第55部分（第1页）

to　block　Dannys　retreat。　They　were　bare　of　snow　except　for　powdery　ruffs　around

their　necks　and　muzzles。　They　were　all　staring　at　him。

His　breath　was　racing　now；　and　the　panic　was　like　a　rat　behind　his　forehead；

twisting　and　gnawing。　He　fought　the　panic　and　he　fought　the　snowshoes。

（Daddys　voice：　No；　dont　fight　them；　doc。　Walk　on　them　like　they　were　your

own　feet。　Walk　with　them。）

（Yes；　Daddy。）

He　began　to　walk　again；　trying　to　regain　the　easy　rhythm　he　had　practiced　with

his　daddy。　Little　by　little　it　began　to　e；　but　with　the　rhythm　came　an

awareness　of　just　how　tired　he　was；　how　much　his　fear　had　exhausted　him。　The

tendons　of　his　thighs　and　calves　and　ankles　were　hot　and　trembly。　Ahead　he　could

see　the　Overlook；　mockingly　distant；　seeming　to　stare　at　him　with　its　many

windows；　as　if　this　were　some　sort　of　contest　in　which　it　was　mildly　interested。

Danny　looked　back　over　his　shoulder　and　his　hurried　breathing　caught　for　a

moment　and　then　hurried　on　even　faster。　The　nearest　lion　was　now　only　twenty

feet　behind；　breasting　through　the　snow　like　a　dog　paddling　in　a　pond。　The　two

others　were　to　its　right　and　left；　pacing　it。　They　were　like　an　army　platoon　on

patrol；　the　dog；　still　off　to　their　left；　the　scout。　The　closest　lion　had　its

head　down。　The　shoulders　bunched　powerfully　above　its　neck。　The　tail　was　up；　as

if　in　the　instant　before　he　had　turned　to　look　it　had　been　swishing　back　and

forth；　back　and　forth。　He　thought　it　looked　like　a　great　big　housecat　that　was

having　a　good　time　playing　with　a　mouse　before　killing　it。

（　—　falling　—　）

No；　if　he　fell　he　was　dead。　They　would　never　let　him　get　up。　They　would

pounce。　He　pinwheeled　his　arms　madly　and　lunged　ahead；　his　center　of　gravity

dancing　just　beyond　his　nose。　He　caught　it　and　hurried　on；　snapping　glances　back

over　his　shoulder。　The　air　whistled　in　and　out　of　his　dry　throat　like　hot　glass。

The　world　closed　down　to　the　dazzling　snow；　the　green　hedges；　and　the　whispery

sound　of　his　snowshoes。　And　something　else。　A　soft；　muffled　padding　sound。　He

tried　to　hurry　faster　and　couldnt。　He　was　walking　over　the　buried　driveway　now；

a　small　boy　with　his　face　almost　buried　in　the　shadow　of　his　parka　hood。　The

afternoon　was　still　and　bright。

When　he　looked　back　again；　the　point　lion　was　only　five　feet　behind。　It　was

grinning。　Its　mouth　was　open；　its　haunches　tensed　down　like　a　clockspring。

Behind　it　and　the　others　he　could　see　the　rabbit；　its　head　now　sticking　out　of