de； and Brutal knelt on his right。 I guarded my crotch and my throat in the manner I have already described； then swung the clamp in so that its open jaws encircled the skinny white flesh just above the Cajun's ankle。 Thunder bellowed and I jumped。 Sweat ran in my eye； stinging。 Mouseville； I kept thinking for some reason。 Mouseville； and how it cost a dime to get in。 Two cents for the kiddies； who would look at Mr。 Jingles through his ivy…glass windows。
The clamp was balky； wouldn't shut。 I could hear Del breathing in great dry pulls of air； lungs that would be charred bags less than four minutes from now laboring to keep up with his fear…driven heart。 The fact that he had killed half a dozen people seemed at that moment the least important thing about him。 I'm not trying to say anything about right and wrong here； but only to tell how it was。
Dean knelt next to me and whispered； 〃What's wrong； Paul？〃
〃I can't……〃 I began； and then the clamp closed with an audible snapping sound。 It must have also pinched a fold of Delacroixs skin in its jaws； because he flinched and made a little hissing noise。 〃Sorry；〃 I said。
〃It okay； boss；〃 Del said。 〃It only gonna hurt for a minute。〃
Brutal's side had the clamp with the electrode in it； which always took a little longer； and so we stood up； all three of us； at almost exactly the same time。 Dean reached for the wrist…clamp on Del's left； and Percy went to the one on his right。 I was ready to move forwar