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first　two　floors　of　the　hotel。　It　was　dark　gray；　halfway　down　a　corridor　that　
ran　at　right　angles　to　the　main　second…floor　hallway。　The　numbers　on　the　door　
looked　no　different　from　the　house　numbers　on　the　Boulder　apartment　building　
they　had　lived　in。　A　2；　a　1；　and　a　7。　Big　deal。　Just　below　them　was　a　tiny　glass　
circle；　a　peephole。　Danny　had　tried　several　of　them。　From　the　inside　you　got　a　
wide；　fish…eye　view　of　the　corridor。　From　outside　you　could　screw　up　your　eye　
seven　ways　to　Sunday　and　still　not　see　a　thing。　A　dirty　gyp：　
　　（Why　are　you　here？）　


　
　
　　After　the　walk　behind　the　Overlook；　he　and　Mommy　had　e　back　and　she　had　
fixed　him　his　favorite　lunch；　a　cheese　and　bologna　sandwich　plus　Campbell's　Bean　
Soup。　They　ate　in　Dick's　kitchen　and　talked。　The　radio　was　on；　getting　thin　and　
crackly　music　from　the　Estes　Park　station。　The　kitchen　was　his　favorite　place　in　
the　hotel；　and　he　guessed　that　Mommy　and　Daddy　must　feel　the　same　way；　because　
after　trying　their　meals　in　the　dining　room　for　three　days　or　so；　they　had　begun　
eating　in　the　kitchen　by　mutual　consent；　setting　up　chairs　around　Dick　
Hallorann's　butcher　block；　which　was　almost　as　big　as　their　dining　room　table　
back　in　Stovington；　anyway。　The　dining　room　had　been　too　depressing；　even　with　
the　lights　on　and　the　music　playing　from　the　tape　cassette　system　in　the　office。　
You　were　still　just　one　of　three　people　sitting　at　a　table　surrounded　by　dozens　
of　other　tables；　all　empty；　all　covered　with　those　transparent　plastic　
dustcloths。　Mommy　said　it　was　like　having　dinner　in　the　middle　of　a　Horace　
Walpole　novel；　and　Daddy　had　laughed　and　agreed。　Danny　had　no　idea　who　Horace　
Walpole　was；　but　he　did　know　that　Mommy's　cooking　had　begun　to　taste　better　as　
soon　as　they　began　to　eat　it　in　the　kitchen。　He　kept　discovering　little　flashes　
of　Dick　Hallorann's　personality　lying　around；　and　they　reassured　him　like　a　warm　
touch。　
　　Mommy　had　eaten　half　a　sandwich；　no　soup。　She　said　Daddy　must　have　gone　out　
for　a　walk　of　his　own　since　both　the　VW　and　the　hotel　truck　were　in　the　parking　
lot。　She　said　she　was　tired　and　might　lie　down　for　an　hour　or　so；　if　he　thought　
he　could　amuse　himself　and　not　get　into　trouble。　Danny　told　her　around　a　
mouthful　of　cheese　and　bologna　that　he　thought　he　could。　
　　〃Why　don't　you　go　out　into　the　playground？〃　she　asked　him。　〃I　thought　you'd　
love　that　place；　with　a　sandbox　for　your　trucks　and　all。〃　
　　He　swallowed　and　the　food　went　down　his　throat　in　a　lump　that　was　dry　and　
hard。　〃Maybe　I　will；〃　he　said；　turning　to　the　radio　and　fiddling　with　it。　
　　〃And　all　those　neat　hedge　animals；〃　she　said；　taking　his　empty　plate。　〃Your　
father's　got　to　get　out　and　trim　them　pretty　soon。〃　
　　〃Yeah；〃　he　said。　
　　（Just　nasty　things　。。。　once　it　had　to　do　with　those　damn　hedges　clipped　to　
look　like　animals　。。。）　
　　〃If　you　see　your　father　before　I　do；　tell　him　I'm　lying　down。〃　
　　〃Sure；　Mom。〃　
　　She　put　the　dirty　dishes　in　the　sink　and　came　back　over　to　him。　〃Are　you　happy　
