rose¡¡all¡¡around¡¡them£»¡¡so¡¡high¡¡you¡¡could¡¡barely¡¡see¡¡their¡¡tops¡¡even¡¡by¡¡craning¡¡
your¡¡neck¡¡out¡¡the¡¡window¡£¡¡When¡¡they¡¡left¡¡Boulder£»¡¡the¡¡temperature¡¡had¡¡been¡¡in¡¡
the¡¡high¡¡seventies¡£¡¡Now£»¡¡just¡¡after¡¡noon£»¡¡the¡¡air¡¡up¡¡here¡¡felt¡¡crisp¡¡and¡¡cold¡¡
like¡¡November¡¡back¡¡in¡¡Vermont¡¡and¡¡Daddy¡¡had¡¡the¡¡heater¡¡going¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡not¡¡that¡¡it¡¡
worked¡¡all¡¡that¡¡well¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡several¡¡signs¡¡that¡¡said¡¡FALLING¡¡ROCK¡¡ZONE¡¡
£¨Mommy¡¡read¡¡each¡¡one¡¡to¡¡him£©£»¡¡and¡¡although¡¡Danny¡¡had¡¡waited¡¡anxiously¡¡to¡¡see¡¡
some¡¡rock¡¡fall£»¡¡none¡¡had¡£¡¡At¡¡least¡¡not¡¡yet¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡Half¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡ago¡¡they¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡another¡¡sign¡¡that¡¡Daddy¡¡said¡¡was¡¡very¡¡
important¡£¡¡This¡¡sign¡¡said¡¡ENTERING¡¡SIDEWINDER¡¡PASS£»¡¡and¡¡Daddy¡¡said¡¡that¡¡sign¡¡was¡¡
¡¡
¡¡
as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡the¡¡snowplows¡¡went¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wintertime¡£¡¡After¡¡that¡¡the¡¡road¡¡got¡¡too¡¡
steep¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡winter¡¡the¡¡road¡¡was¡¡closed¡¡from¡¡the¡¡little¡¡town¡¡of¡¡Sidewinder£»¡¡
which¡¡they¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡through¡¡just¡¡before¡¡they¡¡got¡¡to¡¡that¡¡sign£»¡¡all¡¡the¡¡way¡¡to¡¡
Buckland£»¡¡Utah¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡Now¡¡they¡¡were¡¡passing¡¡another¡¡sign¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨What's¡¡that¡¡one£»¡¡Mom£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨That¡¡one¡¡says¡¡SLOWER¡¡VEHICLES¡¡USE¡¡RIGHT¡¡LANE¡£¡¡That¡¡means¡¡us¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡bug¡¡will¡¡make¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡Danny¡¡said¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Please£»¡¡God£»¡¨¡¡Mommy¡¡said£»¡¡and¡¡crossed¡¡her¡¡fingers¡£¡¡Danny¡¡looked¡¡down¡¡at¡¡her¡¡
open¡toed¡¡sandals¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡crossed¡¡her¡¡toes¡¡as¡¡well¡£¡¡He¡¡giggled¡£¡¡She¡¡
smiled¡¡back£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡still¡¡worried¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡The¡¡road¡¡wound¡¡up¡¡and¡¡up¡¡in¡¡a¡¡series¡¡of¡¡slow¡¡S¡¡curves£»¡¡and¡¡Jack¡¡dropped¡¡the¡¡
bug's¡¡stick¡¡shift¡¡from¡¡fourth¡¡gear¡¡to¡¡third£»¡¡then¡¡into¡¡second¡£¡¡The¡¡bug¡¡wheezed¡¡
and¡¡protested£»¡¡and¡¡Wendy's¡¡eye¡¡fixed¡¡on¡¡the¡¡speedometer¡¡needle£»¡¡which¡¡sank¡¡from¡¡
forty¡¡to¡¡thirty¡¡to¡¡twenty£»¡¡where¡¡it¡¡hovered¡¡reluctantly¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡fuel¡¡pump¡£¡£¡£¡¨¡¡she¡¡began¡¡timidly¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡fuel¡¡pump¡¡will¡¡go¡¡another¡¡three¡¡miles£»¡¨¡¡Jack¡¡said¡¡shortly¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡The¡¡rock¡¡wall¡¡fell¡¡away¡¡on¡¡their¡¡right£»¡¡disclosing¡¡a¡¡slash¡¡valley¡¡that¡¡seemed¡¡
