themselves small like that； isn't it？〃
〃You bet；〃 I said； running my eye over the canvas walls one last time； looking for a hole； a crack； anything。 There was nothing。 〃e on。 Let's go。〃
Steamboat Willy showed up again three nights later； when Harry Terwilliger was on the duty desk。 Percy was also on； and chased the mouse back down the Green Mile with the same mop Dean had been thinking of using。 The rodent avoided Percy easily； slipping through the crack beneath the restraint…room door a hands…down winner。 Cursing at the top of his voice； Percy unlocked the door and hauled all that shit out again。 It was funny and scary at the same time； Harry said。 Percy was vowing he'd catch the goddam mouse and tear its diseased little head right off； but he didn't； of course。 Sweaty and disheveled； the shirttail of his uniform hanging out in the back； he returned to the duty desk half an hour later； brushing his hair out of his eyes and telling Harry （who had sat serenely reading through most of the ruckus） that he was going to put a strip of insulation on the bottom of the door down there； that would solve the vermin problem； he declared。
〃Whatever you think is best； Percy；〃 Harry said； turning a page of the oat opera he was reading。 He thought Percy would forget about blocking the crack at the bottom of that door； and he was right。
8。
Late that winter； long after these events were over； Brutal came to me one night when it was just the two of us； E Block temporarily empty and all the other guards temporarily reassigned。 Percy had gone on to Briar Ridge。
〃e here；〃 Brutal said in a funny； squeezed voice that made me look around at him sharply。 I had just e in out of a cold and sleety night； and had been brushing off the shoulders of my coat