sk.theshining-第19部分
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trap molasses; cereals; glass jugs of rice; macaroni; spaghetti; ranked cans of fruit and fruit salad; a bushel of fresh apples that scented the whole room with autumn; dried raisins; prunes; and apricots (〃You got to be regular if you want to be happy;〃 Hallorann said; and pealed laughter at the coldpantry ceiling; where one old…fashioned light globe hung down on an iron chain); a deep bin filled with potatoes; and smaller caches of tomatoes; onions; turnips; squashes; and cabbages。
〃My word;〃 Wendy said as they came out。 But seeing all that fresh food after her thirty…dollar…a…week grocery budget so stunned her that she was unable to say just what her word was。
〃I'm runnin a bit late;〃 Hallorann said; checking his watch; 〃so I'll just let you go through the cabinets and the fridges as you get settled in。 There's cheeses; canned milk; sweetened condensed milk; yeast; bakin soda; a whole bagful of those Table Talk pies; a few bunches of bananas that ain't even near to ripe yet…〃
〃Stop;〃 she said; holding up a hand and laughing。 〃I'll never remember it all。
It's super。 And I promise to leave the place clean。〃
〃That's all I ask。〃 He turned to Jack。 〃Did Mr。 Ullman give you the rundown on the rats in his belfry?〃 Jack grinned。 〃He said there were possibly some in the attic; and Mr。 Watson said there might be some more down in the basement。 There must be two tons of paper down there; but I didn't see any shredded; as if they'd been using it to make nests。〃
〃That Watson;〃 Hallorann said; shaking his head in mock sorrow。 〃Ain't he the foulest…talking man you ever ran on?〃
〃He's quite a character;〃 Jack agreed。 His own father had been the foulest… talking man Jack had ever run on。
〃It's sort of a pity;〃 Hallorann said; leading them back toward the wide swinging doors that gave on the Overlook dining room。 〃There was money in that family; long ago。 It was Watson's granddad or great…granddad…I can't remember which…that built this place。〃
〃So I was told;〃 Jack said。
〃What happened?〃 Wendy asked。
〃Well; they couldn't make it go;〃 Hallorann said。 〃Watson will tell you the whole story…twice a day; if you let him。 The old man got a bee in his bonnet about the place。 He let it drag him down; I guess。 He had two boys and one of them was killed in a riding accident on the grounds while the hotel was still a… building。 That would have been 1908 or '09。 The old man's wife died of the flu; and then it was just the old man and his youngest son。 They ended up getting took back on as caretakers in the same hotel the old man had built。〃
〃It is sort of a pity;〃 Wendy said。
〃What happened to him? The old man?〃 Jack asked。
〃He plugged his finger into a light socket by mistake and that was the end of him;〃 Hallorann said。 〃Sometime in the early thirties before the Depression closed this place down for ten years。
〃Anyway; Jack; I'd appreciate it if you and your wife would keep an eye out for rats in the kitchen; as well。 If you should see them 。 。 。 traps; not poison。〃 Jack blinked。 〃Of course。 Who'd want to put rat poison in the kitchen?〃 Hallorann laughed derisively。 〃Mr。 Ullman; that's who。 That was his bright idea last fall。 I put it to him; I said: ‘What if we all get up here next May; Mr。 Ullman; and I serve the traditional opening night dinner'…which just happens to be salmon in a very nice sauce…'and everybody gits sick and the doctor es and says to you; 〃Ullman; what have you been doing up here? You've got eighty of the richest folks in America suffering from rat poisoning!〃 〃' Jack threw his head back and bellowed laughter。 〃What did Ullman say?〃 Hallorann tucked his tongue into his cheek as if feeling for a bit of food in there。 〃He said: ‘Get some traps; Hallorann。' 〃 This time they all laughed; even Danny; although he was not pletely sure what the joke was; except it had something to do with Mr。 Ullman; who didn't know everything after all。
