绿里奇迹(英文版)-第43部分

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〃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　Mile；　but　few　if　any　so　repellent　as　William　Wharton；　who　considered　himself　a　great　outlaw；　but　whose　jailhouse　behavior　rarely　rose　above　pissing　or　spitting　through　the　bars　of　his　cell。　So　far　we　hadn't　given　him　the　awed　respect　he　felt　was　his　by　right；　but　on　that　particular　night　I　wanted　him　tractable。　If　that　meant　lathering　on　the　softsoap；　I　would　gladly　lather　it　on。　
〃I　got　a　lot　in　mon　with　the　Kid；　and　you　just　better　believe　it；〃　Wharton　said。　〃I　didn't　get　here　for　stealing　candy　out　of　a　dimestore。〃　As　proud　as　a　man　who's　been　conscripted　into　the　Heroes'　Brigade　of　the　French　Foreign　Legion　instead　of　one　whose　ass　has　been　slammed　into　a　cell　seventy　long　steps　from　the　electric　chair。　〃Where's　my　supper？〃　
〃e　on；　Kid；　report　says　you　had　it　at　five…fifty。　Meatloaf　with　gravy；　mashed；　peas。　You　don't　con　me　that　easy。〃　
He　laughed　expansively　and　sat　down　on　his　bunk　again。　〃Put　on　the　radio；　then。〃　He　said　radio　in　the　way　people　did　back　then　when　they　were　joking；　so　it　rhymed　with　the　fifties　slang　word　〃Daddy…O。〃　
It's　funny　how　much　a　person　can　remember　about　times　when　his　nerves　were　tuned　so　tight　they　almost　sang。　
〃Maybe　later；　big　boy；〃　I　said。　I　stepped　away　from　his　cell　and　looked　down　the　corridor。　Brutal　had　strolled　down　to　the　far　end；　where　he　checked　to　make　sure　the　restraint…room　door　was　on　the　single　lock　instead　of　the　double。　I　knew　it　was；　because　I'd　already　checked　it　myself。　Later　on；　we'd　want　to　be　able　to　open　that　door　as　quick　as　we　could。　There　would　be　no　time　spent　emptying　out　the　attic…type　rick…rack　that　had　accumulated　in　there　over　the　years；　we'd　taken　it　out；　sorted　it；　and　stored　it　in　other　places　not　long　after　Wharton　joined　our　happy　band。　It　had　seemed　to　us　the　room　with　the　soft　walls　was　apt　to　get　a　lot　of　use；　at　least　until　〃Billy　the　Kid〃　strolled　the　Mile。　
John　Coffey；　who　would　usually　have　been　lying　down　at　this　time；　long；　thick　legs　dangling　and　face　to　the　wall；　was　sitting　on　the　end　of　his　bunk　with　his　hands　clasped；　watching　Brutal　with　an　alertness　…　a　thereness　…　that　wasn't　typical　of　him。　He　wasn't　leaking　around　the　eyes；　either。　
Brutal　tried　the　door　to　the　restraint　room；　then　came　on　back　up　the　Mile。　Hie　glanced　at　Coffey　as　he　passed　Coffey's　cell；　and　Coffey　said　a　curious　thing：　〃Sure。　I'd　like　a　ride。〃　As　if　responding　to　something　Brutal　had　said。　
Brutal's　eyes　met　mine。　He　knows；　I　could　almost　hear　him　saying。　Somehow　he　knows。　
I　shrugged　and　spread　my　hands；　as　if　to　say　Of　course　he　knows。　
5。　
Old　Toot…Toot　made　his　last　trip　of　the　night　down　to　E　Block　with　his　cart　at　about　quarter　to　nine。　We　bought　enough　of　his　crap　to　make　him　smile　with　avarice。　
〃Say；　you　boys　seen　that　mouse？〃　he　asked。　
We　shook　our　heads。　
〃Maybe　Pretty　Boy　has；〃　Toot　said；　and　gestured　with　his　head　in　the　direction　of　the　storage　room；　where　Percy　was　either　washing　the　floor；　writing　his　report；　or　picking　his　ass。　
〃What　do　you　care？　It's　none　of　your　affair；　either　way；〃　Brutal　said。　〃Roll　wheels；　Toot。　You're　stinkin　the　place　up。〃　
Toot　smiled　his　peculiarly　unpleasant　smile；　toothless　and　sunken；　and　made　a　business　of　sniffing　the　air。　〃That　ain't　me　you　smell；〃　he　said。　〃That　be　Del；　sayin　so…long。〃　
Cackling；　he　rolled　his　cart　out　the　door　and　into　the　exercise　yard。　And　he　went　on　rolling　it　for　another　ten　years；　long　after　I　was　gone　…　hell；　long　after　Cold　Mountain　was　gone　…　selling　Moon　Pies　and　pops　to　the　guards　and　prisoners　who　could　afford　them。　Sometimes　even　now　I　hear　him　in　my　dreams；　yelling　that　he's　fryin；　he's　fryin；　he's　a　done　tom　turkey。　
The　time　stretched　out　after　Toot　was　gone；　the　clock　seeming　to　crawl。　We　had　the　radio　for　an　hour　and　a　half；　Wharton　braying　laughter　at　Fred　Allen　and　Allen's　Alley；　even　though　I　doubt　like　hell　he　understood　many　of　the　jokes。　John　Coffey　sat　on　the　end　of　his　bunk；　hands　clasped；　eyes　rarely　leaving　whoever　was　at　the　duty　desk。　I　have　seen　men　waiting　that　way　in　bus　stations　for　their　buses　to　be　called。　
Percy　came　in　from　the　storage　room　around　quarter　to　eleven　and　handed　me　a　report　which　had　been　laboriously　written　in　pencil。　Eraser…crumbs　lay　over　the　sheet　of　paper　in　gritty　smears。　He　saw　me　run　my　thumb　over　one　of　these；　and　said　hastily：　〃That's　just　a　first　pass；　like。　I'm　going　to　copy　it　over。　What　do　you　think？〃　
What　I　thought　was　that　it　was　the　most　outrageous　goddam　whitewash　I'd　read　in　all　my　born　days。　What　I　told　him　was　that　it　was　fine；　and　he　went　away；　satisfied。　
Dean　and　Harry　played　cribbage；　talking　too　loud；　squabbling　over　the　count　too　often；　and　looking　at　the　crawling　hands　of　the　clock　every　five　seconds　or　so。　On　at　least　one　of　their　games　that　night；　they　appeared　to　go　around　the　board　three　times　instead　of　twice。　There　was　so　much　tension　in　the　air　that　I　felt　I　could　almost　have　carved　it　like　clay；　and　the　only　people　who　didn't　seem　to　feel　it　were　Percy　and　Wild　Bill。　
Then　it　got　to　be　ten　of　twelve；　I　could　stand　it　no　longer　and　gave　Dean　a　li