绿里奇迹(英文版)-第31章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


wing；　a　woman　crying　〃Stop　it；　stop　it；　oh　can't　you　see　he's　had　enough？〃　at　the　top　of　her　lungs。　Curtis　Anderson　grabbed　my　shoulder　and　asked　what　was　happening；　for　Christ's　sake；　what　was　happening；　and　why　didn't　I　order　jack　to　shut　down？　
〃Because　I　can't；〃　I　said。　〃We've　gone　too　far　to　turn　back；　can't　you　see　that？　It'll　be　over　in　a　few　more　seconds；　anyway。〃　
But　it　was　at　least　two　minutes　before　it　was　over；　the　longest　two　minutes　of　my　whole　life；　and　through　most　of　it　I　think　Delacroix　was　conscious。　He　screamed　and　jittered　and　rocked　from　side　to　side。　Smoke　poured　from　his　nostrils　and　from　a　mouth　that　had　gone　the　purple…black　of　ripe　plums。　Smoke　drifted　up　from　his　tongue　the　way　smoke　rises　from　a　hot　griddle。　All　the　buttons　on　his　shirt　either　burst　or　melted。　His　undershirt　did　not　quite　catch　fire；　but　it　charred　and　smoke　poured　through　it　and　we　could　smell　his　chest…hair　roasting。　Behind　us；　people　were　heading　for　the　door　like　cattle　in　a　stampede。　They　couldn't　get　out　through　it；　of　course　…　we　were　in　a　damn　prison；　after　all　…　so　they　simply　clustered　around　it　while　Delacroix　fried　（Now　I'm　fryin；　Old　Toot　had　said　when　we　were　rehearsing　for　Arlen　Bitterbuck；　I'm　a　done　tom　turkey）　and　the　thunder　rolled　and　the　rain　ran　down　out　of　the　sky　in　a　perfect　fury。　
At　some　point　I　thought　of　the　doc　and　looked　around　for　him。　He　was　still　there；　but　crumpled　on　the　floor　beside　his　black　bag。　He'd　fainted。　
Brutal　came　up　and　stood　beside　me；　holding　the　fire　extinguisher。　
〃Not　yet；〃　I　said。　
〃I　know。〃　
We　looked　around　for　Percy　and　saw　him　standing　almost　behind　Sparky　now；　frozen；　eyes　huge；　one　knuckle　crammed　into　his　mouth。　
Then；　at　last；　Delacroix　slumped　back　in　the　chair；　his　bulging；　misshapen　face　lying　over　on　one　shoulder。　He　was　still　jittering；　but　we'd　seen　this　before；　it　was　the　current　running　through　him。　The　cap　had　e　askew　on　his　head；　but　when　we　took　it　off　a　little　later；　most　of　his　scalp　and　his　remaining　fringe　of　hair　came　with　it；　bonded　to　the　metal　as　if　by　some　powerful　adhesive。　
〃Kill　it！〃　I　called　to　Jack　when　thirty　seconds　had　gone　by　with　nothing　but　electric　jitters　ing　from　the　smoking；　man…shaped　lump　of　charcoal　lolling　in　the　electric　chair。　The　hum　died　immediately；　and　I　nodded　to　Brutal。　
He　turned　and　slammed　the　fire　extinguisher　into　Percy's　arms　so　hard　that　Percy　staggered　backward　and　almost　fell　off　the　platform。　〃You　do　it；〃　Brutal　said。　〃You're　running　the　show；　after　all；　ain't　you？〃　
Percy　gave　him　a　look　that　was　both　sick　and　murderous；　then　armed　the　extinguisher；　pumped　it；　cocked　it；　and　shot　a　huge　cloud　of　white　foam　over　the　man　in　the　chair。　I　saw　Del's　foot　twitch　once　as　the　spray　hit　his　face　and　thought　Oh　no；　we　might　have　to　go　again；　but　there　was　only　that　single　twitch。　
Anderson　had　turned　around　and　was　bawling　at　the　panicky　witnesses；　telling　them　everything　was　all　right；　everything　was　under　control；　just　a　powersurge　from　the　electrical　storm；　nothing　to　worry　about。　Next　thing；　he'd　be　telling　them　that　what　they　smelled　…　a　devil's　mixture　of　burned　hair；　fried　meat；　and　fresh…baked　shit　…　was　Chanel　No。　5。　