to¡¡go¡¡down¡¡forever£»¡¡lined¡¡a¡¡dark¡¡green¡¡with¡¡Rocky¡¡Mountain¡¡pine¡¡and¡¡spruce¡£¡¡The¡¡
pines¡¡fell¡¡away¡¡to¡¡gray¡¡cliffs¡¡of¡¡rock¡¡that¡¡dropped¡¡for¡¡hundreds¡¡of¡¡feet¡¡before¡¡
smoothing¡¡out¡£¡¡She¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡waterfall¡¡spilling¡¡over¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡the¡¡early¡¡
afternoon¡¡sun¡¡sparkling¡¡in¡¡it¡¡like¡¡a¡¡golden¡¡fish¡¡snared¡¡in¡¡a¡¡blue¡¡net¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡
beautiful¡¡mountains¡¡but¡¡they¡¡were¡¡hard¡£¡¡She¡¡did¡¡not¡¡think¡¡they¡¡would¡¡forgive¡¡
many¡¡mistakes¡£¡¡An¡¡unhappy¡¡foreboding¡¡rose¡¡in¡¡her¡¡throat¡£¡¡Further¡¡west¡¡in¡¡the¡¡
Sierra¡¡Nevada¡¡the¡¡Donner¡¡Party¡¡had¡¡bee¡¡snowbound¡¡and¡¡had¡¡resorted¡¡to¡¡
cannibalism¡¡to¡¡stay¡¡alive¡£¡¡The¡¡mountains¡¡did¡¡not¡¡forgive¡¡many¡¡mistakes¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡With¡¡a¡¡punch¡¡of¡¡the¡¡clutch¡¡and¡¡a¡¡jerk£»¡¡Jack¡¡shifted¡¡down¡¡to¡¡first¡¡gear¡¡and¡¡
they¡¡labored¡¡upward£»¡¡the¡¡bug's¡¡engine¡¡thumping¡¡gamely¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡know£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡don't¡¡think¡¡we've¡¡seen¡¡five¡¡cars¡¡since¡¡we¡¡came¡¡
through¡¡Sidewinder¡£¡¡And¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡¡was¡¡the¡¡hotel¡¡limousine¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡Jack¡¡nodded¡£¡¡¡¨It¡¡goes¡¡right¡¡to¡¡Stapleton¡¡Airport¡¡in¡¡Denver¡£¡¡There's¡¡already¡¡
some¡¡icy¡¡patches¡¡up¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡hotel£»¡¡Watson¡¡says£»¡¡and¡¡they're¡¡forecasting¡¡more¡¡
snow¡¡for¡¡tomorrow¡¡up¡¡higher¡£¡¡Anybody¡¡going¡¡through¡¡the¡¡mountains¡¡now¡¡wants¡¡to¡¡be¡¡
on¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡main¡¡roads£»¡¡just¡¡in¡¡case¡£¡¡That¡¡goddam¡¡Ullman¡¡better¡¡still¡¡be¡¡up¡¡
there¡£¡¡I¡¡guess¡¡he¡¡will¡¡be¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨You're¡¡sure¡¡the¡¡larder¡¡is¡¡fully¡¡stocked£¿¡¨¡¡she¡¡asked£»¡¡still¡¡thinking¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
Donners¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨He¡¡said¡¡so¡£¡¡He¡¡wanted¡¡Hallorann¡¡to¡¡go¡¡over¡¡it¡¡with¡¡you¡£¡¡Hallorann's¡¡the¡¡
cook¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡¡faintly£»¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡the¡¡speedometer¡£¡¡It¡¡had¡¡dropped¡¡from¡¡
fifteen¡¡to¡¡ten¡¡miles¡¡an¡¡hour¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨There's¡¡the¡¡top£»¡¨¡¡Jack¡¡said£»¡¡pointing¡¡three¡¡hundred¡¡yards¡¡ahead¡£¡¡¡¨There's¡¡a¡¡
scenic¡¡turnout¡¡and¡¡you¡¡can¡¡see¡¡the¡¡Overlook¡¡from¡¡there¡£¡¡I'm¡¡going¡¡to¡¡pull¡¡off¡¡
the¡¡road¡¡and¡¡give¡¡the¡¡bug¡¡a¡¡chance¡¡to¡¡rest¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡craned¡¡over¡¡his¡¡shoulder¡¡at¡¡