here；　Danny？〃　
　　He　looked　at　her　guilelessly；　a　milk　mustache　on　his　lip。　〃Uh…huh。〃　
　　〃No　more　bad　dreams？〃　
　　〃No。〃　Tony　had　e　to　him　once；　one　night　while　he　was　lying　in　bed；　calling　
his　name　faintly　and　from　far　away。　Danny　had　squeezed　his　eyes　tightly　shut　
until　Tony　had　gone。　
　　〃You　sure？〃　
　　〃Yes；　Mom。〃　
　　She　seemed　satisfied。　〃How's　your　hand？〃　
　　He　flexed　it　for　her。　〃All　better。〃　
　　She　nodded。　Jack　had　taken　the　nest　under　the　Pyrex　bowl；　full　of　frozen　
wasps；　out　to　the　incinerator　in　back　of　the　equipment　shed　and　burned　it。　They　
had　seen　no　more　wasps　since。　He　had　written　to　a　lawyer　in　Boulder；　enclosing　


　
　
the　snaps　of　Danny's　hand；　and　the　lawyer　had　called　back　two　days　ago　—　that　had　
put　Jack　in　a　foul　temper　all　afternoon。　The　lawyer　doubted　if　the　pany　that　
had　manufactured　the　bug　bomb　could　be　sued　successfully　because　there　was　only　
Jack　to　testify　that　he　had　followed　directions　printed　on　the　package。　Jack　had　
asked　the　lawyer　if　they　couldn't　purchase　some　others　and　test　them　for　the　
same　defect。　Yes；　the　lawyer　said；　but　the　results　were　highly　doubtful　even　if　
all　the　test　bombs　malfunctioned。　He　told　Jack　of　a　case　that　involved　an　
extension　ladder　pany　and　a　man　who　had　broken　his　back。　Wendy　had　
miserated　with　Jack；　but　privately　she　had　just　been　glad　that　Danny　had　
gotten　off　as　cheaply　as　he　had。　It　was　best　to　leave　lawsuits　to　people　who　
understood　them；　and　that　did　not　include　the　Torrances。　And　they　had　seen　no　
more　wasps　since。　
　　〃Go　and　play；　doc。　Have　fun。〃　
　　But　he　hadn't　had　fun。　He　had　wandered　aimlessly　around　the　hotel；　poking　into　
the　maids'　closets　and　the　janitor's　rooms；　looking　for　something　interesting；　
not　finding　it；　a　small　boy　padding　along　a　dark　blue　carpet　woven　with　twisting　
black　lines。　He　had　tried　a　room　door　from　time　to　time；　but　of　course　they　were　
all　locked。　The　passkey　was　hanging　down　in　the　office；　he　knew　where；　but　Daddy　
had　told　him　he　shouldn't　touch　that。　And　he　didn't　want　to。　Did　be？　
　　（Why　are　you　here？）　
　　There　was　nothing　aimless　about　it　after　all。　He　had　been　drawn　to　Room　217　by　
a　morbid　kind　of　curiosity。　He　remembered　a　story　Daddy　had　read　to　him　once　
when　he　was　drunk。　That　had　been　a　long　time　ago；　but　the　story　was　just　as　
vivid　now　as　when　Daddy　had　read　it　to　him。　Mommy　had　scolded　Daddy　and　asked　
what　he　was　doing；　reading　a　three…year…old　baby　something　so　horrible。　The　name　
of　the　story　was　Bluebeard。　That　was　clear　in　his　mind　too；　because　he　had　
thought　at　first　Daddy　was　saying　Bluebird；　and　there　were　no　bluebirds　in　the　
story；　or　birds　of　any　kind　for　that　matter。　Actually　the　story　was　about　
Bluebeard's　wife；　a　pretty　lady　that　had　corn…colored　hair　like　Mommy。　After　
Bluebeard　married　her；　they　lived　in　a　big　and　ominous　castle　that　was　not　
unlike　the　Overlook。　And　every　day　Bluebeard　went　off　to　work　and　every　day　he　
would　tell　his　pretty　little　wife　not　to　look　in　a　certain　room；　although　the　
key　to　that　room　was　hanging　right　on　a　hook；　just　like　the　passkey　was　hanging　
