绿里奇迹(英文版)-第11部分

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That　mouse。　That　goddam　mouse。　Delacroix　loved　it；　but　Percy　Wetmore　sure　didn't。　
Percy　hated　it　from　the　first。　
2。　
The　mouse　came　back　just　about　three　days　after　Percy　had　chased　it　down　the　Green　Mile　that　first　time。　Dean　Stanton　and　Bill　Dodge　were　talking　politics；　which　meant　in　those　days；　they　were　talking　Roosevelt　and　Hoover　…　Herbert；　not　J。　Edgar。　They　were　eating　Ritz　crackers　from　a　box　Dean　had　purchased　from　old　Toot…Toot　an　hour　or　so　before。　Percy　was　standing　in　the　office　doorway；　practicing　quick　draws　with　the　baton　he　loved　so　much；　as　he　listened。　He'd　pull　it　out　of　that　ridiculous　handtooled　holster　he'd　gotten　somewhere；　then　twirl　it　（or　try　to；　most　times　he　would　have　dropped　it　if　not　for　the　rawhide　loop　he　kept　on　his　wrist）；　then　re…holster　it。　I　was　off　that　night；　but　got　the　full　report　from　Dean　the　following　evening。　
The　mouse　came　up　the　Green　Mile　just　as　it　had　before；　hopping　along；　then　stopping　and　seeming　to　check　the　empty　cells。　After　a　bit　of　that　it　would　hop　on；　undiscouraged；　as　if　it　had　known　all　along　it　would　be　a　long　search；　and　it　was　up　to　that。　
The　President　was　awake　this　time；　standing　at　his　cell　door。　That　guy　was　a　piece　of　work；　managing　to　look　natty　even　in　his　prison　blues。　We　knew　just　by　the　way　he　looked　that　he　wasn't　made　for　Old　Sparky；　and　we　were　right　…　less　than　a　week　after　Percy's　second　run　at　that　mouse；　The　Pres's　sentence　was　muted　to　life　and　he　joined　the　general　population。　
〃Say！〃　he　called。　''There's　a　mouse　in　here！　What　kind　of　a　joint　are　you　guys　running；　anyway？〃　He　was　kind　of　laughing；　but　Dean　said　he　also　sounded　kind　of　outraged；　as　if　even　a　murder　rap　hadn't　been　quite　enough　to　knock　the　Kiwanis　out　of　his　soul。　He　had　been　the　regional　head　of　an　outfit　called　Mid…South　Realty　Associates；　and　had　thought　himself　smart　enough　to　be　able　to　get　away　with　pushing　his　half…senile　father　out　a　third…story　window　and　collect　on　a　double…indemnity　whole…life　policy。　On　that　he　had　been　wrong；　but　maybe　not　by　much。　
〃Shut　up；　you　lugoon；〃　Percy　said；　but　that　was　pretty　much　automatic。　He　had　his　eye　on　the　mouse。　He　had　re…holstered　his　baton　and　taken　out　one　of　his　magazines；　but　now　he　tossed　the　magazine　on　the　duty　desk　and　pulled　the　baton　out　of　its　holster　again。　He　began　tapping　it　casually　against　the　knuckles　of　his　left　hand。　
〃Son　of　a　bitch；〃　Bill　Dodge　said。　〃I've　never　seen　a　mouse　in　here　before。〃　
〃Aw；　he's　sort　of　cute；〃　Dean　said。　〃And　not　afraid　at　all。〃　
〃How　do　you　know？〃　
〃He　was　in　the　other　night。　Percy　saw　him；　too。　Brutal　calls　him　Steamboat　Willy。〃　
Percy　kind　of　sneered　at　that；　but　for　the　time　being　said　nothing。　He　was　tapping　the　baton　faster　now　on　the　back　of　his　hand。　