Danny£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡sitting¡¡on¡¡a¡¡pile¡¡of¡¡blankets¡£¡¡¡¨What¡¡do¡¡you¡¡think£»¡¡doc£¿¡¡We¡¡might¡¡
see¡¡some¡¡deer¡£¡¡Or¡¡caribou¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Sure£»¡¡Dad¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡The¡¡VW¡¡labored¡¡up¡¡and¡¡up¡£¡¡The¡¡speedometer¡¡dropped¡¡to¡¡just¡¡above¡¡the¡¡five¡mile¡¡¡
¡¡
¡¡
an¡hour¡¡hashmark¡¡and¡¡was¡¡beginning¡¡to¡¡hitch¡¡when¡¡Jack¡¡pulled¡¡off¡¡the¡¡road¡¡
¡¡¡¡£¨¡¨What's¡¡that¡¡sign£»¡¡Mommy£¿¡¨¡¡¡¨SCENIC¡¡TURNOUT£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡read¡¡dutifully¡££©¡¡
¡¡¡¡and¡¡stepped¡¡on¡¡the¡¡emergency¡¡brake¡¡and¡¡let¡¡the¡¡VW¡¡run¡¡in¡¡neutral¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨e¡¡on£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡and¡¡got¡¡out¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡They¡¡walked¡¡to¡¡the¡¡guardrail¡¡together¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨That's¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡Jack¡¡said£»¡¡and¡¡pointed¡¡at¡¡eleven¡¡o'clock¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡For¡¡Wendy£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡discovering¡¡truth¡¡in¡¡a¡¡clich¨¦£º¡¡her¡¡breath¡¡was¡¡taken¡¡away¡£¡¡
For¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡she¡¡was¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡breathe¡¡at¡¡all£»¡¡the¡¡view¡¡had¡¡knocked¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡
from¡¡her¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡standing¡¡near¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡one¡¡peak¡£¡¡Across¡¡from¡¡them¡¡¡ª¡¡who¡¡
knew¡¡how¡¡far£¿¡¡¡ª¡¡an¡¡even¡¡taller¡¡mountain¡¡reared¡¡into¡¡the¡¡sky£»¡¡its¡¡jagged¡¡tip¡¡only¡¡
a¡¡silhouette¡¡that¡¡was¡¡now¡¡nimbused¡¡by¡¡the¡¡sun£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡beginning¡¡its¡¡decline¡£¡¡
The¡¡whole¡¡valley¡¡floor¡¡was¡¡spread¡¡out¡¡below¡¡them£»¡¡the¡¡slopes¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡
climbed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡laboring¡¡bug¡¡falling¡¡away¡¡with¡¡such¡¡dizzying¡¡suddenness¡¡that¡¡she¡¡
knew¡¡to¡¡look¡¡down¡¡there¡¡for¡¡too¡¡long¡¡would¡¡bring¡¡on¡¡nausea¡¡and¡¡eventual¡¡
vomiting¡£¡¡The¡¡imagination¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡spring¡¡to¡¡full¡¡life¡¡in¡¡the¡¡clear¡¡air£»¡¡beyond¡¡
the¡¡rein¡¡of¡¡reason£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡look¡¡was¡¡to¡¡helplessly¡¡see¡¡one's¡¡self¡¡plunging¡¡down¡¡
and¡¡down¡¡and¡¡down£»¡¡sky¡¡and¡¡slopes¡¡changing¡¡places¡¡in¡¡slow¡¡cartwheels£»¡¡the¡¡scream¡¡
drifting¡¡from¡¡your¡¡mouth¡¡like¡¡a¡¡lazy¡¡balloon¡¡as¡¡your¡¡hair¡¡and¡¡your¡¡dress¡¡
billowed¡¡out¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡She¡¡jerked¡¡her¡¡gaze¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡drop¡¡almost¡¡by¡¡force¡¡and¡¡followed¡¡Jack's¡¡
