imit but of course it had been new then and all
of them wearing masks）
（？？？？WHAT MASKS？？？？）
The car stopped above them； on the third floor。 She looked at Danny。 His face
was all eyes。 His mouth was pressed into a frightened； bloodless slit。 Above
them； the brass gate rattled back。 The elevator door thumped open； it thumped
open because it was time； the time had e； it was time to say
（Goodnight 。。。 goodnight 。。。 yes； it was lovely 。。。 no； i really can't
stay for the unmasking 。。。 early to bed； early to rise 。。。 oh； was that
Sheila？ 。。。 the monk？ 。。。 isn't that witty； Sheila ing as a monk？ 。。。
yes； goodnight 。。。good）
Thump。
Gears clashed。 The motor engaged。 The car began to whine back down。
〃Jack；〃 she whispered。 〃What is it？ What's wrong with it？〃
〃A short circuit；〃 he said。 His face was like wood。 〃I told you； it was a
short circuit。〃
〃I keep hearing voices in my head！〃 she cried。 〃What is it？ What's wrong？ I
feel like I'm going crazy！〃
〃What voices？〃 He looked at her with deadly blandness。
She turned to Danny。 〃Did you — ？〃
Danny nodded slowly。 〃Yes。 And music。 Like from a long time ago。 In my head。〃
The elevator car stopped again。 The hotel was silent； creaking； deserted。
Outside； the wind whined around the eaves in the darkness。
〃Maybe you are both crazy；〃 Jack said conversationally。 〃I don't hear a
goddamned thing except that elevator having a case of the electrical hiccups。 If
you two want to have duet hysterics； fine。 But count me out。〃
The elevator was ing down again。
Jack stepped to the right； where a glass…fronted box was mounted on the wall
at chest height。 He smashed