第8部分(第2/7 頁)

e　right　up　close　where　he　can　smell　the　guy's　nuts　cooking？〃

Moores　shrugged。　His　eyes；　so　soft　when　he　had　been　speaking　about　his　wife；　now　looked　flinty。　〃Delacroix's　nuts　are　going　to　cook　whether　Wetmore's　on　the　team　or　not；〃　he　said。　〃Correct？〃

〃Yes；　but　he　could　screw　up。　In　fact；　Hal；　he's　almost　bound　to　screw　up。　And　in　front　of　thirty　or　so　witnesses　。。。　reporters　all　the　way　up　from　Louisiana　。　。　。〃

〃You　and　Brutus　Howell　will　make　sure　he　doesn't；〃　Moores　said。　〃And　if　he　does　anyway；　it　goes　on　his　record；　and　it'll　still　be　there　long　after　his　statehouse　connections　are　gone。　You　understand？〃

I　did。　It　made　me　feel　sick　and　scared；　but　I　did。

〃He　may　want　to　stay　for　Coffey；　but　if　we're　lucky；　he'll　get　all　he　needs　from　Delacroix。　You　just　make　sure　you　put　him　out　for　that　one。〃

I　had　planned　to　stick　Percy　in　the　switch…room　again；　then　down　in　the　tunnel；　riding　shotgun　on　the　gurney　that　would　take　Delacroix　to　the　meatwagon　parked　across　the　road　from　the　prison；　but　I　tossed　all　those　plans　back　over　my　shoulder　without　so　much　as　a　second　look。　I　nodded。　I　had　the　sense　to　know　it　was　a　gamble　I　was　taking；　but　I　didn't　care。　If　it　would　get　rid　of　Percy　Wetmore；　I'd　tweak　the　devil's　nose。　He　could　take　part　in　his　execution；　clamp　on　the　cap；　and　then　look　through　the　grille　and　tell　Van　Hay　to　roll　on　two；　he　could　watch　the　little　Frenchman　ride　the　lightning　that　he；　Percy　Wetmore；　had　let　out　of　the　bottle。　Let　him　have　his　nasty　little　thrill；　if　that's　what　state…sanctioned　murder　was　to　him。　Let　him　go　on　to　Briar　Ridge；　where　he　would　have　his　own　office　and　a　fan　to　cool　it。　And　if　his　uncle　by　marriage　was　voted　out　of　office　in　the　next　election　and　he　had　to　find　out　what　work　was　like　in