nking about。
He was going to start back； and then some impulse made him change his mind and
he went down to the playground instead。 It was funny how you never knew kids； he
thought。 He and Wendy had expected Danny would love the playground； it had
everything a kid could want。 But Jack didn't think the boy had been down half a
dozen times； if that。 He supposed if there had been another kid to play with； it
would have been different。
The gate squeaked slightly as he let himself in； and then there was crushed
gravel crunching under his feet。 He went first to the playhouse； the perfect
scale model of the Overlook itself。 It came up to his lower thigh； just about
Danny's height when he was standing up。 Jack hunkered down and looked in the
third…floor windows。
〃The giant has e to eat you all up in your beds；〃 he said hollowly。 〃Kiss
your Triple A rating goodbye。〃 But that wasn't funny； either。 You could open the
house simply by pulling it apart — it opened on a hidden hinge。 The inside was a
disappointment。 The walls were painted； but the place was mostly hollow。 But of
course it would have to be； he told himself； or how else could the kids get
inside？ What play furniture might go with the place in the summer was gone；
probably packed away in the equipment shed。 He closed it up and heard the small
click as the latch closed。
He walked over to the slide； set the hedge…clipper down； and after a glance
back at the driveway to make sure Wendy and Danny hadn't returned； he climbed to
the top and sat down。 This was the big kids' slide； but the fit was still
unfortably tight for his grownup ass。 How long had it been since he