sk.theshining-第88部分

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　　One　of　the　rogue　mallets　was　gone。
　　（Was　that　what　he　hit　me　with？）　Well；　it　didn't　matter　what　he'd　been　hit　with；　did　it？　Still；　his　fingers　went　to　the　side　of　his　face　and　began　to　explore　the　huge　lump　there。　Six　hundred　dollars'　worth　of　dental　work　undone　at　a　single　blow。　And　after　all　（maybe　he　didn't　hit　me　with　one　of　those。　Maybe　one　got　lost。　Or　stolen。　Or　took　for　a　souvenir。　After　all）　it　didn't　really　matter。　No　one　was　going　to　be　playing　rogue　here　next　summer。　Or　any　summer　in　the　foreseeable　future。
　　No；　it　didn't　really　matter；　except　that　looking　at　the　racked　mallets　with　the　single　missing　member　had　a　kind　of　fascination。　He　found　himself　thinking　of　the　hard　wooden　whack！　of　the　mallet　head　striking　the　round　wooden　ball。　A　nice　summery　sound。　Watching　it　skitter　across　the　（bone。　blood。）　gravel。　It　conjured　up　images　of　（bone。　blood。）　iced　tea；　porch　swings；　ladies　in　white　straw　hats；　the　hum　of　mosquitoes；　and　（bad　little　boys　who　don't　play　by　the　rules。）　all　that　stuff。　Sure。　Nice　game。　Out　of　style　now；　but　。　。　。　nice。
　　〃Dick？〃　The　voice　was　thin；　frantic；　and；　he　thought；　rather　unpleasant。　〃Are　you　all　right；　Dick？　e　out　now。　Please！〃　（〃e　on　out　now　nigguh　de　massa　callin　youall。〃）　His　hand　closed　tightly　around　one　of　the　mallet　handles；　liking　its　feel。
　　（pare　the　rod；　spoil　the　child。）　His　eyes　went　blank　in　the　flickering；　fire…shot　darkness。　Really；　it　would　be　doing　them　both　a　favor。　She　was　messed　up　。　。　。　in　pain。　。　。　and　most　of　it　（all　of　it）　was　that　damn　boy's　fault。　Sure。　He　had　left　his　own　daddy　in　there　to　burn。
　　When　you　thought　of　it；　it　was　damn　close　to　murder。　Patricide　was　what　they　called　it。　Pretty　goddam　low：
　　〃Mr。　Hallorann？〃　Her　voice　was　low；　weak；　querulous。　He　didn't　much　like　the　sound　of　it。
　　〃Dick！〃　The　boy　was　sobbing　now；　in　terror。
　　Hallorann　drew　the　mallet　from　the　rack　and　turned　toward　the　flood　of　white　light　from　the　snowmobile　headlamp。　His　feet　scratched　unevenly　over　the　boards　of　the　equipment　shed；　like　the　feet　of　a　clockwork　toy　that　has　been　wound　up　and　set　in　motion。
　　Suddenly　he　stopped；　looked　wonderingly　at　the　mallet　in　his　hands；　and　asked　himself　with　rising　horror　what　it　was　he　had　been　thinking　of　doing。　Murder？
　　Had　he　been　thinking　of　murder？
　　For　a　moment　his　entire　mind　seemed　filled　with　an　angry；　weakly　hectoring　voice：　（Do　it！　Do　it；　you　weak…kneed　no…balls　nigger！　Kill　them！　KILL　THEM　BOTH！）　Then　he　flung　the　mallet　behind　him　with　a　whispered；　terrified　cry。　It　clattered　into　the　corner　where　the　horseblankets　had　been；　one　of　the　two　heads　pointed　toward　him　in　an　unspeakable　invitation。
　　He　fled。
　　Danny　was　sitting　on　the　snowmobile　seat　and　Wendy　was　holding　him　weakly。　His　face　was　shiny　with　tears；　and　he　was　shaking　as　if　with　ague。　Between　his　clicking　teeth　he　said：　〃Where　were　you？　We　were　scared！〃
　　〃It's　a　good　place　to　be　scared　of；〃　Hallorann　said　slowly。　〃Even　if　that　place　burns　flat　to　the　foundation；　you'll　never　get　me　within　a　hundred　miles　of　here　again。　Here；　Missus　Torrance；　wrap　these　around　you。　I'll　help。　You　too；　Danny。　Get　yourself　looking　like　an　Arab。〃　He　swirled　two　of　the　blankets　around　Wendy；　fashioning　one　of　them　into　a　hood　to　cover　her　head；　and　helped　Danny　tie　his　so　they　wouldn't　fall　off。
