdmonds'sslowlyswingingloafersand
casthismind
[Link]
someplace...rightbeyond
thatwallwiththepictureonit,[Link]
waitingroomwhere
[Link]
through
[Link].
Heconcentratedharder,hisbrowfurrowing,tryingtogetInto
thefeelingof
hismommy'[Link]'t
rightthereinthe
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
mainthingthat
turnedhermommyintosucha
(hitch?)
[Link]
littlegirlshewas
(hitbyacarohgodicouldneverstandanythinglikethat
againlikeaileen
butwhatifhe'ssickreallysickcancerspinalmeningitis
leukemiabraintumor
likejohngunther'ssonormusculardystrophyohjeezkidshis
agegetleukemia
allthetimeradiumtreatmentschemotherapywecouldn'tafford
anythinglike
thatbutofcoursetheyjustcan'tturnyououttodieonthe
streetcanthey
andanywayhe'sallrightallrightallrightyoureally
shouldn'tletyourself
think)
(Danny)
(aboutaileenand)
(Dannee)
(thatcar)
(Dannee)
ButTonywasn'[Link],Danny
followeditdown
intodarkness,fallingandtumblingdownsomemagicholebetween
[Link]'s
swingingloafers,pastaloudknockingsound,further,abathtub
cruised
silentlybyinthedarknesswithsomehorriblethinglollingin
it,pastasound
likesweetlychimingchurchbells,pastaclockunderadomeof
glass.
Thenthedarkwaspiercedfeeblybyasinglelight,festooned
withcobwebs.
Theweakglowdisclosedastonefloorthatlookeddampand
[Link]
notfardistantwasasteadymechanicalroaringsound,butmuted,
not
[Link],
Dannythought
withdreamysurprise.
AshiseyesadjustedtothegloomhecouldseeTonyjustahead
ofhim,a
[Link]
eyestosee
whatitwas.
([Link]?)
[Link],eveninthe
basementlight's
feebleglow?Daddywaskneelingonthefloor,castingthebeamof
aflashlight
[Link]
weremushyand
old;someofthemhadsplitopenandspilleddriftsofpaperonto
thefloor.
Newspapers,books,printedpiecesofpaperthatlookedlike
[Link]
[Link]
shonehis
[Link]
anotherbook,alarge
[Link]
[Link]
[Link],totell
himtoleave
thatbookalone,[Link]
daddywas
climbingtowardit.
Themechanicalroaringsound,whichhenowrecognizedasthe
boileratthe
OverlookwhichDaddycheckedthreeorfourtimeseveryday,had
developedan
ominous,[Link]...like
[Link]
smellofmildewandwet,rottingpaperwaschangingtosomething
elsethehigh,
[Link]
vaporashe
reachedforthebook...andgraspedit.
Tonywassomewhereinthedarkness
([Link])
repeatingthesameincomprehensiblethingoverandover.
(makeshumanmonsters.)
Fallingthroughdarknessagain,nowaccompaniedbytheheavy,
poundingthunder
thatwasnolongertheboilerbutthesoundofawhistlingmallet
strikingsilk
paperedwalls,[Link]
helplesslyonthe
blueblackwovenjunglerug.
(Comeout)
(Thisinhumanplace)
(andtakeyourmedicine!)
(makeshumanmonsters.)
Withagaspthatechoedinhisownheadhejerkedhimselfout
ofthedarkness.
Handswereonhimandatfirstheshrankback,thinkingthatthe
darkthingin
theOverlookofTony'sworldhadsomehowfollowedhimbackinto
theworldof
[Link]:"You'reallright,
[Link]'re
[Link]."
Dannyrecognizedthedoctor,thenhissurroundingsinthe
[Link]
[Link].
Whenthereactionbegantosubside,Edmondsasked,"Yousaid
somethingabout
monsters,Dannywhatwasit?"
"Thisinhumanplace,"hesaidgutturally."Tonytoldme...
thisinhuman
place...makes...makes..."Heshookhishead."Can't
remember."