〃Watch　this；〃　Dean　said。　〃He　came　all　the　way　up　to　the　desk　before。　I　want　to　see　if　he'll　do　it　again。〃　
It　did；　skirting　wide　of　The　Pres　on　its　way；　as　if　it　didn't　like　the　way　our　resident　parricide　smelled。　It　checked　two　of　the　empty　cells；　even　ran　up　onto　one　of　the　bare；　unmattressed　cots　for　a　sniff；　then　came　back　to　the　Green　Mile。　And　Percy　standing　there　the　whole　time；　tapping　and　tapping；　not　talking　for　a　change；　wanting　to　make　it　sorry　for　ing　back。　Wanting　to　teach　it　a　lesson。　
〃Good　thing　you　guys　don't　have　to　put　him　in　Sparky；〃　Bill　said；　interested　in　spite　of　himself。　〃You'd　have　a　hell　of　a　time　getting　the　clamps　and　the　cap　on。〃　
Percy　said　nothing　still；　but　he　very　slowly　gripped　the　baton　between　his　fingers；　the　way　a　man　would　hold　a　good　cigar。　
The　mouse　stopped　where　it　had　before；　no　more　than　three　feet　from　the　duty　desk；　looking　up　at　Dean　like　a　prisoner　before　the　bar。　It　glanced　up　at　Bill　for　a　moment；　then　switched　its　attention　back　to　Dean。　Percy　it　hardly　seemed　to　notice　at　all。　
〃He's　a　brave　little　barstid；　I　got　to　give　him　that；〃　Bill　said。　He　raised　his　voice　a　little。　〃Hey！　Hey！　Steamboat　Willy！〃　
The　mouse　flinched　a　little　and　fluttered　its　ears；　but　it　didn't　run；　or　even　show　any　signs　of　wanting　to。　
〃Now　watch　this；〃　Dean　said；　remembering　how　Brutal　had　fed　it　some　of　his　corned…beef　sandwich。　〃I　don't　know　if　he'll　do　it　again；　but…〃　
He　broke　off　a　piece　of　Ritz　cracker　and　dropped　it　in　front　of　the　mouse。　It　just　looked　with　its　sharp　black　eyes　at　the　orangey　fragment　for　a　second　or　two；　its　filament…fine　whiskers　twitching　as　it　sniffed。　Then　it　reached　out；　took　the　cracker　in　its　paws；　sat　up；　and　began　to　eat。　
〃Well。　I'll　be　shucked　and　boiled！〃　Bill　exclaimed。　〃Eats　as　neat　as　a　parson　on　parish　house　Saturday　night！〃　
〃Looks　more　like　a　nigger　eating　watermelon　to　me。〃。　Percy　remarked；　but　neither　guard　paid　him　any　mind。　Neither　did　The　Chief　or　The　Pres；　for　that　matter。　The　mouse　finished　the　cracker　but　continued　to　sit；　seemingly　balanced　on　the　talented　coil　of　its　tail；　looking　up　at　the　giants　in　blue。　
〃Lemme　try；〃　Bill　said。　He　broke　off　another　piece　of　cracker；　leaned　over　the　front　of　the　desk；　and　dropped　it　carefully。　The　mouse　sniffed　but　did　not　touch。　
〃Huh；〃　Bill　said。　〃Must　be　full。〃　
〃Nah；〃　Dean　said；　〃he　knows　you're　a　floater；　that's　all。〃　
〃Floater；　am　I？　I　like　that！　I'm　here　almost　as　much　as　Harry　Terwilliger！　Maybe　more！〃　
〃Simmer　down；　old…timer；　simmer　down；〃　Dean　said；　grinning。　〃But　watch　and　see　if　I'm　not　right。〃　He　bombed　another　piece　of　cracker　over　the　side。　Sure　enough；　the　mouse　picked　that　one　up　and　began　to　eat　again；　still　ignoring　Bill　Dodge's　contribution　pletely。　But　before　it　had　done　more　than　take　a　preliminary　nibble　or　two；　Percy　threw　his　baton　at　it；　launching　it　like　a　spear。　
