第15部分（第1页）

doctor　es　and　says　to　you；　〃Ullman；　what　have　you　been　doing　up　here？　Youve

got　eighty　of　the　richest　folks　in　America　suffering　from　rat　poisoning！〃　〃

Jack　threw　his　head　back　and　bellowed　laughter。　〃What　did　Ullman　say？〃

Hallorann　tucked　his　tongue　into　his　cheek　as　if　feeling　for　a　bit　of　food　in

there。　〃He　said：　‘Get　some　traps；　Hallorann。　〃

This　time　they　all　laughed；　even　Danny；　although　he　was　not　pletely　sure

what　the　joke　was；　except　it　had　something　to　do　with　Mr。　Ullman；　who　didnt

know　everything　after　all。

The　four　of　them　passed　through　the　dining　room；　empty　and　silent　now；　with

its　fabulous　western　exposure　on　the　snow…dusted　peaks。　Each　of　the　white　linen

tablecloths　had　been　covered　with　a　sheet　of　tough　clear　plastic。　The　rug；　now

rolled　up　for　the　season；　stood　in　one　corner　like　a　sentinel　on　guard　duty。

Across　the　wide　room　was　a　double　set　of　batwing　doors；　and　over　them　an　old…

fashioned　sign　lettered　in　gilt　script：　The　Colorado　Lounge。

Following　his　gaze；　Hallorann　said；　〃If　youre　a　drinkin　man；　I　hope　you

brought　your　own　supplies。　That　place　is　picked　clean。　Employees　party　last

night；　you　know。　Every　maid　and　bellhop　in　the　place　is　goin　around　with　a

headache　today；　me　included。〃

〃I　dont　drink；〃　Jack　said　shortly。　They　went　back　to　the　lobby。

It　had　cleared　greatly　during　the　half　hour　theyd　spent　in　the　kitchen。　The

long　main　room　was　beginning　to　take　on　the　quiet；　deserted　look　that　Jack

supposed　they　would　bee　familiar　with　soon　enough。　The　high…backed　chairs

were　empty。　The　nuns　who　had　been　sitting　by　the　fire　were　gone；　and　the　fire

itself　was　down　to　a　bed　of　fortably　glowing　coals。　Wendy　glanced　out　into

the　parking　lot　and　saw　that　all　but　a　dozen　cars　had　disappeared。

She　found　herself　wishing　they　could　get　back　in　the　VW　and　go　back　to

Boulder。。。　or　anywhere　else。

Jack　was　looking　around　for　Ullman；　but　he　wasnt　in　the　lobby。

A　young　maid　with　her　ash…blond　hair　pinned　up　on　her　neck　came　over。　〃Your

luggage　is　out　on　the　porch；　Dick。〃

〃Thank　you；　Sally。〃　He　gave　her　a　peck　on　the　forehead。　〃You　have　yourself　a

good　winter。　Getting　married；　I　hear。〃

He　turned　to　the　Torrances　as　she　strolled　away；　backside　twitching　pertly。

〃Ive　got　to　hurry　along　if　Im　going　to　make　that　plane。　I　want　to　wish　you　all

the　best。　Know　youll　have　it。〃

〃Thanks；〃　Jack　said。　〃Youve　been　very　kind。〃