第55部分(第1/7 頁)

to　block　Danny's　retreat。　They　were　bare　of　snow　except　for　powdery　ruffs　around

their　necks　and　muzzles。　They　were　all　staring　at　him。

His　breath　was　racing　now；　and　the　panic　was　like　a　rat　behind　his　forehead；

twisting　and　gnawing。　He　fought　the　panic　and　he　fought　the　snowshoes。

（Daddy's　voice：　No；　don't　fight　them；　doc。　Walk　on　them　like　they　were　your

own　feet。　Walk　with　them。）

（Yes；　Daddy。）

He　began　to　walk　again；　trying　to　regain　the　easy　rhythm　he　had　practiced　with

his　daddy。　Little　by　little　it　began　to　e；　but　with　the　rhythm　came　an

awareness　of　just　how　tired　he　was；　how　much　his　fear　had　exhausted　him。　The

tendons　of　his　thighs　and　calves　and　ankles　were　hot　and　trembly。　Ahead　he　could

see　the　Overlook；　mockingly　distant；　seeming　to　stare　at　him　with　its　many

windows；　as　if　this　were　some　sort　of　contest　in　which　it　was　mildly　interested。

Danny　looked　back　over　his　shoulder　and　his　hurried　breathing　caught　for　a

moment　and　then　hurried　on　even　faster。　The　nearest　lion　was　now　only　twenty

feet　behind；　breasting　through　the　snow　like　a　dog　paddling　in　a　pond。　The　two

others　were　to　its　right　and　left；　pacing　it。　They　were　like　an　army　platoon　on

patrol；　the　dog；　still　off　to　their　left；　the　scout。　The　closest　lion　had　its

head　down。　The　shoulders　bunched　powerfully　above　its　neck。　The　tail　was　up；　as

if　in　the　instant　before　he　had　turned　to　look　it　had　been　swishing　back　and

forth；　back　and　forth。　He　thought　it　looked　like　a　great　big　housecat　that　was

having　a　good　time　playing　with　a　mouse　before　killing　it。

（　—　falling　—　）

No；　if　he　fell　he　was　dead。　They　would　never　let　him　get　up。　They　woul