第83部分（第1页）

through　a　series　of　S…shaped　switchbacks；　was　a　pearly　chain　of　lights。　The　wind

dropped　for　a　moment　and　Hallorann　heard　the　faraway　buzzing　snarl　of　snowmobile

engines。

Hallorann　and　Danny　and　Wendy　reached　them　fifteen　minutes　later。　They　had

brought　extra　clothes　and　brandy　and　Dr。　Edmunds。

And　the　long　darkness　was　over。

》

EPILOGUESUMMER

After　he　had　finished　checking　over　the　salads　his　understudy　had　made　and

peeked　in　on　the　home…baked　beans　they　were　using　as　appetizers　this　week；

Hallorann　untied　his　apron；　hung　it　on　a　hook；　and　slipped　out　the　back　door。　He

had　maybe　forty…five　minutes　before　he　had　to　crank　up　for　dinner　in　earnest。

The　name　of　this　place　was　the　Red　Arrow　Lodge；　and　it　was　buried　in　the

western　Maine　mountains；　thirty　miles　from　the　town　of　Rangely。　It　was　a　good

gig；　Hallorann　thought。　The　trade　wasnt　too　heavy；　it　tipped　well；　and　so　far

there　hadnt　been　a　single　meal　sent　back。　Not　bad　at　all；　considering　the

season　was　nearly　half　over。

He　threaded　his　way　between　the　outdoor　bar　and　the　swimming　pool　（although

why　anyone　would　want　to　use　the　pool　with　the　lake　so　handy　he　would　never

know）；　crossed　a　greensward　where　a　party　of　four　was　playing　croquet　and

laughing；　and　crested　a　mild　ridge。　Pines　took　over　here；　and　the　wind　soughed

pleasantly　in　them；　carrying　the　aroma　of　fir　and　sweet　resin。

On　the　other　side；　a　number　of　cabins　with　views　of　the　lake　were　placed

discreetly　among　the　trees。　The　last　one　was　the　nicest；　and　Hallorann　had

reserved　it　for　a　party　of　two　back　in　April　when　he　had　gotten　this　gig。

The　woman　was　sitting　on　the　porch　in　a　rocking　chair；　a　book　in　her　hands。

Hallorann　was　struck　again　by　the　change　in　her。　Part　of　it　was　the　stiff；

almost　formal　way　she　sat；　in　spite　of　her　informal　surroundings　—　that　was　the

back　brace；　of　course。　Shed　had　a　shattered　vertebra　as　well　as　three　broken

ribs　and　some　internal　injuries。　The　back　was　the　slowest　healing；　and　she　was

still　in　the　brace　。。。　hence　the　formal　posture。　But　the　change　was　more　than

that。　She　looked　older；　and　some　of　the　laughter　had　gone　out　of　her　face。　Now；

as　she　sat　reading　her　book；　Hallorann　saw　a　grave　sort　of　beauty　there　that　had

been　missing　on　the　day　he　had　first　met　her；　some　nine　months　ago。　Then　she　had

still　been　mostly　girl。　Now　she　was　a　woman；　a　human　being　who　had　been　dragged

around　to　the　dark　side　of　the　moon　and　had　e　back　able　to　put　the　pieces

back　together。　But　those　pieces；　Hallorann　thought；　they　never　fit　just　the　same