第27部分(第2/7 頁)

d。　〃When　we　open　this　door　tomorrow；　he's　gonna　be　just　fine。　Take　my　word　for　it。〃

That's　the　way　it　was；　too。　The　man　we　took　back　to　his　cell　the　next　night　at　nine　was　quiet；　pallid；　and　seemingly　chastened。　He　walked　with　his　head　down；　made　no　effort　to　attack　anyone　when　the　straitjacket　came　off；　and　only　stared　listlessly　at　me　when　I　told　him　it　would　go　just　the　same　the　next　time；　and　he　just　had　to　ask　himself　how　much　time　he　wanted　to　spend　pissing　in　his　pants　and　eating　baby…food　a　spoonful　at　a　time。

〃I'll　be　good；　boss；　I　learnt　my　lesson；〃　he　whispered　in　a　humble　little　voice　as　we　put　him　back　in　his　cell。　Brutal　looked　at　me　and　winked。

Late　the　next　day；　William　Wharton；　who　was　Billy　the　Kid　to　himself　and　never　that　bushwhacking　John　Law　Wild　Bill　Hickok；　bought　a　moon…pie　from　Old　Toot…Toot。　Wharton　had　been　expressly　forbidden　any　such　merce；　but　the　afternoon　crew　was　posed　of　floaters；　as　I　think　I　have　said；　and　the　deal　went　down。　Toot　himself　undoubtedly　knew　better；　but　to　him　the　snack…wagon　was　always　a　case　of　a　nickel　is　a　nickel；　a　dime　is　a　dime；　I'd　sing　another　chorus　but　I　don't　have　the　time。

That　night；　when　Brutal　ran　his　check…round；　Wharton　was　standing　at　the　door　of　his　cell。　He　waited　until　Brutal　looked　up　at　him；　then　slammed　the　heels　of　his　hands　into　his　bulging　cheeks　and　shot　a　thick　and　amazingly　long　stream　of　chocolate　sludge　into　Brutal's　face。　He　had　crammed　the　entire　moon…pie　into　his　trap；　held　it　there　until　it　liquefied；　and　then　used　it　like　chewing　tobacco。

Wharton　fell　back　on　his　bunk　wearing　a　chocolate　goatee；　kicking　his　legs　and　screaming　with　laughter　and　pointing　to　Brutal；　who　was　wearing　a　lot　more　than　a　goatee。　〃Li'l　Black　Sambo；　yassuh；　boss；　yassuh；　how