第12部分(第4/7 頁)

　the　ground；　God　said　to　Cain；　and　I　doubt　if　the　words　were　much　of　a　surprise　to　that　particular　problem…child；　I　bet　he　heard　Abel's　blood　whining　out　of　the　earth　at　him　with　each　step　he　took。

The　Chief　was　smiling　when　I　left；　perhaps　thinking　about　his　lodge　in　Montana　and　his　wife　lying　bare…breasted　in　the　light　of　the　fire。　He　would　be　walking　in　a　warmer　fire　soon；　I　had　no　doubt。

I　went　back　up　the　corridor；　and　Dean　told　me　about　his　set…to　with　Percy　the　previous　night。　I　think　he'd　waited　around　just　so　he　could；　and　I　listened　carefully。　I　always　listened　carefully　when　the　subject　was　Percy；　because　I　agreed　with　Dean　a　hundred　per　cent　…　I　thought　Percy　was　the　sort　of　man　who　could　cause　a　lot　of　trouble；　as　much　for　the　rest　of　us　as　for　himself。

As　Dean　was　finishing；　old　Toot…Toot　came　by　with　his　red　snack…wagon；　which　was　covered　with　handlettered　Bible　quotes　（〃REPENT　for　the　LORD　shall　judge　his　people；〃　Deut。　32：36；　〃And　surely　your　BLOOD　of　your　lives　will　I　require；〃　Gen。　9：5；　and　similar　cheery；　uplifting　sentiments）；　and　sold　us　some　sandwiches　and　pops。　Dean　was　hunting　for　change　in　his　pocket　and　saying　that　we　wouldn't　see　Steamboat　Willy　anymore；　that　goddam　Percy　Wetmore　had　scared　him　off　for　good；　when　old　Toot…Toot　said；　'What's　that'ere；　then？〃

We　looked；　and　here　came　the　mouse　of　the　hour　his　ownself；　hopping　up　the　middle　of　the　Green　Mile。　He'd　e　a　little　way；　then　stop；　look　around　with　his　bright　little　oildrop　eyes；　then　e　on　again。

〃Hey；　mouse！〃　The　Chief　said；　and　the　mouse　stopped　and　looked　at　him；　whiskers　twitching。　I　tell　you；　it　was　exactly　as　if　the　damned　thing　knew　it　had　been　called。　〃You　some　kind　of　spirit　guide？〃

Bitterbuck　tossed　the　mouse　a　little　morsel　of　cheese