第30部分(第2/7 頁)

　day。　He　had　been　up　by　the　duty　desk；　watching　Dean　and　Harry　play　cribbage。　Percy　was　there；　too；　and　Brutal　finally　tired　of　trying　to　start　a　conversation　with　him　and　getting　nothing　but　sullen　grunts　in　response。　He　strolled　down　to　where　I　sat　on　a　stool　outside　of　Delacroix's　cell　and　stood　there　listening　to　us　with　his　arms　folded。

〃How　about　Mouseville？〃　Brutal　asked　into　the　considering　silence　which　followed　Del's　rejection　of　my　spooky　old　house　out　in　the　woods。　He　threw　the　ment　out　in　a　casual　just…an…idea　tone　of　voice。

〃Mouseville？〃　Delacroix　asked；　giving　Brutal　a　look　both　startled　and　interested。　〃What　Mouseville？〃

〃It's　this　tourist　attraction　down　in　Florida；〃　he　said。　〃Tallahassee；　I　think。　Is　that　right；　Paul？　Tallahassee？〃

〃Yep；〃　I　said；　speaking　without　a　moment's　hesitation；　thinking　God　bless　Brutus　Howell。　〃Tallahassee。　Right　down　the　road　apiece　from　the　dog　university。〃　Brutal's　mouth　twitched　at　that；　and　I　thought　he　was　going　to　queer　the　pitch　by　laughing；　but　he　got　it　under　control　and　nodded。　I'd　hear　about　the　dog　university　later；　though；　I　imagined。

This　time　Del　didn't　throw　the　spool；　although　Mr。　Jingles　stood　on　Del's　slipper　with　his　front　paws　raised；　clearly　lusting　for　another　chance　to　chase。　The　Cajun　looked　from　Brutal　to　me　and　back　to　Brutal　again。　〃What　dey　do　in　Mouseville？〃　he　asked。

〃You　think　they'd　take　Mr。　Jingles？〃　Brutal　asked　me；　simultaneously　ignoring　Del　and　drawing　him　on。　〃Think　he's　got　the　stuff；　Paul？〃

I　tried　to　appear　considering。　〃You　know；〃　I　said；　〃the　more　I　think　of　it；　the　more　it　seems　like　a　brilliant　idea。〃　From　the　er　of　my　eye　I　saw　Percy　e　partway　down　the　Green　Mile　（giving　Wharton's　cell　a　very　wide　berth）。　He　stood　with　one　shoulder