s happening； and why didn't I order jack to shut down？
〃Because I can't；〃 I said。 〃We've gone too far to turn back； can't you see that？ It'll be over in a few more seconds； anyway。〃
But it was at least two minutes before it was over； the longest two minutes of my whole life； and through most of it I think Delacroix was conscious。 He screamed and jittered and rocked from side to side。 Smoke poured from his nostrils and from a mouth that had gone the purple…black of ripe plums。 Smoke drifted up from his tongue the way smoke rises from a hot griddle。 All the buttons on his shirt either burst or melted。 His undershirt did not quite catch fire； but it charred and smoke poured through it and we could smell his chest…hair roasting。 Behind us； people were heading for the door like cattle in a stampede。 They couldn't get out through it； of course … we were in a damn prison； after all … so they simply clustered around it while Delacroix fried （Now I'm fryin； Old Toot had said when we were rehearsing for Arlen Bitterbuck； I'm a done tom turkey） and the thunder rolled and the rain ran down out of the sky in a perfect fury。
At some point I thought of the doc and looked around for him。 He was still there； but crumpled on the floor beside his black bag。 He'd fainted。
Brutal came up and stood beside me； holding the fire extinguisher。
〃Not yet；〃 I said。
〃I know。〃
We looked around for Percy and saw him standing almost behind Sparky now； frozen； eyes huge； one knuckle crammed into his mouth。
Then； at last； Delacroix slumped back in the chair； his bulging； misshapen face lying over on one shoulder。 He was still jittering； but we'd seen this before； it was the current running through him。 The cap had e askew on his head； but when we to