his bare fist against it。 Glass tinkled inward。
Blood dripped from two of his knuckles。 He reached in and took out a key with a
long； smooth barrel。
〃Jack； no。 Don't。〃
〃I am going to do my job。 Now leave me alone； Wendy！〃
She tried to grab his arm。 He pushed her backward。 Her feet tangled in the hem
of her robe and she fell to the carpet with an ungainly thump。 Danny cried out
shrilly and fell on his knees beside her。 Jack turned back to the elevator and
thrust the key into the socket。
The elevator cables disappeared and the bottom of the car came into view in
the small window。 A second later Jack turned the key hard。 There was a grating；
screeching sound as the elevator car came to an instant standstill。 For a moment
the declutched motor in the basement whined even louder； and then its circuit
breaker cut in and the Overlook went unearthly still。 The night wind outside
seemed very loud by parison。 Jack looked stupidly at the gray metal elevator
door。 There were three splotches of blood below the keyhole from his lacerated
knuckles。
He turned back to Wendy and Danny for a moment。 She was sitting up； and Danny
had his arm around her。 They were both staring at him carefully； as if he was a
stranger they had never seen before； possibly a dangerous one。 He opened his
mouth； not sure what was going to e out。
〃It。。。 Wendy； it's my job。〃
She said clearly： 〃Fuck your job〃
He turned back to the elevator； worked his fingers into the crack that ran
down the right side of the door； and got it to open a little way。 Then he was
able to get his whole weight on it and threw the door open。
The car had stopp