on　the　office　wall　downstairs。　Bluebeard's　wife　had　gotten　more　and　more　curious　
about　the　locked　room。　She　tried　to　peep　through　the　keyhole　the　way　Danny　had　
tried　to　look　through　Room　217's　peephole　with　similar　unsatisfying　results。　
There　was　even　a　picture　of　her　getting　down　on　her　knees　and　trying　to　look　
under　the　door；　but　the　crack　wasn't　wide　enough。　The　door　swung　wide　and　。。。　
　　The　old　fairy　tale　book　had　depicted　her　discovery　in　ghastly；　loving　detail。　
The　image　was　burned　on　Danny's　mind。　The　severed　heads　of　Bluebeard's　seven　
previous　wives　were　in　the　room；　each　one　on　its　own　pedestal；　the　eyes　turned　
up　to　whites；　the　mouths　unhinged　and　gaping　in　silent　screams。　They　were　
somehow　balanced　on　necks　ragged　from　the　broadsword's　decapitating　swing；　and　
there　was　blood　running　down　the　pedestals。　
　　Terrified；　she　had　turned　to　flee　from　the　room　and　the　castle；　only　to　
discover　Bluebeard　standing　in　the　doorway；　his　terrible　eyes　blazing。　〃I　told　
you　not　to　enter　this　room；〃　Bluebeard　said；　unsheathing　his　sword。　〃Alas；　in　
your　curiosity　you　are　like　the　other　seven；　and　though　I　loved　you　best　of　all　


　
　
your　ending　shall　be　as　was　theirs。　Prepare　to　die；　wretched　woman！〃　
　　It　seemed　vaguely　to　Danny　that　the　story　had　bad　a　happy　ending；　but　that　had　
paled　to　insignificance　beside　the　two　dominant　images：　the　taunting；　maddening　
locked　door　with　some　great　secret　behind　it；　and　the　grisly　secret　itself；　
repeated　more　than　half　a　dozen　times。　The　locked　door　and　behind　it　the　heads；　
the　severed　beads。　
　　His　hand　reached　out　and　stroked　the　room's　doorknob；　almost　furtively。　He　had　
no　idea　how　long　be　had　been　here；　standing　hypnotized　before　the　bland　gray　
locked　door。　
　　（And　maybe　three　times　I've　thought　I've　seen　things　。。。　nasty　things　。。。）　
　　But　Mr。　Hallorann　—　Dick　—　had　also　said　he　didn't　think　those　things　could　hurt　
you。　They　were　like　scary　pictures　in　a　book；　that　was　all。　And　maybe　he　
wouldn't　see　anything。　On　the　other　hand　。。。　
　　He　plunged　his　left　hand　into　his　pocket　and　it　came　out　holding　the　passkey。　
It　had　been　there　all　along；　of　course。　
　　He　held　it　by　the　square　metal　tab　on　the　end　which　had　OFFICE　printed　on　it　
in　Magic　Marker。　He　twirled　the　key　on　its　chain；　watching　it　go　around　and　
around。　After　several　minutes　of　this　he　stopped　and　slipped　the　passkey　into　
the　lock。　It　slid　in　smoothly；　with　no　hitch；　as　if　it　had　wanted　to　be　there　
all　along。　
　　（I've　thought　I've　seen　things　。。。　nasty　things　。。。　promise　me　you　won't　
go　in　there。）　
　　（I　promise。）　
　　And　a　promise　was；　of　course；　very　important。　Still；　his　curiosity　itched　at　
him　as　maddeningly　as　poison　ivy　in　a　place　you　aren't　supposed　to　scratch。　But　
it　was　a　dreadful　kind　of　curiosity；　the　kind　that　makes　you　peek　through　your　
fingers　during　the　scariest　parts　of　a　scary　movie。　What　was　beyond　that　door　
would　be　no　movie。　
　　（I　don't　think　those　things　can　hurt　you　。。。　like　scary　pictures　in　a　book　。。。）　
　　Suddenly　he　reached　out　with　his　left　hand；　not　sure　of　what　it　was　going　to　
