绿里奇迹(英文版)-第33部分

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he　prison　laundry　didn't　care　what　it　washed）；　and　was　polishing　the　oak　arms　and　legs　of　the　electric　chair。　This　probably　sounds　bizarre　to　you；　perhaps　even　macabre；　but　to　Brutal　and　me；　it　seemed　the　most　normal　thing　Percy　had　done　all　night。　Old　Sparky　would　be　meeting　his　public　tomorrow；　and。　Percy　would　at　least　appear　to　be　in　charge。　
〃Percy；〃　I　said　quietly。　
He　turned　the　little　tune　he'd　been　humming　dying　in　his　throat；　and　looked　at　us。　I　didn't　see　the　fear　I'd　expected；　at　least　not　at　first。　I　realized　that　Percy　looked　older；　somehow。　And；　I　thought；　John　Coffey　was　right。　He　looked　mean。　Meanness　is　like　an　addicting　drug　…　no　one　on　earth　is　more　qualified　to　say　that　than　me　…　and　I　thought　that；　after　a　certain　amount　of　experimentation；　Percy　had　gotten　hooked　on　it。　He　liked　what　he　had　done　to　Delacroix's　mouse。　What　he　liked　even　more　was　Delacroix's　dismayed　screams。　
〃Don't　start　in　on　me；〃　he　said　in　a　tone　of　voice　that　was　almost　pleasant。　〃I　mean；　hey；　it　was　just　a　mouse。　It　never　belonged　here　in　the　first　place；　as　you　boys　well　know。〃　
〃The　mouse　is　fine；〃　I　said。　My　heart　was　thumping　hard　in　my　chest　but　I　made　my　voice　e　out　mild；　almost　disinterested。　〃Just　fine。　Running　and　squeaking　and　chasing　its　spool　again。　You're　no　better　at　mouse…killing　than　you　are　at　most　of　the　other　things　you　do　around　here。〃　
He　was　looking　at　me；　amazed　and　disbelieving。　〃You　expect　me　to　believe　that？　The　goddam　thing　crunched！　I　heard　it！　So　you　can　just………！〃　
〃Shut　up。〃　
He　stared　at　me；　his　eyes　wide。　〃What？　What　did　you　say　to　me？〃　
I　took　a　step　closer　to　him。　I　could　feel　a　vein　throbbing　in　the　middle　of　my　forehead。　I　couldn't　remember　the　last　time　I'd　felt　so　angry。　〃Aren't　you　glad　Mr。　Jingles　is　okay？　After　all　the　talks　we've　had　about　how　our　job　is　to　keep　the　prisoners　calm；　especially　when　it　gets　near　the　end　for　them；　I　thought　you'd　be　glad。　Relieved。　With　Del　having　to　take　the　walk　tomorrow；　and　all。〃　
Percy　looked　from　me　to　Brutal；　his　studied　calmness　dissolving　into　uncertainty。　〃What　the　hell　game　do　you　boys　think　you're　playing？〃　he　asked。　
〃None　of　this　is　a　game；　my　friend；〃　Brutal　said。　〃You　thinking　it　is　。。。　well；　that's　just　one　of　the　reasons　you　can't　be　trusted。　You　want　to　know　the　absolute　truth？　I　think　you're　a　pretty　sad　case。〃　
〃You　want　to　watch　it；〃　Percy　said。　Now　there　was　a　rawness　in　his　voice。　Fear　creeping　back　in；　after　all　…　fear　of　what　we　might　want　with　him；　fear　of　what　we　might　be　up　to。　I　was　glad　to　hear　it。　It　would　make　him　easier　to　deal　with。　〃I　know　people。　Important　people。〃　
〃So　you　say；　but　you're　such　a　dreamer；〃　Brutal　said。　He　sounded　as　if　he　was　on　the　verge　of　laughter。　
Percy　dropped　the　polishing　rag　onto　the　seat　of　the　chair　with　the　clamps　attached　to　the　arms　and　legs。　〃I　killed　that　mouse；〃　he　said　in　a　voice　that　was　not　quite　steady。　
〃Go　on　and　check　for　yourself；〃　I　said。　〃It's　a　free　country。〃　
〃I　will；〃　he　said。　〃I　will。〃　
He　stalked　past　us；　mouth　set；　small　hands　（Wharton　was　right；　they　were　pretty）　fiddling　with　his　b。　He　went　up　the　steps　and　ducked　through　into　my　office。　Brutal　and　I　stood　by　Old　Sparky；　waiting　for　him　to　e　back　and　not　talking。　I　don't　know　about　Brutal；　but　I　couldn't　think　of　a　thing　to　say。　I　didn't　even　know　how　to　think　about　what　we　had　just　seen。　
Three　minutes　passed。　Brutal　picked　up　Percy's　rag　and　began　to　polish　the　thick　back…slats　of　the　electric　chair。　He　had　time　to　finish　one　and　start　another　before　Percy　came　back。　He　stumbled　and　almost　fell　ing　down　the　steps　from　the　office　to　the　storageroom　floor；　and　when　he　crossed　to　us　he　came　at　an　uneven　strut。　His　face　was　shocked　and　unbelieving。　
