triumphant； gloating voice。 〃We got away with it； boys！ We did！〃
That made him think of why we'd gone through the whole edy in the first place； and he asked about Melinda。
〃She's fine；〃 I said。 We had reached John 's cell。 What Dean had said was just starting to sink in： We got away with it； boys 。。。 we did。
〃Was it like 。。。 you know 。。。 the mouse？〃 Dear asked。 He glanced briefly at the empty cell when Delacroix had lived with Mr。 Jingles； then down a the restraint room； which had been the mouse's seeming point of origin。 His voice dropped； the way people's voices do when they enter a big church where even the silence seems to whisper。 〃Was it a。。。〃 He gulped。 〃Shoot； you know what I mean … was it a miracle？〃
The three of us looked at each other briefly； confirming what we already knew。 〃Brought her back from her damn grave is what he did；〃 Harry said。 〃Yeah； it was a miracle； all right。〃
Brutal opened the double locks on the cell； and gave John a gentle push inside。 〃Go on； now； big boy。 Rest awhile。 You earned it。 We'll just settle Percy's hash〃
〃He's a bad man；〃 John said in a low； mechanical voice。
〃That's right； no doubt； wicked as a warlock；〃 Brutal agreed in his most soothing voice； 〃but don't you worry a smidge about him； we're not going to let him near you。 You just ease down on that bunk of yours and I'll have that cup of coffee to you in no time。 Hot and strong。 You'll feel like a new man。〃
John sat heavily on his bunk。 I thought he'd fall back on it and roll to the wall as he usually did； but he just sat there for the time being； hands clasped loosely between his knees； head lowered； breathing hard through his mouth。 The St。 Christopher's medal Melinda had given him had fallen out of the top of his shir