and　frustration。　Or　maybe　I　just　hoped　they　were。

〃Okay　…　now　look　on　the　sunny　side；　Percy。　Your　lips　sting　a　little　from　having　the　tape　pulled　off　them；　I　imagine；　but　otherwise　there's　nothing　hurt　but　your　pride　。。。　and　nobody　needs　to　know　about　that　but　the　people　in　this　room　right　now。　And　we'll　never　tell；　will　we；　boys？〃

They　shook　their　heads。　〃Course　not；〃　Brutal　said。　〃Green　Mile　business　stays　on　the　Green　Mile。　Always　has。〃

〃You're　going　on　to　Briar　Ridge　and　we're　going　to　leave　you　alone　until　you　go；〃　I　said。　〃Do　you　want　to　leave　it　at　that；　Percy；　or　do　you　want　to　play　hardball　with　us？〃

There　was　a　long；　long　silence　as　he　considered。

I　could　almost　see　the　wheels　turning　in　his　head　as　he　tried　out　and　rejected　possible　counters。　And　at　last；　I　think　a　more　basic　truth　must　have　overwhelmed　the　rest　of　his　calculations：　the　tape　was　off　his　mouth；　but　he　was　still　wearing　the　straitjacket　and　probably　he　had　to　piss　like　a　racehorse。

〃All　right；〃　he　said。　〃We'll　consider　the　matter　closed。　Now　get　me　out　of　this　coat。　It　feels　like　my　shoulders　are　…　〃

Brutal　stepped　forward；　shouldering　me　aside；　and　grabbed　Percy's　face　with　one　big　hand　…　fingers　denting　in　Percy's　right　cheek；　thumb　making　a　deep　dimple　in　his　left。

〃In　a　few　seconds；〃　he　said。　〃First；　you　listen　to　me。　Paul　here　is　the　big　boss；　and　so　he　has　to　talk　elegant　sometimes。〃

I　tried　to　remember　anything　elegant　I　might've　said　to　Percy　and　couldn't　e　up　with　much。　Still；　I　thought　it　might　be　best　to　keep　my　mouth　shut；　Percy　looked　suitably　terrorized；　and　I　didn't　want　to　spoil　the　effect。

〃People　don't　always　understand　that　being　elegant　isn't　the　same　as　being　soft；　and　that's　where　I　e　in。　I　don't　worry　a