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hurriedly。　Jack　was　over　by　the　window　just　outside　the　restaurant；　studying　the　
view。　He　looked　rapt　and　dreamy。　
　　The　cash　register　apparently　checked　out；　because　now　Ullman　ran　it　shut　with　
an　authoritative　snap。　He　initialed　the　tape　and　put　it　in　a　small　zipper　case。　
Wendy　silently　applauded　the　head　clerk；　who　looked　greatly　relieved。　Ullman　
looked　like　the　type　of　man　who　might　take　any　shortage　out　of　the　head　clerk's　
hide　。。。　without　ever　spilling　a　drop　of　blood。　Wendy　didn't　much　care　for　
Ullman　or　his　officious；　ostentatiously　bustling　manner。　He　was　like　every　boss　
she'd　ever　had；　male　or　female。　He　would　be　saccharin　sweet　with　the　guests；　a　
petty　tyrant　when　he　was　backstage　with　the　help。　But　now　school　was　out　and　the　
head　clerk's　pleasure　was　written　large　on　his　face。　It　was　out　for　everyone　but　
she　and　Jack　and　Danny；　anyway。　
　　〃Mr。　Torrance；〃　Ullman　called　peremptorily。　〃Would　you　e　over　here；　please？〃　
　　Jack　walked　over；　nodding　to　Wendy　and　Danny　that　they　were　to　e　too。　
　　The　clerk；　who　had　gone　into　the　back；　now　came　out　again　wearing　an　overcoat。　
〃Have　a　pleasant　winter；　Mr。　Ullman。〃　
　　〃I　doubt　it；〃　Ullman　said　distantly。　〃May　twelfth；　Braddock。　Not　a　day　
earlier。　Not　a　day　later。〃　
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃　
　　Braddock　walked　around　the　desk；　his　face　sober　and　dignified；　as　befitted　his　
position；　but　when　his　back　was　entirely　to　Ullman；　he　grinned　like　a　schoolboy。　
He　spoke　briefly　to　the　two　girls　still　waiting　by　the　door　for　their　ride；　and　
he　was　followed　out　by　a　brief　burst　of　stifled　laughter。　
　　Now　Wendy　began　to　notice　the　silence　of　the　place。　It　had　fallen　over　the　
hotel　like　a　heavy　blanket　muting　everything　but　the　faint　pulse　of　the　
afternoon　wind　outside。　From　where　she　stood　she　could　look　through　the　inner　
office；　now　neat　to　the　point　of　sterility　with　its　two　bare　desks　and　two　sets　
of　gray　filing　cabinets。　Beyond　that　she　could　see　Hallorann's　spotless　kitchen；　
the　big　portholed　double　doors　propped　open　by　rubber　wedges。　
　　〃I　thought　I　would　take　a　few　extra　minutes　and　show　you　through　the　Hotel；〃　
Ullman　said；　and　Wendy　reflected　that　you　could　always　hear　that　capital　H　in　
Ullman's　voice。　You　were　supposed　to　hear　it。　〃I'm　sure　your　husband　will　get　to　
know　the　ins　and　outs　of　the　Overlook　quite　well；　Mrs。　Torrance；　but　you　and　
your　son　will　doubtless　keep　more　to　the　lobby　level　and　the　first　floor；　where　
your　quarters　are。〃　
　　〃Doubtless；〃　Wendy　murmured　demurely；　and　Jack　shot　her　a　private　glance。　
　　〃It's　a　beautiful　place；〃　Ullman　said　expansively。　〃I　rather　enjoy　showing　it　
off。〃　
　　I'll　bet　you　do；　Wendy　thought。　
　　〃Let's　go　up　to　third　and　work　our　way　down；〃　Ullman　said。　He　sounded　
positively　enthused。　
　　〃If　we're　keeping　you　—　〃　Jack　began。　
　　〃Not　at　all；〃　Ullman　said：　〃The　shop　is　shut。　Tout　fins；　for　this　season；　at　
least。　And　I　plan　to　overnight　in　Boulder　—　at　the　Boulderado；　of　course。　Only　