〃You　switched　them；〃　he　said　in　a　shrill；　accusatory　voice。　〃You　switched　mice　somehow；　you　bastards。　You're　playing　with　me；　and　you're　going　to　be　goddam　sorry　if　you　don't　stop！　I'll　see　you　on　the　goddam　breadlines　if　you　don't　stop！　Who　do　you　think　you　are？〃　
He　quit；　panting　for　breath；　his　hands　clenched。　
〃I'll　tell　you　who　we　are；〃　I　said。　〃We're　the　people　you　work　with；　Percy　。。。　but　not　for　very　much　longer。〃　I　reached　out　and　clamped　my　hands　on　his　shoulders。　Not　real　hard；　but　it　was　a　clamp；　all　right。　Yes　it　was。　
Percy　reached　up　to　break　it。　〃Take　your…〃　
Brutal　grabbed　his　right　hand　…　the　whole　thing；　small　and　soft　and　white；　disappeared　into　Brutal's　tanned　fist。　〃Shut　up　your　cakehole；　sonny。　If　you　know　what's　good　for　you；　you'll　take　this　one　last　opportunity　to　dig　the　wax　out　of　your　ears。〃　
I　turned　him　around；　lifted　him　onto　the　platform；　then　backed　him　up　until　the　backs　of　his　knees　struck　the　seat　of　the　electric　chair　and　he　had　to　sit　down。　His　calm　was　gone；　the　meanness　and　the　arrogance；　too。　Those　things　were　real　enough；　but　you　have　to　remember　that　Percy　was　very　young。　At　his　age　they　were　still　only　a　thin　veneer；　like　an　ugly　shade　of　enamel　paint。　You　could　still　chip　through。　And　I　judged　that　Percy　was　now　ready　to　listen。　
〃I　want　your　word；〃　I　said。　
〃My　word　about　what？〃　His　mouth　was　still　trying　to　sneer；　but　his　eyes　were　terrified。　The　power　in　the　switch　room　was　locked　off；　but　Old　Sparky's　wooden　seat　had　its　own　power；　and　right　then　I　judged　that　Percy　was　feeling　it。　
〃Your　word　that　if　we　put　you　out　front　for　it　tomorrow　night；　you'll　really　go　on　to　Briar　Ridge　and　leave　us　alone；〃　Brutal　said；　speaking　with　a　vehemence　I　had　never　heard　from　him　before。　〃That　you'll　put　in　for　a　transfer　the　very　next　day。〃　
〃And　if　I　won't？　If　I　should　just　call　up　certain　people　and　tell　them　you're　harassing　me　and　threatening　me？　Bullying　me？〃　
〃We　might　get　the　bum's　rush　if　your　connections　are　as　good　as　you　seem　to　think　they　are；〃　I　said；　〃but　we'd　make　sure　you　left　your　fair　share　of　blood　on　the　floor；　too；　Percy。〃　
〃About　that　mouse？　Huh！　You　think　anyone　is　going　to　care　that　I　stepped　on　a　condemned　murderer's　pet　mouse？　Outside　of　this　looneybin；　that　is？〃　
〃No。　But　three　men　saw　you　just　standing　there　with　your　thumb　up　your　ass　while　Wild　Bill　Wharton　was　trying　to　strangle　Dean　Stanton　with　his　wrist…chains。　About　that　people　will　care；　Percy；　I　promise　you。　About　that　even　your　offsides　uncle　the　governor　is　going　to　care。〃　
Percy's　cheeks　and　brow　flushed　a　patchy　red。　〃You　think　they'd　believe　you？〃　he　asked；　but　his　voice　had　lost　a　lot　of　its　angry　force。　Clearly　he　thought　someone　might　believe　us。　And　Percy　didn't　like　being　in　trouble。　Breaking　the　rules　was　okay。　Getting　caught　breaking　them　was　not。　
〃Well；　I've　got　some　photos　of　Dean's　neck　before　the　bruising　went　down；〃　Brutal　said　…　I　had　no　idea　if　this　was　true　or　not；　but　it　certainly　sounded　good。　〃You　know　what　those　pix　say？　That　Wharton　got　a　pretty　good　shot　at　it　before　anyone　pulled　him　off；　although　you　were　right　there；　and　on　Wharton's　blind　side。　You'd　have　some　hard　questions　to　answer；　wouldn't　you？　And　a　thing　like　that　could　follow　a　man　for　quite　a　spell。　Chances　are　it'd　still　be　there　long　after　his　relatives　were　out　of　the　state　capital　and　back　home　drinking　mint　juleps　on　the　front　porch。　A　man's　work…record　can　be　a　mighty　interesting　thing；　and　a　lot　of　people　get　a　chance　to　look　at　it　over　the　course　of　a　lifetime。〃　
Percy's　eyes　flicked　back　and　forth　mistrustfully　between　us。　His　left　hand　went　to　his　hair　and　smoothed　it。　He　said　nothing；　but　I　thought　we　almost　had　him。　
〃e　on；　let's　quit　this；〃　I　said。　〃You　don't　want　to　be　here　any　more　than　we　want　you　here；　isn't　that　so？〃　
