第78部分(第1/7 頁)

of　breath　and　incapable　of　moving　for　a　few　moments。　In　another；　he　was

reattaching　the　gascan；　which　was　still　half…full。　His　head　was　thumping

horribly　from　the　gasfumes　（and　in　reaction　to　his　battle　with　the　hedge　lion；

he　supposed）；　and　he　saw　by　the　steaming　hole　in　the　snow　beside　him　that　he　had

vomited；　but　he　was　unable　to　remember　when。

The　snowmobile；　the　engine　still　warm；　fired　immediately。　He　twisted　the

throttle　unevenly　and　started　forward　with　a　series　of　neck…snapping　jerks　that

made　his　head　ache　even　more　fiercely。　At　first　the　snowmobile　wove　drunkenly

from　side　to　side；　but　by　half…standing　to　get　his　face　above　the　windscreen　and

into　the　sharp；　needling　blast　of　the　wind；　he　drove　some　of　the　stupor　out　of

himself。　He　opened　the　throttle　wider。

（Where　are　the　rest　of　the　hedge　animals？）

He　didn't　know；　but　at　least　he　wouldn't　be　caught　unaware　again。

The　Overlook　loomed　in　front　of　him；　the　lighted　first…floor　windows　throwing

long　yellow　rectangles　onto　the　snow。　The　gate　at　the　foot　of　the　drive　was

locked　and　he　dismounted　after　a　wary　look　around；　praying　he　hadn't　lost　his

keys　when　he　pulled　his　lighter　out　of　his　pocket　。。。　no；　they　were　there。　He

picked　through　them　in　the　bright　light　thrown　by　the　snowmobile　headlamp。　He

found　the　right　one　and　unsnapped　the　padlock；　letting　it　drop　into　the　snow。　At

first　he　didn't　think　he　was　going　to　be　able　to　move　the　gate　anyway；　he　pawed

frantically　at　the　snow　surrounding　it；　disregarding　the　throbbing　agony　in　his

head　and　the　fear　that　one　of　the　other　lions　might　be　creeping　up　behind　him。

He　managed　to　pull　it　a　foot　and　a　half　away