th its rolling eyes and
hunched and hulking shoulders and blood…drenched shirt。 It was not his daddy。
〃Now； by God；〃 it breathed。 It wiped its lips with a shaking hand。 〃Now you'll
find out who is the boss around here。 You'll see。 It's not you they want。 It's
me。 Me。 Me！〃
It slashed out with the scarred hammer； its double head now shapeless and
splintered with countless impacts。 It struck the wall； cutting a circle in the
silk paper。 Plaster dust puffed out。 It began to grin。
〃Let's see you pull any of your fancy tricks now；〃 it muttered。 〃I wasn't born
yesterday； you know。 Didn't just fall off the hay truck； by God。 I'm going to do
my fatherly duty by you； boy。〃
Danny said： 〃You're not my daddy。〃
It stopped。 For a moment it actually looked uncertain； as if not sure who or
what it was。 Then it began to walk again。 The hammer whistled out； struck a door
panel and made it boom hollowly。
〃You're a liar；〃 it said。 〃Who else would I be？ I have the two birthmarks； I
have the cupped navel； even the pecker； my boy。 Ask your mother。〃
〃You're a mask；〃 Danny said。 〃Just a false face。 The only reason the hotel
needs to use you is that you aren't as dead as the others。 But when it's done
with you； you won't be anything at all。 You don't scare me。〃
〃I'll scare you！〃 it howled。 The mallet whistled fiercely down； smashing into
the rug between Danny's feet。 Danny didn't flinch。 〃You lied about me！ You
connived with her！ You plotted against me！ And you cheated！ You copied that
final exam！〃 The eyes glared out at him from beneath the furred brows。 There was
an expression of lunatic cunning in them。 〃I'll find it； too。 It's