快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

in　the　adjoining　room。　
　　〃Pressure　gauge　is　here。〃　Watson　tapped　it。　〃Pounds　per　square　inch；　psi。　I　
guess　you'd　know　that。　I　got　her　up　to　a　hundred　now；　and　the　rooms　get　a　little　
chilly　at　night。　Few　guests　plain；　what　the　fuck。　They're　crazy　to　e　up　
here　in　September　anyway。　Besides；　this　is　an　old　baby。　Got　more　patches　on　her　
than　a　pair　of　welfare　overalls。〃　Out　came　the　bandanna。　A　honk。　A　peek。　Back　it　
went。　
　　〃I　got　me　a　fuckin　cold；〃　Watson　said　conversationally。　〃I　get　one　every　
September。　I　be　tinkering　down　here　with　this　old　whore；　then　I　be　out　cuttin　
the　grass　or　rakin　that　rogue　court。　Get　a　chill　and　catch　a　cold；　my　old　mum　
used　to　say。　God　bless　her；　she　been　dead　six　year。　The　cancer　got　her。　Once　the　
cancer　gets　you；　you　might　as　well　make　your　will。　
　　〃You'll　want　to　keep　your　press　up　to　no　more　than　fifty；　maybe　sixty。　Mr。　
Ullman；　he　says　to　heat　the　west　wing　one　day；　central　wing　the　next；　east　wing　
the　day　after　that。　Ain't　he　a　crazyman？　I　hate　that　little　fucker。　Yap…yap…yap　
all　the　livelong　day；　he's　just　like　one　a　those　little　dogs　that　bites　you　on　
the　ankle　then　run　around　an　pee　all　over　the　rug。　If　brains　was　black　powder　he　
couldn't　blow　his　own　nose。　It's　a　pity　the　things　you　see　when　you　ain't　got　a　
gun。　
　　〃Look　here。　You　open　an　close　these　ducts　by　pullin　these　rings。　I　got　em　all　
marked　for　you。　The　blue　tags　all　go　to　the　rooms　in　the　east　wing。　Red　tags　is　


　
　
the　middle。　Yellow　is　the　west　wing。　When　you　go　to　heat　the　west　wing；　you　got　
to　remember　that's　the　side　of　the　hotel　that　really　catches　the　weather。　When　
it　whoops；　those　rooms　get　as　cold　as　a　frigid　woman　with　an　ice　cube　up　her　
works。　You　can　run　your　press　all　the　way　to　eighty　on　west　wing　days。　I　would；　
anyway。〃　
　　〃The　thermostats　upstairs　—　〃　Jack　began。　
　　Watson　shook　his　bead　vehemently；　making　his　fluffy　hair　bounce　on　his　skull。　
〃They　ain't　hooked　up。　They're　just　there　for　show。　Some　of　these　people　from　
California；　they　don't　think　things　is　right　unless　they　got　it　hot　enough　to　
grow　a　palm　tree　in　their　fuckin　bedroom。　All　the　heat　es　from　down　here。　Got　
to　watch　the　press；　though。　See　her　creep？〃　
　　He　tapped　the　main　dial；　which　had　crept　from　a　hundred　pounds　per　square　inch　
to　a　hundred　and　two　as　Watson　soliloquized。　Jack　felt　a　sudden　shiver　cross　his　
back　in　a　hurry　and　thought：　The　goose　just　walked　over　my　grave。　Then　Watson　
gave　the　pressure　wheel　a　spin　and　dumped　the　boiler　off：　There　was　a　great　
hissing；　and　the　needle　dropped　back　to　ninety…one。　Watson　twisted　the　valve　
shut　and　the　hissing　died　reluctantly。　
　　〃She　creeps；〃　Watson　said。　〃You　tell　that　fat　little　peckerwood　Ullman；　he　
drags　out　the　account　books　and　spends　three　hours　showing　how　he　can't　afford　a　
new　one　until　1982。　I　tell　you；　this　whole　place　is　gonna　go　sky…high　someday；　
and　I　just　hope　that　fat　fuck's　here　to　ride　the　rocket。　God；　I　wish　I　could　be　
as　charitable　as　my　mother　was。　She　could　see　the　good　in　everyone。　Me；　I'm　just　
