nd　climbed　in。　Blue　smoke　jetted　from　the

rusted　exhaust　pipe　as　he　started　it　up。　The　spell　of　silence　held　among　them　as

he　backed；　then　pulled　out　of　the　parking　lot。　His　truck　disappeared　over　the

brow　of　the　hill　and　then　reappeared；　smaller；　on　the　main　road；　heading　west。

For　a　moment　Danny　felt　more　lonely　than　he　ever　had　in　his　life。

》

THE　FRONT　PORCH

The　Torrance　family　stood　together　on　the　long　front　porch　of　the　Overlook

Hotel　as　if　posing　for　a　family　portrait；　Danny　in　the　middle；　zippered　into

last　year's　fall　jacket　which　was　now　too　small　and　starting　to　e　out　at　the

elbow；　Wendy　behind　him　with　one　hand　on　his　shoulder；　and　Jack　to　his　left；　his

own　hand　resting　lightly　on　his　son's　head。

Mr。　Ullman　was　a　step　below　them；　buttoned　into　an　expensive…looking　brown

mohair　overcoat。　The　sun　was　entirely　behind　the　mountains　now；　edging　them　with

gold　fire；　making　the　shadows　around　things　look　long　and　purple。　The　only　three

vehicles　left　in　the　parking　lots　were　the　hotel　truck；　Ullman's　Lincoln

Continental；　and　the　battered　Torrance　VW。

〃You've　got　your　keys；　then；〃　Ullman　said　to　Jack；　〃and　you　understand　fully

about　the　furnace　and　the　boiler？〃

Jack　nodded；　feeling　some　real　sympathy　for　Ullman。　Everything　was　done　for

the　season；　the　ball　of　string　was　neatly　wrapped　up　until　next　May　12　—　not　a

day　earlier　or　later　—　and　Ullman；　who　was　responsible　for　all　of　it　and　who

referred　to　the　hotel　in　the　unmistakable　tones　of　infatuation；　could　not　help

looking　for　loose　ends。

〃I　think　everything　is　well　in　hand；〃　Jack　said。

〃Good。　I'll　be　in　touch。〃　But　he　still　lingered　for　a　mome