乐文小说网

第9部分（第1页）

There　was　no　broom　by　the　duty　desk；　but　there　was　a　rolling　mop…bucket　with　the　mop　still　in　the　wringer；　Id　taken　my　turn　at　swabbing　the　green　lino　and　all　six　of　the　cells　shortly　before　sitting　down　to　the　record…box　with　Dean。　I　saw　that　Dean　meant　to　grab　the　mop…　and　take　a　swing　with　it。　I　touched　his　wrist　just　as　his　fingers　touched　the　slender　wooden　handle。　〃Leave　it　be；〃　I　said。

He　shrugged　and　drew　his　hand　back。　I　had　a　feeling　he　didnt　want　to　swat　it　any　more　than　I　did。

Brutal　tore　a　corner　off　his　corned…beef　sandwich　and　held　it　out　over　the　front　of　the　desk；　tweezed　delicately　between　two　fingers。　The　mouse　seemed　to　look　up　with　an　even　livelier　interest；　as　if　it　knew　exactly　what　it　was。　Probably　did；　I　could　see　its　whiskers　twitch　as　its　nose　wriggled。

〃Aw；　Brutal；　no！〃　Dean　exclaimed；　then　looked　at　me。　〃Dont　let　him　do　that；　Paul！　If　hes　gonna　feed　the　damn　thing；　we　might　as　well　put　out　the　wele　mat　for　anything　on　four　legs。…〃

〃I　just　want　to　see　what　hell　do；〃　Brutal　said。　〃In　the　interests　of　science；　like。〃　He　looked　at　me　…　I　was　the　boss；　even　in　such　minor　detours　from　routine　as　this。　I　thought　about　it　and　shrugged　like　it　didnt　matter　much；　one　way　or　another。　The　truth　was；　I　kind　of　wanted　to　see　what　hed　do；　too。

Well；　he　ate　it　…　of　course。　There　was　a　Depression　on；　after　all。　But　the　way　he　ate　it　fascinated　us　all。　He　approached　the　fragment　of　sandwich；　sniffed　his　way　around　it；　and　then　he　sat　up　in　front　of　it　like　a　dog　doing　a　trick；　grabbed　it；　and　pulled　the　bread　apart　to　get　at　the　meat。　He　did　it　as　deliberately　and　knowingly　as　a　man　tucking　into　a　good　roast…beef　dinner　in　his　favorite　restaurant。　I　never　saw　an　animal　eat　like　that；　not　even　a　well…trained　house　dog。　And　all　the　while　he　was　eating；　his　eyes　never　left　us。

〃Either　one　smart　mouse　or　hungry　as　hell；〃　a　new　voice　said。　It　was　Bitterbuck。　He　had　awakened　and　now　stood　at　the　bars　of　his　cell；　naked　except　for　a　pair　of　saggy…seated　boxer　shorts。　A　home…rolled　cigarette　poked　out　from　between　the　second　and　third　knuckles　of　his　right　hand；　and　his　iron…gray　hair　lay　over　his　shoulders　…　once　probably　muscular　but　now　beginning　to　soften　…　in　a　pair　of　braids。

〃You　got　any　Injun　wisdom　about　micies；　Chief？〃　Brutal　asked；　watching　the　mouse　eat。　We　were　all　pretty　fetched　by　the　neat　way　it　held　the　bit　of　corned　beef　in　its　forepaws；　occasionally　turning　it　or　glancing　at　it；　as　if　in　admiration　and　appreciation。

〃Naw；〃　Bitterbuck　said。　〃Knowed　a　brave　once　had　a　pair　of　what　he　claimed　were　mouse…skin　gloves；　but　I　didnt　believe　it！〃　Then　he　laughed；　as　if　the　whole　thing　was　a　joke；　and　left　the　bars。　We　heard　the　bunk　creak　as　he　lay　down　again。

That　seemed　to　be　the　mouses　signal　to　go。　It　finished　up　what　it　was　holding；　sniffed　at　what　was　left　（mostly　bread　with　yellow　mustard　soaking　into　it）；　and　then　looked　back　at　us；　as　if　it　wanted　to　remember　our　faces　if　we　met　again。　Then　it　turned　and　scurried　off　the　way　it　had　e；　not　pausing　to　do　any　cell…checks　this　time。　Its　hurry　made　me　think　of　the　White　Rabbit　in　Alices　Adventures　in　Wonderland；　and　I　smiled。　It　didnt　pause　at　the　door　to　the　restraint　room；　but　disappeared　beneath　it。　The　restraint　room　had　soft　walls；　for　people　whose　brains　had　softened　a　little。　ent　stored　in　there　when　we　didnt　need　the　room　for　its　created　purpose；　and　a　few　books　（most　were　westerns　by　Clarence　Mulford；　but　one…loaned　out　only　on　special　occasions　…　featured　a　profusely　illustrated　tale　in　which　Popeye；　Bluto；　and　even　Wimpy　the　hamburger　fiend　took　turns　shtupping　Olive　Oyl）。　There　were　craft　items　as　well；　including　the　crayons　Delacroix　later　put　to　some　good　use。　Not　that　he　was　our　problem　yet；　this　was　earlier；　remember。　Also　in　the　restraint　room　was　the　jacket　no　one　wanted　to　wear　…　white；　made　of　double…sewn　canvas；　and　with　the　buttons　and　snaps　and　buckles　going　up　the　back。　We　all　knew　how　to　zip　a　problem　child　into　that　jacket　lickety…larrup。　They　didnt　get　violent　often；　our　lost　boys；　but　when　they　did；　brother；　you　didnt　wait　around　for　the　situation　to　improve　on　its　own。