as　mean　as　a　snake　with　the　shingles。　What　the　fuck；　a　man　can't　help　his　
nature。　
　　〃Now　you　got　to　remember　to　e　down　here　twice　a　day　and　once　at　night　
before　you　rack　in。　You　got　to　check　the　press。　If　you　forget；　it'll　just　creep　
and　creep　and　like　as　not　you　an　your　fambly'll　wake　up　on　the　fuckin　moon。　You　
just　dump　her　off　a　little　and　you'll　have　no　trouble。〃　
　　〃What's　top　end？〃　
　　〃Oh；　she's　rated　for　two…fifty；　but　she'd　blow　long　before　that　now。　You　
couldn't　get　me　to　e　down　an　stand　next　to　her　when　that　dial　was　up　to　one　
hundred　and　eighty。〃　
　　〃There's　no　automatic　shutdown？〃　
　　〃No；　there　ain't。　This　was　built　before　such　things　were　required。　Federal　
government's　into　everything　these　days；　ain't　it？　FBI　openin　mail；　CIA　buggin　
the　goddam　phones　。。。　and　look　what　happened　to　that　Nixon。　Wasn't　that　a　
sorry　sight？　
　　〃But　if　you　just　e　down　here　regular　an　check　the　press；　you'll　be　fine。　An　
remember　to　switch　those　ducks　around　like　he　wants。　Won't　none　of　the　rooms　get　
much　above　forty…five　unless　we　have　an　amazin　warm　winter。　And　you'll　have　your　
own　apartment　just　as　warm　as　you　like　it。〃　
　　〃What　about　the　plumbing？〃　
　　〃Okay；　I　was　just　getting　to　that。　Over　here　through　this　arch。〃　
　　They　walked　into　a　long；　rectangular　room　that　seemed　to　stretch　for　miles。　
Watson　pulled　a　cord　and　a　single　seventyfive…watt　bulb　cast　a　sickish；　swinging　
glow　over　the　area　they　were　standing　in。　Straight　ahead　was　the　bottom　of　the　
elevator　shaft；　heavy　greased　cables　descending　to　pulleys　twenty　feet　in　
diameter　and　a　huge；　grease…clogged　motor。　Newspapers　were　everywhere；　bundled　


　
　
and　banded　and　boxed。　Other　cartons　were　marked　Records　or　Invoices　or　Receipts…　
SAV1　The　smell　was　yellow　and　moldy。　Some　of　the　cartons　were　falling　apart；　
spilling　yellow　flimsy　sheets　that　might　have　been　twenty　years　old　out　onto　the　
floor。　Jack　stared　around；　fascinated。　The　Overlook's　entire　history　might　be　
here；　buried　in　these　rotting　cartons。　
　　〃That　elevator's　a　bitch　to　keep　runnin；〃　Watson　said；　jerking　his　thumb　at　
it。　〃I　know　Ullman's　buying　the　state　elevator　inspector　a　few　fancy　dinners　to　
keep　the　repairman　away　from　that　fucker。　
　　〃Now；　here's　your　central　plumbin　core。〃　In　front　of　them　five　large　pipes；　
each　of　them　wrapped　in　insulation　and　cinched　with　steel　bands；　rose　into　the　
shadows　and　out　of　sight。　
　　Watson　pointed　to　a　cobwebby　shelf　beside　the　utility　shaft。　There　were　a　
number　of　greasy　rags　on　it；　and　a　looseleaf　binder。　〃That　there　is　all　your　
plumbin　schematics；〃　he　said。　〃I　don't　think　you'll　have　any　trouble　with　
leaks　—　never　has　been　—　but　sometimes　the　pipes　freeze　up。　Only　way　to　stop　that　
is　to　run　the　faucets　a　little　bit　durin　the　nights；　but　there's　over　four　
hundred　taps　in　this　fuckin　palace。　That　fat　fairy　upstairs　would　scream　all　the　
way　to　Denver　when　he　saw　the　water　bill。　Ain't　that　right？〃　
　　〃I'd　say　that's　a　remarkably　astute　analysis。〃　
　　Watson　looked　at　him　admiringly。　〃Say；　you　really　are　a　college　fella　aren't　
