sk.theshining-第14节

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　　〃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　cliche：　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…who　knew　how　far？…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。　〃Unman　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…〃　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　Ho：。　tel；　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　be　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：　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　give　the　Volks　time　for　a　nervous　breakdown　if　it　decided　to　have　one；〃　Jack　said。　〃It　didn't。〃
　　〃How　fortunate；〃　Ullman　said。　〃I'd　like　to　take　the　three　of　you　on　a　tour　of　the　place　a　little　later；　and　of　course　Dick　Hallorann　wants　to　show　Mrs。
　　Torrance　the　Overlook's　kitchen。　But　I'm　afraid…〃　One　of　the　clerks　came　over　and　almost　tugged　his　forelock。
　　〃Excuse　me；　Mr。　Unman…〃
　　〃Well？　What　is　it？〃
　　〃It's　Mrs。　Brant；〃　the　clerk　said　unfortably。　〃She　refuses　to　pay　her　bill　with　anything　but　her　American　Express　card。　I　told　her　we　stopped　taking　American　Express　at　the　end　of　the　season　last　year；　but　she　won't　。　。　。〃　His　eyes　shifted　to　the　Torrance　family；　then　back　to　Ullman。　He　shrugged。
　　〃I'll　take　care　of　it。〃
　　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Ullman。〃　The　clerk　crossed　back　to　the　desk；　where　a　dreadnought　of　a　woman　bundled　into　a　long　fur　coat　and　what　looked　like　a　black　feather　boa　was　remonstrating　loudly。
　　〃I　have　been　ing　to　the　Overlook　Hotel　since　1955；〃　she　was　telling　the　smiling；　shrugging　clerk。　〃I　continued　to　e　even　after　my　second　husband　died　of　a　stroke　on　that　tiresome　roque　court…I　told　him　the　sun　was　too　hot　that　day…and　I　have　never　。　。　。　I　repeat：　never　。　。　。　paid　with　anything　but　my　American　Express　credit　card。　Call　the　police　if　you　like！　Have　them　drag　me　away！　I　will　still　refuse　to　pay　with　anything　but　my　American　Express　credit　card。　I　repeat：　。　。　。〃
　　〃Excuse　me；〃　Mr。　Ullman　said。
　　They　watched　him　cross　the　lobby；　touch　Mrs。　Brant's　elbow　deferentially；　and　spread　his　hands　and　nod　when　she　turned　her　tirade　on　him。　He　listened　sympathetically；　nodded　again；　and　said　something　in　return。　Mrs。　Brant　smiled　triumphantly；　turned　to　the　unhappy　desk　clerk；　and　said　loudly：　〃Thank　God　there　is　one　employee　of　this　hotel　who　hasn't　bee　an　utter　Philistinel〃　She　allowed　Ullman；　who　barely　came　to　the　bulky　shoulder　of　her　fur　coat；　to　take　her　arm　and　lead　her　away；　presumably　to　his　inner　office。
　　〃Whooo！〃　Wendy　said；　smiling。　〃There's　a　dude　who　earns　his　money。〃
　　〃But　he　didn't　like　that　lady；〃　Danny　said　immediately。　〃He　was　just　pretending　to　like　her。〃　Jack　grinned　down　at　him。　〃I'm　sure　that's　tru