子浪小说

第35部分（第1页）

ar。　〃The　only　thing　most　of　these　people　will　remember　about　you　is　how　you　go　out；　so　give　them　something　good。〃

The　loudest　crack　of　thunder　yet　broke　overhead　at　that　moment；　loud　enough　to　make　the　storage　rooms　tin　roof　vibrate。　Percy　jumped　as　if　someone　had　goosed　him；　and　Del　gave　a　small；　contemptuous　snort　of　laughter。　〃It　get　much　louder　dan　dat；　he　gonna　piddle　in　his　pants　again；〃　he　said；　and　then　squared　his　shoulders　…　not　that　he　had　much　to　square。　〃e　on。　Lets　get　it　over。〃

We　walked　to　the　platform。　Delacroix　ran　a　nervous　eye　over　the　witnesses　…　about　twenty…five　of　them　this　time　…　as　we　went；　but　Brutal；　Dean；　and　I　kept　our　own　eyes　trained　on　the　chair。　All　looked　in　order　to　me。　I　raised　one　thumb　and　a　questioning　eyebrow　to　Percy；　who　gave　a　little　one…sided　grimace；　as　if　to　say　What　do　you　mean；　is　everything　all　right？　Of　course　it　is。

I　hoped　he　was　right。

Brutal　and　I　reached　automatically　for　Delacroixs　elbows　as　he　stepped　up　onto　the　platform。　Its　only　eight　or　so　inches　up　from　the　floor；　but　youd　be　surprised　how　many　of　them；　even　the　toughest　of　tough　babies；　need　help　to　make　that　last　step　up　of　their　lives。

Del　did　okay；　though。　He　stood　in　front　of　the　chair　for　a　moment　（resolutely　not　looking　at　Percy）；　then　actually　spoke　to　it；　as　if　introducing　himself：　〃Cest　moi；〃　he　said。　Percy　reached　for　him；　but　Delacroix　turned　around　on　his　own　and　sat　down。　I　knelt　on　what　was　now　his　left　side；　and　Brutal　knelt　on　his　right。　I　guarded　my　crotch　and　my　throat　in　the　manner　I　have　already　described；　then　swung　the　clamp　in　so　that　its　open　jaws　encircled　the　skinny　white　flesh　just　above　the　Cajuns　ankle。　Thunder　bellowed　and　I　jumped。　Sweat　ran　in　my　eye；　stinging。　Mouseville；　I　kept　thinking　for　some　reason。　Mouseville；　and　how　it　cost　a　dime　to　get　in。　Two　cents　for　the　kiddies；　who　would　look　at　Mr。　Jingles　through　his　ivy…glass　windows。

The　clamp　was　balky；　wouldnt　shut。　I　could　hear　Del　breathing　in　great　dry　pulls　of　air；　lungs　that　would　be　charred　bags　less　than　four　minutes　from　now　laboring　to　keep　up　with　his　fear…driven　heart。　The　fact　that　he　had　killed　half　a　dozen　people　seemed　at　that　moment　the　least　important　thing　about　him。　Im　not　trying　to　say　anything　about　right　and　wrong　here；　but　only　to　tell　how　it　was。

Dean　knelt　next　to　me　and　whispered；　〃Whats　wrong；　Paul？〃

〃I　cant……〃　I　began；　and　then　the　clamp　closed　with　an　audible　snapping　sound。　It　must　have　also　pinched　a　fold　of　Delacroixs　skin　in　its　jaws；　because　he　flinched　and　made　a　little　hissing　noise。　〃Sorry；〃　I　said。

〃It　okay；　boss；〃　Del　said。　〃It　only　gonna　hurt　for　a　minute。〃

Brutals　side　had　the　clamp　with　the　electrode　in　it；　which　always　took　a　little　longer；　and　so　we　stood　up；　all　three　of　us；　at　almost　exactly　the　same　time。　Dean　reached　for　the　wrist…clamp　on　Dels　left；　and　Percy　went　to　the　one　on　his　right。　I　was　ready　to　move　forward　if　Percy　should　need　help；　but　he　did　better　with　his　wrist…clamp　than　Id　done　with　my　ankle…clamp。　I　could　see　Del　trembling　all　over　now；　as　if　a　low　current　were　already　passing　through　him。　I　could　smell　his　sweat；　too。　It　was　sour　and　strong　and　reminded　me　of　weak　pickle　juice。

Dean　nodded　to　Percy。　Percy　turned　back　over　his　shoulder　…　I　could　see　a　place　just　under　the　angle　of　his　jaw　where　hed　cut　himself　shaving　that　day　…　and　said　in　a　low；　firm　voice：　〃Roll　on　one！〃

There　was　a　hum；　sort　of　like　the　sound　an　old　refrigerator　makes　when　it　kicks　on；　and　the　hanging　lights　in　the　storage　room　brightened。　There　were　a　few　low　gasps　and　murmurs　from　the　audience。　Del　jerked　in　the　chair；　his　hands　gripping　the　ends　of　the　oak　arms　hard　enough　to　turn　the　knuckles　white。　His　eyes　rolled　rapidly　from　side　to　side　in　their　sockets；　and　his　dry　breathing　quickened　even　more。　He　was　almost　panting　now。

