PART ONE: PREFATORY MATTERS

ONE: JOB INTERVIEW

Jack Torrance thought: Officious little prick.

Ullman stood five-five, and when he moved, it was with the prissy speed that seems to be the exclusive domain of all small plump men.

The part in his hair was exact, and his dark suit was sober but comforting.

I am a man you can bring your problems to, that suit said to the paying customer.

To the hired help it spoke more curtly: This had better be good, you.

There was a red carnation in the lapel, perhaps so that no one on the street would mistake Stuart Ullman for the local undertaker.

As he listened to Ullman speak, Jack admitted to himself that he probably could not have liked any man on that side of the desk — under the circumstances.

Ullman had asked a question he hadn't caught.