第29部分(第2/7 頁)

in。　〃I　let　im　go；　I　'us　just　playin　and　I　let　im　go；〃　he　said。　〃Never　hurt　airy　single　hair　on　that　boy's　purty　head；　so　don't　you　go　stickin　me　down　in　that　goddam　soft　room　again。〃

Percy　Wetmore　darted　across　the　Green　Mile　and　cringed　against　the　barred　door　of　the　empty　cell　on　the　other　side；　breathing　so　fast　and　so　loud　that　it　sounded　almost　like　sobbing。　He　had　finally　gotten　his　lesson　in　keeping　to　the　center　of　the　Green　Mile　and　away　from　the　frumious　bandersnatch；　the　teeth　that　bite　and　the　claws　that　catch。　I　had　an　idea　it　was　a　lesson　that　would　stick　with　him　longer　than　all　the　advice　we'd　given　him　after　our　rehearsals。

There　was　an　expression　of　utter　terror　on　his　face；　and　his　precious　hair　was　seriously　mussed　up　for　the　first　time　since　I'd　met　him；　all　in　spikes　and　tangles。　He　looked　like　someone　who　has　just　escaped　being　raped。

There　was　a　moment　of　utter　stop　then；　a　quiet　so　thick　that　the　only　sound　was　the　sobbing　whistle　of　Percy's　breathing。　What　broke　it　was　cackling　laughter；　so　sudden　and　so　pletely　its　own　mad　thing　that　it　was　shocking。　Wharton；　was　my　first　thought；　but　it　wasn't　him。　It　was　Delacroix；　standing　in　the　open　door　of　his　cell　and　pointing　at　Percy。　The　mouse　was　back　on　his　shoulder；　and　Delacroix　looked　like　a　small　but　malevolent　male　witch；　plete　with　imp。

〃Lookit　him；　he　done　piss　his　pants！〃　Delacroix　howled。　〃Lookit　what　the　big　man　done！　Bus'　other　people　wid　'is　stick；　mais　oui　some　mauvais　homme；　but　when　someone　touch　him；　he　make　water　in　'is　pants　jus'　like　a　baby！〃

He　laughed　and　pointed；　all　his　fear　and　hatred　of　Percy　ing　out　in　that　derisive　laughter。　Percy　stared　at　him；　seemingly　incapable　of　moving　or　speaking。　Wharton　stepped　back　to　the　bars　of　his　cell；　look