绿里奇迹(英文版)-第16部分

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。　In　some　ways；　you　know；　I　wish　we'd　done　it。　It　might　have　changed　some　of　the　things　that　happened　later　on。　
〃Fucking　faggot！　I'll　teach　you　to　keep　your　hands　off　me；　you　lousy　bum…puncher！〃　
Whap！　Whap！　Whap！　And　now　Delacroix　was　bleeding　from　one　ear　and　screaming。　I　gave　up　trying　to　shield　him；　grabbed　him　by　one　shoulder；　and　hurled　him　into　his　cell；　where　he　went　sprawling　on　the　bunk。　Percy　darted　around　me　and　gave　him　a　final　hard　whap　on　the　butt　…　one　to　go　on；　you　could　say。　Then　Brutal　grabbed　him　…　Percy　…　I　mean　…　by　the　shoulders　and　hauled　him　across　the　corridor。　
I　grabbed　the　cell　door　and　ran　it　shut　on　its　tracks。　Then　I　turned　to　Percy；　my　shock　and　bewilderment　at　war　with　pure　fury。　Percy　had　been　around　about　several　months　at　that　point；　long　enough　for　all　of　us　to　decide　we　didn't　like　him　very　much；　but　that　was　the　first　time　I　fully　understood　how　out　of　control　he　was。　
He　stood　watching　me；　not　entirely　without　fear　…　he　was　a　coward　at　heart；　I　never　had　any　doubt　of　that　…　but　still　confident　that　his　connections　would　protect　him。　In　that　he　was　correct。　I　suspect　there　are　people　who　wouldn't　understand　why　that　was；　even　after　all　I've　said；　but　they　would　be　people　who　only　know　the　phrase　Great　Depression　from　the　history　books。　If　you　were　there；　it　was　a　lot　more　than　a　phrase　in　a　book；　and　if　you　had　a　steady　job；　brother；　you'd　do　almost　anything　to　keep　it。　
The　color　was　fading　out　of　Percy's　face　a　little　by　then；　but　his　cheeks　were　still　flushed；　and　his　hair；　which　was　usually　swept　back　and　gleaming　with　brilliantine；　had　tumbled　over　his　forehead。　
〃What　in　the　Christ　was　that　all　about？〃　I　asked。　〃I　have　never　…　I　have　never！　…　had　a　prisoner　beaten　onto　my　block　before！〃　
〃Little　fag　bastard　tried　to　cop　my　joint　when　I　pulled　him　out　of　the　van；〃　Percy　said。　〃He　had　it　ing；　and　I'd　do　it　again。〃　
I　looked　at　him；　too　flabbergasted　for　words。　I　couldn't　imagine　the　most　predatory　homosexual　on　God's　green　earth　doing　what　Percy　had　just　described。　Preparing　to　move　into　a　crossbar　apartment　on　the　Green　Mile　did　not；　as　a　rule；　put　even　the　most　deviant　of　prisoners　in　a　sexy　mood。　
I　looked　back　at　Delacroix；　cowering　on　his　bunk　with　his　arms　still　up　to　protect　his　face。　There　were　cuffs　on　his　wrists　and　a　chain　running　between　his　ankles。　Then　I　turned　to　Percy　〃Get　out　of　here；〃　I　said。　〃I'll　want　to　talk　to　you　later。〃　
〃Is　this　going　to　be　in　your　report？〃　he　demanded　truculently。　〃Because　if　it　is；　I　can　make　a　report　of　my　own；　you　know。〃　
I　didn't　want　to　make　a　report；　I　only　wanted　him　out　of　my　sight。　I　told　him　so。　
〃The　matter's　closed；〃　I　finished。　I　saw　Brutal　looking　at　me　disapprovingly；　but　ignored　it。　〃Go　on；　get　out　of　here。　Go　over　to　Admin　and　tell　them　you're　supposed　to　read　letters　and　help　in　the　package　room。〃　
