the　Green　Mile　was；　in　a　way；　like　life　in　a　soundproof　room。　From　time　to　time　you　heard　mutterings　that　were　probably　explosions　in　the　outside　world；　but　that　was　about　all。　They　wouldn't　hurry　with　John　Coffey；　they'd　want　to　make　damned　sure　of　him。

On　a　couple　of　occasions　Percy　got　to　ragging　Delacroix；　and　the　second　time　I　pulled　him　aside　and　told　him　to　e　up　to　my　office。　It　wasn't　my　first　interview　with　Percy　on　the　subject　of　his　behavior；　and　it　wouldn't　be　the　last；　but　it　was　prompted　by　what；　was　probably　the　clearest　understanding　of　what　he　was。　He　had　the　heart　of　a　cruel　boy　who　goes　to　the　zoo　not　so　he　can　study　the　animals　but　so　he　can　throw　stones　at　them　in　their　cages。

〃You　stay　away　from　him；　now；　you　hear？〃　I　said。　〃Unless　I　give　you　a　specific　order；　just　stay　the　hell　away　from　him。〃

Percy　bed　his　hair　back；　then　patted　at　it　with　his　sweet　little　hands。　That　boy　just　loved　touching　his　hair。　〃I　wasn't　doing　nothing　to　him；〃　he　said。　〃Only　asking　how　it　felt　to　know　you　had　burned　up　some　babies；　is　all。〃　Percy　gave　me　a　round…eyed；　innocent　stare。

〃You　quit　with　it；　or　there'll　be　a　report；〃　I　said。

He　laughed。　〃Make　any　report　you　want；〃　he　said。　〃Then　I'll　turn　around　and　make　my　own。　Just　like　I　told　you　when　he　came　in。　We'll　see　who　es　off　the　best。〃

I　leaned　forward；　hands　folded　on　my　desk；　and　spoke　in　a　tone　I　hoped　would　sound　like　a　friend　being　confidential。　〃Brutus　Howell　doesn't　like　you　much；〃　I　said。　〃And　when　Brutal　doesn't　like　someone；　he's　been　known　to　make　his　own　report。　He　isn't　much　shakes　with　a　pen；　and　he　can't　quit　from　licking　that　pencil；　so　he's　apt　to　report　with　his　fists。　If　you　know　what　I　mean。〃

Percy's　placent　little　smile　faltered。　〃What　are　you　try