第22部分(第2/7 頁)

ng　the　scuffle　（he　had　been　in　prison　lots　of　times；　that　one；　and　knew　when　it　was　prudent　to　keep　his　yap　shut　and　when　it　was　relatively　safe　to　open　it　again）；　began　bawling　loudly　down　the　corridor　as　Harry　and　Brutal　helped　Dean　out。　Delacroix　wanted　to　know　what　had　happened。　You　would　have　thought　his　constitutional　rights　had　been　violated。

〃Shut　up；　you　little　queer！〃　Percy　yelled　back；　so　furious　that　the　veins　stood　out　on　the　sides　of　his　neck。　I　put　a　hand　on　his　arm　and　felt　it　quivering　beneath　his　shirt。　Some　of　this　was　residual　fright；　of　course　（every　now　and　then　I　had　to　remind　myself　that　part　of　Percy's　problem　was　that　he　was　only　twenty…one；　not　much　older　than　Wharton）；　but　I　think　most　of　it　was　rage。　He　hated　Delacroix。　I　don't　know　just　why；　but　he　did。

〃Go　see　if　Warden　Moores　is　still　here；〃　I　told　Percy。　〃If　he　is；　give　him　a　plete　verbal　report　on　what　happened。　Tell　him　he'll　have　my　written　report　on　his　desk　tomorrow；　if　I　can　manage　it。〃

Percy　swelled　visibly　at　this　responsibility；　for　a　horrible　moment　or　two；　I　actually　thought　he　might　salute。　〃Yes；　sir。　I　will。〃

〃Begin　by　telling　him　that　the　situation　in　E　Block　is　normal。　It's　not　a　story；　and　the　warden　won't　appreciate　you　dragging　it　out　to　heighten　the　suspense。〃

〃I　won't。〃

〃Okay。　Off　you　go。〃

He　started　for　the　door；　then　turned　back。　The　one　thing　you　could　count　on　with　him　was　contrariness。　I　desperately　wanted　him　gone；　my　groin　was　on　fire；　and　now　he　didn't　seem　to　want　to　go。

〃Are　you　all　right；　Paul？〃　he　asked。　〃Running　a　fever；　maybe？　Got　a　touch　of　the　grippe？　Cause　there's　sweat　all　over　your　face。〃

〃I　might　have　a　touch　of　something；　but　mostly　I'm　fine；〃　I　said。　〃Go　on；　Percy；　tell　the　warden。〃