〃Sure。〃　He　had　his　posure　back；　or　the　crackheaded　arrogance　that　served　him　as　posure。　He　brushed　his　hair　back　from　his　forehead　with　his　hands　…　soft　and　white　and　small；　the　hands　of　a　girl　in　her　early　teens；　you　would　have　thought　…　and　then　approached　the　cell。　Delacroix　saw　him；　and　he　cringed　back　even　farther　on　his　bunk；　gibbering　in　a　mixture　of　English　and　stewpot　French。　
〃I　ain't　done　with　you；　Pierre；〃　he　said；　then　jumped　as　one　of　Brutal's　huge　hands　fell　on　his　shoulder。　
〃Yes　you　are；〃　Brutal　said。　〃Now　go　on。　Get　in　the　breeze！〃　
〃You　don't　scare　me；　you　know；〃　Percy　said。　〃Not　a　bit！〃　His　eyes　shifted　to　me。　〃Either　of　you。〃　But　we　did。　You　could　see　that　in　his　eyes　as　clear　as　day；　and　it　made　him　even　more　dangerous。　A　guy　like　Percy　doesn't　even　know　himself　what　he　means　to　do　from　minute　to　minute　and　second　to　second。　
What　he　did　right　then　was　turn　away　from　us　and　go　walking　up　the　corridor　in　long；　arrogant　strides。　He　had　shown　the　world　what　happened　when　scrawny；　half…bald　little　Frenchmen　tried　to　cop　his　joint；　by　God；　and　he　was　leaving　the　field　a　victor。　
I　went　through　my　set　speech；　all　about　how　we　had　the　radio　…　Make　Believe　Ballroom　and　Our　Gal　Sunday；　and　how　we'd　treat　him　jake　if　he　did　the　same　for　us。　That　little　homily　was　not　what　you'd　call　one　of　my　great　successes。　He　cried　all　the　way　through　it；　sitting　huddled　up　at　the　foot　of　his　bunk；　as　far　from　me　as　he　could　get　without　actually　fading　into　the　corner。　He　cringed　every　time　I　moved；　and　I　don't　think　he　heard　one　word　in　six。　Probably　just　as　well。　I　don't　think　that　particular　homily　made　a　whole　lot　of　sense；　anyway。　
Fifteen　minutes　later　I　was　back　at　the　desk；　where　a　shaken…looking　Brutus　Howell　was　sitting　and　licking　the　tip　of　the　pencil　we　kept　with　the　visitors'　book。　〃Will　you　stop　that　before　you　poison　yourself；　for　God's　sake？〃　I　asked。　
〃Christ　almighty　Jesus；〃　he　said；　putting　the　pencil　down。　〃I　never　want　to　have　another　hooraw　like　that　with　a　prisoner　ing　on　the　block。〃　
〃My　Daddy　always　used　to　say　things　e　in　threes；〃　I　said。　
〃Well；　I　hope　your　Daddy　was　full　of　shit　on　that　subject；〃　Brutal　said；　but　of　course　he　wasn't。　There　was　a　squall　when　John　Coffey　came　in；　and　a　fullblown　storm　when　〃Wild　Bill〃　joined　us　…　it's　funny；　but　things　really　do　seem　to　e　in　threes。　The　story　of　our　introduction　to　Wild　Bill；　how　he　came　onto　the　Mile　trying　to　mit　murder；　is　something　I'll　get　to　shortly；　fair　warning。　
〃What's　this　about　Delacroix　copping　his　joint？〃　I　asked。　
Brutal　snorted。　〃He　was　ankle…chained　and　ole　Percy　was　just　pulling　him　too　fast；　that's　all。　He　stumbled　and　started　to　fall　as　he　got　out　of　the　stagecoach。　He　put　his　hands　out　same　as　anyone　would　when　they　start　to　fall；　and　one　of　them　brushed　the　front　of　Percy's　pants。　It　was　a　plete　accident！〃　
