第33部分(第5/7 頁)

　still　be　there　long　after　his　relatives　were　out　of　the　state　capital　and　back　home　drinking　mint　juleps　on　the　front　porch。　A　man's　work…record　can　be　a　mighty　interesting　thing；　and　a　lot　of　people　get　a　chance　to　look　at　it　over　the　course　of　a　lifetime。〃

Percy's　eyes　flicked　back　and　forth　mistrustfully　between　us。　His　left　hand　went　to　his　hair　and　smoothed　it。　He　said　nothing；　but　I　thought　we　almost　had　him。

〃e　on；　let's　quit　this；〃　I　said。　〃You　don't　want　to　be　here　any　more　than　we　want　you　here；　isn't　that　so？〃

〃I　hate　it　here！〃　he　burst　out。　〃I　hate　the　way　you　treat　me；　the　way　you　never　gave　me　a　chance！〃

That　last　was　far　from　true；　but　I　judged　this　wasn't　the　time　to　argue　the　matter。

〃But　I　don't　like　to　be　pushed　around；　either。　My　Daddy　taught　me　that　once　you　start　down　that　road　you　most　likely　end　up　letting　people　push　you　around　your　whole　life。〃　His　eyes；　not　as　pretty　as　his　hands　but　almost；　flashed。　〃I　especially　don't　like　being　pushed　around　by　big　apes　like　this　guy。〃　He　glanced　at　my　old　friend　and　grunted。　〃Brutal　…　you　got　the　right　nickname；　at　least。〃

〃You　have　to　understand　something；　Percy；〃　I　said。　〃The　way　we　look　at　it；　you've　been　pushing　us　around。　We　keep　telling　you　the　way　we　do　things　around　here　and　you　keep　doing　things　your　own　way；　then　hiding　behind　your　political　connections　when　things　turn　out　wrong。　Stepping　on　Delacroix's　mouse………〃　Brutal　caught　my　eye　and　I　backtracked　in　a　hurry。　〃Trying　to　step　on　Delacroix's　mouse　is　just　a　case　in　point。　You　push　and　push　and　push；　we're　finally　pushing　back；　that's　all。　But　listen；　if　you　do　right；　you'll　e　out　of　this　looking　good　…　like　a　young　man　on　his　way　up　…　and　smelling　like　a　rose。　Nobody'll　ever　know　about　this　little　tal