times — in the thousands — but 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： he'll do em yet。
And then she remembered； unfortably； 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。 Danny was beside Jack。 One of his
hands had fallen off his chest； and Danny replaced it gently； with love。
〃Are you sure； Mommy？〃
〃Yes。 It's the best thing； Danny。〃
〃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。 Danny had been cradling his father's head
when they went over the doorsills； but his hands slipped in Jack's greasy hair
as they went into the kitchen。 The back of his head struck the tiles； and Jack
began to moan and stir。
〃You got to use smoke；〃 Jack muttered quickly。 〃Now run and get me that
gascan。〃
Wendy and Danny exchanged tight； fearful glances。
〃Help me；〃 she said in a low voice。
For a moment Danny stood as if paralyzed by his father's face； and then he
moved jerkily to her side and helped her hold the left leg。 They dragged him
across the kitchen floor in a nightmare kind of slow motion； the only sounds the
faint； insectile buzz of the fluorescent lights and their own labored breathing。
When they reached the pantry； Wendy put Jack's feet down and turned to fumble
with the bolt。 Danny looked down at Jack； who was lying limp and relaxed again。
The shirttail had pulled out of the back of his pants as they dragged him and
Danny wondered if Daddy was too drunk to be cold。 It seemed wrong to lock him in
the pantry like a wild animal； but he had seen what he tried to do to Mommy。
Even upstairs he had known Daddy was going to do that。 He had heard them arguing
in his head。
（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； Mommy！〃 Danny warned。
Sobbing now； she yanked at the bolt with both hands。
〃Danny？〃 There was something softly menacing； if still blurry； in Jack's
voice。 〃That you； ole doc？〃
〃Just go to sleep； Daddy；〃 Danny said nervously。 〃It's bedtime； you know。〃
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。 I'll find it。。。〃 His words slurred off again。
Wendy pushed the pantry door open with her knee； hardly noticing the pungent
odor of dried fruit that wafted out。 She picked up Jack's feet again and dragged
him in。 She was gasping harshly now； at the limit of her strength。 As she yanked
the chain pull that turned on the light； Jack's eyes fluttered open again。
〃What are you doing？ Wendy？ What are you doing？〃
She stepped over him。
He was quick； amazingly quick。 One hand lashed out and she had to sidestep and
nearly fall out the door to avoid his grasp。 Still； he had caught a handful of
her bathrobe and there was a heavy purring noise as it ripped。 He was up on his
hands and knees now； his hair hanging in his eyes； like some heavy animal。 A
large dog 。。。 or a lion。
〃Damn you both； I know what you want。 But you're not going to get it。 This
hotel 。。。 it's mine。 It's me they want。 Me！ Me！〃
〃The door； Danny！〃 she screamed。 〃Shut the door！〃
He pushed the heavy wooden door shut with a slam； just as Jack leaped。 The
door latched and Jack thudded uselessly against it。
Danny's small hands groped at the bolt。 Wendy was too far away to help； the
issue of whether he would be locked in or free was going to be decided in two
seconds。 Danny missed his grip； found it again； and shot the bolt across just as
the latch began to jiggle madly up and down below it。 Then it stayed up and
there was a series of thuds as Jack slammed his shoulder against the door。 The
bolt； a quarter inch of steel in diameter； showed no signs of loosening。 Wendy
let her breath out slowly。
〃Let me out of here！〃 Jack raged。 〃Let me out！ Danny； doggone it； this is your
father and I want to get out！ Now do what I tell you！〃
Danny's hand moved automatically toward the bolt。 Wendy caught it and pressed
it between her breasts。
〃You mind your daddy； Danny！ You do what I say！ You do it or I'll give you a
hiding you'll never forget。 Open this door or I'll bash your fucking brains in！〃
Danny looked at her； pale as window glass。
They could hear his breath tearing in and out behind the half inch of solid
oak。
〃Wendy； you let me out！ Let me out right now！ You cheap pickle…plated cold…
cunt bitch！ You let me out！ I mean it！ Let me out of here and I'll let it go！ If
you don't； I'll mess you up！ I mean it！ I'll mess you up so bad your own mother
would pass you on the street！ Now open this door！〃
Danny moaned。 Wendy looked at him and saw he was going to faint in a moment。
〃e on； doc；〃 she said； surprised at the calmness of her own voices 〃It's
not your daddy talking； remember。 It's the hotel。〃
〃e hack here and let me out right NOW！〃 Jack screamed。 There was a
scraping； breaking sound as he attacked the inside of the door with his
fingernails。
〃It's the hotel；〃 Danny said。 〃It's the hotel。 I remember。〃 But he looked back
over his shoulder and his face was crumpled and terrified。
》
DANNY
It was three in the afternoon of a long； long day。
They were sitting on the big bed in their quarters。 Danny was turning the
purple VW model with the monster