第10部分(第2/8 頁)

　on　the　join！〃

I　did；　and　saw　what　he　wanted　me　to　see　almost　right　away。　The　beams　had　been　pegged　together　with　dowels；　half　a　dozen　of　them；　and　one　was　gone；　leaving　a　black；　circular　hole　the　size　of　a　quarter。　I　looked　at　it；　then　looked　doubtfully　back　over　my　shoulder　at　Brutal。　〃It　was　a　small　mouse；〃　I　said；　〃but　that　small？　Man；　I　don't　think　so。〃

〃But　that's　where　he　went；〃　Brutal　said。　〃I'm　just　as　sure　as　houses。〃

〃I　don't　see　how　you　can　be。〃

〃Lean　closer　…　don't　worry　I　got　you　…　and　take　a　whiff。〃

I　did　as　he　asked；　groping　with　my　left　hand　for　one　of　the　other　beams；　and　feeling　a　little　better　when　I　had　hold　of　it。　The　wind　outside　gusted　again；　air　puffed　out　of　that　hole　and　into　my　face。　I　could　smell　the　keen　breath　of　a　winter　night　in　the　border　South　。。。　and　something　else；　as　well。

The　smell　of　peppermint。

Don't　let　nothing　happen　to　Mr。　Jingles；　I　could　hear　Delacroix　saying　in　a　voice　that　wouldn't　stay　steady　I　could　hear　that；　and　I　could　feel　the　warmth　of　Mr。　Jingles　as　the　Frenchman　handed　it　to　me；　just　a　mouse；　smarter　than　most　of　the　species；　no　doubt；　but　still　just　a　mouse　for　a'　that　and　a'　that。　Don't　let　that　bad　'un　hurt　my　mouse；　he'd　said；　and　I　had　promised；　as　I　always　promised　them　at　the　end　when　walking　the　Green　Mile　was　no　longer　a　myth　or　a　hypothesis　but　something　they　really　had　to　do。　Mail　this　letter　to　my　brother；　who　I　haven't　seen　for　twenty　years？　I　promise。　Say　fi