第30部分(第3/8頁)

es　stood　on　Del's　slipper　with　his　front　paws　raised；　clearly　lusting　for　another　chance　to　chase。　The　Cajun　looked　from　Brutal　to　me　and　back　to　Brutal　again。　〃What　dey　do　in　Mouseville？〃　he　asked。

〃You　think　they'd　take　Mr。　Jingles？〃　Brutal　asked　me；　simultaneously　ignoring　Del　and　drawing　him　on。　〃Think　he's　got　the　stuff；　Paul？〃

I　tried　to　appear　considering。　〃You　know；〃　I　said；　〃the　more　I　think　of　it；　the　more　it　seems　like　a　brilliant　idea。〃　From　the　er　of　my　eye　I　saw　Percy　e　partway　down　the　Green　Mile　（giving　Wharton's　cell　a　very　wide　berth）。　He　stood　with　one　shoulder　leaning　against　an　empty　cell；　listening　with　a　small；　contemptuous　smile　on　his　lips。

〃What　dis　Mouseville？〃　Del　asked；　now　frantic　to　know。

〃A　tourist　attraction；　like　I　told　you；〃　Brutal　said。　〃There's；　oh　I　dunno；　a　hundred　or　so　mice　there。　Wouldn't　you　say；　Paul？〃

〃More　like　a　hundred　and　fifty　these　days；〃　I　said。　〃It's　a　big　success。　I　understand　they're　thinking　of　opening　one　out　in　California　and　calling　it　Mouseville　West；　that's　how　much　business　is　booming。　Trained　mice　are　the　ing　thing　with　the　smart　set；　I　guess　…　I　don't　understand　it；　myself。〃

Del　sat　with　the　colored　spool　in　his　hand；　looking　at　us；　his　own　situation　forgotten　for　the　time　being。

〃They　only　take　the　smartest　mice；〃　Brutal　cautioned；　〃the　ones　that　can　do　tricks。　And　they　can't　be　white　mice；　because　those　are　pet…shop　mice。〃

〃Pet…shop　mice；　yeah；　you　bet！〃　D