"Try!"
"Ican't."
"DidTonycome?"
"Yes."
"Whatdidheshowyou?"
"[Link]'tremember."
"Wherewereyou?"
"Leavemealone!Idon'tremember!Leavemealone!"Hebeganto
sobhelplessly
[Link],dissolvedintoasticky
messlikea
wetbundleofpaper,thememoryunreadable.
Edmondswenttothewatercoolerandgothimapapercupof
[Link]
itandEdmondsgothimanotherone.
"Better?"
"Yes."
"Danny,Idon'twanttobadgeryou...teaseyouaboutthis,
[Link]
yourememberanythingaboutbeforeTonycame?"
"Mymommy,"Dannysaidslowly."She'sworriedaboutme."
"Mothersalwaysare,guy."
"No...shehadasisterthatdiedwhenshewasalittle
[Link]
wasthinkingabouthowAileengothitbyacarandthatmadeher
worriedabout
[Link]'trememberanythingelse."
Edmondswaslookingathimsharply."Justnowshewasthinking
that?Outin
thewaitingroom?"
"Yes,sir."
"Danny,howwouldyouknowthat?"
"Idon'tknow,"Dannysaidwanly."Theshining,Iguess."
"Thewhat?"
Dannyshookhisheadveryslowly."I'[Link]'tIgo
seemymommy
anddaddy?Idon'twanttoansweranymorequestions.I'mtired.
Andmystomach
hurts."
"Areyougoingtothrowup?"
"No,[Link]."
"Okay,Dan."Edmondsstoodup."Yougoonoutandseethemfor
aminute,then
[Link]?','
"Yes,sir."
"[Link],don't
you?"
"Yes,sir,"Dannysaiddutifully.
"You'reagoodboy,Danny."
Dannygavehimafaintsmile.

***

"Ican'tfindathingwrongwithhim,"[Link]
Torrances."Not
[Link],he'[Link]
happens.
Childrenhavetogrowintotheirimaginationslikeapairof
oversizedshoes.
Danny'[Link]?"
"Idon'tbelieveinthem,"Jacksaid."Theystraightjacketthe
expectations
ofbothparentsandteachers."
[Link]."[Link],I
thinkyou'dfind
he'[Link],
foraboywhois
fivegoingonsix,isamazing."
"Wedon'ttalkdowntohim,"Jacksaidwithatraceofpride.
"Idoubtifyou'veeverhadtoinordertomakeyourself
understood."Edmonds
paused,fiddlingwithapen."HewentintoatrancewhileIwas
[Link]
[Link].
Allhis
muscleswentlax,hisbodyslumped,hiseyeballsrotatedoutward.
Textbookauto
[Link]."
TheTorrancessatforward."Whathappened?"Wendyasked
tensely,andEdmonds
carefullyrelatedDanny'strance,themutteredphrasefromwhich
Edmondshad
onlybeenabletoplucktheword"monsters,"the"dark,"the
"pounding."The
aftermathoftears,nearhysteria,andnervousstomach.
"Tonyagain,"Jacksaid.
"Whatdoesitmean?"Wendyasked."Haveyouanyidea?"
"[Link]."
"Goaheadanyway,"Jacktoldhim.
"FromwhatDannytoldme,his`invisiblefriend'wastrulya
frienduntilyou
[Link]
threateningfigure
[Link],
evenmore
frighteningtoyoursonbecausehecan'trememberexactlywhat
thenightmares
[Link]'[Link]
dreamsmore
[Link]
betweenthe
consciousandthesubconscious,andonehellofabluenoselives
[Link]
censoronlyletsthroughasmallamount,andoftenwhatdoescome
throughis
[Link]'soversimplifiedFreud,butitdoespretty
muchdescribe
whatweknowofthemind'sinteractionwithitself."
"YouthinkmovinghasupsetDannythatbadly?"Wendyasked.
