the wall; she made her way up to the corner of the short
hallway。 She was about to turn the corner when the scream froze her; floating
down the stairwell and the elevator shaft:
〃Danny! e here; you pup! e here and take it like a man!〃
Jack。 On the second or third floor。 Looking for Danny。
She got around the corner; stumbled; almost fell。 Her breath caught in her
throat。 Something
(someone?)
huddled against the wall about a quarter of the way down from the stairwell。
She began to hurry faster; wincing every time her weight came down on her hurt
leg。 It was a man; she saw; and as she drew closer; she understood the meaning
of that buzzing motor。
It was Mr。 Hallorann。 He had e after all。
She eased to her knees beside him; offering up an incoherent prayer that he
was not dead。 His nose was bleeding; and a terrible gout of blood had spilled
out of his mouth。 The side of his face was a puffed purple bruise。 But he was
breathing; thank God for that。 It was ing in long; harsh draws that shook his
whole frame。
Looking at him more closel