　　〃Now　hold　on　for　dear　life；〃　he　said。　〃We　got　a　long　way　to　go；　but　the　worst　is　behind　us　now。〃　He　circled　the　equipment　shed　and　then　pointed　the　snowmobile　back　along　their　trail。　The　Overlook　was　a　torch　now；　flaming　at　the　sky。　Great　holes　had　been　eaten　into　its　sides；　and　there　was　a　red　hell　inside；　waxing　and　waning。
　　Snowmelt　ran　down　the　charred　gutters　in　steaming　waterfalls。
　　They　purred　down　the　front　lawns　their　way　well　lit。　The　snowdunes　glowed　scarlet。
　　〃Look！〃　Danny　shouted　as　Hallorann　slowed　for　the　front　gate。　He　was　pointing　toward　the　playground。
　　The　hedge　creatures　were　all　in　their　original　positions；　but　they　were　denuded；　blackened；　seared。　Their　dead　branches　were　a　stark　interlacing　network　in　the　fireglow；　their　small　leaves　scattered　around　their　feet　like　fallen　petals。
　　〃They're　dead！〃　Danny　screamed　in　hysterical　triumph。
　　〃Dead！　They're　dead！〃
　　〃Shhh；〃　Wendy　said。　〃All　right；　honey。　It's　all　right。〃
　　〃Hey；　doc；〃　Hallorann　said。　〃Let's　get　to　someplace　warm。　You　ready？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　Danny　whispered。　〃I've　been　ready　for　so　long…〃　Hallorann　edged　through　the　gap　between　gate　and　post。　A　moment　later　they　were　on　the　road；　pointed　back　toward　Sidewinder。　The　sound　of　the　snowmobile's　engine　dwindled　until　it　was　lost　in　the　ceaseless　roar　of　the　wind。　It　rattled　through　the　denuded　branches　of　the　hedge　animals　with　a　low；　beating；　desolate　sound。　The　fire　waxed　and　waned。　Sometime　after　the　sound　of　the　snowmobile's　engine　had　disappeared；　the　Overlooks　roof　caved　in…first　the　west　wing；　then　the　east；　and　seconds　later　the　central　roof。　A　huge　spiraling　gout　of　sparks　and　flaming　debris　rushed　up　into　the　howling　winter　night。
　　A　bundle　of　flaming　shingles　and　a　wad　of　hot　flashing　were　wafted　is　through　the　open　equipment　shed　door　by　the　wind。
　　After　a　while　the　shed　began　to　burn；　too。
　　
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　　They　were　still　twenty　miles　from　Sidewinder　when　Hallorann　stopped　to　pour　the　rest　of　the　gas　into　the　snowmobile's　tank。　He　was　getting　very　worried　about　Wendy　Torrance；　who　seemed　to　be　drifting　away　from　them。　It　was　still　so　far　to　go。
　　〃Dick！〃　Danny　cried。　He　was　standing　up　on　the　seat；　pointing。　〃Dick；　look！
　　Look　there！〃　The　snow　had　stopped　and　a　silver…dollar　moon　had　peeked　out　through　the　raftering　clouds。　Far　down　the　road　but　ing　toward　them；　ing　upward　through　a　series　of　S…shaped　switchbacks；　was　a　pearly　chain　of　lights。　The　wind　dropped　for　a　moment　and　Hallorann　heard　the　faraway　buzzing　snarl　of　snowmobile　engines。
　　Hallorann　and　Danny　and　Wendy　reached　them　fifteen　minutes　later。　They　had　brought　extra　clothes　and　brandy　and　Dr。　Edmunds。
　　And　the　long　darkness　was　over。
　　　
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　　EPILOGUE/SUMMER
　　
　　After　he　had　finished　checking　over　the　salads　his　understudy　had　made　and　peeked　in　on　the　home…baked　beans　they　were　using　as　appetizers　this　week；　Hallorann　untied　his　apron；　hung　it　on　a　hook；　and　slipped　out　the　back　door。　He　had　maybe　forty…five　minutes　before　he　had　to　crank　up　for　dinner　in　earnest。
　　The　name　of　this　place　was　the　Red　Arrow　Lodge；　and　it　was　buried　in　the　western　Maine　mountains；　thirty　miles　from　the　town　of　Rangely。　It　was　a　good　gig；　Hallorann　thought。　The　trade　wasn't　too　heavy；　it　tipped　well；　and　so　far　there　hadn't　been　a　single　meal　sent　back。　Not　bad　at　all；　considering　the　season　was　nearly　half　over。