"Itmayhave,ifthemovetookplaceundertraumatic
circumstances,"Edmonds
said."Didit?"
WendyandJackexchangedaglance.
"Iwasteachingataprepschool,"Jacksaidslowly."Ilostmy
job."
"Isee,"[Link]
firmlybackin
itsholder."There'smorehere,I'[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
spokeofitin
anoffhandway,butonlybecausehebelievesyouarenolonger
consideringit."
Jack'smouthdroppedopen,andWendyrecoiledasifslapped.
Theblooddrained
fromherface.
"Weneverevendiscussedit!"shesaid."Notinfrontofhim,
notevenin
frontofeachother!We"
"Ithinkit'sbestifyouunderstandeverything,Doctor,"Jack
said."Shortly
afterDannywasborn,Ibecameanalcoholic.I'dhadadrinking
problemallthe
waythroughcollege,itsubsidedalittleafterWendyandImet,
croppedup
worsethaneverafterDannywasbornandthewritingIconsider
tobemyreal
[Link],hespilled
somebeerona
bunchofpapersIwasworkingon...papersIwasshuffling
around,anyway..
.andI...well...ohshit."Hisvoicebroke,buthiseyes
remaineddry
andunflinching."Itsoundssogoddambeastlysaidoutloud.I
brokehisarm
[Link]
drinking.I
haven'ttoucheditsince."
"Isee,"Edmondssaidneutrally."Iknewthearmhadbeen
broken,ofcourse.
Itwassetwell."Hepushedbackfromhisdeskalittleand
crossedhislegs.
"IfImaybefrank,it'sobviousthathe'sbeeninnowayabused
sincethen.
Otherthanthestings,there'snothingonhimbutthenormal
bruisesandscabs
thatanykidhasinabundance."
"Ofcoursenot,"Wendysaidhotly."Jackdidn'tmean"
"No,Wendy,"Jacksaid."[Link]
insideIreally
[Link]."Helooked
backatEdmonds
again."Youknowsomething,Doctor?Thisisthefirsttimethe
worddivorcehas
[Link].
Threefirstsin
fiveminutes."
"Thatmaybeattherootoftheproblem,"Edmondssaid."Iam
nota
[Link],I
canrecommenda
goodonewhoworksoutoftheMissionRidgeMedicalCenterin
[Link]
[Link],
imaginative,
[Link]'tbelievehewouldhavebeenasupsetby
yourmarital
[Link].
Theydon't
understandshame,ortheneedtohidethings."
[Link]
squeezedit.
"[Link]
fromhispointof
viewwasnotthebrokenarmbutthebrokenorbreakinglink
betweenyoutwo.
Hementioneddivorcetome,[Link]
mentionedthe
settohim,[Link].
`Ithappeneda
longtimeago'iswhatIthinkhesaid."
"Thatkid,"[Link],the
musclesinthe
cheeksstandingout."Wedon'tdeservehim."
"Youhavehim,allthesame,"Edmondssaiddryly."Atanyrate,
heretires
[Link]
that;lotsofkids
[Link],IhadmyowninvisiblefriendwhenIwasDanny's
age,atalking
[Link]
[Link]
olderbrotherswhooftenleftmebehind,andinsuchasituation
ChugChugcame
[Link]
Danny'sinvisible
friendisnamedTonyinsteadofMikeorHalorDutch."
"Yes,"Wendysaid.
"Haveyoueverpointeditouttohim?"
"No,"Jacksaid."Shouldwe?"
"Whybother?Lethimrealizeitinhisowntime,byhisown
[Link],
Danny'sfantasieswereconsiderablydeeperthanthosethatgrow
aroundthe
ordinaryinvisiblefriendsyndrome,buthefeltheneededTony
thatmuchmore.
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]'slosttrunk
was...underthe
[Link]
goingtotakehim
toanamusementparkforhisbirthday"
"AtGreatBarrington!"Wendycried."Buthowcouldheknow
thosethings?It's
eerie,[Link]"
"Hehadsecondsight?"Edmondsasked,smiling.