The four of them passed through the dining room; empty and silent now; with its fabulous western exposure on the snow…dusted peaks。 Each of the white linen tablecloths had been covered with a sheet of tough clear plastic。 The rug; now rolled up for the season; stood in one corner like a sentinel on guard duty。
Across the wide room was a double set of batwing doors; and over them an old… fashioned sign lettered in gilt script: The Colorado Lounge。
Following his gaze; Hallorann said; 〃If you're a drinkin man; I hope you brought your own supplies。 That place is picked clean。 Employee's party last night; you know。 Every maid and bellhop in the place is goin around with a headache today; me included。〃
〃I don't drink;〃 Jack said shortly。 They went back to the lobby。
It had cleared greatly during the half hour they'd spent in the kitchen。 The long main room was beginning to take on the quiet; deserted look that Jack supposed they would bee familiar with soon enough。 The high…backed chairs were empty。 The nuns who had been sitting by the fire were gone; and the fire itself was down to a bed of fortably glowing coals。 Wendy glanced out into the parking lot and saw that all but a dozen cars had disappeared。
She found herself wishing they could get back in the VW and go back to Boulder。 。 。 or anywhere else。
Jack was looking around for Ullman; but he wasn't in the lobby。
A young maid with her ash…blond hair pinned up on her neck came over。 〃Your luggage is out on the porch; Dick。〃
〃Thank you; Sally。〃 He gave her a peck on the forehead。 〃You have yourself a good winter。 Getting married; I hear。〃 He turned to the Torrances as she strolled away; backside twitching pertly。
〃I've got to hurry along if I'm going to make that plane。 I want to wish you all the best。 Know you'll have it。〃
〃Thanks;〃 Jack said。 〃You've been very kind。〃
〃I'll take good care of your kitchen;〃 Wendy promised again。 〃Enjoy Florida。〃
〃I always do;〃 Hallorann said。 He put his hands on his knees and bent down to Danny。 〃Last chance; guy。 Want to e to Florida?〃
〃I guess not;〃 Danny said; smiling。
〃Okay。 Like to give me a hand out to my car with my bags?〃
〃If my mommy says I can。〃
〃You can;〃 Wendy said; 〃but you'll have to have that jacket buttoned。〃 She leaned forward to do it but Hallorann was ahead of her; his large brown fingers moving with smooth dexterity。
〃I'll send him right back in;〃 Hallorann said。
〃Fine;〃 Wendy said; and followed them to the door。 Jack was still looking around for Ullman。 The last of the Overlooks guests were checking out at the desk。
》
THE SHINING
There were four bags in a pile just outside the door。 Three of them were giant; battered old suitcases covered with black imitation alligator hide。 The last was an oversized zipper bag with a faded tartan skin。
〃Guess you can handle that one; can't you?〃 Hallorann asked him。 He picked up two of the big cases in one hand and hoisted the other under his arm。
〃Sure;〃 Danny said。 He got a grip on it with both hands and followed the cook down the porch steps; trying manfully not to grunt and give away how heavy it was。
A sharp and cutting fall wind had e up since they had arrived; it whistled across the parking lot; making Danny wince his eyes down to slits as he carried the zipper bag in front of him; bumping on his knees。 A few errant aspen leaves rattled and turned across the now mostly deserted asphalt; making Danny think momentarily of that night last week when he had wakened out of his nightmare and had heard…or thought he heard; at least…Tony telling him not to go。
Hallorann set his bags down by the trunk of a beige Plymouth Fury。 〃This ain't much car;〃 he confided to Danny; 〃just a rental job。 My Bessie's on the other end。 She's a car。 1950 Cadillac; and does she run sweet? I'll tell the world。 I keep her in Florida because she's too old for all this mountain climbing。 You need a hand with that?〃
〃No; sir;〃 Danny said。 He managed to carry it the last ten or twelve steps without grunting and set it down with a large sigh of relief。
〃Good boy;〃 Hallorann said。 He produced a large key ring from the pocket of his blue serge jacket and unlocked the trunk。 As he li