第28部分(第1/7 頁)

roix's　execution。　That　thought　led　to　how　Percy　was　going　to　be　out　front　this　time；　and　I　felt　a　shiver　of　dread。　I　told　myself　to　just　go　with　it；　one　execution　and　we'd　very　likely　be　shut　of　Percy　Wetmore　for　good　。。。　but　still　I　felt　that　shiver；　as　if　the　infection　I'd　been　suffering　with　wasn't　gone　at　all；　but　had　only　switched　locations；　from　boiling　my　groin　to　freezing　my　backbone。

7。

〃e　on；〃　Brutal　told　Delacroix　the　following　evening。　〃We're　going　for　a　little　walk。　You　and　me　and　Mr。　Jingles。〃

Delacroix　looked　at　him　distrustfully；　then　reached　down　into　the　cigar　box　for　the　mouse。　He　cupped　it　m　the　palm　of　one　hand　and　looked　at　Brutal　with　narrowed　eyes。

〃Whatchoo　talking　about？〃　he　asked。

〃It's　a　big　night　for　you　and　Mr。　Jingles；〃　Dean　said；　as　he　and　Harry　joined　Brutal。　The　chain　of　bruises　around　Dean's　neck　had　gone　an　unpleasant　yellow　color；　but　at　least　he　could　talk　again　without　sounding　like　a　dog　barking　at　a　cat。　He　looked　at　Brutal。　〃Think　we　ought　to　put　the　shackles　on　him；　Brute？〃

Brutal　appeared　to　consider。　〃Naw；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃He's　gonna　be　good；　ain't　you；　Del？　You　and　the　mouse；　both。　After　all；　you're　gonna　be　showin　off　for　some　high　muck…a…mucks　tonight。〃

Percy　and　I　were　standing　up　by　the　duty　desk；　watching　this；　Percy　with　his　arms　folded　and　a　small；　contemptuous　smile　on　his　lips。　After　a　bit；　he　took　out　his　horn　b　and　went　to　work　on　his　hair　with　it。　John　Coffey　was　watching；　too；　standing　silently　at　the　bars　of　his　cell。　Wharton　was　lying　on　his　bunk；　staring　up　at　the　ceiling　and　ignoring　the　whole　show。　He　was　still　〃being　good；〃　although　what　he　called　good　was　what　the　docs　at　Briar　Ridge　called　catatonic。　And　there　was　one　other　person　there；　as　well。　He