第35部分(第2/7 頁)

hinking　for　some　reason。　Mouseville；　and　how　it　cost　a　dime　to　get　in。　Two　cents　for　the　kiddies；　who　would　look　at　Mr。　Jingles　through　his　ivy…glass　windows。

The　clamp　was　balky；　wouldn't　shut。　I　could　hear　Del　breathing　in　great　dry　pulls　of　air；　lungs　that　would　be　charred　bags　less　than　four　minutes　from　now　laboring　to　keep　up　with　his　fear…driven　heart。　The　fact　that　he　had　killed　half　a　dozen　people　seemed　at　that　moment　the　least　important　thing　about　him。　I'm　not　trying　to　say　anything　about　right　and　wrong　here；　but　only　to　tell　how　it　was。

Dean　knelt　next　to　me　and　whispered；　〃What's　wrong；　Paul？〃

〃I　can't……〃　I　began；　and　then　the　clamp　closed　with　an　audible　snapping　sound。　It　must　have　also　pinched　a　fold　of　Delacroixs　skin　in　its　jaws；　because　he　flinched　and　made　a　little　hissing　noise。　〃Sorry；〃　I　said。

〃It　okay；　boss；〃　Del　said。　〃It　only　gonna　hurt　for　a　minute。〃

Brutal's　side　had　the　clamp　with　the　electrode　in　it；　which　always　took　a　little　longer；　and　so　we　stood　up；　all　three　of　us；　at　almost　exactly　the　same　time。　Dean　reached　for　the　wrist…clamp　on　Del's　left；　and　Percy　went　to　the　one　on　his　right。　I　was　ready　to　move　forward　if　Percy　should　need　help；　but　he　did　better　with　his　wrist…clamp　than　I'd　done　with　my　ankle…clamp。　I　could　see　Del　trembling　all　over　now；　as　if　a　low　current　were　already　passing　through　him。　I　could　smell　his　sweat；　too。　It　was　sour　and　strong　and　reminded　me　of　weak　pickle　juice。

Dean　nodded　to　Percy。　Percy　turned　back　over　his　shoulder　…　I　could　see　a　place　just　under　the　angle　of　his　jaw　where　he'd　cut　himself　shaving　that　day　…　and　said　in　a　low；　firm　voice：　〃Roll　on　one！〃

There　was　a　hum；　sort　of　like　the　sound　an　old　refrigerator　makes　when　it　kicks　on；　and　the　hangin