nt；　as　if　waiting

for　the　wind　to　take　a　hand　and　perhaps　gust　him　down　to　his　car。　He　sighed。

〃All　right。　Have　a　good　winter；　Mr。　Torrance；　Mrs。　Torrance。　You　too；　Danny。〃

〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　Danny　said。　〃I　hope　you　do；　too。〃

〃I　doubt　it；〃　Ullman　repeated；　and　he　sounded　sad。　〃The　place　in　Florida　is　a

dump；　if　the　out…and…out　truth　is　to　be　spoken。　Busywork。　The　Overlook　is　my

real　job。　Take　good　care　of　it　for　me；　Mr。　Torrance。〃

〃I　think　it　will　be　here　when　you　get　back　next　spring；〃　Jack　said；　and　a

thought　flashed　through　Danny's　mind

（but　will　we？）

and　was　gone。

〃Of　course。　Of　course　it　will。〃

Ullman　looked　out　toward　the　playground　where　the　hedge　animals　were

clattering　in　the　wind。　Then　he　nodded　once　more　in　a　businesslike　way。

〃Good…by；　then。〃

He　walked　quickly　and　prissily　across　to　his　car—a　ridiculously　big　one　for

such　a　little　manand　tucked　himself　into　it。　The　Lincoln's　motor　purred　into

life　and　the　taillights　flashed　as　he　pulled　out　of　his　parking　stall。　As　the

car　moved　away；　Jack　could　read　the　small　sign　at　the　head　of　the　stall：

RESERVED　FOR　MR。　ULLMAN；　MGR。

〃Right；〃　Jack　said　softly。

They　watched　until　the　car　was　out　of　sight；　headed　down　the　eastern　slope。

When　it　was　gone；　the　three　of　them　looked　at　each　other　for　a　silent；　almost

frightened　moment。　They　were　alone。　Aspen　leaves　whirled　and　skittered　in

aimless　packs　across　the　lawn　that　was　now　neatly　mowed　and　tended　for　no

guest's　eyes。　There　was　no　one　to　see　the　autumn　leaves　steal　across　the　grass

but　the　three　of　them。　It　gave　Jack　a　curious　shrinking　feeling；　as　if　his　life

force　had　dwindled　to　a