第27部分(第2/7 页)

〃You're　a　good　boy；　Danny。〃

Danny　gave　him　a　faint　smile。

* * *

〃I　can't　find　a　thing　wrong　with　him；〃　Dr。　Edmonds　said　to　the　Torrances。　〃Not

physically。　Mentally；　he's　bright　and　rather　too　imaginative。　It　happens。

Children　have　to　grow　into　their　imaginations　like　a　pair　of　oversized　shoes。

Danny's　is　still　way　too　big　for　him。　Ever　had　his　IQ　tested？〃

〃I　don't　believe　in　them；〃　Jack　said。　〃They　straight…jacket　the　expectations

of　both　parents　and　teachers。〃

Dr。　Edmonds　nodded。　〃That　may　be。　But　if　you　did　test　him；　I　think　you'd　find

he's　right　off　the　scale　for　his　age　group。　His　verbal　ability；　for　a　boy　who　is

five　going　on　six；　is　amazing。〃

〃We　don't　talk　down　to　him；〃　Jack　said　with　a　trace　of　pride。

〃I　doubt　if　you've　ever　had　to　in　order　to　make　yourself　understood。〃　Edmonds

paused；　fiddling　with　a　pen。　〃He　went　into　a　trance　while　I　was　with　him。　At　my

request。　Exactly　as　you　described　him　in　the　bathroom　last　night。　All　his

muscles　went　lax；　his　body　slumped；　his　eyeballs　rotated　outward。　Textbook　auto…

hypnosis。　I　was　amazed。　I　still　am。〃

The　Torrances　sat　forward。　〃What　happened？〃　Wendy　asked　tensely；　and　Edmonds

carefully　related　Danny's　trance；　the　muttered　phrase　from　which　Edmonds　had

only　been　able　to　pluck　the　word　〃monsters；〃　the　〃dark；〃　the　〃pounding。〃　The

aftermath　of　tears；　near…hysteria；　and　nervous　stomach。

〃Tony　again；〃　Jack　said。

〃What　does　it　mean？〃　Wendy　asked。　〃Have　you　any　idea？〃

〃A　few。　You　might　not　like　them。〃

〃Go　ahead　anyway；〃　Jack　told　him。

〃From　what　Danny　told　me；　his　‘invisible　friend'　was　truly　a　friend　until　you

folks　moved　out　here　fr