The Shining 原版小说-第17部分

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　　〃I'm　happy　to　meet　you　both；〃　Ullman　said。　〃How　old　are　you；　Danny？〃　
　　〃Five；　sir。〃　
　　〃Sir；　yet。〃　Ullman　smiled　and　glanced　at　Jack。　〃He's　well　mannered。〃　
　　〃Of　course　he　is；〃　Jack　said。　
　　〃And　Mrs。　Torrance。〃　He　offered　the　same　little　bow；　and　for　a　bemused　instant　
Wendy　thought　he　would　kiss　her　hand。　She　half…offered　it　and　he　did　take　it；　
but　only　for　a　moment；　clasped　in　both　of　his。　His　hands　were　small　and　dry　and　
smooth；　and　she　guessed　that　he　powdered　them。　
　　The　lobby　was　a　bustle　of　activity。　Almost　every　one　of　the　old…fashioned　
high…backed　chairs　was　taken。　Bellboys　shuttled　in　and　out　with　suitcases　and　
there　was　a　line　at　the　desk；　which　was　dominated　by　a　huge　brass　cash　register。　
The　BankAmericard　and　Master　Charge　decals　on　it　seemed　jarringly　anachronistic。　
　　To　their　right；　down　toward　a　pair　of　tall　double　doors　that　were　pulled　
closed　and　roped　off；　there　was　an　old…fashioned　fireplace　now　blazing　with　
birch　logs。　Three　nuns　sat　on　a　sofa　that　was　drawn　up　almost　to　the　hearth　
itself。　They　were　talking　and　smiling　with　their　bags　stacked　up　to　either　side；　
waiting　for　the　check…out　line　to　thin　a　little。　As　Wendy　watched　them　they　
burst　into　a　chord　of　tinkling；　girlish　laughter。　She　felt　a　smile　touch　her　own　
lips；　not　one　of　them　could　be　under　sixty。　
　　In　the　background　was　the　constant　hum　of　conversation；　the　muted　ding！　of　the　
silver…plated　bell　beside　the　cash　register　as　one　of　the　two　clerks　on　duty　
struck　it；　the　slightly　impatient　call　of　〃Front；　please！〃　It　brought　back　


　
　
strong；　warm　memories　of　her　honeymoon　in　New　York　with　Jack；　at　the　Beekman　
Tower。　For　the　first　time　she　let　herself　believe　that　this　might　be　exactly　
what　the　three　of　them　needed：　a　season　together　away　from　the　world；　a　sort　of　
family　honeymoon。　She　smiled　affectionately　down　at　Danny；　who　was　goggling　
around　frankly　at　everything。　Another　limo；　as　gray　as　a　banker's　vest；　had　
pulled　up　out　front　
　　〃The　last　day　of　the　season；〃　Ullman　was　saying。　〃Closing　day。　Always　hectic。　
I　had　expected　you　more　around　three；　Mr。　Torrance。〃　
　　〃I　wanted　to　give　the　Volks　time　for　a　nervous　breakdown　if　it　decided　to　have　
one；〃　Jack　said。　〃It　didn't。〃　
　　〃How　fortunate；〃　Ullman　said。　〃I'd　like　to　take　the　three　of　you　on　a　tour　of　
the　place　a　little　later；　and　of　course　Dick　Hallorann　wants　to　show　Mrs。　
Torrance　the　Overlook's　kitchen。　But　I'm　afraid　—〃　
　　One　of　the　clerks　came　over　and　almost　tugged　his　forelock。　
　　〃Excuse　me；　Mr。　Ullman　—　〃　
　　〃Well？　What　is　it？〃　
　　〃It's　Mrs。　Brant；〃　the　clerk　said　unfortably。　〃She　refuses　to　pay　her　bill　
with　anything　but　her　American　Express　card。　I　told　her　we　stopped　taking　
American　Express　at　the　end　of　the　season　last　year；　but　she　won't　。。。〃　His　
eyes　shifted　to　the　Torrance　family；　then　back　to　Ullman。　He　shrugged。　
　　〃I'll　take　care　of　it。〃　
　　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Ullman。〃　The　clerk　crossed　back　to　the　desk；　where　a　
dreadnought　of　a　woman　bundled　into　a　long　fur　coat　and　what　looked　like　a　black　
feather　boa　was　remonstrating　loudly。　
　　〃I　have　been　ing　to　the　Overlook　Hotel　since　1955；〃　she　was　telling　the　
smiling；　shrugging　clerk。　〃I　continued　to　e　even　after　my　second　husband　died　
of　a　stroke　on　that　tiresome　roque　court　—　I　told　him　the　sun　was　too　hot　that　
day　—　and　I　have　never　。。。　I　repeat：　never　。。。　paid　with　anything　but　my　
American　Express　credit　card。　Call　the　police　if　you　like！　Have　them　drag　me　
away！　I　will　still　refuse　to　pay　with　anything　but　my　American　Express　credit　
card。　I　repeat：　。。。〃　
　　〃Excuse　me；〃　Mr。　Ullman　said。　
　　They　watched　him　cross　the　lobby；　touch　Mrs。　Brant's　elbow　deferentially；　and　
spread　his　hands　and　nod　when　she　turned　her　tirade　on　him。　He　listened　
sympathetically；　nodded　again；　and　said　something　in　return。　Mrs。　Brant　smiled　
triumphantly；　turned　to　the　unhappy　desk　clerk；　and　said　loudly：　〃Thank　God　
there　is　one　employee　of　this　hotel　who　hasn't　bee　an　utter　Philistine！〃　
　　She　allowed　Ullman；　who　barely　came　to　the　bulky　shoulder　of　her　fur　coat；　to　
take　her　arm　and　lead　her　away；　presumably　to　his　inner　office。　
　　〃Whooo！〃　Wendy　said；　smiling。　〃There's　a　dude　who　earns　his　money。〃　
　　〃But　he　didn't　like　that　lady；〃　Danny　said　immediately。　〃He　was　just　
pretending　to　like　her。〃　
　　Jack　grinned　down　at　him。　〃I'm　sure　that's　true；　doc。　But　flattery　is　the　
stuff　that　greases　the　wheels　of　the　world。〃　
　　〃What's　flattery？〃　
　　〃Flattery；〃　Wendy　told　him；　〃is　when　your　daddy　says　he　likes　my　new　yellow　
slacks　even　if　he　doesn't　or　when　he　says　I　don't　need　to　take　off　five　pounds。〃　
　　〃Oh。　Is　it　lying　for　fun？〃　