"Hewasbornwithacaul,"Wendysaidweakly.
Edmonds'ssmilebecameagood,[Link]
exchangedaglance
andthenalsosmiled,bothofthemamazedathoweasyitwas.
Danny'soccasional
"luckyguesses"aboutthingswassomethingelsetheyhadnot
discussedmuch.
"Nextyou'llbetellingmehecanlevitate,"Edmondssaid,
stillsmiling."No,
no,no,I'[Link]'snotextrasensorybutgoodoldhuman
perception,
whichinDanny'[Link],heknew
yourtrunkwas
[Link]
ofelimination,
what?It'[Link]
lateryouwould
havethoughtofityourself.
"AsfortheamusementparkatGreatBarrington,whoseideawas
that
originally?Yoursorhis?"
"His,ofcourse,"Wendysaid."Theyadvertisedonallthe
morningchildren's
[Link],Doctor,we
couldn'taffordto
[Link]."
"Thenamen'smagazineI'dsoldastorytobackin1971senta
checkforfifty
dollars,"Jacksaid."Theywerereprintingthestoryinan
annual,orsomething.
SowedecidedtospenditonDanny."
Edmondsshrugged."Wishfulfillmentplusaluckycoincidence."
"Goddammit,Ibetthat'sjustright,"Jacksaid.
Edmondssmiledalittle."AndDannyhimselftoldmethatTony
oftenshowedhim
[Link],
that'sall.
Dannyisdoingsubconsciouslywhatthesesocalledmysticsand
mindreadersdo
[Link]
doesn'tcausehim
toretracthisantennae,Ithinkhe'llbequiteaman."
WendynoddedofcourseshethoughtDannywouldbequitea
manbutthe
doctor'[Link]
margarinethan
[Link]
whenDannyfound
lostbuttons,toldherthatmaybetheTVGuidewasunderthebed,
thathe
thoughthebetterwearhisrubberstonurseryschooleventhough
thesunwasout
...andlaterthatdaytheyhadwalkedhomeunderherumbrella
throughthe
[Link]'tknowofthecuriouswayDannyhad
ofpreguessing
[Link]
tea,gooutinthe
[Link]
rememberthatthe
booksweredueatthelibraryandfindthemallneatlypiledup
onthehall
table,[Link]
headtowaxthe
VolkswagenandfindDannyalreadyoutthere,listeningtotinny
topfortymusic
onhiscrystalradioashesatonthecurbtowatch.
Aloudshesaid,"Thenwhythenightmaresnow?WhydidTonytell
himtolock
thebathroomdoor?"
"Ibelieveit'sbecauseTonyhasoutlivedhisusefulness,"
Edmondssaid."He
wasbornTony,notDannyatatimewhenyouandyourhusband
werestrainingto
[Link].
Therewasthe
[Link]."
Ominousquiet,yes,thatphrasewastherealthing,[Link]
stiff,tense
mealswheretheonlyconversationhadbeenpleasepassthebutter
orDanny,eat
therestofyourcarrotsormayIbeexcused,[Link]
whenJackwas
goneandshehadlaindown,dryeyed,onthecouchwhileDanny
[Link]
morningswhensheandJackhadstalkedaroundeachotherliketwo
angrycats
withaquivering,[Link]
true;
(dearGod,dooldscarseverstophurting?)
horribly,horriblytrue.
Edmondsresumed,"[Link],schizoid
behaviorisa
[Link]'saccepted,becauseallwe
adultshavethis
[Link]
[Link]
maygoandsitintheclosetwhenthey'redepressed,withdrawing
fromtheworld.
Theyattachtalismanicimportancetoaspecialblanket,ora
teddybear,ora
[Link]
thataren't
there,[Link]
sayshe'sseena
trollinhisbedroomoravampireoutsidethewindow,wesimply
smile
[Link]
wholerangeof
suchphenomenainchildren"
"He'llgrowoutofit,"Jacksaid.