〃Did　Percy　know　that；　do　you　think？〃　I　asked。　〃Was　he　maybe　using　it　as　an　excuse　just　because　he　felt　like　whaling　on　Delacroix　a　little　bit？　Showing　him　who　bosses　the　shooting　match　around　here？〃　
Brutal　nodded　slowly。　〃Yeah。　I　think　that　was　probably　it。〃　
〃We　have　to　watch　him；　then；〃　I　said；　and　ran　my　hands；　through　my　hair。　As　if　the　job　wasn't　hard　enough。　〃God；　I　hate　this。　I　hate　him。〃　
〃Me；　too。　And　you　want　to　know　something　else；　Paul？　I　don't　understand　him。　He's　got　connections；　I　understand　that；　all　right；　but　why　would　he　use　them　to　get　a　job　on　the　Green　fucking　Mile？　Anywhere　in　the　state　pen；　for　that　matter？　Why　not　as　a　page　in　the　state　senate；　or　the　guy　who　makes　the　lieutenant　governor's　appointments？　Surely　his　people　could've　gotten　him　something　better　if　he'd　asked　them；　so　why　here？〃　
I　shook　my　head。　I　didn't　know。　There　were　a　lot　of　things　I　didn't　know　then。　I　suppose　I　was　naive。　
8。　
After　that；　things　went　back　to　normal　again　。。。　for　awhile；　at　least。　Down　in　the　county　seat；　the　state　was　preparing　to　bring　John　Coffey　to　trial；　and　Trapingus　County　Sheriff　Homer　Cribus　was　pooh…poohing　the　idea　that　a　lynch…mob　might　hurry　justice　along　a　little　bit。　None　of　that　mattered　to　us；　on　E　Block；　no　one　paid　much　attention　to　the　news。　Life　on　the　Green　Mile　was；　in　a　way；　like　life　in　a　soundproof　room。　From　time　to　time　you　heard　mutterings　that　were　probably　explosions　in　the　outside　world；　but　that　was　about　all。　They　wouldn't　hurry　with　John　Coffey；　they'd　want　to　make　damned　sure　of　him。　
On　a　couple　of　occasions　Percy　got　to　ragging　Delacroix；　and　the　second　time　I　pulled　him　aside　and　told　him　to　e　up　to　my　office。　It　wasn't　my　first　interview　with　Percy　on　the　subject　of　his　behavior；　and　it　wouldn't　be　the　last；　but　it　was　prompted　by　what；　was　probably　the　clearest　understanding　of　what　he　was。　He　had　the　heart　of　a　cruel　boy　who　goes　to　the　zoo　not　so　he　can　study　the　animals　but　so　he　can　throw　stones　at　them　in　their　cages。　
〃You　stay　away　from　him；　now；　you　hear？〃　I　said。　〃Unless　I　give　you　a　specific　order；　just　stay　the　hell　away　from　him。〃　
Percy　bed　his　hair　back；　then　patted　at　it　with　his　sweet　little　hands。　That　boy　just　loved　touching　his　hair。　〃I　wasn't　doing　nothing　to　him；〃　he　said。　〃Only　asking　how　it　felt　to　know　you　had　burned　up　some　babies；　is　all。〃　Percy　gave　me　a　round…eyed；　innocent　stare。　
〃You　quit　with　it；　or　there'll　be　a　report；〃　I　said。　
He　laughed。　〃Make　any　report　you　want；〃　he　said。　〃Then　I'll　turn　around　and　make　my　own。　Just　like　I　told　you　when　he　came　in。　We'll　see　who　es　off　the　best。〃　
