第29部分(第1/8 頁)

e　to　get　on　stage　himself。　That　chance　now　fell　into　his　lap；　courtesy　of　Percy　Wetmore。

〃Hey；　Del！〃　Percy　called；　half…laughing；　starting　after　Brutal　and　Delacroix　and　drifting　much　too　close　to　Wharton's　side　of　the　Green　Mile　without　realizing　it。　〃Hey；　you　numb　shit；　I　didn't　mean　nothin　by　it！　Are　you　all　ri…〃

Wharton　was　up　off　his　bunk　and　over　to　the　bars　of　his　cell　in　a　flash　…　never　in　my　time　as　a　guard　did　I　see　anyone　move　so　fast；　and　that　includes　some　of　the　athletic　young　men　Brutal　and　I　worked　with　later　at　Boys'　Correctional。　He　shot　his　arms　out　through　the　bars　and　grabbed　Percy；　first　by　the　shoulders　of　his　uniform　blouse　and　then　by　the　throat。　Wharton　dragged　him　back　against　his　cell　door。　Percy　squealed　like　a　pig　in　a　slaughter…chute；　and　I　saw　from　his　eyes　that　he　thought　he　was　going　to　die。

〃Ain't　you　sweet；〃　Wharton　whispered。　One　hand　left　Percy's　throat　and　ruffled　through　his　hair。　〃Soft！〃　he　said；　half…laughing。　〃Like　a　girl's。　I　druther　fuck　your　asshole　than　your　sister's　pussy；　I　think。〃　And　he　actually　kissed　Percy's　ear。

I　think　Percy　…　who　had　beat　Delacroix　onto　the　block　for　accidentally　brushing　his　crotch；　remember　…　knew　exactly　what　was　happening。　I　doubt　that　he　wanted　to；　but　I　think　he　did。　All　the　color　had　drained　from　his　face；　and　the　blemishes　on　his　cheeks　stood　out　like　birthmarks。　His　eyes　were　huge　and　wet。　A　line　of　spittle　leaked　from　one　er　of　his　twitching　mouth。　All　this　happe