decent　hotel　this　side　of　Denver　。。。　except　for　the　Overlook　itself；　of　


　
　
course。　This　way。〃　
　　They　stepped　into　the　elevator　together。　It　was　ornately　scrolled　in　copper　
and　brass；　but　it　settled　appreciably　before　Ullman　pulled　the　gate　across。　
Danny　stirred　a　little　uneasily；　and　Ullman　smiled　down　at　him。　Danny　tried　to　
smile　back　without　notable　success。　
　　〃Don't　you　worry；　little　man；〃　Ullman　said。　〃Safe　as　houses。〃　
　　〃So　was　the　Titanic；〃　Jack　said；　looking　up　at　the　cut…glass　globe　in　the　
center　of　the　elevator　ceiling。　Wendy　bit　the　inside　of　her　cheek　to　keep　the　
smile　away。　
　　Ullman　was　not　amused。　He　slid　the　inner　gate　across　with　a　rattle　and　a　bang。　
〃The　Titanic　made　only　one　voyage；　Mr。　Torrance。　This　elevator　has　made　
thousands　of　them　since　it　was　installed　in　1926。〃　
　　〃That's　reassuring；〃　Jack　said。　He　ruffed　Danny's　hair。　〃The　plane　ain't　gonna　
crash；　doc。〃　
　　Ullman　threw　the　lever　over；　and　for　a　moment　there　was　nothing　but　a　
shuddering　beneath　their　feet　and　the　tortured　whine　of　the　motor　below　them。　
Wendy　had　a　vision　of　the　four　of　them　being　trapped　between　floors　like　flies　
in　a　bottle　and　found　in　the　spring　。。。　with　little　bits　and　pieces　gone　。。。　
like　the　Donner　Party　。。。　
　　（Stop　it！）　
　　The　elevator　began　to　rise；　with　some　vibration　and　clashing　and　banging　from　
below　at　first。　Then　the　ride　smoothed　out。　At　the　third　floor　Ullman　brought　
them　to　a　bumpy　stop；　retracted　the　gate；　and　opened　the　door。　The　elevator　car　
was　still　six　inches　below　floor　level。　Danny　gazed　at　the　difference　in　height　
between　the　third…floor　hall　and　the　elevator　floor　as　if　he　had　just　sensed　the　
universe　was　not　as　sane　as　he　had　been　told。　Ullman　cleared　his　throat　and　
raised　the　car　a　little；　brought　it　to　a　stop　with　a　jerk　（still　two　inches　
low）；　and　they　all　climbed　out。　With　their　weight　gone　the　car　rebounded　almost　
to　floor　level；　something　Wendy　did　not　find　reassuring　at　all。　Safe　as　houses　
or　not；　she　resolved　to　take　the　stairs　when　she　had　to　go　up　or　down　in　this　
place。　And　under　no　conditions　would　she　allow　the　three　of　them　to　get　into　the　
rickety　thing　together。　
　　〃What　are　you　looking　at；　doc？〃　Jack　inquired　humorously。　〃See　any　spots　
there？〃　
　　〃Of　course　not；〃　Ullman　said；　nettled。　〃All　the　rugs　were　shampooed　just　two　
days　ago。〃　
　　Wendy　glanced　down　at　the　hall　runner　herself。　Pretty；　but　definitely　not　
anything　she　would　choose　for　her　own　home；　if　the　day　ever　came　when　she　had　
one。　Deep　blue　pile；　it　was　entwined　with　what　seemed　to　be　a　surrealistic　
jungle　scene　full　of　ropes　and　vines　and　trees　filled　with　exotic　birds。　It　was　
hard　to　tell　just　what　sort　of　birds；　because　all　the　interweaving　was　done　in　
unshaded　black；　giving　only　silhouettes。　
　　〃Do　you　like　the　rug？〃　Wendy　asked　Danny。　
　　〃Yes；　Mom；〃　he　said　colorlessly。　
　　They　walked　down　the　hall；　which　was　fortably　wide。　The　wallpaper　was　silk；　
a　lighter　blue　to　go　against　the　rug。　Electric　flambeaux　stood　at　ten…foot　
intervals　at　a　height　of　about　seven　feet。　Fashioned　to　look　like　London　gas　
