多多读书

手机浏览器扫描二维码访问

第17部分（第1页）

amant。　〃He　whisper　it　in　my　ear。　Capn；　can　I　have　a　box　for　him？　Can　I　have　a　box　for　my　mous；　so　he　can　sleep　in　here　wit　me？〃　His　voice　began　to　fall　into　wheedling　tones　I　had　heard　a　thousand　times　before。　〃I　put　him　under　my　bunk　and　he　never　be　a　scrid　of　trouble；　not　one。〃

〃Your　English　gets　a　hell　of　a　lot　better　when　you　want　something；〃　I　said；　stalling　for　time。

〃Oh…oh；〃　Harry　murmured；　nudging　me。　〃Here　es　trouble。〃

But　Percy　didnt　look　like　trouble　to　me；　not　that　night。　He　wasnt　running　his　hands　through　his　hair　or　fiddling　with　that　baton　of　his；　and　the　top　button　of　his　uniform　shirt　was　actually　undone。　It　was　the　first　time　Id　seen　him　that　way；　and　it　was　amazing；　what　a　change　a　little　thing　like　that　could　make。　Mostly；　though；　what　struck　me　was　the　expression　on　his　face。　There　was　a　calmness　there。　Not　serenity　…　I　dont　think　Percy　Wetmore　had　a　serene　bone　in　his　body　…　but　the　look　of　a　man　who　has　discovered　he　can　wait　for　the　things　he　　the　young　man　Id　had　to　threaten　with　Brutus　Howells　fists　only　a　few　days　before。

Delacroix　didnt　see　the　change；　though；　he　cringed　against　the　wall　of　his　cell；　drawing　his　knees　up　to　his　chest。　His　eyes　seemed　to　grow　until　they　were　taking　up　half　his　face。　The　mouse　scampered　up　on　his　bald　pate　and　sat　there。　I　dont　know　if　he　remembered　that　he　also　had　reason　to　distrust　Percy；　but　it　certainly　looked　as　if　he　did。　Probably　it　was　just　smelling　the　little　Frenchmans　fear；　and　reacting　off　that。

〃Well；　well；〃　Percy　said。　〃Looks　like　you　found　yourself　a　friend；　Eddie。〃

Delacroix　tried　to　reply…some　hollow　defiance　about　what　would　happen　to　Percy　if　Percy　hurt　his　new　pal　would　have　been　my　guess　…　but　nothing　came　out。　His　lower　lip　trembled　a　little；　but　that　was　all。　On　top　of　his　head；　Mr。　Jingles　wasnt　trembling。　He　sat　perfectly　still　with　his　back　feet　in　Delacroixs　hair　and　his　front　ones　splayed　on　Delacroixs　bald　looking　at　Percy；　seeming　to　size　him　up。　The　way　youd　size　up　an　old　enemy。

Percy　looked　at　me。　〃Isnt　that　the　same　one　I　chased？　The　one　that　lives　in　the　restraint　room？〃

I　nodded。　I　had　an　idea　Percy　hadnt　seen　the　newly　named　Mr。　Jingles　since　that　last　chase；　and　he　showed　no　signs　of　wanting　to　chase　it　now。

〃Yes；　thats　the　one；〃　I　said。　〃Only　Delacroix　there　says　his　name　is　Mr。　Jingles；　not　Steamboat　Willy。　Says　the　mouse　whispered　it　in　his　ear。〃

〃Is　that　so；〃　Percy　said。　〃Wonders　never　cease；　do　they？〃　I　half…expected　him　to　pull　out　his　baton　and　start　tapping　it　against　the　bars；　just　to　show　Delacroix　who　was　boss；　but　he　only　stood　there　with　his　hands　on　his　hips；　looking　in。

And　for　no　reason　I　could　have　told　you　in　words；　I　said：　〃Delacroix　there　was　just　asking　for　a　box；　Percy。　He　thinks　that　mouse　will　sleep　in　it；　I　guess。　That　he　can　keep　it　for　a　pet。〃　I　loaded　my　voice　with　skepticism；　and　sensed　more　than　saw　Harry　looking　at　me　in　surprise。　〃What　do　you　think　about　that？〃

〃I　think　itll　probably　shit　up　his　nose　some　night　while　hes　sleeping　and　then　run　away；〃　Percy　said　evenly；　〃but　I　guess　thats　the　French　boys　lookout。　I　seen　a　pretty　nice　cigar　box　on　Toot…Toots　cart　the　other　night。　I　dont　know　if　hed　give　it　away；　though。　Probably　want　a　nickel　for　it；　maybe　even　a　dime。〃

Now　I　did　risk　a　glance　at　Harry；　and　saw　his　mouth　hanging　open。　This　wasnt　quite　like　the　change　in　Ebenezer　Scrooge　on　Christmas　morning；　after　the　ghosts　had　had　their　way　with　him；　but　it　was　damned　close。

Percy　leaned　closer　to　Delacroix；　putting　his　face　between　the　bars。　Delacroix　shrank　back　even　farther。　I　swear　to　God　that　he　would　have　melted　into　that　wall　if　hed　been　able。

