nd climbed in。 Blue smoke jetted from the
rusted exhaust pipe as he started it up。 The spell of silence held among them as
he backed； then pulled out of the parking lot。 His truck disappeared over the
brow of the hill and then reappeared； smaller； on the main road； heading west。
For a moment Danny felt more lonely than he ever had in his life。
》
THE FRONT PORCH
The Torrance family stood together on the long front porch of the Overlook
Hotel as if posing for a family portrait； Danny in the middle； zippered into
last year's fall jacket which was now too small and starting to e out at the
elbow； Wendy behind him with one hand on his shoulder； and Jack to his left； his
own hand resting lightly on his son's head。
Mr。 Ullman was a step below them； buttoned into an expensive…looking brown
mohair overcoat。 The sun was entirely behind the mountains now； edging them with
gold fire； making the shadows around things look long and purple。 The only three
vehicles left in the parking lots were the hotel truck； Ullman's Lincoln
Continental； and the battered Torrance VW。
〃You've got your keys； then；〃 Ullman said to Jack； 〃and you understand fully
about the furnace and the boiler？〃
Jack nodded； feeling some real sympathy for Ullman。 Everything was done for
the season； the ball of string was neatly wrapped up until next May 12 — not a
day earlier or later — and Ullman； who was responsible for all of it and who
referred to the hotel in the unmistakable tones of infatuation； could not help
looking for loose ends。
〃I think everything is well in hand；〃 Jack said。
〃Good。 I'll be in touch。〃 But he still lingered for a mome