绿里奇迹(英文版)-第52章

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er　know。〃　
I　said；　〃Unless　he　does　it　again。〃　
〃We　wouldn't　know　even　then；　if　he　did　it　down　Texas　or　over　in　California；〃　Harry　said。　
Brutal　leaned　back；　screwed　his　fists　into　his　eyes　like　a　tired　child；　then　dropped　them　into　his　lap　again。　〃This　is　a　nightmare；〃　he　said。　〃We've　got　a　man　who　may　be　innocent　…　who　probably　is　innocent　…　and　he's　going　to　walk　the　Green　Mile　just　as　sure　as　God　made　tall　trees　and　little　fishes。　What　are　we　supposed　to　do　about　it？　If　we　start　in　with　that　healing…fingers　shit；　everyone　is　going　to　laugh　their　asses　off；　and　he'll　end　up　in　the　Fry…O…Lator　just　the　same。〃　
〃Let's　worry　about　that　later；〃　I　said；　because　I　didn't　have　the　slightest　idea　how　to　answer　him。　〃The　question　right　now　is　what　we　do　…　or　don't　do　…　about　Melly。　I'd　say　step　back　and　take　a　few　days　to　think　it　over；　but　I　believe　every　day　we　wait　raises　the　chances　that　he　won't　be　able　to　help　her。〃　
〃Remember　him　holding　his　hands　out　for　the　mouse？〃　Brutal　asked。　〃'Give　im　to　me　while　there's　still　time；'　he　said。　While　there's　still　time。〃　
〃I　remember。〃　
Brutal　considered；　then　nodded。　〃I'm　in。　I　feel　bad　about　Del；　too；　but　mostly　I　think　I　just　want　to　see　what　happens　when　he　touches　her。　Probably　nothing　will；　but　maybe　。。。〃　
〃I　doubt　like　hell　we　even　get　the　big　dummy　off　the　block；〃　Harry　said；　then　sighed　and　nodded。　〃But　who　gives　a　shit？　Count　me　in。〃　
〃Me；　too；〃　Dean　said。　〃Who　stays　on　the　block；　Paul？　Do　we　draw　straws　for　it？〃　
〃No；　sir；〃　I　said。　〃No　straws。　You　stay。〃　
〃Just　like　that？　The　hell　you　say！〃　Dean　replied；　hurt　and　angry。　He　whipped　off　his　spectacles　and　began　to　polish　them　furiously　on　his　shirt。　〃What　kind　of　a　bum　deal　is　that？〃　
〃The　kind　you　get　if　you're　young　enough　to　have　kids　still　in　school；〃　Brutal　said。　〃Harry　and　me's　bachelors。　Paul's　married；　but　his　kids　are　grown　and　off　on　their　own；　at　least。　This　is　a　mucho　crazy　stunt　we're　planning　here；　I　think　we're　almost　sure　to　get　caught。〃　He　gazed　at　me　soberly。　〃One　thing　you　didn't　mention；　Paul；　is　that　if　we　do　manage　to　get　him　out　of　the　slam　and　then　Coffey's　healing　fingers　don't　work；　Hal　Moores　is　apt　to　turn　us　in　himself。〃　He　gave　me　a　chance　to　reply　to　this；　maybe　to　rebut　it；　but　I　couldn't　and　so　I　kept　my　mouth　shut。　Brutal　turned　back　to　Dean　and　went　on。　〃Don't　get　me　wrong；　you're　apt　to　lose　your　job；　too；　but　at　least　you'd　have　a　chance　to　get　clear　of　prison　if　the　heat　really　came　down。　Percy's　going　to　think　it　was　a　prank；　if　you're　on　the　duty　desk；　you　can　say　you　thought　the　same　thing　and　we　never　told　you　any　different。〃　
〃I　still　don't　like　it；〃　Dean　said；　but　it　was　clear　he'd　go　along　with　it；　like　it　or　not。　The　thought　of　his　kiddies　had　convinced　him。　〃And　it's　to　be　tonight？　You're　sure？〃　
〃If　we're　going　to　do　it；　it　had　better　be　tonight；〃　Harry　said。　〃If　I　get　a　chance　to　think　about　it；　I'll　most　likely　lose　my　nerve。〃　
〃Let　me　be　the　one　to　go　by　the　infirmary；〃　Dean　said。　〃I　can　do　that　much　at　least；　can't　I？〃　
