绿里奇迹(英文版)-第49部分

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floor。　It　was　here　Hal　had　been　sleeping　…　dozing；　at　least　…　when　we　pulled　in。　
As　John　approached；　her　expression　underwent　a　third　change。　Suddenly　I　saw　Melly；　whose　kindness　had　meant　so　much　to　me　over　the　years；　and　even　more　to　Janice　when　the　kids　had　flown　from　the　nest　and　she　had　been　left　feeling　so　alone　and　useless　and　blue。　Melly　was　still　interested；　but　now　her　interest　seemed　sane　and　aware。　
〃Who　are　you？〃　she　asked　in　a　clear；　reasonable　voice。　〃And　why　have　you　so　many　scars　on　your　hands　and　arms？　Who　hurt　you　so　badly？〃　
〃I　don't　hardly　remember　where　they　all　e　from；　ma'am；〃　John　Coffey　said　in　a　humble　voice；　and　sat　down　beside　her　on　her　bed。　
Melinda　smiled　as　well　as　she　could　…　the　sneering　right　side　of　her　mouth　trembled；　but　e　up。　She　touched　a　white　scar；　curved　like　a　scimitar；　on　the　back　of　his　left　hand。　〃What　a　blessing　that　is！　Do　you　understand　why？〃　
〃Reckon　if　you　don't　know　who　hurt　you　or　dog　you　down；　it　don't　keep　you　up　nights；〃　John　Coffey　said　in　his　almost…Southern　voice。　
She　laughed　at　that；　the　sound　as　pure　as　silver　in　the　bad…smelling　sickroom。　Hal　was　beside　me　now；　breathing　rapidly　but　not　trying　to　interfere。　When　Melly　laughed；　his　rapid　breathing　paused　for　a　moment；　indrawn；　and　one　of　his　big　hands　gripped　my　shoulder。　He　gripped　it　hard　enough　to　leave　a　bruise　…　I　saw　it　the　next　day　…　but　right　then　I　hardly　felt　it。　
〃What's　your　name？〃　she　asked。　
〃John　Coffey；　ma'am。〃　
〃Coffey　like　the　drink。〃　
〃Yes；　ma'am；　only　spelled　different。〃　
She　lay　back　against　her　pillows；　propped　up　but　not　quite　sitting　up；　looking　at　him。　He　sat　beside　her；　looking　back；　and　the　light　from　the　lamp　circled　them　like　they　were　actors　on　a　stage　…　the　hulking　black　man　in　the　prison　overall　and　the　small　dying　white　woman。　She　stared　into　John's　eyes　with　shining　fascination。　
〃Ma'am？〃　
〃Yes；　John　Coffey？〃　The　words　barely　breathed；　barely　slipping　to　us　on　the　bad…smelling；　air。　I　felt　the　muscles　bunching　on　my　arms　and　legs　and　back。　Somewhere；　far　away；　I　could　feel　the　warden　clutching　my　arm；　and　to　the　side　of　my　vision　I　could　see　Harry　and　Brutal　with　their　arms　around　each　other；　like　little　kids　lost　in　the　night。　Something　was　going　to　happen。　Something　big。　We　each　felt　it　in　our　own　way。　
John　Coffey　bent　closer　to　her。　The　springs　of　the　bed　creaked；　the　bedclothes　rustled；　and　the　coldly　smiling　moon　looked　in　through　an　upper　pane　of　the　bedroom　window。　Coffey's　bloodshot　eyes　searched　her　upturned　haggard　face。　
〃O；　I　see　it；〃　he　said。　Speaking　not　to　her　…　I　don't　think　so；　anyway　…　but　to　himself。　〃I　see　it；　and　I　can　help。　Hold　still　。。。　hold　right　still　。。　。〃　
Closer　he　bent；　and　closer　still。　For　a　moment　his　huge　face　stopped　less　than　two　inches　from　hers。　He　raised　one　hand　off　to　the　side；　fingers　splayed；　as　if　telling　something　to　wait　。。。　just　wait　。。。　and　then　he　lowered　his　face　again。　His　broad；　smooth　lips　pressed　against　hers　and　forced　them　open。　For　a　moment　I　could　see　one　of　her　eyes；　staring　up　past　Coffey；　filling　with　an　expression　of　what　seemed　to　be　surprise。　Then　his　smooth　bald　head　moved；　and　that　was　gone；　too。　
There　was　a　soft　whistling　sound　as　he　inhaled　the　air　which　lay　deep　within　her　lungs。　That　was　all　for　a　second　or　two；　and　then　the　floor　moved　under　us　and　the　whole　house　moved　around　us。　It　wasn't　my　imagination；　they　all　felt　it；　they　all　remarked　on　it　later。　It　was　a　kind　of　rippling　thump。　There　was　a　crash　as　something　very　heavy　fell　over　in　the　parlor　…　the　grandfather　clock；　it　turned　out　to　be。　Hal　Moores　tried　to　have　it　repaired；　but　it　never　kept　time　for　more　than　fifteen　minutes　at　a　stretch　again。　
