il　and　a　National　Enquirer　feature　on　the　Overlook。

Talk　to　me；　boy。〃

〃I　wanted　to　poke　him　a　little；〃　Jack　said。　〃When　I　came　up　here　to　be

interviewed；　he　had　to　drag　out　all　my　dirty　laundry。　Drinking　problem。　Lost

your　last　job　for　racking　over　a　student。　Wonder　if　you're　the　right　man　for

this。　Et　cetera。　The　thing　that　bugged　me　was　that　he　was　bringing　all　this　up

because　he　loved　the　goddamn　hotel　so　much。　The　beautiful　Overlook。　The

traditional　Overlook。　The　bloody　sacred　Overlook。　Well；　I　found　a　scrapbook　in

the　basement。　Somebody　had　put　together　all　the　less　savory　aspects　of　Ullman's

cathedral；　and　it　looked　to　me　like　a　little　black　mass　had　been　going　on　after

hours。〃

〃I　hope　that's　metaphorical；　Jack。〃　Al's　voice　sounded　frighteningly　cold。

〃It　is。　But　I　did　find　out　—　〃

〃I　know　the　hotel's　history。〃

Jack　ran　a　hand　through　his　hair。　〃So　I　called　him　up　and　poked　him　with　it。　I

admit　it　wasn't　very　bright；　and　I　sure　wouldn't　do　it　again。　End　of　story。〃

〃Stu　says　you're　planning　to　do　a　little　dirty…laundry…airing　yourself。〃

〃Stu　is　an　asshole！〃　he　barked　into　the　phone。　〃I　told　him　I　had　an　idea　of

writing　about　the　Overlook；　yes。　I　do。　I　think　this　place　forms　an　index　of　the

whole　post…World　War　II　American　character。　That　sounds　like　an　inflated　claim；

stated　so　baldly　。。。　I　know　it　does　。。。　but　it's　all　here；　Al！　My　God；　it

could　be　a　great　book。　But　it's　far　in　the　future；　I　can　promise　you　that；　I've

got　more　on　my　plate　right　now　than　I　can　eat；　and　—　〃

〃Jack；　that's　not　good　enough。〃

He　found　himself　gaping　at　the　black　receiver　of　the　phone；　unable　to　believe

what　he　had