绿里奇迹(英文版)-第44部分

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Then　it　got　to　be　ten　of　twelve；　I　could　stand　it　no　longer　and　gave　Dean　a　little　nod。　He　went　into　my　office　with　a　bottle　of　R。C。　Cola　bought　off　Toot's　cart；　and　came　back　out　a　minute　or　two　later。　The　cola　was　now　in　a　tin　cup；　which　a　prisoner　can't　break　and　then　slash　with。　
I　took　it　and　glanced　around。　Harry；　Dean；　and　Brutal　were　all　watching　me。　So；　for　that　matter；　was　John　Coffey。　Not　Percy；　though。　Percy　had　returned　to　the　storage　room；　where　he　probably　felt　more　at　ease　on　this　particular　night。　I　gave　the　tin　cup　a　quick　sniff　and　got　no　odor　except　for　the　R。C。；　which　had　an　odd　but　pleasant　cinnamon　smell　back　in　those　days。　
I　took　it　down　to　Wharton's　cell。　He　was　lying　on　his　bunk。　He　wasn't　masturbating　…　yet；　anyway　…　but　had　raised　quite　a　boner　inside　his　shorts　and　was　giving　it　a　good　healthy　twang　every　now　and　again；　like　a　dopey　bass…fiddler　hammering　an　extrathick　E…string。　
〃Kid；〃　I　said。　
〃Don't　bother　me；〃　he　said。　
〃Okay；〃　I　agreed。　〃I　brought　you　a　pop　for　behaving　like　a　human　being　all　night　…　damn　near　a　record　for　you　…　but　I'll　just　drink　it　myself。〃　
I　made　as　if　to　do　just　that；　raising　the　tin　cup　（battered　all　up　and　down　the　sides　from　many　angry　bangings　on　many　sets　of　cell　bars）　to　my　lips。　Wharton　was　off　the　bunk　in　a　flash；　which　didn't　surprise　me。　It　wasn't　a　high…risk　bluff；　most　deep　cons　…　lifers；　rapists；　and　the　men　slated　for　Old　Sparky　…　are　pigs　for　their　sweets；　and　this　one　was　no　exception。　
〃Gimme　that；　you　clunk；〃　Wharton　said。　He　spoke　as　if　he　were　the　foreman　and　I　was　just　another　lowly　peon。　〃Give　it　to　the　Kid。〃　
I　held　it　just　outside　the　bars；　letting　him　be　the　one　to　reach　through。　Doing　it　the　other　way　around　is　a　recipe　for　disaster；　as　any　long…time　prison　screw　will　tell　you。　That　was　the　kind　of　stuff　we　thought　of　without　even　knowing　we　were　thinking　of　it　…　the　way　we　knew　not　to　let　the　cons　call　us　by　our　first　names；　the　way　we　knew　that　the　sound　of　rapidly　jingling　keys　meant　trouble　on　the　block；　because　it　was　the　sound　of　a　prison　guard　running　and　prison　guards　never　run　unless　there's　trouble　in　the　valley。　Stuff　Percy　Wetmore　was　never　going　to　get　wise　to。　
Tonight；　however；　Wharton　had　no　interest　in　grabbing　or　choking。　He　snatched　the　tin　cup；　downed　the　pop　in　three　long　swallows；　then　voiced　a　resounding　belch。　〃Excellent！〃　he　said。　
I　held　my　hand　out。　〃Cup。〃　
He　held　it　for　a　moment；　teasing　with　his　eyes。　〃Suppose　I　keep　it？〃　
I　shrugged。　〃We'll　e　in　and　take　it　back。　You'll　go　down　to　the　little　room。　And　you　will　have　drunk　your　last　R。C。　Unless　they　serve　it　down　in　hell；　that　is。〃　
His　smile　faded。　〃I　don't　like　jokes　about　hell；　screwtip。〃　He　thrust　the　cup　out　through　the　bars。　〃Here。　Take　it。〃　