lamps；　the　bulbs　were　masked　behind　cloudy；　cream…hued　glass　that　was　bound　with　


　
　
crisscrossing　iron　strips。　
　　〃I　like　those　very　much；〃　she　said。　
　　Ullman　nodded；　pleased。　〃Mr。　Derwent　had　those　installed　throughout　the　Hotel　
after　the　war　—　number　Two；　I　mean。　In　fact　most　—　although　not　all　—　of　the　third…　
floor　decorating　scheme　was　his　idea。　This　is　300；　the　Presidential　Suite。〃　
　　He　twisted　his　key　in　the　lock　of　the　mahogany　double　doors　and　swung　them　
wide。　The　sitting　room's　wide　western　exposure　made　them　all　gasp；　which　had　
probably　been　Ullman's　intention。　He　smiled。　〃Quite　a　view；　isn't　it？〃　
　　〃It　sure　is；〃　Jack　said。　
　　The　window　ran　nearly　the　length　of　the　sitting　room；　and　beyond　it　the　sun　
was　poised　directly　between　two　sawtoothed　peaks；　casting　golden　light　across　
the　rock　faces　and　the　sugared　snow　on　the　high　tips。　The　clouds　around　and　
behind　this　picture…postcard　view　were　also　tinted　gold；　and　a　sunbeam　glinted　
duskily　down　into　the　darkly　pooled　firs　below　the　timberline。　
　　Jack　and　Wendy　were　so　absorbed　in　the　view　that　they　didn't　look　down　at　
Danny；　who　was　staring　not　out　the　window　but　at　the　red…and…white…striped　silk　
wallpaper　to　the　left；　where　a　door　opened　into　an　interior　bedroom。　And　his　
gasp；　which　had　been　mingled　with　theirs；　had　nothing　to　do　with　beauty。　
　　Great　splashes　of　dried　blood；　flecked　with　tiny　bits　of　grayish…white　tissue；　
clotted　the　wallpaper。　It　made　Danny　feel　sick。　It　was　like　a　crazy　picture　
drawn　in　blood；　a　surrealistic　etching　of　a　man's　face　drawn　back　in　terror　and　
pain；　the　mouth　yawning　and　half　the　head　pulverized　—　　
　　（So　if　you　should　see　something　。。。　just　look　the　other　way　and　when　you　
look　back；　it'll　be　gone。　Are　you　diggin　me？）　
　　He　deliberately　looked　out　the　window；　being　careful　to　show　no　expression　on　
his　face；　and　when　his　mommy's　hand　closed　over　his　own　he　took　it；　being　
careful　not　to　squeeze　it　or　give　her　a　signal　of　any　kind。　
　　The　manager　was　saying　something　to　his　daddy　about　making　sure　to　shutter　
that　big　window　so　a　strong　wind　wouldn't　blow　it　in。　Jack　was　nodding。　Danny　
looked　cautiously　back　at　the　wall。　The　big　dried　bloodstain　was　gone。　Those　
little　gray…white　flecks　that　had　been　scattered　all　through　it；　they　were　gone；　
too。　
　　Then　Ullman　was　leading　them　out。　Mommy　asked　him　if　he　thought　the　mountains　
were　pretty。　Danny　said　he　did；　although　he　didn't　really　care　for　the　
mountains；　one　way　or　the　other。　As　Ullman　was　closing　the　door　behind　them；　
Danny　looked　back　over　his　shoulder。　The　bloodstain　had　returned；　only　now　it　
was　fresh。　It　was　running。　Ullman；　looking　directly　at　it；　went　on　with　his　
running　mentary　about　the　famous　men　who　had　stayed　here。　Danny　discovered　
that　he　had　bitten　his　lip　hard　enough　to　make　it　bleed；　and　he　had　never　even　
felt　it。　As　they　walked　on　down　the　corridor；　he　fell　a　little　bit　behind　the　
others　and　wiped　the　blood　away　with　the　back　of　his　hand　and　thought　about　
　　（blood）　
　　（Did　Mr。　Hallorann　see　blood　or　was　it　something　worse？）　
