第42部分(第6/7 頁)

Let's　worry　about　that　later；〃　I　said；　because　I　didn't　have　the　slightest　idea　how　to　answer　him。　〃The　question　right　now　is　what　we　do　…　or　don't　do　…　about　Melly。　I'd　say　step　back　and　take　a　few　days　to　think　it　over；　but　I　believe　every　day　we　wait　raises　the　chances　that　he　won't　be　able　to　help　her。〃

〃Remember　him　holding　his　hands　out　for　the　mouse？〃　Brutal　asked。　〃'Give　im　to　me　while　there's　still　time；'　he　said。　While　there's　still　time。〃

〃I　remember。〃

Brutal　considered；　then　nodded。　〃I'm　in。　I　feel　bad　about　Del；　too；　but　mostly　I　think　I　just　want　to　see　what　happens　when　he　touches　her。　Probably　nothing　will；　but　maybe　。。。〃

〃I　doubt　like　hell　we　even　get　the　big　dummy　off　the　block；〃　Harry　said；　then　sighed　and　nodded。　〃But　who　gives　a　shit？　Count　me　in。〃

〃Me；　too；〃　Dean　said。　〃Who　stays　on　the　block；　Paul？　Do　we　draw　straws　for　it？〃

〃No；　sir；〃　I　said。　〃No　straws。　You　stay。〃

〃Just　like　that？　The　hell　you　say！〃　Dean　replied；　hurt　and　angry。　He　whipped　off　his　spectacles　and　began　to　polish　them　furiously　on　his　shirt。　〃What　kind　of　a　bum　deal　is　that？〃

〃The　kind　you　get　if　you're　young　enough　to　have　kids　still　in　school；〃　Brutal　said。　〃Harry　and　me's　bachelors。　Paul's　married；　but　his　kids　are　grown　and　off　on　their　own；　at　least。　This　is　a　mucho　crazy　stunt　we're　planning　here；　I　think　we're　almost　sure　to　get　caught。〃　He　gazed　at　me　soberly。　〃One　thing　you　didn't　mention；　Paul；　is　that　if　we　do　manage　to　get　him　out　of　the　slam　and　then　Coffey's　healing　fingers　don't　work；　Hal　Moores　is　apt　to　turn　us　in　himself。〃　He　gave　me　a　chance　to　reply　to　this；　maybe　to　rebut　it；　but　I　couldn't　and　so　I　kept　my　mouth　shut。　Brutal　turned　back　to　Dean　and　went　on。　〃Don't　get　me　wrong；　you're　apt　to　lose　your　jo