n　audience；　but　he　reeled　them　off　without　a　hitch；　in　an　eerily　calm　voice。

〃Eduard　Delacroix；　you　have　been　condemned　to　die　in　the　electric　chair；　sentence　passed　by　a　jury　of　your　peers　and　imposed　by　a　judge　of　good　standing　in　this　state；　God　save　the　people　of　this　state。　Do　you　have　anything　to　say　before　sentence　is　carried　out？〃

Del　tried　to　speak　and　at　first　nothing　came　out　but　a　terrified　whisper　full　of　air　and　vowel…sounds。　The　shadow　of　a　contemptuous　smile　touched　the　corners　of　Percy's　lips；　and　I　could　have　cheerfully　shot　him　right　there。　Then　Del　licked　his　lips　and　tried　again。

〃　I　sorry　for　what　I　do；〃　he　said。　〃I　give　anything　to　turn　back　the　clock；　but　no　one　can。　So　now　…　〃　Thunder　exploded　like　an　airburst　mortar　shell　above　us。　Del　jumped　as　much　as　the　clamps　would　allow；　eyes　starting　wildly　out　of　his　wet　face。　〃So　now　I　pay　the　price。　God　forgive　me。〃　He　licked　his　lips　again；　and　looked　at　Brutal。　〃Don't　forget　your　promise　about　Mr。　Jingles；〃　he　said　in　a　lower　voice　that　was　meant　just　for　us。

〃We　won't；　don't　worry；〃　I　said；　and　patted　Delacroix's　clay…cold　hand。　〃He's　going　to　Mouseville　…　〃

〃The　hell　he　is'　〃　Percy　said；　speaking　from　the　corner　of　his　mouth　like　a　yardwise　con　as　he　hooked　the　restraining　belt　across　Delacroix's　chest。　〃There's　no　such　place。　It's　a　fairy…tale　these　guys　made　up　to　keep　you　quiet。　Just　thought　you　should　know；　faggot。〃

A　stricken　light　in　Del's　eyes　told　me　tha