nt over to D Block； where we showered our group after the regular cons were locked down； Brutal asked me if we shouldn't have a look for Steamboat Willy down there in the restraint room。
〃I guess we ought to；〃 I said。 We'd had a good laugh over that mouse the night before； but I knew that if Brutal and I found it down there in the restraint room … particularly if we found it had gnawed itself the beginnings of a nest in one of the padded walls … we would kill it。 Better to kill the scout； no matter how amusing it might be； than have to live with the pilgrims。 And； I shouldn't have to tell you； neither of us ish about a little mouse…murder。 Killing rats was what the state paid us for； after all。
But we didn't find Steamboat Willy … later to be known as Mr。 Jingles … that night； not nested in the soft walls； or behind any of the collected junk we hauled out into the corridor。 There was a great deal of junk； too； more than I would have expected； because we hadn't had to use the restraint room in a long time。 That would change with the advent of William Wharton； but of course we didn't know that at the time。 Lucky us。
〃Where'd it go？〃 Brutal asked at last； wiping sweat off the back of his neck with a big blue bandanna。 〃No hole； no crack 。。。 there's that； but … 〃 He pointed to the drain in the floor。 Below the grate； which the mouse could have gotten through； was a fine steel mesh that not even a fly would have passed。 〃How'd it get in？ How'd it get out？〃
〃I don't know；〃 I said。
〃He did e in here； didn't he？ I mean； the three of us saw him。〃
〃Yep； right under the door。 He had to squeeze a little； but he made it。〃
〃Gosh；〃 Brutal said … a word that sounded strange； ing from a man that big。 〃It's a good thing the cons can't make