〃I　hate　it　here！〃　he　burst　out。　〃I　hate　the　way　you　treat　me；　the　way　you　never　gave　me　a　chance！〃　
That　last　was　far　from　true；　but　I　judged　this　wasn't　the　time　to　argue　the　matter。　
〃But　I　don't　like　to　be　pushed　around；　either。　My　Daddy　taught　me　that　once　you　start　down　that　road　you　most　likely　end　up　letting　people　push　you　around　your　whole　life。〃　His　eyes；　not　as　pretty　as　his　hands　but　almost；　flashed。　〃I　especially　don't　like　being　pushed　around　by　big　apes　like　this　guy。〃　He　glanced　at　my　old　friend　and　grunted。　〃Brutal　…　you　got　the　right　nickname；　at　least。〃　
〃You　have　to　understand　something；　Percy；〃　I　said。　〃The　way　we　look　at　it；　you've　been　pushing　us　around。　We　keep　telling　you　the　way　we　do　things　around　here　and　you　keep　doing　things　your　own　way；　then　hiding　behind　your　political　connections　when　things　turn　out　wrong。　Stepping　on　Delacroix's　mouse………〃　Brutal　caught　my　eye　and　I　backtracked　in　a　hurry。　〃Trying　to　step　on　Delacroix's　mouse　is　just　a　case　in　point。　You　push　and　push　and　push；　we're　finally　pushing　back；　that's　all。　But　listen；　if　you　do　right；　you'll　e　out　of　this　looking　good　…　like　a　young　man　on　his　way　up　…　and　smelling　like　a　rose。　Nobody'll　ever　know　about　this　little　talk　we're　having。　So　what　do　you　say？　Act　like　a　grownup。　Promise　you'll　leave　after　Del。〃　
He　thought　it　over。　And　after　a　moment　or　two；　a　look　came　into　his　eyes；　the　sort　of　look　a　fellow　gets　when　he's　just　had　a　good　idea。　I　didn't　like　it　much；　because　any　idea　which　seemed　good　to　Percy　wouldn't　seem　good　to　us。　
〃If　nothing　else；〃　Brutal　said；　〃just　think　how　nice　it'd　be　to　get　away　from　that　sack　of　pus　Wharton。〃　
Percy　nodded；　and　I　let　him　get　out　of　the　chair。　He　straightened　his　uniform　shirt；　tucked　it　in　at　the　back；　gave　his　hair　a　pass…through　with　his　b。　Then　he　looked　at　us。　〃Okay；　I　agree。　I'm　out　front　for　Del　tomorrow　night；　I'll　put　in　for　Briar　Ridge　the　very　next　day。　We　call　it　quits　right　there。　Good　enough？〃　〃Good　enough；〃　I　said。　That　look　was　still　in　his　eyes；　but　right　then　I　was　too　relieved　to　care。　He　stuck　out　his　hand。　〃Shake　on　it？〃　I　did。　So　did　Brutal。　More　fools　us。　
4。　
The　next　day　was　the　thickest　yet；　and　the　last　of　our　strange　October　heat。　Thunder　was　rumbling　in　the　west　when　I　came　to　work；　and　the　dark　clouds　were　beginning　to　stack　up　there。　They　moved　closer　as　the　night　came　down；　and　we　could　see　blue…white　forks　of　lightning　jabbing　out　of　them。　There　was　a　tornado　in　Trapingus　County　around　ten　that　night　…　it　killed　four　people　and　tore　the　roof　off　the　livery　stable　in　Tefton　…　and　vicious　thunderstorms　and　gale…force　winds　at　Cold　Mountain。　Later　it　seemed　to　me　as　if　the　very　heavens　had　protested　the　bad　death　of　Eduard　Delacroix。　
Everything　went　just　fine　to　begin　with。　Del　had　spent　a　quiet　day　in　his　cell；　sometimes　playing　with　Mr。　Jingles　but　mostly　just　lying　on　his　bunk　and　petting　him。　Wharton　tried　to　get　trouble　started　a　couple　of　times　…　once　he　hollered　down　to　Del　about　the　mousieburgers　they　were　going　to　have　after　old　Lucky　Pierre　was　dancing　the　two…step　in　hell　…　but　the　little　Cajun　didn't　respond　and　Wharton；　apparently　deciding　that　was　his　best　shot；　gave　it　up。　
At　quarter　past　ten；　Brother　Schuster　showed　up　and　delighted　us　all　by　saying　he　would　recite　the　Lord's　Prayer　with　Del　in　Cajun　French。　It　seemed　like　a　good　omen。　In　that　we　were　wrong；　of　course。　
The　witnesses　began　to　arrive　around　eleven；　most　talking　in　low　tones　about　the　impending　weather；　and　speculating　about　the　possibility　of　a　power　outage　postponing　the　electrocution。　None　of　them　seemed　to　know　that　Old　Sparky　ran　off　a　generator；　and　unless　that　took　a　direct　lightning…hit；　the　show　would　go　on。　Ha