〃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