sk.theshining-第20节

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　　But　what　if　he　was　wrong？　He　had　known　that　this　was　his　last　season　at　the　Overlook　ever　since　he　had　seen　that　thing　in　the　bathtub　of　Room　217。　It　had　been　worse　than　any　picture　in　any　book；　and　from　here　the　boy　running　to　his　mother　looked　so　small　。　。　。
　　I　don't　think…　His　eyes　drifted　down　to　the　topiary　animals。
　　Abruptly　he　started　the　car　and　put　it　in　gear　and　drove　away；　trying　not　to　look　back。　And　of　course　he　did；　and　of　course　the　porch　was　empty。　They　had　gone　back　inside。　It　was　as　if　the　Overlook　had　swallowed　them。
　　　
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　　THE　GRAND　TOUR
　　
　　〃What　were　you　talking　about；　hon？〃　Wendy　asked　him　as　they　went　back　inside。
　　〃Oh；　nothing　much。〃
　　〃For　nothing　much　it　sure　was　a　long　talk。〃　He　shrugged　and　Wendy　saw　Danny's　paternity　in　the　gesture；　Jack　could　hardly　have　done　it　better　himself。　She　would　get　no　more　out　of　Danny。　She　felt　strong　exasperation　mixed　with　an　even　stronger　love：　the　love　was　helpless；　the　exasperation　came　from　a　feeling　that　she　was　deliberately　being　excluded。　With　the　two　of　them　around　she　sometimes　felt　like　an　outsider；　a　bit　player　who　had　accidentally　wandered　back　onstage　while　the　main　action　was　taking　place。　Well；　they　wouldn't　be　able　to　exclude　her　this　winter；　her　two　exasperating　males；　quarters　were　going　to　be　a　little　too　close　for　that。　She　suddenly　realized　she　was　feeling　jealous　of　the　closeness　between　her　husband　and　her　son；　and　felt　ashamed。　That　was　too　close　to　the　way　her　own　mother　might　have　felt　。　。　。　too　close　for　fort。
　　The　lobby　was　now　empty　except　for　Ullman　and　the　head　desk　clerk　（they　were　at　the　register；　cashing　up）；　a　couple　of　maids　who　had　changed　to　warm　slacks　and　sweaters；　standing　by　the　front　door　and　looking　out　with　their　luggage　pooled　around　them；　and　Watson；　the　maintenance　man。　He　caught　her　looking　at　him　and　gave　her　a　wink　。　。　。　a　decidedly　lecherous　one。　She　looked　away　hurriedly。　Jack　was　over　by　the　window　just　outside　the　restaurant；　studying　the　view。　He　looked　rapt　and　dreamy。
　　The　cash　register　apparently　checked　out；　because　now　Ullman　ran　it　shut　with　an　authoritative　snap。　He　initialed　the　tape　and　put　it　in　a　small　zipper　case。
　　Wendy　silently　applauded　the　head　clerk；　who　looked　greatly　relieved。　Ullman　looked　like　the　type　of　man　who　might　take　any　shortage　out　of　the　head　clerk's　hide　。　。　。　without　ever　spilling　a　drop　of　blood。　Wendy　didn't　much　care　for　Ullman　or　his　officious；　ostentatiously　bustling　manner。　He　was　like　every　boss　she'd　ever　had；　male　or　female。　He　would　be　saccharin　sweet　with　the　guests；　a　petty　tyrant　when　he　was　backstage　with　the　help。　But　now　school　was　out　and　the　head　clerk's　pleasure　was　written　large　on　his　face。　It　was　out　for　everyone　but　she　and　Jack　and　Danny；　anyway。
　　〃Mr。　Torrance；〃　Ullman　called　peremptorily。　〃Would　you　e　over　here；　please？
　　〃　Jack　walked　over；　nodding　to　Wendy　and　Danny　that　they　were　to　e　too。
　　The　clerk；　who　had　gone　into　the　back；　now　came　out　again　wearing　an　overcoat。
