； creating spaces like those between prison bars。 The tail of the mouse now hung from the side of his hands that was facing us。
Brutal stepped next to me； still holding the colored spool between his fingers。 〃What's he think he's doing？〃
〃Shh；〃 I said。
Delacroix had stopped screaming。 〃Please； John；〃 he whispered。 〃Oh Johnny； help him； please help him； oh s'il vous plait。〃
Dean and Harry joined us； Harry with our old deck of Airplane cards still in one hand。 〃What's going on？〃 Dean asked； but I only shook my head。 I was feeling hypnotized again； damned if I wasn't。
Coffey put his mouth between two of his fingers and inhaled sharply。 For a moment everything hung suspended。 Then he raised his head away from his hands and I saw the face of a man who looked desperately sick； or in terrible pain。 His eyes were sharp and blazing； his upper teeth bit at his full lower lip； his dark face had faded to an unpleasant color that looked like ash stirred into mud。 He made a choked sound way back in his throat。
〃Dear Jesus Lord and Savior；〃 Brutal whispered。 His eyes appeared to be in danger of dropping right out of his face。
〃What？〃 Harry almost barked。 〃What？〃
〃The tail！ Don't you see it？ The tail！〃
Mr。 Jingles's tail was no longer a dying pendulum； it was snapping briskly from side to side； like the tail of a cat in a bird…catching mood。 And then； from inside Coffey's cupped hands； came a perfectly familiar squeak。
Coffey made that choking； gagging sound again； then turned his head to one side like a man that has coughed up a wad of phlegm and means to spit it out。 Instead； he exhaled a cloud of black insects … I think they were insects； and the others said the same； but to this day I am not sure … from his mouth