e；　for　better　or

worse。

As　he　got　behind　the　truck's　wheel　it　occurred　to　him　that　while　he　was

fascinated　by　the　Overlook；　he　didn't　much　like　it。　He　wasn't　sure　it　was　good

for　either　his　wife　or　his　son　or　himself。　Maybe　that　was　why　he　had　called

Ullman。

To　be　fired　while　there　was　still　time。

He　backed　the　truck　out　of　its　parking　space　and　headed　them　out　of　town　and

up　into　the　mountains。

》

NIGHT　THOUGHTS

It　was　ten　o'clock。　Their　quarters　were　filled　with　counterfeit　sleep。

Jack　lay　on　his　side　facing　the　wall；　eyes　open；　listening　to　Wendy's　slow　and

regular　breathing。　The　taste　of　dissolved　aspirin　was　still　on　his　tongue；

making　it　feel　rough　and　slightly　numb。　Al　Shockley　had　called　at　quarter　of

six；　quarter　of　eight　back　East。　Wendy　had　been　downstairs　with　Danny；　sitting

in　front　of　the　lobby　fireplace　and　reading。

〃Person　to　person；〃　the　operator　said；　〃for　Mr。　Jack　Torrance。〃

〃Speaking。〃　He　had　switched　the　phone　to　his　right　hand；　had　dug　his

handkerchief　out　of　his　back　pocket　with　his　left；　and　had　wiped　his　tender　lips

with　it。　Then　he　lit　a　cigarette。

Al's　voice　then；　strong　in　his　ear：　〃Jacky…boy；　what　in　the　name　of　God　are

you　up　to？〃

〃Hi；　Al。〃　He　snuffed　the　cigarette　and　groped　for　the　Excedrin　bottle。

〃What's　going　on；　Jack？　I　got　this　weird　phone　call　from　Stuart　Ullman　this

afternoon。　And　when　Stu　Ullman　calls　long…distance　out　of　his　own　pocket；　you

know　the　shit　has　hit　the　fan。〃

〃Ullman　has　nothing　to　worry　about；　Al。　Neither　do　you。〃

〃What　exactly　is　the　nothing　we　don't　have　to　worry　about？　Stu　made　it　sound

like　a　cross　between　blackma