〃As　long　as　you　can　do　what　needs　doing　without　getting　caught；〃　Brutal　said。　
Dean　looked　offended；　and　I　clapped　him　on　the　shoulder。　〃As　soon　after　you　clock　in　as　you　can　。。。　all　right？〃　
〃You　bet。〃　
My　wife　popped　her　head　through　the　door　as　if　I'd　given　her　a　cue　to　do　so。　〃Who's　for　more　iced　tea？〃　she　asked　brightly。　〃What　about　you；　Brutus？〃　
〃No；　thanks；〃　he　said。　〃What　I'd　like　is　a　good　hard　knock　of　whiskey；　but　under　the　circumstances；　that　might　not　be　a　good　idea。〃　
Janice　looked　at　me；　smiling　mouth；　worried　eyes。　〃What　are　you　getting　these　boys　into；　Paul？〃　But　before　I　could　even　think　of　framing　a　reply；　she　raised　her　hand　and　said；　〃Never　mind；　I　don't　want　to　know。〃　
3。　
Later；　long　after　the　others　were　gone　and　while　I　was　dressing　for　work；　she　took　me　by　the　arm；　swung　me　around；　and　looked　into　my　eyes　with　fierce　intensity。　
〃Melinda？〃　she　asked。　
I　nodded。　
〃Can　you　do　something　for　her；　Paul？　Really　do　something　for　her；　or　is　it　all　wishful　dreaming　brought　on　by　what　you　saw　last　night？〃　
I　thought　of　Coffey's　eyes；　of　Coffey's　hands；　and　of　the　hypnotized　way　I'd　gone　to　him　when　he'd　wanted　me。　I　thought　of　him　holding　out　his　hands　for　Mr。　Jingles's　broken；　dying　body。　While　there's　still　time；　he　had　said。　And　the　black　swirling　things　that　turned　white　and　disappeared。　
〃I　think　we　might　be　the　only　chance　she　has　left；〃　I　said　at　last。　
〃Then　take　it；〃　she　said；　buttoning　the　front　of　my　new　fall　coat。　It　had　been　in　the　closet　since　my　birthday　at　the　beginning　of　September；　but　this　was　only　the　third　or　fourth　time　I'd　actually　worn　it。　〃Take　it。〃　
And　she　practically　pushed　me　out　the　door。　
4。　
I　clocked　in　that　night　…　in　many　ways　the　strangest　night　of　my　entire　life　…　at　twenty　past　six。　I　thought　I　could　still　smell　the　faint；　lingering　odor　of　burned　flesh　on　the　air。　It　had　to　be　an　illusion　…　the　doors　to　the　outside；　both　on　the　block　and　in　the　storage　room；　had　been　open　most　of　the　day；　and　the　previous　two　shifts　had　spent　hours　scrubbing　in　there　…　but　that　didn't　change　what　my　nose　was　telling　me；　and　I　didn't　think　I　could　have　eaten　any　dinner　even　if　I　hadn't　been　scared　almost　to　death　about　the　evening　which　lay　ahead。　
Brutal　came　on　the　block　at　quarter　to　seven；　Dean　at　ten　'til。　I　asked　Dean　if　he　would　go　over　to　the　infirmary　and　see　if　they　had　a　heating　pad　for　my　back；　which　I　seemed　to　have　strained　that　early　morning；　helping　to　carry　Delacroix's　body　down　into　the　tunnel。　Dean　said　he'd　be　happy　to。　I　believe　he　wanted　to　tip　me　a　wink；　but　restrained　himself。　
Harry　clocked　on　at　three　minutes　to　seven。　
〃The　truck？〃　I　asked。　
〃Where　we　talked　about。〃　
So　far；　so　good。　There　followed　a　little　passage　of　time　when　we　stood　by　the　duty　desk；　drinking　coffee　and　studiously　not　mentioning　what　we　were　all　thinking　and　hoping：　that　Percy　was　late；　that　maybe　Percy　wasn't　going　to　show　up　at　all。　Considering　the　hostile　reviews　he'd　gotten　on　the　way　he'd　handled　the　electrocution；　that　seemed　at　least　possible。　
