第8部分(第7/8頁)

e　way　it　seemed　to　be　checking　into　the　cells。　It　even　went　into　one　or　two　of　them；　skipping　nimbly　in　between　the　lower　bars　in　a　way　I　imagine　many　of　our　inmates；　past　and　present；　would　envy。　Except　it　was　out　that　the　cons　would　always　be　wanting　to　skip；　of　course。

The　mouse　didn't　go　into　either　of　the　occupied　cells；　only　the　empties。　And　finally　it　had　worked　its　way　almost　up　to　where　we　were。　I　kept　expecting　it　to　turn　back；　but　it　didn't。　It　showed　no　fear　of　us　at　all。

〃It　ain't　normal　for　a　mouse　to　e　up　on　people　that　way；〃　Dean　said；　a　little　nervously。　〃Maybe　it's　rabid。〃

〃Oh；　my　Christ；〃　Brutal　said　through　a　mouthful　of　corned…beef　sandwich。　〃The　big　mouse　expert。　The　Mouse　Man。　You　see　it　foamin　at　the　mouth；　Mouse　Man？〃

〃I　can't　see　its　mouth　at　all；〃　Dean　said；　and　that　made　us　all　laugh　again。　I　couldn't　see　its　mouth；　either；　but　I　could　see　the　dark　little　drops　that　were　its　eyes；　and　they　didn't　look　crazy　or　rabid　to　me。　They　looked　interested　and　intelligent。　I've　put　men　to　death　…　men　with　supposedly　immortal　souls　…　that　looked　dumber　than　that　mouse。

It　scurried　up　the　Green　Mile　to　a　spot　that　was　less　than　three　feet　from　the　duty　desk　。。。　which　wasn't　something　fancy；　like　you　might　be　imagining；　but　only　the　sort　of　desk　the　teachers　used　to　sit　behind　up　at　the　district　high　school。　And　there　it　did　stop；　curling　its　tail　around　its　paws　as　prim　as　an　old　lady　settling　her　skirts。

I　stopped　laug