I　took　it。　From　behind　me；　Percy　said：　〃Why　in　God's　name　did　you　want　to　give　a　lugoon　like　him　a　soda…pop？〃　
Because　it　was　loaded　with　enough　infirmary　dope　to　put　him　on　his　back　for　forty…eight　hours；　and　he　never　tasted　a　thing；　I　thought。　
〃With　Paul；〃　Brutal　said；　〃the　quality　of　mercy　is　not　strained；　it　droppeth　like　the　gentle　rain　from　heaven。〃　
〃Huh？〃　Percy　asked；　frowning。　
〃Means　he's　a　soft　touch。　Always　has　been；　always　will　be。　Want　to　play　a　game　of　Crazy　Eights；　Percy？〃　
Percy　snorted。　〃Except　for　Go　Fish　and　Old　Maid；　that's　the　stupidest　card…game　ever　made。〃　
〃That's　why　I　thought　you　might　like　a　few　hands；〃　Brutal　said；　smiling　sweetly。　
〃Everybody's　a　Wisenheimer；〃　Percy　said；　and　sulked　off　into　my　office。　I　didn't　care　much　for　the　little　rat　parking　his　ass　behind　my　desk；　but　I　kept　my　mouth　shut。　
The　clock　crawled。　Twelve…twenty；　twelve…thirty。　At　twelve…forty；　John　Coffey　got　up　off　his　bunk　and　stood　at　his　cell　door；　hands　grasping　the　bars　loosely。　Brutal　and　I　walked　down　to　Wharton's　cell　and　looked　in。　He　lay　there　on　his　bunk；　smiling　up　at　the　ceiling。　His　eyes　were　open；　but　they　looked　like　big　glass　balls。　One　hand　lay　on　his　chest；　the　other　dangled　limply　off　the　side　of　his　bunk；　knuckles　brushing　the　floor。　
〃Gosh；〃　Brutal　said；　〃from　Billy　the　Kid　to　Willie　the　Weeper　in　less　than　an　hour。　I　wonder　how　many　of　those　morphine　pills　Dean　put　in　that　tonic。〃　
〃Enough；〃　I　said。　There　was　a　little　tremble　in　my　voice。　I　don't　know　if　Brutal　heard　it；　but　I　sure　did。　〃e　on。　We're　going　to　do　it。〃　
〃You　don't　want　to　wait　for　beautiful　there　to　pass　out？〃　
〃He's　passed　out　now；　Brute。　He's　just　too　buzzed　to　close　his　eyes。〃　
〃You're　the　boss。〃　He　looked　around　for　Harry；　but　Harry　was　already　there。　Dean　was　sitting　boltupright　at　the　duty　desk；　shuffling　the　cards　so　hard　and　fast　it　was　a　wonder　they　didn't　catch　fire；　throwing　a　little　glance　to　his　left；　at　my　office；　with　every　flutter…shuffle。　Keeping　an　eye　out　for　Percy。　
〃Is　it　time？〃　Harry　asked。　His　long；　horsey　face　was　very　pale　above　his　blue　uniform　blouse；　but　he　looked　determined。　
〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃If　we're　going　through　with　it；　it's　time。〃　
Harry　crossed　himself　and　kissed　his　thumb。　Then　he　went　down　to　the　restraint　room；　unlocked　it；　and　came　back　with　the　straitjacket。　He　handed　it　to　Brutal。　The　three　of　us　walked　up　the　Green　Mile。　Coffey　stood　at　his　cell　door；　watching　us　go；　and　said　not　a　word。　When　we　reached　the　duty　desk；　Brutal　put　the　straitjacket　behind　his　back；　which　was　broad　enough　to　conceal　it　easily。　
〃Luck；〃　Dean　said。　He　was　as　pale　as　Harry；　and　looked　just　as　determined。　