〃You　got　a　nickel　or　maybe　as　much　as　a　dime　to　pay　for　a　cigar　box；　you　lugoon？〃　he　asked。

〃I　got　four　pennies；〃；　Delacroix　said。　〃I　give　them　for　a　box；　if　it　a　good　one；　sil　est　bon。〃

〃Ill　tell　you　what；〃　Percy　said。　〃If　that　toothless　old　whoremaster　will　sell　you　that　Corona　box　for　four　cents；　Ill　sneak　some　cotton　batting　out　of　the　dispensary　to　line　it　with。　Well　make　us　a　regular　Mousie　Hilton；　before　were　through。〃　He　shifted　his　eyes　to　me。　〃Im　supposed　to　write　a　switch…room　report　about　Bitterbuck；〃　he　said。　〃Is　there　some　pens　in　your　office；　Paul？〃

〃Yes；　indeed；〃　I　said。　〃Forms；　too。　Lefthand　top　drawer。〃

〃Well；　thats　aces；〃　he　said；　and　went　swaggering　off。

Harry　and　I　looked　at　each　other。　〃Is　he　sick；　do　you　think？〃　Harry　asked。　〃Maybe　went　to　his　doctor　and　found　out　hes　only　got　three　months　to　live？〃

I　told　him　I　didnt　have　the　slightest　idea　what　was　up。　It　was　the　truth　then；　and　for　awhile　after；　but　I　found　out　in　time。　And　a　few　years　later；　I　had　an　interesting　supper…table　conversation　with　Hal　Moores。　By　then　we　could　talk　freely；　what　with　him　being　retired　and　me　being　at　the　Boys　Correctional。　It　was　one　of　those　meals　where　you　drink　too　much　and　eat　too　little；　and　tongues　get　loosened。　Hal　told　me　that　Percy　had　been　in　to　plain　about　me　and　about　life　on　the　Mile　in　general。　This　was　just　after　Delacroix　came　on　the　block；　and　Brutal　and　I　had　kept　Percy　from　beating　him　half　to　death。　What　had　griped　Percy　the　most　was　me　telling　him　to　get　out　of　my　sight。　He　didnt　think　a　man　who　was　related　to　the　governor　should　have　to　put　up　with　talk　like　that。

Well；　Moores　told　me；　he　had　stood　Percy　off　for　as　long　as　he　could；　and　when　it　became　dear　to　him　that　Percy　was　going　to　try　pulling　some　strings　to　get　me　reprimanded　and　moved　to　another　part　of　the　prison　at　the　very　least；　he；　Moores；　had　pulled　Percy　into　his　office　and　told　him　that　if　he　quit　rocking　the　boat；　Moores　would　make　sure　that　Percy　was　out　front　for　Delacroixs　execution。　That　he　would；　in　fact；　be　placed　right　beside　the　chair。　I　would　be　in　charge；　as　always；　but　the　witnesses　wouldnt　know　that；　to　them　it　would　look　as　if　Mr。　Percy　Wetmore　was　boss　of　the　cotillion。　Moores　wasnt　promising　any　more　than　what　wed　already　discussed　and　Id　gone　along　with；　but　Percy　didnt　know　that。　He　agreed　to　leave　off　his　threats　to　have　me　reassigned；　and　the　atmosphere　on　E　Block　sweetened。　He　had　even　agreed　that　Delacroix　could　keep　Percys　old　nemesis　as　a　pet。　Its　amazing　how　some　men　can　change；　given　the　right　incentive；　in　Percys　case；　all　Warden　Moores　had　to　offer　was　the　chance　to　take　a　bald　little　Frenchmans　life。

9。

Toot…Toot　felt　that　four　cents　was　far　too　little　for　a　prime　Corona　cigar　box；　and　in　that　he　was　probably　right　…　cigar　boxes　were　highly　prized　objects　in　prison。　A　thousand　different　small　items　could　be　stored　in　them；　the　smell　was　pleasant；　and　there　was　something　about　them　that　reminded　our　customers　of　what　it　was　like　to　be　free　men。　Because　cigarettes　were　permitted　in　prison　but　cigars　were　not；　I　imagine。

Dean　Stanton；　who　was　back　on　the　block　by　then；　added　a　penny　to　the　pot；　and　I　kicked　one　in；　as　well。　When　Toot　still　proved　reluctant；　Brutal　went　to　work　on　him；　first　telling　him　he　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　himself　for　behaving　like　such　a　cheapskate；　then　promising　him　that　he；　Brutus　Howell；　would　personally　put　that　Corona　box　back　in　Toots　hands　the　day　after　Delacroixs　execution。　〃Six　cents　might　or　might　not　be　enough　if　you　was　speaking　about　selling　that　cigar　box；　we　could　have　a　good　old　barber…shop　argument　about　that；〃　Brutal　said；　〃but　you　have　to　admit　its　a　great　price　for　renting　one。　Hes　gonna　walk　the　Mile　in　a　month；　six　weeks　at　the　very　outside。　Why；　that　boxll　be　back　on　the　shelf　under　your　cart　almost　before　you　know　its　gone。〃

