〃Yes；〃 he said； thinking of the story of Bluebeard and the picture where
Bluebeard's new wife opens the door and sees all the heads。
〃But you knew it couldn't hurt you； didn't you？〃
〃Ye — ess。。。〃 Danny said； a little dubious。
〃Well； that's how it is in this hotel。 I don't know why； but it seems that all
the bad things that ever happened here； there's little pieces of those things
still layin around like fingernail clippins or the boogers that somebody nasty
just wiped under a chair。 I don't know why it should just be here； there's bad
goings…on in just about every hotel in the world； I guess； and I've worked in a
lot of them and had no trouble。 Only here。 But Danny； I don't think those things
can hurt anybody。〃 He emphasized each word in the sentence with a mild shake of
the boy's shoulders。 〃So if you should see something； in a hallway or a room or
outside by those hedges 。。。 just look the other way and when you look back；
it'll be gone。 Are you diggin me？〃
〃Yes；〃 Danny said。 He felt much better； soothed。 He got up on his knees；
kissed Hallorann's cheek； and gave him a big hard hug。 Hallorann hugged him
back。
When he released the boy he asked： 〃Your folks； they don't shine； do they？〃
〃No； I don't think so。〃
〃I tried them like I did you；〃 Hallorann said。 〃Your momma jumped the tiniest
bit。 I think all mothers shine a little； you know； at least until their kids
grow up enough to watch out for themselves。 Your dad 。。。〃
Hallorann paused momentarily。 He had probed at the boy's father and he just
didn't know。 It wasn't like meeting someone who had the shine； or someone who
definitely did not。 Poking at Danny's father had been 。。。 strange； as if Jack
Torrance had something – something that he was hiding。 Or something he was holding in so deeply
submerged in himself that it was impossible to get to。
〃I don't think he shines at all；〃 Hallorann finished。 〃So you don't worry
about them。 You just take care of you。 I don't think there's anything here that
can hurt you。 So just be cool； okay？〃
〃Okay。〃
〃Danny！ Hey； doc！〃
Danny looked around。 〃That's Mom。 She wants me。 I have to go。〃
〃I know you do；〃 Hallorann said。 〃You have a good time here； Danny。 Best you
can； anyway。〃
〃I will。 Thanks； Mr。 Hallorann。 I feel a lot better。〃
The smiling thought came in his mind：
（Dick； to my friends） （Yes； Dick； okay）
Their eyes met； and Dick Hallorann winked。
Danny scrambled across the seat of the car and opened the passenger side door。
As he was getting out； Hallorann said； 〃Danny？〃
〃What？〃
〃If there Is trouble 。。。 you give a call。 A big loud holler like the one you
gave a few minutes ago。 I might hear you even way down in Florida。 And if I do；
I'll e on the run。〃
〃Okay；〃 Danny said； and smiled。
〃You take care； big boy。〃
〃I will。〃
Danny slammed the door and ran across the parking lot toward the porch； where
Wendy stood holding her elbows against the chill wind。 Hallorann watched； the
big grin slowly fading。
I don't think there's anything here that can hurt you。
I don't think。
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。
》
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