第52部分(第4/7 頁)

triumphant；　gloating　voice。　〃We　got　away　with　it；　boys！　We　did！〃

That　made　him　think　of　why　we'd　gone　through　the　whole　edy　in　the　first　place；　and　he　asked　about　Melinda。

〃She's　fine；〃　I　said。　We　had　reached　John　's　cell。　What　Dean　had　said　was　just　starting　to　sink　in：　We　got　away　with　it；　boys　。。。　we　did。

〃Was　it　like　。。。　you　know　。。。　the　mouse？〃　Dear　asked。　He　glanced　briefly　at　the　empty　cell　when　Delacroix　had　lived　with　Mr。　Jingles；　then　down　a　the　restraint　room；　which　had　been　the　mouse's　seeming　point　of　origin。　His　voice　dropped；　the　way　people's　voices　do　when　they　enter　a　big　church　where　even　the　silence　seems　to　whisper。　〃Was　it　a。。。〃　He　gulped。　〃Shoot；　you　know　what　I　mean　…　was　it　a　miracle？〃

The　three　of　us　looked　at　each　other　briefly；　confirming　what　we　already　knew。　〃Brought　her　back　from　her　damn　grave　is　what　he　did；〃　Harry　said。　〃Yeah；　it　was　a　miracle；　all　right。〃

Brutal　opened　the　double　locks　on　the　cell；　and　gave　John　a　gentle　push　inside。　〃Go　on；　now；　big　boy。　Rest　awhile。　You　earned　it。　We'll　just　settle　Percy's　hash〃

〃He's　a　bad　man；〃　John　said　in　a　low；　mechanical　voice。

〃That's　right；　no　doubt；　wicked　as　a　warlock；〃　Brutal　agreed　in　his　most　soothing　voice；　〃but　don't　you　worry　a　smidge　about　him；　we're　not　going　to　let　him　near　you。　You　just　ease　down　on　that　bunk　of　yours　and　I'll　have　that　cup　of　coffee　to　you　in　no　time。　Hot　and　strong。　You'll　feel　like　a　new　man。〃

John　sat　heavily　on　his　bunk。　I　thought　he'd　fall　back　on　it　and　roll　to　the　wall　as　he　usually　did；　but　he　just　sat　there　for　the　time　being；　hands　clasped　loosely　between　his　knees；　head　lowered；　breathing　hard　through　his　mouth。　The　St。　Christopher's　medal　Melinda　had　given　him　had　fallen　out　of　the　top　of　his　shir