第30部分(第3/7 頁)

　leaning　against　an　empty　cell；　listening　with　a　small；　contemptuous　smile　on　his　lips。

〃What　dis　Mouseville？〃　Del　asked；　now　frantic　to　know。

〃A　tourist　attraction；　like　I　told　you；〃　Brutal　said。　〃There's；　oh　I　dunno；　a　hundred　or　so　mice　there。　Wouldn't　you　say；　Paul？〃

〃More　like　a　hundred　and　fifty　these　days；〃　I　said。　〃It's　a　big　success。　I　understand　they're　thinking　of　opening　one　out　in　California　and　calling　it　Mouseville　West；　that's　how　much　business　is　booming。　Trained　mice　are　the　ing　thing　with　the　smart　set；　I　guess　…　I　don't　understand　it；　myself。〃

Del　sat　with　the　colored　spool　in　his　hand；　looking　at　us；　his　own　situation　forgotten　for　the　time　being。

〃They　only　take　the　smartest　mice；〃　Brutal　cautioned；　〃the　ones　that　can　do　tricks。　And　they　can't　be　white　mice；　because　those　are　pet…shop　mice。〃

〃Pet…shop　mice；　yeah；　you　bet！〃　Delacroix　said　fiercely。　〃I　hate　dem　pet…shop　mice！〃

〃And　what　they　got；〃　Brutal　said；　his　eyes　distant　now　as　he　imagined　it；　〃is　this　tent　you　go　into…〃

〃Yeah；　yeah；　like　inna　cirque！　Do　you　gotta　pay　to　get　in？〃

〃You　shittin　me？　Course　you　gotta　pay　to　get　in。　A　dime　apiece；　two　cents　for　the　kiddies。　And　there's；　like；　this　whole　city　made　out　of　Bakelite　boxes　and　toilet…paper　rolls；　with　windows　made　out　of　isinglass　so　you　can　see　what　they're　up　to　in　there…〃

〃Yeah！　Yeah！〃　Delacroix　was　in　ecstasy　now。　Then　he　turned　to　me。　〃What　ivy…glass？〃

〃Like　on　the　front　of　a　stove；　where　you　can　see　in；〃　I。　said。

〃Oh　sure！　Dat　shit！〃　He　cranked　his　hand　at　Brutal；　wanting　him　to　go　on；　and　Mr。　Jingles's　little　oildrop　eyes　practically　spun　in　their　sockets；　trying　to　keep　that　spool　in　view。　It　was　pretty　funny。　Percy　came　a　little　closer；　as　if　wan