But　Percy　apparently　subscribed　to　that　old　axiom　about　how　you　should　get　right　back　on　the　horse　that　had　thrown　you；　because　here　he　came　through　the　door　at　six　minutes　past　seven；　resplendent　in　his　blue　uniform；　with　his　sidearm　on　one　hip　and　his　hickory　stick　in　its　ridiculous　custom…made　holster　on　the　other。　He　punched　his　time…card；　then　looked　around　at　us　warily　（except　for　Dean；　who　hadn't　e　back　from　the　infirmary　yet）。　〃My　starter　busted；〃　he　said。　〃I　had　to　crank。…〃　
〃Aw；〃　Harry　said；　〃po'　baby。〃　
〃Should　have　stayed　home　and　got　the　cussed　thing　fixed；〃　Brutal　said　blandly。　〃We　wouldn't　want　you　straining　your　arm　none；　would　we；　boys？〃　
〃Yeah；　you'd　like　that；　wouldn't　you？〃　Percy　sneered；　but　I　thought　he　seemed　reassured　by　the　relative　mildness　of　Brutal's　response。　That　was　good。　For　the　next　few　hours　we'd　have　to　walk　a　line　with　him　…　not　too　hostile；　but　not　too　friendly；　either。　After　last　night；　he'd　find　anything　even　approaching　warmth　suspect。　We　weren't　going　to　get　him　with　his　guard　down；　we　all　knew　that；　but　I　thought　we　could　catch　him　with　it　a　long　piece　from　all　the　way　up　if　we　played　things　just　right。　It　was　important　that　we　move　fast；　but　it　was　also　important　…　to　me；　at　least　…　that　nobody　be　hurt。　Not　even　Percy　Wetmore。　
Dean　came　back　and　gave　me　a　little　nod。　
〃Percy；〃　I　said；　〃I　want　you　to　go　on　in　the　storeroom　and　mop　down　the　floor。　Stairs　to　the　tunnel；　too。　Then　you　can　write　your　report　on　last　night。〃　
〃That　should　be　creative；〃　Brutal　remarked；　hooking　his　thumbs　into　his　belt　and　looking　up　at　the　ceiling。　
〃You　guys　are　funnier'n　a　fuck　in　church；〃　Percy　said；　but　beyond　that　he　didn't　protest。　Didn't　even　point　out　the　obvious；　which　was　that　the　floor　in　there　had　already　been　washed　at　least　twice　that　day。　My　guess　is　that　he　was　glad　for　the　chance　to　be　away　from　us。　
I　went　over　the　previous　shift　report；　saw　nothing　that　concerned　me；　and　then　took　a　walk　down　to　Wharton's　cell。　He　was　sitting　there　on　his　bunk　with　his　knees　drawn　up　and　his　arms　clasped　around　his　shins；　looking　at　me　with　a　bright；　hostile　smile。　
〃Well；　if　it　ain't　the　big　boss；〃　he　said。　〃Big　as　life　and　twice　as　ugly。　You　look　happier'n　a　pig　kneedeep　in　shit；　Boss　Edgebe。　Wife　give　your　pecker　a　pull　before　you　left　home；　did　she？〃　
〃How　you　doing；　Kid？〃　I　asked　evenly；　and　at　that　he　brightened　for　real。　He　let　go　of　his　legs；　stood　up；　and　stretched。　His　smile　broadened；　and　some　of　the　hostility　went　out　of　it。　
〃Well；　damn！〃　he　said。　〃You　got　my　name　right　for　once！　What's　the　matter　with　you；　Boss　Edgebe？　You　sick　or　sumpin？〃　
No；　not　sick。　I'd　been　sick；　but　John　Coffey　had　taken　care　of　that。　His　hands　no　longer　knew　the　trick　of　tying　a　shoe；　if　they　ever　had；　but　they　knew　other　tricks。　Yes　indeed　they　did。　
〃My　friend；〃　I　told　him；　〃if　you　want　to　be　a　Billy　the　Kid　instead　of　a　Wild　Bill；　it's　all　the　same　to　me。〃　
He　puffed　visibly；　like　one　of　those　loathsome　fish　that　live　in　South　American　rivers　and　can　sting　you　almost　to　death　with　the　spines　along　their　backs　and　sides。　I　dealt　with　a　lot　of　dangerous　men　during　my　time　on　the　Mi