〃Get　doc's　stethoscope；〃　I　told　Dean　as　the　extinguisher　ran　dry。　Delacroix　was　coated　with　white　now；　and　the　worst　of　the　stench　was　being　overlaid　by　a　thin　and　bitter　chemical　smell。　
〃Doc　。。。　should　I　。。　。〃　
〃Never　mind　doc；　just　get　his　stethoscope；〃　I　said。　〃Let's　get　this　over　。。。　get　him　out　of　here。〃　
Dean　nodded。　Over　and　out　of　here　were　two　concepts　that　appealed　to　him　just　then。　They　appealed　to　both　of　us。　He　went　over　to　doc's　bag　and　began　rummaging　in　it。　Doc　was　beginning　to　move　again；　so　at　least　he　hadn't　had　a　stroke　or　a　heart…storm。　That　was　good。　But　the　way　Brutal　was　looking　at　Percy　wasn't。　
〃Get　down　in　the　tunnel　and　wait　by　the　gurney；〃　I　said。　
Percy　swallowed。　〃Paul；　listen。　I　didn't　know………〃　
〃Shut　up。　Get　down　in　the　tunnel　and　wait　by　the　gurney。　Now。〃　
He　swallowed；　grimaced　as　if　it　hurt；　and　then　walked　toward　the　door　which　led　to　the　stairs　and　the　tunnel。　He　carried　the　empty　fire　extinguisher　in　his　arms；　as　if　it　were　a　baby　Dean　passed　him；　ing　back　to　me　with　the　stethoscope。　I　snatched　it　and　set　the　earpieces。　I'd　done　this　before；　in　the　army；　and　it's　sort　of　like　riding　a　bike　…　you　don't　forget。　
I　wiped　at　the　foam　on　Delacroix's　chest；　then　had　to　gag　back　vomit　as　a　large；　hot　section　of　his　skin　simply　slid　away　from　the　flesh　beneath；　the　way　the　skin　will　slide　off　a　。。。　well；　you　know。　A　done　tom　turkey。　
〃Oh　my　God〃'　a　voice　I　didn't　recognize　almost　sobbed　behind　me。　〃Is　it　always　this　way？　Why　didn't　somebody　tell　me？　I　never　would　have　e！〃　
Too　late　now；　friend；　I　thought。　〃Get　that　man　out　of　here；〃　I　said　to　Dean　or　Brutal　or　whoever　might　be　listening　…　I　said　it　when　I　was　sure　I　could　speak　without　puking　into　Delacroix's　smoking　lap。　〃Get　them　all　back　by　the　door。〃　
I　steeled　myself　as　best　I　could；　then　put　the　disc　of　the　stethoscope　on　the　red…black　patch　of　raw　flesh　I'd　made　on　Del's　chest。　I　listened；　praying　I　would　hear　nothing；　and　that's　just　what　I　did　hear。　
〃He's　dead；〃　I　told　Brutal。　
〃Thank　Christ。〃　
〃Yes。　Thank　Christ。　You　and　Dean　get　the　stretcher。　Let's　unbuckle　him　and　get　him　out　of　here；　fast。〃　
5。　
We　got　his　body　down　the　twelve　stairs　and　onto　the　gurney　all　right。　My　nightmare　was　that　his　cooked　flesh　might　slough　right　off　his　bones　as　we　lugged　him　…　it　was　Old　Toot's　done　tom　turkey　that　had　gotten　into　my　head　…　but　of　course　that　didn't　happen。　
Curtis　Anderson　was　upstairs　soothing　the　spectators　…trying　to；　anyway　…　and　that　was　good　for　Brutal；　because　Anderson　wasn't　there　to　see　when　Brutal　took　a　step　toward　the　head　of　the　gurney　and　pulled　his　arm　back　to　slug　Percy；　who　was　standing　there　looking　stunned。　I　caught　his　arm；　and　that　was　good　for　both　of　them。　It　was　good　for　Percy　because　Brutal　meant　to　deliver　a　blow　of　near…decapitory　force；　and　good　for　Brutal　because　he　would　have　lost　his　job　if　the　blow　had　connected；　and　maybe　ended　up　in　prison　himself。　
〃No；〃　I　said。　
〃What　do　you　mean；　no？〃　he　asked　me　furiously。　〃How　can　you　say　no？　You　saw　what　he　did！　What　are　you　telling　me？　That　you're　still　going　to　let　his　connections　protect　him？　After　what　he　did？〃　
Brutal　stared　at　me；　mouth　agape；　eyes　so　angry　they　were　watering。　
