and　the　unspoken　word　retreated　further　from　the　back　of　her

lips。　Jack　sensed　its　retirement　but　knew　it　would　never　retire　pletely。

Things　began　to　get　a　little　easier。　Then　George　Hatfield。　He　had　lost　his

temper　again；　this　time　stone　sober。

〃Sir；　your　party　still　doesn't　—　〃

〃Hello？〃　Al's　voice；　out　of　breath。

〃Go　ahead；〃　the　operator　said　dourly。

〃Al；　this　is　Jack　Torrance。〃

〃Jacky…boy！〃　Genuine　pleasure。　〃How　are　you？〃

〃Good。　I　just　called　to　say　thanks。　I　got　the　job。　It's　perfect。　If　I　can't

finish　that　goddam　play　snowed　in　all　winter；　I'll　never　finish　it。〃

〃You'll　finish。〃

〃How　are　things？〃　Jack　asked　hesitantly。

〃Dry；〃　Al　responded。　〃You？〃

〃As　a　bone。〃

〃Miss　it　much？〃

〃Every　day。〃

Al　laughed。　〃I　know　that　scene。　But　I　don't　know　how　you　stayed　dry　after　that

Hatfield　thing；　Jack。　That　was　above　and　beyond。〃

〃I　really　bitched　things　up　for　myself；〃　he　said　evenly。

〃Oh；　hell。　I'll　have　the　Board　around　by　spring。　Effinger's　already　saying

they　might　have　been　too　hasty。　And　if　that　play　es　to　something　—　〃

〃Yes。　Listen；　my　boy's　out　in　the　car；　Al。　He　looks　like　he　might　be　getting

restless　—　〃

〃Sure。　Understand。　You　have　a　good　winter　up　there；　Jack。　Glad　to　help。〃

〃Thanks　again；　Al。〃　He　hung　up；　closed　his　eyes　in　the　hot　booth；　and　again

saw　the　crashing　bike；　the　bobbing　flashlight。　There　had　been　a　squib　in　the

paper　the　next　day；　no　more　than　a　space…filler　really；　but　the　owner　had　not

been　named。　Why　it　had　been　out　there　in　the　night　would　always　be　a　mystery　to

them；　and　perhaps　that　was　as　it　should　be。

He　went　back　out　to　the　car　and　gave　Da