The Shining

“Da

“Sleep, sleep. Nighty-night.”

“No!”

Pain ripping up her throat again. She winced against it. But he opened his eyes. They looked at her warily from bluish, shadowed sockets.

She made herself speak calmly, her eyes never leaving his. Her voice was low and husky, almost a whisper. It hurt to talk. “Listen to me, Da

Some kind of knowledge came slowly back into Da

“The Bad Stuff,” he whispered. “There was none of it here before, was there?”

“No. The hotel put it here. The…: ' She broke off in a fit of coughing and spat out more blood. Her throat already felt puffed to twice its size. “The hotel made him drink it. Did you hear those people he was talking to this morning?”

“Yes… the hotel people…”

“I heard them too. And that means the hotel is getting stronger. It wants to hurt all of us. But I think…, I hope…, that it can only do that through your daddy. He was the only one it could catch. Are you understanding me, Da

“The hotel caught Daddy,” He looked at Jack and groaned helplessly.

“I know you love your daddy. I do too. We have to remember that the hotel is trying to hurt him as much as it is us.” And she was convinced that was true. More, she thought that Da

The thought made her cold all over.

“I wish Daddy was all better,” Da

“Me too,” she said, and hugged Da

“Yes,” he said, and nodded. “I think… if we can get away from here… everything will be like it was. Where could we put him?”

“The pantry. There's food in there, and a good strong bolt on the outside. It's warm. And we can eat up the things from the refrigerator and the freezer. There will be plenty for all three of us until help comes.”

“Do we do it now?”

“Yes, right now. Before he wakes up.,”

Da

She picked up his legs and began to drag him along the floor. She had been married to him for nearly seven years, he had lain on top of her countless times-in the thousandsbut she had never realized how heavy he was. Her breath whistled painfully in and out of her hurt throat. Nevertheless, she felt better than she had in days. She was alive. Having just brushed so close to death, that was precious. And Jack was alive, too. By blind luck rather than plan, they had perhaps found the only way that would bring them all safely out.

Panting harshly, she paused a moment, holding Jack's feet against her hips. The surroundings reminded her of the old seafaring captain's cry in Treasure Island after old blind Pew had passed him the Black Spot: h'e'll do em yeti

And then she remembered, uncomfortably, that the old seadog had dropped dead mere seconds later.

“Are you all right, Mommy? Is he… is he too heavy?”

“I'll manage.” She began to drag him again. Da

“Are you sure, Mommy?”

“Yes. It's the best thing, Da

“It's like putting him in jail.”

“Only for awhile.”

“Okay, then. Are you sure you can do it?”

“Yes.”

But it was a near thing, at that. Da

“You got to use smoke,” Jack muttered quickly. “Now run and get me that gascan.”

Wendy and Da

“Help me,” she said in a low voice.

For a moment Da

When they reached the pantry, Wendy put Jack's feet down and turned to fumble with the bolt. Da

(If only we could all be out of here. Or if it was a dream I was having, back in Stovington. If only.)

The bolt was stuck.

Wendy pulled at it as hard as she could, but it wouldn't move. She couldn't retract the goddam bolt. It was stupid and unfair… she had opened it with no trouble at all when she had gone in to get the can of soup. Now it wouldn't move, and what was she going to do? They couldn't put him in the walk-in refrigerator; he would freeze or smother to death. But if they left him out and he woke up…

Jack stirred again on the floor.

“I'll take care of it,” he muttered. “I understand”

“He's waking up, Mommyl” Da

Sobbing now, she yanked at the bolt with both hands.

“Da

“Just go to sleep, Daddy,” Da

He looked up at his mother, still struggling with the bolt, and saw what was wrong immediately. She had forgotten to rotate the bolt before trying to withdraw it. The little catch was stuck in its notch.

“Here,” he said low, and brushed her trembling hands aside; his own were shaking almost as badly. He knocked the catch loose with the heel of his hand and the bolt drew back easily.

“Quick,” he said. He looked down. Jack's eyes bad fluttered open again and this time Daddy was looking directly at him, his gaze strangely flat and speculative.

“You copied it,” Daddy told him. “I know you did, But it's here somewhere. And I'll find it. That I promise you. IT find it…” His words slurred off again.