　　〃Have　a　pleasant　winter；　Mr。　Ullman。〃
　　〃I　doubt　it；〃　Ullman　said　distantly。　〃May　twelfth；　Braddock。　Not　a　day　earlier。　Not　a　day　later。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃　Braddock　walked　around　the　desk；　his　face　sober　and　dignified；　as　befitted　his　position；　but　when　his　back　was　entirely　to　Ullman；　he　grinned　like　a　schoolboy。
　　He　spoke　briefly　to　the　two　girls　still　waiting　by　the　door　for　their　ride；　and　he　was　followed　out　by　a　brief　burst　of　stifled　laughter。
　　Now　Wendy　began　to　notice　the　silence　of　the　place。　It　had　fallen　over　the　hotel　like　a　heavy　blanket　muting　everything　but　the　faint　pulse　of　the　afternoon　wind　outside。　From　where　she　stood　she　could　look　through　the　inner　office；　now　neat　to　the　point　of　sterility　with　its　two　bare　desks　and　two　sets　of　gray　filing　cabinets。　Beyond　that　she　could　see　Hallorann's　spotless　kitchen；　the　big　portholed　double　doors　propped　open　by　rubber　wedges。
　　〃I　thought　I　would　take　a　few　extra　minutes　and　show　you　through　the　Hotel；〃　Ullman　said；　and　Wendy　reflected　that　you　could　always　hear　that　capital　H　in　Ullman's　voice。　You　were　supposed　to　hear　it。　〃I'm　sure　your　husband　will　get　to　know　the　ins　and　outs　of　the　Overlook　quite　well；　Mrs。　Torrance；　but　you　and　your　son　will　doubtless　keep　more　to　the　lobby　level　and　the　first　floor；　where　your　quarters　are。〃
　　〃Doubtless；〃　Wendy　murmured　demurely；　and　Jack　shot　her　a　private　glance。
　　〃It's　a　beautiful　place；〃　Ullman　said　expansively。　〃I　rather　enjoy　showing　it　off。〃　I'll　bet　you　do；　Wendy　thought。
　　〃Let's　go　up　to　third　and　work　our　way　down；〃　Ullman　said。　He　sounded　positively　enthused。
　　〃If　we're　keeping　you…〃　Jack　began。
　　〃Not　at　all；〃　Ullman　said：　〃The　shop　is　shut。　Tout　fins；　for　this　season；　at　least。　And　I　plan　to　overnight　in　Boulder…at　the　Boulderado；　of　course。　Only　decent　hotel　this　side　of　Denver　。　。　。　except　for　the　Overlook　itself；　of　course。　This　way。〃　They　stepped　into　the　elevator　together。　It　was　ornately　scrolled　in　copper　and　brass；　but　it　settled　appreciably　before　Ullman　pulled　the　gate　across。
　　Danny　stirred　a　little　uneasily；　and　Ullman　smiled　down　at　him。　Danny　tried　to　smile　back　without　notable　success。
　　〃Don't　you　worry；　little　man；〃　Ullman　said。　〃Safe　as　houses。〃
　　〃So　was　the　Titanic；〃　Jack　said；　looking　up　at　the　cut…glass　globe　in　the　center　of　the　elevator　ceiling。　Wendy　bit　the　inside　of　her　cheek　to　keep　the　smile　away。
　　Ullman　was　not　amused。　He　slid　the　inner　gate　across　with　a　rattle　and　a　bang。
　　〃The　Titanic　made　only　one　voyage；　Mr。　Torrance。　This　elevator　has　made　thousands　of　them　since　it　was　installed　in　1926。〃
　　〃That's　reassuring；〃　Jack　said。　He　ruffed　Danny's　hair。　〃The　plane　ain't　gonna　crash；　doc。〃　Ullman　threw　the　lever　over；　and　for　a　moment　there　was　nothing　but　a　shuddering　beneath　their　feet　and　the　tortured　whine　of　the　motor　below　them。
　　Wendy　had　a　vision　of　the　four　of　them　being　trapped　between　floors　like　flies　in　a　bottle　and　found　in　the　spring　。　。　。　with　little　bits　and　pieces　gone　。　。　。
　　like　the　Donner　Party　。　。　。