Brutal　reached　into　the　desk　drawer　above　the　kneehole　and　brought　out　the　big　leather…bound　book　with　the　word　VISITORS　stamped　on　the　front　in　gold　leaf。　Ordinarily；　that　book　stayed　in　the　drawer　from　one　month　to　the　next。　When　a　prisoner　had　visitors　…　unless　it　was　a　lawyer　or　a　minister　…　he　went　over　to　the　room　off　the　messhall　that　was　kept　special　for　that　purpose。　The　Arcade；　we　called　it。　I　dont　know　why。

〃Just　what　in　the　Gorry　do　you　think　youre　doing？〃　Dean　Stanton　asked；　peering　over　the　tops　of　his　spectacles　as　Brutal　opened　the　book　and　paged　grandly　past　years　of　visitors　to　men　now　dead。

〃Obeyin　Regulation　19；〃　Brutal　said；　finding　the　current　page。　He　took　the　pencil　and　licked　the　tip　…　a　disagreeable　habit　of　which　he　could　not　be　broken　…　and　prepared　to　write。　Regulation　19　stated　simply：　〃Each　visitor　to　E　Block　shall　show　a　yellow　Administration　pass　and　shall　be　recorded　without　fail〃

〃Hes　gone　nuts；〃　Dean　said　to　me。

〃He　didnt　show　us　his　pass；　but　Im　gonna　let　it　go　this　time；〃　Brutal　said。　He　gave　the　tip　of　his　pencil　an　extra　lick　for　good　luck；　then　filled　in　9：49　p。m。　under　the　column　headed　TIME　ON　BLOCK。

〃Sure；　why　not；　the　big　bosses　probably　make　exceptions　for　mice；〃　I　said。

〃Course　they　do；〃　Brutal　agreed。　〃Lack　of　pockets。〃　He　turned　to　look　at　the　wall…clock　behind　the　desk；　then　printed　10：01　in　the　column　headed　TIME　OFF　BLOCK。　The　longer　space　between　these　two　numbers　was　headed　NAME　OF　VISITOR。　After　a　moments　hard　thought　…　probably　to　muster　his　limited　spelling　skills；　as　Im　sure　the　idea　was　in　his　head　already　…　Brutus　Howell　carefully　wrote　STEAMBOAT　WILLY；　which　was　what　most　people　called　Mickey　Mouse　back　in　those　days。　It　was　because　of　that　first　talkie　cartoon；　where　he　rolled　his　eyes　and　bumped　his　hips　around　and　pulled　the　whistle　cord　in　the　pilothouse　of　the　steamboat。

〃There；〃　Brutal　said；　slamming　the　book　closed　and　returning　it　to　its　drawer；　〃all　done　and　buttoned　up。〃

I　laughed；　but　Dean；　who　couldnt　help　being　serious　about　things　even　when　he　saw　the　joke；　was　frowning　and　polishing　his　glasses　furiously。　〃Youll　be　in　trouble　if　someone　sees　that。〃　He　hesitated　and　added；　〃The　wrong　someone。〃　He　hesitated　again；　looking　nearsightedly　around　almost　as　if　he　expected　to　see　that　the　walls　had　grown　ears；　before　finishing：　〃Someone　like　Percy　Kiss…My…Ass…and…Go…to…Heaven　Wetmore。〃

〃Huh；〃　Brutal　said。　…　The　day　Percy　Wetmore　sits　his　narrow　shanks　down　here　at　this　desk　will　be　the　day　I　resign。〃

〃You　wont　have　to；〃　Dean　said。　〃Theyll　fire　you　for　making　jokes　in　the　visitors　book　if　Percy　puts　the　right　word　in　the　right　ear。　And　he　can。　You　know　he　can！

Brutal　glowered　but　said　nothing。　I　reckoned　that　later　on　that　night　he　would　erase　what　he　had　written。　And　if　he　didnt；　I　would。

The　next　night；　after　getting　first　Bitterbuck　and　then　The　President　over　to　D　Block；　where　we　showered　our　group　after　the　regular　cons　were　locked　down；　Brutal　asked　me　if　we　shouldnt　have　a　look　for　Steamboat　Willy　down　there　in　the　restraint　room。

