第8部分(第1/7 页)

ad　no　meaning。　So　no；　you　didn't　walk　off　a　steady　paycheck　job　like　mine　。。。　not　in　cold　blood；　that　was。　But　my　blood　wasn't　cold　that　fall。　The　temperatures　outside　were　unseasonable；　and　the　infection　crawling　around　inside　me　had　turned　the　thermostat　up　even　more。　And　when　a　man's　in　that　kind　of　situation；　why；　sometimes　his　fist　flies　out　pretty　much　of　its　own　accord。　And　if　you　slug　a　connected　man　like　Percy　Wetmore　once；　you　might　as　well　just　go　right　on　slugging；　because　there's　no　going　back。

〃Stick　with　it；〃　Moores　said　quietly。　〃That's　what　I　called　you　in　here　to　say。　I　have　it　on　good　authority　…　the　person　who　called　me　this　morning；　in　fact　…　that　Percy　has　an　application　in　at　Briar；　and　that　his　application　will　be　accepted。〃

〃Briar；〃　I　said。　That　was　Briar　Ridge；　one　of　two　state…run　hospitals。　'What's　this　kid　doing？　Touring　state　facilities？〃

〃It's　an　administration　job。　Better　pay；　and　papers　to　push　instead　of　hospital　beds　in　the　heat　of　the　day。〃　He　gave　me　a　slanted　grin。　〃You　know；　Paul；　you　might　be　shed　of　him　already　if　you　hadn't　put　him　in　the　switch…room　with　Van　Hay　when　The　Chief　walked。〃

For　a　moment　what　he　said　seemed　so　peculiar　I　didn't　have　a　clue　what　he　was　getting　at。　Maybe　I　didn't　want　to　have　a　clue。

〃Where　else　would　I　put　him？〃　I　asked。　〃Christ；　he　hardly　knows　what　he's　doing　on　the　block！　To　make　him　part　of　the　active　execution　team　…　〃　I　didn't　finish。　Couldn't　finish。　The　potential　for　screw…ups　seemed　endless。

〃Nevertheless；　you'd　do　well　to　put　him　out　for　Delacroix。　If　you　want　to　get　rid　of　him；　that　is。〃

I　looked　at　him　with　my　jaw　hung。　At　last　I　was　able　to　get　it　up　where　it　belonged　so　I　could　talk。　〃What　are　you　saying？　That　he　wants　to　experience　on