you？　Talk　just　like　a　book。　I　admire　that；　as　long　as　the　fella　ain't　one　of　
those　fairy…boys。　Lots　of　em　are。　You　know　who　stirred　up　all　those　college　
riots　a　few　years　ago？　The　hommasexshuls；　that's　who。　They　get　frustrated　an　
have　to　cut　loose。　in　out　of　the　closet；　they　call　it。　Holy　shit；　I　don't　
know　what　the　world's　in　to。　
　　〃Now；　if　she　freezes；　she　most　likely　gonna　freeze　right　up　in　this　shaft。　No　
heat；　you　see。　If　it　happens；　use　this。〃　He　reached　into　a　broken　orange　crate　
and　produced　a　small　gas　torch。　
　　〃You　just　unstrap　the　insulation　when　you　find　the　ice　plug　and　put　the　heat　
right　to　her。　Get　it？〃　
　　〃Yes。　But　what　if　a　pipe　freezes　outside　the　utility　core？〃　
　　〃That　won't　happen　if　you're　doin　your　job　and　keepin　the　place　heated。　You　
can't　get　to　the　other　pipes　anyway。　Don't　you　fret　about　it。　You'll　have　no　
trouble。　Beastly　place　down　here。　Cobwebby。　Gives　me　the　horrors；　it　does。〃　
　　〃Ullman　said　the　first　winter　caretaker　killed　his　family　and　himself。〃　
　　〃Yeah；　that　guy　Grady。　He　was　a　bad　actor；　I　knew　that　the　minute　I　saw　him。　
Always　grinnin　like　an　egg…suck　dog。　That　was　when　they　were　just　startin　out　
here　and　that　fat　fuck　Ullman；　he　woulda　hired　the　Boston　Strangler　if　he'd've　
worked　for　minimum　wage。　Was　a　ranger　from　the　National　Park　that　found　em；　the　
phone　was　out。　All　of　em　up　in　the　west　wing　on　the　third　floor；　froze　solid。　
Too　bad　about　the　little　girls。　Eight　and　six；　they　was。　Cute　as　cut…buttons。　
Oh；　that　was　a　hell　of　a　mess。　That　Ullman；　he　manages　some　honky…tonky　resort　
place　down　in　Florida　in　the　off…season；　and　he　caught　a　plane　up　to　Denver　and　
hired　a　sleigh　to　take　him　up　here　from　Sidewinder　because　the　roads　were　
closed　—　a　sleigh；　can　you　believe　that？　He　about　split　a　gut　tryin　to　keep　it　
out　of　the　papers。　Did　pretty　well；　I　got　to　give　him　that。　There　was　an　item　in　
the　Denver　Post；　and　of　course　the　bituary　in　that　pissant　little　rag　they　have　
down　in　Estes　Park；　but　that　was　just　about　all。　Pretty　good；　considerin　the　


　
　
reputation　this　place　has　got。　I　expected　some　reporter　would　dig　it　all　up　
again　and　just　sorta　put　Grady　in　it　as　an　excuse　to　rake　over　the　scandals。〃　
　　〃What　scandals？〃　
　　Watson　shrugged。　〃Any　big　hotels　have　got　scandals；〃　he　said。　〃Just　like　every　
big　hotel　has　got　a　ghost。　Why？　Hell；　people　e　and　go。　Sometimes　one　of　em　
will　pop　off　in　his　room；　heart　attack　or　stroke　or　something　like　that。　Hotels　
are　superstitious　places。　No　thirteenth　floor　or　room　thirteen；　no　mirrors　on　
the　back　of　the　door　you　e　in　through；　stuff　like　that。　Why；　we　lost　a　lady　
just　this　last　July。　Ullman　had　to　take　care　of　that；　and　you　can　bet　your　ass　
he　did。　That's　what　they　pay　him　twenty…two　thousand　bucks　a　season　for；　and　as　
much　as　I　dislike　the　little　prick；　he　earns　it。　It's　like　some　people　just　e　
here　to　throw　up　and　they　hire　a　guy　like　Ullman　to　clean　up　the　messes。　Here's　
this　woman；　must　be　sixty　fuckin　years　old　—　my　age！　—　and　her　hair's　dyed　just　as　