　　He　threaded　his　way　between　the　outdoor　bar　and　the　swimming　pool　（although　why　anyone　would　want　to　use　the　pool　with　the　lake　so　handy　he　would　never　know）；　crossed　a　greensward　where　a　party　of　four　was　playing　croquet　and　laughing；　and　crested　a　mild　ridge。　Pines　took　over　here；　and　the　wind　soughed　pleasantly　in　them；　carrying　the　aroma　of　fir　and　sweet　resin。
　　On　the　other　side；　a　number　of　cabins　with　views　of　the　lake　were　placed　discreetly　among　the　trees。　The　last　one　was　the　nicest；　and　Hallorann　had　reserved　it　for　a　party　of　two　back　in　April　when　he　had　gotten　this　gig。
　　The　woman　was　sitting　on　the　porch　in　a　rocking　chair；　a　book　in　her　hands。
　　Hallorann　was　struck　again　by　the　change　in　her。　Part　of　it　was　the　stiff；　almost　formal　way　she　sat；　in　spite　of　her　informal　surroundings…that　was　the　back　brace；　of　course。　She'd　had　a　shattered　vertebra　as　well　as　three　broken　ribs　and　some　internal　injuries。　The　back　was　the　slowest　healing；　and　she　was　still　in　the　brace　。　。　。　hence　the　formal　posture。　But　the　change　was　more　than　that。　She　looked　older；　and　some　of　the　laughter　had　gone　out　of　her　face。　Now；　as　she　sat　reading　her　book；　Hallorann　saw　a　grave　sort　of　beauty　there　that　had　been　missing　on　the　day　he　had　first　met　her；　some　nine　months　ago。　Then　she　had　still　been　mostly　girl。　Now　she　was　a　woman；　a　human　being　who　had　been　dragged　around　to　the　dark　side　of　the　moon　and　had　e　back　able　to　put　the　pieces　back　together。　But　those　pieces；　Hallorann　thought；　they　never　fit　just　the　same　way　again。　Never　in　this　world。
　　She　heard　his　step　and　looked　up；　closing　her　book。　〃Dick！　Hi！〃　She　started　to　rise；　and　a　little　grimace　of　pain　crossed　her　face。
　　〃hope；　don't　get　up；〃　he　said。　〃I　don't　stand　on　no　ceremony　unless　it's　white　tie　and　tails。〃　She　smiled　as　he　came　up　the　steps　and　sat　down　next　to　her　on　the　porch。
　　〃How　is　it　going？〃
　　〃Pretty　fair；〃　he　admitted。　〃You　try　the　shrimp　creole　tonight。　You　gonna　like　it。〃
　　〃That's　a　deal。〃
　　〃Where's　Danny？〃
　　〃Right　down　there。〃　She　pointed；　and　Hallorann　saw　a　small　figure　sitting　at　the　end　of　the　dock。　He　was　wearing　jeans　rolled　up　to　the　knee　and　a　red…　striped　shirt。　Further　out　on　the　calm　water；　a　bobber　floated。　Every　now　and　then　Danny　would　reel　it　in；　examine　the　sinker　and　hook　below　it；　and　then　toss　it　out　again。
　　〃He's　gettin　brown；〃　Hallorann　said。
　　〃Yes。　Very　brown。〃　She　looked　at　him　fondly。
　　He　took　out　a　cigarette；　tamped　it；　lit　it。　The　smoke　raftered　away　lazily　in　the　sunny　afternoon。　〃What　about　those　dreams　he's　been　havin？〃
　　〃Better；〃　Wendy　said。　〃Only　one　this　week。　It　used　to　be　every　night；　sometimes　two　and　three　times。　The　explosions。　The　hedges。　And　most　of　all　。　。　。
　　you　know。〃
　　〃Yeah。　He's　going　to　be　okay；　Wendy。〃　She　looked　at　him。　〃Will　he？　I　wonder。〃　Hallorann　nodded。　〃You　and　him；　you're　ing　back。　Different；　maybe；　but　okay。　You　ain't　what　you　were；　you　two；　but　that　isn't　necessarily　bad。〃　They　were　silent　for　a　while；　Wendy　moving　the　rocking　chair　back　and　forth　a　little；　Hallorann　with　his　feet　up　on　the　porch　rail；　smoking。　A　little　breeze　came　up；　pushing　its　secret　way　through　the　pines　but　barely　ruffling　Wendy's　hair。　She　had　cut　it　short。
　　〃I've　decided　to　take　Al…Mr。　Shockley…up　on　his　offer；〃　she　said。
　　Hallorann　nodded。　〃It　sounds　like　a　good　job。　Something　you　could　get　interested　in。　When　do　you　start？〃
　　〃Right　after　Labor　Day。　When　Danny　and　I　leave　here；　we'll　be　going　ri