〃Steady；〃　Brutal　murmured。　〃Steady；　Del；　youre　doing　just　fine。　Hang　on；　youre　doing　just　fine。〃

Hey　you　guys！　I　thought。　e　and　see　what　Mr。　Jingles　can　do！　And　overhead；　the　thunder　banged　again。

Percy　stepped　grandly　around　to　the　front　of　the　electric　chain　This　was　his　big　moment；　he　was　at　center　stage；　all　eyes　were　on　him。　All；　that　was；　but　for　one　set。　Delacroix　saw　who　it　was　and　looked　down　at　his　lap　instead。　I　would　have　bet　you　a　dollar　to　a　doughnut　that　Percy　would　flub　his　lines　when　he　actually　had　to　say　them　for　an　audience；　but　he　reeled　them　off　without　a　hitch；　in　an　eerily　calm　voice。

〃Eduard　Delacroix；　you　have　been　condemned　to　die　in　the　electric　chair；　sentence　passed　by　a　jury　of　your　peers　and　imposed　by　a　judge　of　good　standing　in　this　state；　God　save　the　people　of　this　state。　Do　you　have　anything　to　say　before　sentence　is　carried　out？〃

Del　tried　to　speak　and　at　first　nothing　came　out　but　a　terrified　whisper　full　of　air　and　vowel…sounds。　The　shadow　of　a　contemptuous　smile　touched　the　corners　of　Percys　lips；　and　I　could　have　cheerfully　shot　him　right　there。　Then　Del　licked　his　lips　and　tried　again。

〃　I　sorry　for　what　I　do；〃　he　said。　〃I　give　anything　to　turn　back　the　clock；　but　no　one　can。　So　now　…　〃　Thunder　exploded　like　an　airburst　mortar　shell　above　us。　Del　jumped　as　much　as　the　clamps　would　allow；　eyes　starting　wildly　out　of　his　wet　face。　〃So　now　I　pay　the　price。　God　forgive　me。〃　He　licked　his　lips　again；　and　looked　at　Brutal。　〃Dont　forget　your　promise　about　Mr。　Jingles；〃　he　said　in　a　lower　voice　that　was　meant　just　for　us。

〃We　wont；　dont　worry；〃　I　said；　and　patted　Delacroixs　clay…cold　hand。　〃Hes　going　to　Mouseville　…　〃

〃The　hell　he　is　〃　Percy　said；　speaking　from　the　corner　of　his　mouth　like　a　yardwise　con　as　he　hooked　the　restraining　belt　across　Delacroixs　chest。　〃Theres　no　such　place。　Its　a　fairy…tale　these　guys　made　up　to　keep　you　quiet。　Just　thought　you　should　know；　faggot。〃

A　stricken　light　in　Dels　eyes　told　me　that　part　of　him　had　known　。。。　but　would　have　kept　the　knowledge　from　the　rest　of　him；　if　allowed。　I　looked　at　Percy；　dumbfounded　and　furious；　and　he　looked　back　at　me　levelly；　as　if　to　ask　what　I　meant　to　do　about　it。　And　he　had　me；　of　course。　There　was　nothing　I　could　do　about　it；　not　in　front　of　the　witnesses；　not　with　Delacroix　now　sitting　on　the　furthest　edge　of　life。　There　was　nothing　to　do　now　but　go　on　with　it；　finish　it。

Percy　took　the　mask　from　its　hook　and　rolled　it　down　over　Dels　face；　snugging　it　tight　under　the　little　mans　undershot　chin　so　as　to　stretch　the　hole　in　the　top。　Taking　the　sponge　from　the　bucket　and　putting　it　in　the　cap　was　the　next；　and　it　was　here　that　Percy　diverged　from　the　routine　for　the　first　time：　instead　of　just　bending　over　and　fishing　the　sponge　out；　he　took　the　steel　cap　from　the　back　of　the　chair；　and　bent　over　with　it　in　his　hands。　Instead　of　bringing　the　sponge　to　the　cap；　in　other　words…which　would　have　been　the　natural　way　to　do　it　…　he　brought　the　cap　to　the　sponge。　I　should　have　realized　something　was　wrong；　but　I　was　too　upset。　It　was　the　only　execution　I　ever　took　part　in　where　I　felt　totally　out　of　control。　As　for　Brutal；　he　never　looked　at　Percy　at　all；　not　as　Percy　bent　over　the　bucket　（moving　so　as　to　partially　block　what　he　was　doing　from　our　view）；　not　as　he　straightened　up　and　turned　to　Del　with　the　cap　in　his　hands　and　the　brown　circle　of　sponge　already　inside　it。　Brutal　was　looking　at　the　cloth　which　had　replaced　Dels　face；　watching　the　way　the　black　silk　mask　drew　in；　outlining　the　circle　of　Dels　open　mouth；　and　then　puffed　out　again　with　his　breath。　There　were　big　beads　of　perspiration　on　Brutals　forehead；　and　at　his　temples；　just　below　the　hairline。　I　had　never　seen　him　sweat　at　an　execution　before。　Behind　him；　Dean　looked　distracted　and　W；　as　if　he　was　fighting　not　to　lose　his　supper。　We　all　understood　that　something　was　wrong；　I　know　that　now。　We　just　couldnt　tell　what　it　was。　No　one　knew　…　not　then　…　about　the　questions　Percy　had　been　asking　Jack　Van　Hay。　There　were　a　lot　of　them；　but　I　suspect　most　were　just　camouflage。　What　Percy　wanted　to　know　about　…　the　only　thing　Percy　wanted　to　know　about；　I　believe　…　was　the　sponge。　The　purpose　of　the　sponge。　Why　it　was　soaked　in　brine　。。。　and　what　would　happen　if　it　was　not　soaked　in　brine。

