after the usual evening of half-hearted disconsolate drinking , i did not sneak in through the back door ( as i had been doing all week ) but pushed my way through the front door , ascended the inordinately long staircase to the long spooky hallway with its bare bulb and knifing shadows and sure enough half way down it , there was ned bent in front of the door to his shitty little room , key in hand , whistling at the top of his lungs .