第43部分(第3/7 頁)

infirmary　yet）。　〃My　starter　busted；〃　he　said。　〃I　had　to　crank。…〃

〃Aw；〃　Harry　said；　〃po'　baby。〃

〃Should　have　stayed　home　and　got　the　cussed　thing　fixed；〃　Brutal　said　blandly。　〃We　wouldn't　want　you　straining　your　arm　none；　would　we；　boys？〃

〃Yeah；　you'd　like　that；　wouldn't　you？〃　Percy　sneered；　but　I　thought　he　seemed　reassured　by　the　relative　mildness　of　Brutal's　response。　That　was　good。　For　the　next　few　hours　we'd　have　to　walk　a　line　with　him　…　not　too　hostile；　but　not　too　friendly；　either。　After　last　night；　he'd　find　anything　even　approaching　warmth　suspect。　We　weren't　going　to　get　him　with　his　guard　down；　we　all　knew　that；　but　I　thought　we　could　catch　him　with　it　a　long　piece　from　all　the　way　up　if　we　played　things　just　right。　It　was　important　that　we　move　fast；　but　it　was　also　important　…　to　me；　at　least　…　that　nobody　be　hurt。　Not　even　Percy　Wetmore。

Dean　came　back　and　gave　me　a　little　nod。

〃Percy；〃　I　said；　〃I　want　you　to　go　on　in　the　storeroom　and　mop　down　the　floor。　Stairs　to　the　tunnel；　too。　Then　you　can　write　your　report　on　last　night。〃

〃That　should　be　creative；〃　Brutal　remarked；　hooking　his　thumbs　into　his　belt　and　looking　up　at　the　ceiling。

〃You　guys　are　funnier'n　a　fuck　in　church；〃　Percy　said；　but　beyond　that　he　didn't　protest。　Didn't　even　point　out　the　obvious；　which　was　that　the　floor　in　there　had　already　been　washed　at　least　twice　that　day。　My　guess　is　that　he　was　glad　for　the　chance　to　be　away　from　us。

I　went　over　the　previous　shift　report；　saw　nothing　that　concerned　me；　and　then　took　a　walk　down　to　Wharton's　cell。　He　was　sitting　there　on　his　bunk　with　his　knees　drawn　up　and　his　arms　clasped　around　his　shins；　looking　at　me　with　a　bright；　hostile　smile。

〃Well；　if　it　ain't　the　big　boss；〃　he　said。　〃