第16部分(第2/8 頁)

cy's　face　a　little　by　then；　but　his　cheeks　were　still　flushed；　and　his　hair；　which　was　usually　swept　back　and　gleaming　with　brilliantine；　had　tumbled　over　his　forehead。

〃What　in　the　Christ　was　that　all　about？〃　I　asked。　〃I　have　never　…　I　have　never！　…　had　a　prisoner　beaten　onto　my　block　before！〃

〃Little　fag　bastard　tried　to　cop　my　joint　when　I　pulled　him　out　of　the　van；〃　Percy　said。　〃He　had　it　ing；　and　I'd　do　it　again。〃

I　looked　at　him；　too　flabbergasted　for　words。　I　couldn't　imagine　the　most　predatory　homosexual　on　God's　green　earth　doing　what　Percy　had　just　described。　Preparing　to　move　into　a　crossbar　apartment　on　the　Green　Mile　did　not；　as　a　rule；　put　even　the　most　deviant　of　prisoners　in　a　sexy　mood。

I　looked　back　at　Delacroix；　cowering　on　his　bunk　with　his　arms　still　up　to　protect　his　face。　There　were　cuffs　on　his　wrists　and　a　chain　running　between　his　ankles。　Then　I　turned　to　Percy　〃Get　out　of　here；〃　I　said。　〃I'll　want　to　talk　to　you　later。〃

〃Is　this　going　to　be　in　your　report？〃　he　demanded　truculently。　〃Because　if　it　is；　I　can　make　a　report　of　my　own；　you　know。〃

I　didn't　want　to　make　a　report；　I　only　wanted　him　out　of　my　sight。　I　told　him　so。

〃The　matter's　closed；〃　I　finished。　I　saw　Brutal　looking　at　me　disapprovingly；　but　ignored　it。　〃Go　on；　get　out　of　here。　Go　over　to　Admin　and　tell　them　you're　supposed　to　read　letters　and　help　in　the　package　room。〃

〃Sure。〃　He　had　his　posure　back；　or　the　crackheaded　arrogance　tha