第9部分（第1页）

whisper。　〃Please。　Im　not　promising　anything。　If　you　still　want　to　talk　then；

well　talk。　About　anything　you　want。〃

They　looked　across　the　sunny　kitchen　at　each　other　for　a　long　time；　and　when

she　turned　back　to　the　dishes　without　saying　anything　more；　he　began　to　shudder。

God；　he　needed　a　drink。　Just　a　little　pick…me…up　to　put　things　in　their　true

perspective　—

〃Danny　said　he　dreamed　you　had　a　car　accident；〃　she　said　abruptly。　〃He　has

funny　dreams　sometimes。　He　said　it　this　morning；　when　I　got　him　dressed。　Did

you；　Jack？　Did　you　have　an　accident？〃

〃No。〃

By　noon　the　craving　for　a　drink　had　bee　a　low…grade　fever。　He　went　to　Als。

〃You　dry？〃　Al　asked　before　letting　him　in。　Al　looked　horrible。

〃Bone　dry。　You　look　like　Lon　Chaney　in　Phantom　of　the　Opera。〃

〃e　on　in。〃

They　played　two…handed　whist　all　afternoon。　They　didnt　drink。

A　week　passed。　He　and　Wendy　didnt　speak　much。　But　he　knew　she　was　watching；

not　believing。　He　drank　coffee　black　and　endless　cans　of　Coca…Cola。　One　night　he

drank　a　whole　six…pack　of　Coke　and　then　ran　into　the　bathroom　and　vomited　it　up。

The　level　of　the　bottles　in　the　liquor　cabinet　did　not　go　down。　After　his

classes　he　went　over　to　Al　Shockleys…she　hated　Al　Shockley　worse　than　she　had

ever　hated　anyone…and　when　he　came　home　she　would　swear　she　smelled　scotch　or

gin　on　his　breath；　but　he　would　talk　lucidly　to　her　before　supper；　drink　coffee；

play　with　Danny　after　supper；　sharing　a　Coke　with　him；　read　him　a　bedtime　story；

then　sit　and　correct　themes　with　cup　after　cup　of　black　coffee　by　his　hand；　and

she　would　have　to　admit　to　herself　that　she　had　been　wrong。

Weeks　passed　and　the　unspoken　word　retreated　further　from　the　back　of　her

lips。　Jack　sensed　its　retirement　but　knew　it　would　never　retire　pletely。

Things　began　to　get　a　little　easier。　Then　George　Hatfield。　He　had　lost　his

temper　again；　this　time　stone　sober。

〃Sir；　your　party　still　doesnt　—　〃

〃Hello？〃　Als　voice；　out　of　breath。

〃Go　ahead；〃　the　operator　said　dourly。

〃Al；　this　is　Jack　Torrance。〃

〃Jacky…boy！〃　Genuine　pleasure。　〃How　are　you？〃

〃Good。　I　just　called　to　say　thanks。　I　got　the　job。　Its　perfect。　If　I　cant

finish　that　goddam　play　snowed　in　all　winter；　Ill　never　finish　it。〃