第26部分(第2/7 頁)

eak　out　…　and　two　other　crews　covering　the　rest　of　the　day。　Those　other　crews　consisted　mostly　of　floaters；　with　Bill　Dodge　usually　in　charge。　It　wasn't　a　bad　way　to　run　things；　all　and　all；　and　I　felt　that；　once　I　could　shift　Percy　over　to　days；　life　would　be　even　better。　I　never　got　around　to　that；　however。　I　sometimes　wonder　if　it　would　have　changed　things；　if　I　had。

Anyway；　there　was　a　big　watermain　in　the　storage　room；　on　the　side　away　from　Old　Sparky；　and　Dean　and　Percy　hooked　up　a　length　of　canvas　firehose　to　it。　Then　they　stood　by　the　valve　that　would　open　it；　if　needed。

Brutal　and　I　hurried　down　to　Wharton's　cell；　where　Wharton　still　stood；　still　grinning　and　still　with　his　tool　hanging　out　of　his　pants。　I　had　liberated　the　straitjacket　from　the　restraint　room　and　tossed　it　on　a　shelf　in　my　office　last　thing　before　going　home　the　night　before；　thinking　we　might　be　needing　it　for　our　new　problem　child。　Now　I　had　it　in　one　hand；　my　index　finger　hooked　under　one　of　the　canvas　straps。　Harry　came　behind　us；　hauling　the　nozzle　of　the　firehose；　which　ran　back　through　my　office；　down　the　storage…room　steps；　and　to　the　drum　where　Dean　and　Percy　were　paying　it　out　as　fast　as　they　could。

〃Hey；　d'jall　like　that？〃　Wild　Bill　asked。　He　was　laughing　like　a　kid　at　a　carnival；　laughing　so　hard　he　could　barely　talk；　big　tears　went　rolling　down　his　cheeks。　〃You　e　on　s'fast　I　guess　you　must've。　I'm　currently　cookin　some　turds　to　go　with　it。　Nice　soft　ones。　I'll　have　them　out　to　y'all　tomorrow　…　〃

He　saw　that　I　was　unlocking　his　cell　door　and　his　eyes　narrowed。　He　saw　that　Brutal　was　holding　his　revolver　in　one　hand　and　his　nightstick　in　the　other；　and　they　narrowed　even　more。

〃You　can　e　in　here　on　your　legs；　but　you'll　go　out　on　your　backs；　Billy