第37部分(第4/8頁)

　all　about？　Anderson　roared。　〃Jesus　Christ；　there's　puke　all　over　the　floor　up　there！　And　the　smell！　I　got　Magnusson　and　Old　Toot…Toot　to　open　both　doors；　but　that　smell　won't　e　out　for　five　damn　years；　that's　what　I'm　betting。　And　that　asshole　Wharton　is　singing　about　it！　I　can　hear　him！〃

〃Can　he　carry　a　tune；　Curt？〃　Brutal　asked。　You　know　how　you　can　bum　off　illuminating　gas　with　a　single　spark　and　not　be　hurt　if　you　do　it　before　the　concentration　gets　too　heavy？　This　was　like　that。　We　took　an　instant　to　gape　at　Brutus；　and　then　we　were　all　howling。　Our　high；　hysterical　laughter　flapped　up　and　down　the　gloomy　tunnel　like　bats。　Our　shadows　bobbed　and　flickered　on　the　walls。　Near　the　end；　even　Percy　joined　in。　At　last　it　died；　and　in　its　aftermath　we　all　felt　a　little　better。　Felt　sane　again。

〃Okay；　boys；〃　Anderson　said；　mopping　at　his　teary　eyes　with　his　handkerchief　and　still　snorting　out　an　occasional　hiccup　of　laughter；　〃what　the　hell　happened？〃

〃An　execution；〃　Brutal　said。　I　think　his　even　tone　surprised　Anderson；　but　it　didn't　surprise　me；　at　least　not　much；　Brutal　had　always　been　good　at　turning　down　his　dials　in　a　hurry。　〃A　successful　one。〃

〃How　in　the　name　of　Christ　can　you　call　a　directcurrent　abortion　like　that　a　success？　We've　got　witnesses　that　won't　sleep　for　a　month！　Hell；　that　fat　old　broad　probably　won't　sleep　for　a　year！〃

Brutal　pointed　at　the　gurney；　and　the　shape　under　the　sheet。　〃He's　dead；　ain't　he？　As　for　your　witnesse