must have been tooling along at better
than sixty miles an hour had floated the Buick all the way around in a 360°
turn。 And there were still miles to travel with God alone knew what at the other
end of them。 He was terrified for the boy。 Now it was almost ten minutes to
seven and he had this whole song and dance to go through again。
〃Somebody is in trouble up there；〃 he said very carefully。 〃The son of the
caretaker。〃
〃Who？ Torrance's boy？ Now what kind of trouble could he be in？〃
〃I don't know；〃 Hallorann muttered。 He felt sick with the time this was
taking。 He was speaking with a country man； and he knew that all country men
feel a similar need to approach their business obliquely； to smell around its
corners and sides before plunging into the middle of dealing。 But there was no
time； because now he was one scared nigger and if this went on much longer he
just might decide to cut and run。
〃Look；〃 he said。 〃Please。 I need to go up there and I have to have a
snowmobile to get there。 I'll pay your price； but for God's sake let me get on
with my business！〃
〃All right；〃 Durkin said； unperturbed。 〃If Howard sent you； that's good
enough。 You take this ArcticCat。 I'll put five gallons of gas in the can。 Tank's
full。 She'll get you up and back down； I guess。〃
〃Thank you；〃 Hallorann said； not quite steadily。
〃I'll take twenty dollars。 That includes the ethyl。〃
Hallorann fumbled a twenty out of his wallet and handed it over。 Durkin tucked
it into one of his shirt pockets with hardly a look。
〃Guess maybe we better trade jackets； too；〃 Durkin said； pulling off his
parka。 〃That overcoat of yours ain't gonna b