ceased broadcasting her opinions about the flight's possible conclusion to the
cabin at large。 The stew gave her a final pat on the shoulder and stood up just
as the 747 gave its worst lurch yet。 The stewardess stumbled backward and landed
in the lap of the man who had whoopsed into his paper； exposing a lovely length
of nyloned thigh。 The man blinked and then patted her kindly on the shoulder。
She smiled back； but Hallorann thought the strain was showing。 It had been one
hell of a hard flight this morning。
There was a little ping as the No SMOKING light reappeared。
〃This is the captain speaking；〃 a soft； slightly southern voice informed them。
〃We're ready to begin our descent to Stapleton International Airport。 It's been
a rough flight； for which I apologize。 The landing may be a bit rough also； but
we anticipate no real difficulty。 Please observe the FASTEN SEAT BELTS and NO
SMOKING signs； and we hope you enjoy your stay in the Denver metro area。 And we
also hope — 〃
Another hard bump rocked the plane and then dropped her with a sickening
elevator plunge。 Hallorann's stomach did a queasy hornpipe。 Several people — not
all women by any means — screamed。
〃 — that we'll see you again on another TWA flight real soon。〃
〃Not bloody likely；〃 someone behind Hallorann said。
〃So silly；〃 the sharp…faced woman next to Hallorann remarked； putting a
matchbook cover into her book and shutting it as the plane began to descend。
〃When one has seen the horrors of a dirty little war 。。。 as you have 。。。 or
sensed the degrading immorality of CIA dollar…diplomacy intervention 。。。 as I
have 。。。 a rough landing pales into insignificance。 Am I right； Mr。 Hallorann？ 〃
〃As rain； ma'am；〃 he said； and looked bleakly out into the wildly blowing
snow。
〃How is your steel plate reacting to all of this； if I might inquire？〃
〃Oh； my head's fine；〃 Hallorann said。 〃It's just my stomach that's a mite
queasy。〃
〃A shame。〃 She reopened her book。
As they descended through the impenetrable clouds of snow； Hallorann thought
of a crash that had occurred at Boston's Logan Airport a few years ago。 The
conditions had been similar； only fog instead of snow had reduced visibility to
zero。 The plane had caught its undercarriage on a retaining wall near the end of
the landing strip。 What had been left of the eighty…nine people aboard hadn't
looked much different from a Hamburger Helper casserole。
He wouldn't mind so much if it was just himself。 He was pretty much alone in
the world now； and attendance at his funeral would be mostly held down to the
people he had worked with and that old renegade Masterton； who would at least
drink to him。 But the boy 。。。 the boy was depending on him。 He was maybe all
the help that child could expect； and he didn't like the way the boy's last call
had been snapped off。 He kept thinking of the way those hedge animals had seemed
to move 。。。
A thin white hand appeared over his。
The woman with the sharp face had taken off her glasses。 Without them her
features seemed much softer。
〃It will be all right；〃 she said。
Hallorann made a smile and nodded。
As advertised the plane came down hard； reuniting with the earth forcefully
enough to knock most of the magazines out of the rack at the front and to send
plastic trays cascading out of the galley like oversized playing cards。 No one
screamed； but Hallorann heard several sets of teeth clicking violently together
like gypsy castanets。
Then the turbine engines rose to a howl； braking the plane； and as they
dropped in volume the pilot's soft southern voice； perhaps not pletely
steady； came over the inter system。 〃Ladies and gentlemen； we have landed at
Stapleton Airport。 Please remain in your seats until the plane has e to a
plete stop at the terminal。 Thank you。〃
The woman beside Hallorann closed her book and uttered a long sigh。 〃We live
to fight another day； Mr。 Hallorann。〃
〃Ma'am； we aren't done with this one； yet。〃
〃True。 Very true。 Would you care to have a drink in the lounge with me？〃
〃I would； but I have an appointment to keep。〃
〃Pressing？〃
〃Very pressing；〃 Hallorann said gravely。
〃Something that will improve the general situation in some small way； I hope。〃
〃I hope so too；〃 Hallorann said； and smiled。 She smiled back at him； ten years
dropping silently from her face as she did so。
* * *
Because he had only the flight bag he'd carried for luggage； Hallorann beat
the crowd to the Hertz desk on the lower level。 Outside the smoked glass windows
he could see the snow still falling steadily。 The gusting wind drove white
clouds of it back and forth； and the people walking across to the parking area
were struggling against it。 One man lost his hat and Hallorann could miserate
with him as it whirled high； wide； and handsome。 The man stared after it and
Hallorann thought：
（Aw； just forget it； man。 That homburg ain't in down until it gets to
Arizona。）
