第35部分(第5/7 頁)

ever　looked　at　Percy　at　all；　not　as　Percy　bent　over　the　bucket　（moving　so　as　to　partially　block　what　he　was　doing　from　our　view）；　not　as　he　straightened　up　and　turned　to　Del　with　the　cap　in　his　hands　and　the　brown　circle　of　sponge　already　inside　it。　Brutal　was　looking　at　the　cloth　which　had　replaced　Del's　face；　watching　the　way　the　black　silk　mask　drew　in；　outlining　the　circle　of　Del's　open　mouth；　and　then　puffed　out　again　with　his　breath。　There　were　big　beads　of　perspiration　on　Brutal's　forehead；　and　at　his　temples；　just　below　the　hairline。　I　had　never　seen　him　sweat　at　an　execution　before。　Behind　him；　Dean　looked　distracted　and　W；　as　if　he　was　fighting　not　to　lose　his　supper。　We　all　understood　that　something　was　wrong；　I　know　that　now。　We　just　couldn't　tell　what　it　was。　No　one　knew　…　not　then　…　about　the　questions　Percy　had　been　asking　Jack　Van　Hay。　There　were　a　lot　of　them；　but　I　suspect　most　were　just　camouflage。　What　Percy　wanted　to　know　about　…　the　only　thing　Percy　wanted　to　know　about；　I　believe　…　was　the　sponge。　The　purpose　of　the　sponge。　Why　it　was　soaked　in　brine　。。。　and　what　would　happen　if　it　was　not　soaked　in　brine。

What　would　happen　if　the　sponge　was　dry。

Percy　jammed　the　cap　down　on　Del's　head。　The　little　man　jumped　and　moaned　again；　this　time　louder。　Some　of　the　witnesses　stirred　uneasily　on　their　folding　chairs。　Dean　took　a　half…step　forward；　meaning　to　help　with　the　chin…strap；　and　Percy　motioned　him　curtly　to　step　back。　Dean　did；　hunching　a　little　and　wincing　as　another　blast　of　thunder　shook　the　storage　shed。　This　time　it　was　followed　by　the　first　spatters　of　rain　across　the　roof。　They　sounded　hard；　like　someone　flinging　handfuls　of　goobers　onto　a　washboard。

You've　heard　people　say　〃My　blood　ran　cold〃　about　things；　haven't　you？　S