The　mouse　was　a　small　target；　and　give　the　devil　his　due…it　was　a　wickedly　good　shot；　and　might　have　taken　〃Willy's〃　head　clean　off；　if　its　reflexes　hadn't　been　as　sharp　as　shards　of　broken　glass。　It　ducked　…　yes；　just　as　a　human　being　would　have　…　and　dropped　the　chunk　of　cracker。　The　heavy　hickory　baton　passed　over　its　head　and　spine　close　enough　so　its　fur　ruffled　（that's　what　Dean　said；　anyway；　and　so　I　pass　it　on；　although　I'm　not　sure　I　really　believe　it）；　then　hit　the　green　linoleum　and　bounced　against　the　bars　of　an　empty　cell。　The　mouse　didn't　wait　to　see　if　it　was　a　mistake；　apparently　remembering　a　pressing　engagement　elsewhere；　it　turned　and　was　off　down　the　corridor　toward　the　restraint　room　in　a　flash。　
Percy　roared　with　frustration　…　he　knew　how　close　he　had　e　…　and　chased　after　it　again。　Bill　Dodge　grabbed　at　his　arm；　probably　out　of　simple　instinct；　but　Percy　pulled　away　from　him。　Still；　Dean　said；　it　was　probably　that　grab　which　saved　Steamboat　Willy's　life；　and　it　was　still　a　near　thing。　Percy　wanted　not　just　to　kill　the　mouse　but　to　squash　it；　so　he　ran　in　big；　ical　leaps；　like　a　deer；　stamping　down　with　his　heavy　black　workshoes。　The　mouse　barely　avoided　Percy's　last　two　jumps；　first　zigging　and　then　zagging。　It　went　under　the　door　with　a　final　flick　of　its　long　pink　tail；　and　so　long；　stranger　…　it　was　gone。　
〃Fuck！〃　Percy　said；　and　slammed　the　flat　of　his　hand　against　the　door。　Then　he　began　to　sort　through　his　keys；　meaning　to　go　into　the　restraint　room　and　continue　the　chase。　
Dean　came　down　the　corridor　after　him；　deliberately　walking　slow　in　order　to　get　his　emotions　under　control。　Part　of　him　wanted　to　laugh　at　Percy；　he　told　me；　but　part　of　him　wanted　to　grab　the　man；　whirl　him　around；　pin　him　against　the　restraint…room　door；　and　whale　the　living　daylights　out　of　him。　Most　of　it；　of　course；　was　just　being　startled；　our　job　on　E　Block　was　to　keep　rumpus　to　a　minimum；　and　rumpus　was　practically　Percy　Wetmore's　middle　name。　Working　with　him　was　sort　of　like　trying　to　defuse　a　bomb　with　somebody　standing　behind　you　and　every　now　and　then　clashing　a　pair　of　cymbals　together。　In　a　word；　upsetting。　Dean　said　he　could　see　that　upset　in　Arlen　Bitterbucks　eyes　。。。　even　in　The　President's　eyes；　although　that　gentleman　was　usually　as　cool　as　the　storied　cucumber。　
And　there　was　something　else；　as　well。　In　some　part　of　his　mind；　Dean　had　already　begun　to　accept　the　mouse　as　…　well；　maybe　not　as　a　friend；　but　as　a　part　of　life　on　the　block。　That　made　what　Percy　had　done　and　what　he　was　trying　to　do　not　right。　Not　even　if　it　was　a　mouse　he　was　trying　to　do　it　to。　And　the　fact　that　Percy　would　never　understand　how　e　it　wasn't　right　was　pretty　much　the　perfect　example　of　why　he　was　all　wrong　for　the　job　he　thought　he　was　doing。　