　　（Stop　it！）　The　elevator　began　to　rise；　with　some　vibration　and　clashing　and　banging　from　below　at　first。　Then　the　ride　smoothed　out。　At　the　third　floor　Ullman　brought　them　to　a　bumpy　stop；　retracted　the　gate；　and　opened　the　door。　The　elevator　car　was　still　six　inches　below　floor　level。　Danny　gazed　at　the　difference　in　height　between　the　third…floor　hall　and　the　elevator　floor　as　if　he　had　just　sensed　the　universe　was　not　as　sane　as　he　had　been　told。　Ullman　cleared　his　throat　and　raised　the　car　a　little；　brought　it　to　a　stop　with　a　jerk　（still　two　inches　low）；　and　they　all　climbed　out。　With　their　weight　gone　the　car　rebounded　almost　to　floor　level；　something　Wendy　did　not　find　reassuring　at　all。　Safe　as　houses　or　not；　she　resolved　to　take　the　stairs　when　she　had　to　go　up　or　down　in　this　place。　And　under　no　conditions　would　she　allow　the　three　of　them　to　get　into　the　rickety　thing　together。
　　〃What　are　you　looking　at；　doc？〃　Jack　inquired　humorously。　〃See　any　spots　there？〃
　　〃Of　course　not；〃　Ullman　said；　nettled。　〃All　the　rugs　were　shampooed　just　two　days　ago。〃　Wendy　glanced　down　at　the　hall　runner　herself。　Pretty；　but　definitely　not　anything　she　would　choose　for　her　own　home；　if　the　day　ever　came　when　she　had　one。　Deep　blue　pile；　it　was　entwined　with　what　seemed　to　be　a　surrealistic　jungle　scene　full　of　ropes　and　vines　and　trees　filled　with　exotic　birds。　It　was　hard　to　tell　just　what　sort　of　birds；　because　all　the　interweaving　was　done　in　unshaded　black；　giving　only　silhouettes。
　　〃Do　you　like　the　rug？〃　Wendy　asked　Danny。
　　〃Yes；　Mom；〃　he　said　colorlessly。
　　They　walked　down　the　hall；　which　was　fortably　wide。　The　wallpaper　was　silk；　a　lighter　blue　to　go　against　the　rug。　Electric　flambeaux　stood　at　ten…foot　intervals　at　a　height　of　about　seven　feet。　Fashioned　to　look　like　London　gas　lamps；　the　bulbs　were　masked　behind　cloudy；　cream…hued　glass　that　was　bound　with　crisscrossing　iron　strips。
　　〃I　like　those　very　much；〃　she　said。
　　Ullman　nodded；　pleased。　〃Mr。　Derwent　bad　those　installed　throughout　the　Hotel　after　the　war…number　Two；　I　mean。　In　fact　most…although　not　all…of　the　third…　floor　decorating　scheme　was　his　idea。　This　is　300；　the　Presidential　Suite。〃　He　twisted　his　key　in　the　lock　of　the　mahogany　double　doors　and　swung　them　wide。　The　sitting　room's　wide　western　exposure　made　them　all　gasp；　which　had　probably　been　Ullman's　intention。　He　smiled。　〃Quite　a　view；　isn't　it？〃
　　〃It　sure　is；〃　Jack　said。
　　The　window　ran　nearly　the　length　of　the　sitting　room；　and　beyond　it　the　sun　was　poised　directly　between　two　sawtoothed　peaks；　casting　golden　light　across　the　rock　faces　and　the　sugared　snow　on　the　high　tips。　The　clouds　around　and　behind　this　picture…postcard　view　were　also　tinted　gold；　and　a　sunbeam　glinted　duskily　down　into　the　darkly　pooled　firs　below　the　timberline。
　　Jack　and　Wendy　were　so　absorbed　in　the　view　that　they　didn't　look　down　at　Danny；　who　was　staring　not　out　the　window　but　at　the　red…and…white…striped　silk　wallpaper　to　the　left；　where　a　door　opened　into　an　interior　bedroom。　And　his　gasp；　which　had　been　mingled　with　theirs；　had　nothing　to　do　with　beauty。
　　Gre