do　until　it　had　removed　the　passkey　and　stuffed　it　back　into　his　pocket。　He　
stared　at　the　door　a　moment　longer；　blue…gray　eyes　wide；　then　turned　quickly　and　
walked　back　down　the　corridor　toward　the　main　hallway　that　ran　at　right　angles　
to　the　corridor　he　was　in。　
　　Something　made　him　pause　there　and　he　wasn't　sure　what　for　a　moment。　Then　he　
remembered　that　directly　around　this　corner；　on　the　way　back　to　the　stairs；　
there　was　one　of　those　old…fashioned　fire　extinguishers　curled　up　against　the　
wall。　Curled　there　like　a　dozing　snake。　
　　They　weren't　chemical…type　extinguishers　at　all；　Daddy　said；　although　there　
were　several　of　those　in　the　kitchen。　These　were　the　forerunner　of　the　modern　
sprinkler　systems。　The　long　canvas　hoses　hooked　directly　into　the　Overlook's　
plumbing　system；　and　by　turning　a　single　valve　you　could　bee　a　one…man　fire　
department。　Daddy　said　that　the　chemical　extinguishers；　which　sprayed　foam　or　
CO；　were　much　better。　The　chemicals　smothered　fires；　took　away　the　oxygen　they　
needed　to　burn；　while　a　high…pressure　spray　might　just　spread　the　flames　around。　
Daddy　said　that　Mr。　Ullman　should　replace　the　old…fashioned　hoses　right　along　
with　the　old…fashioned　boiler；　but　Mr。　Ullman　would　probably　do　neither　because　
he　was　a　CHEAP　PRICK。　Danny　knew　that　this　was　one　of　the　worst　epithets　his　


　
　
father　could　summon。　It　was　applied　to　certain　doctors；　dentists；　and　appliance　
repairmen；　and　also　to　the　head　of　his　English　Department　at　Stovington；　who　had　
disallowed　some　of　Daddy's　book　orders　because　he　said　the　books　would　put　them　
over　budget。　〃Over　budget；　hell；〃　he　had　fumed　to　Wendy　—　Danny　had　been　listening　
from　his　bedroom　where　he　was　supposed　to　be　asleep。　〃He's　just　saving　the　last　
five　hundred　bucks　for　himself；　the　CHEAP　PRICK。〃　
　　Danny　looked　around　the　corner。　
　　The　extinguisher　was　there；　a　fiat　hose　folded　back　a　dozen　times　on　itself；　
the　red　tank　attached　to　the　wall。　Above　it　was　an　ax　in　a　glass　case　like　a　
museum　exhibit；　with　white　words　printed　on　a　red　background：　IN　CASE　OF　
EMERGENCY；　BREAK　GLASS。　Danny　could　read　the　word　EMERGENCY；　which　was　also　the　
name　of　one　of　his　favorite　TV　shows；　but　was　unsure　of　the　rest。　But　he　didn't　
like　the　way　the　word　was　used　in　connection　with　that　long　fiat　hose。　EMERGENCY　
was'；　fire；　explosions；　car　crashes；　hospitals；　sometimes　death。　And　he　didn't　
like　the　way　that　hose　hung　so　blandly　on　the　wall。　When　he　was　alone；　he　always　
skittered　past　these　extinguishers　as　fast　as　he　could。　No　particular　reason。　It　
just　felt　better　to　go　fast。　It　felt　safer。　
　　Now；　heart　thumping　loudly　in　his　chest；　he　came　around　the　corner　and　looked　
down　the　hall　past　the　extinguisher　to　the　stairs。　Mommy　was　down　there；　
sleeping。　And　if　Daddy　was　back　from　his　walk；　he　would　probably　be　sitting　in　
the　kitchen；　eating　a　sandwich　and　reading　a　book。　He　would　just　walk　right　past　
that　old　extinguisher　and　go　downstairs。　
　　He　started　toward　it；　moving　closer　to　the　far　wall　until　his　r