第40部分(第1/7 頁)

her　head？　Like　it　was　a　。。。　a　peach…pit？〃

〃I　think　he　could。　It's　not　for　sure；　of　course；　but　after　what　he　did　to　me　。。。　and　to　Mr。　Jingles　。　。　。〃

〃That　mouse　was　seriously　busted　up；　all　right；〃　Brutal　said。

〃But　would　he　do　it？〃　Harry　mused。　〃Would　he？〃

〃If　he　can；　he　will；〃　I　said。

〃Why？　Coffey　doesn't　even　know　her！〃

〃Because　it's　what　he　does。　It's　what　God　made　him　for。〃

Brutal　made　a　show　of　looking　around；　reminding　us　all　that　someone　was　missing。　〃What　about　Percy？　You　think　he's　just　gonna　let　this　go　down？〃　he　asked；　and　so　I　told　them　what　I　had　in　mind　for　Percy　By　the　time　I　finished；　Harry　and　Dean　were　looking　at　me　in　amazement；　and　a　reluctant　grin　of　admiration　had　dawned　on　Brutal's　face。

〃Pretty　audacious；　Brother　Paul！〃　he　said。　〃Fair　takes　my　breath　away！〃

〃But　wouldn't　it　be　the　bee's　knees！〃　Dean　almost　whispered；　then　laughed　aloud　and　clapped　his　hands　like　a　child。　〃I　mean；　voh…doh…dee…oh…doh　and　twenty…three…skidoo！〃　You　want　to　remember　that　Dean　had　a　special　interest　in　the　part　of　my　plan　that　involved　Percy　…　Percy　…　Percy　could　have　gotten　Dean　killed；　after　all；　freezing　up　the　way　he　had。

〃Yeah；　but　what　about　after？〃　Harry　said。　He　sounded　gloomy；　but　his　eyes　gave　him　away；　they　were　sparkling；　the　eyes　of　a　man　who　wants　to　be　convinced。　〃What　then？〃

〃They　say　dead　men　tell　no　tales；〃　Brutal　rumbled；　and　I　took　a　quick　look　at　him　to　make　sure　he　was　joking。

〃I　think　he'll　keep　his　mouth　shut；〃　I　said。

〃Really？〃　Dean　looked　skeptical。　He　took　off　his　glasses　and　began　to　polish　them。　〃Convince　me。〃

〃First；　he　won't　know　what　really　happened　…　he's　going　to　judge　us　by　himself　and　think　it　was　just　a　prank。　Second　…　and　more　imp