第17部分(第5/7 頁)

e　such　a　cheapskate；　then　promising　him　that　he；　Brutus　Howell；　would　personally　put　that　Corona　box　back　in　Toot's　hands　the　day　after　Delacroix's　execution。　〃Six　cents　might　or　might　not　be　enough　if　you　was　speaking　about　selling　that　cigar　box；　we　could　have　a　good　old　barber…shop　argument　about　that；〃　Brutal　said；　〃but　you　have　to　admit　it's　a　great　price　for　renting　one。　He's　gonna　walk　the　Mile　in　a　month；　six　weeks　at　the　very　outside。　Why；　that　box'll　be　back　on　the　shelf　under　your　cart　almost　before　you　know　it's　gone。〃

〃He　could　get　a　soft…hearted　judge　to　give　im　a　stay　and　still　be　here　to　sing　'Should　old　acquaintances　be　forgot；'〃　Toot　said；　but　he　knew　better　and　Brutal　knew　he　did。　Old　Toot…Toot　had　been　pushing　that　damned　Bible…quoting　cart　of　his　around　Cold　Mountain　since　Pony　Express　days；　practically；　and　he　had　plenty　of　sources；　better　than　ours；　I　thought　then。　He　knew　Delacroix　was　fresh　out　of　soft…hearted　judges。　All　he　had　left　to　hope　for　was　the　governor；　who　as　a　rule　didn't　issue　clemency　to　folks　who　had　baked　half　a　dozen　of　his　constituents。

〃Even　if　he　don't　get　a　stay；　that　mouse'd　be　shitting　in　that　box　until　October；　maybe　even　Thanksgiving；〃　Toot　argued；　but　Brutal　could　see　he　was　weakening。　〃Who　gonna　buy　a　cigar　box　some　mouse　been　using　for　a　toilet？〃

〃Oh　jeez…Louise；〃　Brutal　said。　〃That's　the　numbest　thing　I've　ever　heard　you　say；　Toot。　I　mean；　that　takes　the　cake。　First；　Delacroix　will　keep　the　box　clean　enough　to　eat　a　church　dinner　out　of　…　the　way　he　loves　that　mouse；　he'd　lick　it　clean　if　that's　what　it　took。〃

〃Easy　on　dat　stuff；〃　Toot　said；　wrinkling　his　nose。

〃Second；〃　Brutal　went　on；　〃mouse…shit　is　no　big　deal；　anyway。　It's　just　hard　little　pellets；　looks　like　birdshot。　Shake　it