e to get on stage himself。 That chance now fell into his lap； courtesy of Percy Wetmore。
〃Hey； Del！〃 Percy called； half…laughing； starting after Brutal and Delacroix and drifting much too close to Wharton's side of the Green Mile without realizing it。 〃Hey； you numb shit； I didn't mean nothin by it！ Are you all ri…〃
Wharton was up off his bunk and over to the bars of his cell in a flash … never in my time as a guard did I see anyone move so fast； and that includes some of the athletic young men Brutal and I worked with later at Boys' Correctional。 He shot his arms out through the bars and grabbed Percy； first by the shoulders of his uniform blouse and then by the throat。 Wharton dragged him back against his cell door。 Percy squealed like a pig in a slaughter…chute； and I saw from his eyes that he thought he was going to die。
〃Ain't you sweet；〃 Wharton whispered。 One hand left Percy's throat and ruffled through his hair。 〃Soft！〃 he said； half…laughing。 〃Like a girl's。 I druther fuck your asshole than your sister's pussy； I think。〃 And he actually kissed Percy's ear。
I think Percy … who had beat Delacroix onto the block for accidentally brushing his crotch； remember … knew exactly what was happening。 I doubt that he wanted to； but I think he did。 All the color had drained from his face； and the blemishes on his cheeks stood out like birthmarks。 His eyes were huge and wet。 A line of spittle leaked from one er of his twitching mouth。 All this happe