finger¡£¡¡She¡¡could¡¡see¡¡the¡¡highway¡¡clinging¡¡to¡¡the¡¡side¡¡of¡¡this¡¡cathedral¡¡spire£»¡¡
switching¡¡back¡¡on¡¡itself¡¡but¡¡always¡¡tending¡¡northwest£»¡¡still¡¡climbing¡¡but¡¡at¡¡a¡¡
more¡¡gentle¡¡angle¡£¡¡Further¡¡up£»¡¡seemingly¡¡set¡¡directly¡¡into¡¡the¡¡slope¡¡itself£»¡¡she¡¡
saw¡¡the¡¡grimly¡¡clinging¡¡pines¡¡give¡¡way¡¡to¡¡a¡¡wide¡¡square¡¡of¡¡green¡¡lawn¡¡and¡¡
standing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡overlooking¡¡all¡¡this£»¡¡the¡¡hotel¡£¡¡The¡¡Overlook¡£¡¡
Seeing¡¡it£»¡¡she¡¡found¡¡breath¡¡and¡¡voice¡¡again¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡Jack£»¡¡it's¡¡gorgeous£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡it¡¡is£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨Ullman¡¡says¡¡he¡¡thinks¡¡it's¡¡the¡¡single¡¡most¡¡beautiful¡¡
location¡¡in¡¡America¡£¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡care¡¡much¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡think¡¡he¡¡might¡¡be¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡
Danny£¡¡¡Danny£»¡¡are¡¡you¡¡all¡¡right£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡around¡¡for¡¡him¡¡and¡¡her¡¡sudden¡¡fear¡¡for¡¡him¡¡blotted¡¡out¡¡everything¡¡
else£»¡¡stupendous¡¡or¡¡not¡£¡¡She¡¡darted¡¡toward¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡holding¡¡onto¡¡the¡¡
guardrail¡¡and¡¡looking¡¡up¡¡at¡¡the¡¡hotel£»¡¡his¡¡face¡¡a¡¡pasty¡¡gray¡¡color¡£¡¡His¡¡eyes¡¡had¡¡
the¡¡blank¡¡look¡¡of¡¡someone¡¡on¡¡the¡¡verge¡¡of¡¡fainting¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡She¡¡knelt¡¡beside¡¡him¡¡and¡¡put¡¡steadying¡¡hands¡¡on¡¡his¡¡shoulders¡£¡¡¡¨Danny£»¡¡
what's¡¡¡ª¡¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡Jack¡¡was¡¡beside¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡okay£»¡¡doc£¿¡¨¡¡He¡¡gave¡¡Danny¡¡a¡¡brisk¡¡little¡¡shake¡¡and¡¡
his¡¡eyes¡¡cleared¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡okay£»¡¡Daddy¡£¡¡I'm¡¡fine¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡was¡¡it£»¡¡Danny£¿¡¨¡¡she¡¡asked¡£¡¡¡¨Were¡¡you¡¡dizzy£»¡¡honey£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡just¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡thinking¡£¡¡I'm¡¡sorry¡£¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡mean¡¡to¡¡scare¡¡you¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡
looked¡¡at¡¡his¡¡parents£»¡¡kneeling¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡offered¡¡them¡¡a¡¡small¡¡
puzzled¡¡smile¡£¡¡¡¨Maybe¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡sun¡£¡¡The¡¡sun¡¡got¡¡in¡¡my¡¡eyes¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨We'll¡¡get¡¡you¡¡up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡hotel¡¡and¡¡give¡¡you¡¡a¡¡drink¡¡of¡¡water£»¡¨¡¡Daddy¡¡said¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Okay¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡And¡¡in¡¡the¡¡bug£»¡¡which¡¡moved¡¡upward¡¡more¡¡surely¡¡on¡¡the¡¡gentler¡¡grade£»¡¡he¡¡kept¡¡