〃I　guess　we　ought　to；〃　I　said。　Wed　had　a　good　laugh　over　that　mouse　the　night　before；　but　I　knew　that　if　Brutal　and　I　found　it　down　there　in　the　restraint　room　…　particularly　if　we　found　it　had　gnawed　itself　the　beginnings　of　a　nest　in　one　of　the　padded　walls　…　we　would　kill　it。　Better　to　kill　the　scout；　no　matter　how　amusing　it　might　be；　than　have　to　live　with　the　pilgrims。　And；　I　shouldnt　have　to　tell　you；　neither　of　us　ish　about　a　little　mouse…murder。　Killing　rats　was　what　the　state　paid　us　for；　after　all。

But　we　didnt　find　Steamboat　Willy　…　later　to　be　known　as　Mr。　Jingles　…　that　night；　not　nested　in　the　soft　walls；　or　behind　any　of　the　collected　junk　we　hauled　out　into　the　corridor。　There　was　a　great　deal　of　junk；　too；　more　than　I　would　have　expected；　because　we　hadnt　had　to　use　the　restraint　room　in　a　long　time。　That　would　change　with　the　advent　of　William　Wharton；　but　of　course　we　didnt　know　that　at　the　time。　Lucky　us。

〃Whered　it　go？〃　Brutal　asked　at　last；　wiping　sweat　off　the　back　of　his　neck　with　a　big　blue　bandanna。　〃No　hole；　no　crack　。。。　theres　that；　but　…　〃　He　pointed　to　the　drain　in　the　floor。　Below　the　grate；　which　the　mouse　could　have　gotten　through；　was　a　fine　steel　mesh　that　not　even　a　fly　would　have　passed。　〃Howd　it　get　in？　Howd　it　get　out？〃

〃I　dont　know；〃　I　said。

〃He　did　e　in　here；　didnt　he？　I　mean；　the　three　of　us　saw　him。〃

〃Yep；　right　under　the　door。　He　had　to　squeeze　a　little；　but　he　made　it。〃

〃Gosh；〃　Brutal　said　…　a　word　that　sounded　strange；　ing　from　a　man　that　big。　〃Its　a　good　thing　the　cons　cant　make　themselves　small　like　that；　isnt　it？〃

〃You　bet；〃　I　said；　running　my　eye　over　the　canvas　walls　one　last　time；　looking　for　a　hole；　a　crack；　anything。　There　was　nothing。　〃e　on。　Lets　go。〃

Steamboat　Willy　showed　up　again　three　nights　later；　when　Harry　Terwilliger　was　on　the　duty　desk。　Percy　was　also　on；　and　chased　the　mouse　back　down　the　Green　Mile　with　the　same　mop　Dean　had　been　thinking　of　using。　The　rodent　avoided　Percy　easily；　slipping　through　the　crack　beneath　the　restraint…room　door　a　hands…down　winner。　Cursing　at　the　top　of　his　voice；　Percy　unlocked　the　door　and　hauled　all　that　shit　out　again。　It　was　funny　and　scary　at　the　same　time；　Harry　said。　Percy　was　vowing　hed　catch　the　goddam　mouse　and　tear　its　diseased　little　head　right　off；　but　he　didnt；　of　course。　Sweaty　and　disheveled；　the　shirttail　of　his　uniform　hanging　out　in　the　back；　he　returned　to　the　duty　desk　half　an　hour　later；　brushing　his　hair　out　of　his　eyes　and　telling　Harry　（who　had　sat　serenely　reading　through　most　of　the　ruckus）　that　he　was　going　to　put　a　strip　of　insulation　on　the　bottom　of　the　door　down　there；　that　would　solve　the　vermin　problem；　he　declared。

〃Whatever　you　think　is　best；　Percy；〃　Harry　said；　turning　a　page　of　the　oat　opera　he　was　reading。　He　thought　Percy　would　forget　about　blocking　the　crack　at　the　bottom　of　that　door；　and　he　was　right。

8。

Late　that　winter；　long　after　these　events　were　over；　Brutal　came　to　me　one　night　when　it　was　just　the　two　of　us；　E　Block　temporarily　empty　and　all　the　other　guards　temporarily　reassigned。　Percy　had　gone　on　to　Briar　Ridge。

〃e　here；〃　Brutal　said　in　a　funny；　squeezed　voice　that　made　me　look　around　at　him　sharply。　I　had　just　e　in　out　of　a　cold　and　sleety　night；　and　had　been　brushing　off　the　shoulders　of　my　coat　prior　to　hanging　it　up。

〃Is　something　wrong？〃　I　asked。

〃No；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　found　out　where　Mr。　Jingles　was　staying。　When　he　first　came；　I　mean；　before　Delacroix　took　him　over。　Do　you　want　to　see？〃

Of　course　I　did。　I　followed　him　down　the　Green　Mile　to　the　restraint　room。　All　the　stuff　we　kept　stored　there　was　out　in　the　hall；　Brutal　had　apparently　taken　advantage　of　the　lull　in　customer　traffic　to　do　some　cleaning　up。　The　door　was　open；　and　I　saw　our　mop…bucket　inside。　The　floor；　that　same　sick　lime　shade　as　the　Green　Mile　itself；　was　drying　in　streaks。　Standing　in　the　middle　of　the　floor　was　a　stepladder；　the　one　that　was　usually　kept　in　the　storage　room；　which　also　happened　to　serve　as

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