！〃

〃Little　fag　bastard　tried　to　cop　my　joint　when　I　pulled　him　out　of　the　van；〃　Percy　said。　〃He　had　it　ing；　and　I'd　do　it　again。〃

I　looked　at　him；　too　flabbergasted　for　words。　I　couldn't　imagine　the　most　predatory　homosexual　on　God's　green　earth　doing　what　Percy　had　just　described。　Preparing　to　move　into　a　crossbar　apartment　on　the　Green　Mile　did　not；　as　a　rule；　put　even　the　most　deviant　of　prisoners　in　a　sexy　mood。

I　looked　back　at　Delacroix；　cowering　on　his　bunk　with　his　arms　still　up　to　protect　his　face。　There　were　cuffs　on　his　wrists　and　a　chain　running　between　his　ankles。　Then　I　turned　to　Percy　〃Get　out　of　here；〃　I　said。　〃I'll　want　to　talk　to　you　later。〃

〃Is　this　going　to　be　in　your　report？〃　he　demanded　truculently。　〃Because　if　it　is；　I　can　make　a　report　of　my　own；　you　know。〃

I　didn't　want　to　make　a　report；　I　only　wanted　him　out　of　my　sight。　I　told　him　so。

〃The　matter's　closed；〃　I　finished。　I　saw　Brutal　looking　at　me　disapprovingly；　but　ignored　it。　〃Go　on；　get　out　of　here。　Go　over　to　Admin　and　tell　them　you're　supposed　to　read　letters　and　help　in　the　package　room。〃

〃Sure。〃　He　had　his　posure　back；　or　the　crackheaded　arrogance　that　served　him　as　posure。　He　brushed　his　hair　back　from　his　forehead　with　his　hands　…　soft　and　white　and　small；　the　hands　of　a　girl　in　her　early　teens；　you　would　have　thought　…　and　then　approached　the　cell。　Delacroix　saw　him；　and　he　cringed　back　even　farther　on　his　bunk；　gibbering　in　a　mixture　of　English　and　stewpot　French。

〃I　ain't　done　with　you；　Pierre；〃　he　said；　then　jumped　as　one　of　Brutal's　huge　hands　fell　on　his　shoulder。

〃Yes　you　are；〃　Brutal　said。　〃Now　go　on。　Get　in　the　breeze！〃

〃You　don't　scare　me；　you　know；〃　Percy　said。　〃Not　a　bit！〃　His　eyes　shifted　to　me。　〃Either