red　as　a　whore's　stoplight；　tits　saggin　just　about　down　to　her　belly　button　on　
account　of　she　ain't　wearin　no　brassy…ear；　big　varycoarse　veins　all　up　and　down　
her　legs　so　they　look　like　a　couple　of　goddam　roadmaps；　the　jools　drippin　off　
her　neck　and　arms　an　hangin　out　her　ears。　And　she's　got　this　kid　with　her；　he　
can't　be　no　more　than　seventeen；　with　hair　down　to　his　asshole　and　his　crotch　
bulgin　'like　he　stuffed　it　with　the　funnypages。　So　they're　here　a　week；　ten　days　
maybe；　and　every　night　it's　the　same　drill。　Down　in　the　Colorado　Lounge　from　
five　to　seven；　her　suckin　up　singapore　slings　like　they're　gonna　outlaw　em　
tomorrow　and　him　with　just　the　one　bottle　of　Olympia；　suckin　it；　makin　it　last。　
And　she'd　be　makin　jokes　and　sayin　all　these　witty　things；　and　every　time　she　
said　one　he'd　grin　just　like　a　fuckin　ape；　like　she　had　strings　tied　to　the　
corners　of　his　mouth。　Only　after　a　few　days　you　could　see　it　was　gettin　harder　
an　harder　for　him　to　grin；　and　God　knows　what　he　had　to　think　about　to　get　his　
pump　primed　by　bedtime。　Well；　they'd　go　in　for　dinner；　him　walkin　and　her　
staggerin；　drunk　as　a　coot；　you　know；　and　he'd　be　pinchin　the　waitresses　and　
grinnin　at　em　when　she　wasn't　lookin。　Hell；　we　even　had　bets　on　how　long　he'd　
last。〃　
　　Watson　shrugged。　
　　〃Then　he　es　down　one　night　around　ten；　sayin　his　'wife'　is　'indisposed'　—　　
which　meant　she　was　passed　out　again　like　every　other　night　they　was　there　—　and　
he's　goin　to　get　her　some　stomach　medicine。　So　off　he　goes　in　the　little　Porsche　
they　e　in；　and　that's　the　last　we　see　of　him。　Next　morning　she　es　down　and　
tries　to　put　on　this　big　act；　but　all　day　she's　gettin　paler　an　paler；　and　Mr。　
Ullman　asks　her；　sorta　diplomatic…like；　would　she　like　him　to　notify　the　state　
cops；　just　in　case　maybe　he　had　a　little　accident　or　something。　She's　on　him　
like　a　cat。　No…no…no；　he's　a　fine　driver；　she　isn't　worried；　everything's　under　
control；　he'll　be　back　for　dinner。　So　that　afternoon　she　steps　into　the　Colorado　
around　three　and　never　has　no　dinner　at　all。　She　goes　up　to　her　room　around　ten…　
thirty；　and　that's　the　last　time　anybody　saw　her　alive。〃　
　　〃What　happened？〃　
　　〃County　coroner　said　she　took　about　thirty　sleepin　pills　on　top　of　all　the　
booze。　Her　husband　showed　up　the　next　day；　some　big…shot　lawyer　from　New　York。　
He　gave　old　Ullman　four　different　shades　of　holy　hell。　I'll　sue　this　an　I'll　sue　
that　an　when　I'm　through　you　won't　even　be　able　to　find　a　clean　pair　of　
underwear；　stuff　like　that。　But　Ullman's　good；　the　sucker。　Ullman　got　him　


　
　
quieted　down。　Probably　asked　that　bigshot　how　he'd　like　to　see　his　wife　splashed　
all　over　the　New　York　papers：　Wife　of　Prominent　New　York　Blah　Blah　Found　Dead　
With　Bellyful　of　Sleeping　Pills。　After　playing　hide…the…salami　with　a　kid　young　
enough　to　be　her　grandson。　
　　〃The　state　cops　found　the　Porsche　in　the　back　of　this　allnight　burger　joint　
down　in　Lyons；　and　Ullman　pulled　a　few　strings　to　get　it　released　to　that　
lawyer。　Then　both　of　them　ganged　up　on　old　Archer　Houghton；　which　is　the　county　
coron