第60部分(第2/8 頁)

decided　to　give　this　one　a　miss。

Sitting　in　the　front　row　was　an　elderly　couple　I　didn't　recognize　at　first；　even　though　I　had　seen　their　pictures　in　a　good　many　newspaper　articles　by　that　day　in　the　third　week　of　November。　Then；　as　we　neared　the　platform　where　Old　Sparky　waited；　the　woman　spat；　〃Die　slow；　you　son　of　a　bitch！〃　and　I　realized　they　were　the　Dettericks；　Klaus　and　Marjorie。　I　hadn't　recognized　them　because　you　don't　often　see　elderly　people　who　haven't　yet　climbed　out　of　their　thirties。

John　hunched　his　shoulders　at　the　sound　of　the　woman's　voice　and　Sheriff　Cribus's　grunt　of　approval。　Hank　Bitterman；　who　had　the　guard…post　near　the　front　of　the　meager　group　of　spectators；　never　took　his　eyes　off　Klaus　Detterick。　That　was　per　my　orders；　but　Detterick　never　made　a　move　in　John　's　direction　that　night。　Detterick　seemed　to　be　on　some　other　pla。

Brutal；　standing　beside　Old　Sparky；　gave　me　a　small　finger…tilt　as　we　stepped　up　onto　the　platform。　He　holstered　his　sidearm　and　took　John　's　wrist；　escorting　him　toward　the　electric　chair　as　gently　as　a　boy　leading　his　date　out　onto　the　floor　for　their　first　dance　as　a　couple。

〃Everything　all　right；　John　？〃　he　asked　in　a　low　voice。

〃Yes；　boss；　but。　。　。〃　His　eyes　were　moving　from　side　to　side　in　their　sockets；　and　for　the　first　time　he　looked　and　sounded　scared。　〃But　they's　a　lot　of　folks　here　hate　me。　A　lot。　I　can　feel　it。　Hurts。　Bores　in　like　bee…stings　an；　hurts。〃

〃Feel　how　we　feel