第33部分(第4/8頁)

　and　white；　disappeared　into　Brutal's　tanned　fist。　〃Shut　up　your　cakehole；　sonny。　If　you　know　what's　good　for　you；　you'll　take　this　one　last　opportunity　to　dig　the　wax　out　of　your　ears。〃

I　turned　him　around；　lifted　him　onto　the　platform；　then　backed　him　up　until　the　backs　of　his　knees　struck　the　seat　of　the　electric　chair　and　he　had　to　sit　down。　His　calm　was　gone；　the　meanness　and　the　arrogance；　too。　Those　things　were　real　enough；　but　you　have　to　remember　that　Percy　was　very　young。　At　his　age　they　were　still　only　a　thin　veneer；　like　an　ugly　shade　of　enamel　paint。　You　could　still　chip　through。　And　I　judged　that　Percy　was　now　ready　to　listen。

〃I　want　your　word；〃　I　said。

〃My　word　about　what？〃　His　mouth　was　still　trying　to　sneer；　but　his　eyes　were　terrified。　The　power　in　the　switch　room　was　locked　off；　but　Old　Sparky's　wooden　seat　had　its　own　power；　and　right　then　I　judged　that　Percy　was　feeling　it。

〃Your　word　that　if　we　put　you　out　front　for　it　tomorrow　night；　you'll　really　go　on　to　Briar　Ridge　and　leave　us　alone；〃　Brutal　said；　speaking　with　a　vehemence　I　had　never　heard　from　him　before。　〃That　you'll　put　in　for　a　transfer　the　very　next　day。〃

〃And　if　I　won't？　If　I　should　just　call　up　certain　people　and　tell　them　you're　harassing　me　and　threatening　me？　Bullying　me？〃

〃We　might　get　the　bum's　rush　if　your　connections　are　as　good　as　you　seem　to　think　they　are；〃　I　said；　〃but　we'd　make　sure　you　left　your　fair　share　of　blood　on　the　floor；　too；　Pe