《The Shining 原版小说》

下载本书

添加书签

The Shining 原版小说- 第55部分


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!
cathedral; and it looked to me like a little black mass had been going on after 
hours。〃 
  〃I hope that's metaphorical; Jack。〃 Al's voice sounded frighteningly cold。 
  〃It is。 But I did find out — 〃 
  〃I know the hotel's history。〃 
  Jack ran a hand through his hair。 〃So I called him up and poked him with it。 I 
admit it wasn't very bright; and I sure wouldn't do it again。 End of story。〃 
  〃Stu says you're planning to do a little dirty…laundry…airing yourself。〃 
  〃Stu is an asshole!〃 he barked into the phone。 〃I told him I had an idea of 
writing about the Overlook; yes。 I do。 I think this place forms an index of the 
whole post…World War II American character。 That sounds like an inflated claim; 
stated so baldly 。。。 I know it does 。。。 but it's all here; Al! My God; it 
could be a great book。 But it's far in the future; I can promise you that; I've 
got more on my plate right now than I can eat; and — 〃 
  〃Jack; that's not good enough。〃 
  He found himself gaping at the black receiver of the phone; unable to believe 
what he had surely heard。 〃What? Al; did you say — ?〃 
  〃I said what I said。 How long is far in the future; Jack? For you it may be 
two years; maybe five。 For me it's thirty or forty; because I expect to be 
associated with the Overlook for a long time。 The thought of you doing some sort 
of a scum…job on my hotel and passing it off as a great piece of American 
writing; that makes me sick。〃 
  Jack was speechless。 
  〃I tried to help you; Jacky…boy。 We went through the war together; and I 
thought I owed you some help。 You remember the war?〃 
  〃I remember it;〃 he muttered; but the coals of resentment had begun to glow 
around his heart。 First Ullman; then Wendy; now Al。 What was this? National 
Let's Pick Jack Torrance Apart Week? He clamped his lips more tightly together; 
reached for his cigarettes; and knocked them off onto the floor。 Had he ever 
liked this cheap prick talking to him from his mahogany…lined den in Vermont? 
Had he really? 


 
 
  〃Before you hit that Hatfield kid;〃 Al was saying; 〃I had talked the Board out 
of letting you go and even had them swung around to considering tenure。 You blew 
that one for yourself。 I got you this hotel thing; a nice quiet place for you to 
get yourself together; finish your play; and wait it out until Harry Effinger 
and I could convince the rest of those guys that they made a big mistake。 Now it 
looks like you want to chew my arm off on your way to a bigger killing。 Is that 
the way you say thanks to your friends; Jack?〃 
  〃No;〃 he whispered。 
  He didn't dare say more。 His head was throbbing with the hot; acid…etched 
words that wanted to get out。 He tried desperately to think of Danny and Wendy; 
depending on him; Danny and Wendy sitting peacefully downstairs in front of the 
fire and working on the first of the second…grade reading primers; thinking 
everything was A…OK。 If he lost this job; what then? Off to California in that 
tired old VW with the distintegrating fuel pump like a family of dustbowl Okies? 
He told himself he would get down on his knees and beg Al before he let that 
happen; but still the words struggled to pour out; and the hand holding the hot 
wires of his rage felt greased。 
  〃What?〃 Al said sharply。 
  〃No;〃 he said。 〃That is not the way I treat my friends。 And you know it。〃 
  〃How do I know it? At the worst; you're planning to smear my hotel by digging 
up bodies that were decently buried years ago。 At the best; you call up my 
temperamental but extremely petent hotel manager and work him into a frenzy 
as part of some 。。。 some stupid kid's game。〃 
  〃It was more than a game; Al。 It's easier for you。 You don't have to take some 
rich friend's charity。 You don't need a friend in court because you are the 
court。 The fact that you were one step from a brown…bag lush goes pretty much 
unmentioned; doesn't it?〃 
  〃I suppose it does;〃 Al said。 His voice had dropped a notch and he sounded 
tired of the whole thing。 〃But Jack; Jack 。。。 I can't help that。 I can't 
change that。〃 
  〃I know;〃 Jack said emptily。 〃Am I fired? I guess you better tell me if I am。〃 
  〃Not if you'll do two things for me。〃 
  〃All right。〃 
  〃Hadn't you better hear the conditions before you accept them?〃 
  〃No。 Give me your deal and I'll take it。 There's Wendy and Danny to think 
about。 If you want my balls; I'll send them airmail。〃 
  〃Are you sure selfpity is a luxury you can afford; Jack?〃 
  He had closed his eyes and slid an Excedrin between his dry lips。 〃At this 
point I feel it's the only one I can afford。 Fire away 。。。 no pun intended。〃 
  Al was silent for a moment。 Then he said: 〃First; no more calls to Ullman。 Not 
even if the place burns down。 If that happens; call the maintenance man; that 
guy who swears all the time; you know who I mean 。。。〃 
  〃Watson。〃 
  〃Yes。〃 
  〃Okay。 Done。〃 
  〃Second; you promise me; Jack。 Word of honor。 No book about a famous Colorado 
mountain hotel with a history。〃 
  For a moment his rage was so great that be literally could not speak。 The 


 
 
blood beat loudly in his ears。 It was like getting a call from some twentieth… 
century Medici prince 。。。 no portraits of my family with their warts showing; 
please; or back to the rabble you'll go。 I subsidize no pictures but pretty 
pictures。 When you paint the daughter of my good friend and business partner; 
please omit birthmark or back to the rabble you'll go。 Of course we're friends。。。 
we are both civilized men aren't we? We've shared bed and board and bottle。 
We'll always be friends; and the dog collar I have on you will always be ignored 
by mutual consent; and I'll take good and benevolent care of you。 All I ask in 
return is your soul。 Small item。 We can even ignore the fact that you've handed 
it over; the way we ignore the dog collar。 Remember; my talented friend; there 
are Michelangelos begging everywhere in the streets of Rome 。。。 
  〃Jack? You there?〃 
  He made a strangled noise that was intended to be the word yes。 
  Al's voice was firm and very sure of itself。 〃I really don't think I'm asking 
so much; Jack。 And there will be other books。 You just can't expect me to 
subsidize you while you 。。。〃 
  〃All right; agreed。〃 
  〃I don't want you to think I'm trying to control your artistic life; Jack。 You 
know me better than that。 It's just that  〃 
  〃What?〃 
  〃Is Derwent still involved with the Overlook? Somehow?〃 
  〃I don't see how that can possibly be any concern of yours; Jack。〃 
  〃No;〃 he said distantly。 〃I suppose it isn't。 Listen; Al; I think I hear Wendy 
calling me for something。 I'll get back to you。〃 
  〃Sure thing; Jacky…boy。 We'll have a good talk。 How are things? Dry?〃 
  YOU'VE GOT YOUR POUND OF FLESH BLOOD AND ALL NOW CAN'T YOU LEAVE 
ME ALONE?) 
  〃As a bone。〃 
  〃Here too。 I'm actually beginning to enjoy sobriety。 If — 〃 
  〃I'll get back; Al。 Wendy — 〃 
  〃Sure。 Okay。〃 
  And so he had hung up and that was when the cramps had e; hitting him like 
lightning bolts; making him curl up in front of the telephone like a penitent; 
hands over his belly; head throbbing like a monstrous bladder。 
  The moving

小提示:按 回车 [Enter] 键 返回书目,按 ← 键 返回上一页, 按 → 键 进入下一页。 赞一下 添加书签加入书架