wondered about that since； let me tell you。 I've wondered over the course of a lot of years； and have never been able to e up with a satisfactory answer。 I suppose it doesn't matter much。 A lot of things don't matter； but it doesn't keep a man from wondering about them； I've noticed。
〃You guys talk about me like I was a chump；〃 Percy said。 He still sounded dazed and winded … as if someone had punched him deep in the gut … but he was ing back a little。
〃You are a chump； Percy；〃 I said。
〃Hey； you can't…〃
I controlled my own urge to hit him only with the greatest effort。 Water dripped hollowly from the bricks down in the tunnel； our shadows danced huge and misshapen on the walls； like shadows in that Poe story about the big ape in the Rue Morgue。 Thunder bashed； but down here it was muffled。
〃I only want to hear one thing from you； Percy； and that's you repeating your promise to put in for Briar Ridge tomorrow。〃
〃Don't worry about that；〃 he said sullenly。 He looked at the sheeted figure on the gurney； looked away； flicked his eyes up toward my face for a moment； then looked away again。
〃That would be for the best；〃 Harry said。 〃Otherwise； you might get to know Wild Bill Wharton a whole lot better than you want to。〃 A slight pause。 〃We could see to it。〃
Percy was afraid of us； and he was probably afraid of what we might do if he was still around when we found out he'd been talking to Jack Van Hay about what the sponge was for and why we always soaked it in brine； but Harry's mention of Wharton woke real terror in his eyes。 I could see him remembering how Wharton had held him； ruffling his hair and crooning to him。
〃You wouldn't dare；〃 Percy whispered。
〃Yes I would；〃 Harry replied calmly。 〃And do you know