By　the　time　Dean　reached　the　end　of　the　corridor；　he　had　gotten　himself　under　control　again；　and　knew　how　he　wanted　to　handle　the　matter。　The　one　thing　Percy　absolutely　couldn't　stand　was　to　look　foolish；　and　we　all　knew　it。　
〃Coises；　foiled　again；〃　he　said；　grinning　a　little；　kidding　Percy　along。　
Percy　gave　him　an　ugly　look　and　flicked　his　hair　off　his　brow。　〃Match　your　mouth；　Four…Eyes。　I'm　riled。　Don't　make　it　worse！〃　
〃So　it's　moving　day　again；　is　it？〃　Dean　said；　not　quite　laughing　。。。　but　laughing　with　his　eyes。　〃Well；　when　you　get　everything　out　this　time；　would　you　mind　mopping　the　floor？〃　
Percy　looked　at　the　door。　Looked　at　his　keys。　Thought　about　another　long；　hot；　fruitless　rummage　in　the　room　with　the　soft　walls　while　they　all　stood　around　and　watched　him　。。。　The　Chief　and　The　Pres；　too。　
〃I'll　be　damned　if　I　understand　what's　so　funny；〃　he　said。　〃We　don't　need　mice　in　the　cellblock　…　we　got　enough　vermin　in　here　already；　without　adding　mice。〃　
〃Whatever　you　say；　Percy；〃　Dean　said；　holding　up　his　hands。　He　had　a　moment　right　there；　he　told　me　the　next　night；　when　he　believed　Percy　might　just　take　after　him。　
Bill　Dodge　strolled　up　then　and　smoothed　it　over。　〃Think　you　dropped　this；〃　he　said；　and　handed　Percy　his　baton。　〃An　inch　lower；　you　woulda　broken　the　little　barstid's　back。〃　
Percy's　chest　expanded　at　that。　〃Yeah；　it　wasn't　a　bad　shot　；　〃　he　said；　carefully　re…seating　his　headknocker　in　its　foolish　holster。　〃I　used　to　be　a　pitcher　in　high　school。　Threw　two　no…hitters。〃　
〃Is　that　right；　now？〃　Bill　said；　and　the　respectful　tone　of　voice　（although　he　winked　at　Dean　when　Percy　turned　away）　was　enough　to　finish　defusing　the　situation。　
〃Yep；〃　Percy　said。　〃Threw　one　down　in　Knoxville。　Those　city　boys　didn't　know　what　hit　em。　Walked　two。　Could　have　had　a　perfect　game　if　the　ump　hadn't　been　such　a　lugoon。〃　
Dean　could　have　left　it　at　that；　but　he　had　seniority　on　Percy　and　part　of　a　senior's　job　is　to　instruct；　and　at　that　time　…　before　Coffey；　before　Delacroix　…　he　still　thought　Percy　might　be　teachable。　So　he　reached　out　and　grasped　the　younger　man's　wrist。　〃You　want　to　think　about　what　you　was　doing　just　now；〃　Dean　said。　His　intention；　he　said　later；　was　to　sound　serious　but　not　disapproving。　Not　too　disapproving；　anyway。　
Except　with　Percy；　that　didn't　work。　He　might　not　learn　。。。　but　we　would　eventually。　
〃Say；　Four…Eyes；　I　know　what　I　was　doing　…　trying　to　get　that　mouse！　What're　you；　blind？〃　
〃You　also　scared　the　cheese　out　of　Bill；　out　of　me；　and　out　of　them；〃　Dean　said；　pointing　in　the　direction　of　Bitterbuck　and　Flanders。　
〃So　what？〃　Percy　asked；　drawing　himself　up。　〃They　ain't　in　cradle…school；　in　case　you　didn't　notice。　Although　you　guys　treat　them　that　way　half　the　time。〃　
〃Well；　I　don't　like　to　be　scared；〃　Bill　rumbled；　〃and　I　work　here；　Wetmore；　in　case　you　didn't　notice。　I　ain'