wondered　about　that　since；　let　me　tell　you。　I've　wondered　over　the　course　of　a　lot　of　years；　and　have　never　been　able　to　e　up　with　a　satisfactory　answer。　I　suppose　it　doesn't　matter　much。　A　lot　of　things　don't　matter；　but　it　doesn't　keep　a　man　from　wondering　about　them；　I've　noticed。

〃You　guys　talk　about　me　like　I　was　a　chump；〃　Percy　said。　He　still　sounded　dazed　and　winded　…　as　if　someone　had　punched　him　deep　in　the　gut　…　but　he　was　ing　back　a　little。

〃You　are　a　chump；　Percy；〃　I　said。

〃Hey；　you　can't…〃

I　controlled　my　own　urge　to　hit　him　only　with　the　greatest　effort。　Water　dripped　hollowly　from　the　bricks　down　in　the　tunnel；　our　shadows　danced　huge　and　misshapen　on　the　walls；　like　shadows　in　that　Poe　story　about　the　big　ape　in　the　Rue　Morgue。　Thunder　bashed；　but　down　here　it　was　muffled。

〃I　only　want　to　hear　one　thing　from　you；　Percy；　and　that's　you　repeating　your　promise　to　put　in　for　Briar　Ridge　tomorrow。〃

〃Don't　worry　about　that；〃　he　said　sullenly。　He　looked　at　the　sheeted　figure　on　the　gurney；　looked　away；　flicked　his　eyes　up　toward　my　face　for　a　moment；　then　looked　away　again。

〃That　would　be　for　the　best；〃　Harry　said。　〃Otherwise；　you　might　get　to　know　Wild　Bill　Wharton　a　whole　lot　better　than　you　want　to。〃　A　slight　pause。　〃We　could　see　to　it。〃

Percy　was　afraid　of　us；　and　he　was　probably　afraid　of　what　we　might　do　if　he　was　still　around　when　we　found　out　he'd　been　talking　to　Jack　Van　Hay　about　what　the　sponge　was　for　and　why　we　always　soaked　it　in　brine；　but　Harry's　mention　of　Wharton　woke　real　terror　in　his　eyes。　I　could　see　him　remembering　how　Wharton　had　held　him；　ruffling　his　hair　and　crooning　to　him。

〃You　wouldn't　dare；〃　Percy　whispered。

〃Yes　I　would；〃　Harry　replied　calmly。　〃And　do　you　know