lasted　tree。　His

brother　had　had　a　big　old　niggerchaser　in　the　band　of　his　hat；　saved　all　the　way

from　the　Fourth　of　July。　He　had　lighted　it　and　tossed　it　at　the　nest。　It　had

exploded　with　a　loud　bang；　and　an　angry；　rising　hum　—　almost　a　low　shriek　—　had

risen　from　the　blasted　nest。　They　had　run　away　as　if　demons　had　been　at　their

beels。　In　a　way；　Hallorann　supposed　that　demons　had　been。　And　looking　back　over

his　shoulder；　as　he　was　now；　he　had　on　that　day　seen　a　large　dark　cloud　of

hornets　rising　in　the　hot　air；　swirling　together；　breaking　apart；　looking　for

whatever　enemy　had　done　this　to　their　home　so　that　they　—　the　single　group

intelligence　—　could　sting　it　to　death。

Then　the　thing　in　the　sky　was　gone　and　it　might　only　have　been　smoke　or　a

great　flapping　swatch　of　wallpaper　after　all；　and　there　was　only　the　Overlook；　a

flaming　pyre　in　the　roaring　throat　of　the　night。

*　*　*

There　was　a　key　to　the　equipment　shed's　padlock　on　his　key　ring；　but　Hallorann

saw　there　would　be　no　need　to　use　it。

The　door　was　ajar；　the　padlock　hanging　open　on　its　hasp。

〃I　can't　go　in　there；〃　Danny　whispered。

〃That's　okay。　You　stay　with　your　mom。　There　used　to　be　a　pile　of　old

horseblankets。　Probably　all　moth…eaten　by　now；　but　better　than　freezin　to　death。

Missus　Torrance；　you　still　with　us？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　the　wan　voice　answered。　〃I　think　so。〃

〃Good。　I'll　be　just　a　second。〃

〃e　back　as　quick　as　you　can；〃　Danny　whispered。　〃Please。〃

Hallorann　nodded。　He　had　trained　the　headlamp　on　the　door　and　now　he

floundered　through　the　snow；　casting　a　long　shadow　in　front　of　himself。　He

pushed　the　equipment　shed　door　open　and