they reminded Jack of tiny severed heads。 Grady speared one deftly； dropped it
into the glass； and handed it to him。
〃But you — 〃
〃You're the caretaker； sir；〃 Grady said mildly。 〃You've always been the
caretaker。 I should know； sir。 I've always been here。 The same manager hired us
both； at the same time。 Is it all right； sir？〃
Jack gulped at his drink。 His head was swirling。 〃Mr。 Ullman — 〃
〃I know no one by that name； sir。〃
〃But he — 〃
〃The manager；〃 Grady said。 〃The hotel； sir。 Surely you realize who hired you；
sir。〃
〃No；〃 he said thickly。 〃No； I — 〃
〃I believe you must take it up further with your son； Mr。 Torrance； sir。 He
understands everything； although he hasn't enlightened you。 Rather naughty of
him； if I may be so bold； sir。 In fact； he's crossed you at almost every turn；
hasn't he？ And him not yet six。〃
〃Yes；〃 Jack said。 〃He has。〃 There was another wave of laughter from behind
them。
〃He needs to be corrected； if you don't mind me saying so。 He needs a good
talking…to； and perhaps a bit more。 My own girls； sir； didn't care for the
Overlook at first。 One of them actually stole a pack of my matches and tried to
burn it down。 I corrected them。 I corrected them most harshly。 And when my wife
tried to stop me from doing my duty； I corrected her。〃 He offered Jack a bland；
meaningless smile。 〃I find it a sad but true fact that women rarely understand a
father's responsibility to his children。 Husbands and fathers do have certain
responsibilities； don't they； sir？〃
〃Yes；〃 Jack said。
〃They didn't love the Overlook as I did；〃 Grady said； beginning to make him
another drink。 Silver bubbles rose in the upended gin bottle。 〃Just as your son
and wife don't love it。 Not at present； anyway。 But they will e to love it。
You must show them the error of their ways； Mr。 Torrance。 Do you agree？〃
〃Yes。 I do。〃
He did see。 He had been too easy with them。 Husbands and fathers did have
certain responsibilities。 Father Knows Best。 They did not understand。 That in
itself was no crime； but they were willfully not understanding。 He was not
ordinarily a harsh man。 But he did believe in punishment。 And if his son and his
wife had willfully set themselves against his wishes； against the things he knew
were best for them； then didn't he have a certain duty — ？
〃A thankless child is sharper than a serpent's tooth；〃 Grady said； handing him
his drink。 〃I do believe that the manager could bring your son into line。 And
your wife would shortly follow。 Do you agree； sir？〃
He was suddenly uncertain。 〃I 。。。 but 。。。 if they could just leave 。。。 I
mean； after all； it's me the manager wants； isn't it？ It must be。 Because — 〃
Because why？ He should know but suddenly he didn't。 Oh； his poor brain was
swimming。
〃Bad dog！〃 Derwent was saying loudly； to a counterpoint of laughter。 〃Bad dog
to piddle on the floor。〃
〃Of course you know；〃 Grady said； leaning confidentially over the cart； 〃your
son is attempting to bring an outside party into it。 Your son has a very great
talent； one that the manager could use to even further improve the Overlook； to
further 。。。 enrich it； shall we say？ But your son is attempting to use that
very talent against us。 He is willful； Mr。 Torrance； Sir。 Willful。〃
〃Outside party？〃 Jack asked stupidly。
Grady nodded。
〃Who？〃
〃A nigger；〃 Grady said。 〃A nigger cook。〃
〃Hallorann？〃
〃I believe that is his name； sir； yes。〃
Another burst of laughter from behind them was followed by Roger saying
something in a whining； protesting voice。
〃Yes！ Yes！ Yes！〃 Derwent began to chant。 The others around him took it up； but
before Jack could hear what they wanted Roger to do now； the band began to play
again — the tune was 〃Tuxedo Junction；〃 with a lot of mellow sax in it but not
much soul。
（Soul？ Soul hasn't even been invented yet。 Or has it？）
（A nigger 。。。 a nigger cook。）
He opened his mouth to speak； not knowing what might e out。 What did was：
〃I was told you hadn't finished high school。 But you don't talk like an
uneducated man。〃
〃It's true that I left organized education very early； sir。 But the manager
takes care of his help。 He finds that it pays。 Education always pays； don't you
agree； sir？〃
〃Yes；〃 Jack said dazedly。
〃For instance； you show a great interest in learning more about the Overlook
Hotel。 Very wise of you； sir。 Very noble。 A certain scrapbook was left in the
basement for you to find — 〃
〃By whom？〃 Jack asked eagerly。
〃By the manager； of course。 Certain other materials could be put at your
disposal； if you wished them 。。。 〃
〃I do。 Very much。〃 He tried to control the eagerness in his voice and failed
miserably。
〃You're a true scholar；〃 Grady said。 〃Pursue the topic to the end。 Exhaust all
sources。〃 He dipped his low…browed head； pulled out the lapel of his white mess
jacket； and buffed his knuckles at a spot of dirt that was invisible to Jack。
〃And the manager puts no strings on his largess；〃 Grady went on。 〃Not at all。
Look at me； a tenth…grade dropout。 Think how much further you yourself could go
in the Overlook's organizational structure。 Perhaps 。。。 in time 。。。 to the
very top。〃
〃Really？〃 Jack whispered。
〃But that's really up to your son to decide； isn't it？〃 Grady asked； raising
his eyebrows。 The delicate gesture went oddly with the brows themselves； which
were bushy and somehow savage。
〃Up to Danny？〃 Jack frowned at Grady。 〃No； of course not。 I wouldn't allow my
son to make decisions concerning my career。 Not at all。 What do you take me for？ 〃
〃A dedicated man；〃 Grady said warmly。 〃Perhaps I put it badly； sir。 Let us say
that your future here is contingent upon how you decide to deal with your son's
waywardness。〃
〃I make my own decisions；〃 Jack whispered。
〃But you must deal with him。〃
〃I will。〃
〃Firmly 〃
〃I will。〃
〃A man who cannot control his own family holds very little interest for our
manager。 A man who cannot guide the courses of his own wife and son can hardly
be expected to guide himself； let alone assume a position of responsibility in
an operation of this magnitude。 He — 〃
〃I said I'll handle him！〃 Jack shouted suddenly； enraged。
〃Tuxedo Junction〃 had just concluded and a new tune hadn't begun。 His shout
fell perfectly into the gap； and conversation suddenly ceased behind him。 His
skin suddenly felt hot all over。 He became fixedly positive that everyone was
staring at him。 They had finished with Roger and would now mence with him。
Roll over。 Sit up。 Play dead。 If you play the game with us； we'll play the game
with you。 Position of responsibility。 They wanted him to sacrifice his son。
（ — Now he follows Harry everywhere； wagging his little tail behind him — ）
（Roll over。 Play dead。 Chastise your son。）
〃Right this way； sir；〃 Grady was saying。 〃Something that might interest you。〃
The conversation had begun again； lifting and dropping in its own rhythm；
weaving in and out of the band music； now doing a swing version of Lennon and
McCartney's 〃Ticket to Ride。〃
（I've he