What　would　happen　if　the　sponge　was　dry。

Percy　jammed　the　cap　down　on　Dels　head。　The　little　man　jumped　and　moaned　again；　this　time　louder。　Some　of　the　witnesses　stirred　uneasily　on　their　folding　chairs。　Dean　took　a　half…step　forward；　meaning　to　help　with　the　chin…strap；　and　Percy　motioned　him　curtly　to　step　back。　Dean　did；　hunching　a　little　and　wincing　as　another　blast　of　thunder　shook　the　storage　shed。　This　time　it　was　followed　by　the　first　spatters　of　rain　across　the　roof。　They　sounded　hard；　like　someone　flinging　handfuls　of　goobers　onto　a　washboard。

Youve　heard　people　say　〃My　blood　ran　cold〃　about　things；　havent　you？　Sure。　All　of　us　have；　but　the　only　time　in　all　my　years　that　I　actually　felt　it　happen　to　me　was　on　that　new　and　thunderstruck　morning　in　October　of　1932；　at　about　ten　seconds　past　midnight。　It　wasnt　the　look　of　poison　triumph　on　Percy　Wetmores　face　as　he　stepped　away　from　the　capped；　clamped；　and　hooded　figure　sitting　there　in　Old　Sparky；　it　was　what　I　should　have　seen　and　didnt。　There　was　no　water　running　down　Dels　cheeks　from　out　of　the　cap。　That　was　when　I　finally　got　it。

〃Edward　Delacroix；〃　Percy　was　saying；　〃electricity　shall　now　be　passed　through　your　body　until　you　are　dead；　according　to　state　law。〃

I　looked　over　at　Brutal　in　an　agony　that　made　my　urinary　infection　seem　like　a　bumped　finger　The　sponge　is　dry！　I　mouthed　at　him；　but　he　only　shook　his　head；　not　understanding；　and　looked　back　at　the　mask　over　the　Frenchmans　face；　where　the　mans　last　few　breaths　were　pulling　the　black　silk　in　and　then　blousing　it　out　again。

I　reached　for　Percys　elbow　and　he　stepped　away　from　me；　giving　me　a　flat　look　as　he　did　so。　It　was　only　a　momentary　glance；　but　it　told　me　everything。　Later　he　would　tell　his　lies　and　his　half…truths；　and　most　would　be　believed　by　the　people　who　mattered；　but　I　knew　a　different　story。　Percy　was　a　good　student　when　he　was　doing　something　he　cared　about；　wed　found　that　out　at　the　rehearsals；　and　he　had　listened　carefully　when　Jack　Van　Hay　explained　how　the　brine…soaked　sponge　conducted　the　juice；　channelling　it；　turning　the　charge　into　a　kind　of　electric　bullet　to　the　brain。　Oh　yes；　Percy　knew　exactly　what　he　was　doing。　I　think　I　believed　him　later　when　he　said　I　didnt　know　how　far　it　would　go；　but　that　doesnt　even　count　in　the　good…intentions　column；　does　it？　I　dont　think　so。　Yet；　short　of　screaming　in　front　of　the　assistant　warden　and　all　the　witnesses　for　Jack　Van　Hay　not　to　pull　the　switch；　there　was　nothing　I　could　do。　Given　another　five　seconds；　I　think　I　might　have　screamed　just　that；　but　Percy　didnt　give　me　another　five　seconds。

〃May　God　have　mercy　on　your　soul；〃　he　told　the　panting；　terrified　figure　in　the　electric　chair；　then　looked　past　him　at　the　mesh…covered　rectangle　where　Harry　and　Jack　were　standing；　Jack　with　his　hand　on　the　switch　marked　MABELS　HAIR　DRIER。　The　doctor　was　standing　to　the　right　of　that　window；　eyes　fixed　on　the　black　bag　between　his　feet；　as　silent　and　selfeffacing　as　ever。　〃Roll　on　two！〃

At　first　it　was　the　same　as　always　…　the　humming　that　was

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