Percy　was　behind　my　desk；　all　right；　sitting　in　my　chair　and　frowning　over　the　book　he'd　been　toting　around　with　him　the　last　few　nights　…　not　Argosy　or　Stag　but　Caring　for　the　Mental　Patient　in　Institutions。　You　would　have　thought；　from　the　guilty；　worried　glance　he　threw　our　way　when　we　walked　in；　that　it　had　been　The　Last　Days　of　Sodom　and　Gomorrah。　
〃What？〃　he　asked；　closing　the　book　in　a　hurry。　〃What　do　you　want？〃　
〃To　talk　to　you；　Percy；〃　I　said；　〃that's　all。〃　
But　he　read　a　hell　of　a　lot　more　than　a　desire　to　talk　on　our　faces；　and　was　up　like　a　shot；　hurrying　…　not　quite　running；　but　almost　…　toward　the　open　door　to　the　storeroom。　He　thought　we　had　e　to　give　him　a　ragging　at　the　very　least；　and　more　likely　a　good　roughing　up。　
Harry　cut　around　behind　him　and　blocked　the　doorway；　arms　folded　on　his　chest。　
〃Saaay！〃　Percy　turned　to　me；　alarmed　but　trying　not　to　show　it。　〃What　is　this？〃　
〃Don't　ask；　Percy；〃　I　said。　I　had　thought　I'd　be　okay　…　back　to　normal；　anyway…once　we　actually　got　rolling　on　this　crazy　business；　but　it　wasn't　working　out　that　way。　I　couldn't　believe　what　I　was　doing。　It　was　like　a　bad　dream。　I　kept　expecting　my　wife　to　shake　me　awake　and　tell　me　I'd　been　moaning　in　my　sleep。　〃It'll　be　easier　if　you　just　go　along　with　it。　
〃What's　Howell　got　behind　his　back？〃　Percy　asked　in　a　ragged　voice。　turning　to　get　a　better　look　at　Brutal。　
〃Nothing；〃　Brutal　said。　〃Well　。。。　this；　I　suppose…！〃　
He　whipped　the　straitjacket　out　and　shook　it　beside　one　hip；　like　a　matador　shaking　his　cape　to　make　the　bull　charge。　
Percy's　eyes　widened；　and　he　lunged。　He　meant　to　run；　but　Harry　grabbed　his　arms　and　a　lunge　was　all　he　was　able　to　manage。　
〃Let　go　of　me！〃　Percy　shouted；　trying　to　jerk　out　of　Harry's　grasp。　It　wasn't　going　to　happen；　Harry　outweighed　him　by　almost　a　hundred　pounds　and　had　the　muscles　of　a　man　who　spent　most　of　his　spare　time　plowing　and　chopping；　but　Percy　gave　it　a　good　enough　effort　to　drag　Harry　halfway　across　the　room　and　to　rough　up　the　unpleasant　green　carpet　I　kept　meaning　to　replace。　For　a　moment　I　thought　he　was　even　going　to　get　one　arm　free　panic　can　be　one　hell　of　a　motivator。　
〃Settle　down；　Percy；〃　I　said。　〃It'll　go　easier　if　…　〃　
〃Don't　you　tell　me　to　settle　down；　you　ignoramus！〃　Percy　yelled；　jerking　his　shoulders　and　trying　to　free　his　arms。　〃Just　get　away　from　me！　All　of　you！　I　know　people！　Big　people！　If　you　don't　quit　this；　you'll　have　to　go　all　the　way　to　South　Carolina　just　to　get　a　meal　in　a　soup　kitchen！〃　
He　gave　another　forward　lunge　and　ran　his　upper　thighs　into　my　desk。　The　book　he'd　been　reading；　Caring　for　the　Mental　Patient　in　Institutions；　gave　a　jump；　and　the　smaller；　pamphlet…sized　book　which　had　been　hidden　inside　it　popped　out。　No　wonder　Percy　had　looked　guilty　when　we　came　in。　It　wasn't　The　Last　Days　of　Sodom　and　Gomorrah；　but　it　was　the　one　we　sometimes　gave　to　inmates　who　were　feeling　especially　horny　and　who　had　been　well…behaved　enough　to　deserve　a　treat。　I've　mentioned　it；　I　think　…　the　little　cartoon　book　where　Olive　Oyl　does　everybody　except　Sweet　Pea；　the　kid。　
