what？ I'd get away with it。 Because you've already shown yourself to be careless as hell around the prisoners。 Inpetent； too。〃
Percy's fists bunched and his cheeks colored in a thin pink。 〃I am not…〃
〃Sure you are；〃 Dean said； joining us。 We formed a rough semicircle around Percy at the foot of the stairs； and even a retreat up the tunnel was blocked； the gurney was behind him； with its load of smoking flesh hidden under an old sheet。 〃You just burned Delacroix alive。 If that ain't inpetent； what is？〃
Percy's eyes flickered。 He had been planning to cover himself by pleading ignorance； and now he saw he was hoist by his own petard。 I don't know what he might have said next； because Curtis Anderson came lunging down the stairs just then。
We heard him and drew back from Percy a little； so as not to look quite so threatening。
〃What in the blue fuck was that all about？ Anderson roared。 〃Jesus Christ； there's puke all over the floor up there！ And the smell！ I got Magnusson and Old Toot…Toot to open both doors； but that smell won't e out for five damn years； that's what I'm betting。 And that asshole Wharton is singing about it！ I can hear him！〃
〃Can he carry a tune； Curt？〃 Brutal asked。 You know how you can bum off illuminating gas with a single spark and not be hurt if you do it before the concentration gets too heavy？ This was like that。 We took an instant to gape at Brutus； and then we were all howling。 Our high； hysterical laughter flapped up and down the gloomy tunnel like bats。 Our shadows bobbed and flickered on the walls。 Near the end； even Percy joined in。 At last it died； and in its aftermath we all felt a little better。 Felt sane again。
〃Okay； boys；〃 Anderson said； mopping at his teary eyes with his handkerchief and s