第35部分(第3/7 頁)

g　lights　in　the　storage　room　brightened。　There　were　a　few　low　gasps　and　murmurs　from　the　audience。　Del　jerked　in　the　chair；　his　hands　gripping　the　ends　of　the　oak　arms　hard　enough　to　turn　the　knuckles　white。　His　eyes　rolled　rapidly　from　side　to　side　in　their　sockets；　and　his　dry　breathing　quickened　even　more。　He　was　almost　panting　now。

〃Steady；〃　Brutal　murmured。　〃Steady；　Del；　you're　doing　just　fine。　Hang　on；　you're　doing　just　fine。〃

Hey　you　guys！　I　thought。　e　and　see　what　Mr。　Jingles　can　do！　And　overhead；　the　thunder　banged　again。

Percy　stepped　grandly　around　to　the　front　of　the　electric　chain　This　was　his　big　moment；　he　was　at　center　stage；　all　eyes　were　on　him。　All；　that　was；　but　for　one　set。　Delacroix　saw　who　it　was　and　looked　down　at　his　lap　instead。　I　would　have　bet　you　a　dollar　to　a　doughnut　that　Percy　would　flub　his　lines　when　he　actually　had　to　say　them　for　an　audience；　but　he　reeled　them　off　without　a　hitch；　in　an　eerily　calm　voice。

〃Eduard　Delacroix；　you　have　been　condemned　to　die　in　the　electric　chair；　sentence　passed　by　a　jury　of　your　peers　and　imposed　by　a　judge　of　good　standing　in　this　state；　God　save　the　people　of　this　state。　Do　you　have　anything　to　say　before　sentence　is　carried　out？〃

Del　tried　to　speak　and　at　first　nothing　came　out　but　a　terrified　whisper　full　of　air　and　vowel…sounds。　The　shadow　of　a　contemptuous　smile　touched　the　corners　of　Percy's　lips；　and　I　could　have　cheerfully　shot　him　right　there。　Then　Del　licked　his　lips　and　tried　again。

〃　I　sorry　for　what　I　do；〃　he　said。　〃I　give　anything　to　turn　back　the　clock；　but　no　one　can。　So　now　…　〃　Thunder　exploded　like　an　airburst　mortar　shell　above　us。　Del　jumped　as　much　as　the　clamps　would　allow；　eyes　starting　wildly　out　of　his　wet　face。　〃So　now　I　pay　the　price