　
　
　　〃Something　very　like　that。〃　
　　He　had　been　looking　at　her　closely　and　now　said：　〃You're　pretty；　Mommy。〃　He　
frowned　in　confusion　when　they　exchanged　a　glance　and　then　burst　into　laughter。　
　　〃Ullman　didn't　waste　much　flattery　on　me；〃　Jack　said。　〃e　on　over　by　the　
window；　you　guys。　I　feel　conspicuous　standing　out　here　in　the　middle　with　my　
denim　jacket　on。　I　honest　to　God　didn't　think　there'd　be　anybody　much　here　on　
closing　day。　Guess　I　was　wrong。〃　
　　〃You　look　very　handsome；〃　she　said；　and　then　they　laughed　again；　Wendy　putting　
a　hand　over　her　mouth。　Danny　still　didn't　understand；　but　it　was　okay。　They　were　
loving　each　other。　Danny　thought　this　place　reminded　her　of　somewhere　else　
　　（the　beak…man　place）　
　　where　she　had　been　happy。　He　wished　he　liked　it　as　well　as　she　did；　but　he　
kept　telling　himself　over　and　over　that　the　things　Tony　showed　him　didn't　always　
e　true。　He　would　be　careful。　He　would　watch　for　something　called　Redrum。　But　
he　would　not　say　anything　unless　he　absolutely　had　to。　Because　they　were　happy；　
they　had　been　laughing；　and　there　were　no　bad　thoughts。　
　　〃Look　at　this　view；〃　Jack　said。　
　　〃Oh；　it's　gorgeous！　Danny；　look！〃　
　　But　Danny　didn't　think　it　was　particularly　gorgeous。　He　didn't　like　heights；　
they　made　him　dizzy。　Beyond　the　wide　front　porch；　which　ran　the　length　of　the　
hotel；　a　beautifully　manicured　lawn　（there　was　a　putting　green　on　the　right）　
sloped　away　to　a　long；　rectangular　swimming　pool。　A　CLOSED　sign　stood　on　a　
little　tripod　at　one　end　of　the　pool；　closed　was　one　sign　he　could　read　by　
himself；　along　with　Stop；　Exit；　Pizza；　and　a　few　others。　
　　Beyond　the　pool　a　graveled　path　wound　off　through　baby　pines　and　spruces　and　
aspens。　Here　was　a　small　sign　he　didn't　know：　ROQUE。　There　was　an　arrow　below　
it。　
　　〃What's　R…O…Q…U…E；　Daddy？〃　
　　〃A　game；〃　Daddy　said。　〃It's　a　little　bit　like　croquet；　only　you　play　it　on　a　
gravel　court　that　has　sides　like　a　big　billiard　table　instead　of　grass。　It's　a　
very　old　game；　Danny。　Sometimes　they　have　tournaments　here。〃　
　　〃Do　you　play　it　with　a　croquet　mallet？〃　
　　〃Like　that；〃　Jack　agreed。　〃Only　the　handle's　a　little　shorter　and　the　head　has　
two　sides。　One　side　is　hard　rubber　and　the　other　side　is　wood。〃　
　　（e　out；　you　little　shit！）　
　　〃It's　pronounced　roke；〃　Daddy　was　saying。　〃I'll　teach　you　how　to　play；　if　you　
want。〃　
　　〃Maybe；〃　Danny　said　in　an　odd　colorless　little　voice　that　made　his　parents　
exchange　a　puzzled　look　over　his　head。　〃I　might　not　like　it；　though。〃　
　　〃Well　if　you　don't　like　it；　doc；　you　don't　have　to　play。　All　right？〃　
　　〃Sure。〃　
　　〃Do　you　like　the　animals？〃　Wendy　asked。　〃That's　called　a　topiary。〃　Beyond　the　
path　leading　to　roque　there　were　hedges　clipped　into　the　shapes　of　various　
animals。　Danny；　whose　eyes　were　sharp；　made　out　a　rabbit；　a　dog；　a　horse；　a　cow；　
and　a　trio　of　bigger　ones　that　looked　like　frolicking　lions。　
　　〃Those　animals　were　what　made　Uncle　Al　think　of　me　for　the　job；〃　Jack　told　
him。　〃He　knew　that　when　I　was　in　college　I　used　to　work　for　a　landscaping　
pany。　That's　a　business　that　fixes　people's　lawns　and　bushes　and　hedges。　I　


　
　
used　to　trim　a　lady's　topiary。〃　
　　Wendy　put　a　hand　over　her　mouth　and　snickered。　Looking　at　her；　Jack　said；　
〃Yes；　I　used　to　trim　her　topiary　at　least　once　a　week〃　
　　〃Get　away；　fly；〃　Wendy　said；　and　snickered　again。　
　　〃Did　she　have　nice　hedges；　Dad？〃　Danny　asked；　and　at　this　they　both　stifled　
great　bursts　of　laughter。　Wendy　laughed　so　hard　that　tears　streamed　down　her　
cheeks　and　she　had　to　get　a　Kleenex