I　leaned　forward；　hands　folded　on　my　desk；　and　spoke　in　a　tone　I　hoped　would　sound　like　a　friend　being　confidential。　〃Brutus　Howell　doesn't　like　you　much；〃　I　said。　〃And　when　Brutal　doesn't　like　someone；　he's　been　known　to　make　his　own　report。　He　isn't　much　shakes　with　a　pen；　and　he　can't　quit　from　licking　that　pencil；　so　he's　apt　to　report　with　his　fists。　If　you　know　what　I　mean。〃　
Percy's　placent　little　smile　faltered。　〃What　are　you　trying　to　say〃　
〃I'm　not　trying　to　say　anything。　I　have　said　it。　And　if　you　tell　any　of　your　。。。friends　。。。　about　this　discussion；　I'll　say　you　made　the　whole　thing　up。〃　I　looked　at　him　all　wide…eyed　and　earnest。　〃Besides；　I'm　trying　to　be　your　friend；　Percy。　A　word　to　the　wise　is　sufficient；　they　say。　And　why　would　you　want　to　get　into　it　with　Delacroix　in　the　first　place？　He's　not　worth　it。〃　
And　for　awhile　that　worked。　There　was　peace。　A　couple　of　times　I　was　even　able　to　send　Percy　with　Dean　or　Harry　when　Delacroix's　time　to　shower　had　rolled　around。　We　had　the　radio　at　night；　Delacroix　began　to　relax　a　little　into　the　scant　routine　of　E　Block；　and　there　was　peace。　
Then；　one　night；　I　heard　him　laughing。　
Harry　Terwilliger　was　on　the　desk；　and　soon　he　was　laughing；　too。　I　got　up　and　went　on　down　to　Delacroix's　cell　to　see　what　he　possibly　had　to　laugh　about。　
〃Look；　Cap'n〃　he　said　when　he　saw　me。　〃I　done　tame　me　a　mouse！〃　
It　was　Steamboat　Willy。　He　was　in　Delacroix's　cell。　More：　he　was　sitting　on　Delacroix's　shoulder　and　looking　calmly　out　through　the　bars　at　us　with　his　little　oildrop　eyes。　His　tail　was　curled　around　his　paws；　and　he　looked　pletely　at　peace。　As　for　Delacroix　…　friend；　you　wouldn't　have　known　it　was　the　same　man　who'd　sat　cringing　and　shuddering　at　the　foot　of　his　bunk　not　a　week　before。　He　looked　like　my　daughter　used　to　on　Christmas　morning；　when　she　came　down　the　stairs　and　saw　the　presents。　
〃Watch　dis！〃　Delacroix　said。　The　mouse　was　sitting　on　his　right　shoulder。　Delacroix　stretched　out　his　left　arm。　The　mouse　scampered　up　to　the　top　of　Delacroix's　head；　using　the　man's　hair　（which　was　thick　enough　in　back；　at　least）　to　climb　up。　Then　he　scampered　down　the　other　side；　Delacroix　giggling　as　his　tail　tickled　the　side　of　his　neck。　The　mouse　ran　all　the　way　down　his　arm　to　his　wrist；　then　turned；　scampered　back　up　to　Delacroix's　left　shoulder；　and　curled　his　tail　around　his　feet　again。　
〃I'll　be　damned；〃　Harry　said。　
〃I　train　him　to　do　that；〃　Delacroix　said　proudly。　I　thought；　In　a　pig's　ass　you　did；　but　kept　my　mouth　shut。　〃His　name　is　Mr。　Jingles。〃　
〃Nah；〃　Harry　said　goodnaturedly。　〃It's　Steamboat　Willy；　like　in　the　pitcher…show。　Boss　Howell　named　him。〃　
〃It's　Mr。　Jingles；〃　Delacroix　said。　On　any　other　subject　he　would　have　told　you　that　shit　was　Shinola；　if　you　wanted　him　to；　but　on　the　subject　of　the　mouse's　name　he　was　perfectly　adamant。　〃He　whisper　it　in　my　ear。　Cap'n；　can　I　have　a　box　for　him？　Can　I　have　a　box　for　my　mous'；　so