第33部分(第2/8 頁)

ng　crunched！　I　heard　it！　So　you　can　just………！〃

〃Shut　up。〃

He　stared　at　me；　his　eyes　wide。　〃What？　What　did　you　say　to　me？〃

I　took　a　step　closer　to　him。　I　could　feel　a　vein　throbbing　in　the　middle　of　my　forehead。　I　couldn't　remember　the　last　time　I'd　felt　so　angry。　〃Aren't　you　glad　Mr。　Jingles　is　okay？　After　all　the　talks　we've　had　about　how　our　job　is　to　keep　the　prisoners　calm；　especially　when　it　gets　near　the　end　for　them；　I　thought　you'd　be　glad。　Relieved。　With　Del　having　to　take　the　walk　tomorrow；　and　all。〃

Percy　looked　from　me　to　Brutal；　his　studied　calmness　dissolving　into　uncertainty。　〃What　the　hell　game　do　you　boys　think　you're　playing？〃　he　asked。

〃None　of　this　is　a　game；　my　friend；〃　Brutal　said。　〃You　thinking　it　is　。。。　well；　that's　just　one　of　the　reasons　you　can't　be　trusted。　You　want　to　know　the　absolute　truth？　I　think　you're　a　pretty　sad　case。〃

〃You　want　to　watch　it；〃　Percy　said。　Now　there　was　a　rawness　in　his　voice。　Fear　creeping　back　in；　after　all　…　fear　of　what　we　might　want　with　him；　fear　of　what　we　might　be　up　to。　I　was　glad　to　hear　it。　It　would　make　him　easier　to　deal　with。　〃I　know　people。　Important　people。〃

〃So　you　say；　but　you're　such　a　dreamer；〃　Brutal　said。　He　sounded　as　if　he　was　on　the　verge　of　laughter。

Percy　dropped　the　polishing　rag　onto　the　seat　of　the　chair　with　the　clamps　attached　to　the　arms　and　legs。　〃I　killed　that　mouse；〃　he　said　in　a　voice　that　was　not　quite　steady。

〃Go　on　and　check