Edmondsblinked."Myverywords,"hesaid."[Link]
guessthatDanny
wasinaprettygoodpositiontodevelopafullfledged
[Link]
life,abigimagination,theinvisiblefriendwhowassorealto
himthathe
[Link]`growingoutof'is
childhood
schizophrenia,hemightwellhavegrownintoit."
"Andbecomeautistic?"[Link].
Theworditself
frightenedher;itsoundedlikedreadandwhitesilence.
"[Link]
Tony'sworld
somedayandnevercomebacktowhathecalls`realthings.'"
"God,"Jacksaid.
"[Link].
Torrancenolonger
[Link]
threeofyou
intoatighterfamilyunitthaneverbeforecertainlytighter
thanmyown,
wheremywifeandkidsmayseemeforonlytwoorthreehoursa
[Link],
[Link]
thatheis
abletodifferentiatesosharplybetweenTony'sworldand`real
things'saysa
[Link]
thatyoutwoare
[Link]?"
"Yes,"Wendysaid,andJacksqueezedherhandtightly,almost
[Link]
squeezedback.
Edmondsnodded."Hereallydoesn'[Link]
flushinghim
[Link]
hostilenightmares
thataretoofrighteningforhimtorememberexcept
[Link]
internalizedTonyduringadifficultdesperatelifesituation,
andTonyisnot
[Link]
junkiekicking
thehabit."
Hestoodup,andtheTorrancesstoodalso.
"AsIsaid,I'[Link]
continuing
whenyourjobattheOverlookendsnextspring,[Link],I
wouldstrongly
urgeyoutotakehimtothismaninBoulder."
"Iwill."
"Well,let'sgooutandtellhimhecangohome,"Edmondssaid.
"Iwanttothankyou,"Jacktoldhimpainfully."Ifeelbetter
aboutallthis
thanIhaveinaverylongtime."
"SodoI,"Wendysaid.
Atthedoor,EdmondspausedandlookedatWendy."Doyouordid
youhavea
sister,[Link]?NamedAileen?"
Wendylookedathim,surprised."Yes,[Link]
outsideourhome
inSomersworth,NewHampshire,whenshewassixandIwasten.
Shechasedaball
intothestreetandwasstruckbyadeliveryvan."
"DoesDannyknowthat?"
"Idon'[Link]'tthinkso."
"Hesaysyouwerethinkingaboutherinthewaitingroom."
"Iwas,"Wendysaidslowly."Forthefirsttimein...oh,I
don'tknowhow
long."
"Doestheword'redrum'meananythingtoeitherofyou?"
WendyshookherheadbutJacksaid,"Hementionedthatword
lastnight,just
[Link]."
"No,rum,"Edmondscorrected."Hewasquiteemphaticabout
[Link]
[Link]."
"Oh,"Jacksaid."Itfitsin,doesn'tit?"Hetookhis
handkerchiefoutofhis
backpocketandwipedhislipswithit.
"Doesthephrase`theshining'meananythingtoyou?"
Thistimetheybothshooktheirheads.
"Doesn'tmatter,Iguess,"[Link]
intothewaiting
room."AnybodyherenamedDannyTorrancethatwouldliketogo
home?"
"Hi,Daddy!Hi,Mommy!"Hestoodupfromthesmalltablewhere
hehadbeen
leafingslowlythroughacopyofWheretheWildThingsAreand
mutteringthe
wordsheknewaloud.
HerantoJack,[Link].
Edmondspeeredathim."Ifyoudon'tloveyourmommyanddaddy,
youcanstay
withgoodoldBill."
"No,sir!"[Link]
Jack'sneck,one
armaroundWendy's,andlookedradiantlyhappy.
"Okay,"Edmondssaid,[Link]."Youcallif
youhaveany
problems."
"Yes."
"Idon'tthinkyouwill,"Edmondssaid,smiling.
<<18>>