　　（I　don't　think　those　things　can　hurt　you。）　
　　There　was　an　iron　scream　behind　his　lips；　but　he　would　not　let　it　out。　His　
mommy　and　daddy　could　not　see　such　things；　they　never　had。　He　would　keep　quiet。　
His　mommy　and　daddy　were　loving　each　other；　and　that　was　a　real　thing。　The　other　
things　were　just　like　pictures　in　a　book。　Some　pictures　were　scary；　but　they　


　
　
couldn't　hurt　you。　They　。。。　couldn't　。。。　hurt　you。　
　　Mr。　Ullman　showed　them　some　other　rooms　on　the　third　floor；　leading　them　
through　corridors　that　twisted　and　turned　like　a　maze。　They　were　all　sweets　up　
here；　Mr。　Ullman　said；　although　Danny　didn't　see　any　candy。　He　showed　them　some　
rooms　where　a　lady　named　Marilyn　Monroe　once　stayed　when　she　was　married　to　a　
man　named　Arthur　Miller　（Danny　got　a　vague　understanding　that　Marilyn　and　Arthur　
had　gotten　a　DIVORCE　not　long　after　they　were　in　the　Overlook　Hotel）。　
　　〃Mommy？〃　
　　〃What；　honey？〃　
　　〃If　they　were　married；　why　did　they　have　different　names？　You　and　Daddy　have　
the　same　names。〃　
　　〃Yes；　but　we're　not　famous；　Danny；〃　Jack　said。　〃Famous　women　keep　their　same　
names　even　after　they　get　married　because　their　names　are　their　bread　and　
butter。〃　
　　〃Bread　and　butter；〃　Danny　said；　pletely　mystified。　
　　〃What　Daddy　means　is　that　people　used　to　like　to　go　to　the　movies　and　see　
Marilyn　Monroe；〃　Wendy　said；　〃but　they　might　not　like　to　go　to　see　Marilyn　
Miller。〃　
　　〃Why　not？　She'd　still　be　the　same　lady。　Wouldn't　everyone　know　that？〃　
　　〃Yes；　but　—　〃　She　looked　at　Jack　helplessly。　
　　〃Truman　Capote　once　stayed　in　this　room；〃　Ullman　interrupted　impatiently。　He　
opened　the　door。　〃That　was　in　my　time。　An　awfully　nice　man。　Continental　
manners。〃　
　　There　was　nothing　remarkable　in　any　of　these　rooms　（except　for　the　absence　of　
sweets；　which　Mr。　Ullman　kept　calling　them）；　nothing　that　Danny　was　afraid　of。　
In　fact；　there　was　only　one　other　thing　on　the　third　floor　that　bothered　Danny；　
and　he　could　not　have　said　why。　It　was　the　fire　extinguisher　on　the　wall　just　
before　they　turned　the　corner　and　went　back　to　the　elevator；　which　stood　open　
and　waiting　like　a　mouthful　of　gold　teeth。　
　　It　was　an　old…fashioned　extinguisher；　a　flat　hose　folded　back　a　dozen　times　
upon　itself；　one　end　attached　to　a　large　red　valve；　the　other　ending　in　a　brass　
nozzle。　The　folds　of　the　hose　were　secured　with　a　red　steel　slat　on　a　hinge。　In　
case　of　a　fire　you　could　knock　the　steel　slat　up　and　out　of　the　way　with　one　
hard　push　and　the　hose　was　yours。　Danny　could　see　that　much；　he　was　good　at　
seeing　how　things　worked。　By　the　time　he　was　two　and　a　half　he　had　been　
unlocking　the　protective　gate　his　father　had　installed　at　the　top　of　the　stairs　
in　the　Stovington　house。　He　had　seen　how　the　lock　worked。　His　daddy　said　it　was　
a　NACK。　Some　people　had　the　NACK　and　some　people　didn't。　
　　This　fire　extinguisher　was　a　little　older　than　others　he　had　seen　—　the　one　in　
the　nursery　school；　for　instance　—　but　that　was　not　so　unusual。　Nonetheless　it　
filled　him　with　faint　unease；　curled　up　there　against　the　light　blue　wallpaper　
like　a　sleeping　s