〃He　could　get　a　soft…hearted　judge　to　give　im　a　stay　and　still　be　here　to　sing　Should　old　acquaintances　be　forgot；〃　Toot　said；　but　he　knew　better　and　Brutal　knew　he　did。　Old　Toot…Toot　had　been　pushing　that　damned　Bible…quoting　cart　of　his　around　Cold　Mountain　since　Pony　Express　days；　practically；　and　he　had　plenty　of　sources；　better　than　ours；　I　thought　then。　He　knew　Delacroix　was　fresh　out　of　soft…hearted　judges。　All　he　had　left　to　hope　for　was　the　governor；　who　as　a　rule　didnt　issue　clemency　to　folks　who　had　baked　half　a　dozen　of　his　constituents。

〃Even　if　he　dont　get　a　stay；　that　moused　be　shitting　in　that　box　until　October；　maybe　even　Thanksgiving；〃　Toot　argued；　but　Brutal　could　see　he　was　weakening。　〃Who　gonna　buy　a　cigar　box　some　mouse　been　using　for　a　toilet？〃

〃Oh　jeez…Louise；〃　Brutal　said。　〃Thats　the　numbest　thing　Ive　ever　heard　you　say；　Toot。　I　mean；　that　takes　the　cake。　First；　Delacroix　will　keep　the　box　clean　enough　to　eat　a　church　dinner　out　of　…　the　way　he　loves　that　mouse；　hed　lick　it　clean　if　thats　what　it　took。〃

〃Easy　on　dat　stuff；〃　Toot　said；　wrinkling　his　nose。

〃Second；〃　Brutal　went　on；　〃mouse…shit　is　no　big　deal；　anyway。　Its　just　hard　little　pellets；　looks　like　birdshot。　Shake　it　right　out。　Nothing　to　it！〃

Old　Toot　knew　better　than　to　carry　his　protest　any　further；　hed　been　on　the　yard　long　enough　to　understand　when　he　could　afford　to　face　into　the　breeze　and　when　hed　do　better　to　bend　in　the　hurricane。　This　wasnt　exactly　a　hurricane；　but　we　bluesuits　liked　the　mouse；　and　we　liked　the　idea　of　Delacroix　having　the　mouse；　and　that　meant　it　was　at　least　a　gale。　So　Delacroix　got　his　box；　and　Percy　was　as　good　as　his　word　…　two　days　later　the　bottom　was　lined　with　soft　pads　of　cotton　batting　from　the　dispensary。　Percy　handed　them　over　himself；　and　I　could　see　the　fear　in　Delacroixs　eyes　as　he　reached　out　through　the　bars　to　take　them。　He　was　afraid　Percy　would　grab　his　hand　and　break　his　fingers。　I　was　a　little　afraid　of　it　too；　but　no　such　thing　happened。　That　was　the　closest　I　ever　came　to　liking　Percy；　but　even　then　it　was　hard　to　mistake　the　look　of　cool　amusement　in　his　eyes。　Delacroix　had　a　pet；　Percy　had　one　too。　Delacroix　would　keep　his；　petting　it　and　loving　it　as　long　as　he　could；　Percy　would　wait　patiently　（as　patiently　as　a　man　like　him　could　anyway）；　and　then　burn　his　alive。

〃Mousie　Hilton；　open　for　business。〃　Harry　said。　〃The　only　question　is；　will　the　little　bugger　use　it？〃

That　question　was　answered　as　soon　as　Delacroix　caught　Mr。　Jingles　up　in　one　hand　and　lowered　him　gently　into　the　box。　The　mouse　snuggled　into　the　white　cotton　as　if　it　were　Aunt　Beas　forter；　and　that　was　his　home　from　then　until　。。。　well；　Ill　get　to　the　end　of　Mr。　Jingless　story　in　good　time。

Old　Toot…Toots　worries　that　the　cigar　box　would；　fill　up　with　mouse…shit　proved　to　be　entirely　groundless。　I　never　saw　a　single　turd　in　there；　and　Delacroix　said　he　never　did；　either；　anywhere　in　his　cell；　for　that　matter。　Much　later；　around　the　time　Brutal　showed　me　the　hole　in　the　beam　and　we　found　the　colored　splinters；　I　moved　a　chair　out　of　the　restraint　rooms　east　corner　and　found　a　little　pile　of　mouse　turds　back　there。　He　had　always　gone　back　to　the　same　place　to　do　his　business；　seemingly；　and　as　far　from　us　as　he　could　get。　Heres　another　thing：　I　never　saw　him　peeing；　and　usually　mice　can　hardly　turn　the　faucet　off　for　two　minutes　at　a　time；　especially　while　theyre　eating。　I　told　you；　the　damned　thing　was　one　of　Gods　mysteries。

A　week　or　so　after　Mr。　Jingles　had　settled　into　the　cigar　box；　Delacroix　called　me　and　Brutal　down　to　his　cell　to　see　something。　He　did　that　so　much　it　was　annoying　…　if　Mr。　Jingles　so　much　a