第9部分(第2/7 页)

dog。　And　all　the　while　he　was　eating；　his　eyes　never　left　us。

〃Either　one　smart　mouse　or　hungry　as　hell；〃　a　new　voice　said。　It　was　Bitterbuck。　He　had　awakened　and　now　stood　at　the　bars　of　his　cell；　naked　except　for　a　pair　of　saggy…seated　boxer　shorts。　A　home…rolled　cigarette　poked　out　from　between　the　second　and　third　knuckles　of　his　right　hand；　and　his　iron…gray　hair　lay　over　his　shoulders　…　once　probably　muscular　but　now　beginning　to　soften　…　in　a　pair　of　braids。

〃You　got　any　Injun　wisdom　about　micies；　Chief？〃　Brutal　asked；　watching　the　mouse　eat。　We　were　all　pretty　fetched　by　the　neat　way　it　held　the　bit　of　corned　beef　in　its　forepaws；　occasionally　turning　it　or　glancing　at　it；　as　if　in　admiration　and　appreciation。

〃Naw；〃　Bitterbuck　said。　〃Knowed　a　brave　once　had　a　pair　of　what　he　claimed　were　mouse…skin　gloves；　but　I　didn't　believe　it！〃　Then　he　laughed；　as　if　the　whole　thing　was　a　joke；　and　left　the　bars。　We　heard　the　bunk　creak　as　he　lay　down　again。

That　seemed　to　be　the　mouse's　signal　to　go。　It　finished　up　what　it　was　holding；　sniffed　at　what　was　left　（mostly　bread　with　yellow　mustard　soaking　into　it）；　and　then　looked　back　at　us；　as　if　it　wanted　to　remember　our　faces　if　we　met　again。　Then　it　turned　and　scurried　off　the　way　it　had　e；　not　pausing　to　do　any　cell…checks　this　time。　Its　hurry　made　me　think　of　the　White　Rabbit　in　Alice's　Adventures　in　Wonderland；　and　I　smiled。　It　didn't　pause　at　the　door　to　the　restraint　room；　but　disappeared　beneath　it。　The　restraint　room　had　soft　walls；　for　people　whose　brains　had　softened　a　little。　ent　stored　in　there　when　we　didn't　need　the　room　for　its　created　purpose；　and　a　few　books　（most　were　westerns　by　Clarence　Mulford；　but　one…loaned　out　only　on　special　occasions　…　featured　a　profusely　illustrated　t