Closer　by　there　was　a　crack　followed　by　a　tinkle　as　the　pane　of　glass　through　which　the　moon　had　been　peeking　broke。　A　picture　on　the　wall　…　a　clipper　ship　cruising　one　of　the　seven　seas　…　fell　off　its　hook　and　crashed　to　the　floor；　the　glass　over　its　front　shattered。　
I　smelled　something　hot　and　saw　smoke　rising　from　the　bottom　of　the　white　counterpane　which　covered　her。　A　portion　was　turning　black；　down　by　the　jittering　lump　that　was　her　right　foot。　Feeling　like　a　man　in　a　dream；　I　shook　free　of　Moores's　hand　and　stepped　to　the　night…table。　There　was　a　glass　of　water　there；　surrounded　by　three　or　four　bottles　of　pills　which　had　fallen　over　during　the　shake。　I　picked　up　the　water　and　dumped　it　on　the　place　that　was　smoking。　There　was　a　hiss。　
John　Coffey　went　on　kissing　her　in　that　deep　and　intimate　way；　inhaling　and　inhaling；　one　hand　still　held　out；　the　other　on　the　bed；　propping　up　his　immense　weight。　The　fingers　were　splayed；　the　hand　looked　to　me　like　a　brown　starfish。　
Suddenly；　her　back　arched。　One　of　her　own　hands　flailed　out　in　the　air；　the　fingers　clenching　and　unclenching　in　a　series　of　spasms。　Her　feet　drummed　against　the　bed。　Then　something　screamed。　Again；　that's　not　just　me；　the　other　men　heard　it；　as　well。　To　Brutal　it　sounded　like　a　wolf　or　coyote　with　its　leg　caught　in　a　trap。　To　me　it　sounded　like　an　eagle；　the　way　you'd　sometimes　hear　them　on　still　mornings　back　then；　cruising　down　through　the　misty　cuts　with　their　wings　stiffly　spread。　
Outside；　the　wind　gusted　hard　enough　to　give　the　house　a　second　shake　…　and　that　was　strange；　you　know；　because　until　then　there　had　been　no　wind　to　speak　of　at　all。　
John　Coffey　pulled　away　from　her；　and　I　saw　that　her　face　had　smoothed　out。　The　right　side　of　her　mouth　no　longer　drooped。　Her　eyes　had　regained　their　normal　shape；　and　she　looked　ten　years　younger。　He　regarded　her　raptly　for　a　moment　or　two；　and　then　he　began　to　cough。　He　turned　his　head　so　as　not　to　cough　in　her　face；　lost　his　balance　（which　wasn't　hard；　big　as　he　was；　he'd　been　sitting　with　his　butt　halfway　off　the　side　of　the　bed　to　start　with）；　and　went　down　onto　the　floor。　There　was　enough　of　him　to　give　the　house　a　third　shake。　He　landed　on　his　knees　and　hung　his　head　over；　coughing　like　a　man　in　the　last　stages　of　TB。　
I　thought；　Now　the　bugs。　He's　going　to　cough　them　out；　and　what　a　lot　there'll　be　this　time。　
But　he　didn't。　He　only　went　on　coughing　in　deep　retching　barks；　hardly　finding　time　between　fits　to　snatch　in　the　next　breath　of　air。　His　dark；　chocolatey　skin　was　graying　out。　Alarmed；　Brutal　went　to　him；　dropped　to　one　knee　beside　him；　and　put　an　arm　across　his　broad；　spasming　back。　As　if　Brutal's　moving　had　broken　a　spell；　Moores　went　to　his　wife's　bed　and　sat　where　Coffey　had　sat。　He　hardly　seemed　to　register　the　coughing；　choking　giant's　presence　at　all。　Although　Coffey　was　kneeling　at　his　very　feet；　Moores　had　eyes　only　for　his　wife；　who　was　gazing　at　him　with　amazement。　Looking　at　her　was　like　looking　at　a　dirty　mirror　which　has　been　wiped　clean。　
〃John！〃　Brutal　shouted。　〃Sick　it　up！　Sick　it　up　like　you　done　before！〃　
John　went　on　barking　those　choked　coughs。　His　eyes　were　wet；　not　with　tears　but　with　strain。　Spit　flew　from　his　mouth　in　a　fine　spray；　but　nothing　else　came　out。　
Brutal　whammed　him　on　the　back　a　couple　of　times；　then　looked　around　at　me。　〃He's　choking！　Whatever　he　sucked　out　of　her；　he's　choking　on　it！〃　
I　started　forward。　Before　I　got　two　steps；　John　knee…walked　away　from　me　and　into　the　corner　of　the　room；　still　coughing　harshly　and　dragging　for　each　breath。　He　laid　his　forehead　against　the　wallpaper　…　wild　red　roses　overspreading　a　garden　wall　…　and　made　a　gruesome　deep　hacking　sound；　as　if　he　were　trying　to　vomit　up　the　lining　of　his　own　throat。　That'll　bring　the　bugs　if　anything　can；　I　remember　thinking；　but　there　was　no　sign　of　them。　All　the　same；　his　coughing　fit　seemed　to　ease　a　little。　
