〃Nothing；〃 he muttered。
She shifted back to second as the grade steepened again。 〃No； doc； please
don't say that。 This talk is something we should have had weeks ago； I think。 So
please。 What is it you know？ I won't be mad。 I can't be mad； because this is too
important。 Talk straight to me。〃
〃I know how you feel about her；〃 Danny said； and sighed。
〃How do I feel？〃
〃Bad；〃 Danny said； and then rhyming； singsong； frightening her： 〃Bad。 Sad。
Mad。 It's like she wasn't your mommy at all。 Like she wanted to eat you。〃 He
looked at her； frightened。 〃And I don't like it there。 She's always thinking
about how she would be better for me than you。 And how she could get me away
from you。 Mommy； I don't want to go there。 I'd rather be at the Overlook than
there。〃
Wendy was shaken。 Was it that bad between her and hermother？ God； what hell
for the boy if it was and he could really read their thoughts for each other。
She suddenly felt more naked than naked； as if she had been caught in an obscene
act。
〃All right；〃 she said。 〃All right； Danny。〃
〃You're mad at me；〃 he said in a small； near…to…tears voice。
〃No； I'm not。 Really I'm not。 I'm just sort of shook up。〃 They were passing a
SIDEWINDER 15 mi。 sign； and Wendy relaxed a little。 From here on in the road was
better。
〃I want to ask you one more question； Danny。 I want you to answer it as
truthfully as you can。 Will you do that？〃
〃Yes； Mommy；〃 he said； almost whispering。
〃Has your daddy been drinking again？〃
〃No；〃 he said； and smothered the two words that rose behind his lips after
that simple negative： Not yet。
Wendy relaxed a little more。 She