I　found　it　sad　that　Percy　had　been　in　my　office　and　pursuing　such　pallid　porn；　and　Harry　…　what　I　could　see　of　him　from　over　Percy's　straining　shoulder　…　looked　mildly　disgusted；　but　Brutal　hooted　with　laughter；　and　that　took　the　fight　out　of　Percy；　at　least　for　the　time　being。　
〃Oh　Poicy；〃　he　said。　〃What　would　your　mother　say？　For　that　matter；　what　would　the　governor　say？〃　
Percy　was　blushing　a　dark　red。　〃Just　shut　up。　And　leave　my　mother　out　of　it。〃　
Brutal　tossed　me　the　straitjacket　and　pushed　his　face　up　into　Percy's。　〃Sure　thing。　Just　stick　out　your　arms　like　a　good　boy。〃　
Percy's　lips　were　trembling；　and　his　eyes　were　too　bright。　He　was；　I　realized；　on　the　verge　of　tears。　〃I　won't；〃　he　said　in　a　childish；　trembling　voice；　〃and　you　can't　make　me。〃　Then　he　raised　his　voice　and　began　to　scream　for　help。　Harry　winced　and　so　did　I。　If　we　ever　came　close　to　just　dropping　the　whole　thing；　it　was　then。　We　might　have；　except　for　Brutal。　He　never　hesitated。　He　stepped　behind　Percy　so　he　was　shoulder　to　shoulder　with　Harry；　who　still　had　Percy's　hands　pinned　behind　him。　Brutal　reached　up　and　took　Percy's　ears　in　his　hands。　
〃Stop　that　yelling；〃　Brutal　said。　〃Unless　you　want　to　have　a　pair　of　the　world's　most　unique　teabag　caddies。〃　
Percy　quit　yelling　for　help　and　just　stood　there；　trembling　and　looking　down　at　the　cover　of　the　crude　cartoon　book；　which　showed　Popeye　and　Olive　doing　it　in　a　creative　way　I　had　heard　of　but　never　tried。　〃Oooh；　Popeye！〃　read　the　balloon　over　Olive's　head。　〃Uck…uck…uck…uck！〃　read　the　one　over　Popeye's。　He　was　still　smoking　his　pipe。　
〃Hold　out　your　arms；〃　Brutal　said；　〃and　let's　have　no　more　foolishness　about　it。　Do　it　now。〃　
〃I　won't；〃　Percy　said。　〃I　won't；　and　you　can't　make　me。〃　
〃You're　dead　wrong　about　that；　you　know；〃　Brutal　said；　then　clamped　down　on　Percy's　ears　and　twisted　them　the　way　you　might　twist　the　dials　on　an　oven。　An　oven　that　wasn't　cooking　the　way　you　wanted；　Percy　let　out　a　miserable　shriek　of　pain　and　surprise　that　I　would　have　given　a　great　deal　not　to　have　heard。　It　wasn't　just　pain　and　surprise；　you　see；　it　was　understanding。　For　the　first　time　in　his　life；　Percy　was　realizing　that　awful　things　didn't　just　happen　to　other　people；　those　not　fortunate　enough　to　be　related　to　the　governor。　I　wanted　to　tell　Brutal　to　stop；　but　of　course　I　couldn't。　Things　had　gone　much　too　far　for　that。　All　I　could　do　was　to　remind　myself　that　Percy　had　put　Delacroix　through　God　knew　what　agonies　simply　because　Delacroix　had　laughed　at　him。　The　reminder　didn't　go　very　far　toward　soothing　the　way　I　felt。　Perhaps　it　might　have；　if　I'd　been　built　more　along　the　lines　of　Percy。　
〃Stick　those　arms　out　there；　honey；〃　Brutal　said；　〃or　you　get　another。〃　
Harry　had　already　let