elf with a copy of E。 L。 Doctorow's
Wele to Hard Times； when his wife and son rattled up the driveway in the
hotel truck。
Wendy parked it in the turn…around； raced the engine sportily； and then turned
it off。 The truck's single taillight died。 The engine rumbled grumpily with
post…ignition and finally stopped。 Jack got out of his chair and ambled down to
meet them。
〃Hi； Dad！〃 Danny called； and raced up the hill。 He had a box in one hand。
〃Look what Mommy bought me！〃
Jack picked his son up； swung him around twice； and kissed him heartily on the
mouth。
〃Jack Torrance； the Eugene O'Neill of his generation； the American
Shakespeare！〃 Wendy said； smiling。 〃Fancy meeting you here； so far up in the
mountains。〃
〃The mon ruck became too much for me； dear lady；〃 he said； and slipped his
arms around her。 They kissed。 〃How was your trip？〃
〃Very good。 Danny plains that I keep jerking him but I didn't stall the
truck once and 。。。 oh； Jack； you finished it！〃
She was looking at the roof； and Danny followed her gaze。 A faint frown
touched his face as he looked at the wide swatch of fresh shingles atop the
Overlook's west wing； a lighter green than the rest of the roof。 Then he looked
down at the box in his hand and his face cleared again。 At night the pictures
Tony had showed him came back to haunt in all their original clarity； but in
sunny daylight they were easier to disregard。
〃Look； Daddy； look！〃
Jack took the box from his son。 It was a model car； one of the Big Daddy Roth
caricatures that Danny bad expressed an admiration for in the past。 This one was
the Violent Violet Volkswagen； and the pictu