〃Listen　to　me；　Brutus　…　you　take　a　poke　at　him；　and　most　likely　we　all　go。　You；　me；　Dean；　Harry；　maybe　even　Jack　Van　Hay。　Everyone　else　moves　a　rung　or　two　up　the　ladder；　starting　with　Bill　Dodge；　and　the　Prison　mission　hires　three　or　four　Breadline　Barneys　to　fill　the　spots　at　the　bottom。　Maybe　you　can　live　with　that；　but…〃　I　cocked　my　thumb　at　Dean；　who　was　staring　down　the　dripping；　brick…lined　tunnel。　He　was　holding　his　specs　in　one　hand；　and　looked　almost　as　dazed　as　Percy。　〃But　what　about　Dean？　He's　got　two　kids；　one　in　high　school　and　one　just　about　to　go。〃　
〃So　what's　it　e　down　to？〃　Brutal　asked。　〃We　let　him　get　away　with　it？〃　
〃I　didn't　know　the　sponge　was　supposed　to　be　wet；〃　Percy　said　in　a　faint；　mechanical　voice。　This　was　the　story　he　had　rehearsed　beforehand；　of　course；　when　he　was　expecting　a　painful　prank　instead　of　the　cataclysm　we　had　just　witnessed。　〃It　was　never　wet　when　we　rehearsed。〃　
〃Aw；　you　sucker…〃　Brutal　began；　and　started　for　Percy。　I　grabbed　him　again　and　yanked　him　back。　Footsteps　clacked　on　the　steps。　I　looked　up；　desperately　afraid　of　seeing　Curtis　Anderson；　but　it　was　Harry　Terwilliger。　His　cheeks　were　paper…white　and　his　lips　were　purplish；　as　if　he'd　been　eating　blackberry　cobbler。　
I　switched　my　attention　back　to　Brutal。　〃For　God's　sake；　Brutal；　Delacroix's　dead；　nothing　can　change　that；　and　Percy's　not　worth　it。〃　Was　the　plan；　or　the　beginnings　of　it；　in　my　head　even　then？　I've　wondered　about　that　since；　let　me　tell　you。　I've　wondered　over　the　course　of　a　lot　of　years；　and　have　never　been　able　to　e　up　with　a　satisfactory　answer。　I　suppose　it　doesn't　matter　much。　A　lot　of　things　don't　matter；　but　it　doesn't　keep　a　man　from　wondering　about　them；　I've　noticed。　
〃You　guys　talk　about　me　like　I　was　a　chump；〃　Percy　said。　He　still　sounded　dazed　and　winded　…　as　if　someone　had　punched　him　deep　in　the　gut　…　but　he　was　ing　back　a　little。　
〃You　are　a　chump；　Percy；〃　I　said。　
〃Hey；　you　can't…〃　
I　controlled　my　own　urge　to　hit　him　only　with　the　greatest　effort。　Water　dripped　hollowly　from　the　bricks　down　in　the　tunnel；　our　shadows　danced　huge　and　misshapen　on　the　walls；　like　shadows　in　that　Poe　story　about　the　big　ape　in　the　Rue　Morgue。　Thunder　bashed；　but　down　here　it　was　muffled。　
〃I　only　want　to　hear　one　thing　from　you；　Percy；　and　that's　you　repeating　your　promise　to　put　in　for　Briar　Ridge　tomorrow。〃　
〃Don't　worry　about　that；〃　he　said　sullenly。　He　looked　at　the　sheeted　figure　on　the　gurney；　looked　away；　flicked　his　eyes　up　toward　my　face　for　a　moment；　then　looked　away　again。　
〃That　would　be　for　the　best；〃　Harry　said。　〃Otherwise；　you　might　get　to　know　Wild　Bill　Wharton　a　whole　lot　better　than　you　want　to。〃　A　slight　pause。　〃We　could　see　to　it。〃　
Percy　was　afraid　of　us；　and　he　was　probably　afraid　of　what　we　might　do　if　he　was　still　around　when　we　found　out　he'd　been　talking　to　Jack　Van　Hay　about　what　the　sponge　was　for　and　why　we　always　soaked　it　in　brine；　but　Harry's　mention　of　Wharton　woke　real　terror　in　his　eyes。　I　could　see　him　remembering　how　Wharton　had　held　him；　ruffling　his　hair　and　crooning　to　him。　
〃You　wouldn't　dare；〃　Percy　whispered。　
〃Yes　I　would；〃　Harry　replied　calmly。　〃And　do　you　know　what？　I'd　get　away　with　it。　Because　you've　already　shown　yourself　to　be　careless　as　hell　around　the　prisoners。　Inpetent；　too。〃　
Percy's　fists　bunched　and　his　cheeks　colored　in　a　thin　pink。　〃I　am　not…〃　
〃Sure　you　are；〃　Dean　said；　joining　us。　We　formed　a　rough　semicircle　around　Percy　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs；　and　even　a　retreat　up　the　tunnel　was　blocked；　the　gurney　was　behind　him；　with　its　load　of　smoking　flesh　hidden　under　an　old　sheet。　〃You　just　burned　Delacroix　alive。　If　that　ain't　inpetent；　what　is？〃　
