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（until the bad dreams； of course）； and his parents had also seemed to accept
Tony as a more or less natural phenomenon。 Things like Tony came from being
BRIGHT； which they both assumed he was （the same way they assumed they were
BRIGHT）； but a fire hose that turned into a snake； or seeing blood and brains on
the wall of the Presidential Sweet when no one else could； those things would
not be natural。 They had already taken him to see a regular doctor。 Was it not
reasonable to assume that THE MEN IN THE WHITE COATS might e next？
Still he might have told them except he was sure； sooner or later； that they
would want to take him away from the hotel。 And he wanted desperately to get
away from the Overlook。 But he also knew that this was his daddy's last chance；
that he was here at the Overlook to do more than take care of the place。 He was
here to work on his papers。 To get over losing his job。 To love Mommy/Wendy。 And
until very recently； it had seemed that all those things were happening。 It was
only lately that Daddy had begun to have trouble。 Since he found those papers。
（This inhuman place makes human monsters。）
What did that mean？ He had prayed to God； but God hadn't told him。 And what
would Daddy do if he stopped working here？ He had tried to find out from Daddy's
mind； and had bee more and more convinced that Daddy didn't know。 The
strongest proof had e earlier this evening when Uncle Al had called his daddy
up on the phone and said mean things and Daddy didn't dare say anything back
because Uncle Al could fire him from this job just the way that Mr。 Crommert；
the Stovington headmaster； and the Board of Directors had fired him from his
schoolteaching job。 And Daddy was scared to death of that； for him and Mommy as
well as himself。
So he didn't dare say anything。 He could only watch helplessly and hope that
there really weren't any Indians at all； or if there were that they would be
content to wait for bigger game and let their little three…wagon train pass
unmolested。
But he couldn't believe it； no matter how hard he tried。
Things were worse at the Overlook now。
The snow was ing； and when it did； any prior options he had would be
abrogated。 And after the snow； what？ What then； when they were shut in and at
the mercy of whatever might have only been toying with them before？
（e out here and take your medicine！）
What then？ REDRUM。
He shivered in his bed and turned over again。 He could read more now。 Tomorrow
maybe he would try to call Tony； he would try to make Tony show him exactly what
REDRUM was and if there was any way he could prevent it。 He would risk the
nightmares。 He had to know。
Danny was still awake long after his parents' false sleep had bee the real
thing。 He rolled in his bed； twisting the sheets； grappling with a problem years
too big for him； awake in the night like a single sentinel on picket。 And
sometime after midnight； he slept too and then only the wind was awake； prying
at the hotel and hooting in its gables under the bright gimlet gaze of the
stars。
》
IN THE TRUCK
I see a bad moon a…rising。
I see trouble on the way。
I see earthquakes and lightnin'
I see bad times today。
Don't go 'round tonight；
It's bound to take your life；
There's a bad moon on the rise。*
Someone had added a very old Buick car radio under the hotel truck's
dashboard； and now； tinny and choked with static； the distinctive sound of John
Fogerty's Creedence Clearwater Revival band came out of the speaker。 Wendy and
Danny were on their way down to Sidewinder。 The day was clear and bright。 Danny
was turning Jack's orange library card over and over in his hands and seemed
cheerful enough； but Wendy thought he looked drawn and tired； as if be hadn't
been sleeping enough and was going on nervous energy alone。
The song ended and the disc jockey came on。 〃Yeah； that's Creedence。 And
speakin of bad moon； it looks like it may be risin over the KMTX listening area
before long； hard as it is to believe with the beautiful； springlike weather
we've enjoyed for the last couple…three days。 The KMTX Fearless Forecaster says
high pressure will give way by one o'clock this afternoon to a widespread low…
pressure area which is just gonna grind to a stop in our KMTX area； up where the
air is rare。 Temperatures will fall rapidly； and precipitation should start
around dusk。 Elevations under seven thousand feet； including the metro…Denver
area； can expect a mixture of sleet and snow； perhaps freezing on some roads；
and nothin but snow up here； cuz。 We're lookin at one to three inches below
seven thousand and possible accumulations of six to ten inches in Central
Colorado and on the Slope。 The Highway Advisory Board says that if you're
plannin to tour the mountains in your car this afternoon or tonight； you should
remember that the chain law will be in effect。 And don't go nowhere unless you
have to。 Remember；〃 the announcer added jocularly； 〃that's how the Donners got
into trouble。 They just weren't as close to the nearest Seven…Eleven as they
thought。〃
A Clairol mercial came on； and Wendy reached down and snapped the radio
off。 〃You mind？〃
〃Huh…uh； that's okay。〃 He glanced out at the sky； which was bright blue。
〃Guess Daddy picked just the right day to trim those hedge animals； didn't he？〃
〃I guess he did；〃 Wendy said。
〃Sure doesn't look much like snow； though；〃 Danny added hopefully。
〃Getting cold feet？〃 Wendy asked。 She was still thinking about that crack the
disc jockey had made about the Donner Party。
〃Nah； I guess not。〃
Well； she thought； this is the time。 If you're going to bring it up； do it now
or forever hold your peace。
〃Danny；〃 she said； making her voice as casual as possible； 〃would you be
happier if we went away from the Overlook？ If we didn't stay the winter？〃
Danny looked down at his hands。 〃I guess so；〃 he said。 〃Yeah。 But it's Daddy's
job。〃
〃Sometimes；〃 she said carefully； 〃I get the idea that Daddy might be happier
away from the Overlook； too。〃 They passed a sign which read SIDEWINDER 18 mi。
and then she took the truck cautiously around a hairpin and shifted up into
second。 She took no chances on these downgrades； they scared her silly。
〃Do you really think so？〃 Danny asked。 He looked at her with interest for a
moment and then shook his head。 〃No； I don't think so。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Because he's worried about us；〃 Danny said； choosing his words carefully。 It
was hard to explain； he understood so little of it himself。 He found himself
harking back to an incident he had told Mr。 Hallorann about； the big kid looking
at department store TV sets and wanting to steal one。 That had been distressing；
but at least it had been clear what was going on； even to Danny； then little
more than an infant。 But grownups were always in a turmoil； every possible
action muddied over by thoughts of the consequences； by self…doubt； by
selfimage； by feelings of love and responsibility。 Every possible choice seemed
to have drawbacks； and sometimes he didn't understand why the drawbacks were
drawbacks。 It was very hard。
〃He thinks 。。。〃 Danny began again； and then looked at his mother quickly。
She was watching the road； not looking at him； and he felt he could go on。
〃He thinks maybe we'll be lonely。 And then he thinks that he likes it here and
it's a good place for us。 He loves us and doesn't want us to be lonely 。。。 or
sad 。。。 but he thinks even if we are； it might be okay in the LONGRUN。 Do you
know LONGRUN？〃
She nodded。 〃Yes； dear。 I do。〃
〃He's worried that if we left he couldn't get another job。 That we'd have to
beg； or something。〃
〃Is that all？〃
〃No； but the rest is all mixed up。 Because he's different now。〃
〃Yes；〃 she said； almost sighing。 The grade eased a little and she shifted
cautiously back to third gear。
〃I'm not making this up； Mommy。 Honest to God。〃
〃I know that；〃 she said； and smiled。 〃Did Tony tell you？〃
〃No；〃 he said。 〃I