sked。　〃Is　it　a　bearing？〃　To　my　mind；　the　problem　could　have　been　that　or　anything；　every　ponent　of　the　Farmall's　engine　and　transmission　sounded　on　the　verge　of　going　cataclysmically　wrong　or　giving　up　the　ghost　entirely。

〃Nope；〃　Harry　said；　sounding　apologetic。　〃I　got　to　take　a　leak；　is　all。　My　back　teeth　are　floatin。〃

It　turned　out　that　we　all　did；　except　for　John。　When　Brutal　asked　if　he　wouldn't　like　to　step　down　and　help　us　water　the　bushes；　he　just　shook　his　head　without　looking　up。　He　was　leaning　against　the　back　of　the　cab　and　wearing　one　of　the　Army　blankets　over　his　shoulders　like　a　serape。　I　couldn't　get　any　kind　of　read　on　his　plexion；　but　I　could　hear　his　breathing　…　dry　and　raspy；　like　wind　blowing　through　straw。　I　didn't　like　it。

I　walked　into　a　clump　of　willows；　unbuttoned；　and　let　go。　I　was　still　dose　enough　to　my　urinary　infection　so　that　the　body's　amnesia　had　not　taken　full　hold；　and　I　could　be　grateful　simply　to　be　able　to　pee　without　needing　to　scream。　I　stood　there；　emptying　out　and　looking　up　at　the　moon；　I　was　hardly　aware　of　Brutal　standing　next　to　me　and　doing　the　same　thing　until　he　said　in　a　low　voice；　〃Hell　never　sit　in　Old　Sparky。〃

I　looked　around　at　him；　surprised　and　a　little　frightened　by　the　low　certainty　in　his　tone。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃I　mean　he　swallered　that　stuff　instead　of　spitting　out　like　he　done　before　for　a　reason。　It　might　take　a　week…he's　awful　big　and　strong　…　but　I　bet　it's　quicker。　One　of　us