Percy's　eyes　flickered。　He　had　been　planning　to　cover　himself　by　pleading　ignorance；　and　now　he　saw　he　was　hoist　by　his　own　petard。　I　don't　know　what　he　might　have　said　next；　because　Curtis　Anderson　came　lunging　down　the　stairs　just　then。　
We　heard　him　and　drew　back　from　Percy　a　little；　so　as　not　to　look　quite　so　threatening。　
〃What　in　the　blue　fuck　was　that　all　about？　Anderson　roared。　〃Jesus　Christ；　there's　puke　all　over　the　floor　up　there！　And　the　smell！　I　got　Magnusson　and　Old　Toot…Toot　to　open　both　doors；　but　that　smell　won't　e　out　for　five　damn　years；　that's　what　I'm　betting。　And　that　asshole　Wharton　is　singing　about　it！　I　can　hear　him！〃　
〃Can　he　carry　a　tune；　Curt？〃　Brutal　asked。　You　know　how　you　can　bum　off　illuminating　gas　with　a　single　spark　and　not　be　hurt　if　you　do　it　before　the　concentration　gets　too　heavy？　This　was　like　that。　We　took　an　instant　to　gape　at　Brutus；　and　then　we　were　all　howling。　Our　high；　hysterical　laughter　flapped　up　and　down　the　gloomy　tunnel　like　bats。　Our　shadows　bobbed　and　flickered　on　the　walls。　Near　the　end；　even　Percy　joined　in。　At　last　it　died；　and　in　its　aftermath　we　all　felt　a　little　better。　Felt　sane　again。　
〃Okay；　boys；〃　Anderson　said；　mopping　at　his　teary　eyes　with　his　handkerchief　and　still　snorting　out　an　occasional　hiccup　of　laughter；　〃what　the　hell　happened？〃　
〃An　execution；〃　Brutal　said。　I　think　his　even　tone　surprised　Anderson；　but　it　didn't　surprise　me；　at　least　not　much；　Brutal　had　always　been　good　at　turning　down　his　dials　in　a　hurry。　〃A　successful　one。〃　
〃How　in　the　name　of　Christ　can　you　call　a　directcurrent　abortion　like　that　a　success？　We've　got　witnesses　that　won't　sleep　for　a　month！　Hell；　that　fat　old　broad　probably　won't　sleep　for　a　year！〃　
Brutal　pointed　at　the　gurney；　and　the　shape　under　the　sheet。　〃He's　dead；　ain't　he？　As　for　your　witnesses；　most　of　them　will　be　telling　their　friends　tomorrow　night　that　it　was　poetic　justice　…　Del　there　burned　a　bunch　of　people　alive；　so　we　turned　around　and　burned　him　alive。　Except　they　won't　say　it　was　us。　They'll　say　it　was　the　will　of　God；　working　through　us。　Maybe　there's　even　some　truth　to　that。　And　you　want　to　know　the　best　part？　The　absolute　cat's　pajamas？　Most　of　their　friends　will　wish　they'd　been　here　to　see　it。〃　He　gave　Percy　a　look　both　distasteful　and　sardonic　as　he　said　this　last。　
〃And　if　their　feathers　are　a　little　ruffled；　so　what？〃　Harry　asked。　〃They　volunteered　for　the　damn　job；　nobody　drafted　them。〃　
〃I　didn't　know　the　sponge　was　supposed　to　be　wet；〃　Percy　said　in　his　robot's　voice。　〃It's　never　wet　in　rehearsal。〃　
Dean　looked　at　him　with　utter　disgust。　〃How　many　years　did　you　spend　pissing　on　the　toilet　seat　before　someone　told　you　to　put　it　up　before　you　start？〃　he　snarled。　
Percy　opened　his　mouth　to　reply；　but　I　told　him　to　shut　up。　For　a　wonder；　he　did。　I　turned　to　Anderson。　
〃Percy　fucked　up；　Curtis　…　that's　what　happened；　pure　and　simple。〃　I　turned　toward　Percy；　daring　him　to　contradict　me。　He　didn't；　maybe　because　he　read　my　eyes：　better　that　Anderson　hear　stupid　mistake　than　on　purpose。　And　besides；　whatever　was　said　down　here　in　the　tunnel　didn't　matter。　What　mattered；　what　always　matters　to　the　Percy　Wetmores　of　the　world；