looking¡¡out¡¡between¡¡them¡¡as¡¡the¡¡road¡¡unwound£»¡¡affording¡¡occasional¡¡glimpses¡¡of¡¡
the¡¡Overlook¡¡Hotel£»¡¡its¡¡massive¡¡bank¡¡of¡¡westward¡looking¡¡windows¡¡reflecting¡¡
¡¡
¡¡
back¡¡the¡¡sun¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡place¡¡he¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡in¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡the¡¡blizzard£»¡¡the¡¡
dark¡¡and¡¡booming¡¡place¡¡where¡¡some¡¡hideously¡¡familiar¡¡figure¡¡sought¡¡him¡¡down¡¡long¡¡
corridors¡¡carpeted¡¡with¡¡jungle¡£¡¡The¡¡place¡¡Tony¡¡had¡¡warned¡¡him¡¡against¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡
here¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡here¡£¡¡Whatever¡¡Redrum¡¡was£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡here¡£¡¡
¡¡
¡¡
¡¡
¡¡
¡·¡¡
¡¡
¡¡
CHECKING¡¡IT¡¡OUT¡¡
¡¡
¡¡
¡¡¡¡Ullman¡¡was¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡them¡¡just¡¡inside¡¡the¡¡wide£»¡¡old¡fashioned¡¡front¡¡doors¡£¡¡
He¡¡shook¡¡hands¡¡with¡¡Jack¡¡and¡¡nodded¡¡coolly¡¡at¡¡Wendy£»¡¡perhaps¡¡noticing¡¡the¡¡way¡¡
heads¡¡turned¡¡when¡¡she¡¡came¡¡through¡¡into¡¡the¡¡lobby£»¡¡her¡¡golden¡¡hair¡¡spilling¡¡
across¡¡the¡¡shoulders¡¡of¡¡the¡¡simple¡¡navy¡¡dress¡£¡¡The¡¡hem¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dress¡¡stopped¡¡a¡¡
modest¡¡two¡¡inches¡¡above¡¡the¡¡knee£»¡¡but¡¡you¡¡didn't¡¡have¡¡to¡¡see¡¡more¡¡to¡¡know¡¡they¡¡
were¡¡good¡¡legs¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡Ullman¡¡seemed¡¡truly¡¡warm¡¡toward¡¡Danny¡¡only£»¡¡but¡¡Wendy¡¡had¡¡experienced¡¡that¡¡
before¡£¡¡Danny¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡child¡¡for¡¡people¡¡who¡¡ordinarily¡¡held¡¡W¡£¡¡C¡£¡¡Fields'¡¡
sentiments¡¡about¡¡children¡£¡¡He¡¡bent¡¡a¡¡little¡¡from¡¡the¡¡waist¡¡and¡¡offered¡¡Danny¡¡his¡¡
hand¡£¡¡Danny¡¡shook¡¡it¡¡formally£»¡¡without¡¡a¡¡smile¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨My¡¡son¡¡Danny£»¡¨¡¡Jack¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨And¡¡my¡¡wife¡¡Winnifred¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡happy¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡you¡¡both£»¡¨¡¡Ullman¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨How¡¡old¡¡are¡¡you£»¡¡Danny£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Five£»¡¡sir¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Sir£»¡¡yet¡£¡¨¡¡Ullman¡¡smiled¡¡and¡¡glanced¡¡at¡¡Jack¡£¡¡¡¨He's¡¡well¡¡mannered¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Of¡¡course¡¡he¡¡is£»¡¨¡¡Jack¡¡said¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Torrance¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡offered¡¡the¡¡same¡¡little¡¡bow£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡a¡¡bemused¡¡instant¡¡
Wendy¡¡thought¡¡he¡¡would¡¡kiss¡¡her¡¡hand¡£¡¡She¡¡half¡offered¡¡it¡¡and¡¡he¡¡did¡¡take¡¡it£»¡¡
but¡¡only¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡clasped¡¡in¡¡both¡¡of¡¡his¡£¡¡His¡¡hands¡¡were¡¡small¡¡and¡¡dry¡¡and¡¡
