第34部分（第1页）

history。〃

〃It　formed　no　part　of　my　knowledge；〃　Jack　said。　〃I　doubt　if　many　other　people

know　it；　either。　Not　all　of　it。　They　remember　the　Gienelli　shooting；　maybe；　but

I　doubt　if　anybody　has　put　together　all　the　wondrous　and　strange　shuffles　the

Overlook　has　been　through　since　1945。　And　it　always　seems　like　Derwent　or　a

Derwent　associate　es　up　with　the　door　prize。　What　was　Sylvia　Hunter　running

up　there　in　67　and　68；　Mr。　Ullman？　It　was　a　whorehouse；　wasnt　it？〃

〃Torrance！〃　His　shock　crackled　across　two　thousand　miles　of　telephone　cable

without　losing　a　thing。

Smiling；　Jack　popped　another　Excedrin　into　his　mouth　and　chewed　it。

〃She　sold　out　after　a　rather　well　known　U。S。　senator　died　of　a　heart　attack　up

there。　There　were　rumors　that　he　was　found　naked　except　for　black　nylon

stockings　and　a　garter　belt　and　a　pair　of　high…heeled　pumps。　Patent…leather

pumps；　as　a　matter　of　fact。〃

〃Thats　a　vicious；　damnable　lie！〃　Ullman　cried。

〃Is　it？〃　Jack　asked。　He　was　beginning　to　feel　better。　The　headache　was

draining　away。　He　took　the　last　Excedrin　and　chewed　it　up；　enjoying　the　bitter；

powdery　taste　as　the　tablet　shredded　in　his　mouth。

〃It　was　a　very　unfortunate　occurrence；〃　Ullman　said。　〃Now　what　is　the　point；

Torrance？　If　youre　planning　to　write　some　ugly　smear　article　。。。　if　this　is

some　illconceived；　stupid　blackmail　idea。。。〃

〃Nothing　of　the　sort；〃　Jack　said。　〃I　called　because　I　didnt　think　you　played

square　with　me。　And　because　—　〃

〃Didnt　play　square？〃　Ullman　cried。　〃My　God；　did　you　think　I　was　going　to

share　a　large　pile　of　dirty　laundry　with　the　hotels　caretaker？　Who　in　heavens

name　do　you　think　you　are？　And　how　could　those　old　stories　possibly　affect　you

anyway？　Or　do　you　think　there　are　ghosts　parading　up　and　down　the　halls　of　the

west　wing　wearing　bedsheets　and　crying　Woe！？〃

〃No；　I　dont　think　there　are　any　ghosts。　But　you　raked　up　a　lot　of　my　personal

history　before　you　gave　me　the　job。　You　had　me　on　the　carpet；　quizzing　me　about

my　ability　to　take　care　of　your　hotel　like　a　little　boy　in　front　of　the

teachers　desk　for　peeing　in　the　coatroom。　You　embarrassed　me。〃

〃I　just　do　not　believe　your　cheek；　your　bloody　damned　impertinence；〃　Ullman