On the heels of that thought：
（If it's this bad in Denver； what's it going to be like west of Boulder？）
Best not to think about that； maybe。
〃Can I help you； sir？〃 a girl in Hertz yellow asked him。
〃If you got a car； you can help me；〃 he said with a big grin。
For a heavier…than…average charge he was able to get a heavier…than…average
car； a silver and black Buick Electra。 He was thinking of the winding mountain
roads rather than style； he would still have to stop somewhere along the way and
get chains put on。 He wouldn't get far without them。
〃How bad is it？〃 he asked as she handed him the rental agreement to sign。
〃They say it's the worst storm since 1969；〃 she answered brightly。 〃Do you
have far to drive； sir？〃
〃Farther than I'd like。〃
〃If you'd like； sir； I can phone ahead to the Texaco station at the Route 270
junction。 They'll put chains on for you。'
〃That would be a great blessing； dear。〃
She picked up the phone and made the call。 〃They'll be expecting you。〃
〃Thank you much。〃
Leaving the desk； he saw the sharp…faced woman standing on one of the queues
that had formed in front of the luggage carousel。 She was still reading her
book。 Hallorann winked at her as he went by。 She looked up； smiled at him； and
gave him a peace sign。
（shine）
He turned up his overcoat collar； smiling； and shifted his flight bag to the
other hand。 Only a little one； but it made him feel better。 He was sorry he'd
told her that fish story about having a steel plate in his head。 He mentally
wished her well and as he went out into the howling wind and snow； he thought
she wished him the same in return
* * *
The charge for putting on the chains at the service station was a modest one；
but Hallorann slipped the man at work in the garage bay an extra ten to get
moved up a little way on the waiting list。 It was still quarter of ten before he
was actually on the road； the windshield wipers clicking and the chains clinking
with tuneless monotony on the Buick's big wheels。
The turnpike was a mess。 Even with the chains he could go no faster than
thirty。 Cars had gone off the road at crazy angles； and on several of the grades
traffic was barely struggling along； summer tires spinning helplessly in the
drifting powder。 It was the first big storm of the winter down here in the
lowlands （if you could call a mile above sealevel 〃low〃）； and it was a mother。
Many of them were unprepared； mon enough； but Hallorann still found himself
cursing them as he inched around them； peering into his snow…clogged outside
mirror to be sure nothing was
（Dashing through the snow 。。。）
ing up in the left…hand lane to cream his black ass。
There was more bad luck waiting for him at the Route 36 entrance ramp。 Route
36； the Denver…Boulder turnpike； also goes west to Estes Park； where it connects
with Route 7。 That road； also known as the Upland Highway； goes through
Sidewinder； passes the Overlook Hotel； and finally winds down the Western Slope
and into Utah。
The entrance ramp had been blocked by an overturned semi。 Bright…burning
flares had been scattered around it like birthday candles on some idiot child's
cake。
He came to a stop and rolled his window down。 A cop with a fur Cossack hat
jammed down over his ears gestured with one gloved hand toward the flow of
traffic moving north on I…25。
〃You can't get up here！〃 he bawled to Hallorann over the wind。 〃Go down two
exits； get on 91； and connect with 36 at Broomfield！〃
〃I think I could get around him on the left！〃 Hallorann shouted back。 〃That's
twenty miles out of my way； what you're rappin！〃
〃I'll rap your friggin head！〃 the cop shouted back。 〃This ramp's closed！〃
Hallorann backed up； waited for a break in traffic； and continued on his way
up Route 25。 The signs informed him it was only a hundred miles to Cheyenne；
Wyoming。 If he didn't look out for his ramp； he'd wind up there。
He inched his speed up to thirty…five but dared no more； already snow was
threatening to clog his wiper blades and the traffic patterns were decidedly
crazy。 Twenty…mile detour。 He cursed； and the feeling that time was growing
shorter for the boy welled up in him again； nearly suffocating with its urgency。
And at the same time he felt a fatalistic certainty that he would not be ing
back from this trip。
He turned on the radio； dialed past Christmas ads； and found a weather
forecast。
〃 — six inches already； and another foot is expected in the Denver metro area
by nightfall。 Local and state police urge you not to take your car out of the
garage unless it's absolutely necessary； and warn that most mountain passes have
already been closed。 So stay home and wax up your boards and keep tuned to — 〃
〃Thanks； mother；〃 Hallorann said； and turned the radio off savagely。
》
WENDY
Around noon； after Danny had gone into the bathroom to use the toilet； Wendy
took the towel…wrapped knife from under her pillow； put it in the pocket