e；　that　maybe　Percy　wasn't　going　to　show　up　at　all。　Considering　the　hostile　reviews　he'd　gotten　on　the　way　he'd　handled　the　electrocution；　that　seemed　at　least　possible。

But　Percy　apparently　subscribed　to　that　old　axiom　about　how　you　should　get　right　back　on　the　horse　that　had　thrown　you；　because　here　he　came　through　the　door　at　six　minutes　past　seven；　resplendent　in　his　blue　uniform；　with　his　sidearm　on　one　hip　and　his　hickory　stick　in　its　ridiculous　custom…made　holster　on　the　other。　He　punched　his　time…card；　then　looked　around　at　us　warily　（except　for　Dean；　who　hadn't　e　back　from　the　infirmary　yet）。　〃My　starter　busted；〃　he　said。　〃I　had　to　crank。…〃

〃Aw；〃　Harry　said；　〃po'　baby。〃

〃Should　have　stayed　home　and　got　the　cussed　thing　fixed；〃　Brutal　said　blandly。　〃We　wouldn't　want　you　straining　your　arm　none；　would　we；　boys？〃

〃Yeah；　you'd　like　that；　wouldn't　you？〃　Percy　sneered；　but　I　thought　he　seemed　reassured　by　the　relative　mildness　of　Brutal's　response。　That　was　good。　For　the　next　few　hours　we'd　have　to　walk　a　line　with　him　…　not　too　hostile；　but　not　too　friendly；　either。　After　last　night；　he'd　find　anything　even　approaching　warmth　suspect。　We　weren't　going　to　get　him　with　his　guard　down；　we　all　knew　that；　but　I　thought　we　could　catch　him　with　it　a　long　piece　from　all　the　way　up　if　we　played　things　just　right。　It　was　important　that　we　move　fast；　but　it　was　also　important　…　to　me；　at　least　…　that　nobody　be　hurt。　Not　even　Percy　Wetmore。

Dean　cam