第20部分(第2/8 頁)

e　hummed　a　little；　Harry　said；　and　Percy　roused　himself　enough　from　his　funk　to　say　that　the　lugoon　dripped　spittle　from　his　lax　lower　lip；　a　drop　at　a　time；　until　it　had　made　a　puddle　between　his　feet。　Like　a　dog　dripping　off　the　end　of　its　tongue　on　a　hot　summer　day。

They　drove　in　through　the　south　gate　when　they　got　to　the　pen；　right　past　my　car；　I　guess。　The　guard　on　the　south　pass　tan　back　the　big　door　between　the　lot　and　the　exercise　yard；　and　the　stagecoach　drove　through。　It　was　a　slack　time　in　the　yard；　not　many　men　out　and　most　of　them　hoeing　in　the　garden。　Pumpkin　time；　it　would　have　been。　They　drove　straight　across　to　E　Block　and　stopped。　The　driver　opened　the　door　and　told　them　he　was　going　to　take　the　stagecoach　over　to　the　motor…pool　to　have　the　oil　changed；　it　had　been　good　working　with　them。　The　extra　guards　went　with　the　vehicle；　two　of　them　sitting　in　the　back　eating　apples；　the　doors　now　swinging　open。

That　left　Dean；　Harry　and　Percy　with　one　shackled　prisoner。　It　should　have　been　enough；　would　have　been　enough；　if　they　hadn't　been　lulled　by　the　stick　thin　country　boy　standing　head…down　there　in　the　dirt　with　chains　on　his　wrists　and　ankles。　They　marched　him　the　twelve　or　so　paces　to　the　door　that　opened　into　E　Block；　falling　into　the　same　formation　we　used　when　escorting　prisoners　down　the　Green　Mile。　Harry　was　on　his　left；　Dean　was　on　his　right；　and　Percy　was　behind；　with　his　baton　in　his　hand。　No　one　told　me　that；　but　I　know　damned　well　he