〃I'm　all　right；　boss；〃　he　said；　still　leaning　with　his　forehead　against　the　wild　roses。　His　eyes　remained　closed。　I'm　not　sure　how　he　knew　I　was　there；　but　he　clearly　did。　〃Honest　I　am。　See　to　the　lady。〃　
I　looked　at　him　doubtfully；　then　turned　to　the　bed。　Hal　was　stroking　Melly's　brow；　and　I　saw　an　amazing　thing　above　it：　some　of　her　hair　…　not　very　much；　but　some　…　had　gone　back　to　black。　
〃What's　happened？〃　she　asked　him。　As　I　watched；　color　began　to　blush　into　her　cheeks。　It　was　as　if　she　had　stolen　a　couple　of　roses　right　out　of　the　wallpaper。　〃How　did　I　get　here？　We　were　going　to　the　hospital　up　in　Indianola；　weren't　we？　A　doctor　was　going　to　shoot　X…rays　into　my　head　and　take　pictures　of　my　brain。〃　
〃Shhh；〃　Hal　said。　〃Shhh；　dearie；　none　of　that　matters　now。〃　
〃But　I　don't　understand！〃　she　nearly　wailed；　〃We　stopped　at　a　roadside　stand　。。。　you　bought　me　a　dime　packet　of　posies　。。。　and　then　。。。　I'm　here。　It's　dark！　Have　you　had　your　supper；　Hal？　Why　am　I　in　the　guest　room？　Did　I　have　the　X…ray？〃　Her　eyes　moved　across　Harry　almost　without　seeing　him　…　that　was　shock；　I　imagine　…　and　fixed　on　me。　〃Paul？　Did　I　have　the　X…ray？〃　
〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃It　was　clear。〃　
〃They　didn't　find　a　tumor？〃　
〃No；〃　I　said。　〃They　say　the　headaches　will　likely　stop　now。〃　
Beside　her；　Hal　burst　into　tears。　
She　sat　forward　and　kissed　his　temple。　Then　her　eyes　moved　to　the　er。　〃Who　is　that　Negro　man？　Why　is　he　in　the　corner？〃　
I　turned　and　saw　John　trying　to　get　up　on　his　feet。　Brutal　helped　him　and　John　made　it　with　a　final　lunge。　He　stood　facing　the　wall；　though；　like　a　child　who　has　been　bad。　He　was　still　coughing　in　spasms；　but　these　seemed　to　be　weakening　now。　
〃John；〃　I　said。　〃Turn　around；　big　boy；　and　see　this　lady。〃　
He　slowly　turned。　His　face　was　still　the　color　of　ashes；　and　he　looked　ten　years　older；　like　a　once　powerful　man　at　last　losing　a　long　battle　with　consumption。　His　eyes　were　cast　down　on　his　prison　slippers；　and　he　looked　as　if　he　wished　for　a　hat　to　wring。　
〃Who　are　you？〃　she　asked　again。　〃What's　your　name？〃　
〃John　Coffey；　ma'am；〃　he　said；　to　which　she　immediately　replied；　〃But　not　spelled　like　the　drink。〃　
Hal　started　beside　her。　She　felt　it；　and　patted　his　hand　reassuringly　without　taking　her　eyes　from　the　black　man。　
〃I　dreamed　of　you；〃　she　said　in　a　soft；　wondering　voice。　〃I　dreamed　you　were　wandering　in　the　dark；　and　so　was　I。　We　found　each　other。〃　
John　Coffey　said　nothing。　
〃We　found　each　other　in　the　dark；〃　she　said。　〃Stand　up；　Hal；　you're　pinning　me　in　here。〃　
He　got　up　and　watched　with　disbelief　as　she　turned　back　the　counterpane。　〃Melly；　you　can't…〃　
〃Don't　be　silly；〃　she　said；　and　swung　her　legs　out。　〃Of　course　I　can。〃　She　smoothed　her　nightgown；　stretched；　then　got　to　her　feet。　
〃My　God；〃　Hal　whispered。　〃My　dear　God　in　heaven；　look　at　her。〃　
She　went　to　John　Coffey。　Brutal　stood　away　from　her；　an　awed　expression　on　his　face。　She　limped　with　the　first　step；　did　no　more　than　favor　her　right　leg　a　bit　with　the　second；　and　then　even　that　was　gone。　I　remembered　Brutal　handing　the　colored　spool　to　Delacroix　and　saying；　〃Toss　it　…　I　want　to　see　how　he　runs。〃　Mr。　Jingles　had　limped　then；　but　on　the　next　night；　the　night　Del　walked　the　Mile；　he　had　been　fine。　
Melly　put　her　arms　around　John　and　hugged　him。　Coffey　stood　there　for　a　moment；　letting　himself　be　hugged；　and　then　he　raised　one　hand　and　stroked　the　top　of　her　head。　This　he　did　with　infinite　gentleness。　His　face　was　still　gray。　I　thought　he　looked　dreadfully　sick。　
She　stood　away　from　him；　her　face　turned　up　to　his。　〃Thank　you。〃　
〃Right　wele；　ma'am。〃　
She　turned　to　Hal　and　walked　back　to　him。　He　put　his　arms　ar