smooth£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡guessed¡¡that¡¡he¡¡powdered¡¡them¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡The¡¡lobby¡¡was¡¡a¡¡bustle¡¡of¡¡activity¡£¡¡Almost¡¡every¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡old¡fashioned¡¡
high¡backed¡¡chairs¡¡was¡¡taken¡£¡¡Bellboys¡¡shuttled¡¡in¡¡and¡¡out¡¡with¡¡suitcases¡¡and¡¡
there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡line¡¡at¡¡the¡¡desk£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡dominated¡¡by¡¡a¡¡huge¡¡brass¡¡cash¡¡register¡£¡¡
The¡¡BankAmericard¡¡and¡¡Master¡¡Charge¡¡decals¡¡on¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡jarringly¡¡anachronistic¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡To¡¡their¡¡right£»¡¡down¡¡toward¡¡a¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡tall¡¡double¡¡doors¡¡that¡¡were¡¡pulled¡¡
closed¡¡and¡¡roped¡¡off£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡an¡¡old¡fashioned¡¡fireplace¡¡now¡¡blazing¡¡with¡¡
birch¡¡logs¡£¡¡Three¡¡nuns¡¡sat¡¡on¡¡a¡¡sofa¡¡that¡¡was¡¡drawn¡¡up¡¡almost¡¡to¡¡the¡¡hearth¡¡
itself¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡talking¡¡and¡¡smiling¡¡with¡¡their¡¡bags¡¡stacked¡¡up¡¡to¡¡either¡¡side£»¡¡
waiting¡¡for¡¡the¡¡check¡out¡¡line¡¡to¡¡thin¡¡a¡¡little¡£¡¡As¡¡Wendy¡¡watched¡¡them¡¡they¡¡
burst¡¡into¡¡a¡¡chord¡¡of¡¡tinkling£»¡¡girlish¡¡laughter¡£¡¡She¡¡felt¡¡a¡¡smile¡¡touch¡¡her¡¡own¡¡
lips£»¡¡not¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡¡could¡¡be¡¡under¡¡sixty¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡background¡¡was¡¡the¡¡constant¡¡hum¡¡of¡¡conversation£»¡¡the¡¡muted¡¡ding£¡¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
silver¡plated¡¡bell¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡cash¡¡register¡¡as¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡clerks¡¡on¡¡duty¡¡
struck¡¡it£»¡¡the¡¡slightly¡¡impatient¡¡call¡¡of¡¡¡¨Front£»¡¡please£¡¡¨¡¡It¡¡brought¡¡back¡¡
¡¡
¡¡
strong£»¡¡warm¡¡memories¡¡of¡¡her¡¡honeymoon¡¡in¡¡New¡¡York¡¡with¡¡Jack£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Beekman¡¡
Tower¡£¡¡For¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡she¡¡let¡¡herself¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡this¡¡might¡¡be¡¡exactly¡¡
what¡¡the¡¡three¡¡of¡¡them¡¡needed£º¡¡a¡¡season¡¡together¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡
family¡¡honeymoon¡£¡¡She¡¡smiled¡¡affectionately¡¡down¡¡at¡¡Danny£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡goggling¡¡
around¡¡frankly¡¡at¡¡everything¡£¡¡Another¡¡limo£»¡¡as¡¡gray¡¡as¡¡a¡¡banker's¡¡vest£»¡¡had¡¡
pulled¡¡up¡¡out¡¡front¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡last¡¡day¡¡of¡¡the¡¡season£»¡¨¡¡Ullman¡¡was¡¡saying¡£¡¡¡¨Closing¡¡day¡£¡¡Always¡¡hectic¡£¡¡
I¡¡had¡¡expected¡¡you¡¡more¡¡around¡¡three£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Torrance¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡g